Lion Offense a Roaring Success

It was like old times for Scott Mitchell and the Detroit Lions. It also helped that the Minnesota Vikings had finally run out of miracles.

Mitchell, shaking off a sore leg, passed for 271 yards and two touchdowns Sunday as the Lions ended the Vikings’ winning streak at six games in a 38-15 victory.

“Perfect,” Lion Coach Bobby Ross said, relieved at his team ending a losing streak at three games. “I couldn’t have written a better script. We have some weapons to put some pressure on people. But we have to be balanced to do the things we want to do.”

The Vikings (8-3), now in a three-way tie for first with Green Bay and Tampa Bay in the NFC Central, have been a team of comebacks all season. But the Lions (5-6) took a 24-7 halftime lead and this time Viking quarterback Brad Johnson couldn’t find the magic touch.

Johnson, who has led the Vikings to the winning points in the final minute three times this season, was 19 of 37 passing for 177 yards with one interception.

Minnesota got a 27-yard touchdown run from Robert Smith in the second quarter and a two-yard scoring dive from Leroy Hoard in the fourth.

The rest of the game was all Detroit. Tommy Vardell ran for three touchdowns, a single-game best for him. Mitchell completed 21 of 29 passes with touchdowns of 14 yards to Johnnie Morton and 10 yards to Herman Moore. The Lions outgained the Vikings, 477 yards to 300.

“It felt like the good old days again,” Mitchell said. “We were making plays and we were executing. We’ve got too much talent to play conservative offense like we have been. Today we did a good job of taking what they gave us, instead of banging our heads against a wall.”

Barry Sanders had his ninth 100-yard rushing game, gaining 108 in 19 carries before coming out of the game with a little more than 10 minutes left.