The defense was outstanding last night for the Vikings and it was the biggest reason for the win.  CB Antoine Winfield led the way on D for the Vikings with 6 tackles.  CB Marcus Sherels pitched in with 2 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 1 interception last night.  The Vikings held the Seahawks to 44 yards rushing (2.9 ypc) and 242 yards passing last night.  The Vikings were also ballhogs on offense as the Seahawks only had the ball for 22:52 last night.  In fact the Seahawks only scored six points against the Vikings’ D (7 points were scored on a pick six that Brett Favre threw).

Brett Favre got the start at QB for the Vikings last night and he completed 16 of 26 passes for 187 yards with 2 INTs (one was returned 86 yards for a TD by safety Earl Thomas of the Seahawks.  Favre also lost a fumble as he didn’t look too sharp.  Tarvaris Jackson made a brief appearance completing only 1 of 3 passes for 4 yards.  Sage Rosenfels looked sharp in this game completing 5 of 6 passes for 71 yards with 1 TD pass.  Rookie QB Joe Webb only tossed 1 pass last night and it went for a 7-yard TD.  Adrian Peterson led the way on the ground with 37 yards on 11 carries (3.4 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 36 yards (18.0 avg) in this game.  Rookie RB Toby Gerhart pitched in with 30 yards rushing on 7 carries (4.3 ypc) last night.  Newly acquired WRs Greg Camarillo (4 rec, 47 yards) and Javon Walker (2 rec, 32 yards and a TD) led the way in the passing game for the Vikings last night.  7th round rookie fullback Ryan D’Imperio pitched in with 2 grabs for 22 yards (11.0 avg) with a TD grab.  The Vikings finished up with 112 yards rushing (3.4 ypc) and 246 yards passing last night.  The Vikings are now 2-1 on the pre-season.

The Vikings have acquired 28-year old WR Greg Camarillo from the Dolphins for 29-year old CB Benny Sapp.  Camarillo played in 16 games (all starts) for the Dolphins last season and he caught 50 passes for 552 yards (11.0 avg).  He has now played in 46 games (27 starts) in his four years in the NFL and he has caught 113 passes for 1,325 yards (11.7 avg) with 4 TD grabs.  Camarillo will likely be the #3 or #4 WR for the Vikings this year.  Benny Sapp played in 16 games for the Vikings last season and he had 43 tackles, 6 passes defensed and 2 forced fumbles.  Sapp played in 30 games in his two years with the Vikings and he had 65 tackles, 8 passes defensed, 2 forced fumbles and he had 2 interceptions. 

The Vikings have signed 31-year old WR Javon Walker.  Walker played in 3 games for the Raiders last season but he didn’t catch any passes.  Walker has played in 83 games (46 starts) in his 8 years in the NFL and he has caught 267 passes for 4,011 yards (15.0 avg) with 31 TD grabs.  He has also carried the ball 14 times for 132 yards (9.4 ypc) with 1 TD run in his career.  Walker had his best days when he was with the Packers catching passes from Brett Favre.  In four years with the Packers, Walker played in 48 games (18 starts) in which he caught 157 passes for 2,444 yards (15.6 avg) with 22 TD grabs.  If anyone can revive Walker’s career it will be Brett Favre so this might turn out being a good signing for the Vikings.

The Vikings will be without 23-year old WR Sidney Rice for at least the first 8 games of the 2010 season due to hip surgery.  Rice really broke out last season for the Vikings.  He played in 16 games (14 starts) for the Vikings last season and he caught 83 passes for 1,312 yards (15.8 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  Rice seemed to really jell with Brett Favre after having a disappointing first two years of his NFL career.  Rice played in 26 games (7 starts) in his first two years in the NFL and he caught 46 passes for 537 yards (11.7 avg) with 8 TD grabs.  This is a very bad break for both Rice and the Vikings as Brett Favre will have to find a new go-to guy.

The Vikings didn’t look too good on Sunday Night Football.  Brett Favre made a very brief appearance completing his only pass attempt for 13 yards.  Tarvaris Jackson had a so-so game completing 7 of 11 passes for 43 yards and he also carried the ball 2 times for 18 yards.  Sage Rosenfels was pretty awful in this game as he completed 2 of 7 passes for 11 yards.  Rookie Joe Webb finished up the game at QB and he looked o.k. completing 7 of 14 passes for 47 yards.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 53 yards (17.7 ypc) in this game.  Adrian Peterson pitched in with 6 carries for 17 yards (2.8 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 25 yards (8.3 avg).  The Vikings finished up with 114 yards rushing (5.7 ypc) and 79 yards passing in this game.

