It didn't get any bigger than this. In order to save their season and their head coach's job, the Vikings had to defeat the Green Bay Packers Sunday at the Metrodome. Quarterback Brett Favre had his favorite target from last season, Sidney Rice, back and was looking to find some holes in a Packer defense that has faced its share of injuries this season. However, it was Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers who took advantage of his opposing defense and ended up single-handedly destroying the Vikings, leading to a 31-3 Packers victory.
The Vikings have lived and died by Brett Favre this season, and on Sunday the quarterback took the team right down with him. As he has all season, Favre gave a fantastic effort, but most of his throws were wild and inaccurate. He targeted Rice 10 times, but was able to complete a pass to him only three of those times. This year it has seemed as if Favre is hesitant or even scared to throw the ball deep down the field, and this trend didn't change even with the addition of the best true wide receiver on the team. Favre's interception in the second quarter gave the Packers all the moment they needed in order to score the biggest touchdown of the contest, a pass to receiver James Jones. Running back Adrian Peterson had a nice day with 72 yards but did not have a noticeable impact for most of the game, as the Vikings were trailing by a large deficit at halftime. The offensive line had their hands full with the Packers pass rush, allowing seven hits on Favre and one sack by star Clay Matthews. Had the Vikings defense been able to show any ability to stop Aaron Rodgers the results would likely have been different, but they were playing from behind for most of the game, shifting their game plan from the running game, something that has been quite successful for them this season to throwing the ball, which has usually harmed rather than helped Minnesota.
Aaron Rodgers was able to do anything he wanted Sunday. Part of this was due to the inexperience of cornerbacks Asher Allen and Chris Cook, both of whom were exposed on touchdown passes. Rodgers had little trouble getting the ball to receiver Greg Jennings regardless of who the Vikings decided to assign to him, and the two connected for three touchdown passes. The defensive line tallied three sacks on the day, so it's hard to put the blame of Rodger's big day on the unit. It really comes down to the lack of skill in the Vikings secondary and the missed opportunities. Rodgers threw a ball right at safety Husain Abdullah only to have it go right through his hands. A few plays later the Packers took the lead for good on an 11-yard touchdown to Jennings, who easily evaded the coverage by Abdullah. Sunday was the first game one could notice the absence of cornerback Cedric Griffin. Starter Antoine Winfield has had a fine season, but the Vikings have struggled between Allen, Cook and veteran Lito Sheppard to find someone to cover the better receivers of the league. The at-times invisible defensive line has not helped, but the Vikings can't help but wonder how much stronger their secondary would have been with one of their more skilled players in the lineup.
Sunday's loss against the Packers was one of the most embarrassing in recent memory and the final nail in the coffin for coach Brad Childress. It was common opinion that most of the Vikings players had soured on Childress and were playing for the team instead of their coach. The rather cold and succinct Childress had never seemed like a real "player's coach", as there had been plenty of controversial moments between him and the Vikings players. It is almost assured that quarterback Brett Favre did not have confidence in Childress' ability to run this team, and there was always a question of who the real leader of the Vikings was. Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier takes over as head coach of the team and will hope to reinvigorate his players the same way Dallas Cowboy interim coach Jason Garrett has. The 3-7 Vikings travel to Washington Sunday to face the Redskins.
Thursday, November 25, 2010
Tuesday, November 16, 2010
MIN@CHI Recap
The Vikings headed into Soldier Field Sunday with feeling extremely confident after overcoming a two touchdown deficit and defeating the Arizona Cardinals in overtime. A win over the Bears would have kept the Vikings a player in the NFC North and still in the hunt for a playoff spot, despite multiple heart-wrenching losses early in the season. Instead, mistakes reigned and turnovers conquered the Vikings as the Bears handled Minnesota by a score of 27-13.
Although quarterback Brett Favre accounted for four turnovers, he was really only responsible for one of them- a fumble towards the end of the end of the second half. Receivers fell down on two of his throws, leading to two interceptions at crucial times in the fourth quarter. Receivers Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian were inactive for the game, leaving Favre to rely heavily on Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe and a who's who of mediocre pass-catchers. Like he has all season, Favre put everything he had on the field, throwing for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions that for the most part weren't his fault. Peterson's inability to get anything started in the run game made things more difficult for Favre, who already had to deal with an offensive line blocking against a talented defensive line. Peterson struggled all day, with his play of the day being a 20-yard run. He ended the day with 51 yards on 17 carries. Peterson's backup Toby Gerhart had a much better afternoon, averaging 5 yards-a-carry and catching two passes out of the backfield for 17 yards. Much was expected out of the rookie from Stanford this season, and although he had 20 total rushing yards he made several positive plays on a day the team's superstar could rarely make it past the line of scrimmage. More often then not the Vikings are successful when Peterson is successful, and had Peterson been able to find some holes in the offensive line the results would likely have been much different. The turnovers in the fourth quarter didn't help, either.
