Zach Koenig's Minnesota Vikings fan blog

When the Vikings/Eagles wild card playoff matchup was finalized last weekend, the Las Vegas betting line had the home Minnesota Vikings as 10-point underdogs to the visiting Philadelphia Eagles.  Personally, I think that a different sort of "line" will be much more important on Sunday, that being the defensive variety...

If the Vikings (more specifically Jared Allen, Kevin Williams, and whoever fills in for the injured DE Ray Edwards) can constantly harass Philly QB Donovan McNabb and put him in some pain (as shown above), I think the Vikes will be heading to Carolina next week.  Sure, the Eagles usually win games by leaning on RB Bryant Westbrook, but does anyone seriously think (Pat Williams or no Pat Williams) that a RUNNING BACK will dominate a game against the Vikes? I don't think so!  Westbrook may have a decent game--even topping 100 yards--but I think McNabb will determine the outcome of the contest.  If given time, Donovan will pick apart the Vikings' secondary just because he is good enough to do so.  If pressure is applied, their entire scheme changes, as Philly has no big-time WRs that can dominate a game even if the QB is running for his life.  So, it's that simply...pressure McNabb and success will follow.

Continue reading "Vikings/Eagles Preview: "Line" Is Crucial To Vikings' Success"

Before previewing the big Vikings/Eagles matchup that will cap off the NFC Wild Card playoff round, I would first like to give my "official" (meaning they are most likely completely wrong!) predictions for the other three wild card games:

Indianapolis Colts at San Diego Chargers: Although Indy has been the hottest team in either league of late and the Bolts won their division with a very mediocre 8-8 record, I think that the Chargers will prevail on their home turf.  Talent-wise, both teams match up very equally, but the Chargers' defense is finally coming around and their offense (when they put their mind to it, which SHOULD happen in the playoffs) can be very dangerous.  If the Colts are going to succeed, it will have to be on the shoulders of Peyton Manning, as I really don't see Joseph Addai or Dominic Rhodes taking over the game.  Prediction: SD 34, IND 24

Continue reading "NFL Playoffs: Wild Card Preview"

I'm a bit late on commenting on the Vikings' last-second win over the New York Giants to catapult them into the playoffs on Sunday, but I do want to put in my two cents worth on the Vikings' effort.

At first glance, the Vikings-Giants Week 17 matchup looked like another one of "those games" for the Vikings, where they play well but almost let things slip away in the end.  While I will admit that the time-management towards the end of the game was atrocious (Longwell should have lined up for a much easier field goal than 50 yards) and really can only be blamed on Brad Childress (as he ultimately decides when time-outs should be called in those situations).  However, besides that lousy ending that was (again) saved by some Longwell heroics, the Vikes played a much better game than the score indicated.

Continue reading "Vikings 20, Giants 19: Getting the Job Done"

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.

I probably should be ruing this loss as just "one more" in the long line of Vikings late-season choke jobs from years past, but I'm not going to do so.  The reason?  For the first time since Mike Tice was fired nearly before leaving the field in 2005, the Vikings were an exciting team to watch.

Without the bonehead turnovers, the Vikings could have turned this game into a blowout, as every aspect of the game was clicking:

Continue reading "Falcons 24, Vikings 17: I Should Be Steamed, But I'm Not...Seriously"

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.

However, I think the key matchup in the contest will be the Vikings' ability to put pressure on young Atlanta QB Matt Ryan (pictured above).  If the D-Line can hurry Ryan, their offense will get out of sync and become one-dimensional.  If he is allowed to stand in the pocket and deliver clean passes, though, there is a good chance that White or Michael Jenkins will haul them in against a Purple secondary that needs help up front to succeed.

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

Boy, that was a headline I never thought I would write...WANTING Tarvaris Jackson to be under center of a crucial, playoff-implication game!  At the beginning of the season, I was one of those fans calling for Gus Frerotte to replace the struggling Jackson, and even supported Rot with a post about a month ago on this very blog.  However, it became clear in that much-too-close game against the Lions that Gus Frerotte just isn't a very good quarterback any more.  Not only is he slow and prone to being sacked, but he also isn't careful enough with the ball (basically the premium task he is charged with) and throws many interceptions as well.  Basically, when Gus is under center the defense had to dominate for the Purple to get into the win column.  With T-Jack, the offense has a chance to stretch the field and get some aggressive scores (not lucky 99 yarders or screen passes).

Continue reading "The Right Man Under Center"

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.

Now, I'm no doctor, but I do know that any fractured body part (especially one that gets as much work as a shoulder) is likely extremely painful and very weak.  However, I am confident in the knowledge that Big Pat will be on the field the moment he knows he can stand the pain without rendering his arm lifeless.  I mean, the humanity in me wants to say that Pat should just let the injury fully heal before hitting the line again, but I know he won't do that.  Just look at the guy...he's pretty much an early heart attack waiting to happen already, so he has pretty much given his body to the game he loves already.

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!

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.

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

I just wanted to quickly comment on the recent retirement of NFL kicker Morten Andersen.  For Vikings fans, Andersen will ultimately always be remembered as the kicker who converted when our Anderson (Gary) could not in the 1998 NFC Championship Game and sent the greatest Vikings team of all-time home too early.  However, in a strange twist of fate, Andersen actually kicked for the Vikes in 2004 and had a decent season.  Bygones, I guess (!).

I have always been fascinated by NFL kickers and how they keep hanging around (how many young kickers do you see...ever?!) into their middle age years, but Mort finally hung it up because of knee trouble.  However, it wouldn't surprise me if, after a year of rest for his knee, he gets a call or two (or three or four) from a team desperate for a kicker after theirs succumbed to injury.  You just never know...

Continue reading "A Great Tormentor (And One-Time Friend) Takes His Final Bow"

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.

Let's begin with the first half, where Gus Frerotte threw two interceptions, 70 yards, and led the Purple to a whopping three points.  I know that I was one of the Purple fans calling for Gus after Tarvaris Jackson started off the season so poorly, but it is all too clear now that Gus is NOT the answer at QB for the Vikings.  Sadly, he probably is the best option going forward, but don't confuse that with his talent level.  He is completely immobile, takes too many huge hits, and throws just as many interceptions as Jackson ever did (if not more).

Continue reading "Vikings 20, Lions 16: Getting Away With Another One"