MIN @ GB Recap

The games between the Minnesota Vikings and the Green Bay Packers are often the most intense and emotional. Sunday was no different as the Vikings traveled to Lambeau Field in what was probably be quarterback Brett Favre's last trip to his old stomping grounds. Leads changed quickly, with the Packers scoring the first touchdown of the game but the Vikings being the ones ahead at halftime. Everything seemed to go against the Vikes in the second half, from missed calls by the officials to costly interceptions, and the Packers left their home field the victors by a margin of 28-24.

In typical Vikings fashion the offense took its usual first few drives to heat up and finally get on the scoreboard. Favre could not connect with any receiver on the first two possessions, and the pressure from the Packers pass rush was hot on his trail all evening, sacking him only once but putting him on his back six other times. The Vikings quarterback enjoyed more success on the third drive he commanded and was able to hook up with one of his favorite targets from last season, tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. In one of the more ingenious play calls of the season, Favre handed the football off to Harvin at the 17 yard line who then showcased his immense versatility and took it in for his first rushing touchdown of the year. The running game experienced it's best game of the season, amassing 196 yards on the ground. Running back Adrian Peterson accounted for 131 of those yards, carrying the ball 28 times and putting it in the end zone once before halftime. Like I've said before, the Vikings will have a great chance in every game they play if Adrian Peterson can continue to produce as he did Sunday. On the contrary, they will be unable to contend against most legitimate opponents if Brett Favre still throws interceptions at the worst times. The blame of much of these turnovers can be placed on the offensive line, but Favre has the infamous reputation of doing anything it takes to win a game with his arm, and it seems most of the time this year those efforts have ended with picks for the defense. He ended Sunday's game with three of them. Favre took a severe beating from the Packers defense, and there is no doubt he has put his body on the line for this team. However, his gun-slinging, risk-disregarding mentality has more often than not harmed the Vikings rather than benefit them, as seen in the 2009 campaign. Many fans will say the officials beat the team from Minnesota Sunday Night, but in the end turnovers and lack of line protection ended up doing the Vikings in.

The Vikings defense allowed almost 200 yards of offense in the first quarter against the Packers. However, they were eventually able to lock in against quarterback Aaron Rodgers and the rest of the offense, ending the game only giving up a total of 379. The pass defense struggled to contain the receivers of the Packers, and the defensive line did not sack Rodgers once. The play of the defensive backs is correlated to a certain degree with the pressure the defensive line can put on, and that theory is certainly applicable to this situation. While end Jared Allen did pull in a rare interception, he still only has one lone sack on the year, something that has left fans in Minnesota concerned. The defensive line looks like they are 10 years older than they actually are, and seemed overwhelmed by even the simplest blocking schemes. Nose tackle Pat Williams definitely looks his age, and has had little to no impact in the pass defense. The loss of defensive back Cedric Griffin for the rest of the season is also something that will effect the defense for the worse. On the bright side, linebacker Chad Greenway had one of the best games of his year with 12 total tackles, and the linebacking corp was able to hold the Packers tight ends to four receptions on the evening. Safety Madieu Williams also pulled in a clutch interception in the end zone. The Vikings defense gave another rock solid performance Sunday, but they are going to need more out of Jared Allen and the rest of the defensive line if they expect to hold any leads for the offense.

The Vikings are going to have to solve the issue at the quarterback position, whatever that means, if they expect to remain relevant in an NFC that is softer than most years. If Favre is injured and these injuries are effecting his game, he needs to come out for at least a few games and mobile backup Tarvaris Jackson should be given a chance to work with the plentiful weapons the offense has. Otherwise, the results in games against opponents like the Packers will be the same: close, nail-biting losses at the hands of their grizzled quarterback and his average offensive line.