What the Hell Erin

A week after losing the good Henderson for the season with a broken femur. Now we lost the other brother Erin. The younger Henderson has suited up for 2 games this season. He has been used mostly in the special teams. Damn we sure will be missing him after, he test positive of a banned substance.
Erin Henderson will miss the last 3 games as well as the 1st playoff game.

With this event taking place, the Vikings promoted linebacker J Leman from their practice squad to take Henderson’s place on the 53-man roster.

Vikes Dominate Bengals 30-10

Bengals-Vikings Boxscore

The Vikes were back at the Thunderdome and dominated the Bengals in a 30-10 win this week. The defense dominated the Bengals in this game. If the Bengals offense was shutdown for 210 total yards for the game. The Vikes allowed 4 yards per play in the game.
This was a good all-round performance by the Vikes offense and defense. It was a good victory coming off that 30-17 thumping the Cardinals put on the Vikes. The Vikes dominated a quality opponent this week. The offense scored 30 point on a defense that has been on average 16.7 points per contest. The 3rd down efficiency was there converting on 8-14 to keep dives going. It was a good day to be a Viking fan. With this victory the Vikes have clinched a playoff berth the second straight season.

Dont Sleep On AD

Peterson has a good game against the Bengals. He had 97 yards on the ground and 47 receiving(yes he can catch the ball to). This is probly his best game this season against a good defense this season. Peterson did not have that many LONG runs he was steady churning out 5-7 yards against a defense that is ranked 3rd against the run. Some of those whole the line was making, Peterson could have drove a Mack truck through it. This is a performace that Peterson needed after the game that he had last week.

Where was the Bengals running game

Besides the couple long run by the Bengals, the Vikes dominated the Bengals offensive line at the point of attack. The front four were in the back field often disrupting the running backs from getting anywhere.  The Bengals also helped the VIkes out in this game as well. With all the penalties in this game, this was a factor that killed some of the Bengals drives from going anywhere.

The Replacements

The Vikes had two new players starting for the defense in this game. They did a pretty good job. Starting in place of EJ Henderson was Jasper Brinkley. Brinkley was drafted in the 5th round in past April's draft. Brinkley has 3 tackles in his first start in his carrer. I wa pleased on the way that he played in this game. Sure he is no Henderson YET.
Jamarca Sanford played in place of Tyrell Johnson. Johnson has been a weak link in the Vikes pass defense. Sanford has 5 tackles in the game. He was a considerable upgrade with the way that he played against Cincinnati.

He Is Back

Antonie Winfield said that he was not going to come back until he was 100%. He is the energizer that the Vikes defense missed on his 6 game absence. He has all over the field hitting batting doen ball and causing fumbles. In the game, AW had 9 tackes to lead the defense. He showed yesterday that he is still one of the best tackling DBs in the game.  With AW return the Vikes did not allow a passing play for more than 15 yards all game long. THis is the perfect time to have him back in the secondary making plays. There is a reson why is a fan favorite.

With this victory the Vikes are now in the playoffs. Next week the Vikes will be going to face Carolina in enemy territory on Sunday Night Football. This was a good win against a playoff team, now the Vikes can cruise into the playoffs with a #2 seed, if all goes right maybe #1 seed.
The Vikes are now 11-2, so everyone is happy, well except Packer fans.

SKOL VIKINGS

Vikings Game Preview: Bengals(9-3) @ Vikings(10-2)

With the Vikings coming off of a shocking loss to the Cards last week. Now so many nah-sayers are happy to see Favre have a bad game and are convinced that this will be another Favre decline. The Vikes have the Bengals at home for the noon game. The Bengals come into this game having a 3 game lead in the AFC north. This is one of NFL's Cinderella teams this season. The Bengals come to the Thunderdome will a balanced attack on the ground and in the air. What do the Vikes need to do to eliminate the possibility of the Vikings losing their 2 consecutive game this season(it would be the 1st time this season).

How Will Favre Respond

Coming off Favre's worst game this season as a Minnesota Viking last week against the Arizona Cardinals. This week is not going to be an easy task by any means for Favre and the passing offense. The Bengals have one of the best CB tandems in the league in Jonathan Joseph and Leon Hall. With the receiving corps that the Vikings have. it is going to be match-up that is going to highly anticipated this week. The Viking have so many weapons and find different ways to get their receivers the football, depending how the Bengals respond is going to be the key of the game.