The Vikings defense could not control Jay Cutler and the Bears offense for the majority of the day. Bears play-makers Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Greg Olsen were impossible to cover for the Vikings. Olsen, the team's tight end, had a touchdown reception called back in the second quarter only to find end zone success on the very next play. The Vikings defensive line went back to its dormant state after finally waking up in the fourth quarter of last week's game against Arizona. Jared Allen did have a sack, but more was expected from the pass rush against a less-than-stellar Chicago offensive line. Although the defense forced him out of the pocket several times, Cutler was able to able to escape what should have been easy sacks and gathered 24 yards on the ground with his runs. The Vikings tried blitzing, but that only left Cutler with fewer defenders covering, or trying to cover, his suddenly Pro Bowl targets. He was able to find any opening he wanted down the field and connected with three different receivers for touchdowns. One bright spot for the Vikings pass defense was the play of safety Husain Abdullah. Abdullah, who has started every game this year, had two interceptions Sunday to go with six tackles and two pass deflections. The safeties have really struggled this year for the Vikings, but Abdullah worked his role extremely well. The run defense did a better job but still gave up more than 100 yards. However, 24 of them came when Cutler decided to leave the pocket and scramble. Running backs Matt Forte and Chester Taylor each averaged under four yards a carry, and neither were able to find the end zone. At the end of the day, it was the inability for the Vikings to get to Jay Cutler that cost them this ball game. His short, quick throws went untouched throw Vikings coverage, allowing the Bears to convert an unacceptable 11 of 19 third downs, while Minnesota was a mere 1 for 9 in opportunities.
Another week, another chance blown to put themselves back into playoff relevancy. It is quite safe to say that if the Vikings will be playing for pride the rest of the season if they don't win at home next Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. It doesn't look like the Vikes are going to fix this "how to get to that sneaky quarterback" puzzle anytime soon, so it looks like skilled Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have another big day on a defense that has an underwhelming 13 total sacks on the season. The Vikings offense will have to keep the pace against a defense led by Clay Matthews, who has been a terror off the edge this season. The Packers passing attack in addition to Matthews rushing does not bode well for a lackluster pair of lines for the Minnesota Vikings. Don't hold your breath.
Although quarterback Brett Favre accounted for four turnovers, he was really only responsible for one of them- a fumble towards the end of the end of the second half. Receivers fell down on two of his throws, leading to two interceptions at crucial times in the fourth quarter. Receivers Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian were inactive for the game, leaving Favre to rely heavily on Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe and a who's who of mediocre pass-catchers. Like he has all season, Favre put everything he had on the field, throwing for 170 yards, one touchdown and three interceptions that for the most part weren't his fault. Peterson's inability to get anything started in the run game made things more difficult for Favre, who already had to deal with an offensive line blocking against a talented defensive line. Peterson struggled all day, with his play of the day being a 20-yard run. He ended the day with 51 yards on 17 carries. Peterson's backup Toby Gerhart had a much better afternoon, averaging 5 yards-a-carry and catching two passes out of the backfield for 17 yards. Much was expected out of the rookie from Stanford this season, and although he had 20 total rushing yards he made several positive plays on a day the team's superstar could rarely make it past the line of scrimmage. More often then not the Vikings are successful when Peterson is successful, and had Peterson been able to find some holes in the offensive line the results would likely have been much different. The turnovers in the fourth quarter didn't help, either.
The Vikings defense could not control Jay Cutler and the Bears offense for the majority of the day. Bears play-makers Johnny Knox, Devin Hester and Greg Olsen were impossible to cover for the Vikings. Olsen, the team's tight end, had a touchdown reception called back in the second quarter only to find end zone success on the very next play. The Vikings defensive line went back to its dormant state after finally waking up in the fourth quarter of last week's game against Arizona. Jared Allen did have a sack, but more was expected from the pass rush against a less-than-stellar Chicago offensive line. Although the defense forced him out of the pocket several times, Cutler was able to able to escape what should have been easy sacks and gathered 24 yards on the ground with his runs. The Vikings tried blitzing, but that only left Cutler with fewer defenders covering, or trying to cover, his suddenly Pro Bowl targets. He was able to find any opening he wanted down the field and connected with three different receivers for touchdowns. One bright spot for the Vikings pass defense was the play of safety Husain Abdullah. Abdullah, who has started every game this year, had two interceptions Sunday to go with six tackles and two pass deflections. The safeties have really struggled this year for the Vikings, but Abdullah worked his role extremely well. The run defense did a better job but still gave up more than 100 yards. However, 24 of them came when Cutler decided to leave the pocket and scramble. Running backs Matt Forte and Chester Taylor each averaged under four yards a carry, and neither were able to find the end zone. At the end of the day, it was the inability for the Vikings to get to Jay Cutler that cost them this ball game. His short, quick throws went untouched throw Vikings coverage, allowing the Bears to convert an unacceptable 11 of 19 third downs, while Minnesota was a mere 1 for 9 in opportunities.
