Defensive Mistake Costs Vikings : NFC: Pass-interference penalty sets up winning touchdown in Lions’ 30-27 victory.

Defense carried the Minnesota Vikings to the NFC Central title last season. On Sunday night, a defensive mistake kept the Vikings from overtaking the division-leading Detroit Lions.

On a fourth-and-eight play with 42 seconds left, Anthony Parker interfered with Brett Perriman at the one-yard line. On the next play, Derrick Moore scored to give the Lions a 30-27 victory.

“I was over there celebrating,” said Parker, the extra defensive back Minnesota uses in obvious passing situations. “I couldn’t believe they made that call. I thought it was a clean play. There really was nothing there.”

Perriman begged to differ. Immediately after the play, he tore off his helmet in disgust and screamed, looking for a penalty flag.

“He snagged my shoulder pads as soon as I got ready to jump,” Perriman said. “He stopped my momentum for getting to the ball. I had a step or two on him.”

Chris Spielman intercepted Sean Salisbury’s pass with 28 seconds left, clinching the win for Detroit (6-2). Minnesota fell to 4-3.

The game featured two former USC quarterbacks, Detroit’s Rodney Peete and Salisbury, who came on after Viking starter Jim McMahon suffered a shoulder midway through the first quarter.

Sean Salisbury was 25 of 37 for 234 yards and two touchdowns, and led the Vikings to their only 20-point-plus performance of the season. Peete was 20 of 28 for 273 yards and has now led the Lions to three victories in a row since reclaiming the Lions’ starting job. Two of those wins came in the final minute.