Lions 17, Vikings 3: Matthew Stafford threw a touchdown pass to Theo Riddick and Detroit's defense forced three turnovers en route to victory over host Minnesota.

Joique Bell rushed for 74 yards and one touchdown for Detroit (4-2), which played without receiver Calvin Johnson and running back Reggie Bush – both out with ankle injuries. Tahir Whitehead intercepted two passes, Glover Quin picked off one and the NFL’s top-ranked defense recorded eight sacks.

Rookie Teddy Bridgewater struggled in his second career start for the Vikings (2-4), throwing for just 188 yards while being intercepted three times. Jerick McKinnon gained 82 total yards (40 rushing, 42 receiving) as Minnesota finished with 212 overall.

Detroit struggled to put together consistent drives until putting forth a 14-play, 60-yard excursion that consumed 7:44 of the third and fourth quarters, with Bell diving in from the 1 to make it 17-0 with 11:44 left. The Vikings broke the shutout on Blair Walsh’s 40-yard field goal with 4:53 remaining.

The Lions held Minnesota to 77 first-half yards while taking a 10-0 lead. Stafford hit Riddick on a 9-yard scoring pass less than four minutes into the contest and Matt Prater added a 52-yard field goal seven seconds prior to halftime.

GAME NOTEBOOK: DE Ezekiel Ansah recorded 2.5 sacks and DT Ndamukong Suh added two for the Lions. … Vikings LB Chad Greenway (ribs) missed his third straight contest. … Prater was 1-for-3 on field goals after being signed to replace an ineffective Alex Henery.