As tired as I am of covering Vikings games, the content of this blog is undeniably affected by what games are broadcast on primetime television, and the excessive drama and attention surrounding Brett Favre (particularly this week, with his homecoming to Green Bay) make for good ratings on the tube (the broadcast even included a "Favre-cam" to stay on the grizzled quarterback for the entire game). Brett has such a taste for drama that when he retires (or perhaps I should say "if" he retires), he should seriously consider appearing on a soap opera.
After the high standards set by the late-game thriller at the Metrodome, Favre's return to Lambeau Field started slowly, with no points coming through the first possessions for either team. A miscue by Vikings center John Sullivan caused a Minnesota fumble that was recovered by the Packers, but Aaron Rodgers could not capitalize on a short field and Green Bay took a Mason Crosby field goal. Rodgers had been criticized by head coach Mike McCarthy for holding onto the ball too long in the last game against Minnesota, and the trend continued today. While they have yet to adequately replace Chad Clifton on the offensive line (and have given up the most sacks in the league as a result), Rodgers still has to be able to distribute better for Green Bay to be successful.
Percy Harvin, who already returned two kickoffs for scores this season, nearly had another one as he brought the next kick 77 yards down to the 15, but it took a headbutt penalty on Johnny Jolly and four Adrian Peterson runs for the Packers to punch the ball into the endzone.
After a Packers punt, Favre passed methodically down the field and found Visanthe Shiancoe on a shallow crossing route for his first touchdown pass of the day. Shiancoe, along with receivers Sidney Rice and Harvin, have developed into solid targets for Favre to accompany running back Adrian Peterson.
A sack on Rodgers by Jared Allen forced the Packers to punt yet again, giving them great field position. But after Peterson broke off a long run to get the Vikings into the red zone, the Packers managed to stand Minnesota up and stuff another 4th-down conversion.
The half ended on a tired note, with the Packers totally unable to move the ball and the Vikings in no hurry to do so. The key stat at the two-minute warning was the yardage for both teams: 100 for Minnesota, 7 for Green Bay.
Sunday, November 1, 2009
Week 8 Storylines
New Yorks's Giant Skid Extends To Three Losses Against Eagles (40-17 PHI): The Giants probably raised more questions than they answered with a poor performance against the Philidelphia Eagles. The 40-17 loss marked the Giants' third consecutive loss, and came at a bad time as the now have two weeks to rue their missed chances during a bye week. Most of the problems that have plagued them through the last few weeks persisted; the G-Men were consistently vulnerable to the big play on defense, and DeSean Jackson (who is making big plays left and right this season) took advantage with a 55-yard touchdown reception. Philly later sealed their victory with a 66-yard run by LeSean McCoy, filling in for the injured Brian Westbrook. In addition, the New York offense didn't look quite the same as it did the first five weeks of the year. That's an understatement, given Eli Manning's poor play against New Orleans, Arizona, and now the Eagles. Maybe he needs some more tips from big brother Peyton.
Ravens Hand Denver First Loss of Season (30-7 BAL): Kyle Orton has shown this season that he is efficient, but not explosive. Give him the small stuff and let him complete passes; you can still keep the Broncos out of the endzone. The Ravens defence allowed him to complete 23 of 37 passes, but only allowed 152 yards through the air and, more importantly, seven points. Linebacker Jarret Johnson set the tone early by sacking Orton on the first play of the game and the defence recovered a Knowshon Moreno fumble before Lardarius Webb returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score to essentially put the game out of reach for the Broncos. The Ravens snapped a three-game losing streak as well as putting an end to Denver's hopes of an undefeated season. This will probably end up being good for Josh McDaniel's team, though; talk of going undefeated usually only puts unnecessary pressure on a team, and despite suffering their first loss the Broncos still have their division well in hand.
Slaton Benched As Texans Roll Over Bills (31-10 HOU): Houston won handily in Buffalo despite a poor outing for most of the familiar offensive stars. Tight end Owen Daniels sustained a knee injury that will require season-ending surgery, quarterback Matt Schaub threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, and running back Steve Slaton was benched after a fumble early in the game (his fifth of the season). Despite all that, the Texans scored 31 points. How did they do it? Ryan Moats, a 5th year tailback out of LA Tech, rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries, scoring three times. Three Kris Brown field goals (and one gratuitous two-point conversion from Schaub to Andre Johnson) finished the Bills, who have fallen flat on their faces after two years of hype and promises of improvement. Terrell Owens has been surprisingly quiet as far as talking to the media is concerned, but don't expect that to last too long if Buffalo continues to struggle.
Miami Edges Jets After Frantic Third Quarter (30-25 MIA): The Dolphins hardly even needed an offense to beat the Jets. Wideout Ted Ginn Jr., benched by head coach Tony Sparano, settled into his duties as the returner, tying an NFL record held by seven other players by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns (he is the only player in history to run back two kicks in the same game of 100 yards or more). This came after a dreary first half that featured a scoreless first quarter, and the only players who scored were the kickers. The offenses, not wanting to be left out, turned it on late. Two touchdown passes from Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller brought the Jets close, but two failed two-point conversions and a Dolphins TD put the game out of reach. This game certainly lived up the its hype, but it will be interesting to see how Rex Ryan reacts to it over the course of the week.
