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The Vikings looked totally unprepared for their football game with the Patriots last night.  The Patriots had been running the ball on offense all season and had been successful at it, but last night they came out throwing and the Vikings never adjusted to it.  Brad Johnson started to look his age last night, as he played horrible.  Johnson has completed 20 of 33 passes for 185 yards and 3 INTs.  Brooks Bollinger replaced him in the 4th quarter and did no better, completing 6 of 9 passes for 76 yards and a INT.  Chester Taylor was getting stuffed all night as he had 10 carries for 22 yards (2.2 ypc) and caught 3 passes for 27 yards.  The only player on the Vikings offense that came to play was RB Mewelde Moore.  Moore carried the ball 2 times for 9 yards and caught 4 passes for 91 yards.  But, Moore’s biggest play was when he returned a punt 71 yards for a TD!  Troy Williamson caught 5 passes for 44 yards.

The defense was absolutely destroyed by the Patriots.  The Vikings defense had been good all year until last night.  The Patriots only ran the ball 15 times, but they got 85 yards (5.7 ypc).  The Patriots completed 29 of 43 passes for 345 net yards passing.

Marcus Robinson could miss several weeks with a back injury.  This hurts the Vikings because almost every wide-out on the whole team is banged up.

The Vikings offense has played pretty well and is averaging 20.0 points per game.  The running game has been solid and is averaging 116.0 yards rushing per game and 4.2 yards per carry.  The passing game has been solid, averaging 210.3 net yards passing and 63.3% completions.

The defense has been outstanding so far this season, allowing just 15.8 points per game.  The run defense is outstanding and only allows 70.8 yards rushing per game and 3.1 yards per carry!  The pass defense allows 207.0 net yards passing and 56.9% completions.

Finally, an outstanding match-up on Monday Night Football.  The Patriots are coasting in their division with a 5-1 record, while the Vikings are staying close to the Bears at 4-2.

The Patriots are all about the running game so far this season, so look for Laurence Maroney (361 rushing yards) and Corey Dillon (328 rushing yards) to get their carries.  It won’t be easy for the Patriots to run the ball against a Vikings defense that only allows 70.8 yards rushing per game and 3.1 yards per carry.  The Patriots are not a one dimensional team, as they have one of the greatest QBs of all-time in Tom Brady.  The Patriots got rid of his best two receivers in the off-season….so he even spreads the ball around more, which makes the Patriots hard to defend.

The Vikings also prefer to run the football behind the left side of their offensive line (Hutchinson and McKinnie) with Chester Taylor who has 590 yards rushing this season.  The Patriots defense is real tough against the run only allowing 83.8 yards rushing per game and 3.5 yards per carry.  The Patriots pass defense is a little soft so look for Brad Johnson (1.299 yards passing) to attack it with short passes.

This game could go either way, but one thing is for certain……..it will be a good football game.

It seemed like an almost impossible task before kick-off to go up to Seattle and beat the Seahawks on their own field , on which the Seahawks had won 12 consecutive games.  But it didn’t seem impossible to the guys in the locker room with the purple helmets on.  Brad Johnson had an efficient game as usual completing 15 of 24 passes for 171 yards and a TD.  RB Mewelde Moore even threw a TD pass, a fifteen yarder to TE Jermaine Wiggins.  RB Chester Taylor had his best game as a Viking yet, carrying the ball 26 times for 169 yards and a TD (95 yarder), he also caught 4 passes for 19 yards.  WR Marcus Robinson had a good game, catching 4 passes for 77 yards and a TD.

The defense played great!  The Seahawks knocked Matt Hasselbeck (sprained knee) out of the game in the third quarter which essentially sealed the Seahawks fate.  The Seahawks ran the ball 21 times for 53 yards (2.5 ypc).  The Vikings defense allowed the Seahawks to complete 21 of 42 passes for 237 net yards passing, but the Vikings picked off two passes off of back-up QB Seneca Wallace.  LB EJ Henderson led the defensive charge with 9 tackles and an interception.

This was by far the most impressive win for the Vikings!  It announced that they are a serious threat to make the playoffs….and soon as you get there….anything can happen!

As a Rams fan, I congratulate you on the HUGE upset win over the SeaChicks!

The way the Vikes played was nothing short of brilliant, and I now look forward to a very close game in Week 17 when the Rams visit the Metrodome.

The Vikings have had two weeks to get ready for this important game.  The Vikings are sitting at 3-2 and need to win this game badly.  I would think that this would be a spot where the Seahawks would be in for a let-down after their emotional last-second win last week, but this game is at home where the Seahawks have won 12 straight games.

Don’t look for the Vikings to change their offense philosophy of running the football and throwing short passes.  The Vikings offense has been effective yardage wise (325.2 yards per game), but not points wise (17.8 points per game).  Chester Taylor (421 yards rushing) could find the going tough against the Seahawks defense that is only allowing 75.6 yards rushing per game and 3.4 yards per carry.  The Vikings should be effective with their short passing game as long as the receivers catch the ball when it hits their hands.  Johnson (1,128 yards passing) doesn’t favor any receiver and likes to spread the ball around.

The Seahawks would like to run the ball a little bit with Maurice Morris, but make no mistake….they will be throwing the ball alot.  The Vikings have a good secondary, but the Seahawks have alot of weapons when throwing the ball.  Darrell Jackson (26 rec, 387 yards) and Deion Branch cause all kinds of trouble for opposing defenses.  Hasselbeck is starting to throw to his tight-ends more and that is causing trouble for defenses too.

I don’t see how the Vikings will be able to generate enough offense to beat the Seahawks in their house.  I do think the game will be close, because of the Vikings defense.

The Williams boys….DTs Kevin and Pat….are keeping the linebackers clean and making some plays themselves.  Kevin Williams is hard to block, and he has 16 tackles and 3 sacks this season.  Veteran Pat Williams has 13 tackles and a sack, but he demands a double-team because of his size.

The Vikings are getting their yards (325.2) on offense, but they’re not putting any points (17.8 per game) on the board.  Chester Taylor has been a workhorse with 421 yards rushing (4th in the NFL) and he also has caught 17 passes.  It seems like the coach doesn’t have confidence in letting Brad Johnson throw the ball down the field.  Johnson does have 1,128 yards but most of the yards come on dinks and dunks.  The Vikings need to open it up on offense and try to put points on the board.

The Vikings defense has been outstanding so far this season.  The Vikings don’t allow anyone to run on them as they only allow 74.4 yards rushing and 3.2 yards per carry.  The Vikings also hold the opposition to a 70.1 QB rating, which is outstanding.  If the Vikings defense keeps up their level of play and the offense opens it up a little bit, the Vikings will make the playoffs this season.