Jared Allen, Vikings Record Eight Sacks in Win Over Packers

On primetime Monday Night Football, the Minnesota Vikings showed that they still have one of the premier defenses in the NFL.

Despite a career-high 384 passing yards from Green Bay Packers QB Aaron Rodgers, the Vikings held the Pack to two offensive touchdowns in a 30-23 victory.

This was mostly in part to Minnesota’s eight sacks.

Jared Allen led the way with 4.5 sacks, including one for a safety, his third safety in two games against the Packers. DE Brian Robeson had 1.5 sacks, and LB Ben Leber and DT Jimmy Kennedy each had one.

The Vikings have three Pro Bowl players on their defensive line with Jared Allen, and DTs Pat and Kevin Williams.

Green Bay’s opening drive ended with a strip-sack by Allen, with the fumble recovery by LB Chad Greenway that resulted in a Visanthe Shiancoe touchdown.

Midway through the third quarter, the Packers had first and five from the Vikings five yard line. After Packers RB Ryan Grant ran for a four yard gain, the Vikings shut down the Packers the next two downs after a run by RB John Kuhn and a reception by Jermichael Finley, both resulting for no gain.

On Fourth and One from the one yard line, TE Donald Lee dropped a pass from Rodgers that would have resulted in a touchdown.

Rodgers also threw a red zone interception to CB Antoine Winfield on the opening drive of the second quarter.

Jermichael Finley, Green Bay’s second string tight end who had a career total of 136 yards and one touchdown heading into Green Bay’s showdown in Minnesota, caught a career high six passes for 128 yards and a touchdown. Finley, who’s previous long was 35 yards, caught a 62 yard touchdown from Rodgers in the first quarter.

Both rushing defenses were stingy. Packers RB Ryan Grant was held to 51 yards on 11 carries, while Vikings RB Adrian Peterson was held to 55 yards with a touchdown on 25 carries.

Vikings Punter Chris Kluwe had a fantastic night as well. On his last three punts of the game, he placed the Packers on their one-, four-, and 15-yard line.

The Vikings and Packers meet again at Lambeau Field on Nov. 1.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

MNF: Allen Helps Favre Get “Revenge” on Packers

If you are the Green Bay Packers’ fans, Monday Night Football against Minnesota is a must win.

Not only are you facing your division rivals, but the most prolific player in your team’s history is taking the field against you.

If you are Aaron Rodgers, your dreams were probably haunted by the thought of Brett Favre beating you on Monday night.

Packer’s fans and Rodger’s worst fears came true on Monday, partially due to Favre.

Jared Allen and the Viking defensive line cemented their own little corner in their minds for the rest of the 2009 campaign.

Rodgers has little to no time in the pocket on Monday night, getting sacked eight times and fumbling once.

Jared Allen, who was is easily awarded defensive player of this game, collecting seven tackles and four and a half sacks.

Despite all of the pressure he was under, Rodgers managed a decent performance statistically, throwing for more than 300 yards and two touchdowns.

For the Vikings, Brett Favre put on a performance worthy of being called “Mr. Monday Night.”

Favre threw for 200-plus yards and three touchdowns, compiling a quarterback rating of 135.3.

Favre was given outstanding protection from one of the best offensive lines in football, sometimes holding the ball for as much as four seconds in the pocket.

Favre was not sacked all game and was able to connect with three different Viking receivers for touchdowns.

The Vikings are looking incredibly strong coming off of this win. The main reason is the ability to not rely on Adrian Peterson to get a win.

Peterson had 55 yards, and despite having a touchdown, was not the major reason for the Viking victory.

Games like the one Monday night show the rest of the league that Minnesota is not a one dimensional team and are a force to be reckoned with.

Green Bay, on the other hand, has some serious work to do. A .500 record this season will not get them into the playoffs, especially in the heated NFC North.

