The Vikings have been running in quicksand this year while the Patriots have won 4 games in a row to get back to being one of the best teams in the NFL.  With Brett Favre hobbling around with two fractures in his ankle, Tarvaris Jackson could be the Vikings’ starting QB tomorrow.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  The temptations to throw a lot are going to be there tomorrow.  The Patriots are giving up 282.0 yards passing per game and Randy Moss is going to want to stick it to his old team.  I just can’t see the Vikings dropping back and throwing the ball a lot tomorrow.  Tarvaris Jackson is not a good passing QB and Brett Favre will be operating with a flat tire if he plays.  That means the Vikings will likely turn to the best player on the offense (Adrian Peterson) to carry them home. 

When the Patriots have the ball:  The Vikings only have six sacks this year and they are giving up 209.2 yards passing per game so this might be the week that the Patriots go back to the air.  Tom Brady will likely spread the ball around a lot tomorrow so the Vikings won’t be able to double any of his WRs.  The Patriots are also running the ball more than usual this year so the Vikings will also have to be ready to deal with BenJarvus Green-Ellis and Danny Woodhead tomorrow.

PREDICTION:  PATRIOTS 30, VIKINGS 20

27-year old backup QB Tarvaris Jackson is ready to get his old job back if Brett Favre can’t go this weekend against the Patriots.  Jackson has played in 33 games in his first four years with the Vikings and he has completed 320 of 545 passes (58.7%) for 3,643 yards with 21 TD passes and 18 INTs (77.9 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 112 times for 472 yards (4.2 ypc) with 4 TD runs in his NFL career.  If Jackson is named the starting QB I look for the Vikings to run the ball a lot more than they have been this year which would probably benefit the offense.

41-year old QB Brett Favre suffered two fractures to his left ankle in Sunday Night’s loss to the Packers at Lambeau Field.  He won’t need surgery to fix his ankle but it’s up in the air as to whether or not he’ll be able to play with the pain.  Favre has played in 6 games for the Vikings so far this year and he has completed 104 of 179 passes (58.1%) for 1,191 yards with 7 TD passes and 10 INTs (68.0 QB Rating).  He has also carried the ball 7 times for -1 yard (-0.1 ypc) so far this year.  Head Coach Brad Childress ripped Favre in public for his decision making, which makes me think that he’s considering a QB change anyway.  It would be a shame to see Brett Favre benched even if he’s ready to try to play this weekend against the Patriots.  Favre has played in 295 games in his NFL career and he has completed 6,187 of 9,990 passes (61.9%) for 70,520 yards with 504 TD passes and 327 INTs (86.3 QB Rating).  Favre has also carried the ball 592 times for 1,835 yards (3.1 ypc) with 14 TD runs in his career.  I bet Favre is wishing he would have stayed retired the way this season is going.

The Vikings made too many mistakes in this game but they still had a chance to pull it out in the waning seconds before falling short.  Brett Favre completed 16 of 29 passes for 212 yards with 1 TD pass and 3 INTs (Packers’ LB Desmond Bishop returned one of Favre’s picks 32-yards for a TD).  Adrian Peterson was on his game as he carried the ball 28 times for 131 yards (4.7 ypc) with 1 TD run.  He also caught 2 passes for 41 yards (20.5 avg) in this game.  Rookie Toby Gerhart also got a little taste in this game with 5 carries for 24 yards (4.8 ypc).  Percy Harvin was a playmaker for the Vikings in his contest as he carried the ball 3 times for 41 yards (13.7 ypc) with a TD run and he also caught 5 passes for 65 yards (13.0 avg).  Randy Moss pitched in with 3 grabs for 30 yards with a TD grab.  The Vikings finished up with 196 yards rushing on 36 carries (5.4 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 29 passes for 206 yards. 

The defense was so-so for the Vikings in this game.  OLB Chad Greenway (12 tackles, 3 tackles for a loss), CB Antoine Winfield (7 tackles) and safety Madieu Williams (6 tackles, 1 pass defensed and 1 interception) led the way for the Vikings on D in this game.  DE Jared Allen also had a pretty cool interception in this game.  The Packers finished up with 84 yards rushing on 23 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 21 of 35 passes for 295 yards.  The Vikings are now 2-4 on the season.

Last season the Vikings swept the Packers by a combined score of 68-49!  Brett Favre was awesome against his old team last year as he completed 41 of 59 passes (69.5%) for 515 yards with 7 TD passes and 0 INTs!  He’s not the same player he used to be but don’t be surprised if he gets up for this game and plays his best football of the year.  Aaron Rodgers was no slouch last season either as he completed 52 of 78 passes (66.7%) against the Vikings for 671 yards with 5 TD passes and 1 INT.  While I don’t expect this game to be a shootout….you never know.   Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  While Brett Favre is going to be tempted to air it out in this game, the Vikings would be smart to come out running the ball with Adrian Peterson.  The Packers are giving up 112.5 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry so Peterson should have a good game tomorrow night.  The Vikings need to keep Brett Favre clean in this game so that he doesn’t get happy feet.  If Favre has time to throw the ball he’s going to challenge the Packers’ corners deep with passes to Randy Moss and Percy Harvin.

