Minnesota Vikings Look Super in Lambeau

The sun is shining bright in Minnesota these days (figuratively speaking, not literally) as the Vikings proved their mettle Sunday in Green Bay, and put themselves firmly on the short list of Super Bowl contenders in the process.  

The Vikings continued to demonstrate that they can beat any team, any Sunday, on any field, with any number of players and weapons: The Brett Favre-led passing game methodically matriculating the ball down the field and into the end zone, or the defense holding the opposition to 47 total yards in a half, or another big play from Percy Harvin, just as the opposition is gaining momentum.

And Adrian Peterson is still there, who—despite the inconsistent run blocking he is receiving—remains the most sensational and feared player in football with the ball in his hands.  

Give Brad Childress credit for giving Peterson the ball four times inside the 10-yard line, allowing Adrian to will the ball into the end zone towards the end of the first quarter. It was also the right call to go for it on another fourth-and-one attempt, despite the fact they were stuffed due to that inconsistent run blocking.

Even though the run blocking has been a tad lackluster, and everyone wants a higher yards-per-carry average (which seems greedy since Peterson is averaging 4.8 ypc), their pass protection has been first-rate. Favre has been sacked only 10 times in the past six games, including a big fat zero times against Green Bay.  

The added time in the pocket has allowed Favre to find the talented foursome of Harvin, Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, and Visanthe Shiancoe down the field. These developments have made it seem like the passing game improves with every drive.

Meanwhile, the Vikings defense got six sacks—all from their front four. Minnesota currently leads the NFL in sacks and Jared Allen is the NFL leader with 10.5.

They should probably send a gift basket to the Green Bay offensive line for those stats. 

The re-emergence of Pat Williams has been crucial to the defense’s recent success. The big man might’ve needed a couple of games to get into game shape, but he has had consecutive superb outings against Pittsburgh and Green Bay. He looked like a tidal wave during his sack Sunday, easily brushing past a weak attempted block from Ryan Grant, before engulfing Aaron Rodgers.

Throw in the fact that Ray Edwards had his best game of the season and that Kevin Williams is the lineman who gets doubled the most on this team these days, and the Vikings front four might be more intimidating than ever.

The secondary is still prone to taking drives, quarters, and halves off, though.

They deserve plenty of credit for their dominant game against Pittsburgh, and their impressive first halves against Green Bay and Baltimore; but they still deserve plenty of scrutiny for their lifeless play whenever the Vikings have a big lead.  

Maybe defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier should reconsider his play-calling in those situations.

Or maybe Benny Sapp could figure out how to take an angle; or Karl Paymah and Madieu Williams could work on wrapping up; or Asher Allen could find a happy medium between his cagey-veteran performance in Pittsburgh and his sloppy-rookie performance in Green Bay.  

Or Antoine Winfield can come back healthy and solve everything.

But, while the score might’ve been close at times and the Vikings might’ve made some irritating mistakes in the second half (looking at you, Brian Robison), Minnesota responded to every Green Bay score and comeback attempt with definitive statements.

And it was those responses, those statements, those touchdown drives in such a hostile environment, during a division game, that have the Vikings looking so super today.  

That and the fact the Vikings have the second-highest points-per-game in the NFL halfway through the season.

Yes, there are still questions and another half-season to play before the playoffs begin; and yes, the Vikings are a missed field goal and a miracle away from being 6-3. 

But their record isn’t 6-3; it is 7-1 as they head into the bye week, which will be followed by home games against Detroit and Seattle.

Anyone could look at this team before the season and see that the ingredients were there for an outstanding season, or disappointment.

So far, the Vikings haven’t disappointed.

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Minnesota Vikings Continue to Confound

Football can be a fickle game, sometimes.

Twice on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings were inside the Pittsburgh Steelers‘ twenty-yard line, in the fourth quarter, and poised to take the lead (or at least tie the game).

Twice on Sunday, the Pittsburgh Steelers ended those drives with touchdowns of their own.

What goes around, comes around, so they say; and the breaks that had gone the Vikings way the previous couple of games most certainly did not go their way Sunday.

