Week 1, 2026

played in Minnesota, MN

68 degrees, fair, calm

Detroit Lions	7	7	7	0	-	21
Minnesota Vikings	0	10	3	16	-	29

Scoring Summary
1Q: 10:22 DET - Damian Williams 6 pass from J.J. Sutton (Rusty Sheldon extra point)
2Q: 15:00 MIN - Lance Radecki 3 run (David Buehler extra point)
2Q: 11:06 DET - Bruce Brizzolara 27 pass from J.J. Sutton (Rusty Sheldon extra point)
2Q: 05:22 MIN - David Buehler 30 field goal
3Q: 09:03 MIN - David Buehler 19 field goal
3Q: 01:59 DET - Matt Skudris 4 run (Rusty Sheldon extra point)
4Q: 08:19 MIN - Marc Scott 3 run (Marc Scott run for conversion failed)
4Q: 05:24 MIN - Andre Poston 77 interception return (David Buehler extra point)
4Q: 02:33 MIN - David Buehler 39 field goal

Scoring Summary
1Q: 10:22 DET - Damian Williams 6 pass from J.J. Sutton (Rusty Sheldon extra point)
2Q: 15:00 MIN - Lance Radecki 3 run (David Buehler extra point)
2Q: 11:06 DET - Bruce Brizzolara 27 pass from J.J. Sutton (Rusty Sheldon extra point)
2Q: 05:22 MIN - David Buehler 30 field goal
3Q: 09:03 MIN - David Buehler 19 field goal
3Q: 01:59 DET - Matt Skudris 4 run (Rusty Sheldon extra point)
4Q: 08:19 MIN - Marc Scott 3 run (Marc Scott run for conversion failed)
4Q: 05:24 MIN - Andre Poston 77 interception return (David Buehler extra point)
4Q: 02:33 MIN - David Buehler 39 field goal

Team Statistics DET MIN
Record 0-1 1-0
First Downs 21 22
- by Rushing 1 11
- by Passing 18 11
- by Penalty 2 0
Total Net Yards 315 373
- Offensive Plays 64 58
- Yards per Play 4.92 6.43
Net Rushing Yards 33 139
- Rushing Attempts 10 34
- Yards per Rush 3.30 4.09
Net Passing Yards 282 234
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt 52 - 32 - 1 24 - 20 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards 294 234
- Sacks/Yards Lost 2/12 0/0
- Yards per Pass Play 5.22 9.75
Fumbles/Lost 0/0 2/1
3rd Down Conversions 6/13 4/9
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down 6.9 6.3
4th Down Conversions 1/3 0/0
Penalties/Yards 5/35 6/33
Punt Returns/Yards 0/0 0/0
Kick Returns/Yards 6/140 2/40
Interception Ret./Yards 1/0 1/77
2pt Conversions 0/0 1/0
Red Zone Visits 2 4
- Red Zone TDs/FGs 2/0 2/2
Avg. Drive Start OWN 31 OWN 34
Time of Possession 27:00 33:00

Team Statistics	DET	MIN
Record	0-1	1-0
First Downs	21	22
- by Rushing	1	11
- by Passing	18	11
- by Penalty	2	0
Total Net Yards	315	373
- Offensive Plays	64	58
- Yards per Play	4.92	6.43
Net Rushing Yards	33	139
- Rushing Attempts	10	34
- Yards per Rush	3.30	4.09
Net Passing Yards	282	234
- Att./Comp./Intrcpt	52 - 32 - 1	24 - 20 - 1
- Gross Passing Yards	294	234
- Sacks/Yards Lost	2/12	0/0
- Yards per Pass Play	5.22	9.75
Fumbles/Lost	0/0	2/1
3rd Down Conversions	6/13	4/9
- Avg. YtG on 3rd Down	6.9	6.3
4th Down Conversions	1/3	0/0
Penalties/Yards	5/35	6/33
Punt Returns/Yards	0/0	0/0
Kick Returns/Yards	6/140	2/40
Interception Ret./Yards	1/0	1/77
2pt Conversions	0/0	1/0
Red Zone Visits	2	4
- Red Zone TDs/FGs	2/0	2/2
Avg. Drive Start	OWN 31	OWN 34
Time of Possession	27:00	33:00

