Roof collapse alters plans

MINNEAPOLIS -- Brett Favre is getting help from the Minnesota Vikings' medical staff, the athletic trainers and perhaps even the weather gods as he tries to keep his incredible consecutive starts record going.

The Vikings' home game against the New York Giants was moved to tonight in Detroit after the Metrodome's inflated roof collapsed in a snowstorm early Sunday morning. The game will be televised by Fox in the teams' home markets and on the NFL's Sunday Ticket package on DirecTV.

The delay has given Favre more time to heal his sprained right shoulder, with his NFL-record streak of 297 straight regular-season starts hanging in the balance.

"Joke goin round is Gods Tryin to preserve Bretts streak record," Vikings receiver Bernard Berrian wrote on Twitter. "Lol!!"

Favre barely practiced all week. He's listed as questionable for the game after getting hit hard and slammed to the turf on his first pass of last week's game against the Buffalo Bills.

Favre sent a text message to USA Today saying he doubts he will be able to play tonight "but it does buy a little time."

Interim coach Leslie Frazier said the 41-year-old quarterback still will go through a pregame workout to determine if he's able to play.

"From everything I've seen, there is still a possibility he could play, especially with an extra day," Frazier said Sunday.

The Vikings held a short walkthrough Sunday, but Favre did not do any throwing.

"Rest is as important as anything to him," Frazier said, "and the fact that he's actually going through the throwing motion, we'll still get a chance to test some things out (tonight)."

The game was scheduled for Sunday afternoon and had been pushed back because of the storm that dumped 17 inches of snow on Minneapolis.

But Metrodome officials told the league the roof wouldn't be ready in time to play today or Tuesday. The league also had discussions with New Orleans, St. Louis and Indianapolis and considered the University of Minnesota's outdoor stadium before deciding to hold the game at Ford Field at 4:20 p.m. PST.

The NFL said Detroit was the best logistical fit given that Fox camera crews already were in town for the Lions' game against Green Bay on Sunday.

"We will do everything we can to make this a quality NFL game," Lions president Tom Lewand said.

The Vikings are refunding the cost of the tickets for the game for any fans who can't make it to Detroit. Those who do will be given priority seating along the 50-yard line, and the Lions will distribute free general admission tickets starting at 9 a.m.

No one was hurt, but the roof collapse sent the league and both teams scrambling.

The Giants were stranded in Kansas City, Mo., after their plane was diverted Saturday. They stayed overnight and landed in Detroit on Sunday afternoon.

Giants quarterback Eli Manning tried to lighten his teammates' mood by ordering the rookies to sing and said the team will be ready come kickoff.

"This is different, but I thought we've kept good spirits and good focus," Manning said. "We understand that this is an important game, and it's going to come down to who treats it with a businesslike mentality."

The Vikings are scheduled to host Chicago for a Monday night game next week, and Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission chairman Roy Terwilliger said he's optimistic the roof can be repaired in time. That would take a lot of work, though, considering the size of the holes and the wintry conditions.