Da Bears Bounce Back Against Browns (30-6 CHI): After an embarassing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago needed a win to keep their morale going. They got it against the other Ohio team. Cleveland is quite possibly the worst team in the NFL right now (although I would put the Raiders in over them), and it was the perfect feel-good game for the Bears to come back from as the defence forced five turnovers and Matt Forte scored two touchdowns. I think Chicago will still feel aggravated, though, that they could not do more against a poor Browns team. Forte only rushed for 90 yards (3.5 average) while Cutler threw 1 interception and no touchdowns. Meanwhile, things are looking worse for the beleaguered Browns, who are looking for the lesser of two evils in their potential starting quarterbacks. After what is shaping up to be another down year for Cleveland, I fully expect Eric Mangini to be gone.
St. Louis No Longer Winless, Beats Detroit (17-10 STL): After seven weeks of misery, the Rams finally have escaped the ranks of the winless teams by beating another terrible team in the Detroit Lions, who were missing half of their offensive star power in injured wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Steven Jackson's hard work still paid off, though. Despite coming into the game second in the league in all-purpose yardage and third in rushing, Jackson had not yet scored a touchdown this season. He broke that drought (the longest of his career) with a score against the Lions to cap off a stellar, 149-yard performance. Even if it came against another yearly loser in Detroit, a win is a win, and the Rams and head coach Steve Spagnuolo will be happy to have their first.
Manning, Colts Edge Out San Francisco (18-14 IND): Peyton Manning didn't throw a touchdown in this game, but he won't mind. It was the arm of running back Joseph Addai that gave the Colts the go-ahead score over the 49'ers. Having recieved the ball on a stretch option play (in which the running back has the choice to either run or pass), Addai hit a wide open Reggie Wayne with a lofted left-handed effort that Wayne still had to stretch out for. While Manning did not throw for a score, he restarted the streak that was broken three weeks ago by passing for 347 yards. Were it not for the Saints, the Colts would be the hottest team in football, with Manning showing off his best play since 2003 (that includes the Colts' Super Bowl run in 2006) and the defense looking rejuvenated with safety Bob Sanders (the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year) back in the lineup. As they move to 7-0, they will have to stay on their guard to avoid an upset by their division rivals: the upstart Houston Texans.
Carolina Upsets Arizona In Surprise of the Week (34-21 CAR): Sure, the Panthers won convincingly over what most people had billed as a superior Cardinals team, but don't give the credit to Jake Delhomme. In a dominant performance from both DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart, Delhomme only attempted 14 passes, completing 7 of them for 90 yards. I should put an asterisk next to that yardage total, as 50 of them came on a long after-the-catch run by Steve Smith. Fortunately for Delhomme (who is essentially in a caretaker role in the Panther offense), Williams and Stewart carried the load with a combined 40 rushes for 245 yards (Stewart also scored two touchdowns). The Panthers D did the rest, forcing six turnovers from Kurt Warner (five of them interceptions), including a leaping pick-six from defensive end Julius Peppers.
Dallas Pounds Seattle, Secure First Place Tie In Divison (38-17 DAL): With the Giants having fallen to the Eagles, Dallas need a win to keep their first place tie with Philly, and they got it in a convincing win over the underachieving Seawhawks. QB Tony Romo looked sharp for the third week in a row, while Patrick Crayton regained the coaches' confidence in his punt return skills with his second punt return for a score in as many games. After a slow start, things are looking up in Big D. The same cannot be said for their opponents, however. Even with the return of veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, the Seahawks are a shadow of the team they were in 2007 (when they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs), let alone the team that made the Super Bowl in 2005. They have one of the worst rush defenses in the league, and this last game made it painfully clear that their pass defense also needs work. Meanwhile, Hasselbeck is showing his wear-and-tear as he clutched his bad ribs after being sacked on Sunday. I think it's time Seattle started looking for another signal-caller, because it looks pretty cloudy as to how much gas Hasselbeck has left in the tank.
Chargers Beat Dismal Oakland For 13th Straight Win Over Raiders (24-17): It's just sad how awful the Oakland Raiders have been for the past four to five seasons. Between them and the equally lowly Kansas City Chiefs, they have a paltry three wins, and essentially make the AFC West the worst division in football (a title the Chargers and Broncos must unfortunately share by association). I think a telling stat is the difference in passing yardage between the Raiders' JaMarus Russel (109) and the Chargers' Philip Rivers (256), despite Rivers only completing two more passes (16 to 14). Oakland can't block, and as a result can't run or pass (the dreaded trifecta from hell). By the way, if the Chargers don't lose to Oakland for four more seasons (something I could definitely see happening) they will break the all time record for the most consecutive wins by one team over another (set at 20 by the Dolphins of the 60's and 70's, who had their way with the Buffalo Bills in that era).
Chris Johnson Drags Titans To First Win Over Jags (30-17 TEN): Despite the potential implications of the headline, Johnson was not the only player on the field for Tennessee, although he did rush for a franchise-record 228 yards on 24 carries (9.5 yards per rush). Quarterback Vince Young, who regained his starting spot after the benching of Kerry Collins, was efficient and mastake-free despite not putting up big numbers, completing 15 of only 18 passes for 125 yards and a score. With Johnson's performance, it's not like Young had to shine, but I think he did well enough to keep his job as the starter for another week (at least he won a game).