Drive Charts

Detroit Lions
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	15:00	4:49	OWN 41	10	59	Touchdown
1	5:37	2:04	OWN 7	3	9	Punt
2	14:51	3:57	OWN 20	9	80	Touchdown
2	5:17	1:29	OWN 31	5	11	Punt
2	1:23	1:23	OWN 20	3	13	Half
3	8:56	4:47	OWN 29	7	33	Punt
3	4:03	2:13	OPP 17	4	17	Touchdown
4	13:17	1:11	OWN 20	3	-6	Punt
4	8:12	2:58	OWN 41	4	31	Interception
4	5:14	1:38	OWN 23	4	2	Downs
4	2:28	2:15	OWN 27	12	39	Downs

Minnesota Vikings
Quar	Began	Poss	From	Plays	Yards	Result
1	10:11	4:34	OWN 27	6	13	Punt
1	3:33	3:42	OPP 48	8	48	Touchdown
2	10:54	5:37	OWN 29	9	58	Field Goal
2	3:48	2:25	OWN 16	6	64	Interception
3	15:00	6:04	OWN 20	10	78	Field Goal
3	4:09	0:06	OWN 20	1	9	Fumble
3	1:50	3:33	OWN 20	6	31	Punt
4	12:06	3:54	OPP 45	8	45	Touchdown
4	3:36	1:08	OPP 25	3	3	Field Goal
4	0:13	0:13	OWN 34	1	-1	Game

Game MVP: J.J. Sutton, Detroit Lions

Rushing Statistics

Detroit	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	TD
Ricky Johnstone	4	5	1.25	4	0
Dean Stickney	4	19	4.75	8	0
Matt Skudris	1	4	4.00	4	1
J.J. Sutton	1	5	5.00	5	0

Minnesota	Att	Yards	Avg	LG	10+	TD
Marc Scott	18	88	4.89	20	4	1
Lance Radecki	11	44	4.00	9	0	1
Rich Hampton	4	8	2.00	2	0	0
Matt Ryan	1	-1	-1.00	-1	0	0

Passing Statistics

Detroit	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
J.J. Sutton	52	32	294	2/12	2	27	1	81.7

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Yards	Sk/Yd	TD	LG	Int	Rate
Matt Ryan	24	20	234	0/0	0	32	1	90.0

Receiving Statistics

Detroit	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG	TD
WR Damian Williams	7	10	54	7.71	21	14	1
WR Cornell Upshaw	6	9	63	10.50	13	18	0
WR Karl Burtner	5	10	58	11.60	12	19	0
TE Bruce Brizzolara	5	7	58	11.60	16	27	1
RB Ricky Johnstone	4	4	36	9.00	18	16	0
TE Richard Quinn	1	1	-1	-1.00	0	-1	0
FB Jeremy Brakke	1	1	4	4.00	0	4	0
WR Golden Tate	1	3	6	6.00	0	6	0
RB Dean Stickney	1	1	0	0.00	0	0	0
WR Broderick DuBois	1	4	16	16.00	2	16	0

Minnesota	Catch	Targ	Yards	Avg	YAC	LG
TE Aaron Hernandez	6	6	116	19.33	64	32
WR Darnell Mathis	4	4	48	12.00	6	16
WR Joey Sadler	2	3	17	8.50	0	14
WR Thomas Kelly	2	3	8	4.00	0	7
RB Rich Hampton	2	2	19	9.50	8	14
WR Louis Murphy	1	2	11	11.00	0	11
RB Marc Scott	1	1	3	3.00	0	3
TE Frankie Sanford	1	1	7	7.00	0	7
RB Lance Radecki	1	1	5	5.00	0	5
FB A.J. Murray	0	1	0	0.00	0	0

Interception Statistics

Detroit	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
S Gino Swift	1	0	0.00	0