Another week, another chance blown to put themselves back into playoff relevancy. It is quite safe to say that if the Vikings will be playing for pride the rest of the season if they don't win at home next Sunday against the Green Bay Packers. It doesn't look like the Vikes are going to fix this "how to get to that sneaky quarterback" puzzle anytime soon, so it looks like skilled Packer quarterback Aaron Rodgers will have another big day on a defense that has an underwhelming 13 total sacks on the season. The Vikings offense will have to keep the pace against a defense led by Clay Matthews, who has been a terror off the edge this season. The Packers passing attack in addition to Matthews rushing does not bode well for a lackluster pair of lines for the Minnesota Vikings. Don't hold your breath.
Tuesday, November 9, 2010
ARI@MIN Recap
Head coach Brad Childress' job was on the line Sunday as two struggling teams, the Minnesota Vikings and the Arizona Cardinals, faced each other in an afternoon contest. The Vikings wanted to take out their frustrations after two close, extremely disappointing losses to the Packers and Patriots, respectively, while the Cardinals were trying to stay afloat in an NFC West division they were slowly falling behind in. In what has to be the signature win of the season so far, the Vikings erased a 10-24 deficit within four minutes to send the game into overtime, where kicker Ryan Longwell nailed a clinching 35-yard field goal.
The Vikings offense had several long and time-consuming drives Sunday, yet only managed to put up 10 points in the first half against a below-average Cardinals defense. For most of the game it seemed like the Vikings had no trouble getting to the red zone, yet they were unable to capitalize on the opportunities, with drives either ending in turnovers or field goals. Despite an early first quarter interception that was almost taken back for a touchdown, Favre did a nice job managing the Vikings offense in the first half. It didn't seem as if Randy Moss was missed too badly, as Favre connected at least four times with six different receivers. Receiver Percy Harvin and the almost-forgotten Bernard Berrian combined for 18 receptions and 215 yards. Even little-known receiver Greg Camarillo, who the Vikings picked up earlier this season from the Dolphins, had 66 yards and a crucial touchdown-saving tackle of Kerry Rhodes after Favre's interception in the first quarter. The offensive line showed it still has plenty of work to do, letting Favre get sacked three times and allowing nine hits on him. However, even with lackluster protection Favre was able to set his career record in passing yards, with 446. Much of those yards came with under 4:00 to go when the offense finally decided that scoring touchdowns would be the best way to win the football game. The Vikings cut the deficit to a touchdown with a 4-yard Adrian Peterson run, who himself had trouble finding a rhythm during the first three quarters of the game. After holding the Cardinals offense to a three-and-out, the Vikings were on with 2:24 on the clock to try and tie the game. Favre sliced through Cardinals pass defense on the final drive, and with :27 left he magically guided the ball past a defender to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for a 25-yard touchdown. The Vikings offensive theatrics continued into overtime, where Adrian Peterson started off with a 30-yard blast to the Arizona 39 yard line. Favre followed that up a few plays later with a beautiful 22-yard throw to Berrian. Well within their kicker's range, the Vikings left the rest to Ryan Longwell, who sank the game-winning field goal right down the center of the goal posts.
Much like the offense, the Vikings defense took a little over three quarters of the game to find itself. The Cardinals offense really awoke the beast that was (at least last year) Jared Allen and the defensive line in the last two minutes of the game. Despite being invisible for most of the game, the pass rush squandered Arizona's hopes of a game-winning field goal by sacking quarterback Derek Anderson twice in the last drive of regulation. The defense was not done there, as they sacked Anderson two more times in overtime, forcing a Ben Graham punt to a Vikings offense that had just scored 14 points in under two minutes. End Jared Allen had his first noticeable game of the season, recording 2.5 sacks to go with a tackle for loss and a pass deflection. Opposite end Ray Edwards also contributed two of his own sacks. Needless to say, if the defensive line can play the rest of the season the way it did in the last part of Sunday's game the Vikings will find themselves winning the game coming into the fourth quarter, rather that trailing it, allowing the Jared Allen and the rest of the pass-rushers to pin their ear backs and at least force the opposing quarterback out of the pocket. A menacing defensive line that puts constant pressure on the quarterback will certainly help the Vikings forget about the loss of cornerback Cedric Griffin and the rest of the coverage issues the Vikings secondary has experienced this season.
Whether Sunday's game against the Cardinals was an apparition or the real start of a run, the Vikings have been given something to build on the rest of the season. The end of the game showed that the Vikings have not packed it in yet this season and is still playing hard, regardless of whether or not they believe in their supposed leader Brad Childress. The team travels to Soldier Field next Sunday to face the division rival Chicago Bears, who are 5-3.
