Sydney Rice Falls Nine Yards Shy of History

By MikeBullock  |   Monday, November 16, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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While yesterday’s overall performance by the Minnesota Vikings wasn’t as glorious as fans had hoped for, emerging wide receiver Sydney Rice made his case to move into the lead dog spot on Minnesota’s depth chart. In fact, he became only the fourth Viking wide out in history to eat up more than 200 receiving yards in a game.

With big completions of 56, 43, 43, and 21 yards, Rice gave notice that he’s for real and defenses better take notice. While many are worried about speedster Bernard Berrian, stand out tight end Visanthe Shiancoe or rookie of the year candidate Percy Harvin, the real workhorse of the Vikings’ passing game has proven to be Rice, game in and game out.

Currently on pace to rack up 1397 receiving yards this season, which is only sixteen shy of the franchise record held by Randy Moss, Rice is a player opposing defenses must game plan for going forward or he’ll burn them every time.

While Rice isn’t the fastest or most elusive player on the team, his ability to get open, coupled with a pass catching skill level that rivals Arizona’s Larry Fitzgerald, means future Hall of Fame QB Brett Favre has a certain target every time he goes to Rice.

In fact, if Favre could have found him for one more “average” catch, Rice would have made Vikings history yesterday. Or, had the receiver simply held on to the last pass tossed his way by back up QB Tarvaris Jackson and fallen forward for a yard, the record would be his. As it stands, however, Rice has leaped his way into rarefied air.

Other game notes: Adrian Peterson hit another milestone yesterday, becoming the fastest running back to hit 4000 career yards in club history, unseating former great Chuck Foreman. This leaves Peterson just 2800 yards shy of the team’s all time rushing record of 6818 held by Robert Smith. Peterson is currently on a pace to end up with 1648 yards this season, which will leave him just 2069 yards short of Smith’s high water mark. If that isn’t incentive for a 2000 yard season next year, what is?

The Vikings racked up an uncanny thirteen penalties, many of them mental blunders that cost the team in key moments. Play like that will certainly give them a fast exit from the post season.

Brett Favre hit 300 consecutive starts, a number no one else is likely to ever touch.

The last time the Vikings were 8-1 was 1998, where they went 15-1 on their way to the NFC Championship game. Many, including myself, predict them to make that game again this year, with a potential meeting with the New Orleans Saints.

Next up: The Seattle Seahawks come to town and WR T.J. Houshmandzadeh gets to see firsthand what he missed out on.

For more Vikings news and discussions, check out http://www.purplepride.org
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