Minnesota	Ints	Yards	Avg	TD
ILB Andre Poston	1	77	77.00	1

Fumble Statistics

Detroit	Recov	Force
Dan Batten	1	0
Brett Winders	0	1
Jerome Bumpers	0	1

Minnesota	Fumb	Recov	Force	TD
Lance Radecki	2	0	0	0
Darnell Mathis	0	1	0	0

Punting Statistics

Detroit	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
R.J. Lyons	4	143	35.8	30.8	42	1

Minnesota	Punt	Yards	Avg	Net	LG	In20
Kevin Huber	2	102	51.0	41.0	53	1

Kicking Statistics

Detroit	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
Rusty Sheldon	0/0	0/0	0/0	0	3/3

Minnesota	FGs	40+Yd	50+Yd	LG	PAT
David Buehler	3/3	0/0	0/0	39	2/2

Punt Return Statistics

Detroit	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD

Minnesota	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD

Kick Return Statistics

Detroit	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Karl Burtner	4	81	20.3	0
Golden Tate	2	59	29.5	0

Minnesota	Ret	Yards	Avg	TD
Marc Scott	2	40	20.0	0

Defensive Statistics

Detroit	Tack	Asst	RPlay	PPlay
DE Tyson Jackson	7	1	28	22
ILB George McDade	6	5	31	17
S Jerome Bumpers	4	1	25	18
CB Nolan Carroll	4	0	27	15
DE Austin Tomei	3	1	21	15
DT Dave Thibodeau	3	0	21	12
S Brett Winders	3	0	18	14
S Kendrick Lewis	3	0	9	6
DT Percy Press	3	0	29	17
OLB Chris Spezzano	2	1	22	12
S Gino Swift	2	1	13	11
OLB Norman Colon	2	1	24	17
CB Joey Greer	2	1	12	12
DE Dan Batten	2	0	13	9
CB Archie Walters	2	0	16	13
OLB Tom Ramthun	1	2	10	7
OLB Harvey Ginste	1	1	21	17
ILB Oscar Hasselbach	1	0	3	7

Minnesota	Tack	Asst	Sack	RPlay	PPlay
S Allen Weber	9	1	0.0	8	48
CB T.J. Ward	5	0	0.0	8	39
ILB Clifton Coppola	4	1	0.5	1	27
ILB Phil Gaylor	4	0	0.0	5	29
S J.C. Blackwell	4	0	0.0	9	48
OLB Fernando Sanford	3	3	1.5	9	42
CB Billy Joe Easter	2	3	0.0	6	42
DT Darryl Ortmeier	2	1	0.0	7	28
CB Alex Banks	2	1	0.0	6	30
OLB Keith Rivers	2	0	0.0	4	14
S Tracy Sherry	1	1	0.0	4	26
QB Matt Ryan	1	0	---	---	---
C Casey Heath	1	0	---	---	---
DE Deron Rice	1	0	0.0	7	40
DE Jerome Daughtry	1	0	0.0	6	41
ILB Leo Foulke	1	0	0.0	5	10
CB Neil Lucky	0	1	0.0	4	33

Pass Rush Statistics

Detroit	Sack	Block	Hurry	Knock	PPlay
OLB Harvey Ginste	0.0	0	1	0	17
DE Dan Batten	0.0	0	0	1	9

Minnesota	Sack	Block	Hurry	PPlay
OLB Fernando Sanford	1.5	0	0	42
ILB Clifton Coppola	0.5	0	0	27
DE Jerome Daughtry	0.0	1	0	41
DE Deron Rice	0.0	0	1	40
ILB Phil Gaylor	0.0	0	1	29
DE Cornell Kaczmarek	0.0	0	1	31