The Vikings offense had several long and time-consuming drives Sunday, yet only managed to put up 10 points in the first half against a below-average Cardinals defense. For most of the game it seemed like the Vikings had no trouble getting to the red zone, yet they were unable to capitalize on the opportunities, with drives either ending in turnovers or field goals. Despite an early first quarter interception that was almost taken back for a touchdown, Favre did a nice job managing the Vikings offense in the first half. It didn't seem as if Randy Moss was missed too badly, as Favre connected at least four times with six different receivers. Receiver Percy Harvin and the almost-forgotten Bernard Berrian combined for 18 receptions and 215 yards. Even little-known receiver Greg Camarillo, who the Vikings picked up earlier this season from the Dolphins, had 66 yards and a crucial touchdown-saving tackle of Kerry Rhodes after Favre's interception in the first quarter. The offensive line showed it still has plenty of work to do, letting Favre get sacked three times and allowing nine hits on him. However, even with lackluster protection Favre was able to set his career record in passing yards, with 446. Much of those yards came with under 4:00 to go when the offense finally decided that scoring touchdowns would be the best way to win the football game. The Vikings cut the deficit to a touchdown with a 4-yard Adrian Peterson run, who himself had trouble finding a rhythm during the first three quarters of the game. After holding the Cardinals offense to a three-and-out, the Vikings were on with 2:24 on the clock to try and tie the game. Favre sliced through Cardinals pass defense on the final drive, and with :27 left he magically guided the ball past a defender to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe for a 25-yard touchdown. The Vikings offensive theatrics continued into overtime, where Adrian Peterson started off with a 30-yard blast to the Arizona 39 yard line. Favre followed that up a few plays later with a beautiful 22-yard throw to Berrian. Well within their kicker's range, the Vikings left the rest to Ryan Longwell, who sank the game-winning field goal right down the center of the goal posts.
Much like the offense, the Vikings defense took a little over three quarters of the game to find itself. The Cardinals offense really awoke the beast that was (at least last year) Jared Allen and the defensive line in the last two minutes of the game. Despite being invisible for most of the game, the pass rush squandered Arizona's hopes of a game-winning field goal by sacking quarterback Derek Anderson twice in the last drive of regulation. The defense was not done there, as they sacked Anderson two more times in overtime, forcing a Ben Graham punt to a Vikings offense that had just scored 14 points in under two minutes. End Jared Allen had his first noticeable game of the season, recording 2.5 sacks to go with a tackle for loss and a pass deflection. Opposite end Ray Edwards also contributed two of his own sacks. Needless to say, if the defensive line can play the rest of the season the way it did in the last part of Sunday's game the Vikings will find themselves winning the game coming into the fourth quarter, rather that trailing it, allowing the Jared Allen and the rest of the pass-rushers to pin their ear backs and at least force the opposing quarterback out of the pocket. A menacing defensive line that puts constant pressure on the quarterback will certainly help the Vikings forget about the loss of cornerback Cedric Griffin and the rest of the coverage issues the Vikings secondary has experienced this season.
Whether Sunday's game against the Cardinals was an apparition or the real start of a run, the Vikings have been given something to build on the rest of the season. The end of the game showed that the Vikings have not packed it in yet this season and is still playing hard, regardless of whether or not they believe in their supposed leader Brad Childress. The team travels to Soldier Field next Sunday to face the division rival Chicago Bears, who are 5-3.
Thursday, November 4, 2010
MIN@NE Recap
Halloween evening produced quite a haunting Sunday for the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings were looking to bounce back after an extremely disappointing outing against the Green Bay Packers the previous week, and the two teams this week were neck and neck at halftime. While it might not be seen on the stat sheet, quarterback Brett Favre had one of the best games of the season and once again did everything he could to win the game for the team. Despite the offensive success, the Vikings plagued themselves with too many mistakes and miscues on both sides of the ball and the Patriots ended up with 28-18 victory at home.
The Vikings offense had a great day statistically Sunday, amassing 410 total yards of offense against a strong New England defense. Both Favre and running back Adrian Peterson were running the offense smoothly through the first quarter, although they didn't end up scoring a touchdown until the second. The underneath route was Favre's weapon of choice as he spread the ball to eight different targets Sunday, his most common one being speedster Percy Harvin. Harvin had a fantastic night with 104 yards on six catches, but a play he was involved in during the third quarter was a game-changer. The Vikings had the ball at the Patriots 41 yard line after a punt and were looking to take the lead when Favre threw a 15-yard pass to Harvin that was seemingly stolen from the receiver by cornerback Devin McCourty. The Patriots then proceeded to stroll down the field and score on a BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing touchdown, making it 21-10 in favor of the Pats. However, the Vikings were able to bring the game to within a field goal at 21-18 with a Tarvaris Jackson touchdown dump off to fullback Naufahu Tahi. Favre had been knocked out of the game the previous play on what looked to be a late hit by Patriots defensive lineman Myron Pryor. Favre was only sacked once on the evening but was stil hit by the Patriots defense six times. Although the game was out of hand by the time he was on the field again, Tarvaris did a servicable job trying to bring the Vikings back somehow. For the most part the Vikings offense did it's job Sunday, but the defense was unable to stop quarterback Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots at the most important times.
