Marc Lunde's Minnesota Vikings fan blog

Where was this in the first two weeks of the season?

Tavaris Jackson, bench after two losses this season, had four TD passes (two of them over 40 yards) to led Minnesota to a not-so-surprising win over the playoff-bound Arizona Cardinals. Jackson went 11-for-17 with 163 yard with no picks or fumbles. He was sacked three times but also had three carries for three yards, all of them for one yard, avoiding other potential sacks. This was the kind of spark the Vikings haven't had since Dante Culpepper had his MVP-caliber season--only to be upstaged by record-setting QB Peyton Manning.

Now that I've given credit where it is due, we have to look at the obvious: Arizona isn't really worthy of a playoff spot. The Cardinals, who could have clinched a playoff berth in Week 12, finally locked up a spot in Week 14 but came out flat against a team who knows they have a tough schedule but the inside track to the playoffs.

Continue reading "Surprising T-Jack leads to win with four TD passes on only eleven completions"

It isn't a good sign when two important wins for the Vikings this season have been two- and four-point victories against a winless team. Nonetheless, the Viks avoided the trap game and are 7-2 in their last nine games to move to 8-5 and have a one-game lead over Da Bears in the NFC North.

The Purple is starting to put things together with three straight wins, two of them being on the road. Not to sound like a pessimist but how can Minnesota choke this season? Their remaining schedule is at Arizona (8-5), then hosting Atlanta (8-5) and the NFC-leading New York Giants (11-2). Da Bears host New Orleans (7-6), Green Bay (5-8) and then travel to Houston (6-7). Advantage to the Bears.

However, you have to seen the blessing in disguise. If Minnesota makes the playoffs, they will have to defeat some tough opponents down the stretch in games that matter. If they come out of this ahead, they will host a first-round game at the Dome where they are 5-1 this season.

Continue reading "Another week, antother close Vikings' win, 20-16 over the maneless Lions"

Several NFL policy changes may be made by recent suspension of six players including Minnesota DTs Kevin and Pat Williams for an anti-doping violation.

After a Hennepin County Judge temporarily blocked the NFL's suspension, which was expected when the NFL handed down the suspensions, the average fan can only sit back and wait for the legal process to do it's job.

Well, maybe there is more than we can do. As a Vikings fan, you might say "let them play!" As a Bears or Packers fan you might say "you did the crime, now pay the time." One of the things I love about having something resembling a brain but actually using it settle otherwise subjective arguments (example: I'm a Vikings fan who hates the Packers but love the rich history the Packers have and love watching Brett Favre play regardless the shade of green he is wearing).

Continue reading "Guilty until proven innocent: Mixed thoughts on Williams Wall suspension"

The game was much closer than the score would indicate as the Vikings downed the Bears 34-14.

After a no-call on a roughing the passer, Minnesota had to settle for a field goal. The next possession, Minnesota forced a Chicago punt... which they didn't have to do because one of our DBs got a stupid (and I can't say that enough), stupid personal foul. He got bailed out by four stops from the two-yard line. The first play of the next Vikings' drive was a 99-yard, perfect pass to Berrian that resulted in a TD (and 15 points for anyone playing Berrian in fantasy football--the most you can have on one play in a non-point-per-catch league).

The Vikings rolled from there, getting three interceptions in the fourth quarter against Orten and three sacks out of Jared Allen. The win moves them to 7-5 and in sole possession of the top spot in the NFC North while Chicago sits one game back and Green Bay sits two. Even with the trip to the maneless Lions' den next week, the division is still up for grabs.

Continue reading "SNF win over the Bears 34-14 moves Vikings to within striking distance of playoff berth"

So it might not come down to this, but the Vikings (6-5 overall, 2-2 in the division) need to win on Sunday Night Football this weekend against the Bears (6-5, 3-1) to win the NFC North.

Yes, if they lose they will be a game back with four games to go; however, we would have lost both games to Da Bears and lose any tie-breaker, essentially being two games back with four to go. Throw in the fact that the Packer face a Carolina team that can be beat and the Vikings could fall to third in the division quickly (fortunately they can't drop to fourth--thank you Detroit). Green Bay is 3-1 in the divison, 5-6 overall.

You may recall the Viks lost 48-41 in Chicago earlier this season with a late Gus interception sealing the deal. Since that loss, the Vikings are 3-1, the only loss coming to 8-3 Tampa Bay. After a so-so, road win against a struggling team in Jacksonville, the Vikings are a three-point favorite (depending on what online betting site you use). This is a pretty accurate spread, considering Vikings wins in the division have been by two and one points while losses have come by seven and five.

Continue reading "Ball control key in Chicago/Minnesota game for lead in NFC North"

The Vikings can bless the Saints for their work this season.

On Monday Night Football two months ago, somehow the Saints managed to blow a game to the 1-3 Vikings 30-27. the win was the start of Minnesota's current 5-2 run. Back on MNF, the Saints helped the Vikings again by downing the Packers 51-29 to get above .500 at 6-5 and are back to within two games of NFC South leaders Carolina and Tamba Bay (8-3).

The Pack fell to 5-6, one game behind Both the Vikings and the Bears in the NFC North. With teams like Dallas (7-4), Washington (7-4), Atlanta (7-4), and the aforementioned two-way tie at 8-3 between the Panthers and the Buccaneers, it looks like the North won't have a wild card team. Throw in the fact that the Bears and Vikings play this week and the Bears and the Pack play in Chicago in week 16, the way to the playoffs is through a division title.

Continue reading "Bi-Polar Saints crush Green Bay, Help Vikings Again"

The scoreboard may say one thing, but the Minnesota Vikings' 30-12 win over the disappointing Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday did little to show me they are serious NFC playoff contenders by beating an underachieving team while giving up nearly 300 yards in the air.

Outgained 286-104 off the QB's arm, Minnesota dominated the ground game 122-35. However, the biggest stat, besides the score board, was the turnover margin, 5-1 in favor of the Purple. Again, the defense kept Minnesota in the game and helped them to their largest victory of the season. Outside of an intentional safety in the fourth quarter, a second-half shutout at a 2008 playoff team's stadium is hard to come by.

But I'm not sold at the QB position. I was happy when Childress when to Gus, knowing what he has done as a backup before. But I believe some future Hall-of-Famer named Randy something was on the team. Gus is 6-3 as the starter but hasn't done anything to win the game for the Vikings. It seems Minnesota wins in spite of who is at the helm. Chester Taylor is the only Viking to have more TD passes than interceptions this year (1-0, while Gus is 11-12 and TJ is 1-1).

Continue reading "Vikings still haven't wow-ed me in road win against 4-7 Jags."