The defense of the Vikings was solid in this game and it was led by linebacker E.J. Henderson who had 7 tackles.  The 49ers finished up with 80 yards rushing (2.6 ypc) and 191 yards passing in this game.

The Vikings dominated the Rams both offensively and defensively like they should last night in St. Louis.  Tarvaris Jackson got the start and he completed 2 of 4 passes for 11 yards.  Sage Rosenfels followed up Jackson and he was downright incredible.  Rosenfels completed 23 of 34 passes for 310 yards with 3 TD passes and 0 INTs.  Rookie Joe Webb finished up the game at QB for the Vikings and he completed 4 of 6 passes for 37 yards with 1 TD pass.  He also carried the ball 3 times for 24 yards (8.0 ypc) as he was impressive.  Rookie RB Toby Gerhart led the way for the Vikings last night with 24 yards rushing on 8 carries (3.0 ypc).  TE Garrett Mills led the way in the passing game for the Vikings last night with 106 yards on 4 grabs (26.5 avg) with a TD grab.  WRs Marko Mitchell (1 rec, 71 yards, TD) and Logan Payne (7 rec, 52 yards, TD) also looked good in the passing game.  The Vikings finished up with 78 rushing yards (2.5 ypc) and they passed for 336 yards last night.

The D was also outstanding for the Vikings last night.  LBs E.J. Henderson (6 tackles, sack) and Heath Farwell (5 tackles) led the way for the Vikings last night.  The Rams finished up with only 33 yards rushing (2.5 ypc) and 117 yards passing last night.

22-year old WR Percy Harvin is right there with Joshua Cribbs of the Cleveland Browns as the most lethal kickoff returners in the NFL.  Harvin palyed in 15 games for the Vikings last season and he returned 42 kickoffs for 1,156 yards (27.5 avg) with 2 TD returns.  Harvin has is all as a returner as he has mind blowing moves and the speed to take it to the house any time he touches the football.  Look for him to have another outstanding year returning kickoffs setting the offense up with good starting position.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS KICKOFF RETURNERS in 2010:  A+

The Vikings’ O-Line might be a tad overrated but they are still solid.  LT Bryant McKinnie got a lot of negative pub for blowing off obligations in Miami at the Pro Bowl so he was sent home.  He is a good pass blocker and he once was a dominating run blocker.  But, he needs to be more focused and motivated to get to his top level.  LG Steve Hutchinson is a really solid pass blocker but his run blocking is starting to slip.  Still, he will likely play at a high level for the Vikings once again in 2010.  Center John Sullivan is smart and he’s a good technician but he has problems with bigger D-Linemen.  RG Anthony Herrera is a solid all around player when healthy as he plays until the whistle blows on every play.  RT Phil Loadholt was so-so as a rookie last season.  The Vikings hope he cuts down on his penalties in 2010.

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS O-LINE in 2010:  B

54-year old head coach Brad Childress is a solid leader for the Vikings.  He led them to a 12-4 (75%) record last season and they were also 1-1 in the playoffs as they missed appearing in the Super Bowl by a field goal in O.T.  The Vikings have improved their record in each of Childress’ four years as a head coach.  He has a 36-28 (56.3%) record during the regular season and he is 1-2 (33.3%) in the post season.  While it will be hard for Childress to improve the Vikings record for five straight years the team will be angling to win 2 more games in the playoffs in 2010 and he looks like he can get the team there as long as Brett Favre plays.

35-year old kicker Ryan Longwell might be getting older but he also appears to be getting better.  Longwell played in 16 games for the Vikings last season and he nailed 26 of 28 field goals (92.9%).  He also made 54 of 55 extra points as he finished up the year with 132 points.  Longwell has now played in 208 games in his NFL career and he has made 322 of 388 field goals (83%).  He has also made 536 of 543 extra points as he now has 1,502 points in his NFL career.  Longwell is showing absolutely no signs of slowing down any time soon.

28-year old Rhys Lloyd will be the kickoff specialist for the Vikings this season to preserve Longwell’s leg.  He played in all 16 games for the Panthers in the same capacity last season.  He has played in 35 games (0 starts) in his three years in the NFL but he has yet to attempt a field goal or even an extra point. 

PROJECTED GRADE FOR THE VIKINGS KICKERS IN 2010:  A