The Minnesota Vikings (3-0) and Brett Favre came from behind to beat the San Francisco 49ers (2-1) today at home.  It didn’t look very good for the Vikings late in the game, as 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill threw a 20-yard touchdown pass to Vernon Davis to put the 49ers up 24-20 with 8:12 to play.  Then Brett Favre decided to bring the Vikings back, as he lead them down field to the 49ers’ 32-yard line.  It looked like Favre and the Vikings’ comeback might fall short, as they had only 12 seconds left and still had 32 yards to get to the end-zone.  Favre then dropped back, weaved through a few 49ers defenders and fired a bullet to the back of the end-zone to back-up recevier Greg Lewis.  This was Lewis’ first catch and touchdown of the season, and it was also the first action he has seen this season.

The Vikings offense did not look very good through most of the game until that final drive and Favre finished with 301 yards on 24/46 (52%) attempts, with two touchdowns and one interception.  Favre was getting knocked around all game by the pressuring 49ers’ defense. Adrian Peterson was able to get one big play, with a 35-yard run in the first quarter, but only finished with 85 yards and no touchdowns on 19 carries (4.5 avg).  The Vikings defense did a good job stopping the run, but a lot of that had to do with the fact that the 49ers star running back Frank Gore left the game (ankle) after one carry.  The 49ers quarterback Shaun Hill was effective against the Vikings pass defense, as he had two nice touchdown passes, but Vikings’ Cedric Griffin was able to intercept him once.

The Vikings got a huge momentum lift when Percy Harvin returned a kick-off 101-yards for a touchdown.  The play put the Vikings up 20-17 late in the third quarter and without that play the Vikings probably lose this game.  Overall, this wasn’t the Vikings’ best game but with Favre’s late heroics they were able to pull out the win and that is all that matters.

The Minnesota Vikings (2-0) are hosting the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) at the Metrodome this week and both teams are looking to stay undefeated.  The Vikings have not had much of a challenge yet this year, as they have beaten two weak teams in the Cleveland Browns and the Detroit Lions.  They even let both of those teams build a lead on them before coming back and getting the easy victories.

Adrian Peterson has been fantastic so far this year and has a 6.8 yards per carry average.  He is battling a sore back but I don’t think it is going to affect Peterson too much.  I’m sure the 49ers and their head coach Mike Singletary are going to do everything they can to keep Adrian Peterson from getting too much, but Peterson has proved he can run around, over, or through people.  They also have got themselves Brett Favre at quarterback, and even though he has not really done much this year, he is still Brett Favre.  With the 49ers probably over-emphasizing stopping Peterson, Favre may have himself a break out game.

The 49ers have themselves a pretty impressive running game too, but Frank Gore sprained his ankle last week.  Gore, who ran for over 200 yards last week, says his ankle is fine and he is going to play.  An ankle problem for a running back can effect their play, as they are constantly cutting and driving off it.  49ers quarterback Shaun Hill has been in a similar situation as Favre this year, not having to do much besides handing the ball off.  Hill has been solid for the 49ers and doesn’t turn the ball over much, but he is not going to put the team on his back and win the game.

I think Adrian Peterson is the big difference maker in this game.  He may not put up huge numbers with the 49ers doing whatever they can to stop him, but because of that I think it will open up a lot of things for Favre and the passing game. Peterson has also proved he can be very effective even when teams know he is getting the ball.  The 49ers are going to put up a good effort but I think the Vikings are going to pull out the victory.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:  49ers 24, Vikings 30

Adrian Peterson’s back is tired from carrying the entire Minnesota Vikings team so far this season.  He injured his back in the Vikings week two win over the Detroit Lions but it won’t keep him out of the Vikings’ game Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers.  Peterson says the injury “is not a big deal.”  In two games so far this season Peterson has rushed for 272 yards on 40 carries (6.8 avg) and has four touchdowns.  That 6.8 yards per carry is pretty amazing and Peterson is probably the best player in the NFL right now, if you don’t believe me check out some of his highlights here:

The Minnesota Vikings (2-0) looked like they might be upset by the win-less Detroit Lions (0-2) as they were down 10-0 midway through the 2nd quarter.  That all changed in the second half, as the Vikings put up 20 points after being down 10-7 at the break.  The Vikings had 27 unanswered points until a late field goal by the Lions in the 4th quarter, winning the game 27-13.

Brett Favre made history with his 271st consecutive start, a streak dating back to 1992.  Favre only threw for 155 yards, but he had a solid and extremely efficient game through the air.  He went 23/27 (85%) and had two touchdowns.  The Vikings somehow kept Adrian Peterson under 100 yards on the ground, but that’s only because he carried the ball 15 times.  He still piled up 92 yards (6.1 avg) and had a 27 yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter that put the Vikings up for good.

The Vikings defense looked a little shaky in the first half, as they put themselves into a 10-0 hole against the worst team in the league.  The Lions have now lost 19 in a row and it looks like they may challenge the 1976-77 Tampa Bay Buccaneers 26 straight losses.  Mathew Stafford threw two interceptions and has now thrown five in his first two NFL games.  The Lions do look like they are improving, but are going to struggle all season.  The Vikings will host the San Francisco 49ers (2-0) next Sunday at home.

FINAL SCORE:   Lions 13, Vikings 27

The Minnesota Vikings are headed to Ford Field Sunday as they take on the Detroit Lions.  The Vikings are looking to build off their 34-20 victory over the Cleveland Browns in week one.  Brett Favre will be making history in this game, as he is going to make his 271st straight start, breaking the former record held by Vikings great Jim Marshall.

This wont be a very challenging game for the Vikings, as the Lions are in a rebuilding year after going 0-16 last year.  They have a rookie in Mathew Stafford starting for them at quarterback, and he is still adjusting to the speed of the NFL.  Stafford threw three interceptions in the Lions loss last week, but he does have a big weapon in wide receiver Calvin Johnson.  The Vikings defense should not have much of a problem with Stafford, Johnson and the rest of the Lions offense however.

Adrian Peterson rushed for 180 yards and three touchdowns in the Vikings win last week, and look for more of the same from the super talented running back.  The Lions gave up 157 yards on the ground last week against the Saints, so it looks like they have no answer for Peterson and he is going to run all over the Lions defense.  Favre has a career record of 23-9 against the Lions and will most likely be improving that record.  I don’t see this being a very close game with the Vikings winning easily.

FINAL SCORE PREDICTION:   Lions 24, Vikings 42