If a slightly suspect tripping penalty isn’t called…If Brett Favre‘s pass is a little lower and a millisecond later…If Chester Taylor catches a pass he should have and normally does…

Losses are going to happen, however.  This is a fact of football, even for that 16-0 Patriots team.

The confounding aspect of this loss is that it could have—and maybe should have—left Vikings’ fans feeling better about the team than last week’s win over Baltimore did.

The Vikings went to the defending Super Bowl champions’ homefield, against the number-two ranked pass offense and one of the best defenses—if not the best—in football, and outplayed them on 125 of the 127 plays.

Those two plays were pretty big, however, and the Vikings need to consider what put them in the situation to lose because of two plays.

Having a first-and-goal from the one-yard line and giving Adrian Peterson the ball only once is a good place to start.  

Brad Childress allows the team to get too cute sometimes, and that was definitely one of those situations.  For future reference, Brad: No team will stop Adrian four times at the one-yard line.  A defensive line of Joe Greene, Reggie White, Deacon Jones, and Alan Page wouldn’t stop Adrian four times from the one.

And yet the team got cute, threw two incompletions, settled for a field goal, and cut the Pittsburgh lead to three—instead of taking a one-point lead for themselves.

The end of the first half was a problem, too. Childress curiously kneeled the ball with one timeout and 24 seconds at the Minnesota 28-yard line, after a soft prevent-shell allowed Pittsburgh to go 91 yards in 1:15 for their only offensive touchdown of the game.

That drive—and a couple of disconcerting Rashard Mendenhall runs to the right scattered throughout the game—were the only problems the defense had Sunday.  

Other than that, Minnesota played arguably their best defensive game of the season.

The Vikings held Ben Roethlisberger to 159 net passing yards, and Hines Ward to one catch for three yards.  Pat Williams had his best game of the season, days after his 37th birthday; the combination of Karl Paymah and Benny Sapp played admirably in Antoine Winfield’s absence; and rookie Asher Allen was spectacular in his first NFL game.

Speaking of rookies: Percy Harvin, ladies and gentleman.  The Human Touchdown.  He is fun to watch, isn’t he?

Speaking of wide receivers: Sidney Rice, ladies and gentleman.  The Human Bungee Cord.  He is fun to watch, isn’t he?

There just really is not that much to get angry about, when you get down to it.  

Favre played the smart, veteran game pundits thought he couldn’t play anymore; the offensive line, despite some inconsistency in the run game, did an excellent job of pass protection for the most part.

The punter?  That’s it, pretty much.  Be angry at the punter, but it’s hard to get mad at the rest of the Vikings right now.

Minnesota’s next game against Green Bay is the more important game regarding the division and conference, and it might even be a must-win affair. But the Steelers game showed the Vikings how close they are to the elite level, and how two plays can be the difference.

Childress will have to learn to get out of his player’s way, and stop trying to out-maneuver the opposition in some mythical chess match he’s concocted in his mind.  Chris Kluwe will have to stop punting like he has a broken leg, and Ray Edwards will have to start playing up to his supposed potential at some point.

Otherwise, there ain’t much to feel down about.

Each week, Minnesota has taken another step towards looking like the Super Bowl team they want to be; be it the improved secondary this week despite the unavailable Winfield, or the ongoing maturation of Rice, or matching the defending Super Bowl champions hit for hit, play for play.  Almost.

If the breaks go one way, this team could be 4-3; they go another way, and the team could be 7-0.  That’s football, and the Vikings still don’t know how good they are, or could be. 

Either way, any Vikings fan should feel better about this team this week.

Even after a loss.

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Undefeated Minnesota Vikings Remain Unknown

How can a 6-0 team look so dominant and so mediocre in the same game? 

What am I saying; the Vikings have done this all year.  It’s habit, now.  An addiction.

Step one: Get out to a big, early lead.  Look like the second coming of Lief Erickson storming Newfoundland.

Step two: Go into a shell while waiting for the other team to score, turtle-style.

Step three: See what happens.

This addiction worked out against the Nowhere Teams of the NFL: Detroit, Cleveland, and St. Louis. It worked out fine—barely—against a Green Bay team featuring one leaky offensive line.  It only worked against San Francisco because of Favre’s arm and voodoo—which is kind of redundant in a way.