New Orleans Wins Again, But Falcons Keep It Close (35-27 NO): I know that the Saints defense can make plays when it counts (such as Jabari Greer's 48-yard interception return yesterday against the Falcons), but for all the talk about how much they have improved they have consistently given up lots of points. They are 20th in the league with 22 points per game scored against them; if it were not for their dominant offense, those numbers would be unforgivable and could be even worse. It has become a persistent problem for New Orleans over the past few years; the only difference is the Saints were losing games before and now they're winning. Despite their current win streak and the fact that they have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, I don't think New Orleans will go undefeated. Michael Turner (and Ricky Williams of the Dolphins) have shown that the Saints defense can be rattled if their opponent is effective at running the ball, and the strip-sack by Thomas Decoud (as well as the resulting score by defensive tackle Kroy Bierman) showed that Drew Brees is not as perfect as the Saints' record would suggest. If they don't fall to the New England Patriots (who they play in three weeks), they will likely at least receive a scare from one of the other teams like they did against Miami, and their seemingly blessed luck can't hold out forever.
Ravens Hand Denver First Loss of Season (30-7 BAL): Kyle Orton has shown this season that he is efficient, but not explosive. Give him the small stuff and let him complete passes; you can still keep the Broncos out of the endzone. The Ravens defence allowed him to complete 23 of 37 passes, but only allowed 152 yards through the air and, more importantly, seven points. Linebacker Jarret Johnson set the tone early by sacking Orton on the first play of the game and the defence recovered a Knowshon Moreno fumble before Lardarius Webb returned a kickoff 95 yards for a score to essentially put the game out of reach for the Broncos. The Ravens snapped a three-game losing streak as well as putting an end to Denver's hopes of an undefeated season. This will probably end up being good for Josh McDaniel's team, though; talk of going undefeated usually only puts unnecessary pressure on a team, and despite suffering their first loss the Broncos still have their division well in hand.
Slaton Benched As Texans Roll Over Bills (31-10 HOU): Houston won handily in Buffalo despite a poor outing for most of the familiar offensive stars. Tight end Owen Daniels sustained a knee injury that will require season-ending surgery, quarterback Matt Schaub threw two interceptions and no touchdowns, and running back Steve Slaton was benched after a fumble early in the game (his fifth of the season). Despite all that, the Texans scored 31 points. How did they do it? Ryan Moats, a 5th year tailback out of LA Tech, rushed for 126 yards on 23 carries, scoring three times. Three Kris Brown field goals (and one gratuitous two-point conversion from Schaub to Andre Johnson) finished the Bills, who have fallen flat on their faces after two years of hype and promises of improvement. Terrell Owens has been surprisingly quiet as far as talking to the media is concerned, but don't expect that to last too long if Buffalo continues to struggle.
Miami Edges Jets After Frantic Third Quarter (30-25 MIA): The Dolphins hardly even needed an offense to beat the Jets. Wideout Ted Ginn Jr., benched by head coach Tony Sparano, settled into his duties as the returner, tying an NFL record held by seven other players by returning two kickoffs for touchdowns (he is the only player in history to run back two kicks in the same game of 100 yards or more). This came after a dreary first half that featured a scoreless first quarter, and the only players who scored were the kickers. The offenses, not wanting to be left out, turned it on late. Two touchdown passes from Mark Sanchez to Braylon Edwards and Dustin Keller brought the Jets close, but two failed two-point conversions and a Dolphins TD put the game out of reach. This game certainly lived up the its hype, but it will be interesting to see how Rex Ryan reacts to it over the course of the week.
Da Bears Bounce Back Against Browns (30-6 CHI): After an embarassing loss to the Cincinnati Bengals, Chicago needed a win to keep their morale going. They got it against the other Ohio team. Cleveland is quite possibly the worst team in the NFL right now (although I would put the Raiders in over them), and it was the perfect feel-good game for the Bears to come back from as the defence forced five turnovers and Matt Forte scored two touchdowns. I think Chicago will still feel aggravated, though, that they could not do more against a poor Browns team. Forte only rushed for 90 yards (3.5 average) while Cutler threw 1 interception and no touchdowns. Meanwhile, things are looking worse for the beleaguered Browns, who are looking for the lesser of two evils in their potential starting quarterbacks. After what is shaping up to be another down year for Cleveland, I fully expect Eric Mangini to be gone.
St. Louis No Longer Winless, Beats Detroit (17-10 STL): After seven weeks of misery, the Rams finally have escaped the ranks of the winless teams by beating another terrible team in the Detroit Lions, who were missing half of their offensive star power in injured wide receiver Calvin Johnson. Steven Jackson's hard work still paid off, though. Despite coming into the game second in the league in all-purpose yardage and third in rushing, Jackson had not yet scored a touchdown this season. He broke that drought (the longest of his career) with a score against the Lions to cap off a stellar, 149-yard performance. Even if it came against another yearly loser in Detroit, a win is a win, and the Rams and head coach Steve Spagnuolo will be happy to have their first.