The credit for the loss Sunday can go straight to the Minnesota Vikings defense. They played quite well through the first two quarters, but at the end of the day the defense could not make the plays they had to. Safety Madieu Williams had an interception go right through his hands in the second quarter, leading to a 32-yard reception for receiver Brandon Tate. Second-year corner Asher Allen couldn't wrap up Patriots Jack-of-all-trades Danny Woodhead on a vital down third down with less than four minutes remaining in the game. The Vikings defensive did nothing to compensate for these errors and ended the game with a no longer shocking zero quarterback sacks. Brady evaded the rush on several plays and went to dump-offs to alleviate and pressure the linemen tried to put on him. The Vikings needed to make Brady quiver in the pocket in order to have any chance to stop him and the rest of the offense, and they could not do it. The run defense was equally unimpressive. Starting running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was able to rack up 112 yards on 17 carries to go with two touchdowns. It is quite apparent that the line has lost the swagger and talent it had the last few seasons when it was the premier run-stuffing unit of the league. Age can't be used as an excuse, as the only noticeably old player on the line is nose tackle Pat Williams, who has probably been literally the biggest liability in the run stopping corp. The linebackers didn't do anything to help them Sunday, as it seemed the Patriots runners were covered with Vaseline. It sounds simple: get to the quarterback often, and you will likely win the game. Somehow the Vikings have been stumped time after by this formula, and no variable they've tried using has produced the right answer.
After the toughest stretch of the season the Vikings finally have a break of some degree with the just as underachieving Arizona Cardinals coming to town. If the Vikings win Sunday, and they should, they have a decent chance to make a run with the two games after being against division rivals. However, in order for those games to matter they need to focus on Arizona and win in front of a restless crowd that will probably be calling for the head of its coach Brad Childress at any play stoppage.
The Vikings offense had a great day statistically Sunday, amassing 410 total yards of offense against a strong New England defense. Both Favre and running back Adrian Peterson were running the offense smoothly through the first quarter, although they didn't end up scoring a touchdown until the second. The underneath route was Favre's weapon of choice as he spread the ball to eight different targets Sunday, his most common one being speedster Percy Harvin. Harvin had a fantastic night with 104 yards on six catches, but a play he was involved in during the third quarter was a game-changer. The Vikings had the ball at the Patriots 41 yard line after a punt and were looking to take the lead when Favre threw a 15-yard pass to Harvin that was seemingly stolen from the receiver by cornerback Devin McCourty. The Patriots then proceeded to stroll down the field and score on a BenJarvus Green-Ellis rushing touchdown, making it 21-10 in favor of the Pats. However, the Vikings were able to bring the game to within a field goal at 21-18 with a Tarvaris Jackson touchdown dump off to fullback Naufahu Tahi. Favre had been knocked out of the game the previous play on what looked to be a late hit by Patriots defensive lineman Myron Pryor. Favre was only sacked once on the evening but was stil hit by the Patriots defense six times. Although the game was out of hand by the time he was on the field again, Tarvaris did a servicable job trying to bring the Vikings back somehow. For the most part the Vikings offense did it's job Sunday, but the defense was unable to stop quarterback Tom Brady and the rest of the Patriots at the most important times.
The credit for the loss Sunday can go straight to the Minnesota Vikings defense. They played quite well through the first two quarters, but at the end of the day the defense could not make the plays they had to. Safety Madieu Williams had an interception go right through his hands in the second quarter, leading to a 32-yard reception for receiver Brandon Tate. Second-year corner Asher Allen couldn't wrap up Patriots Jack-of-all-trades Danny Woodhead on a vital down third down with less than four minutes remaining in the game. The Vikings defensive did nothing to compensate for these errors and ended the game with a no longer shocking zero quarterback sacks. Brady evaded the rush on several plays and went to dump-offs to alleviate and pressure the linemen tried to put on him. The Vikings needed to make Brady quiver in the pocket in order to have any chance to stop him and the rest of the offense, and they could not do it. The run defense was equally unimpressive. Starting running back BenJarvus Green-Ellis was able to rack up 112 yards on 17 carries to go with two touchdowns. It is quite apparent that the line has lost the swagger and talent it had the last few seasons when it was the premier run-stuffing unit of the league. Age can't be used as an excuse, as the only noticeably old player on the line is nose tackle Pat Williams, who has probably been literally the biggest liability in the run stopping corp. The linebackers didn't do anything to help them Sunday, as it seemed the Patriots runners were covered with Vaseline. It sounds simple: get to the quarterback often, and you will likely win the game. Somehow the Vikings have been stumped time after by this formula, and no variable they've tried using has produced the right answer.
