Friday Preview:Lions(1-7) @ Vikings(7-1)

With the Vikes coming off of their bye week. They come into this week at 7-1 and will be hosting the 1-7 Lions. Both teams are playing for something different, the Lions will try to upset the Vikes because that is all they have for the remainder of the season. The Lions will be a LONG shot in this game, but I do not see the Lions being able to much on either side of the ball against the Vikes. The Vikes will dominate every aspect of the game. Even if they do come out a little rusty.The Lions do not have me or many other Viking bloggers worried this weekend. So what are the keys for the Vikes to add another W in the wins column:

Pressure the Rook

With a team that is leading the league in sacks with 31 and 10.5 coming from Jared Allen. As long as Frazier keep up the aggressive play calling and not allow the Lion rookie QB Matt Stafford breathe it will be a great day for the Vikes on the defensive side of the ball. 5-6 sacks as a team would be a good overall day. With no time to pass the ball means the rook will make mistakes as he did last week throwing 5 INTS in the game vs the Seahawks. Keep Stafford out of rhythm will be great, so the DBs (No Winfield again this week)are less likely to get burnt by Calvin Johnson. As long as the defense can keep up the pressure it will be good day 

Keep it Simple

The offense just need to keep doing what they have been doing all season. There is a reason why the team is 7-1 and leading the division thus far into the season. Keep the offense balanced on the attack of the Lions front 7. TheVikes have a more passing attack now than they did back in week 2 of the season when these two team faced off. So far every team is trying to stop AD, but the passing game is getting teams in trouble. So which aspect of the game with Detroit try to stop the pass or the run? We shall see, AD will have a good game this week with all gears full force ahead. Favre is now meshing more with his receivers knowing what their tendencies are.The OL is doing a great job protecting Favre as of late, the times he is getting sack is mostly coverage sack. The group in front are doing well keep the DL off their aging QB. Do not over think what the offense is trying to accomplish with play calling. Call a play that best fits the situation.

Percy No Mercy

Get the ball the Harvin however you can. He is a special player and makes plays whenever he gets his hands on the ball.Right now it looks like he is going to the NFL Offensive Rookie of the Year. With the Vikes excelling in the special teams this season with help from Harvin. It is a great week to have a game breaker like him returning kicks. Lions are one of the wost teams giving up nearly 30 yards per kickoff. Be ready to see big plays from Harvin and Johnson on Sunday.

Prediction
With everything weighed in for this game. I do not think it is going to be good for the Lion whatsoever. The Vikes should be in control of this game for majority as it looks on paper at least. The Vikes need to stick to their game on Sunday and everything will be great for the beloved purple.

The Prediction:
Vikes 44
Lion 13

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!!!

Vikes Game Moved

In the Week 12 contest between the Vikes and  the Bears has been moved up tp the 3:15 spot according to PFT. Fox is hoping that the game will have more meaning for the division. The Bears and the Vikes have yet to met this season. If everything bounces the Vikes favor, it is possible the Vikes may win the division on that night at the Thunderdome.

Not Extended

There were rumors that the Vikes try to extend Brad Childress stay in the Minnesota by the bye week. So that time has past and no contract was signed. The Viking owners may want to wait and see what the second half brings. With the Viking history of second half collapses.The Wilf group maybe waiting to see how the season turns out before contract talks are started and finalized.

What A Sunday

With the Vikings being off with a bye all they could do do is sit back and watch some football. It was a great Sunday, the Vikes gained more ground in the NFC North.

The Packers lost to the Bucs 38-28

The Bears lost to the Cards 41-21

The Lion lost to the 'Hawks 32-20

With all division foes losing this week, this gives the Vikes a 3 game lead on the Bears and 4 game lead on the Packers (with the series sweep).Six games on the 1-7 Lions. With what happened to all division foes, the Vikes should thinking about the playoffs.

Mid Season Report

With the Vikings heading into their bye week this week with a 7-1 record. I think that it would be a good time to grade how each unit of the team has performed so far in the 2009 season.