Manning, Colts Edge Out San Francisco (18-14 IND): Peyton Manning didn't throw a touchdown in this game, but he won't mind. It was the arm of running back Joseph Addai that gave the Colts the go-ahead score over the 49'ers. Having recieved the ball on a stretch option play (in which the running back has the choice to either run or pass), Addai hit a wide open Reggie Wayne with a lofted left-handed effort that Wayne still had to stretch out for. While Manning did not throw for a score, he restarted the streak that was broken three weeks ago by passing for 347 yards. Were it not for the Saints, the Colts would be the hottest team in football, with Manning showing off his best play since 2003 (that includes the Colts' Super Bowl run in 2006) and the defense looking rejuvenated with safety Bob Sanders (the 2007 Defensive Player of the Year) back in the lineup. As they move to 7-0, they will have to stay on their guard to avoid an upset by their division rivals: the upstart Houston Texans.
Carolina Upsets Arizona In Surprise of the Week (34-21 CAR): Sure, the Panthers won convincingly over what most people had billed as a superior Cardinals team, but don't give the credit to Jake Delhomme. In a dominant performance from both DeAngelo Williams and Johnathan Stewart, Delhomme only attempted 14 passes, completing 7 of them for 90 yards. I should put an asterisk next to that yardage total, as 50 of them came on a long after-the-catch run by Steve Smith. Fortunately for Delhomme (who is essentially in a caretaker role in the Panther offense), Williams and Stewart carried the load with a combined 40 rushes for 245 yards (Stewart also scored two touchdowns). The Panthers D did the rest, forcing six turnovers from Kurt Warner (five of them interceptions), including a leaping pick-six from defensive end Julius Peppers.
Dallas Pounds Seattle, Secure First Place Tie In Divison (38-17 DAL): With the Giants having fallen to the Eagles, Dallas need a win to keep their first place tie with Philly, and they got it in a convincing win over the underachieving Seawhawks. QB Tony Romo looked sharp for the third week in a row, while Patrick Crayton regained the coaches' confidence in his punt return skills with his second punt return for a score in as many games. After a slow start, things are looking up in Big D. The same cannot be said for their opponents, however. Even with the return of veteran quarterback Matt Hasselbeck, the Seahawks are a shadow of the team they were in 2007 (when they were defeated by the Green Bay Packers in the NFC divisional playoffs), let alone the team that made the Super Bowl in 2005. They have one of the worst rush defenses in the league, and this last game made it painfully clear that their pass defense also needs work. Meanwhile, Hasselbeck is showing his wear-and-tear as he clutched his bad ribs after being sacked on Sunday. I think it's time Seattle started looking for another signal-caller, because it looks pretty cloudy as to how much gas Hasselbeck has left in the tank.
Chargers Beat Dismal Oakland For 13th Straight Win Over Raiders (24-17): It's just sad how awful the Oakland Raiders have been for the past four to five seasons. Between them and the equally lowly Kansas City Chiefs, they have a paltry three wins, and essentially make the AFC West the worst division in football (a title the Chargers and Broncos must unfortunately share by association). I think a telling stat is the difference in passing yardage between the Raiders' JaMarus Russel (109) and the Chargers' Philip Rivers (256), despite Rivers only completing two more passes (16 to 14). Oakland can't block, and as a result can't run or pass (the dreaded trifecta from hell). By the way, if the Chargers don't lose to Oakland for four more seasons (something I could definitely see happening) they will break the all time record for the most consecutive wins by one team over another (set at 20 by the Dolphins of the 60's and 70's, who had their way with the Buffalo Bills in that era).
Chris Johnson Drags Titans To First Win Over Jags (30-17 TEN): Despite the potential implications of the headline, Johnson was not the only player on the field for Tennessee, although he did rush for a franchise-record 228 yards on 24 carries (9.5 yards per rush). Quarterback Vince Young, who regained his starting spot after the benching of Kerry Collins, was efficient and mastake-free despite not putting up big numbers, completing 15 of only 18 passes for 125 yards and a score. With Johnson's performance, it's not like Young had to shine, but I think he did well enough to keep his job as the starter for another week (at least he won a game).
New Orleans Wins Again, But Falcons Keep It Close (35-27 NO): I know that the Saints defense can make plays when it counts (such as Jabari Greer's 48-yard interception return yesterday against the Falcons), but for all the talk about how much they have improved they have consistently given up lots of points. They are 20th in the league with 22 points per game scored against them; if it were not for their dominant offense, those numbers would be unforgivable and could be even worse. It has become a persistent problem for New Orleans over the past few years; the only difference is the Saints were losing games before and now they're winning. Despite their current win streak and the fact that they have the easiest remaining schedule in the NFL, I don't think New Orleans will go undefeated. Michael Turner (and Ricky Williams of the Dolphins) have shown that the Saints defense can be rattled if their opponent is effective at running the ball, and the strip-sack by Thomas Decoud (as well as the resulting score by defensive tackle Kroy Bierman) showed that Drew Brees is not as perfect as the Saints' record would suggest. If they don't fall to the New England Patriots (who they play in three weeks), they will likely at least receive a scare from one of the other teams like they did against Miami, and their seemingly blessed luck can't hold out forever.
Sunday, October 25, 2009
Vikings @ Steelers Second Half & Recap: Minnesota Undone By Steelers D
The second half of this heated contest started much the same way as the first, with a 16-yard rush to the perimeter by Rashard Mendenhall, who made his fourth start replacing the injured Willy Parker. The Steelers followed it up with an end around to Mike Wallace, which was aided by a facemask penalty on defensive tackle Kevin Williams (incorrectly called on defensive back Karl Paymah). The Vikings gave more help in the form of a late hit by Benny Sapp, filling in for Pro Bowler Antoine Winfield, that gave Pittsburgh 15 more yards. But while the Vikes bent, they didn't break, holding Big Ben and the Steelers offense to another field goal.
