Detroit Lions vs. Minnesota Vikings: 2008 Week 6 Recap

Game story

In Week 6 of the 2008 NFL season on 2008-10-12, the Minnesota Vikings took care of business against the Detroit Lions, pulling away with a 12–10 final that came down to the wire.

The highest-scoring period was Q3 with 14 combined points — the stretch that most shaped the final margin.

G. Frerotte (Minnesota Vikings) paced the passing game, with +0.31 total EPA, and -13.8% completion percentage over expected.

On the individual side, B. Berrian (Minnesota Vikings) delivered the top overall EPA impact at +9.08 — the clearest player-of-the-game signal on the analytics sheet.

The momentum swing (+22.4% win probability) landed in the third quarter when Minnesota Vikings changed the game: (4:47) (Shotgun) 12-G.Frerotte pass short left to 87-B.Berrian for 86 yards, TOUCHDOWN.

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 B. Berrian · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +9.08 total EPA · 5 snaps · +1.82 EPA/play
2. 2 B. Wade · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.90 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.98 EPA/play
3. 3 J. Kleinsasser · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +3.62 total EPA · 2 snaps · +1.81 EPA/play
4. 4 Kevin Smith · Detroit Lions · Rushing · +2.97 total EPA · 5 snaps · +0.59 EPA/play
5. 5 C. Johnson · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +2.86 total EPA · 4 snaps · +0.71 EPA/play
6. 6 C. Taylor · Minnesota Vikings · Receiving · +2.32 total EPA · 3 snaps · +0.77 EPA/play
7. 7 M. Gaines · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.64 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.82 EPA/play
8. 8 R. Williams · Detroit Lions · Receiving · +1.51 total EPA · 2 snaps · +0.76 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

• Detroit Lions — C. Johnson (D. Orlovsky pass) (Q3 23:32)
• Minnesota Vikings — B. Berrian (G. Frerotte pass) (Q3 19:47)

Field goals

• Detroit Lions — J. Hanson (Q2 32:00)
• Minnesota Vikings — R. Longwell (Q4 0:12)

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 2–0. Minnesota Vikings registered a safety from the MIN 99 (Q1 45:21) — (:21) (Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky sacked ob in End Zone for -1 yards, SAFETY (69-J.Allen)..

The second quarter: Detroit Lions won the period 3–0. Detroit Lions connected on a field goal from the MIN 21 (Q2 32:00) — (2:00) 4-J.Hanson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris..

The third quarter: The quarter finished even at 7–7. Detroit Lions found the end zone from the MIN 12 (Q3 23:32) — (8:32) 6-D.Orlovsky pass short right to 81-C.Johnson for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Detroit Lions added 1 points from the MIN 2 (Q3 23:22) — 4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.; Minnesota Vikings found the end zone from the DET 86 (Q3 19:47) — (4:47) (Shotgun) 12-G.Frerotte pass short left to 87-B.Berrian for 86 yards, TOUCHDOWN.; Minnesota Vikings added 1 points from the DET 2 (Q3 19:33) — 8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe..

The fourth quarter: Minnesota Vikings won the period 3–0. Minnesota Vikings connected on a field goal from the DET 9 (Q4 0:12) — (:12) 8-R.Longwell 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe..

Turning points

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 19:47) — (4:47) (Shotgun) 12-G.Frerotte pass short left to 87-B.Berrian for 86 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +22.4% · EPA +6.34]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 2:22) — (2:22) 12-G.Frerotte pass incomplete deep right to 84-A.Allison. PENALTY on DET-28-L.Bodden, Defensive Pass Interference, 42 yards, enforced at MIN 32 - No Play. [WPA +21.8% · EPA +2.69]
• Detroit Lions (Q4 0:04) — (:04) (Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky sacked at DET 32 for -8 yards (93-K.Williams). [WPA -19.1% · EPA -0.09]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 12:49) — (12:49) 28-A.Peterson left guard to DET 39 for 4 yards (93-C.Smith). FUMBLES (93-C.Smith), RECOVERED by DET-28-L.Bodden at DET 38. 28-L.Bodden to DET 38 for no gain (76-S.Hutchinson). [WPA -18.7% · EPA -4.14]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 0:12) — (:12) 8-R.Longwell 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe. [WPA +16.8% · EPA +0.11]