After the toughest stretch of the season the Vikings finally have a break of some degree with the just as underachieving Arizona Cardinals coming to town. If the Vikings win Sunday, and they should, they have a decent chance to make a run with the two games after being against division rivals. However, in order for those games to matter they need to focus on Arizona and win in front of a restless crowd that will probably be calling for the head of its coach Brad Childress at any play stoppage.
Wednesday, October 27, 2010
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.
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.
Thursday, October 21, 2010
DAL @ MIN Recap
Desperation was in the air as the Minnesota Vikings and Dallas Cowboys faced off Saturday afternoon in Minneapolis. Both teams were 1-3 and looking to avoid falling even farther out of playoff contention. Penalties were the name of the game, and Dallas accrued 11 of them. Despite the early flags, the Cowboys controlled the game until Percy Harvin's 95-yard kickoff return to start the second half gave the Vikings the momentum they needed.
The Vikings produced a mere 188 yards on offense, 126 less than the Cowboys amassed. Quarterback Brett Favre accounted for 118 yards through the air and went through the game without an interception, a rare occurrence this season. However, the offensive line was up to its usual antics, letting the Dallas defense get to Favre three times and giving up many more hits to their QB. The line has yet to really show any kind of stability this year, and the play of the offensive tackles, Phil Loadholt and Bryant McKinnie, appears to have digressed from last season. One reason for the lack of protection may be the absence of starting center John Sullivan, who has not played since Week 3. Even with the below-average performance from the offensive line, running back Adrian Peterson still ran for 73 yards and scored a clutch touchdown in the third quarter. Peterson remains the most consistent weapon on the team, and he has came through every time the Vikings have called his number. Favre did a nice job of managing the game when he was given enough time to find an open receiver. He targeted Moss six times, and the two connected for a total of 55 yards. Favre threw a beautiful ball to Moss in the end zone that was dropped, but it looks like the two are starting to develop a bit of chemistry. Once again, it took awhile for the Vikings offense to find its footing, but they stayed away from the lethal turnovers that haunted them in the previous game against the Jets. The Vikes were able to put the game away with Ryan Longwell's 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The lone blemish in the otherwise fantastic Vikings defensive performance Sunday was the containment wide receiver Roy Williams. Although he only had 28 yards, Williams was able to get free for two Cowboy touchdowns. Cornerback Lito Sheppard struggled all day covering receivers in the red zone and was also responsible for a touchdown pass to rookie Dez Bryant. The defensive line was unable to sack Tony Romo, but they still managed to put six hits on the Dallas quarterback, and the pressure had a definite effect on the passing game. The play of the line and the rest of the pass defense forced Romo to rely on screen passes to running back Felix Jones during the majority of the game. With the exception of his three touchdown passes, Romo never really looked comfortable in the pocket. A pass deflection on one play led to an interception at the hands of linebacker E.J. Henderson, one of his two picks on the day. The running game wasn't much of a factor for Dallas, as no player on the team ran for more than 32 yards. The only exceptions were a few longer scrambles from Romo when he found openings in the line. The Cowboys, usually a pass-happy team, actually tried running the ball 28 times, to no avail. All-in-all, the Vikings defense did a stellar job against the Cowboys Sunday, and this time the offense was finally able to reciprocate the support it was given from its counterpart.
While the scoreboard wasn't nearly as tilted as it was last time these two teams played, the Vikings ended up on top again, thanks in most part to the stellar play of their defensive unit. Nonetheless, the defense will have to step it up again next week when they travel to Lambeau Field, home to one of the more threatening passing attacks in the league. The Vikings will have to hope their once-again decimated secondary will be able to stay with the Packers' skilled receivers in Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones. If the Vikings defensive line can get past the Packers offensive line, which itself is injury riddled, the passing attack of Green Bay might not as much of a factor which, in combination with the Packers' non-existent running game, could lead to positive results for the team in purple and gold.
The Vikings produced a mere 188 yards on offense, 126 less than the Cowboys amassed. Quarterback Brett Favre accounted for 118 yards through the air and went through the game without an interception, a rare occurrence this season. However, the offensive line was up to its usual antics, letting the Dallas defense get to Favre three times and giving up many more hits to their QB. The line has yet to really show any kind of stability this year, and the play of the offensive tackles, Phil Loadholt and Bryant McKinnie, appears to have digressed from last season. One reason for the lack of protection may be the absence of starting center John Sullivan, who has not played since Week 3. Even with the below-average performance from the offensive line, running back Adrian Peterson still ran for 73 yards and scored a clutch touchdown in the third quarter. Peterson remains the most consistent weapon on the team, and he has came through every time the Vikings have called his number. Favre did a nice job of managing the game when he was given enough time to find an open receiver. He targeted Moss six times, and the two connected for a total of 55 yards. Favre threw a beautiful ball to Moss in the end zone that was dropped, but it looks like the two are starting to develop a bit of chemistry. Once again, it took awhile for the Vikings offense to find its footing, but they stayed away from the lethal turnovers that haunted them in the previous game against the Jets. The Vikes were able to put the game away with Ryan Longwell's 38-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.