On Sunday, it worked against Baltimore because of the scared, timid leg of an inexperienced kicker, and probably some Mississippian frantically sticking pins in a new doll labeled “Hauschka.”

So here is Minnesota, 6-0.  This should have Vikings’ players, coaches, and fans sky-high, riding cloud nine.  

But it isn’t, for good and bad reasons.  

Let’s get the bad out of the way, starting with the secondary.  When was the last time the Vikings’ secondary was not a concern, by the way? Joey Browner’s hey-day, eh?

At least since the age of Warren Moon, the Vikings’ secondary has been nothing but trouble, and it is no different this year.  One could argue that the stats are inflated because teams need to throw the ball, and that is a very good argument to make.

But that doesn’t excuse all the problems the defensive backs are having right now.  

Minnesota came into the Baltimore game 18th in the NFL against the pass, giving up 225 yards/game.  Joe Flacco threw for 385 yards against them Sunday, and fairly easily led the Ravens into field goal territory for the potential game-winner.  

Karl Paymah—who admittedly wouldn’t have played as much if not for an Antoine Winfield injury—was routinely burned by Flacco and whichever receiver happened to be there.  To top it off, Winfield needs an MRI for his foot.  It would be a blessing if he misses only four games.

Regarding the pass defense, the safeties seem to be the main problem as of now.  

Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams need to make more of an impact in the cover game. Who knows if that means helping out the corners or jumping underneath passes; the game of football is a funny thing, and they could be doing their job perfectly as is. 

But it appears those two are allowing too much space for passes down the seams, and not recognizing the corner or post routes quick enough to give needed help.

The offensive line, while improved from a couple weeks ago, is still a source of consternation. Ditto the special teams; Chris Kluwe’s 39-yard punt late in the fourth quarter gave the Ravens incredibly good field position, as did the coverage unit on a couple of kick and punt returns.

The Vikings’ inability to play four straight quarters of consistent football is also a concern.  Every single game has left some form of question mark, be it allowing San Francisco, Green Bay, or Baltimore back into the game; or allowing Cleveland and Detroit to take early leads; or all the yards given up to St. Louis.

Considering the outcomes, it should not be a concern; after all, Minnesota is atop their division and tied for the No. 1 seed in the NFC. However, this year isn’t about a division title, or a No. 1 seed in the playoffs. 

This year is about the Super Bowl.  

The Vikings know that. And that is good.

After the Ravens game, the defensive unit talked about how disappointed they were in giving up a 30-17 lead in less than three minutes.  Brad Childress talked about not settling for field goals; no, seriously, he did.

The team realizes the Ravens game should not have come down to a missed field goal, that a Super Bowl team would not have allowed that.  And that is good.

More good: Sidney Rice (who is the Minnesota Larry Fitzgerald—which is kind of redundant in a way).  Rice and Favre are developing something special.  Of course, Favre is developing something special with Visanthe Shiancoe, too. Favre seems to be doing alright with Bernard Berrian and Percy Harvin, as well.

More good: E.J. Henderson was near the ball all day, Chad Greenway continued his Pro Bowl campaign, and Kevin Williams continues to be Kevin Williams.

And Adrian ended up with a pretty impressive performance.

Then Chicago lost the Sunday night game, and Minnesota found themselves two games up in the NFC North.

The Vikings are undefeated, two games up in the division, and have not scored less than 27 points in any game all year.

There really shouldn’t be too much to complain about.

And yet there is. 

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A Real Ravenous Test Is Coming

There are a couple of ways to talk about the Minnesota Vikings 38-10 win over the St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

One could discuss the maddening defense, which gave up 400 total yards to an offense that was mired in a season-long slump, but then stopped the Rams inside the 10-yard line thrice. Or the Vikings continued dominance in the third quarter.

But why even bother with a third discussion option about a blase win over a team going nowhere this season, when such an important, Ravenous test looms next weekend?

The Baltimore Ravens are coming into the Metrodome this weekend with a two-game losing streak, and are considered legitimate Super Bowl contenders by most NFL pundits. They might be undefeated if Mark Clayton’s hands didn’t vanish at the worst time against New England or if a couple calls went their way against Cincinnati. 