Favre and Minnesota came back with a vengeance on their first second half drive, completing a fourth-down conversion to Sidney Rice for a big gain to get 1st-and-goal at the 2. The story of stingy defense continued, however, as the Pittsgurgh defense held the Vikings back, forcing a chip-shot field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell.
After a series of punts, things looked bright for the Steelers as Roethlisberger hit Holmes for long gain in which five or six Vikings missed tackles. But Mendenhall fumbled on the next play for the first turnover of the game. Favre moved the ball on the next drive, but his good throws were stymied by three consecutive penalties (including Steve Hutchinson's first penalty in 27 games). A miraculous tiptoe catch by SidneyRice preserved the drive, and after Adrian Peterson bulled his way down to the 10 the Vikings were set back again by a phantom tripping call that erased a Sidney Rice touchdown.
At 3rd-and-goal, the game was turned on its heels as Brett Favre was stripped and LaMarr Woodley took it back 77 yards for a score. Percy Harvin then reinvigorated Minnesota with a kickoff return for a touchdown, aided immensely by a horrible challenge from kicker Jeff Reed.
Roethlisberger was stripped by debutant Asher Allen, but the Vikes could not capitalize as the ball was fumbled out of bounds. On the next possession, Adrian Peterson created another highlight by crushing William Gay, but it proved all for naught as a Favre pass deflected off Chester Taylor's fingertips and was intercepted by linebacker Kieran Fox. In for Lawrence Timmons, Fox returned his first ever pick for six points and deflated the Vikings, who fall out of the ranks of the undefeated teams.
Vikings Verdict - Defense plays well, but needs consistency: The Minnesota defence has proved that they are legit by looking dominant often, but at times they don't look like it. They lack the killer instinct necessary to finish games, and too often allow opposing offenses to get back into the game. It showed against Baltimore last week and in the second half against the Steelers. That star-studded defense will need to step up their game, but most importantly, they need to stop playing Cover-2. For all its sacks, the vaunted Minnesota pass rush has had trouble gtting the quarterback when they rush only their four down linemen.
Meanwhile, Sidney Rice is looking like a Pro Bowl reciever. He finished the day with 11 catches for 136 yards, reaching the century mark in two consecutive games. He should have had more, as his touchdown pass was negated by a bogus tripping penalty, but no one can question the skill and athletic ability required to bring down his great catch on the sideline.
Steelers Verdict - Defense Saves Steelers, Preserves Win Streak: Two fourth-quarter TD's on interception returns lifted Pittsburgh over the Vikings to their fourth straight win, but there is still a great dea of room for improvement. Mike Wallace had a career day with several nice catches and two runs, but Hines Ward (who entered the game leading the league in receptions) had a measly one catch for three yards. Roethlisberger, who has completed 72% of his passes this season, was 14 for 26 for 175 yards and a lone score. Fortunately, he got it done when it counted, picking apart the Minnesota D on the one touchdown drive as well as those that ended in close field goals.
Favre and Minnesota came back with a vengeance on their first second half drive, completing a fourth-down conversion to Sidney Rice for a big gain to get 1st-and-goal at the 2. The story of stingy defense continued, however, as the Pittsgurgh defense held the Vikings back, forcing a chip-shot field goal from kicker Ryan Longwell.
After a series of punts, things looked bright for the Steelers as Roethlisberger hit Holmes for long gain in which five or six Vikings missed tackles. But Mendenhall fumbled on the next play for the first turnover of the game. Favre moved the ball on the next drive, but his good throws were stymied by three consecutive penalties (including Steve Hutchinson's first penalty in 27 games). A miraculous tiptoe catch by SidneyRice preserved the drive, and after Adrian Peterson bulled his way down to the 10 the Vikings were set back again by a phantom tripping call that erased a Sidney Rice touchdown.
At 3rd-and-goal, the game was turned on its heels as Brett Favre was stripped and LaMarr Woodley took it back 77 yards for a score. Percy Harvin then reinvigorated Minnesota with a kickoff return for a touchdown, aided immensely by a horrible challenge from kicker Jeff Reed.
Roethlisberger was stripped by debutant Asher Allen, but the Vikes could not capitalize as the ball was fumbled out of bounds. On the next possession, Adrian Peterson created another highlight by crushing William Gay, but it proved all for naught as a Favre pass deflected off Chester Taylor's fingertips and was intercepted by linebacker Kieran Fox. In for Lawrence Timmons, Fox returned his first ever pick for six points and deflated the Vikings, who fall out of the ranks of the undefeated teams.
Vikings Verdict - Defense plays well, but needs consistency: The Minnesota defence has proved that they are legit by looking dominant often, but at times they don't look like it. They lack the killer instinct necessary to finish games, and too often allow opposing offenses to get back into the game. It showed against Baltimore last week and in the second half against the Steelers. That star-studded defense will need to step up their game, but most importantly, they need to stop playing Cover-2. For all its sacks, the vaunted Minnesota pass rush has had trouble gtting the quarterback when they rush only their four down linemen.
