Minnesota Vikings Potential Seems Downright Scary

By MikeBullock  |   Monday, November 30, 2009  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Amidst the apparent blowout of the division rival Chicago Bears, the NFC North reigning champions played some sloppy football at times on Sunday, showing this team has yet to reach its full potential. With ten penalties for seventy yards, two fumbles (both by star running back Adrian Peterson) and an apparent inability to shut down Chicago’s tight end, Greg Olsen early on, the Vikings played anything but mistake free football.

However, even with all that, the men in purple managed to rack up 537 total net yards, converted twelve of eighteen on third down, achieved a staggering twenty-nine first downs, scored over thirty points for the seventh time this season and watched quarterback Brett Favre’s amazing run at Comeback Player of the Year (and his fourth league MVP honors) climb even higher. Favre has now thrown eight touchdowns for every interception, and set yet another lofty benchmark for his Hall of Fame career: 500 touchdowns.

Five HUNDRED touchdowns. The average NFL quarterback is lucky to get fifty in a career.

Favre wasn’t the only one to continue his hot streak, however, as Rookie of the Year contender, Percy Harvin caught six passes for one hundred and one yards and a touchdown, while adding forty five more yards on the ground. Bernard Berrian also seemed to wake from his season long funk with six catches for seventy four yards against his former team.

On the defensive side, the Vikings held the Bears to just two yards in the second half. Chicago head coach Lovie Smith must realize today it’s hard to achieve a come from behind victory when all you can manage is one yard per quarter.

Cedric Griffin was on fire with four solo tackles and a critical end zone interception that ended a scoring threat by Chicago. Jared Allen also had another break out game with two sacks and an interception of his own.

However, Allen’s interception play was a microcosm of this year so far. After catching the ball, Allen tried an ill advised lateral to Griffin, unfortunately, Allen tossed the ball forward and nearly gave it back to the Bears. But, just like so much else this season, the mistake didn’t seem to stick to the Teflon coated Vikings and they retained possession.

It’s often said that no team is static, either improving or declining, but never staying still. If head coach Brad Childress can get this team firing on all cylinders going into the playoffs, continuing to improve as they have been over the last eleven games, nothing short of a catastrophe will prevent them from bringing home a Lombardi trophy.

However, if Childress can’t halt the silly penalties, and somehow convince Peterson to stop carrying the rock like a loaf of bread when he makes contact with a defender, this team’s Superbowl dreams might slip away amidst yellow flags and loose balls.

Chances are, though, just like Allen’s poorly executed “lateral”, the ball will continue bouncing Minnesota’s way, into February and beyond.

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