IN A YEAR OF SURPRISES, VIKINGS GET READY FOR PLAYOFFS

Minnesota Score Photo by Marilyn Indahl

By Tim Ryan
January 1, 2013

Vikings vs. Packers Game Gallery:  http://www.ihigh.com/mnscore/gallery_98599.html

There’s no question the 10-6 Vikings exceeded expectations this season after taking the last NFC Wild Card spot by beating the 11-5 Green Bay Packers 37-34 on Sunday at Mall Of America Field. Many football experts predicted an equivalent record of 2011. Even ESPN’s John Clayton stated the Vikings would finish 2-14. Ultimately the Vikings didn’t exactly shine all season and in some cases barely played well enough to win. However they did win and has shown some promise of what we can expect in the near future.

1. 2012 NFL Draft – Head Coach Leslie Frazier and GM Rick Spielman had an exceptional 2012 Draft. There were a lot of questions picking K Blair Walsh in the 6th round but Walsh was a key in several of the Vikings victories this season and kicked the last second field goal to lift the Vikings over the Packers to put them into the playoffs. Walsh kicked an NFL record 10 FG’s over 50 yards this season and was named the NFC’s kicker for the Pro Bowl. Number one pick, OL Matt Kalil had made a few mistakes this year but chalk that up to the learning curve. Overall Kalil has been outstanding in his rookie year. The Vikings saw something in Safety Harrison Smith by trading up to the first round to grab him. Smith has played well all season and cemented himself into the starting backfield. Corner Josh Robinson has also had a steady season and is showing he has the ability to be a permanent starter. With the injury to WR Percy Harvin, Jarius Wright has shown some flashes of talent as well. We would have loved to see what Wright’s college teammate at Arkansas Greg Childs could have done in 2012. In the off-season the Vikings also signed TE John Carlson to a 5-year / $25 million contract that hasn’t exactly panned out this season. Fourth round pick TE/FB Rhett Elleson has shown his offensive ability this year as well.

2. AP “All Day” – Running back Adrian Peterson has almost single handedly carried the Vikings offense on his back all season long. After a remarkable recovery from a severe knee surgery and reconstruction during the off-season, AP has contended for the NFL MVP this season after running the Vikes into the playoffs and from falling just 9 yards short of Eric Dickerson’s 1984 single season rushing record of 2,105 yards. AP hasn’t been shy of his bid for MVP and has come out to state that he’s gunning for Dickerson next year. It’s given fans something else to cheer for in 2012 along with the hopes AP can continue throughout the playoffs.

3. The Vikings wouldn’t have won on Sunday if it wasn’t for QB Christian Ponder and the clutch throws he made down the stretch. After a hot start to the season the, “serviceable” Quarterback fell into a severe slump and ultimately single handedly took the blame for the 1 – 4 stretch mid season. One can blame lack of targets and some breakdowns in protection for some of the issues but overall Ponder’s play was far from average. Minnesota came back winning four straight games to end the season with one of Ponder’s best performances in the final game against Green Bay. Hopefully this is the sign of things to come for Ponder.

Many aspects of the Vikings game has improved over the stretch into the playoffs. The defense has had a philosophy of bend don’t break has come on as well as a much improved secondary. While fans are wishing for a Super Bowl title, Minnesota has exceeded all expectations this year and has put together an unlikely season. We can only hope for the run to continue.

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VIKINGS IMPROVE TO 4-1, DOMINATE STRUGGLING TITANS

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Score – Photo by Marilyn Indahl

By Izzy Presley – Columnist AM660
Sunday, October 7, 2012
Complete game gallery:  http://www.ihigh.com/mnscore/gallery_92923.html

(Minneapolis, MN) – After a dismal 3-13 season in 2011, The Minnesota Vikings have started their strongest season as of yet since the 2009 season that Brett Favre solidified his lore as a Viking by leading them to the NFC Championship game.

The Titans came into Mall of America Field with a 1-3 record and their young quarterback Jake Locker unavailable. Aging veteran Matt Hasselbeck would be taking the snaps for the visiting and struggling Nashville squad.

A healthy dose of Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, and stellar defensive play would be all the purple would need to bring their record to a healthy, first place record of 4-1.

Defensively the Vikings were so stingy that they held Nashville to only 87 total yards in the first half, and scoreless until there was 10:35 left in the 4th quarter when Hasselbeck connected with Jared Cook on a 10 yard touchdown pass.

Harvin was the offensive stud for Minnesota with 116 total yards and 2 touchdowns halfway through the 4th quarter, while Peterson rushed for 88 because on 17 carries. Peterson was practically shut down by the Titans defense all day, but managed to break free for runs of 20 and 30 plus.

Christian Ponder threw for nearly 300 yards with a couple touchdowns and his first 2 interceptions of the season on consecutive plays to end the first half and start the 2nd.

Rookie Nathaniel Smith was ejected in the first quarter after shoving an official out of the way after a Tennessee turnover.

Up until the end of the game, the loudest pop the less than sellout crowd gave was to the video of Green Bay losing to Indianapolis. That gut laugh you hear is Mall of America Field.

The Vikings are currently tied with Chicago for 1st place in the NFC North and will be at Washington for on Oct 14th. After facing a backup quarterback today and possibly a back up in Washington if RGIII is not ready to go after his injury today, there is a good chance this Vikings team COULD be 5-1 and getting ready to host an Arizona team with Quarterback Problems of their own.

Final score from The Metrodome, Vikings 30 Titans 7.

VIKINGS TRIP OVER YELLOW IN INDY

Photo courtesy of the Minnesota Score – Photo by Marilyn Indahl

By Izzy Presley – Columnist AM660
September 17, 2012

Complete game gallery:  http://www.ihigh.com/mnscore/gallery_91290.html

 
The Minnesota Vikings stumbled over themselves and lots of yellow flags this Sunday in Indianapolis during their loss to the Colts. The 11 penalties to the tune of 105 yards crippled the teams attempt to win their 2nd game of the season, nullifying big plays and keeping them out of the game for nearly 3 quarters.

The Vikings stormed back in the 4th quarter to tie the game with 2 touchdown passes from Christian Ponder to Stephen Burton and Kyle Rudolph, but lost on a drive conducted by the Colt’s rookie QB Andrew Luck that resulted in a 53 yard field goal by Adam Vinatieri with 8 seconds remaining in regulation.

The Vikings offense racked up only 49 yards passing and 6 points on 2 field goals in the first half, but rallied in the 4th quarter to make a game of it.

Adrian Peterson came back to earth with only 60 yards and no touchdowns on 16 carries while Percy Harvin shined again, showing that he is the playmaker of this offense with 104 yards receiving on 12 receptions and 13 yards on 2 carries as a runner.

While the offense looked shaky in the first 3 quarters of the game, mostly due to untimely penalties, Ponder was good when he had to be. He finished the game with 245 yards passing and the two 4th quarter touchdown passes. The big stat again for Ponder is no picks.

He showed poise in bringing the team back to tie the game when they needed a rally with and without Percy Harvin who was in and out of the game in the 4th due to lower leg problems.

Next Sunday, the Vikings will face their toughest opponent so far this season as they welcome the San Francisco 49ers to The Metrodome for what will be a big test for the team coming off of a 3-13 season. The Niners are 2-0 and tied for 1st in the NFC West with the Arizona Cardinals.

For many Vikings fans, they will not only be tuning in to watch the Vikes try and compete against one of the best, if not the best defense in the NFL, but also to see any antics by Randy Moss, who is playing his first game at The Dome after being cut by the Vikings 2 seasons ago.