The Ravens will play angry, angrier than usual, and with the desperation of a team needing a win. This isn’t the typical Baltimore team either, as their offense has finally caught up with—and possibly surpassed—their defense.

Second-year quarterback Joe Flacco is the head of the NFL’s fourth highest total offense. He has a 90.2 quarterback rating, a 64.2 completion percentage, and is throwing for 258 yards per game. He has become one of the best young quarterbacks in the NFL, as opposed to the caretaker he was last year.

Baltimore has five receivers with 17 receptions or more and 200 yards or more, including Rice. Flacco has spread the ball around between a talented and veteran receiving corps featuring Derrick Mason, Todd Heap, Kelley Washington, and Mark Clayton.

Flacco and the passing game’s accelerated development has in no small part been helped by the Raven’s great running attack. Currently ranked sixth in the NFL, Baltimore is averaging 133 rushing yards per game.

Ray Rice, the second-year running back from Rutgers, is progressing into one of the best running backs in football. Despite splitting carries with Willis McGahee, Rice has 364 rushing yards on 5.8 yards per carry, and has contributed 208 receiving yards in the passing game. His receiving touchdown against Cincinnati in week five was a mix of Marshall Faulk and Walter Payton and hyperbole-inspiration.

The offense has been surprisingly excellent, while the defense has been surprisingly mediocre. Baltimore’s run defense is still it’s normal top-five self, but the pass defense is languishing (25th in the NFL) near the Detroits and St.Louises of the NFL. But with their track record, and Ed Reed, no one can expect this anomaly to last, and the Baltimore defense should still be feared. And respected. And feared.

Especially feared.

The Vikings, meanwhile, have a problem nobody saw coming: Adrian Peterson is going to have to help Brett Favre more than he has.

Peterson has averaged 70 yards on 3.5 yards per carry over the last three games. Arguably, he hasn’t needed to do more than that, but it is hard to believe the Vikings can beat the Ravens without Peterson increasing his contribution.

Something to consider: The Ravens had not allowed a 100-yard rusher for 44 straight games, until Cedric Benson hung 120 yards on them last week. It remains to be seen if that’s a sign of things to come, or something that will motivate Ray Lewis into a hurricane-like tizzy.

A reason for Peterson’s recent lack of yards is that opposing defenses have stacked up against the run, and dared Favre to beat them. So far, Favre has done just that. In the past two games, Favre is averaging 251 yards, with a 76.3 completion percentage, and four touchdowns.

If he can continue that kind-of performance against the Ravens, MVP chatter will soon begin for the player who is discernibly the difference for a team that was 2-3 after week five last year, and 5-0 after week five this year. But that doesn’t mean Favre is or should be the MVP—he’s but one great cog in a great team.

The Vikings have shown through the first five games that they are flush with disciplined playmakers all over the field who can take over a game at any point. Favre, Peterson, Percy Harvin, Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, etc.. The Vikings are not undefeated because of any one aspect or any one player. This is an all-around team that could beat anybody in the league in any number of ways.

That is just the paper though, what has happened, what is known. And we watch for the unknown, what will happen.

As for what will happen in the Baltimore/Minnesota game, there should be big hits, big turnovers, and big performances. These are two evenly matched, evenly talented, determined teams.

But Miss Cleo won’t even predict a winner, except to say they’ll be wearing purple.

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Minneosta Vikings Won’t Need Brett Favre To Break Packers’ Hearts

The Monday night game between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers has an abundance of storylines that ESPN has hammered into America’s collective consciousness for the past months.

Brett Favre trying to become the first quarterback in history to defeat every NFL team, against the team he crafted his legend with. Aaron Rodgers reprising the beleaguered role of Steve Young. Two favorites for the NFC North division title challenging each other. Fanbases forced to recognize the folly of sport. Rivals and Ryan Longwell. All of these storylines have been covered, except one.

The Vikings should run the Packers out of the dome. 

This is an ideal time for the Vikings to catch the Packers, and if they make the most of it, this game will be done before the fourth quarter.

