vikings/nfl

Final Score: Minnesota 27, Detroit 10

Minneapolis, MN (Sports Network) - Brett Favre threw a touchdown pass and Adrian Peterson added two scores on the ground, as the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions, 27-10, at the Metrodome.

Favre was 20-of-29 for 344 yards, while Peterson finished with 133 yards on 18 carries for the Vikings (8-1), who have won 12 straight against Detroit at home. Minnesota's Sidney Rice led all receivers with 201 yards on seven catches.

Rookie quarterback Matthew Stafford completed 29-of-51 passes for 224 yards and one touchdown for the Lions (1-8), who have lost their last 17 road games.

"We didn't handle their pressure very well," said Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz. "We didn't have a four-man pass rush. That was a significant, significant part in this game."

The Vikings took the game's opening kickoff and drove into the red zone before settling for a 22-yard Ryan Longwell field goal.

Detroit's initial offensive series ended with kicker Jason Hanson pushing a 48-yard attempt wide right.

Minnesota then turned the ball over on its next drive, as Peterson botched a pitch to rookie Percy Harvin on a reverse.

The Vikings' standout running back atoned for his miscue, shaking off a would- be tackler en route to a 22-yard score in the early moments of the second quarter. Peterson's 10th touchdown run of the season was set up by 43-yard passing play between Favre and Rice.

Missed opportunities defined the remainder of the frame for Minnesota. First, the Vikings failed to convert on 4th-and-short at the Detroit eight-yard line. Then Lions cornerback Phillip Buchanon caught up to a sprinting Peterson and punched the ball loose. Detroit linebacker Jordon Dizon recovered in the end zone for a touchback.

Hanson's 38-yard boot put the visitors on the board in the dying seconds before halftime.

"We didn't do a great job of holding on to the football," said Vikings head coach Brad Childress. "I thought we did a great job moving the football up and down the field, but the ball's got to go with you. We had a chance to put some distance and not be sweating as you went into the locker room."

Looking to build off the momentum from the late field goal, Detroit running back Kevin Smith coughed the ball up on the initial play from scrimmage to begin the third quarter.

Minnesota started at the Lions 28 after the change of possession, and two successive runs by Peterson -- the last a one-yard plunge -- made it 17-3 in favor of the home team.

Stafford then orchestrated a 15-play, 84-yard drive consuming six minutes of the clock and ending with an eight-yard touchdown pass to Will Heller.

Minnesota pulled away in the fourth quarter as Jeff Dugan hauled in an eight- yard TD toss from Favre off of play-action. Longwell's 35-yard field goal with 7:33 remaining accounted for the final score.

Game Notes

Minnesota hosts the Seahawks next Sunday, while the Lions return home to face Cleveland...Calvin Johnson made a game-high eight catches for 84 yards in the loss for Detroit...The Lions have not won on the road since October 28, 2007 against the Bears...Minnesota has scored in 33 of 36 quarters this season.