Pass Defense Statistics

Detroit	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
ILB George McDade	3	1	0	17
S Jerome Bumpers	2	0	0	18
OLB Chris Spezzano	2	0	0	12
CB Nolan Carroll	2	0	0	15
OLB Norman Colon	2	0	0	17
CB Archie Walters	2	0	0	13
S Gino Swift	1	0	1	11
S Brett Winders	1	0	0	14
S Kendrick Lewis	1	0	0	6
CB Joey Greer	1	0	0	12
DE Austin Tomei	1	0	0	15
ILB Oscar Hasselbach	1	0	0	7
OLB Tom Ramthun	1	0	0	7

Minnesota	Caught	Defnsd	Intrcp	PPlay
S Allen Weber	7	1	0	48
CB T.J. Ward	4	3	0	39
S J.C. Blackwell	4	1	0	48
ILB Phil Gaylor	4	0	0	29
ILB Clifton Coppola	4	0	0	27
CB Alex Banks	3	0	0	30
DT Darryl Ortmeier	2	0	0	28
OLB Keith Rivers	1	0	0	14
OLB Fernando Sanford	1	0	0	42
ILB Leo Foulke	1	0	0	10
CB Billy Joe Easter	1	0	0	42
ILB Andre Poston	0	0	1	5

Blocking Statistics

Detroit	KeyBl	BlOpp	RPly	SckA	PPly
Norbert Crane	1	1	6	0	15
Winfred Malone	1	1	4	0	10
Ian Wheeler	1	1	7	0	46
Jeremy Brakke	0	2	7	0	22
Mike Iupati	0	2	9	0	50
Dennis Rawls	0	1	10	1	45
Bruce Brizzolara	0	1	9	0	41
Travis Corbett	0	0	7	1	49

Minnesota	KeyBl	BlOpp	Panc	RPly	PPly
Casey Heath	4	6	3	29	19
Sam Young	3	8	0	29	17
Tito Greer	2	3	0	24	19
Peter Jennings	1	7	0	29	20
Ty Poston	1	2	0	7	4
Jessie Hoitink	1	1	0	10	5
Vladimir Ducasse	0	3	0	27	20
A.J. Murray	0	2	0	18	10
Damon Butterfield	0	1	0	5	4

Special Teams Tackles

Detroit	Tackles	STPlays
Matt Skudris	1	17
Broderick DuBois	1	15

Minnesota	Tackles	STPlays
Rich Hampton	2	19
Joey Sadler	2	17
Frankie Sanford	1	14
Tracy Sherry	1	13

Participation

Detroit	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
J.J. Sutton	10	54	---	---	---	64
Bruce Brizzolara	9	41	---	---	12	62
Mike Iupati	9	50	---	---	---	59
Dennis Rawls	10	45	---	---	4	59
Nolan Carroll	---	---	27	15	15	57
Ian Wheeler	7	46	---	---	4	57
Travis Corbett	7	49	---	---	---	56
Golden Tate	7	37	---	---	11	55
George McDade	---	---	31	17	5	53
Kory Lichtensteiger	7	46	---	---	---	53
Tyson Jackson	---	---	28	22	3	53
Percy Press	---	---	29	17	2	48
Karl Burtner	7	33	---	---	7	47
Jerome Bumpers	---	---	25	18	3	46
Norman Colon	---	---	24	17	4	45
Harris Friday	---	---	22	18	5	45
Cornell Upshaw	7	24	---	---	11	42
Damian Williams	2	37	---	---	2	41
Austin Tomei	---	---	21	15	4	40
Harvey Ginste	---	---	21	17	1	39
Dave Thibodeau	---	---	21	12	3	36
Chris Spezzano	---	---	22	12	2	36
Brett Winders	---	---	18	14	2	34
Joey Greer	---	---	12	12	10	34
Archie Walters	---	---	16	13	4	33
Jeremy Brakke	7	22	---	---	3	32
Tom Ramthun	---	---	10	7	13	30
Ricky Johnstone	4	25	---	---	---	29
Broderick DuBois	0	14	---	---	15	29
Richard Quinn	1	11	---	---	15	27
Matt Skudris	1	9	---	---	17	27
Dean Stickney	5	13	---	---	8	26
Gino Swift	---	---	13	11	1	25
Norbert Crane	6	15	---	---	2	23
Dan Batten	---	---	13	9	---	22
Winfred Malone	4	10	---	---	3	17
Kendrick Lewis	---	---	9	6	---	15
Dean Breese	0	9	---	---	3	12
Kelvin Margolies	---	---	6	3	3	12
Oscar Hasselbach	---	---	3	7	2	12
Tim Rawls	---	---	3	2	7	12
Jack Richmond	0	4	---	---	6	10
Rusty Sheldon	0	0	---	---	4	4
R.J. Lyons	0	0	---	---	4	4
Pat White	0	0	---	---	---	0
Chad Lusk	0	0	---	---	---	0