Consider the Packers’ mess of an offensive line against the Vikings stout defensive line. The Packers have already given up 12 sacks through three games, and according to the latest reports, starting left tackle Chad Clifton won’t be able to suit up Monday. That leaves converted guard Daryn Colledge to block All-Pro Jared Allen, who is probably practicing his sack celebration dance right now.

Jared Allen is constantly practicing his sack celebration dance, though. Constantly.

The Packers passing game has not lived up to preseason expectations (207 yards/game, 18th in the NFL), thanks to the woeful line and a surprising rash of dropped passes. The Vikings pass defense has been much improved over past seasons, giving up an average of 168 yards/game, fourth best in the NFL.  

So if the Packers’ line can’t protect the pocket, Rodgers won’t have much of a chance in his personal battle against Favre. And if Rodgers were to get time, that might not even be enough.

The Packers defense will have a predicament just as intimidating: Adrian Peterson. Peterson has averaged 113 yards in four games against the Packers (including a 192-yard performance the last time these two played), and the Packers run defense has underachieved this year, giving up 128 yards/game for 10th worst in the NFL.  

Peterson, meanwhile, is averaging 119 yards/game this season, and the Vikings as a team are averaging 143 yards/game, seventh best in the NFL.

And Percy Harvin constantly gets touchdowns. Constantly.

All of that and Brett Favre’s relentless need to stick it to Mike McCarthy and Ted Thompson. The paper and stats and momentum side with the Vikings on Monday.

But the Packers need the win more in order to keep ground in the competitive NFC North.

If the Packers win, the division would be tied between Green Bay, Minnesota, and the Chicago Bears. If the Packers lose, they would be two games behind the Vikings, and one game behind the Bears.

This is as close to a must-win game as a week four game can be, even without the added incentive of playing against their former idol. 

No one will be surprised if the Packers take the air out of the dome with a victory, the Vikings’ current and evident advantages notwithstanding. Any given Sunday, or Monday, as it were.

What if, as the cartoon says, Brett Favre has a senior moment, and throws to green and white instead of purple.

Defensive coordinator Dom Capers could have gleaned something from the tape of the 49ers/Vikings game, when the 49ers reined in Adrian Peterson (save one 35-yard run). The Vikings’ excellent pass defensive statistics could be revealed by Greg Jennings and Donald Driver as nothing more than a mirage, or Ryan Grant unexpectedly pokes holes in the Vikings run defense.

The Vikings’ offensive line hasn’t created much time for their quarterback, for that matter; Favre could see Aaron Kampman many, many times.

That is where this game will be won, like every NFL game: in the battles between offensive lineman and pass rushers, between corners and wide receivers, running backs and blitzing linebackers, and obviously the all-important turnover battle. Any given Monday.

This is a big game for both teams, and not just because Favre is competing against Green Bay.

But that is pretty crazy when you really think about it. Favre versus the Packers, wow. 

It should be a great game.

For Vikings fans.

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Minnesota’s Miracle at the Metrodome Can’t Mask Vikings’ Flaws

Brett Favre, you magnificent graybeard, you’ve done it again.

You completed barely 50 percent of your passes. You threw ducks that should’ve been intercepted; you threw an interception. You missed receivers, you settled for field goals, and you looked like the aging fighter most people pegged you as.

And absolutely nobody cares about that now, because you won.

With 1:29 on the clock and no timeouts, Favre led the Vikings 80 yards for a game-winning touchdown the whole world has seen by now. Journeyman Greg Lewis—who was signed for special teams purposes and was only playing because Percy Harvin was exhausted—made the catch of his career by dropping his feet between a defender and the end line.

None of it should have happened.

Favre and the Vikings were supposed to fall on their faces. They deserved to lose to a 49ers team that could gain only 246 total yards after losing Frank Gore during the first series of the game. The Vikings were going to hand a win to a team that went 0-for-11 on third downs.

Phil Loadholt had already packed his suitcases and ordered a ticket for the midnight train, where he would leave town in the middle of the night with his tail between his legs and his head hanging low.