QBs: The Vikings are better off this season with the acquisition of Brett Favre this past offseason. I feel if it was not for him under center the Vikes would not be on top of the divison right now. Favre has shown that he is a proven leader no matter what jersey he wears. With his performance so far this season has been magical, I cannot even account the last time Favre threw for 3 INTs in 8 games. That must be some kind of a personal best.  Enter this week Favre in a three way tie for the most TDs in the NFL with Brees and Schaub with 16. Who would have thought the Vikes would have a passing offense in the Chilly era. Jackson and Sage have had very limited time on the field this season, but Jackkson has been getting the reps when called upon.
Overall Grade:  A-

Running Backs: With the offense now at a balance, the running game does not need to win the games this season. So AD and Co. will not have to handle the ball as much so far this year. Last season Vikings running back averaged 32.4 attempted per game and this season it is 28.6 attempted per game. This means that Viking running backs will stay fresh throughout the season and will not burn out at seasons end. With less carries Peterson is still running with authority currently tied for 2nd in the NFL for total rushing yards. His average is the same as last season as well.Peterson has 9 rushing TDs this season considering the most in his career is 12 in a season.  The Vikings are finding more ways to punished defenders catching the ball out the back field. He has been getting involved this season more so that the last couple of years. The Vikes other running back Chester Taylor has limited exposure to running the ball this season 45 carries for 123 yards and 1 TD. Sure his average is not that great, but when he does see the ball it is usually 3 and short or a goal line situation. Taylor is used as a receiving back in the Vikings offense. As a whole the Vikes running backs are a great balance with the passing game. In the upcoming games, I feel the running game is going to running over everyone.
Overall Grade:  B+

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends:  Over the couple of years the VIkes have aquired  a good corps of recievers. The Vikes have big play guys and guys that can caught the ball in the middle of the field, a place not many receivers like to do so. With the Favre under the helm these recievers do not have to worry about that many inaccurate throws as they had to deal with with Jackson last season. The receivers that has benefited the most has been Sidney Rice. Rice has has a great year in his third season. Right now it looks like Rice has Moss like talent.He has great hand something that former Gamecock Troy Williamson did not have in him. Bernard Berrian, the Vikes big play guy has been forgotten and slowed down in injuries this season. He is steady and reliable for the slant routes this season. The Vikes number draft pick this season Percy Harvin has exploded on the scene so far in his rookie season. He has been a monster on the special teams return kick-offs averaging over 30 yards per returns, sure does help the offense out.  Harvin has been a good and steady reciever that Favre has taken under his wing. Right now I and many other Viking bloggers can see Harvin hoisting the NFL Rookie of the year at the end of the year. Greg Lewis has had limited exposure on field. Everyone is the sports world saw the video his reception with 2 secondsleft to beat the 49 ers.
This is a West Coast offense that Chilly runs after all. It does not shock me the relationship that Favre and his TE Visanthe Shiancoe have. Shanks is a nice target in the Red Zone for Favre. Shanks in second in NFL with 6 TDs.
Overall Grade: B

Offensive Line: The line has some question going into the season about the two new starters in John Sullivan and Phil Loadholdt(rookie). The left side of the line with McKinnie and Hutchinson have been one of the best NFL side for a couple of years now. The right side has been the issue, I think that it going well. With Phil Loadholdt claiming the starting right tackle spot back in training camp. Has been doing a good this season at the position. He is doing better than Ryan Cook would have. Sullivan had to fill the shoes of Pro Bowler center Matt Birk. Sullivan has picked up well without much of a drop off from last season. It looks that Vikings line is doing a good job protecting the QB and opening holes for the Viking running back. Thus far in the season the line has done its job. For the Vikings offense to continue their success, this group will need to keep winning the battles in the trenches.
Overall Grade:  B+

Defensive Line: The face of the Vikes front four has been Jared Allen this season. Allen has been the on the edge for most of the season, he is currently on top of the list with sacks(10.5). Jared Allen does a great job breaking down the pocket and keeping the pressure on the QB or running backs trying the escape is grasp. The Williams Wall has not missed a beat this season even with all the distractions. Kevin and Pat have been ripping through the offensive line like a hot knife on butter. The running backs have not love in the middle either having tho deal with the Williams Wall either. Kevin is on pace to have double digit sacks for the season and Pat is coming around from the slow start he had in the beginning of the season. Ray Edwards had metal lapses at time, but is a solid DE mirrored by Jared Allen. He is reliable, but no Pro Bowler this season.
Overall Grade : A-

LBs:  This corps is one of the best run stoppers in the NFL. They had issues with covering the TEs or running backs out of the backfield in the beginning of the season. Chad Greenway is the leader of this unit leading the team with tackles a couple of INTs as well. I think that he is the leader of this team and plays like Jared Allen 100 miles per hour every play.He is an exciting play the watch on Sunday especially how he started his NFL career off a couple of years back. Leber and Henderson have has a okay first part of the season. Sure both player play with intensity, but have been lacking in production thus far this season. Henderson has been getting more into his old self slowly over the course of the season.
Overall Grade: C+

