Refs & Turnovers Doom Vikes

The Minnesota Vikings fell to 6-1 after losing 27-17 in Pittsburgh. The Vikes were jobbed big time by the refs on Sidney Rice’s touchdown catch in the fourth quarter to go ahead. The refs called a tripping penalty on tight end, Jeff Dugan. On the next play, Favre was sacked and fumbled the ball. Lamar Woodley of Pittsburgh took it 77 yards for a touchdown to put the Steelers up 20-10. It should have been Minnesota up 17-13.

On the ensuing kickoff, Percy Harvin ran the kick back 88 yards for a touchdown. Dugan NAILED a ref and knocked him out of the game. I’m not one to be overly violent to the refs, but they were horrible today. I hope Dugan broke the guys hip! After the Harvin touchdown it was 20-17 Pittsburgh.

Minnesota got the ball back with 3:21 and two timeouts. The Vikes drove from their own 26 yards line inside the Steeler’s 20, thanks to Adrian Peterson crushing a Steeler on a reception and running another 15-20 yards. Then the unthinkable happened, screen pass to Chester Taylor who let the ball fly off the top of his hands into the hands of Keyaron Fox of the Steelers. Fox ran 82 yards for a touchdown. Game over.

The game started out bad for Minnesota. About an hour before kickoff it was announced that Vikings Defensive MVP, Antoine Winfield is out 4-6 weeks with a broken foot.

Minnesota couldn’t do anything on their first four drives of the game, but on drive number five they went 76 yards, capped by a Peterson two yard touchdown run to go up 7-3. Pittsburgh kicked a field goal after a Chris Kluwe 19 yard punt. WOW!

The Minnesota defense played soft zone with no pass rush to end the half and they got burned. Ben Roethlisberger connected with some nobody receiver on a 40 yard touchdown with 24 seconds to go before half.

Minnesota proved they could go on the road and hang with a solid team. The Vikes honestly should have won the game. Penalties (some made up and some actual) killed the Vikes and obviously the two Favre turnovers were costly in the fourth quarter.

It was a bad day for Visanthe Shiancoe. He only had four grabs for 27 yards. He also had two false start penalties and a drop or two.

Although Harvin was stellar on Special Teams, he dropped at least two balls. Granted he got nailed on one of them.

Peterson ended the day with 69 yards on 18 carries and 60 yards on four receptions.

Favre continues to have good chemistry with Rice. Rice had 11 catches for 136 yards including an AMAZING catch on third down in the second half. He also had that touchdown that was called back on a phantom trip.

Tight end, Jim Kleinsasser continues to prove worthless. The Sauce dropped a touchdown pass and basically serves no purpose on the Vikings. What a bum!

The Vikes D held Big Ben to 14 of 26 for 174 yards, but the one touchdown really hurt them right before the end of the first half.

Favre was 34 of 51 for 334 yards. He threw a pick and fumbled, both for touchdowns. Granted the pick was Taylor’s fault. I’m sure glad we take out Adrian “All Day” Peterson during the fourth quarter on the last drive of the game, so smart. And talk is that Brad Childress may get a contract extension. Holy shit!

Minnesota faces another tough road game next week at Green Bay. The Vikes need to find a way to win at Lambeau. It will be Favre’s return, but it will also be Aaron Rogers throwing all over the Vikes defense, especially without Winfield.

It was a tough loss today, but more so because I lost a case of beer and money on the game. Minnesota proved they are an elite team.

NEWT’S GAME BALLS
Offense – Sidney Rice
Defense – EJ Henderson
Special Teams – Percy Harvin

Favre Reason

Vikes Avoid Disaster

The Vikes beat the Baltimore Ravens thanks to a missed 44 yard field goal by Ravens kicker, Steve Hauschka. Minnesota won 33-31.

The game started great for the Vikes as they scored on their first two drives of the game. Brett Favre connected with Visanthe Shiancoe for a 19 yard touchdown to start the scoring and Bernard Berrian caught a four yard touchdown from Favre on the second drive.

At half Minnesota was up 14-3. Baltimore could barely get the ball across the 50 yard line. During the first half, Antoine Winfield went down with a foot injury. It was reveled today that Winfield has a sprained foot. His status for Sunday at Pittsburgh is unknown at this time.

In the third quarter Ravens running back, Ray Rice scored on a 22 yard run. Ryan Longwell nailed field goals of 40 and 22 in the third.

The fourth quarter is where DISASTER struck. Shiancoe caught a one yard touchdown to put Minnesota up 27-10, but then the Ravens went crazy or the Vikes defense fell apart. You pick. Baltimore scored THREE touchdowns in the fourth quarter and Ravens quarterback, Joe Flacco threw for 196 yards in the fourth quarter alone! Flacco ended up throwing for 385 yards. WOW!

Sidney Rice, who had the game of his life, caught a 58 yard BOMB from Favre to setup the Vikes game winning 29 yard field goal from Longwell. Rice ended the day with 176 yards on six catches. Favre was 21 of 29 for 278 yards including three touchdowns.

