The Detroit Lions' defense has had a great afternoon so far, but the team still trails 20-6 to the Minnesota Vikings entering the fourth quarter on Sunday. Special teams is to blame for the scoring margin, as the Vikings have returned a pair of kicks, one kickoff and one punt, for touchdowns.
The Vikings have only executed three kick returns of any kind in this game, but two of them have resulted in touchdowns. Percy Harvin took the game's opening kickoff 105 yards for a touchdown to put the Vikings ahead 7-0, and Marcus Sherels extended Minnesota's lead to 20-6 in the third quarter with a 77-yard punt return score.
Minnesota has mustered just 174 total yards of offense so far, with the vast majority of it coming on the ground, but the Lions have been unable to capitalize. Matthew Stafford has 178 yards passing, but the rushing game hasn't produced, especially Mikel Leshoure, who has carried the ball 13 times for 26 yards and lost a fumble.