The Packers need to mend their spirits, and their strategy to save this season.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

The Metrodome Miracle: I’ll Never Forget Your Play, Brent

Minnesota has never seen a performance at the quarterback postition like the one Brett Favre gave them Sunday. They’ll likely never see another one like it after Number Four is finally retired for good, either.

I’m not talking about the stat line, even though it wasn’t bad—26-46 / 301 yards / two TDs/ 1 INT.  I’m not talking about his yardage, his QB rating, his TD/INT ratio, or even his team’s total offensive production against the San Fransisco 49ers.

I’m talking about the punishment he absorbed from the first series to the last, and the resolve he showed to win.  Brett Favre left his guts on the field last Sunday.  They were seemingly knocked clean out of his torso at times.

On the Vikings first possession on third and nine, Michael Lewis came on a delayed saftey blitz and blasted Brett to the turf, forcing an incompletion.  Second series: Manny Lawson slobber-knocked him on third and seven, although the drive kept going because of a defensive holding call. 

The game would go on like this until the final play, when he was jack-slapped a half second after he delivered the game winning pass with two seconds left in regulation.

Favre got his own revenge in the fourth, running down field and taking out the biggest, baddest mother on the field.  After completing an absolute bullet to Bernard Berrian from their own four yard line, Brett sprinted exactly 45 yards in traffic, lined a bead on Patrick Willis, and blasted him out of the play.

Time and time again, Brett Favre took shots from the Niners while trying to make a completion.

Mark Roman came untouched on a corner blitz and flattenend him late second quarter. The next series, Justin Smith was flagged for coming low on Favre. His helmet hit the side of his knee sending him immediately down to the turf.

That hit was the same hit put on Tom Brady and Carson Palmer in the years past.

At first look, it didn’t seem Brett would get back up on his own power. And yet when it counted the most in the final series, he was still trying harder than anyone else on the filed.

Favre went six-for-eight in forward pass attempts in just over a minute, and completed the 32-yard game-winner on a rope.

But it wasn’t as if Brett was the only player that mattered on the field sunday. The special teams units for both squads made significant contributions in scoring plays.  Darius Reynuad returned a second quarter punt that set up the Vikings’ first field goal and a ten point lead.

The 49ers, before half time, blocked the Vikings’ long field goal attempt and returned it for a touchdown, shocking the Vikings and the crowd. 

Before that play, San Fransisco had been badly outplayed in all phases of the game.  Yet after they took a one-point lead into the locker room.

After the half, Percy Harvin scored his first return TD on a kickoff—and the first return allowed in the league since the new wedge rule—that swung the momentum back to the Vikings.

But in all sense of reality, this game was all about Brett Favre and his will to win.

Brett not only battled the Niners defense, he also outlived numerous dropped and deflected balls by his own teammates.

Berrian, Shiancoe and even Percy Harvin had the ball riccochet wildy off their hands, numbers, and facemasks throughout most the game.

Brett’s only interception of the year came off Bernard Berrian’s chest. Not only did ”B-Twice” muff it, but he knocked the ball up in the air creating an easy tip drill for the Forty Niners defense.

Clearly, his recievers are still getting acclimated to a 15 ounce, slick, brown, cowhide, oblong missle traveling 70 miles per hour into the center of their chests.

The play?  The “Metrodome Miracle”?  While the one you’re thinking was incredible on its own merits, the play I refer to is Brett’s play during the game in general.

Brett Favre was clearly the player trying the hardest, had the most will to win on the field, took the hardest beating, and still showed the exuberence of an 18-year-old playing for the high school state championship.

If Tarvaris Jackson has a brain, he’ll have learned more from watching Brett play this game than he could have ever learned playing in it himself.

With the Vikings bringing in Brett, it not only wins you games, but it gives your QB unit a clue on how to compete, enjoy, and win in the NFL.

Here’s to hoping “T-Jack’s” gray matter was paying attention Sunday.  If so, he’ll be a hell of a quarterback in this league from watching Number Four show him how to be a champion.

