Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota Vikings 28, Houston Texans 21

admin — Thu, 06 Nov 2008 03:09:34 +0000

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.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Houston Texans

admin — Sat, 01 Nov 2008 17:37:43 +0000

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

Minnesota Vikings vs. Detroit Lions

admin — Sun, 12 Oct 2008 07:55:44 +0000

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

Minnesota Vikings 30, New Orleans Saints 27

admin — Sat, 11 Oct 2008 19:13:59 +0000

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.

Minnesota Vikings vs. New Orleans Saints

admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:20:05 +0000

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

The Minnesota Vikings will likely be without LB E.J. Henderson on Monday Night

admin — Sun, 05 Oct 2008 06:19:18 +0000

The Vikings will likely be without starting linebacker E.J. Henderson on Monday Night against the Saints due to swelling in two dislocated toes. This will hurt the Vikings’ defense as Henderson has 27 tackles and a sack so far this season. David Herron will replace Henderson if he can’t go on Monday Night and he has 6 tackles this season.

Tennessee Titans 30, Minnesota Vikings 17

admin — Thu, 02 Oct 2008 00:08:09 +0000

The Vikings didn’t look good at all last Sunday against the Titans in Tennessee. Gus Frerotte did not have a good game despite completing 25 of 43 passes for 266 yards with a interception. Tarvaris Jackson came in for a dinged up Frerotte at the end of the game and he completed his only pass attempt for 8 yards. Adrian Peterson was solid as usual as he carried the ball 18 times for 80 yards with 2 TD rushing (28, 3 yards). Peterson also caught 4 passes for 21 yards (5.3 avg) last Sunday. WRs Bernard Berrian (5 rec, 78 yards) and Bobby Wade (7 rec, 75 yards) got themselves out of mothballs to each have solid games. The Vikings finished up with 80 yards rushing on 20 carries (4.0 ypc) and they also completed 26 of 44 passes for 253 yards.

Linebacker Chad Greenway led the way for the Vikings’ defense in this game with 11 tackles. The Titans finished up with 76 yards rushing on 34 carries (2.2 ypc) and they also completed 18 of 35 passes for 199 yards. The Vikings are now a very disappointing 1-3 on the season.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Tennessee Titans

admin — Sun, 28 Sep 2008 15:04:03 +0000

This should be a great football game with two teams that play exactly the same way. Both teams are great defensive teams that are going with veteran backup QBs with great running games. Gus Frerotte was efficient in his first start last week and he will have to throw the ball a lot on first and second down to open up some running lanes for Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor against the Titans’ defense which is allowing only 89.0 yards rushing per game and 3.7 yards per carry. Frerotte will have to be careful when throwing the ball as the Titans already have 11 sacks and 7 interceptions this season.

The Titans will also have to throw the ball to open up holes for the running game as the Vikings only allow 70.3 yards rushing per game and 3.2 yards per carry. Still, the Titans will want to run the ball with rookie RB Chris Johnson and LenDale White but they will have to fight for every single yard. The Titans’ offensive line has played great this season as the Titans are averaging 156.0 yards rushing per game this season and Titans’ QBs have only been sacked 2 times this year. With that in mind look for Collins to attack the safeties of the Vikings with TE Bo Scaife and the corners with WRs Justin Gage and Justin McCareins.

PREDICTION: TENNESSEE TITANS 17, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 14

Minnesota Vikings 20, Carolina Panthers 10

admin — Tue, 23 Sep 2008 21:56:40 +0000

The switch to Gus Frerotte at QB worked out well last Sunday. He completed 16 of 28 passes for 204 yards with 1 TD pass and 1 interception. Adrian Peterson carried the ball 17 times for 77 yards (4.5 ypc) against the Panthers as the Vikings tried to watch his workload due to injury. Chester Taylor pitched in with 11 carries for 44 yards (4.0 ypc) and he also caught 3 passes for 22 yards (7.3 avg). Bernard Berrian finally has a QB that can get him the football as he caught 3 passes for 79 yards (26.3 avg). The Vikings finished up with 119 yards on 32 carries (3.7 ypc) and they also completed 16 of 28 passes for 186 yards.

The defense was outstanding for the Vikings last Sunday. Linebacker E.J. Henderson led the way for the Vikings with 12 tackles. Fellow linebacker Chad Greenway also had a solid game finishing with 9 tackles and a sack. CB Antoine Winfield had 2 tackles and a sack that caused a fumble that he returned 19 yards for a TD. The Panthers finished up with only 47 yards rushing on 20 carries (2.4 ypc) and they also completed 17 of 29 passes for 157 yards. The Vikings improved to 1-2 on the season with this win.

Minnesota Vikings vs. Carolina Panthers

admin — Sat, 20 Sep 2008 10:31:40 +0000

These are two football teams going in opposite directions right now as the Panthers are 2-0 while the Vikings are 0-2. This will be interesting to watch as the Panthers’ running game is working well (128.0 yards rushing per game, 4.3 ypc) but the Vikings have a great run defense (82.0 yards per game, 3.6 ypc). With that in mind look for the Panthers to throw a lot on first down. That could be a problem for the Vikings who are allowing 244.5 yards passing per game. If Jake Delhomme has time to throw the Vikings will be in trouble because Steve Smith is officially back. Mushin Muhammad, D.J. Hackett and TE Dante Rosario are all other decent weapons in the passing game for the Panthers. Still, don’t expect an all-out passing attack out of the Panthers as they really like what RBs Jonathan Stewart (130 yards) and DeAngelo Williams (117 yards) are doing on the ground for them this season.

The Vikings finally woke up and benched Tarvaris Jackson who is an awful QB. Even with an outstanding running game he still couldn’t throw the football. With Adrian Peterson a little iffy for this game the Vikings might have to lean on Chester Taylor at RB. He’s more than capable of having a big game if Peterson can’t go. No matter which RB gets the football the Vikings should have some success on the ground as they are averaging 183.5 yards rushing per game and 5.4 ypc and that was with no threat of a passing game. As soon as the Vikings establish the running game look for Gus Frerotte to run some play action passes and attempt to get the ball deep to speedster Bernard Berrian.

PREDICTION: CAROLINA PANTHERS 20, MINNESOTA VIKINGS 17