Meanwhile, Sidney Rice is looking like a Pro Bowl reciever. He finished the day with 11 catches for 136 yards, reaching the century mark in two consecutive games. He should have had more, as his touchdown pass was negated by a bogus tripping penalty, but no one can question the skill and athletic ability required to bring down his great catch on the sideline.
Steelers Verdict - Defense Saves Steelers, Preserves Win Streak: Two fourth-quarter TD's on interception returns lifted Pittsburgh over the Vikings to their fourth straight win, but there is still a great dea of room for improvement. Mike Wallace had a career day with several nice catches and two runs, but Hines Ward (who entered the game leading the league in receptions) had a measly one catch for three yards. Roethlisberger, who has completed 72% of his passes this season, was 14 for 26 for 175 yards and a lone score. Fortunately, he got it done when it counted, picking apart the Minnesota D on the one touchdown drive as well as those that ended in close field goals.
Vikings @ Steelers Halftime Report: Offenses Sputter Early, Few Points In Pittsburgh
In what has been labeled by most as a defensive struggle, the Vikings-Steelers matchup has lived up to its expectations. The offense was practically non-existent in the first half as both defenses dominated the line of scrimmage. Both offenses were mostly stifled throughout the first quarter, as Minnesota punted on all of their possessions in that span and the Steelers only come away with three points.
Despite starting the game with a first-down run by Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers then turned to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who came into this game (his first ever against Brett Favre) leading the NFL is passing yardage.
The Steelers reached the red zone first following a failed challenge by Vikings head coach Brad Childress and a wide receiver reverse by Mike Wallace. A suspect offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Heath Miller negated a short touchdown reception by Santonio Holmes, and the sack on Roethlisberger that followed forced Pittsburgh to settle for a field goal.
Mostly unable to run with Adrian Peterson, Minnesota continued its effective use of the West Coast offense employed by Childress, using short, underneath passes to Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and others. William Gay hesitated on a coverage, allowing Vikings wideout and first-round pick Percy Harvin to run up in sit in the hole, offering Favre an easy throwing lane for a 28-yard catch to put the Vikings in the red zone for the first time in the second quarter. After that, Peterson carried it the rest of the way as the Vikings pounded the ball into the endzone close to the goal line. That touchdown, which put the Vikings up 7-3, marked the largest margin any team has led the Steelers this season, which shows just how close all of Pittsburgh's games have been.
Minnesota seemed content to play for field position following the go-ahead TD as they punted with less than two minutes remaining and pinned Mike Tomlin's team down inside their own 10. While he moved the ball efficiently, Roethlisberger nearly threw two interceptions that were fortunately dropped by defenders Tyrell Johnson and E.J. Henderson. Immediately afterwards, he completed two straight passes over the middle to Mike Wallace, who came up big again and scored for Pittsburgh on a 40-yard reception to close out the half.
Minnesota only rushed four players on every play of Pittsburgh's final drive, playing a soft cover-2 defense that allowed Reoethlisberger to find his rhythm. It strongly resembled the last-minute collapse of the Vikings defense at the end of their last game against the Ravens. Something needs to be done about their lack of killer instinct on defense, for their winning streak looks perilously close to ending.
Despite starting the game with a first-down run by Rashard Mendenhall, the Steelers then turned to quarterback Ben Roethlisberger, who came into this game (his first ever against Brett Favre) leading the NFL is passing yardage.
The Steelers reached the red zone first following a failed challenge by Vikings head coach Brad Childress and a wide receiver reverse by Mike Wallace. A suspect offensive pass interference penalty on tight end Heath Miller negated a short touchdown reception by Santonio Holmes, and the sack on Roethlisberger that followed forced Pittsburgh to settle for a field goal.
Mostly unable to run with Adrian Peterson, Minnesota continued its effective use of the West Coast offense employed by Childress, using short, underneath passes to Bernard Berrian, Sidney Rice, and others. William Gay hesitated on a coverage, allowing Vikings wideout and first-round pick Percy Harvin to run up in sit in the hole, offering Favre an easy throwing lane for a 28-yard catch to put the Vikings in the red zone for the first time in the second quarter. After that, Peterson carried it the rest of the way as the Vikings pounded the ball into the endzone close to the goal line. That touchdown, which put the Vikings up 7-3, marked the largest margin any team has led the Steelers this season, which shows just how close all of Pittsburgh's games have been.
Minnesota seemed content to play for field position following the go-ahead TD as they punted with less than two minutes remaining and pinned Mike Tomlin's team down inside their own 10. While he moved the ball efficiently, Roethlisberger nearly threw two interceptions that were fortunately dropped by defenders Tyrell Johnson and E.J. Henderson. Immediately afterwards, he completed two straight passes over the middle to Mike Wallace, who came up big again and scored for Pittsburgh on a 40-yard reception to close out the half.
Minnesota only rushed four players on every play of Pittsburgh's final drive, playing a soft cover-2 defense that allowed Reoethlisberger to find his rhythm. It strongly resembled the last-minute collapse of the Vikings defense at the end of their last game against the Ravens. Something needs to be done about their lack of killer instinct on defense, for their winning streak looks perilously close to ending.
