Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2001 Week 5 Recap

Game story

In Week 5 of the 2001 NFL season on 2001-10-14, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 31–26 final that stayed a one-score game deep into the second half.

The highest-scoring period was Q2 with 20 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

C. Batch (Detroit Lions) paced the passing game, with +17.44 total EPA.

On the individual side, C. Batch (Detroit Lions) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +17.44 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (-16.5% win probability) landed in the fourth quarter when Detroit Lions changed the game: (:15) 10-C.Batch pass to 82-G.Crowell to MIN 20 for 26 yards (22-T.Carter).

Line score

Final score and points by quarter.

Stars of the game

Top performers by total expected points added (EPA) across passing, rushing, and receiving.

1. 1 C. Batch · Detroit Lions · Passing · +17.44 total EPA · 52 snaps · +0.34 EPA/play
2. 2 D. Culpepper · Minnesota Vikings · Passing · +12.38 total EPA · 40 snaps · +0.31 EPA/play
3. 3 C. Carter · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +8.57 total EPA · 9 snaps · +0.95 EPA/play
4. 4 J. Morton · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +7.90 total EPA · 6 snaps · +1.32 EPA/play
5. 5 G. Crowell · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +4.76 total EPA · 12 snaps · +0.40 EPA/play
6. 6 D. Sloan · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +3.84 total EPA · 6 snaps · +0.64 EPA/play
7. 7 D. Culpepper · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +2.50 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.83 EPA/play
8. 8 J. Kleinsasser · Minnesota Vikings · Rushing · +2.23 total EPA · 1 snaps · +2.23 EPA/play

Player of the game

FantasyHQ analytics player-of-the-game pick based on total EPA and signature plays.

Who scored touchdowns and field goals

Every touchdown and field goal with the player named in official play-by-play.

Touchdowns

• Minnesota Vikings — D. Culpepper (Q1 53:34)
• Minnesota Vikings — T. Prentice (Q2 44:55)
• Minnesota Vikings — D. Culpepper (Q2 30:34)
• Minnesota Vikings — C. Carter (D. Culpepper pass) (Q3 25:33)
• Detroit Lions — J. Stewart (C. Batch pass) (Q3 20:47)
• Detroit Lions — G. Crowell (C. Batch pass) (Q4 14:26)
• Detroit Lions — J. Morton (C. Batch pass) (Q4 6:24)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q1 49:02)
• Minnesota Vikings — G. Anderson (Q2 40:52)
• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 37:28)

How it unfolded, quarter by quarter

A quarter-by-quarter recap built from live scoring plays and play descriptions.

The opening quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 7–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 7 (Q1 53:34) — (8:34) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q1 53:29) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 1 (Q1 49:02) — (4:02) 4-J.Hanson 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett..

The second quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 17–3. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 1 (Q2 44:55) — (14:55) 30-T.Prentice up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 44:46) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 23 (Q2 40:52) — (10:52) 1-G.Anderson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 32 (Q2 37:28) — (7:28) 4-J.Hanson 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 33 (Q2 30:34) — (:34) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper scrambles up the middle for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q2 30:25) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 47 (Q3 25:33) — (10:33) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 80-C.Carter for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 25:25) — 1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 15 (Q3 20:47) — (5:47) 10-C.Batch pass to 34-J.Stewart for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 20:40) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett..

The fourth quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 13–0. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 16 (Q4 14:26) — (14:26) 10-C.Batch pass to 82-G.Crowell for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 20 (Q4 6:24); Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q4 6:18) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett..

Turning points

Plays that moved win probability the most — the swings that decided the game.

• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:15) — (:15) 10-C.Batch pass to 82-G.Crowell to MIN 20 for 26 yards (22-T.Carter). [WPA -16.5% · EPA -0.89]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 1:42) — (1:42) 17-M.Berger punts 44 yards to end zone, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Touchback. [WPA -12.9% · EPA -0.51]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 54:58) — (9:58) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 84-R.Moss to DET 30 for 18 yards (24-T.Lyght). [WPA +11.1% · EPA +2.74]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 6:24) — (6:24) 10-C.Batch pass incomplete to 87-J.Morton. Play Challenged by DET and REVERSED. 10-C.Batch pass to 87-J.Morton for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.81]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:51) — (:51) 10-C.Batch pass to 87-J.Morton to DET 43 for 15 yards (28-R.Tate). [WPA +10.0% · EPA +0.79]

Impact plays

Highest expected-points added snaps that flipped field position and scoring chances.