Containing Cedric

The Vikings will be need to stop the Bengals 6th ranked rushing offense this season in the NFL. The Vikings stopping Cedric Benson is going to be key for this defense. The Minnesota Vikings are 3rd in the league in rush defense. With Williams Wall along with Edwards and Allen on the edges. If the Vikes will be able to stop the Bengals ground attack, then it will force Carson Palmer to beat the Vikings. The Bengals are 21st in passing offense and the Viking pass defense are 21st in the league as well. It sure is going to be interesting to see if the Vikes can get a pass rush. The Bengals OL has given up ONLY 22 sacks this season on 365 dropbacks and that was about 6% of each dropback ends in a sack. Jared Allen and Company will need to disrupt every aspect of the Bengals game plan on offense to win this one.

Where has Adrian Gone?

With Vikings All-Pro running back struggling immensely the past 3 weeks with an average of a measly 3 yards a carry. Is it that the play calling is to blame? With the Vikes abandoning the run last week was a poor decision by the Chilly last week. The 11th ranked rush offense will need to get the chains move early and often averaging 123 yards per game. This will going against a Bengals rush defense that is ranked 2nd in the league allowing 81 yards per contest. So which side will win the epic battle in the trenches? Whomever wins this battle will decide whether Favre will have a good game or bad game. Peterson will need to get back to his old smash mouth running this week, Run Adrian Run.

With this game will be depend on which ground game will out perform the other. It is going be a good match-up in the Thunderdome on Sunday.After this game the Vikes get da Bears.

The Prediction:
Vikes 24
Bengals 17

SKOL VIKINGS

If you have not seen this yet

Caution---This is not for the weak stomached views.

Vikes Get Dominated in Arizona 30-17

Vikings-Cardinals Boxscore

The game that Vikes played at the University of Phoenix Stadium was an ugly one hands down against a good Cardinals team. The Vikes lost the game 30-17. The last time that in memory that Vikes played a game that terrible was the Week 10 game back in 2007, when the Vikes lost to the Packers 34-0.

Warner Comfort

The Cardinals offensive line did a great job against one of the best defensive lines in football. The Vikes came into the game with an NFL high 40 sacks for the season. The Cards did not give up a sack in the game. With that Kurt Warner was able to pick apart the Viking defense at will with 3 TD throws to his troublesome twosome in Fitzgerld and Boldin. This shows that the Vikes need to get to the QB so they do not get into a rhythm. If the QB gets into any kind of a rhythm, the can pick apart the Vikings average secondary.

The Cardinals have shown how average the Viking DBs are especially without Winfield. With the way receivers ran through the Vikings was not enough. The Vikes could not tackle whatsoever on any stage(DL, LB, and DBs). The defense was successfully nailed by the Cards in this one.

Favre Back

Brett did not look at all comfortable in the "pocket" in this game at all. The ball was going everywhere in this game. I just hope that everyone did not think that he was going to go the season with 3 INTS, considering that his season average is 15 per year.he was not using his check offs in the game and not seeing the defenders in the area. The Cards could have had 3-4 INTS in this contest easy.
With this type of a game man of my co-workers were thinking here is the collapse(all Packer fans) again this year. It was just ONE GAME, I am not going to overact over this game. The Cards were ready to throw the kitchen sink in this one.

EJ Henderson

With the Vikings middle linebacker getting back to his old form was lost again this season with a broken femur this time. With the Vikes losing Henderson is going to hurt them personal wise. Now who will the Vikes be putting there in his place: maybe Jasper for the remainder of the season. Chilly might do some juggling to get the best players on the field all at the same time.

What Were You Thinking Chilly

The Vikings play calling was questionable at best in this game. It seemed that Chilly was being to conservative in this game. The 3 and 4 call in the red zone, why not play action pass, instead of a shovel pass. If AD is getting stuffed at the line get him the ball someway. It was just frustrating know exactly what the Vikes were going to do next. Sure the run was not working, but do not abandon it completely.

