PLAYER NOTES

--DT Ndamukong Suh had a busy day Sunday. He was on the field for 91 percent of the defensive snaps. He produced a sack, a quarterback hit, six hurries and he deflected a pass.

--RT Gosder Cherilus was benched in favor of Corey Hilliard after just two series Sunday, though neither had much success containing Vikings DE Brian Robison. Schwartz would not say what the plan was at that position going forward, but it could end up being a weekly battle. "We need to be more effective at that position," he said. "I will just leave it at that."

--CB Aaron Berry, who has been playing right cornerback in the nickel package while starting RCB Eric Wright moves into the slot, was knocked out of the game by a groin injury. Brandon McDonald played nickel back in his place. Berry's status will be revealed on Wednesday.

--P Ryan Donahue, a rookie, enjoyed kicking in the climate-controlled Mall of America Field Sunday. His average hang time on seven punts was 4.65. His average yardage was 46.4.

--LB Isaiah Ekejiuba, a leader on the coverage units, injured his shoulder in the first quarter. He could be out a while. "He didn't finish the game," Schwartz said. "That's never a great sign."

REPORT CARD VS. VIKINGS

PASSING OFFENSE
B - Points will be deducted for the five sacks, but Matthew Stafford brought his team back from a 20-point deficit for the second time in 16 pro starts. After a slow start, he defused the Vikings' blitz with a short, controlled passing attack and wound up throwing for 378 yards and two touchdowns without a turnover. He used TE Brandon Pettigrew (11 catches, 112 yards) as his release point against the blitz and when the Vikings tried to cheat, he burned them deep to Calvin Johnson (7 for 108, both touchdowns) and to rookie Titus Young (4 for 51).

RUSHING OFFENSE
D - Pettigrew was the rushing offense. Jahvid Best was the leading ball carrier with 14 yards in 12 carries. The point of attack blocking was really poor in this game.

PASS DEFENSE
B - They harassed Donovan McNabb throughout the game (four sacks, six hits) and gave him very little to work with down field.

RUSH DEFENSE
B - It's a little hard to grade. When the Vikings used RB Adrian Peterson, he had success (73 yards in the first half). But he only carried it five times (for five yards) in the second. The play of the game, though, was a stop on fourth-and-1 in the fourth quarter with the Vikings in field goal range and up by three points. DTs Corey Williams and Ndamukong Suh collapsed the interior wall and fullback Toby Gerhard had to bounce outside. DE Kyle Vanden Bosch drilled him for a loss.

SPECIAL TEAMS
C - The four field goals by Jason Hanson (28, 50, 40, 32) and the booming punts of rookie Ryan Donahue (4.65 hang time and 46.4-yard average) offset some horrendous coverage. Missing two key special teams players (Rashied Davis, hamstring, and Isaiah Ekejiuba, shoulder), the Lions allowed a 68-yard kickoff return in the fourth quarter and a 53-yard punt return at the end of the first half that led to a touchdown.

COACHING
B - Again, superb in-game adjustments, particularly by offensive coordinator Scott Linehan. The offense had to deal with deafening crowd noise that hindered play-calling at the line and snap counts, and they had to alter the plan to neutralize the aggression of the Vikings' defensive ends and blitzing linebackers. Linehan smartly used spread formations so QB Matthew Stafford could better read where the blitzes were coming from and where his outlets would be.

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