Detroit Lions at Minnesota Vikings: Second Quarter Open Thread

The Metrodome finale between the Detroit Lions and the Minnesota Vikings got off to a bit of a strange start. The Lions won the coin toss and deferred, meaning the Vikings were receiving the kickoff. Cordarrelle Patterson, four yards from a Vikings' single-season kick return yardage record, went back to receive the kickoff. . .and didn't take it because he was too busy trying to pump up the crowd. Chase Ford took the kickoff in the end zone for a touchback.

The Vikings picked up a first down on their opening drive before punting it away, and the Lions did the same thing on their opening drive. The second Minnesota drive saw the Vikings push down to the Detroit 39-yard line, but stalled out and Jeff Locke's punt pinned the Lions down at their own 7-yard line.

The Vikings took over at their own 31-yard line after forcing the Lions to go three-and-out. Matt Cassel hit Jarius Wright on the first play of the drive to move the ball to midfield, and then we got the return of the Cordarrelle Patterson show. He came in motion from the right side of the formation, took a pitch from Cassel, completely reversed his field, and went 50 yards for a touchdown. Seriously, my words can't possibly do it justice. You'll be seeing it on all the highlight shows this evening, I can assure you. Blair Walsh hit the extra point (after a defensive holding penalty was declined) and the Vikings took a 7-0 lead.

The run for Patterson was the longest touchdown run by a wide receiver in Vikings history, and also gave Patterson the team record for most rushing touchdowns by a receiver in a season. He now has three. . .the previous record was held by Percy Harvin, who had two in a season once. It was also his fifth straight game with an offensive touchdown, the first Vikings' wide receiver to do that since. . .Randy Moss in 2004.

The Lions went three-and-out on their next drive as well, and Detroit had to punt to Marcus Sherels again. The Vikings are now looking at a 2nd-and-7 from their own 32-yard line as we move to the second quarter of play.

We're fifteen minutes into the last game in the history of the Metrodome, folks. Can the Vikings keep their momentum and get a victory?