Some Thoughts

• I thought that Phat Pat had a good game in this one being the one in the front 4 making plays on a consistent basis. He was exciting to watch as out offense was sputering.
• Percy making his case for rookie of the year. Harvin did not quit in this game. he was making play, but he had a garbage time TD. He was moving the stick s consistenly in this game. I am glad that Vikes looked past his issues in college.

Friday Preview: Vikings(10-1) @ Cardnials(7-4)

The Vikings will be traveling to the NFC Champion Arizona Cardinals this Sunday for the Night game. With the Saints being one game up on them for home field advantage, the Vikes need to keep the pressure on the boys down south. The Saints have the advantage because of the Vikings loss to Pittsburgh, if the Saints lose any of these next games and the Vikes win out. Then the Vikes will have home field advantage. You also have to consider that the road to the Super Bowl whomever gets it will be through a dome. So anyways lets get to business.

Warner or Leinart

The Cardinals QB Kurt  Warner suffered a concussion a  couple of weeks ago. After missing last weeks game, Warner is hoping to be back in the lineup. Both QBs have been getting the same amount of reps with the first team depending on who will be playing  against the Vikes this weekend. Leinart played a solid game with 220 yards passing  last week but not good enough to put away Tennessee. The Cards have one of the better pass offenses, but no running game. Who is the signal caller on Sunday will have their hands full with Allen and Company. If not Allen someone will be breathing down the QBs neck on every passing play. Whoever the Cards decide to go with is going to in for a long game from the Vikes defense that is leading the league in sack with 40 , so let the number keep going high with more sacks.

All Day

With what Peterson did to the Cards last year, I can see them giving him more attention this year. In that game, he rushed for over 165 yards on the ground. With the amount of fire power that the VIkes have, I can see Peterson having another big game. He has shown time and time again that a crack in the line he can take it to the house. Hopefully, we can see Peterson in the end zone a couple time Sunday Night. Glimpse of men in red chasing him all game around the field while his steam rolling over them. This is week everyone is considered with his fumbling trouble, but many of yhe great had problems keeping the rock off the turf.

Go Deep

In this game Favre will breaking the record for non-QB starting the most consecutive game with 283. This is still mostly the same defense that was LIT UP by Tarvaris Jackson last year. It was his first start since his benching after Week 2. If Jackson can do that to a team, just imagine what Favre can do. With the receiving corps that the Vikes have in Rice, Berrian, Shanks, and the X-factor in Percy Harvin. Just on passing down, who will the Cards double team in this one. With Favre still having his long ball in his tool belt, the Cards are giving up on average 258 yards per game. This is perfect for the passing offense to have another big game.

Overall, I think that this is a good game for the Vikes. Arizona is not a poor team this season beating some decent teams.The Vikes have been facing teams that do not have adequate credentials in their portfolio. I just hope that Vikes have another great game this week against a poor Arizona secondary, but with Favre under center this season. The Vikes should be fine with the balanced attack  they have on offense. On defense, the pressure the DL will be bringing with the rhinestone cowboy to make the Cards make ill-advised passes.
The Prediction:
Vikes: 30
Cards:21
SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

Who Needs To Blitz?

With the Minnesota Vikings having one of the best front 4 in all of the NFL.Everyone knows that the Vikes have been one of the best in the NFL for the past 3 years now against the run. With the Williams Wall in the middle along with Jared Allen and Ray Edwards on the edges, they sure can turn wreck havoc on opposing offenses. The Vikes defense leads the league with 40 sacks so far this season.

It is still the fact that the Vikes front office went out and purchased the best DE in the league in Jared Allen. This has been a great asset to the team. In the 2007 season, the year before they acquired Allen. The Vikes year total was 28 for the season. It was obvious that the Vikes did not have ends that could get to the signal callers.
With this constant pressure also help out the DBs as well. Back in 2007 the Vikes DBs were getting torched for 264 yards a game with the lack of pressure up in front being the worst in the league. Now in 2009, the Vikes passing defense ranks 19th with 221 yards per game.
These stats are high due the fact the the teams NEED to pass in the second half, because the Vikes are up by 2 TDs plus.

I credit that the Vikes missing piece was at the defensive end to make this Viking defense complete and a force to me reckoned with.