WildCard Game:Eagles(9-6-1) vs Vikings(10-6)

This game on Sunday will be an interesting one. The Eagles and Viking are like one another in many ways. You just do not know which team will be showing up on any particular Sunday.For the Vikes will the team that inched pass the Lions or will they put a game together like they did against the Bears at the Thunderdome. For the Eagles, will the team that tied the Bengals or the team the beat the Giants come out of the locker room.

The team statistically are a very close match. On the offense side of the ball, the Eagles have the edge with a pretty good passing game. Viking fans know that our secondary has been giving us fits for the past couple of years. What we do not have in a QB we have in NFL league leader in Adrian Peterson that can turn the game around with a blink of an eye. The Vikes announced that Phat Pat will be returned for the playoffs. So this is a bummer for the Eagles not they have to content with the WALL.
In the playoffs, the thing that kills you most is turnovers. The team controls the turnover battle will be the victor on Sunday.If the Vikes win they will be playing the Panthers abd if the Eagles win they will be playing the Giants.

This week

This week for me is going to crazy, because Mrs. GB Nordic and I are closing on a home today. So I we are hoping to get everything moving in by Thursday. I might be a little slow getting the game recap up this week.

Rushing Title

AD THE RUSHING CHAMP

Adrian Peterson is now the 1st Viking in franchise history to get a rushing title. He wins the title with1760 yards 363 attempts 4.8 average per carry and 10 rushing TDs. We thank you Adrian for the memorable year. He ranks fourth with the most yards on the grounds after his first 2 seasons. He trails only Eric Dickerson, Edgerrin James and Earl Campbell.

Vikes WIN NFC NORTH

Giants-Vikes Box Score

In a game that did not matter to the New York Giants, the Vikes were the victors 20-19. In the start of the game the Vikes were not playing like hey had anything to play for. They were just flat out FLAT. There was not score in the opening quarter by either side. In the second quarter, the Vikes had some moments of life, the Ryan Longwell 48 yard field goal to open the quarter. Adrian Peterson was bombarded with defenders for the most of the game. He did get a seem to go the distance for 67 yards for a touchdown. AD rushed for 103 yards on 21 carries including one fumble that Jimmy Kleinsasser recovered(we do not need anymore of those). With the Giants answering with field goals the Vikes were ahead 10-9 at half time. With the help of Eli manning moving the ball consistently.
in the second half, Davis Carr was the QB for the Giants and he opened the half with a TD scoring drive with a 23 yard TD pass to David Hixon.This put the Giants up 16-10.

Tarvaris Jackson had a tough day with little protection coming from the line. He was 16-26 239 yards 1 TD and 1 INT(which the Giants did get 3 point off of). The Vikes were down 19-10 in the fourth quarter. Bernard Berrian was wide open after the cornerback fell down and Jackson hit him for a 54 yard TD strike, and that put the score 17-10.
The Giants nest time with the ball, they did have a good drive. They had a chance with a 48 yards field goal, but it was WIDE RIGHT!!
The Vikes retain the ball with 3:17 left in the game. Here is the play-by-play:

3:17) 7-T.Jackson pass short left to 87-B.Berrian ran ob at MIN 45 for 7 yards. PENALTY on NYG-57-C.Blackburn, Defensive Holding, 5 yards, enforced at MIN 38 - No Play.
1-10-MIN 43	(3:10) 28-A.Peterson up the middle to MIN 43 for no gain (53-B.Kehl).
2-10-MIN 43	(2:34) 7-T.Jackson pass short right to 38-N.Tahi to MIN 45 for 2 yards (55-D.Clark).
3-8-MIN 45	(2:00) (Shotgun) 7-T.Jackson pass short right to 87-B.Berrian pushed ob at NYG 46 for 9 yards (35-K.Dockery).
Two-Minute Warning
1-10-NYG 46	(1:55) 28-A.Peterson left end to NYG 39 for 7 yards (35-K.Dockery; 95-J.McDougle).
2-3-NYG 39	(1:20) 28-A.Peterson up the middle to NYG 38 for 1 yard (57-C.Blackburn, 37-J.Butler).
Timeout #2 by MIN at 01:11.
3-2-NYG 38	(1:11) 7-T.Jackson pass short right to 81-V.Shiancoe to NYG 30 for 8 yards (53-B.Kehl).
1-10-NYG 30	(:36) 28-A.Peterson up the middle to NYG 32 for -2 yards (24-T.Thomas).
Timeout #3 by MIN at 00:09.
Timeout #2 by NYG at 00:09.
2-12-NYG 32	(:09) 7-T.Jackson pass incomplete short right to 19-B.Wade.
Timeout #3 by NYG at 00:05.
3-12-NYG 32	(:05) 8-R.Longwell 50 yard field goal is GOOD

The field goal by Ryan Longwell puts the Vikes in the playoffs and host a game at home.
The Vikes will be facing a Eagles on Sunday @3:30.

