GRIFFEN GOADING?
"It's frustrating, but we've just got to stay out of that situation,Alexander Alexeyev Jersey," said wide receiver Golden Tate, who was stopped in front of the goal line in the 30-26 loss to the Falcons . "Control what we can control, and that's getting that job done earlier."
Prater made two field goals from 55-plus yards last week, the ninth and 10th makes of his career from that distance. Only Sebastian Janikowski, with 13 for the Oakland Raiders, made more. Stafford said he's enjoyed hearing the sound for Prater's foot solidly hitting the ball at home games when it's quieter for the offense.
PLAYING TAKEAWAY
"To be quite honest,Scarpe Air Force Just Do It, he's kind of lazy," Griffen said, when asked for his scouting report on the player who'll be trying to block him most often on Sunday. "He gets beat on the inside, and I think the biggest thing is he's just got to compete more."
Eighteen days later, an interception by Darius Slay at Ford Field set up the winning kick by Prater as time expired at Ford Field.
So when Tate's touchdown was overturned last weekend by replay review, triggering by obscure rule a 10-second runoff that sealed a victory for the unbeaten reigning NFC champion Falcons, the Vikings could relate to the feeling.
"This is a very important game for us, I know," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "Anytime we play the Lions it's always been a good battle."
Two of the eight late and successful rallies by the Lions last season came at Minnesota's expense, outcomes that wound up swinging a wild-card berth Detroit's way and keeping the Vikings out of the playoffs despite a 5-0 start.
With Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, the Vikings are second and third in the NFL in individual receiving yards. The Lions secondary ought to be their toughest test to date, with Case Keenum getting his third straight start in place of the injured Sam Bradford.
The Lions had only 10 interceptions last season, but they've already picked off seven passes in three games, the second-most in the NFL. They're leading the league with a plus-6 turnover margin, with two interceptions apiece by Slay and Glover Quin.
"Trae seems to be getting better all the time,Cheap Jerseys From China," Zimmer said. "I think he's starting to develop more confidence. There's still things he needs to work on, but he's got such great athletic ability that he just needs to continue to use it. Sometimes he overthinks a little bit. Just go out and play."
With a new right side after signing guard T.J. Lang and tackle Rick Wagner, Detroit still might have a stronger group despite the absence of Decker. But Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen, who's tied for fourth in the NFL with four sacks, has declared Robinson to be the weak link.
Stafford found Tate for a 28-yard touchdown to end that game after whiffs in the secondary by Vikings standouts Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith.
That prompted an emergency trade with the Los Angeles Rams for Greg Robinson,Kanken Backpack Sale, the second overall pick in the 2014 draft.
"They're making some plays on the ball. They're reacting, and they're doing some great things," Diggs said. "Obviously, they're getting turnovers. So it's going to be our job to hold on to the ball."
Here are some other key angles to follow during the game:
The Lions trailed 16-13 with 23 seconds to play on Nov. 6 at U.S. Bank Stadium before hustling to set up Matt Prater's overtime-forcing 58-yard field goal.
"They're stopping teams. They're getting the ball back for us. Shoot, they're scoring sometimes, which is a whole lot of fun," Stafford said.
WAYNES WORLD
"He's a man's man. He's one of the finest guys that I think anyone in this business has an opportunity to coach," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said.
Reiff, who has stabilized a left tackle spot that was Minnesota's biggest problem position last year, will have his own challenge of blocking Detroit's Ziggy Ansah. That doesn't mean the Lions don't miss him a little.
The Vikings (2-1) will have their opportunity for payback on Sunday when they host the Lions (2-1),Wholesale China Jerseys Free Shpping, the first of three consecutive NFC North foes.
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Matthew Stafford and the Detroit Lions finally had a comeback fall short, by just a few seconds and even fewer inches last weekend against Atlanta.
NO PRESSURE FOR PRATER
The Lions let Riley Reiff become a free agent last spring and sign with the Vi