Sunday, October 18, 2009
Sunday Storylines
G-Men Embarrassed By Saints (48-27 NO): There's no way to sugarcoat it; the New York Giants got steamrolled by Drew "Scarface" Brees and the Saints, spoiling Eli Manning's homecoming. This game essentially signalled a shift in my ranking of the top 5 teams. The 48-27 scoreline seemed somewhat flattering to the Giants offense, who scored a touchdown late against a Saints defense that looked like it had given up. New Orleans, meanwhile, had seven different players who scored.
Chiefs Pull Out First Win Against 'Skins (14-6 KC): Even at the risk of stroking my own ego, I have to point out that I picked Kansas City to win this game. To be fair, they had considerable help from an awful Washington team. Despite Clinton Portis averaging over 7 yards per carry on his way to a 109-yard performance on the ground, the Redskins offense could not score at all (to be honest, 78 of those yards came on a single run), and starting QB Jason Campbell was benched at halftime in favor of backup Todd Collins. You may remember that Collins led the Redskins to the playoffs several years ago, but don't expect that kind of a miracle this year. Washington is terrible, plain and simple. In the meantime, KC's attack was also anemic; Larry Johnson posted his season-high rushing performance with a paltry 78 yards (3.6 average), Matt Cassel was sacked five times, and most of their points came from Ryan Succop's four field goals.
Lions Fall To Packers In Division Clash (26-0 GB): The high from their first victory in almost two years (over the 'Skins, of course) has worn off, and the Lions are back to their losing ways. Without their two best players in Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford, no one expected Detroit to stand a chance, but being shut out by Green Bay was still saddening. Backup QB Daunte Culpepper, filling in for Stafford, injured his hamstring and as replaced by Drew Stanton, who threw two picks as the Lions failed to produce a single point. The Packers looked anything but perfect, however; Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times by a lackluster Lions team, continuing Green Bay's woes (they came into the game allowing a league-high 20 sacks).
Panthers Run Over Bucs (28-21 CAR): Coming off a victory over the Redskins, the Carolina Panthers rushed all over the still-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gaining 267 yards on the ground. DeAngelo Williams rushed thirty times for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, shouldering the load for Carolina along with fellow running back Johnathan Stewart. The game also saw Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley get ejected for a late hit on Bucs punt returner Clifton Smith, and the scuffle that followed set the tone for a tough, physical football game.
Pats Dominate Hapless Titans (59-0 NE): Tom Brady threw five touchdowns in the second quarter (becoming the first quarterback to ever do so in NFL history) and 6 for the game as New England absolutely owned Tennessee. When it seemed things couldn't have gotten any worse for Tennessee, they did as they go into the bye week getting hammered by New England in heavy snow. The scoreline at the half says it all: 45-0. The half sent flashbacks through my mind of the 52-7 rout the 2007 Patriots laid on the Washington Redskins, but that result pales in comparison to the debacle that Tennessee put up. After Brady threw his sixth TD to start the second half, backup Brian Hoyer came in after the Titans committed their fourth turnover by failing a desperate fourth down conversion. Stick a fork in the Titans; they're done.
On a side note, I've really been ragging on Washington lately. I've mentioned them (in a negative light, no less) on almost every headline. But what do you expect when you have inconsistent play, poor coaching, and worse management from the ownership?
Chiefs Pull Out First Win Against 'Skins (14-6 KC): Even at the risk of stroking my own ego, I have to point out that I picked Kansas City to win this game. To be fair, they had considerable help from an awful Washington team. Despite Clinton Portis averaging over 7 yards per carry on his way to a 109-yard performance on the ground, the Redskins offense could not score at all (to be honest, 78 of those yards came on a single run), and starting QB Jason Campbell was benched at halftime in favor of backup Todd Collins. You may remember that Collins led the Redskins to the playoffs several years ago, but don't expect that kind of a miracle this year. Washington is terrible, plain and simple. In the meantime, KC's attack was also anemic; Larry Johnson posted his season-high rushing performance with a paltry 78 yards (3.6 average), Matt Cassel was sacked five times, and most of their points came from Ryan Succop's four field goals.
Lions Fall To Packers In Division Clash (26-0 GB): The high from their first victory in almost two years (over the 'Skins, of course) has worn off, and the Lions are back to their losing ways. Without their two best players in Calvin Johnson and Matt Stafford, no one expected Detroit to stand a chance, but being shut out by Green Bay was still saddening. Backup QB Daunte Culpepper, filling in for Stafford, injured his hamstring and as replaced by Drew Stanton, who threw two picks as the Lions failed to produce a single point. The Packers looked anything but perfect, however; Aaron Rodgers was sacked five times by a lackluster Lions team, continuing Green Bay's woes (they came into the game allowing a league-high 20 sacks).
Panthers Run Over Bucs (28-21 CAR): Coming off a victory over the Redskins, the Carolina Panthers rushed all over the still-winless Tampa Bay Buccaneers, gaining 267 yards on the ground. DeAngelo Williams rushed thirty times for 152 yards and 2 touchdowns, shouldering the load for Carolina along with fellow running back Johnathan Stewart. The game also saw Panthers defensive back Dante Wesley get ejected for a late hit on Bucs punt returner Clifton Smith, and the scuffle that followed set the tone for a tough, physical football game.
