MIA @ MIN recap

If you thought last week's loss was disappointing, then you were in for treat in Week 2. The Vikings were looking for someone to take their frustrations out on after the opening week heart-wrencher against the New Orleans Saints, and they had to have been feeling confident coming into a game against a team, the Miami Dolphins, with a young QB and a still ambiguous defense. However, the Vikings looked anything but composed, throwing away several opportunities to take the lead late into the game and eventually losing by a score of 10-14. The Vikings were given many chances to win this game and gave them right back with incomplete passes, missed blocks and interceptions.

Turnovers were the story of Sunday's game, as the Vikings scored 14 points while only managing to use punter Chris Kluwe twice. Most Minnesota Vikings fans will place the blame of Sunday's loss squarely on quarterback Brett Favre. Much like the New Orleans game, Favre seemed to be forcing passes all over the field, with three missed passes ending as costly interceptions. The Minnesota quarterback struggled to establish any sort of connection with a receiver, with the exception of tight end Visanthe Shiancoe and running back Adrian Peterson. On several plays it looked like Favre was trying to throw farther than his 40-year-old body would let him, with one of his deep balls ending up in the hands of Dolphins defensive back Jason Allen. Chronic underachiever Bernard Berrian was targeted five times and only caught the ball twice for 24 yards. Favre was also sacked three times and lost the ball in the end zone for Miami's second touchdown of the day. If there was a bright spot to be found in the passing game, it was Favre's consistent chemistry with Shiancoe. He looks to be Favre's favorite target as the season wears on and has already caught 10 passes this year for 162 yards and a touchdown. However, the biggest offensive positive from Sunday's contest was running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson continues to run like a man motivated after last year's criticism over fumbling issues. He had 145 yards and a touch down on 28 yards and gave the Minnesota crowd multiple flashbacks to his rookie year, hurdling a defender during one play and plowing through defenders on several others. If Peterson can continue playing like he did Sunday, the Vikings will have a chance to win every game on the schedule, regardless how their aging quarterback does. Much like the first two years of Peterson's career, the Vikings may find themselves relying on the running game to put points on the scoreboard and keep the defense off the field.

It's really a shame Brett Favre couldn't take advantage of the opportunities they were given, as the Minnesota defense only allowed 226 yards of total offense, with 40 of those coming on a long Ronnie Brown run. The defense, also much like the first game of the season, kept the Viking close to the Dolphins, giving up one lone touchdown on Miami's first drive. However, the defense eventually buckled down, forcing the Dolphins to punt six times and giving up zero points the rest of the game. Defensive linemen Kevin Williams and Jared Allen each got their first sacks of the season, and standout linebacker Chad Greenway led the team with 8 tackles. Greenway has been the best defensive player for the Vikings this season and will be a point of conversation for fans around the league as he is in the final year of his rookie contract. The defense should only improve as cornerbacks Cedric Griffin and rookie Chris Cook work themselves into the Minnesota secondary. And that improvement will definitely be welcomed. The Vikings may have to put their hopes on this unit if the offense still struggles while Brett Favre attempts to build some sort of repertoire with his wide receivers.

Under normal circumstances, an average Minnesota Vikings fan would pass over a home game against the maligned Detroit Lions without much, if any, hesitation. However, the showings the past two weeks have given Minnesota fans and coaches alike a reason to worry, even against a team that hasn't made the postseason since 1999. The passing game, something the Vikings utilized so often in 2009, has looked completely out of sync, and Brett Favre has yet to give the people in the Land of 10,000 a reason to be excited after coming out of hiding for the third time in three years. If the Vikings aren't careful, game-breaking running back Jahvid Best and the Lions may put them in the basement of the division, leaving fans and the media clamoring for the grizzled quarterback to return to his tractor and home in Mississippi.