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Hey Vikings fans!
Sorry I didn’t write a preview this week. I was out of town from early Wednesday morning until Friday afternoon for work, then I was gone from Friday evening until late Sunday night on a weekend trip to Minneapolis. I was able to find small times to make the little posts that I did, but I just wasn’t able to sit down and write an in depth Preview.
Part of the reason I went to Minneapolis for the weekend… I was there to see the home opener for the Vikings!!
Wow… Brett Favre’s first regular season game at home as a Viking, and the man did not disappoint!
Since we’re already on the topic of Favre, and since any of you that don’t live in isolation have already seen and/or heard about the final play of the game many times now, let’s start off talking about our new quarterback.
Brett Favre Saves The Day
24/46, 301 yards, 2 TDs, 1 Int.
Favre’s game overall wasn’t spectacular. His completion percentage was much lower than the first two games, his QB rating was much lower than his first two games. Overall, he didn’t look like the game manager that he had shown in his first two starts for Minnesota.
Instead, he looked like Brett Favre.
He completed barely over 50% of his passes, but he threw for over 300 yards. He had an interception, but he had had 2 TD passes. He threw some balls that probably shouldn’t have been thrown, and probably should’ve been picked off, but he threw some great passes when the Vikings absolutely needed it. He had some drives stall without doing anything, but he moved the ball extremely well in the last possession of the game, and scored with 2 seconds left on the clock.
Not many people can give your team quite as good of a chance in closing minutes as Brett Favre. He showed Vikings fans what it was like to have a QB who is solid when the pressure is on.
Tarvaris Jackson would not have been accurate or decisive enough in a situation like this. Gus Frerotte had no idea how to get the team to hurry to the line, and time would’ve ran out long before he was in scoring position. Brad Johnson couldn’t keep us in the close ones long enough to even have a shot at something like this. Daunte Culpepper could score in closing minutes, but had no idea how to manage the clock, and would often leave too much time for the other quarterback (several times Brett Favre), to drive the other team down for the winning score.
I’m not sure the last time the Vikings had a guy that was so rock solid through the 2 minute (or less) drill. Tommy Kramer? Kramer stopped playing around 20 years ago!!!
Brett Favre made an impression on a lot of Vikings fans Sunday.
Okay, okay… enough about that. Brett wasn’t the only guy playing…
Percy Harvin Continues to Impress
Harvin was less impressive carrying the ball this week… 1 carry for -8 yards. He did, however, still make an impact. He had 4 catches for 51 yards, including an important first down.
But Harvin’s big moment… the moment that the Vikings fans would’ve been talking about all week if it hadn’t been for a last second TD pass… was on Special Teams. Harvin took the ball a yard deep in the endzone, made a few moves, and broke away for a very impressive 101 yard kickoff return for a touchdown. Harvin showed off his speed… the 49ers defenders looked ridiculous trying to chase him down from behind. Every time the kid took a kickoff, you had to feel that it was only a matter of time before he was scoring. He only made us wait until the third game. Percy Harvin is a talented player… I have a hunch he’s only getting started.
Jared Allen Got A Sack
I know the Vikings didn’t get to Hill very much, but Allen did get a sack. It’s his second in 3 games.
Henderson is Still A Beast
He didn’t do anything to make a whole lot of noise, but he did have 8 tackles, 5 assisted tackles. The man is everywhere. If he doesn’t start the Pro Bowl this year, it’s a crime.
Griffin Has Great Hands
Another interception for Cedric Griffin off of another really good catch. Maybe we should just send our whole starting defense to the Pro Bowl!
…But not everything was great about the game.
Special Teams gave up another TD. That’s 2 now, and we’re only in week 3.
The pass protection was still bad. Favre is taking too many hits. When is this going to be fixed?
There were a lot of dropped passes. Berrian dropped some early last year, but then became very sure-handed. He dropped more than one. Harvin dropped one. If memory serves correctly, Shiancoe dropped one. We already have some issues with Favre having to hurry his throws… let’s not add dropping passes as a new problem.
Overall, though, you gotta be happy with the win. The Vikings are 3-0 heading into their first big real big game of the season… Brett’s first meeting with the Green Bay Packers.
It should be fun.
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I want to say – thank you for this!
all good things