Longwell passes and kicks Vikings to victory

By Krupka  |   Monday, September 18, 2006  |  Comments( 0 )

Minnesota Vikings
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Sunday was another day at the office and another game-winning field goal for Minnesota Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell. However, it wasn't just any game for the veteran, as he had a career day, propelling the undefeated Vikings to victory in their home opener in front of 63,000-plus fans at the Metrodome.

At first glance, you'll read "16-13 OT," meaning Longwell made three field goals, one a game-winner. Hardly the best day of the 32-year-old's career, considering he had a kick blocked, right? Then again, if you watched the game, or just take a deeper look at the box score under passing, you'll see: "Longwell 1-1, 16 yards, TD."

Yes, you read that correctly. The Vikings' kicker threw a touchdown pass; and, yes, after two games is tied for the team lead in TD passes. Chew on this...Longwell has more touchdown passes than Tampa Bay Buccaneers signal caller Chris Simms. The most unlikely of scenarios provided the "offensive" boost needed to best the Carolina Panthers.

How rare is it that the Vikings break out the fake field goal play, and have success doing so? The last time the team executed this feat was in 1977 against the Chicago Bears when Paul Krause threw a touchdown to Stu Voigt.

Also, Longwell is only the second player in NFL history to throw a game-tying TD in fourth quarter and kick the game-winning field goal (George Blanda was the other).

Sunday, head coach Brad Childress knew his team needed a touchdown to tie. The Panthers' defense had been tough all day, and time was running out (7:56 remaining), so he called for the fake.

In a postgame interview, Longwell mentioned that the chicanery had been put in the gameplan, but he had no idea they would run it. Like a quarterback, he read the defense, and executed the play perfectly.

Long snapper Cullen Loeffler snapped the ball to the holder, Chris Kluwe, who proceeded to flip the ball to Longwell. The kicker then passed the ball to backup tight end Richard Owens, and the third-year pro out of Louisville scampered to the end zone, scoring his first career touchdown.

Just like they drew it up.

Ironically, Longwell is a former nemesis in Minnesota. As a member of the hated Green Bay Packers for the first nine years of his career, he hit one big field goal after another against the Vikings. In the offseason, however, Longwell signed a five-year, $10 million contract, including a $3 million bonus in March. It's only been two games, but so far the results are staggering. Longwell has nailed game-winning kicks in both games, and was instrumental in Sunday's victory.

The California product has brought stability to a position that has been in flux since Gary Anderson's jaw-dropping '98 season. Jaw-dropping pretty much describes it. He was a perfect 35-of-35 in the regular season on field goal attempts, and missed the kick that would have propelled the Vikings to the Super Bowl. Instead, everyone was left stunned, wondering, like Nancy Kerrigan, "Why?"

It may have been Longwell who was the Vikings' MVP and renaissance man on Sunday, but Childress and friends will take a 2-0 start any way possible. After two weeks of the NFL season, that's exactly where Minnesota stands.

Eric Krupka can be reached at ekrupka@realfootball365.com

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