Tarvaris needs to remember what he saw this last Sunday.  Instead of sulking, he should be taking very detailed notes.

If he does, perhaps we’ll see Jackson in a few years, in purple or another color, sprint 50 yards after a completion and get some revenge on Ray Lewis.

Sadly, I doubt it.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Brett Favre Proves He Still Has the Fourth Quarter Magic

As I sat in the Edward Jones Dome Sunday afternoon and watched the Green Bay Packers beat the hapless St. Louis Rams, I couldn’t stop a wandering eye from glancing up at the far side of the building.

There on the ring of honor, beside Rams greats like Marshall Faulk and Merlin Olsen, and other St. Louis football icons like Dan Dierdorf, were digital displays providing scores and stats from around the league.

Packers fans delighted in seeing the Minnesota Vikings trailing San Francisco late at home. Former Packers quarterback Brett Favre was having a yeoman’s day, completing 50 percent of his passes for a pedestrian 221 yards.

At the same time inside the Edward Jones Dome, new Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers was hitting big plays to Donald Driver and Greg Jennings, and leading the Packers to a 36-17 win.

Rodgers had a sparkling passer rating of 126.9 by virtue of his 13-for-23 day with 269 passing yards and touchdown tosses to Driver and fullback John Kuhn. Rodgers also ran for a score and picked up another 38 yards with his legs.

What the thousands of Packers fans in St. Louis were unable to see was the switch in Favre’s head they had grown so accustomed to seeing for 16 seasons get flipped.

 

Favre had engineered 39 fourth-quarter comebacks for the Packers, displaying the intangible ability to take over a game when it was on the line. Sure he lost a few along the way, but his talent for dominating a game, and the exuberance in which he did so, is what made him a sure-fire Hall of Famer. It’s also the reason he grew to become arguably the most beloved player in Packers history.

Now donning the purple of the hated Vikings, Favre reminded Packers fans of his greatness, and proved to the rest of the league that he still has it.

Taking over at their own 20 with 1:29 remaining and trailing by four, the Vikings were without a timeout. Favre, who had been 18-of-36 for 221 yards with a touchdown and interception, engineered a 10-play, 80-yard drive to lead the Vikings to an improbable win.

Two weeks before his 40th birthday, Favre led his 40th career fourth-quarter comeback. He was 6-of-10 on the drive, with two incompletions as a result of having to spike the ball to stop the block. The drive ended with a remarkable 32-yard fastball to Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone with just two seconds remaining.
Favre had done it.

He pumped left, rolled right, avoided a sack by skipping backwards, then rifled a pass with pin-point accuracy between two defenders. Lewis did his part, too, laying out for the ball, and getting both feet in bounds.

Following a review, the touchdown was upheld, and the Vikings knew now why their coach had pursued Favre so heavily.

Brad Childress was often chastised for dissing the two quarterbacks he had in camp, incumbent starter Tarvaris Jackson and Sage Rosenfels, a player they traded for to push Jackson for the starting job. But, at the end, there was Jackson right next to Favre giving him a congratulatory hug.

Even Jackson realized that neither he nor Rosenfels would have led the Vikings to a victory that day.

Brett Favre is Brett Favre for a reason. He’s a bona fide Hall of Famer for a reason.

As well as Rodgers has played for the Packers, they are still a team that has won just eight of 19 games since Favre led them to 13 wins in 2007. People are still second-guessing the decision of general manager Ted Thompson and head coach Mike McCarthy not to welcome Favre back after he changed his mind about retirement in June of 2008.

On Sunday, the old, grey-haired quarterback gave those naysayers another reason to say, “I told you so.”

**********

* – Brett Favre photo credit: City Pages

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

What We Learned: NFL Week Three

By Ryan of The Sportmeisters

Week Three had some major upsets, and a few tricks thrown in as well. Let’s take a look back at some of the big stories.

