Vikes-Giants Pregame Thoughts

The Vikes have won the past two weeks against team that are not in the running for a playoff spot. This week is different, the Vikes will be playing against the Giants a team that was hot in the beginning of the season and has cooled off. This Giants team is starting the resemble a little bit of what happened to the Giants last season.

If the Vikes do win this week this would be a big help for Leslie Frazier to get that pesty interim tag removed from the beginning of head coach.It seems that the Frazier is getting the respect from the locker room(something that Chilly could not do.)

It does not matter in the past couple of seasons with the the Vikes and Giants facing off. The Vikes always seem to put together a game plan to win against the Giants. The Vikes need to do what they have been doing to the Giants make Eli beat you. The Vikes need to shut down the run and force young Manning into bad throwing situations. Soon or later Eli is bound the screw something up.

The Giants have been a balanced defense in stopping bot the pass and the run this season. I still think that Brett Favre will be starting at QB on Sunday. The Vikes must think they are making the Giants prepare for Favre and Jackson for the game on Sunday.

I just need AD to have another big game. He is my MVP in my fantasy team. With AD running with authority as of late. It sure is something to every fans loved to see AD running over defenders and hanging on to the football.

I hope that everyone has a great weekend....err well except Packer fans at least.

Vikes Grades vs the Bills

Vikings 38 Bills 14

Overall: B+
Coming into the game, I thought that the Vikes would have more trouble with the Bills. The Vikings lead 31-7 at half time was highly unexpected. Brett Favre went down in the first series of the game and Tarvais Jackson did a decent job taking his place. Peterson ripped through the Bills defense for much of the game.The Vikes running game is what won it for the Vikes in this game. The offense played was so-so with Jackson throwing 3 INTs and Favre had 1 on his only pass of the game.

Rushing Offense: A
The Vikes did not give the ball to any back more than 20 times in the game. The 3 running backs that were used had at least 10 carries each. Coming into the game everyone was wondering if AD's ankle would be an issue, it was not a factor at all. Peterson gained 107 yards on 16 carries and 3 TDs. Toby Gerhart had 13 carries for 54 yards and Albert Young...yes he is still a Viking had 10 carries for 27 yards. The RBs were not a factor in the passing game.The Bills were unable to contain the Vikes running game.

Rushing Defense: B
The Vikes run defense is not quite what once was a couple years ago. They are still one of the best in the league. They allowed 77 yards on 18 carries and NO TDs. The Vikes did cause 4 fumbles and recovered 3 of the lose balls. If not for 2 good run plays by the Bills the Vikes did a stellar job containing the Bills running game.
Passing Offense: C+
Brett Favre went down in the first series of the game with a sprained shoulder. This gave Jackson the chance that he needed to prove that he could be a starter in the NFL.  Jackson threw three interceptions but after Bills returned the first one for a touchdown, he led the Vikings to touchdowns on their next four possessions for a 28-7 lead to put the game away before halftime. Jackson finished 15 for 22 for 187 yards 2 TDs.
Sidney Rice had a good game as the Vikes #1 receiver as well 105 yards on 5 catches with 2 TDs..just like old times.
Passing Defense: B+
The Vikes pass rush was in Fitzpatrick's face all game long. The Vikes recorded 1 sack, but the pressure was key for a victory this week in the dome. With that pressure Antonie Winfield got a St.Nick's day gift an INT. Fitzpatrick also lost a fumble in the game as well.

Special Teams: B
Ryan Longwell hit his only FG attempt and was 5-5 on XPs. Chris Kluwe on 4 punting nailed 2 of them into the 20, what more can you ask from a punter. The return games was not the same with the Vikes explosive player Percy Harvin out due to migraines. The Bills fumbled away a kickoff and the Vikes pounced all of the lose ball.

Vikes-Bills Pregame Thoughts

The Bills and the Vikes have been going through disappointment this season. Both squad have been losing some close games this season.  I know we have a different head coach for the remainder of the season. It sure does not make me feel any better about this game.

The Bills offense is pretty balanced with Ryan Fitzpatrick as their QB and Fred Jackson at the RB. Fitzpatrick averages nearly 250 yards a game and for the season has 19 TDs, geez no wonder so many people the fantasy world has him on their roster.

As of right now the defense scares me. The unit ranks as on of best in the NFL, but the problem is keeping the opponent from scoring. For the Vikes to wins the game, they NEED to have a pass rush by not letting Buffalo get pass happy on the Vikes DBs. This season the Vikes have no pass rush unlike last season.

