EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. (AP) — Minnesota Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway accepted his first career NFC defensive player of the week award with a shrug.

He had two interceptions and a fumble recovery in a victory Sunday at Detroit. But like many of his teammates on defense, he was still upset over a sloppy first half that allowed the lowly Lions to jump out to a 10-0 lead.

“It’s cool because it’s the first time it’s happened to me,” Greenway said of the honor. “It’s something you take pride in. But at the same time, when you play like that in the first half as a defense, we’re not happy with that.”

The Vikings, who have been the league’s best rushing defense over the previous three seasons, allowed 94 yards rushing in the first half against the Lions. Greenway missed a tackle that helped the Lions convert a third down, and the rest of the unit seemed to be taking a little too much for granted against a team that entered the game having lost 18 in a row.

The proud veteran defense used the halftime break as a wake-up call, and Greenway led the charge in a dominating second half. He recovered a fumble and intercepted a pass – both in Detroit territory – to set up touchdowns en route to a 27-13 win.

It’s just the kind of performance the Vikings are coming to expect from Greenway, a former first-round pick who missed his rookie season in 2006 with a knee injury.

“He’s a tremendous athlete,” defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier said. “When you are a smart guy who is a very good athlete, and you have the desire to be the best like he does, usually the thing that you are lacking is experience. You need to see things and go through different situations so it slows down for you, and that’s what’s happening to him.”

That is exactly what happened to him on his interception of Matthew Stafford in the fourth quarter.

Greenway said he had been beaten on a similar play several times earlier in his career, but he recognized it developing this time and made a play on the ball. Three plays later, Brett Favre hit Percy Harvin for a 3-yard TD to give the Vikings a 27-10 lead.

“I gave it up in New Orleans last year. I’ve given it up a couple times before,” Greenway said. “You work on it a lot. So you get one of those and it makes you feel good.”

The Vikings’ version of the “Tampa 2” defense made famous by Tony Dungy and Monte Kiffin in Tampa Bay is designed to give Greenway plenty of opportunities to make big plays.

While not as decorated yet, Greenway is Minnesota’s answer to Derrick Brooks in Tampa or Lance Briggs in Chicago, two weakside linebackers who flourished in the role. The Vikings drafted Greenway in the first round out of Iowa, believing then that his combination of speed, hands and tackling ability made him an ideal fit.

“He’s going to be a primary playmaker,” coach Brad Childress said this week. “We’re going to feature him the same way that we have always featured him at that weakside linebacker position. He’s very good at it, whether it’s stepping up on runs or going sideline-to-sideline.”

Greenway led the team in tackles last season, and the Vikings trust the former high school quarterback enough to put him out for onside kicks.

When he is at his best, the Vikings defense is at its best. After the lousy first half against Detroit, the Vikings allowed only 35 yards rushing and three points in the final two periods to put the game away.

“He just keeps rising,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “I thought he had a phenomenal year last year and got overlooked in some areas and he’s off to a quick start again.

“We were joking with him, ‘Hey man, you hold on to some of those picks you dropped last year and you’re probably in the Pro Bowl.’ Then he comes up with two of them. He just loves being out there. He has fun. I think every week he keeps getting better.”

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