 

That Old Favre Magic

Two weeks into the NFL season, and Brett Favre has done little more than manage a game, a task either of his backups could do, and still make them 2-0. They do have one of the top NFL running backs in Adrian Peterson. However, Favre was finally called on in the fourth quarter against San Francisco, and boy, did he deliver. With 89 seconds to go, the Vikings were down 24-20, starting on their own 20 yard line. Favre drove them, completing all five of his passes, leading them to the 32 yard line of San Francisco’s with 12 seconds left. On the next play, Favre found little-used WR Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone to complete his 40th career game-winning drive. This one play just summed up why Minnesota took such a chance to get Favre back one last time.

 

An Unimpressive Beginning

It’s been two years and three games since Michael Vick played in an NFL game. Finally, on Sunday, Sept. 27, 2009, Vick came back and did…absolutely nothing. Well, that’s not all true. Vick, who has only practiced with the Philadelphia Eagles for a short amount of time, played his responsibility as a decoy well. Overall, Vick was on the field for 11 snaps, and had a total of seven yards on one rush. Ironically, it was the other Eagle backups, QB Kevin Kolb and RB LeSean McCoy who had a big day for the Iggles, who won 34-14 over Kansas City. As the season progresses, look for Vick to get some more action while he adjusts to his new team.

 

The First One Is Always The Sweetest

Dec. 23, 2007 was the last positive day for Lions fans. That day has since been replaced with Sept. 27, 2009 as the Detroit Lions won their first game in their last 20, beating the Washington Redskins 19-14. Coach Jim Schwartz and rookie QB Matt Stafford also celebrated their first career victories. While their 19-game losing streak will go down in history as the second longest in NFL history, for the Lions and their fans, all they’re concerned with is a new streak. This one has a more winning attitude to it.

Kudos must also go to Schwartz, who sent his team back out to celebrate the victory with the 40,000 plus fans who have been supporting the Lions through thick and thin.

 

All-Star Injury Squad

The NFL talks of adding an extra game or two, but at the rate of the injuries occurring, they’re won’t be anyone left to play that extra game. In fact, an all-pro team could be designed with the injured players. Key injuries include RBs LaDanian Tomlinson, Frank Gore, Jamal Lewis, Marion Barber, LB Brian Urlacher, DE Dwight Freeney, QBs Donovan McNabb and Chad Pennington, WR Wes Welker, CB Aaron Ross, S Troy Polamalu, and others. It’s a long season, and for some teams, a key injury to a franchise guy can really affect the team’s psyche and performance.

 

Way Too Early MVP Predictions

1. Peyton Manning: 983 yards and seven touchdowns in just three games, he is the reason the Colts have once again taken first place in the AFC South, and the team shows no signs of turnover issues with a new coaching staff in place.

2. Adrian Peterson: Even after his non-breakout game against San Francisco, the Minnesota Vikings RB is still a huge reason for their 3-0 start, with 357 yards and four touchdowns on the ground in 2009.

3. Drew Brees: The Greatest Show In The Air is led by Brees, with his 841 yards and 9 touchdowns already. He had a non-descript game against Buffalo, but still has the talent and the tools to put points up and lead New Orleans to victory in the coming weeks.

 

Contenders and Pretenders

It’s early in the season, but who’s getting off on the right foot?

Are the Jets for real? Raise your hand if you saw them 3-0 after games against New England and Tennessee. Well, it’s true, behind rookie QB Mark Sanchez and the suffocating defense, the Jets are 3-0 heading into a showdown against New Orleans this weekend.

The New York Giants recommitted themselves to the rushing game this past week, and it showed as that and a combined defense effort led them in shutting out the Tampa Bay Buccaneers 24-0. It was the first road shutout for the G-Men since 1983. The Giants are 3-0 for the second straight season.

The Baltimore Ravens are using their offense to put points on the board, and it has given them a 3-0 start in coach John Harbaugh’s sophomore season.

As always, there are teams struggling to live up to the hype early on this season as well.