Loadholt and Anthony Herrera couldn’t hold the right side of the line. Outside of a 35-yard run—which Adrian Peterson created when he ran away from a broken play—the running game was nonexistent, totaling 26 carries for 59 yards.

John Sullivan was driven backwards 90 percent of the time, collapsing the pocket throughout the game. Effigies of him were going to be ablaze during the multiple rallies and protests in the streets of Bloomington today, presided over by deacons, and we would all yell “Burn!”

The most die-hard of Vikings fans would be thinking of ways to slip steroids into his morning coffee and/or afternoon tea—and everyone would be saying they miss Matty Birk.

The line did nothing to help for the first 58:40 of the game, but the worst of the bile would be directed at Tarvaris Favre himself if he had not pulled that throw out of his bag of tricks.

Favre was playing like every detractor had hoped he’d play like. Sloppy throws, inaccurate throws, lazy reads, etc., etc., he did it—against a team that does not have nearly the talent the Vikings have.

However, the 49ers should be considered the favorite to win the NFC West right now if Gore can return quickly and stay healthy. That is the truth and would be more obvious today if 3-0 was sitting next to their name.

Unfairly, their record is 2-1 today. Or maybe it is fair. While the Niners deserved to win, and most certainly did not “choke” away the game, they also did not win the game.

That is all that matters today.

While the Vikings did win the game, they have problems to rectify in the coming weeks if they want to be considered a serious threat to win the Super Bowl.

The offensive line is problem one. Special teams has given up a couple of big returns and allowed that miserable blocked field goal on Sunday (thankfully, Percy Harvin’s kick return touchdown canceled that out). The pass defense allowed Shaun Hill to lead a 49ers comeback, something that seemed impossible prior to the game. 

Adrian Peterson also needs to get more than 21 touches. That’s just science.

But for now, they are 3-0, riding high, and we still have no clue how good this team can be.

The Vikings have had three good halves in their three games this season; the second halves against Detroit and Cleveland, and they got a good half of football in somewhere during their weird game Sunday.

If they ever put together four straight quarters of their brand of football, there’s no reason to think they won’t be in the hunt for the NFC Championship.

But even though they’re 3-0, and everyone is understandably giddy about the Miracle at the Metrodome, the Vikings still don’t look like the Super Bowl contenders they claim to be, because a Super Bowl team would not have been in that situation.

A Super Bowl team would have dug their cleats in the throats of a team that lost its best player; they would have given the ball to the best running back in the NFL and let him go to town behind a supposedly good offensive line; and they would not have needed a 39-year-old quarterback to throw the ball 46 times.

Luckily it’s only week three, the Vikings are undefeated, and they have room to improve.

Now all they have to do is improve.

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Early Problems For Undefeated Vikings

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How Quickly We Forget

Ho-hum.

Ho-hum, 180 yards. Three touchdowns, ho-hum.

Let’s talk about Brett Favre! Splendid! What did you think of that throw, Mr. Elizabeth Hasselbeck? Did it have the tight, crisp spin of a Brazilian pole-dancer?

Percy Harvin caught three balls! Blimey! And then Brett tackled him and then they hugged and then it got a little awkward and then children’s eyes had to be covered and then raunchiness was redefined and then a nun wept.

Adrian Peterson, 180 yards, three touchdowns, a 64-yard ankle-breaking zig-zag through blocks and defenders, the brick stiff-arm, and a rocket booster-like dead sprint…ho-hum.

Expected.

Has it gotten to this point already? It usually takes a DWI or a season in Oakland or The Plastic Ono Band before we start taking greatness for granted.

But barely three seasons into his career, and Adrian Peterson gets the back seat after gaining more rushing yards than 28 National Football League teams?

Ho-hum, let’s talk about the special teams. Nothing special there, am I right?! Huh?! Yeah!? Sorry.

Just step back for a second and think: Peterson is on pace for 1,800 yards and 30 touchdowns, with six games left in the season.

The 30 touchdowns will obviously come down – Chester is a vulture, Brett has got a lot of free Wranglers thanks to the one-yard touchdown pass, and Jeff Dugan is goin’ get his! – but 1,800 yards through 10 games?

Sure, why not.

