Minnesota Vikings' Adrian Peterson (29) runs into the end zone for a 16-yard touchdown as guard Anthony Herrera (64) signals the score as the Vikings embarassed the reeling Detroit Lions 42-10 Sunday. Peterson rushed for 116 yards and two touchdowns in his return from a knee injury.



Vikings wide receiver Sidney Rice, top, pulls in a 3-yard touchdown pass from Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson over Detroit Lions cornerback Fernando Bryant, bottom. Jackson has shown poise, an accurate arm and command of the offense that simply wasn't there early in the season, and Sunday was his best game yet. He was 18-of-24 for 204 yards and two touchdowns, and the Vikings (6-6) scored TDs on their first six possessions to win their third in a row and fourth in the past five games.



Minnesota cornerback Charles Gordon, left, keeps an eye on Detroit Lions wide receiver Roy Williams as he pulls in a pass from Jon Kitna for a first down. Kitna threw for 260 yards and one touchdown for the Lions (6-6), who have lost four in a row to waste a 6-2 start that had fans crowing that the roar was restored in Detroit. A month later, the Lions are looking more like the hapless Motor City Kitties who started the season with more losses than any team in the NFL over the past six years.



Kitna (8) is sacked by Minnesota Vikings Kevin Williams, back, during the third quarter.



Minnesota Vikings linebacker E.J. Henderson, right, breaks up a Kitna pass attempt in the fourth quarter. Kitna was replaced late in the fourth by backup J.T. O'Sullivan.
(AP Photos by Jim Mone and Tom Olmscheid)