Three losses last year, three losses this year. It’s the same old for the Tennessee Titans, except they’ve lost all three games in a row this season. Who would have thought Albert Haynesworth made that much of a difference.

An inept win over St. Louis and a pathetic loss to Detroit makes the Washington Redskins a huge pretender. Combine that with the NFC East division, and coach Jim Zorn might not make it out of Week Two.

The Miami Dolphins are stuck with one of the hardest schedules this season, and it is clearly affecting last year’s AFC East champs, as they are 0-3 already this season.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Favre’s Black Magic Is Back, Vikings Rally Back to Shock 49ers

Why did the Minnesota Vikings pursue the retired all time winningest quaterback?  For games just like today against the San Francisco 49ers.

Down by four points with 12 seconds left, on their own 32-yard line, Minnesota needed a miracle.  So Brett, being Brett, was able to scramble around the pocket to create time to connect with WR Greg Lewis in the back of end zone to cap off the unbelievable comeback.  

Had the Vikings not lured out one of the most prolific passers in NFL history, this spectacular comeback would most likely not have happened.  

Going into the season, many said the Vikings were a quarterback away from making a Super Bowl run.  With Tavaris Jackson or Sage Rosenfels, Minnesota most likely would have had no chance of defeating the 49ers.  

These situations are what make Brett Favre, Brett Favre.  His gun-slinger mentality is what sets him apart from the rest of the quarterbacks in the NFL, and it shows in both touchdowns and interceptions.

But, contrary to the late game heroics of Favre, didn’t he look like this last year with the New York Jets?

The Jets began the year 8-3 and seemed to be ready to make a deep playoff run until Favre injured his bicep and played dismally the rest of the season ending with a 9-7 record and missing the playoffs.

So Viking fans, don’t get caught up in the magic of Brett Favre, for your cheers today could turn into boos by season’s end.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Vikings vs. 49ers: Brett Favre Stuns San Francisco with Comeback

For those of you still debating whether or not Favre still has it: apparently, he does.

With no less than two seconds left on the clock in a heated battle with San Francisco, the Vikings—led by Favre, not Peterson—cemented their 3-0 start with a stellar pass from Favre to Greg Lewis, who “cat-walked” his way to a TD.

Driving down the field against a stout zone coverage package that wreaked havoc on Favre all day, the master of the comeback did it yet again, threading the proverbial needle as only Favre can.

San Francisco did—literally—everything they could to stave off a Vikings victory. The 49ers created disruption up front, and they stifled the run just enough so that it was ineffective, but in the end, it was Favre’s uncanny ability to take a team—any team—on one helluva pinch drive to victory.

In the victory Favre became the first Viking to pass for over 300 yards since Dante Culpepper, who is now tending to a boo-boo on his toe in Detroit.

There has been a lot of speculation as to whether or not Favre could still “be the man” so to speak, and lead a team into the throngs of a two minute or less drill to the end zone—a speculation that should be put to rest today.

Peterson was average, surmounting 85 yards with a 4.5 yards-per-carry average, and the receiving corps really starred despite low expectations.

This victory, and the fashion in which it was achieved, set up a huge stage for next week’s match-up between the Packers and Vikings. Clearly, both teams still have some issues to deal with on defense, but Favre’s last minute heroics prove that the Pack will have their hands full.

The Vikings defense did, however, have a terrible time stopping the 49ers’ exploitation of the zone coverage—and San Francisco’s biggest playmaker was Vernon Davis. Minnesota should have a tougher time with a Packers team that employs multiple receivers and looks, setting up this game as the one to watch next week.

But for now, the Vikings and Favre are going to relish in a little magic—which was the main reason for bringing him to Minnesota in the first place.

The question is, can Green Bay stop the magician next week, or will the Vikes roll to a seemingly unstoppable 4-0 start.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Detroit Lions Leading Minnesota Vikings 10-0 in 2nd Quarter

Wow. Consider me shocked.