It’s an outlandish and foolish statement, but so what? Have you seen this “human”? Or his future “opposition”?

The Vikes are playing in Detroit next week. The Lions just gave up 358 passing yards and six touchdowns to Drew Brees and the Saints. Despite all those passes, running back Mike Bell was still able to rush for 143 yards.

Mike Bell. He couldn’t get yards in the Mike Shanahan running back machine.

The lesson is, as always, Detroit’s defense might not be that good this year.

Peterson could get 300 yards next week, and only with Peterson can such an outlandish and foolish and drunk statement be taken somewhat seriously; i.e, Adrian Peterson is the reason Superman keeps some kryptonite around, in case Adrian turns evil.

But, as we all know, Superman keeps some kryptonite around because he’s suicidal. Being the world’s savior is too much pressure for one man, even a Superman. Or a Christ. But that’s a story for another day.

The Vikings won Sunday – and will continue to win, or lose – because of many reasons. It’s a football team; there is always more praise or criticism to go around, don’t get me wrong.

Yes, they won because Brett Favre completed important passes; because Percy Harvin gets first downs; because Chester Taylor is a professional; because Kevin Williams makes impact plays; and because the E.J-led defense made the important third down plays.

But while it’s a football team, and they win and lose as a football team, the Vikings will go as far as Adrian Peterson can drag defenders.

He is the bread butterer, and no one can ever forget this.

Especially you, Brad.

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Vikings’ Post-Preseason Preseason Outlook

Faver Fvare Varfe Ferva Refav Fevar Vfare Fvear Rafev Vfrae Farev. Favre.

Alright, got that out of the way.

Let’s talk Vikings football.

This team should break a-whole lot of hearts this season. Not sure whose hearts, though. They could break some Packers’ fans hearts.

Ohhhhhhh Boy, could they break some Packers’ fans hearts.

Break the hearts of Bears’ fans, too. Lions’ fans don’t have any hearts to break, not anymore (ah, man, what if Calvin Johnson tore his MCL? It can get worse, Detroit).

And all the hearts of the people out there who raged after the summer romantic-drama, “Favre: After Training Camp.” Which, based on a casual glance at the Internet, was a lot of people.

Sorry to say, but the Vikings are going to win, fellas.

They’re going to win early and often. They’re going to win ugly, they’re going to win in spite of themselves, they’re going to win with cheap pass interference calls, they’re going to win without covering the spread, and they should be the favorite to win this division and make the playoffs.

And that’s when they’ll break Vikings’ fans hearts and cause an avalanche of I told you so.

Or not. Maybe they don’t make the playoffs; maybe Peterson goes down; maybe Favre gets the first 40 td/40 int season; maybe Tarvaris is a pro bowler; maybe Pat Williams chokes on a ham sandwich; Or not.

The season will write itself.

This should be a playoff team, though, make no doubt. The only changes to their starting lineup from last year are upgrades. And Brad Childress will never be considered an X’s-and-O’s guru (despite what he no doubt tells himself in the mirror every morning while not shaving), but the team has always played hard for him, and that can’t be forgotten.

By the by, don’t ever shave that thing, Brad. It truly is glorious. When the light hits it right, I see Valhalla. Moving on.

While the Packers’ and Bears’ preseasons have been rightfully gushed over, the Vikings preseason has been erroneously overlooked. Favre is completing the passes Tarvaris didn’t, the defense looks like they want to break someone in two on every play, the pass defense might actually defend the pass this year, the special teams seems to have more talent than it’s had in years, and Adrian Peterson is still there.

And this team won the division last year with mainly Gus Frerotte, no E.J. Henderson, and the worst special teams the NFL has seen in years.

The world wants them to trip in a pile of Favre’s bones, though. Can’t say I blame the world, either.

But with a rushing offense and rushing defense like this, the Vikings are a regular season machine, and they should sleepwalk to a 10-6 record. 

The playoffs are where the Vikings all-in push will be judged, however. That is where the Internet will get it’s chance to throw beer bottles, batteries, blueberries, Blackberrys, and steel-toed boots at Favre and Chilly.