Minnesota	RPlyOff	PPlyOff	RPlyDef	PPlyDef	STPly	Total Plays
Matt Ryan	34	24	---	---	---	58
J.C. Blackwell	---	---	9	48	1	58
Neil Lucky	---	---	4	33	20	57
Allen Weber	---	---	8	48	---	56
Aaron Hernandez	25	19	---	---	9	53
Fernando Sanford	---	---	9	42	---	51
Vladimir Ducasse	27	20	---	---	4	51
Jerome Daughtry	---	---	6	41	3	50
Casey Heath	29	19	---	---	1	49
Peter Jennings	29	20	---	---	---	49
Frankie Sanford	19	16	---	---	14	49
T.J. Ward	---	---	8	39	1	48
Billy Joe Easter	---	---	6	42	---	48
Deron Rice	---	---	7	40	---	47
Sam Young	29	17	---	---	---	46
Tito Greer	24	19	---	---	1	44
Randal Tanner	---	---	9	35	---	44
Phil Gaylor	---	---	5	29	9	43
Tracy Sherry	---	---	4	26	13	43
Alex Banks	---	---	6	30	6	42
Darnell Mathis	22	19	---	---	---	41
Rich Hampton	14	7	---	---	19	40
Marc Scott	19	15	---	---	5	39
Joey Sadler	13	8	---	---	17	38
Clifton Coppola	---	---	1	27	10	38
Cornell Kaczmarek	---	---	6	31	---	37
A.J. Murray	18	10	---	---	8	36
Darryl Ortmeier	---	---	7	28	1	36
Ernie Downs	---	---	4	26	4	34
Louis Murphy	11	8	---	---	11	30
Lance Radecki	11	7	---	---	7	25
Thomas Kelly	13	9	---	---	---	22
Ray Karau	5	2	---	---	15	22
Jessie Hoitink	10	5	---	---	5	20
Keith Rivers	---	---	4	14	1	19
Leo Foulke	---	---	5	10	2	17
Ty Poston	7	4	---	---	5	16
Damon Butterfield	5	4	---	---	5	14
Benjamin Colman	5	7	---	---	---	12
Jimmy Concepcion	5	5	---	---	1	11
David Buehler	0	0	---	---	10	10
Andre Poston	---	---	2	5	3	10
Walt Causey	---	---	0	0	4	4
David Abrams	0	0	---	---	3	3
Kevin Huber	0	0	---	---	2	2
Scottie Kirk	0	0	---	---	---	0

Directional Rushing Statistics

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	6	19	3.2
Middle	3	12	4.0
Right	1	2	2.0
None	0	0	0.0

Distance	Att	Yards	Avg
Left	11	52	4.7
Middle	9	27	3.0
Right	13	61	4.7
None	1	-1	-1.0

Detailed Passing Statistics

Detroit	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
J.J. Sutton	52	32	1	4	4	5	3	0	1

Minnesota	Att	Cmp	20+	BdTh	Drop	Dfns	Hurr	Knck	Intc
Matt Ryan	24	20	3	0	1	1	1	1	1

Directional Passing Statistics

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	10	8	46	4.6
Short (0-8 Yds)	20	14	97	4.9
Medium (9-18 Yds)	15	9	136	9.1
Long (19+ Yds)	5	1	15	3.0