The lone blemish in the otherwise fantastic Vikings defensive performance Sunday was the containment wide receiver Roy Williams. Although he only had 28 yards, Williams was able to get free for two Cowboy touchdowns. Cornerback Lito Sheppard struggled all day covering receivers in the red zone and was also responsible for a touchdown pass to rookie Dez Bryant. The defensive line was unable to sack Tony Romo, but they still managed to put six hits on the Dallas quarterback, and the pressure had a definite effect on the passing game. The play of the line and the rest of the pass defense forced Romo to rely on screen passes to running back Felix Jones during the majority of the game. With the exception of his three touchdown passes, Romo never really looked comfortable in the pocket. A pass deflection on one play led to an interception at the hands of linebacker E.J. Henderson, one of his two picks on the day. The running game wasn't much of a factor for Dallas, as no player on the team ran for more than 32 yards. The only exceptions were a few longer scrambles from Romo when he found openings in the line. The Cowboys, usually a pass-happy team, actually tried running the ball 28 times, to no avail. All-in-all, the Vikings defense did a stellar job against the Cowboys Sunday, and this time the offense was finally able to reciprocate the support it was given from its counterpart.
While the scoreboard wasn't nearly as tilted as it was last time these two teams played, the Vikings ended up on top again, thanks in most part to the stellar play of their defensive unit. Nonetheless, the defense will have to step it up again next week when they travel to Lambeau Field, home to one of the more threatening passing attacks in the league. The Vikings will have to hope their once-again decimated secondary will be able to stay with the Packers' skilled receivers in Greg Jennings, Donald Driver and James Jones. If the Vikings defensive line can get past the Packers offensive line, which itself is injury riddled, the passing attack of Green Bay might not as much of a factor which, in combination with the Packers' non-existent running game, could lead to positive results for the team in purple and gold.
Tuesday, October 19, 2010
Minnesota Timberwolves Season Preview
Needless to say, things for the Minnesota Timberwolves have not gone well ever since superstar and franchise face Kevin Garnett was traded to the Boston Celtics at the end of the 2007 season. Frustration was building for the forward after three straight seasons without a playoff appearance, and a trade of some sort had been on the horizon long before it happened. The Wolves traded Garnett for Al Jefferson, a young, talented post player, some draft picks and a few other players who have since moved on from Minnesota. Jefferson had been dubbed the unofficial replacement for Garnett, and while he was more than effective in the time he was here, the Wolves could never manage to put a serviceable team around him. Nonetheless, Jefferson was traded to the Utah Jazz this offseason for two draft picks and center Kosta Koufos, all but erasing any consolation the Wolves had received from sending the greatest player in their history to Boston.
The Wolves have managed to win 61 totals games in the three seasons since Garnett left, leaving fans apathetic and at times oblivious their state even has a pro basketball franchise. David Kahn was named president of basketball operations in 2009, and he has done everything he can to give the Wolves roster a fresh-faced and promising face. While the promising aspect has yet to be determined, the Wolves are coming into the 2010-2011 seasons as one of the youngest teams in the league, with the oldest player on the team being 29-year-old Luke Ridnour.
The drafting of Wesley Johnson and acquiring of forwards Martell Webster and Michael Beasley has given the Wolves a more athletic team than the previous two seasons. The forwards are the strength of the team. Beasley can both drive to the basket and take a jump shot, and Wesley Johnson should be an excellent marksman. 2008 first round pick Kevin Love has quietly become one of the most consistent rebounders in the league and should receive more playing time nightly than he did last year, something that become a subtle area of controversy for the Wolves. The team put a huge amount of money in center Darko Milicic and will look to heavily utilize him at the position along with newcomers Nikola Pekovic and Kosta Koufas. If Milicic plays consistently and up to his contract, it should allow Kevin Love to flourish at his more natural power forward position rather than play at a spot he is a bit too undersized to really succeed in. Beasley will likely be used at small forward where his athleticism will be tested against players smaller and quicker than him. Forward Anthony Tolliver, another acquisition, will be an interesting wild card off the bench. Though he is listed at 6-7, rookie Wes Johnson will see the majority of his time on the perimeter as a shooting guard, where he will be able to use his fantastic shooting ability which has been showcased training camp and the preseason so far. Guard Corey Brewer is renowned for his defensive prowess, although his dribbling and shooting skills still leave much to be desired.