• Detroit Lions (Q4 6:24) — (6:24) 10-C.Batch pass incomplete to 87-J.Morton. Play Challenged by DET and REVERSED. 10-C.Batch pass to 87-J.Morton for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +10.1% · EPA +4.81]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q2 30:34) — (:34) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper scrambles up the middle for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +2.8% · EPA +4.37]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 25:40) — (10:40) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper pass incomplete to 84-R.Moss. PENALTY on DET-27-J.Wyrick, Defensive Pass Interference, 40 yards, enforced at MIN 13 - No Play. [WPA +2.6% · EPA +4.30]
• Detroit Lions (Q2 43:21) — (13:21) 10-C.Batch FUMBLES (Aborted) at DET 32, RECOVERED by MIN-99-C.Hovan at DET 37. [WPA -5.7% · EPA -4.17]

Quarterback report card

C.Batch led all passers in efficiency for Detroit Lions, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• C.Batch (Detroit Lions) · 52 dropbacks · 59.6% completion · +0.34 EPA/play · +17.44 total EPA
• D.Culpepper (Minnesota Vikings) · 40 dropbacks · 50.0% completion · +0.31 EPA/play · +12.38 total EPA

Team stats comparison

Side-by-side offensive and defensive efficiency from FantasyHQ analytics.

By the numbers

Both offenses finished within striking distance on EPA per play (Detroit Lions +0.18, Minnesota Vikings +0.22) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Detroit Lions: 10 drives, +16.44 total EPA, 5 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 9 drives, +17.67 total EPA, 5 scoring drives

Key takeaways

What to remember for fantasy research, film review, and follow-up box score digging.

• Minnesota Vikings leaves with the win and the better postgame narrative for Week-to-week momentum.
• One-score margin — fantasy managers should double-check garbage-time stats before drawing conclusions.
• C. Batch (Detroit Lions) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.

Every scoring play

Chronological scoring with field position and full play-by-play context.

1. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q1 53:34 · DET 7 · Score 0-6
   (8:34) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper up the middle for 7 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
2. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q1 53:29 · DET 2 · Score 0-7
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.
3. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q1 49:02 · MIN 1 · Score 3-7
   (4:02) 4-J.Hanson 19 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
4. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 44:55 · DET 1 · Score 3-13
   (14:55) 30-T.Prentice up the middle for 1 yard, TOUCHDOWN.
5. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 44:46 · DET 2 · Score 3-14
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.
6. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q2 40:52 · DET 23 · Score 3-17
   (10:52) 1-G.Anderson 41 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.
7. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 37:28 · MIN 32 · Score 6-17
   (7:28) 4-J.Hanson 51 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
8. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q2 30:34 · DET 33 · Score 6-23
   (:34) (Shotgun) 11-D.Culpepper scrambles up the middle for 33 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
9. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q2 30:25 · DET 2 · Score 6-24
   1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.
10. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 25:33 · DET 47 · Score 6-30
    (10:33) 11-D.Culpepper pass to 80-C.Carter for 47 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
11. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 25:25 · DET 2 · Score 6-31
    1-G.Anderson extra point is GOOD, Center-43-B.Heffner-Liddiard, Holder-17-M.Berger.
12. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 20:47 · MIN 15 · Score 12-31
    (5:47) 10-C.Batch pass to 34-J.Stewart for 15 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
13. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 20:40 · MIN 2 · Score 13-31
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.
14. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 14:26 · MIN 16 · Score 19-31
    (14:26) 10-C.Batch pass to 82-G.Crowell for 16 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
15. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q4 6:24 · MIN 20 · Score 25-31
    (6:24) 10-C.Batch pass incomplete to 87-J.Morton. Play Challenged by DET and REVERSED. 10-C.Batch pass to 87-J.Morton for 20 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
16. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q4 6:18 · MIN 2 · Score 26-31
    4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-89-B.Banta, Holder-19-J.Jett.