Another one for the ages

By Krupka  |   Thursday, October 27, 2005  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Sunday's Vikings-Packers game was yet another one for the ages. The game epitomized what the rivalry is all about. For the third consecutive regular season meeting between the two teams, the game ended on a last second field goal. This time, it was the Vikings who were left to celebrate when Paul Edinger nailed a 56 yard field goal as time expired.

With the controversy surrounding the Minnesota Vikings team in regards to the "sex cruise" and their lackluster play so far this year, with this being the first home game since the incident became public, nobody knew how the fans would treat the team. Instead of individual player introductions, the Vikings decided to come out as a team, and show that they are still united. As the players ran out of the tunnel, the fans showed they were still with the team by giving a loud standing ovation.

The game was a story of two halves for Daunte Culpepper and the Minnesota Vikings. In the first half the Vikings offense was anemic. The defense was playing a soft zone and Packers quarterback Brett Favre was having a field day completing his first 13 passes. After a scoreless first quarter, the Packers jumped out to an early lead on a Favre 22 yard touchdown pass to Donald Driver, who made a one-handed diving catch along the side of the endzone.

On the Vikings ensuing drive, they went for it on 4th and 1 from the Packers 39. Culpepper never received the snap on the attempted quarterback sneak, and the Packers took possession. Another Favre touchdown pass, this time a 4 yarder to Antonio Chatman made the score 14-0 in favor of the Packers.

Koren Robinson then received the kick and proceeded to run right up the wedge, take a cut left, and jet down the sideline for a 72 yard gain, giving the Vikings excellent field position. However the Vikings, like they always seem to do, found a way to mess that up. On the first play Mewelde Moore fumbled, and the Packers recovered. The fumble set up a Ryan Longwell 53 yard field goal with 22 seconds left in the half to give the Packers a 17-0 lead.

At halftime Vikings head coach Mike Tice ripped into his team, calling it the most negative he has ever been. Tice's halftime speech seemed to have greatly affected his team. In the second half the Vikings looked like a completely different team. On defense, they stopped playing zone and moved their corners up to the line, playing more aggressively. On offense, they became an attacking team again, coming out with four and five wide receivers, scoring on every possession.

The Minnesota Vikings received the ball first in the second half and proceeded to go on an 11 play drive resulting in a Paul Edinger 27 yard field goal to cut the deficit to 17-3. The Vikings defense forced the Packers into a three and out.

On their second drive of the half the Vikings offense kept up its aggressive play calling. Culpepper had an 18 yard run, and completed a key 13 yard pass to rookie wide receiver Troy Williamson on a 3rd down and 10 to keep the drive alive, and resulted in Marcus Robinson's 27 yard touchdown reception from Culpepper. This cut the Packers lead to 17-10.

The Vikings defense was able to hold the Packers to a 42 yard field goal attempt in which Ryan Longwell missed wide left. With good field position the Vikings offense was in business. They drove down 4 yard line, before stalling and settling for a Paul Edinger 22 yard field goal, making the score 17-13 in favor of the Packers. Once again the more aggressive Vikings defense was able to hold, forcing a three and out.

Then Culpepper marched the Vikings down the field in a 9 play, 83 yard drive, ending with a Culpepper 14 yard touchdown pass to Mewelde Moore. However, the Vikings left Favre with 3:04 to work with. Favre led the Packers down the field, setting up a Ryan Longwell game tying 39 yard field goal with just 24 seconds left.

Vikings kick returner Koren Robinson returned the kick to the Vikes' own 36 yard line. With 17 seconds left Culpepper and the Vikings lined up in the shotgun formation. With time winding down and under pressure, Culpepper found Mewelde Moore over the middle for a 14 yard gain. The Vikings used their last timeout with 8 seconds left. Culpepper again was in the shotgun and found Marcus Robinson for a 12 yard gain, and Robinson immediately got out of bounds setting up a 56 yard field goal attempt for Edinger. Vikings fans and players on the sidelines were praying for Edinger to make the kick. A low snap was handled great by holder and backup quarterback Brad Johnson, who was able to get it down and Edinger nailed it. The high kick sailed through the uprights to joyous Vikings fans. Edinger began running and was caught and mobbed by celebrating teammates. All Favre could do on the Packer sideline was give the stupid look of a defeated man. It happened to Favre again in the Metrodome. The Vikings had beaten him.


Game Notes:

Packers WR Robert Ferguson left in the second quarter with an injured ankle

Packers RB Ahman Green left in the fourth quarter when he re-injured his knee

Packers WR Donald Driver finished with 114 yards and a TD

Packers QB Brett Favre finished 28/36 for 316 yards and 2 TD

Vikings RB Mewelde Moore's fourth quarter touchdown was the first of his career

Vikings TE Jermaine Wiggins had 6 catches for 56 yards and became the fastest Viking to reach 100 receptions taking him only 20 games, 1 less than Randy Moss

Vikings QB Daunte Culpepper finished 23/31 for 280 yards and 2 TD

Paul Edinger's game winning field goal was the second longest game-winning field goal in NFL history, was Edinger's new career long, and was the longest field goal made in Vikings history.
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