Impact plays

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

• Minnesota Vikings (Q3 19:47) — (4:47) (Shotgun) 12-G.Frerotte pass short left to 87-B.Berrian for 86 yards, TOUCHDOWN. [WPA +22.4% · EPA +6.34]
• Detroit Lions (Q3 24:56) — (9:56) 6-D.Orlovsky pass deep right to 81-C.Johnson to MIN 17 for 37 yards (42-D.Sharper). [WPA +15.2% · EPA +4.54]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q4 12:49) — (12:49) 28-A.Peterson left guard to DET 39 for 4 yards (93-C.Smith). FUMBLES (93-C.Smith), RECOVERED by DET-28-L.Bodden at DET 38. 28-L.Bodden to DET 38 for no gain (76-S.Hutchinson). [WPA -18.7% · EPA -4.14]
• Minnesota Vikings (Q1 45:38) — (:38) 28-A.Peterson up the middle to DET 7 for 4 yards (27-D.Bullocks). FUMBLES (27-D.Bullocks), RECOVERED by DET-26-D.Smith at DET 1. 26-D.Smith to DET 1 for no gain (81-V.Shiancoe). [WPA -12.3% · EPA -3.74]

Quarterback report card

G.Frerotte led all passers in efficiency for Minnesota Vikings, setting the tone in the passing game according to FantasyHQ analytics.

• G.Frerotte (Minnesota Vikings) · 41 dropbacks · 43.9% completion · -13.8% CPOE · +0.01 EPA/play · +0.31 total EPA
• D.Orlovsky (Detroit Lions) · 28 dropbacks · 42.9% completion · +4.1% CPOE · -0.24 EPA/play · -6.66 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 -0.16, Minnesota Vikings -0.14) — a true toss-up on the analytics sheet.

• Detroit Lions: 15 drives, -10.90 total EPA, 3 scoring drives
• Minnesota Vikings: 14 drives, -12.44 total EPA, 2 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.
• B. Berrian (Minnesota Vikings) is the first name to pull up for highlight reels and prop-retrospective research.
• G. Frerotte (MIN) finished below expected efficiency — volume may have masked accuracy issues.
• D. Orlovsky (DET) beat expectation through the air — positive CPOE game for stack builds.

Every scoring play

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

1. Minnesota Vikings Safety (+2) — Q1 45:21 · MIN 99 · Score 0-2
   (:21) (Shotgun) 6-D.Orlovsky sacked ob in End Zone for -1 yards, SAFETY (69-J.Allen).
2. Detroit Lions FG (+3) — Q2 32:00 · MIN 21 · Score 3-2
   (2:00) 4-J.Hanson 40 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
3. Detroit Lions TD (+6) — Q3 23:32 · MIN 12 · Score 9-2
   (8:32) 6-D.Orlovsky pass short right to 81-C.Johnson for 12 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
4. Detroit Lions XP (+1) — Q3 23:22 · MIN 2 · Score 10-2
   4-J.Hanson extra point is GOOD, Center-48-D.Muhlbach, Holder-2-N.Harris.
5. Minnesota Vikings TD (+6) — Q3 19:47 · DET 86 · Score 10-8
   (4:47) (Shotgun) 12-G.Frerotte pass short left to 87-B.Berrian for 86 yards, TOUCHDOWN.
6. Minnesota Vikings XP (+1) — Q3 19:33 · DET 2 · Score 10-9
   8-R.Longwell extra point is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.
7. Minnesota Vikings FG (+3) — Q4 0:12 · DET 9 · Score 10-12
   (:12) 8-R.Longwell 26 yard field goal is GOOD, Center-46-C.Loeffler, Holder-5-C.Kluwe.