Mitchell, Lions Win 44-38 Detroit Qb Throws 4 Td Passes In Wild Victory Over Minnesota

It was the kind of performance Bobby Layne would have loved.

Scott Mitchell, playing on a gimpy right ankle, threw a career-high four touchdown passes and shattered Layne’s team record with 410 passing yards Thursday as the Detroit Lions kept their playoff hopes alive with a wild 44-38 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.

“Anybody who doesn’t think Scott Mitchell is tough enough is welcome to put on my uniform and try him out,” said Herman Moore, one of three Detroit receivers with more than 100 yards in catches Thursday. “Scott’s been taking a lot of heat this year, but I think he proved today what a competitor he is.”

The Lions (6-6) took advantage of the first mistakes in almost a month by Warren Moon. Moon, who turned 39 last Saturday, hadn’t thrown an interception in his last four games. But he was picked off twice by the Lions and each was costly to Minnesota (6-6).

Moon’s first interception led to Mitchell’s 27-yard touchdown pass to Moore late in the third quarter. That gave Detroit a 34-31 lead the Lions didn’t relinquish.

Moon’s second interception came on the final play of the game, when he just missed on a desperation pass to Cris Carter in the end zone.

Moon completed 30 of 47 passes for 384 yards and three touchdowns. He has 14 touchdown tosses in his last four games. Jake Reed had six receptions for a season-high 149 yards.

“I don’t know if I have been in a game like this since grade school,” Moon said. “I’ve been in games that were this high-scoring, but never when there were three touchdowns taken off the board. This could have been a 100-point game.”

The Vikings had two TDs erased by penalties; the Lions lost one.

Mitchell, who missed one day of practice after being injured Sunday, completed 30 of 45 passes.

The late Layne, who often played hurt and rallied his team from great deficits, set the club mark with 374 yards against Chicago in 1950.

Lions 44, Vikings 38

Minnesota 7 21 3 7 - 38

Detroit 14 10 10 10 - 44

First quarter

Det-Perriman 2 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 6:46.

Det-Perriman 20 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 13:11.

Min-Reed 55 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick), 14:41.

Second quarter

Det-Morton 16 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 4:57.

Min-Palmer 74 punt return (Reveiz kick), 8:37.

Min-O.Thomas 17 fumble return (Reveiz kick), 8:51.

Det-FG Hanson 32, 12:47.

Min-Carter 10 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick), 14:36.

Third quarter

Min-FG Reveiz 49, 6:12.

Det-FG Hanson 40, 9:29.

Det-Moore 27 pass from Mitchell (Hanson kick), 11:13.

Fourth quarter

Det-Sanders 50 run (Hanson kick), 9:42.

Min-Carter 7 pass from Moon (Reveiz kick), 12:53.

Det-FG Hanson 39, 14:25.

A-74,559.

Min Det First downs 22 27 Rushes-yards 15-34 25-139 Passing 351 395 Punt Returns 2-90 3-32 Kickoff Returns 8-207 5-89 Interceptions Ret. 1-0 2-15 Comp-Att-Int 30-47-2 30-45-1 Sacked-Yards Lost 4-33 3-15 Punts 5-45 2-40 Fumbles-Lost 1-1 2-2 Penalties-Yards 12-113 9-53 Time of Possession 27:28 32:32

Individual statistics RUSHINGMinnesota, Graham 6-22, Moon 4-11, Lee 4-2, Evans 1-(minus 1). Detroit, Sanders 24-138, Mitchell 1-1.

PASSINGMinnesota, Moon 30-47-2-384. Detroit, Mitchell 30-45-1-410.

RECEIVINGMinnesota, Lee 8-83, Reed 6-149, Carter 5-51, Evans 3-23, Ismail 2-31, Palmer 2-16, Graham 2-15, Cooper 1-9, Jordan 1-7. Detroit, Perriman 12-153, Moore 8-127, Morton 7-102, Sloan 2-23, Holman 1-5.

MISSED FIELD GOALSMinnesota, Reveiz 38. Detroit, Hanson 40.