A few people (including Peter King) were predicting that the Lions could beat the Vikings this weekend and snap their 18-game losing streak. After watching Adrian Peterson carve up the Browns in the second half last week, and Drew Brees throw for 6 TDs against the Lions, I wasn’t buying it.

So far, so good for Detroit.

Rookie QB Matt Stafford just threw a TD pass to Calvin Johnson, and the Lions lead 10-0 with about 5 minutes left in the 2nd quarter.

Stay tuned…

Update: The Vikings, surprise surprise, scored on their next possession, a 1-yard TD pass from Brett Favre to Visanthe Shiancoe.  10-7 Lions.

Update: I officially jinxed the Lions. Adrian Peterson just treated the Lions D like they were the Browns and rumbled for a 27-yard TD. 17-10 Vikings. Sorry Detroit.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Monday Morning Hangover: 10 Thoughts On NFL’s Opening Week

What does a 27-year-old wannabe sports writer and Tom Brady have in common? We’re both nearly 6’4″? Maybe we both like tossing footballs around? Oh, we’re both good looking?

All of the latter is true, but there’s one big thing we have in common. We’re both making comebacks tonight. Well, today. I’ve been on a three-week hiatus from Bleacher Report because the Internet has suddenly became too rich for my taste.

We all know about the knee injury heard ’round the world at the beginning of last season to Brady.

Today marks the first game of his comeback.

His shoulder injury was much ado about nothing, and he seems healthy and ready to be at center stage again. And what better defense to play his first game against other than the Buffalo Bills?

As I prepare for what will be the last of an exciting, breathtaking, heart-pounding opening weekend, I looked into the football mirror and pulled out 10 stories that engaged my football intelligence and got me going.

OK, it’s really a Coors Light bottle, but who cares anyway.

 

10. The Dallas Cowboys Pound the Bucs Without T.O. Anyone Surprised?

I wouldn’t even consider this a story worth mentioning if it weren’t for ESPN constantly talking about how the Cowboys would look without T.O, blah and blah.

If anyone thought that Owens was that important to that Cowboy offense to the point that Tony Romo wouldn’t know what to do with himself, they must go on informative football dates with Jessica Simpson.

Romo is a prolific QB that knows how to chuck the ball, even if he had a core of receivers from Bleacher Report.

Not to mention he has former No.1 receiver Roy E. Williams, healthy, an emerging Miles Austin, the do-everything TE Jason Witten, and an overlooked Patrick Crayton.

With the subtraction of T.O’s antics, which obviously bothered Romo, the Cowboys will be better off without Mr. T.O.

All Romo needs is the help of his defense, which looked shaky at times in Tampa.

With the N.Y. Giants coming to party at the new Dallas Stadium, DeMarcus Ware and company better practice tackling horses to get ready for Brandon Jacobs.

 

9. What Happened to the St. Louis Rams?

I know the Rams were terrible last season, but we could partially attribute that to injuries to QB Mark Bulger and RB Stephen Jackson amongst other players, but what excuse could they use for Sunday’s dismal performance?

Maybe Bulger had a finger ache? Jackson had a slightly torn toenail?

I’m not even remotely sure of how you can get blanked by the Seattle Seahawks 28-0. Zero. Dunkin Donut hole. Not one point.

This was the greatest show on turf not too long ago, but now are the greatest show on the sideline because their drives end so fast.

Matt Hasselbeck made his return from an injury-riddled 2008 and looked pretty good throwing for 279 yards and three TDs, but did turn the ball over with two INTs.

It didn’t matter, because the Rams defense was a tow bridge that just let everything wearing a Seahawk on their helmet through. Pitiful. Can they be the 2009 version of the Detroit Lions? Or will the Lions be the 2009 Lions, again?

 

8. The Arizona Cardinals Were A Fluke Last Season

When the Cardinals represented the NFC in the Super Bowl last season, I asked myself, “Is this the best team out of the NFC?”

No.

