Nfc North

I'm not going to analyze this game a whole lot, as it is pretty simple why the Vikings fell to the Falcons.  Despite dominating in nearly aspect of the game, turnovers (four fumbles in all) doomed the Purple in their quest for the NFC North Division title.

Continue reading "Falcons 24, Vikings 17: I Should ..."

To me, this Sunday's Minnesota Vikings-Atlanta Falcons matchup is very even: On defense, the Vikings are clearly the better squad.  Offensively, though, the Falcons have more star talent (Michael Turner, Matt Ryan, Roddy White) than the Vikings, so, again, a big effort from Adrian Peterson will likely be the key to victory.

Continue reading "Vikings/Falcons Preview: An Even Line"

In the wake of all the playoff hoopla surrounding the Vikings seemingly imminent (famous last words, I know) clinching of the NFC North sometime during the next two weeks, news came down that DT Pat Williams suffered a fractured shoulder and will miss 2-6 weeks.

Continue reading "Pat Williams Eats Fractured Shoulders For Lunch"

Because of my work schedule, I was unable to preview this past Sunday's MN/Arizona game.  However, had I done so, I would have predicted a 35-14 Arizona victory (that was the number in my head).  I would have gotten the scoring correct, at least!

Continue reading "Vikings 35, Cardinals 14: An Impressive ..."

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.

Continue reading "Surprising T-Jack leads to win with ..."

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.

Continue reading "Another week, antother close Vikings' ..."

Well, anyone reading this blog likely watched Sunday's contest between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, so I'm not going to provide a summary.  Suffice it to say, though, that the Vikings got away with playing another terrible game yet walking out with a victory.

Continue reading "Vikings 20, Lions 16: Getting Away ..."

Coming into Sunday night's nationally televised contest against the Bears, the Vikes were a team (and a fan base) that expected a victory.  Remarkably (if you know anything about the Vikes in pressure situations!), that is exactly what transpired, with an exclamation mark!  Why did the Vikings have no excuse not to win this game?  A quick recent-history lesson:

Continue reading "Vikings 34, Bears 14: Doing What Needed To Be Done"

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).

Continue reading "SNF win over the Bears 34-14 moves ..."

In 1961, the first year of the Minnesota Vikings franchise, the Vikes opened their inaugural season against the powerhouse Chicago Bears.  Nobody (probably not even the Vikings themselves) gave themselves much of a chance against the class of the NFL, but on that day a young whippersnapper named Fran Tarkenton threw for 250 yards and four touchdowns to beat Da Bears 37-13 that, in all reality, rivals Super Bowl III (Joe Namath over Johnny Unitas) in "upset factor".

Continue reading "Vikings-Bears Preview: Nothing Too Special"

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.

Continue reading "Ball control key in Chicago/Minnesota ..."

Based on the statistics sheet, this game should have been much closer than the actual final score indicated.  The Jaguars got more first downs than the Vikings (17-15), more passing yards (286-104), and held about even in time-of-possession.  However, the Vikes dominated the game in two key areas: turnovers recovered (five) and rushing yards (122-35).

Continue reading "Vikings 30, Jaguars 12: One Tough Son Of A Gus"

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).

Continue reading "Bi-Polar Saints crush Green Bay, ..."

Eleven weeks into the 2008 NFL season, the Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, and Minnesota Vikings all sit atop the NFC North division with identical 5-5 records.  The Bears have overachieved, the Packers the opposite, and the Vikes are right about where I thought they would be.  Here's a quick look at the remaining schedules for both teams, and how I think each will fare down the stretch...

Continue reading "Vikings, Bears, Packers...The Rest Of The Way"

Wow...I don't think I've ever pegged a Vikings matchup as exactly as what I did before last Sunday's MN-TB contest.  Unfortunately, my incredibly accurate prediction came in a losing effort.

Continue reading "Tampa Bay 19, Minnesota 13: A Tale ..."

It’s been a weird year, especially for sports. The Boston Celtics finally picked themselves up from the bootstraps to win a championship. Neither the Red Sox nor the Yankees amounted to anything more than a bunch of overpaid whiners. They are even tearing down Yankee Stadium.  

Continue reading "All Good Soldiers"

As the Minnesota Vikings left the field in the first half of Sunday's lackluster contest against the Detroit Lions, Vikings fans reigned down boos on their Purple.  Midway through the second half, chants of "Fire Childress!" could be heard booming through the Metrodome.  With the type of anemic offense the Vikings have had over the last three years, there is good reason that Childress should be doing no more than updating his resume by now.  On the other hand, the Vikes ARE 3-3 this season and tied with Green Bay and Chicago (next week's opponent) for first place in the hapless NFC North.

Continue reading "If I Were Ziggy..."