Pregame: Giants(12-3) @ Vikings(9-6)

Can they or Can’t they that is the Question. With the Vikes unable to beat the Atlanta Falcons last week in the Thunderdome to give them the division and a playoff berth. The Vikes still control their own destiny this Sunday when they faceoff against the New York Giants at home.

The thing that helps out the Vikes is that the Giants have nothing else to play for, considering they have wrapped up the NFC side for home field advantage. Some of the starts could be sit parts or all the game to rest them for the playoffs. If the Giants do sit RB Brandon Jacobs would make things considerably easier for the Vikes for they are without Pat Williams. I think that Vikes will not have much trouble holding the Giants running attack is the best in the league this season averaging over 150 yards a game. If the Vikes defense can shutdown the Giants run away runners and keep the QB if it is Eli Manning or David Carr under constant pressure. The defense will shut the Giants down.

With the Tarvaris Jackson at the helm for the third straight start, had a good game against the Falcons. He threw for a season-high 233 yards and two touchdowns. T-Jack had become more comfortable in the pocket hitting the open receivers and not overthrowing them as much. If the Adrian Peterson can get the wheels turning and not fumble the ball away like he did last week. I cannot see the Vikes losing to a Giants team the will be playing their backups much of the game. They beloved purple will be playing with pride and try to make the playoffs the 1^st time in the Brad Childress era.

Wait til Sunday

I could not believe that I actually subjected myself to root for the Packers last night. The Packers blew a 7 point lead late in the 4th quarter to lose it in in OT. Now the Vikes are in control of their own destiny this weekend when they host the Giants. The real question is: Will the Vikes be able to get past the G-men or will the visions of week 17 2003 come back to haunt us. The Bears will needs to do more than special teams to beat the Texans as well.

Viking Dispair: Atlanta 24 Vikes 17

Atlanta-Viking Box Score

The Vikes were unable to secure the NFC North on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons 24-17. They were not beat by the ground game of the Falcons or the jump start rookie QB in Matt Ryan. The thing that beat the Vikes on Sunday was themselves. They were able to hang on the ball putting the ball on the turf 7 times and losing 4 of those fumbles. It was difficult to watch the game seeing the Vikes being severely outplayed by the Falcons at home.
The first drive by the Falcons ended with a touchdown and the Vikes answer with 90 yards drive ending with a 21 yard TD pass to Visanthe Shiancoe. After the defense held the Falcons to a 3 and out, the ensuring punt was fumbled by Berrian and that led to a touchdown by the Falcons. After that the Vikes were unable to get back in the game and the ball really starting going down to turf for the Vikes.
The quarterback playing the Tarvaris Jackson was pretty good much of the day. He was 22 of 36 for 233 with two touchdowns and 0 INTS. T-Jack rushed for 76 yards on eight carries, but he had two fumbles (one a snap WELL over his head). One thing the T-Jack needs to learn is the QB pansy slide or his life as an NFL QB will be ended sooner than later.
The play from Adrian was not all day as we are accustomed to. He was sleepy on Sunday or something. He was horrific with his ball handling 3 fumbles sure he rushed for 76 yards. He is the BEST running back in the NFL; he did not play like it on Sunday.
Visanthe Shiancoe played the best game in his NFL career, trying so hard to win this one for the home crowd. Shanks caught seven passes for 136 yards and had two touchdowns. I was impressed with his play on Sunday at least, but hopefully there is more of this to come from the Nudist.
The play the was the winning score for the Falcons was when Matt Ryan fumbled the ball at the one yard line and the ball was lose in the end zone. 2 Viking defenders had a chance to get fumble Darren “Too Slow” Sharper and Cedric Griffin. It was the 6-foot-4, 330-pound Blalock who pounced on the ball instead, giving Atlanta a 24-7 lead late in the third quarter.
The Vikes did have a chance to win the game with 2:44 left in the game both Jackson and Peterson fumbled on the drive and Atlanta pressing Jackson not giving him time. The Vikes failed on fourth down. This gives the Falcons a playoff berth, the 1st since 2004.
Now the Vikes ask the Packers to win tonight so the Vikes will then be the division champs and will make the playoffs. If the Bears win tonight, the Vikes either have to win or Bears will need to lose next week. We shall see what all happens tonight. GO PACK GO