Sorry to Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Boldin, but they were not the best overall team in the conference, but they got on a hot streak and beat anybody opposing them in the playoffs.

I give them all the credit for that, but this year they may not even make the playoffs. Coming out and starting the season 0-1 to the San Francisco 49ers won’t help.

Warner passed for nearly 300 yards, but threw two INTs and his leading receiver was Tim Hightower. Shaun Hill outperformed Warner and didn’t turn the ball over while passing for 209 yards with a touchdown.

This was with a 22-carry, 30-yard performance from Frank Gore and a receiving corps of Isaac Bruce, Vernon Davis, Josh Morgan, and Arnaz Battle.

The Cardinals have problems. They better pray for Boldins to heal quickly.

 

7. The Detroit Lions Will Not Score 27 Points Again This Season

Matthew Stafford looked OK yesterday. His defense didn’t. Good luck guys.

 

6. Reggie Bush Is Officially A Bust

Everyone has been scared to admit that Mr. Bush has totally underperformed since he and his lackluster buddy Matt Leinart arrived in the NFL.

I’ll do the honors: Reggie Bush is a bust. Period. No arguments.

I actually like Reggie Bush. He seems like a stand-up guy, and aside from his mistake of actually dating Kim Kardashian after Ray J had fun with her on camera, he’s made good decisions off of the field.

But unfortunately for him, he hasn’t while on it. Aside from a few punt returns for TDs, Bush hasn’t provided Drew Brees and the Saints with much.

His statline from Sunday: seven carries, 14 yards, five receptions, 55 yards, two fumbles, one lost.

His teammate from USC Leinart has already been topped by Mark Sanchez in one game, and Mario Williams has eaten Bush’s lunch.

Welcome to mediocrity Reggie. Don’t stay too long.

 

5. The Chiefs Put Up 24 Points On the Ravens Minus Matt Cassel

I always thought Brodie Croyle had a better chance as an actor than a football player, until Sunday.

With Matt Cassel out to injury, Croyle had 177 yards passing with two TDs and no INTs, all against a much heralded defense in Baltimore. This was thought to be an afterthought of a game, until about 2:30 Sunday afternoon.

That’s when fans figured out Croyle and his Chiefs came to play. Even though the final score looked a bit lopsided, it wasn’t at all. Maybe the Chiefs can be this year’s Cardinals, especially when Cassel returns.

In the loaded AFC, maybe not.

 

4. The Washington Redskins Need A Makeover

DeAngelo Hall has lost it. Albert Haynesworth has gotten rich and no longer hungry. Carlos Rogers and Sam Smoot are second-tier corners. Clinton Portis is beat up from years of hits and injuries. Santana Moss is irrelevant. So is Antwaan Randle-El. Jason Campbell is a career backup.

It’s time to start anew, Washington.

 

3. Jake Delhomme Is Just Plain Ridiculous

The Carolina Panthers are loaded with talent and should contend for the division.

Oh, and Jake Delhomme has turned the ball over 11 times in his last two games dating back to last season.

Seriously, what is wrong with this guy?

The man who took over the “Jake the Snake” nickname after Jake Plummer suddenly retired is starting to actually look like him. Maybe John Fox should rename him “Jake the Fake” after his latest performances.

At some point somebody in that locker room is going to LeGarrette Blount him in the worst way, and nobody will care.

His turnovers are causing the team to lose, and they know it. Fox tried to be diplomatic in the press conference and say it’s never one guys fault, but in this case it is.

If Delhomme doesn’t get his act together soon, like next week, the Panthers will be showing Jake the gate.

 

2. Ladies and Gentlemen, Jay Cutler Has A Problem

The man who whined, cried, and babied his way out of Denver had his worst nightmare last night at the hands of a healthy Green Bay Packer defense.

The problem everyone knew he would run into showed its hideous face immediately against the Packers, as Cutler repeatedly had nobody to throw to.