With the Vikes offense, I just do not know what to expect from them right now. They have been up and down all season. With AD iffy for the game. It would a nice win against the Bills. I am not keep my hopes up with the down season Vikes have been having this year is crazy.

I hope that everyone has a safe weekend.....SKOL VIKINGS!!!!

Toby Leads To Vikes

Vikings 17 Redskins 13

This was Leslie Frazier's first game as the interim head coach of the Vikes. I know that it it only one game, but the team sure did respond to Frazier being the HC now. It is going to be interesting to see if the team can continue this march.

On Sunday, the Vikes accomplished something that they have not been able to do in 9 games...that is win a game on the ROAD. I just cannot believe that it has been that long since that last victory in the opponents house.

The offense was also to run efficiently with Adrian Peterson going down early in the second quarter with an ankle injury.Before Peterson went down he had 36 yards on 6 carries with a TD.  Toby carried the load for the rest of the game after Peterson went down. Toby had a career game with 76 yards on 22 carries and his 1st career TD run. Congrats to Toby, I hope there are many more to come.

Favre managed the game and was good enough not to lose this game. 15-23 passing for 176 yards. Favre also ran for 10 yards that is correct a 10 yard game by grandpa. I thought he was going to die right there. I do not want to see to many of those plays.

The defense did a good job keeping the 'Skins in check in this game. Giving up 1 TD drive the other 2 were FGs. The defense sacked McNabb 4 times and intercepted him in the red zone.The defense for the most part shut down the 'Skins.The Redskins were not able to do much on the ground today due to the Viking front front dominating the "Skins line.  I am so happy to see the Vikes getting a WIN and the Packers getting a LOSE.

It sure is a great week to be a Vikings fan..SKOL VIKINGS!!!!!!

What To Be Thankful For

Image by Getty Images via @daylife
With Thanksgiving coming up in less 2 hours away. It is not a holiday filled with stress, decorating and presents. It is a holiday to be thankful for so many different things.From a Vikings fan I am thankful that the Ziggy Wilf had come to his senses after a humiliating loss to the Vikes rival Green bay Packers. The team cut the ties of head coach Brad Childress. I for was relieved when I heard this news.

With the Vikes not playing til Sunday against the Redskins. It will be interest to see how the Vikes play to newly promoted interim head coach Leslie Frazier. Will he be able to make a difference in the locker room for the rest of the season, in a way that Chilly was not able to. Can Frazier run a tighter shift in a Viking team that has Super Bowl talent, this team just could not put it together this season.

It sure would be nice to see the Vikes put some wins together to make something out of a somewhat lost season. This will be it from me until late Sunday. Until then:

SKOL VIKINGS!!!! Happy Thanksgiving everyone.

Chilly Firing and More

Every fan thought that the owner waited two weeks to long to fire Brad Childress.The reason he was still with the team this season was the magical year that Brett Favre and the offense had last season.Chilly received a 3 year contract extension last season.

Chilly lost the locker room due to the fact that he was unable to keep the respect of his players. I really do not think the fans gave Chilly much of a shot as the Vikings head coach. Who can blame them. He was unable to make in-game adjustments to what the other teams were doing. With the way that he treated Brett Favre, basically handing him the keys to the offense the past two years. Just look at what happened to Mike Sherman.

I do feel bad for the guy, but why would you give Favre so much leeway to show up whenever he wants to for training camp. Other players want stability and equality in the locker room.

With Childress out as Vikings head coach, the man to serve as interim will be Leslie Frazier. It is going to be interesting to see how Frazier handles a team that knows they will not make the playoffs unless to receive a lot of help. Will 6 weeks be enough to be able to tell that Frazier is fit to be the Vikes Head Coach next season? It will be interesting to see what the Vikes do here on out. Can they(the Viking players) do what the Cowboys are doing under Jason Garrett?

Down In The Dumps

After the game yesterday, the Vikes got dominated on their own turf against the Packers in a 31-3 loss. The Vikes are looking worse and worse in each week this season. This was the game that the Vikes as a team had finally hit rock bottom. The Vikes were dominated from the 2nd quarter until the final seconds in the 4th quarter.

The defense had no answers for the pass and that is all the packer had to do to run all over field on the Vikes. After this hilarious display of football that Brad Childress put together against the Packers.

It looks like the Favre magic is totally lost with 10 TD and 16 INTS this season. The only consistent on offense is Peterson 20 yards  from going over 1000 yards for his 4th season in 5 years.

With his loss now, I have to wear Packer crap for the rest of the week. What was I thinking the Vikes winning against the Packers.