When the Packers have the football:  The Packers have thrown the ball 60% of the time so far this year and I see no reason for anything to change that tomorrow night.  The Vikings only have six sacks this season so Rodgers is going to have time to throw the ball which is bad news for Minnesota.  The Packers are likely going to spread the field with Rodgers choosing between WRs Jordy Nelson, Greg Jennings, James Jones and Donald Driver most of the night.  Any help that Brandon Jackson or John Kuhn can give the Packers on the ground will be a bonus.

PREDICTION:  VIKINGS 30, PACKERS 27

22-year old WR/KR Percy Harvin is starting to step up for the Vikings.  With the pressure of him being the go-to man off of him due to the trade for Randy Moss, Harvin is stepping up.  Harvin has played in 5 games this year for the Vikings and he has carried the ball 5 times for 33 yards (6.6 ypc) and he has also caught 20 passes for 224 yards (12.2 avg) with 3 TD grabs.  Harvin has also returned 16 kickoffs for 435 yards (27.2 avg) with 1 TD return (a 95-yarder) so far this year.  Harvin has now touched the ball 41 times for 692 total yards (138.4 yards per game) for 16.9 yards per touch.  The Vikings need him to keep up the good work.

The Vikings made big plays when they had to in this game and that’s why they won.  The Cowboys had 126 more yards than the Vikings had today on offense but it just didn’t matter in the end.  Brett Favre was a game manager today as he completed 14 of 19 passes for 118 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 INTs.  But he did lost a fumble so he was far from perfect today.  Adrian Peterson got a lot of work in this game as he carried the ball 24 times for 73 yards (3.0 ypc) with 1 TD run.  Randy Moss (5 rec, 55 yards) and Greg Camarillo (2 rec, 15 yards, TD) led the way in the passing game today for the Vikings.  But, Percy Harvin made the biggest impact in this game for the Vikings.  He caught 3 passes for 21 yards (7.0 avg) and he also carried the ball 2 times for 18 yards (9.0 ypc).  But, he returned 3 kickoffs for 134 yards (44.7 avg) including a 95-yard return for a TD.  The Vikings finished up with 95 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.4 ypc) and they also completed 14 of 19 passes for 93 yards.

Defensively the Vikings were outstanding as they set up the Vikings’ offense with some short fields.  LB Chad Greenway (12 tackles, 1 tackle for a loss, 1 pass defensed), CB Antoine Winfield (10 tackles) and LB E.J. Henderson (9 tackles, 2 passes defensed and 2 interceptions)  led the way for the Vikings on D today.  The Cowboys finished up with 94 yards rushing on 28 carries (3.4 ypc) and they completed 24 of 32 passes for 220 yards.  The Vikings are now 2-3 on the season.

The Vikings destroyed the Cowboys 34-3 in the playoffs last season so you know they have this game circled on the calendar.  Both teams are desperate at 1-3 on the year so the loser will be in a very deep hole come tomorrow night.  Here is a look at the matchups in this game:

When the Vikings have the ball:  I think the Vikings are going to come out of the locker room fired up, big time.  I think they are going to come out running the ball with Adrian Peterson and they need to keep feeding him the ball all game long to keep the Cowboys’ D honest.  The Vikings must protect Brett Favre because he should have some success throwing the ball especially off playaction passes if Adrian Peterson is running well (which is likely).  Randy Moss and Percy Harvin should each have good games tomorrow.

When the Cowboys have the ball:  The Cowboys would be smart to run a balanced offense in this game.  The Vikings will have to deal with Felix Jones’ speed and Marion Barber’s power if the Cowboys are smart (which they aren’t a lot of the time).  The Vikings must get after Tony Romo because he makes a lot of mistakes when he’s under pressure.  But if he has time to throw the ball he has a lot of weapons (Miles Austin, Jason Witten, Roy Williams and Dez Bryant) in the passing game.

PREDICTION:  VIKINGS 27, COWBOYS 24

Brett Favre has been whining about his right elbow hurting him saying that he might have to sit down soon.  I think he wishes he stayed at home in Mississippi this year.  Favre has played in all 4 games for the Vikings this year and he has completed 74 of 131 passes (56.5%) for 861 yards with 5 TD passes and 7 INTs (67.0 QB Rating).  His play is a big reason why the Vikings are only averaging 15.8 points per game which has wasted a good effort by the D which is holding the opposing teams to 16.8 points per game.  With Randy Moss in the fold, Favre has no excuses left for poor play.  I really think that Favre might shut it down after next week’s game in Green Bay if the Vikings don’t start playing better.  Tarvaris Jackson better be getting ready in practice to play soon.

The Vikings have signed 29-year old cornerback Frank Walker.  Walker played in 14 games for the Ravens last season and he had 16 tackles, 4 passes defensed and 1 interception.  He has now played in 82 games in his 7 years in the NFL and he has 134 tackles, 25 passes defensed, 3 forced fumbles and 7 interceptions (one returned for a TD).  With the injury to Cedric Griffin the Vikings needed to add depth in the secondary and Walker should provide that.