One question mark of the team is the point guard position. Second year player Jonny Flynn, though undoubtedly the most skilled point guard on the roster, was turnover-ridden and inconsistent last season and will not be ready for the start of the season. Luke Ridnour will be the starting point guard at the start of the season, giving the Wolves a veteran presence in the backcourt. Though Ridnour is one of the more intelligent players on the team, Flynn's quickness and explosiveness will surely be missed when Minnesota has to go up against some of the premier point guards in the league. Sebastian Telfair gives the team depth at the position.
Projected Starting Lineup:
C- Darko Milicic
PF- Kevin Love
SF- Michael Beasely
SG- Wesley Johnson
PG- Luke Ridnour
Season Prediction: 24-58
While this season will be an improvement over the woe and misery of last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have light years to go until they are anything even resembling a playoff threat. David Kahn has constantly encouraged fans to be patient with the team and coach Kurt Rambis. However, Rambis has had a full year to put his system into place, while at the same time Kahn has gone out and found his own players. Several of Kahn's moves have led to frustration, confusion and most importantly, indifference, in Timberwolves fans, and many view this as the year Kahn needs to put his money where his mouth is. If there is any future for the Wolves, there needs to be some signs of life and potential on the court this season. There is no real franchise player of the team like there previously was with Kevin Garnett and even Al Jefferson, leaving the auditions to the likes of Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson. If one or more of them can embrace the leadership role and set an example for the other inexperienced players, brighter days may be ahead for owner Glen Taylor and his team. Until that day comes, the Wolves will continue to be an afterthought on the Minnesota sports landscape.
The Wolves have managed to win 61 totals games in the three seasons since Garnett left, leaving fans apathetic and at times oblivious their state even has a pro basketball franchise. David Kahn was named president of basketball operations in 2009, and he has done everything he can to give the Wolves roster a fresh-faced and promising face. While the promising aspect has yet to be determined, the Wolves are coming into the 2010-2011 seasons as one of the youngest teams in the league, with the oldest player on the team being 29-year-old Luke Ridnour.
The drafting of Wesley Johnson and acquiring of forwards Martell Webster and Michael Beasley has given the Wolves a more athletic team than the previous two seasons. The forwards are the strength of the team. Beasley can both drive to the basket and take a jump shot, and Wesley Johnson should be an excellent marksman. 2008 first round pick Kevin Love has quietly become one of the most consistent rebounders in the league and should receive more playing time nightly than he did last year, something that become a subtle area of controversy for the Wolves. The team put a huge amount of money in center Darko Milicic and will look to heavily utilize him at the position along with newcomers Nikola Pekovic and Kosta Koufas. If Milicic plays consistently and up to his contract, it should allow Kevin Love to flourish at his more natural power forward position rather than play at a spot he is a bit too undersized to really succeed in. Beasley will likely be used at small forward where his athleticism will be tested against players smaller and quicker than him. Forward Anthony Tolliver, another acquisition, will be an interesting wild card off the bench. Though he is listed at 6-7, rookie Wes Johnson will see the majority of his time on the perimeter as a shooting guard, where he will be able to use his fantastic shooting ability which has been showcased training camp and the preseason so far. Guard Corey Brewer is renowned for his defensive prowess, although his dribbling and shooting skills still leave much to be desired.
One question mark of the team is the point guard position. Second year player Jonny Flynn, though undoubtedly the most skilled point guard on the roster, was turnover-ridden and inconsistent last season and will not be ready for the start of the season. Luke Ridnour will be the starting point guard at the start of the season, giving the Wolves a veteran presence in the backcourt. Though Ridnour is one of the more intelligent players on the team, Flynn's quickness and explosiveness will surely be missed when Minnesota has to go up against some of the premier point guards in the league. Sebastian Telfair gives the team depth at the position.
Projected Starting Lineup:
C- Darko Milicic
PF- Kevin Love
SF- Michael Beasely
SG- Wesley Johnson
PG- Luke Ridnour
Season Prediction: 24-58
While this season will be an improvement over the woe and misery of last year, the Minnesota Timberwolves still have light years to go until they are anything even resembling a playoff threat. David Kahn has constantly encouraged fans to be patient with the team and coach Kurt Rambis. However, Rambis has had a full year to put his system into place, while at the same time Kahn has gone out and found his own players. Several of Kahn's moves have led to frustration, confusion and most importantly, indifference, in Timberwolves fans, and many view this as the year Kahn needs to put his money where his mouth is. If there is any future for the Wolves, there needs to be some signs of life and potential on the court this season. There is no real franchise player of the team like there previously was with Kevin Garnett and even Al Jefferson, leaving the auditions to the likes of Kevin Love, Michael Beasley and Wesley Johnson. If one or more of them can embrace the leadership role and set an example for the other inexperienced players, brighter days may be ahead for owner Glen Taylor and his team. Until that day comes, the Wolves will continue to be an afterthought on the Minnesota sports landscape.
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