Jim Mone / AP

Minnesota running back Adrian Peterson scores on an 80-yard touchdown run against Detroit on Sunday. Peterson finished with 160 yards and two touchdowns in the Vikings' 24-10 victory.

By JON KRAWCZYNSKI

updated 4:20 p.m. ET Sept. 26, 2010

MINNEAPOLIS - Brett Favre and the high-flying Minnesota Vikings offense has been grounded early this season.

That's exactly where Adrian Peterson likes it.

With Favre again struggling to move the ball through the air, Peterson rushed for 160 yards and two touchdowns to lead the Vikings to a 24-10 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Peterson bounced off Lions tacklers all day and ripped off an 80-yard touchdown run in the third quarter that put the game out of reach, delivering the Vikings (1-2) their first victory of a season that began with Super Bowl aspirations.

"That's really just the mentality that I have," Peterson said. "When things aren't really going well, I want to get the guys going up front and establish the run game. We were pretty productive."

After showing plenty of feistiness in losses to Chicago and Philadelphia, the Lions (0-3) lost their 22nd straight road game — the third longest streak in NFL history — and 13th in a row at the Metrodome.

Detroit's dynamic rookie Jahvid Best was held to seven carries for 26 yards and left the game in the third quarter with a right big toe injury. Coach Jim Schwartz said Best, who racked up 232 total yards last week, aggravated a Week 1 injury.

Subbing for the injured Matthew Stafford, Shaun Hill was 29 of 43 for 237 yards and a TD, but threw two interceptions in the end zone as the Lions tried to rally late.

"Shaun battled his way through it, but when it's one-dimensional you're going to get sacks and you're going to get interceptions because you don't have a run game," Schwartz said.

Favre was 23 of 34 for 201 yards with one touchdown and two more interceptions — one that was tipped — on another shaky afternoon for the Vikings passing game.

So the Vikings turned to the man who carried the offense during his first two seasons in the league. Call it Vikings, B.F. — Before Favre.

"There was definitely a sense of urgency," Peterson said. "Starting 0-2 was not the plan. Going into the bye week, guys had the mentality that it was a home game and we've got to come out and get this win."

Peterson ran over, around and through the Lions defense in his biggest day since rushing for 180 yards in the season opener last year.

"Especially right now with how we're struggling in the passing game, that sure was nice to see. ... That takes a lot of pressure off of me and the passing game," Favre said.

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