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!
The kind of game that the Vikings played on Sunday, I imagine, is EXACTLY the type of contest that Brad Childress envisioned for this offense when he took over as Head Coach three years ago. QB Tarvaris Jackson was smart with the ball AND made a heap of outstanding throws (a combination we had never seen from him until this point) to give the Vikings a lead, after which point they rode Adrian Peterson (165 yards) for the rest of the game. Throw in the tremendous pressure that the defense put on Kurt Warner and the Arizona receivers, and a blowout was almost inevitable.
If the Vikes are going to keep winning, this is the type of game they need to play week in and week out. Only a tremendous opposing defensive effort keeps AD under 100 yards these days, and the passing lanes should be (and were the other day) wide open for many QB-WR connections. Like I have said before on this blog, the Vikings really only need to do two things to have an excellent chance to win each week: First, they need to at least keep the defense honest by throwing a few passes. Peterson has the ability to single-handedly dominate a game, but every once in awhile opposing defenses completely sell out to stopping him and thus the pass threat still needs to exist. Secondly, the Vikes need to get a lead (or at least not get too far behind). With a lead, the Vikes are perhaps the best team in the NFL of chewing up clock time with their punishing running backs.
However, lest I get too far ahead of myself, there is still one test that the Vikes have not passed yet this season...the ability to come back from a deficit to win a game. Perhaps the Purple can make it all the way to the playoffs and beyond by playing exactly their type of football, but more likely is the reality that, eventually, some team against us will get out to a ten or so point lead. That will be the last true test for this team, as it would require the passing game to gain significant yardage, something that hasn't really happened in pressure situations this season.
Thus, this win kind of put me back on the Purple's good side. I'm always rooting for them, of course, but the last few years (especially this one) my rooting has been heavily tempered with the expectations of collapse. Sure, the Cardinals may have been experiencing a division title-clinching hangover, but Warner to Fitzgerald/Boldin on their worst day could beat many NFL teams, so holding them completely in check is a achievement to be proud of.
Finally, for a quick playoff update, the Vikes need just one win or one Bears loss to clinch the NFC North division. Also, believe it or not, the Vikes are still in contention for a first-round bye! If we win out (11-5), our fate for that coveted bye will be determined by the play of the Giants and Panthers (I'm not exactly sure how all the tiebreakers work out).