A couple of hall-of-fame quarterbacks that led a ‘Super Bowl contender’ in their last year was Dan Marino and John Elway, and there is a stark contrast in how their careers ended.

And yeah, it’s a stretch to say this is Refva’s last year, but go with me here.

Elway rode a great running back, a playmaking defense, and didn’t have to do much for that second Super Bowl ring; Marino played a year too long for a team that wasn’t as good as expected and got pulverized in the playoffs by 50 in Jacksonville.

Who knows where this season will end for the Vikings.

But that’s the fun part, so I’ve heard.

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Meaningless Thoughts About a Meaningless Game

During the 2005 preseason, the Minnesota Vikings were a popular choice to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

Heck, Sports Illustrated picked ‘em to win the Super Bowl!

Daunte Culpepper was coming off a career year, the defensive side of the ball had finally been addressed, and Mike Tice was the head coach. What could go wrong? Culpepper lit up the preseason, Tice stopped scalping tickets, and expectations rose.

Then that fateful, hideous season happened.

The Vikings finished 9-7 on the back of a six-game winning streak after Culpepper suffered a season-ending injury. He ended his season with just a 2-5 record, and 6 touchdowns to 12 interceptions. Tice was fired for not meeting expectations.

Though he never should’ve been a head coach to begin with. I mean, just…just think about that for a second. Mike Tice was a head coach in the National Football League. Just…just think about that.

What a country.

Culpepper’s career and earnings potential soon evaporated.  Fast.  It improved for a short time on a lakeboat in Minnetonka one night, but that’s a story for another time.

That would be my example of how meaningless the preseason can be, and how important Randy Moss is. But that’s a story for another time.

The preseason can’t tell us how a team will perform in the regular season or how a player will play. Granted, Daunte’s injury did him no favors, but neither has his inability to read zones and react to blitzes.

While the preseason is no great indicator for how a season will go, it is where jobs are earned and lost.  Position battles are settled in preseason games. Rookies and diamonds in the rough are found in preseason games. And that is why seemingly meaningless games are needed and useful. 

But they are meaningless games. And make it three instead of four games.

Alright, good talk. On to observations.

The QB Situation

Sage Rosenfels started the game, completing 10-13 passes for 91 yards, and running for five yards. Showed good mobility and good accuracy.  Didn’t throw past 15 yards once, though. Not much to get excited about, but not much to criticize. 

Tarvaris Jackson didn’t play with the first-string, so cut him some slack.  But also know this: Sammy Baugh’s corpse would’ve played better. Pump-fake throws into the ground; I know what you’re saying, “Pump-fake throws? Not possible.” It is. It is possible. Short loopers behind receivers, inaccurate knuckleballs nowhere near a receiver, and the pocket presence of a jumping, blind lemming.  Not a good recipe for a quarterback.  7-15, 39 passing yards, and 0 rushing yards on three attempts.

And God help us all if John David Booty ever has to play.

Percy Didn’t Play

And that was a real buzzkill. 

Phil Loadholt and John Sullivan

Loadholt got beat more than a handful of times. He was spun around several times and the speed rush to the outside gave him trouble. However, center John Sullivan had a pretty impressive game, holding the point of attack very well.

3rd string RB

An intriguing, overlooked battle in Vikings camp.  Second-year player Albert Young against undrafted rookie free agents Ian Johnson and Antone Smith.  Young seems to be the front runner for the spot; he had the most rushes of any Vikings back with 14, and the most yards with 58. Johnson had 9 rushes and 50 yards, and the longest Vikings run of the night with a 16-yarder. I would say Smith looked the best, though.  On the last play of the game, he bounced off a tackle, spun, and dragged a defender for a 13-yard run.  All three players look like NFL-talent, but they can’t all make the roster.

Special Teams

Looking good, looking good.  They were flying around; Eddie Frampton, Heath Farwell, and rookie Jasper Brinkley always seemed to be on the ball.  Glenn Holt forced a fumble on punt coverage.  It should be a vastly superior unit compared to last year’s abomination.

Nickelback

Based on the training camp chatter, this is likely rookie Asher Allen’s job already.  He enveloped a Colts receiver on one play and tied for the team lead in tackles with Erin Henderson.

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