Distance	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg
Screen	5	3	40	8.0
Short (0-8 Yds)	12	12	122	10.2
Medium (9-18 Yds)	5	5	72	14.4
Long (19+ Yds)	2	0	0	0.0

Detailed Receiving Statistics

Detroit	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
WR Karl Burtner	10	5	2	58	0	33
WR Damian Williams	10	7	0	54	0	37
WR Cornell Upshaw	9	6	0	63	0	24
TE Bruce Brizzolara	7	5	1	58	1	41
RB Ricky Johnstone	4	4	0	36	0	25
WR Broderick DuBois	4	1	1	16	0	14
WR Golden Tate	3	1	0	6	0	37
TE Richard Quinn	1	1	0	-1	0	11
FB Jeremy Brakke	1	1	0	4	0	22
RB Dean Stickney	1	1	0	0	0	13

Minnesota	Targt	Caugt	Dropd	Yards	20+	PPlay
TE Aaron Hernandez	6	6	0	116	3	19
WR Darnell Mathis	4	4	0	48	0	19
WR Joey Sadler	3	2	1	17	0	8
WR Thomas Kelly	3	2	0	8	0	9
WR Louis Murphy	2	1	0	11	0	8
RB Rich Hampton	2	2	0	19	0	7
FB A.J. Murray	1	0	0	0	0	10
RB Marc Scott	1	1	0	3	0	15
TE Frankie Sanford	1	1	0	7	0	16
RB Lance Radecki	1	1	0	5	0	7

Red-Zone Rushing Statistics

Detroit	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Ricky Johnstone	1	-1	-1.00	1.25
Matt Skudris	1	4	4.00	4.00

Minnesota	Att	Yards	Avg	Overall Avg
Marc Scott	9	15	1.67	4.89
Lance Radecki	3	13	4.33	4.00
Rich Hampton	1	2	2.00	2.00

Red-Zone Passing Statistics

Detroit	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
J.J. Sutton	4	3	16	4.00	5.65

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Yards	Avg/Att	Overall Avg
Matt Ryan	4	1	7	1.75	9.75

Red-Zone Receiving Statistics

Detroit	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Cornell Upshaw	1	0	0	0.00	7.00
FB Jeremy Brakke	1	1	4	4.00	4.00
WR Damian Williams	1	1	6	6.00	5.40
WR Golden Tate	1	1	6	6.00	2.00

Minnesota	Target	Catch	Yards	Avg/Targ	Overall Avg
WR Joey Sadler	1	0	0	0.00	5.67
WR Louis Murphy	1	0	0	0.00	5.50
FB A.J. Murray	1	0	0	0.00	0.00
TE Frankie Sanford	1	1	7	7.00	7.00

Third Down Rushing Statistics

Detroit	Rushes	Conversions
Dean Stickney	1	0

Minnesota	Rushes	Conversions
Marc Scott	4	2
Lance Radecki	4	1

Third Down Passing Statistics

Detroit	Att	Comp	Conversions
J.J. Sutton	12	6	6

Minnesota	Att	Comp	Conversions
Matt Ryan	1	1	1

Third Down Receiving Statistics

Detroit	Targ	Catch	Conversions
WR Damian Williams	4	2	2
WR Cornell Upshaw	3	3	3
WR Karl Burtner	2	0	0
WR Golden Tate	1	0	0
WR Broderick DuBois	1	1	1

Minnesota	Targ	Catch	Conversions
RB Marc Scott	1	1	1

Section Attendance
Stadium 84,400 (86,000 capacity)
Upper Deck 29,400 (29,400)
End Zone 21,300 (21,300)
Mezzanine 12,300 (12,300)
Sideline Seats 18,800 (18,800)
Club Seats 500 (500)
Luxury Boxes 2,100 (3,700)

Section	Attendance
Stadium	84,400 (86,000 capacity)
Upper Deck	29,400 (29,400)
End Zone	21,300 (21,300)
Mezzanine	12,300 (12,300)
Sideline Seats	18,800 (18,800)
Club Seats	500 (500)
Luxury Boxes	2,100 (3,700)