His receivers are young, inexperienced, and just not that good. There’s no Brandon Marshall or Brandon Stokley to get the ball to, just Devin Hester who was his best target, Earl Bennett, and Greg Olsen.

Johnny Knox looks like a good change-of-pace receiver, but not a consistent, dependable target. The Packers made sure that Olsen wouldn’t kill them, and the result was four picks thrown by Cutler that could’ve easily been six or seven.

The overconfident Cutler felt like his arm and talent could overcome the lack of talent and experience at receiver and make those guys great, but so far he’s just making himself look bad.

Somebody needs to call Matt Jones or someone.

 

1. Brett Favre: The Decoy

Brett Favre’s statline from Sunday: 14-for-21, 110 yards, one TD.

Adrian Peterson’s statline from Sunday: 25 carries, 180 yards, three TD’s.

Favre did just what he needs to all season for the Vikings to be successful. Hand the ball off to Peterson, watch him run through and around defenders, and throw the ball efficiently when necessary.

That’s all he has to do. Favre doesn’t need to be the risk-taking gunslinger for this team to be successful. If he makes the right reads and throws when it’s time, that offense will speak for itself.

If Peterson stays healthy, the Vikings can win a lot with this formula. With Adrian’s running style though, it’s always the high possibility of injury. Chester Taylor is no Peterson, but could fill in well if that does indeed happen.

For now, the Vikings have a winning formula that’s as potent as it is effective. Wasn’t Percy Harvin one of the best picks of the draft for this team? The Vikes are dangerous.

 

Opening weekend of the 2009 NFL season was like a great night of drinking. You had so much fun and memories that you can’t possibly remember it all, but when you wake up with that weird feeling, it was worth it because you had such a good time.

Fortunately, there’s more to come in the form of a Monday Night doubleheader featuring T.O, the return of Brady and the always fun Raiders.

Until next week, enjoy your hangover and your Monday night, and stay thirsty my boys and girls.

Read more Minnesota Vikings news on BleacherReport.com

Minnesota Vikings’ Strong Start: Favre a Non-Factor, Peterson Dominant

On Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings executed the game plan they will use all season to help them to be successful in 2009.

Brett Favre was 14-21 for 110 total yards, with a touchdown pass to electric rookie receiver Percy Harvin. Even without an effective Bernard Berrian, Favre still got five players involved in the passing game, with Harvin being the lead recipient (three catches, 36 yards).

With Jim Brown in attendance, Adrian Peterson did his best impersonation of the legend by motoring around, over and through the Cleveland Browns for 180 yards on 25 carries. Despite suffering from apparent dehydration that required an IV at halftime, he still scored three touchdowns.

The Vikings defense looks to continue where it left off at the end of last year, as they allowed a good running team to accumulate only 89 yards on 20 carries. Minnesota is not going to need to score a lot of points to win games this year because of that fantastic defense.

However, for the Vikings to make a run at the NFC Championship this season, it is Peterson, not Favre, that needs to be the dominant force.

The next two games for the Vikings are very winable. They will make a trip to Detroit and then host San Francisco. Both teams have had defensive issues, and Peterson should be able to continue putting up enormous yards.

But the true test for Brad Childress and his staff will be in the fourth week, when Favre makes his first start against now-divisional rival Green Bay. The Packers have a talented offense and Favre’s heir, Aaron Rodgers, ready to throw the ball as much as needed.

The impulse will be for Childress to, at some point, get his owner’s $25 million-worth out of Favre and throw the ball more than 21 times in a game. If the Vikings can avoid the temptation to open up the passing game, the mere threat of Favre’s arm to opposing teams could be enough to lead to an incredible season for Peterson.

Harvin made a strong statement in his first NFL game, adding 99 return yards and 22 rushing yards on two carries. With his skills, and the other weapons on Minnesota’s offense, he could make a strong case to be the Offensive Rookie of the Year.

With a string of games like he had in Cleveland Sunday, he would be well on his way.

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