Secondary: The Vikes secondary are constantly under attack in every game. Every teams knows that they have to pass to win the game, because of their rush defense. This group can be frustrating to watch at times.The Vikes have a solid group in place to stop the passing attack, but have struggled this season. When Antonie Winfield has been on the field he had done a good job taking away thereceiver on his side. The Vikes have done a decent job while he has been out. Cedric Griffin has great talent, but forget his coverage assignment or cannot tackle. He drives me crazy at time and other times he is shutdown.The weakest link are our safeties in Tyell Johnson and Madieu Williams. These safeties look like a couple of chicken with the head chopped off back in the secondary. Johnson is in his 1st season a starter ad still learning. Williams is vet and has been through this before, he needs to step and start playing some ball and cover the flipping receiver. The defense is going go as far as the pass defense takes them.
Overall Grade:  C

Here is the mid season report for the Vikes. Hopefully that all phases of the team can mesh together more especially on the defense and start shutting more teams down.

Viking Triumph: Vikes 38 Packers 26

Vikes-Packers Boxscore

  The Vikes did something for the first time since 2005 with the 38-26 victory. That is sweep the Packers in the season series. All Vikings fans were just thrilled to see the Beloved Purple up 24-3 at halftime. TheVikes were downright dominating the Packers at their home field take the fans out of the game. i think that you could have heard a pin drop atLambeau Field at halftime. With the 3rd quarter, the Vikes had bonehead mistakes and pass defense was letting Rodgers pass at will. The Vikes secondary missed Winfield in the second half that was apparent.With the Vikes heading into the bye this week, we all hope that Winfield will be back for Week 10.

With this game being highly anticipated by everyone in the football work. After Favre signed with the Vikings back in July, this was the game that everyone looked forward to. This was Fave's first visit since since He and the Packers organization parted ways. The Viking fans sure are getting spoiled with the play that they have been getting from the QB position. This is something that we are not accustomed to.Favre had 4 TDs(21st time in his career) in the game with 244 yards passing on 17 -28 and most importantly ZERO INTs.

This game sure was different for Peterson compared to the game at the Dome. Peterson found running room in this contest. AD got the rock 25 times and ran for 97 yards and 1TD as well as a catch for 44 yards, 141 yards from scrimmage.With AD getting less carries just means that he will be more fresh in the later part of the season. Run AD Run.

Percy No Mercy Harvin. Harvin torched the Packers  on special teams for most of the game. He averaged 35 yards on 5 kickoff returns in the game including a 77 yard return.He returns set up 2 TD drives for theVikes in the game.He also led the team in receiving yards with 84 yards with 1 TD(51yards). It looks like Chilly and company knew what they were doing when they selectedharvin in this past years draft. He sure is a special player and can help the Vikes in so many different ways. It is scary that they Vikes have two game changers on the team.

Bernard Berrian has been having issues with his hamstring for much of the season. He re-injured it against the Steelers last week. He came out and started in the game and play well with3 catches for 47 yards but he caught Favre’s fourth touchdown pass, which sealed the victory for the Vikes.He produced in this game considering that he was not 100 percent for this game. Berrian displayed that he thinks he can contributed he will be on the field.

It is easy to say that the Vikings have the best Defensive Line in the NFL. They shut down the Packers for most of the game. Jared Allen had yet another monster game against the Packers with 3 sacks(7.5 in both games) and 5 total tackles. He has an engine that does not stop and makes play after play. He is in the running for the best Defensive player this season. Ray Edwards had a solid game on the opposite side of Allen in the game. Edwards had 2 sacks in the game and 3 tackles. The Williams Wall did their job stopping the run 90 total yards, but 35 yards on a flukes Rodgers run late in the game.

The pass coverage of the Vikes allowed the Packer back in this game in the second half. The Vikes defense shut down the Packer with less then 50 yards of total offense in 1st half. The secondary remains to be the question mark of theVikes thus far this season. This unit allowed 3 passing TDs in the 2nd half (2 TE Spencer Haver). It was getting frustrating watching this again. If this keeps up this season. The

With the victory the Vikes are now 7-1 for the first time since 2000. The Vikes are now in control of the NFC North with a 2 game lead. I hope everyone enjoys watching the re-aired game on NFL Network this week.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!!

Chilly

There was news that Chilly dress as a flight attendant on the fight for the road trip according the Shanks. I guess it is true, boy Chilly sure does make one scary stewardess.Happy Halloween!!!!