The Vikings just kept one step ahead of the Texans in the game last Sunday.  They did it by running the ball very effectively with Adrian Peterson rushing for 139 yards on 25 carries (5.6 ypc).  The Vikings finished up with 177 yards rushing on 35 carries (5.1 ypc) and that was a huge reason for this victory.  Gus Frerotte completed 11 of 18 passes for 182 yards with 3 TD passes and 1 interception.  The interception was returned for a TD by CB Jacques Reeves (44 yards) of the Texans.  Bernard Berrian only caught 2 passes in this game but they went for 104 yards with a TD (49-yarder).  The Vikings’ defense was again had issues with stopping the passing game as the Texans rolled up 327 yards passing.  In the end though this was a nice win for the Vikings that improved them to 4-4 on the season just one game behind the Bears for the lead in the NFC North.

The Houston Texans come into this game on a roll as they have won three games in a row but two of the games were against the winless Lions and Bengals.  The Vikings will pose a much tougher threat to the suddenly hot Texans.  The Vikings only allow 70.7 yards rushing per game and 2.9 yards per carry so Steve Slaton might not find much running room against them.  But, if Matt Schaub has time to throw the football the Texans should be able to put some points on the board in this game.  Andre Johnson has 593 yards receiving in his last four games and the Vikings allow 219.4 yards passing per game so the Texans will be exploiting this matchup as much as possible.  Kevin Walter and TE Owen Daniels are also good weapons in the mid-range game for the Texans.

The Vikings will come out running the football against the Texans to attempt to control the clock.  Adrian Peterson (684 yards rushing, 5 TDs) should have a big game against a Texans’ Defense that is allowing 119.6 yards rushing per game and 4.5 yards per carry.  The Vikings must protect Gus Frerotte from DE Mario Williams (7 sacks) if he’s going to have time to throw the ball downfield to Bobby Wade and Bernard Berrian.

PREDICTION:  MINNESOTA VIKINGS 30, HOUSTON TEXANS 27

This game has all of the makings of being a bloodbath as the Lions are not very good and they are banged up.  Jon Kitna will miss this game because of a bad back and that will really hurt the Lions’ offense in this game.  With Dan Orlovsky likely to start this game the Lions would like to run the ball more than usual with Kevin Smith and Rudi Johnson.  The only problem with that is that the Vikings only are allowing 68.4 yards rushing per game and 2.8 yards per carry.  Top WRs Calvin Johnson and Roy Williams are both banged up right now so Shaun McDonald and Mike Furrey could get a lot of action in this game. 

The Vikings should be able to do whatever they want in this football game as the Lions’ defense is pathetic.  The Lions allow 180.0 yards rushing per game (5.0 ypc) and 249.0 yards passing per contest (opposing QB Rating 122.1).  The Vikings would probably prefer to keep the ball on the ground with Adrian Peterson (452 yards rushing).  As soon as the ground game is established look for Gus Frerotte to use play action passes to get the ball deep to Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade.

PREDICTION:  MINNESOTA VIKINGS 31, DETROIT LIONS 0

Ryan Longwell kicked the game winning 30-yard field goal with only 13 seconds left on the clock but the hero of this game for the Vikings was CB Antoine Winfield.  The pint sized corner had 8 tackles and a sack of Drew Brees that caused a fumble that he recovered.  Winfield also blocked a Martin Gramatica field goal and returned it 59 yards for a TD!  Still, the overall defense did not play that well in this game for the Vikings as the Saints rolled up 375 total yards of offense.  The Saints also scored on 71 and 64 yard punt returns by Reggie Bush for TDs in the second half of the game. 

The offense was just good enough for the Vikings to hold on and win this game.  Gus Frerotte was efficient in this game completing 19 of 36 passes for 222 yards with 1 TD pass and 0 interceptions.  RB Chester Taylor completed his only pass attempt on a trick play that resulted in a 4-yard TD to TE Visanthe Shiancoe.  Adrian Peterson had one of the worst games of his career last Monday Night rushing for only 32 yards on 21 carries (1.5 ypc).  WRs Bernard Berrian (6 rec, 110 yards, TD) and Bobby Wade (8 rec, 64 yards) each had solid games for the Vikings.  The Vikings finished up with only 44 yards rushing on 26 carries (1.7 ypc) and they also completed 20 of 37 passes for 226 yards.  The Vikings improved to 2-3 on the season with this win.

This should be a interesting game of contrasting styles especially on offense.  The Saints will try to throw the ball to get the lead and then grind it out on the ground.  The Vikings allow 207.5 yards passing per game so Drew Brees should have a decent game.  Brees will throw the short stuff to WR Lance Moore, TE Billy Miller and Reggie Bush out of the backfield.  But, he will take some shots deep to Devery Henderson and Robert Meachem who are both averaging over 35.5 yards per reception.  The Saints will still run the football some to keep the Vikings’ D honest with Reggie Bush, Deuce McAllister and Pierre Thomas.  The Vikings only allow 71.8 yards rushing per game and 2.9 ypc.

The Saints have a very soft defense and the Vikings will be attacking it with the running game.  Look for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor to get a lot of work agains a Saints’ D that is allowing 122.8 yards rushing per game and 5.2 yards per carry.  After the run game is established look for Gus Frerotte to take some shots down the field to Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade against a Saints’ D that is allowing 249.3 yards passing per game.

PREDICTION:  MINNESOTA VIKINGS 31,  NEW ORLEANS SAINTS 27