Adrian Peterson had two big runs and ended the day with 143 yards on 22 carries.

The Vikes are now 6-0 thanks to a little luck and a good game offensively by Favre, Rice and Shiancoe. However, the Viking defense appears VERY suspect. The front four struggled getting to Flacco and both Chad Greenway and Madieu Williams proved they can’t really tackle in the open field. Actually the WHOLE defense couldn’t tackle in the fourth.

The real story on defense was how BAD Winfield’s sub, Karl Paymah was. Paymah seriously is the WORST player in the NFL. He was absolutely clueless out there. Wow, is he bad!

Vikes play at Pittsburgh and at Green Bay in back to back weeks, winning one of those two would be great.

NEWT’S GAME BALLS
Offense – Sidney Rice
Defense- No one worthy
Special Teams – Ryan Longwell

Vikes Improve to 5-0

In a game a little closer then the 38-10 score, the Minnesota Viking improved to 5-0 by beating the Rams in St. Louis.

The game couldn’t have started better for the Vikes. Minnesota took the opening drive 80 yards capped by a five yard Adrian Peterson touchdown run. On the Rams first possession, quarterback Kyle Boller fumbled the ball as Kevin Williams was running at him. Jared Allen scooped it and ran 52 yards for a touchdown, 14-0 Minnesota.

I think that heading in this had potential for a huge “letdown game” for Minnesota and I think after going up 14-0 early the boys somewhat lowered the intensity. St. Louis actually moved the ball nearly all day on the Vikes defense. Thanks to THREE red zone turnovers by the Rams, the Vikes dominated the day. Steven Jackson, who by the way said he was better then Peterson just not on as good of a team, fumbled on the Minnesota three yard line, Allen recovered. EJ Henderson had an interception on the Vikes ONE yard line and Tyrell Johnson had a pick in the end zone late in the game.

Brett Favre was 18 of 24 for 232 yards including a 13 yard touchdown to Visanthe Shiancoe. Favre also threw his ugliest pick as a Viking in the first half. By the way, Favre turned 40 yesterday. Percy Harvin had four catches for 66 yards, but he dropped a bomb that Favre placed perfectly in his hands.

Ryan Longwell nailed his only attempt, a 47 yarder in the first half to give the Vikes a 17-3 halftime lead.

By the end of the game, the Vikes had Tarvaris Jackson in at quarterback who led them on a touchdown drive capped by a Chester Taylor one yard run. Honestly though, how is T-Jack the backup quarterback over Sage Rosenfels?!? What if something ever did happen to Favre, we are gonna turn to T-Jack. God, I hope not!

Anyways, another win for the Minnesota Vikings. Although just looking at the score it looks like a TOTAL ass whippin’, it actually was a game for awhile. The Viking defense has some serious issues against the pass. The Viking linebackers struggle to cover tight ends and slants seem to be able to work on Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin. A guy who really played well today in the secondary was Benny Sapp. Sapp was all over the place making tackles.

At 5-0 the Vikes are atop the NFC North and host the Baltimore Ravens next Sunday. Guess what, I’m going to the game! After Baltimore the Vikes visit Pittsburgh and visiting Green Bay: three tough games that may really show everyone where the Vikes are actually at.

NEWT’S GAME BALLS
Offense – Brett Favre
Defense – Jared Allen
Special Teams – Ryan Longwell

Favre Leads Vikes Over Packers

I’m a little behind thanks to Minnesota Twins playoff fever and having an actual fever. Being in person at the Vikings versus Packers Monday Night game was truly amazing. In Brett Favre “Revenge Game” against his former team, he played great. Favre was 24 of 31 for 271 yards including three touchdowns. Thanks mainly to Favre, the Vikes beat the Pack 30-23 at Metrodome.

The scoring started with a Favre to Visanthe Shiancoe one yard touchdown pass. Green Bay responded with a 62 yard pass by Aaron Rogers. In the second quarter, Favre threw a 14 yard strike to Sid the Kid Rice and Adrian Peterson ran in a touchdown from one yard out. AD’s score came after he earlier in the second quarter had the ball stripped for a touchdown. Peterson rushed for 55 yards on 25 carries.

In the third quarter Favre hooked up with Bernard Berrian on a 31 yard touchdown pass. Jared Allen, who had 4.5 sacks on the night, sacked Rogers in the end zone resulting in a safety. Green Bay scored 10 points late, but thanks to Rice recovering TWO Green Bay onside attempts, Minnesota sealed the deal.

The Vikes are now 4-0 and visit the horrible St. Louis Rams on Sunday.

Favre truly played amazing and he has been amazing as a Viking. With Sage Rosenfels or Tarvaris Jackson, I’m guessing the Vikes are 2-2 after four games. Favre wills the team to win and his veteran leadership is shown on the field.

This could be a magical year for the Vikes, but for it to be, Favre and Peterson need to remain healthy and the Viking defense needs to pull it together some. Rogers threw for 384 on the Vikes.

NEWT’S GAME BALLS
Offense – Brett Favre
Defense – Jared Allen
Special Teams – Sidney Rice