Pats Dominate Hapless Titans (59-0 NE): Tom Brady threw five touchdowns in the second quarter (becoming the first quarterback to ever do so in NFL history) and 6 for the game as New England absolutely owned Tennessee. When it seemed things couldn't have gotten any worse for Tennessee, they did as they go into the bye week getting hammered by New England in heavy snow. The scoreline at the half says it all: 45-0. The half sent flashbacks through my mind of the 52-7 rout the 2007 Patriots laid on the Washington Redskins, but that result pales in comparison to the debacle that Tennessee put up. After Brady threw his sixth TD to start the second half, backup Brian Hoyer came in after the Titans committed their fourth turnover by failing a desperate fourth down conversion. Stick a fork in the Titans; they're done.
On a side note, I've really been ragging on Washington lately. I've mentioned them (in a negative light, no less) on almost every headline. But what do you expect when you have inconsistent play, poor coaching, and worse management from the ownership?
Ravens @ Vikings Second Half & Recap: Favre Heroics Prevent Shocker After Wild Fourth Quarter
Brad Childress must have said something to the Vikings offense at halftime. Minnesota had twice as many runs as passes on first drive, prompting some to think that they were getting back to their team identity as a run-first team. Their next possession quickly exposed that as bull when Favre hit Sidney Rice on a short slant for a huge gain after the catch. Despite having first and goal inside the five, the Vikings passed three times and couldn't get into the end zone, settling for a Ryan Longwell field goal. A 39-yard pass interference penalty got the Vikings to first and goal inside the 5 during the third quarter, and the trend continued with another TD pass to Shiancoe after two failed runs.
Despite getting down 30-17 and averaging 1.1 yards per rush, the Ravens refused to quit, setting up the run with the pass. Ray Rice rushed well in the second half behind Flacco's arm, scoring Baltimore's first touchdown on a short scamper and later having a long run to set up their third score. To cap it all off, Rice went untouched into the endzone for the game-tying, 43-yard score after Flacco brought it closer with a bombed pass to Mark Clayton.
Vikings Verdict - First nine minutes made the difference: Despite starting hot with TD's on their first two possessions, the Minnesota offense fizzled out for the remainder of the first quarter and didn't look anywhere near as potent for the rest of the game despite getting two more scores. Adrian Peterson faced more of the same against the Ravens D, grinding out a tough game after not reaching the 100-yard benchmark since he gashed the hopeless Cleveland Browns. Sobering news may be in store for Vikings fans, though, as Peterson was shaken up on a tackle by a Ravens defender and Percy Harvin appeared to reinjure his sore left shoulder.
In the end, it was Brett Favre who carried the day again, essentially assuring the win with a deep shot to Sidney Rice that set up Longwell's game-winning field goal. But Baltimore did expose chinks in the Vikings' armor as the Minnesota defence collapsed in the fourth quarter, giving up 24 points and the lead. If that persists, it seems unlikely that their winning streak will persist much longer, especially if Peterson and Harvin end up missing time.
Ravens Verdict - Missed chances and big plays ail underachieving Ravens: The Ravens run defence still looks stout despite having allowed a 100-yard rusher in three consecutive games. Led by Ray Lewis and their ferocious front seven, Baltimore slowed down Adrian Peterson as well as any NFL defense can hope to do for three quarters before he broke open a 58-yard run with minutes to go. But their weakness over the past few years comes against the pass, where they have been repeatedly exposed by New England, Cincinnati, and now the Vikings. Their secondary is not lacking in star power with Ed Reed, Dawan Landry and Fabian Washington, but they need to fix their problems against the pass if they hope to survive against the pass-happy playoff-bound teams such as the Colts and Saints.
On offense, the Ravens looked magnificent through the air, but their line looked overmatched at times by the dominating Vikings defensive front. Jared Allen and Pat and Kevin Williams made Joe Flacco's day miserable, knocking him down repeatedly and stepping on his foot several times (an experience that hurts like hell, especially when the guy stepping on you weighs more than 260 pounds). Even though he had some great passes, Flacco looks like he misses mammoth offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who sustained a neck injury against the Bengals and missed this game.
Despite getting down 30-17 and averaging 1.1 yards per rush, the Ravens refused to quit, setting up the run with the pass. Ray Rice rushed well in the second half behind Flacco's arm, scoring Baltimore's first touchdown on a short scamper and later having a long run to set up their third score. To cap it all off, Rice went untouched into the endzone for the game-tying, 43-yard score after Flacco brought it closer with a bombed pass to Mark Clayton.
Vikings Verdict - First nine minutes made the difference: Despite starting hot with TD's on their first two possessions, the Minnesota offense fizzled out for the remainder of the first quarter and didn't look anywhere near as potent for the rest of the game despite getting two more scores. Adrian Peterson faced more of the same against the Ravens D, grinding out a tough game after not reaching the 100-yard benchmark since he gashed the hopeless Cleveland Browns. Sobering news may be in store for Vikings fans, though, as Peterson was shaken up on a tackle by a Ravens defender and Percy Harvin appeared to reinjure his sore left shoulder.
In the end, it was Brett Favre who carried the day again, essentially assuring the win with a deep shot to Sidney Rice that set up Longwell's game-winning field goal. But Baltimore did expose chinks in the Vikings' armor as the Minnesota defence collapsed in the fourth quarter, giving up 24 points and the lead. If that persists, it seems unlikely that their winning streak will persist much longer, especially if Peterson and Harvin end up missing time.
Ravens Verdict - Missed chances and big plays ail underachieving Ravens: The Ravens run defence still looks stout despite having allowed a 100-yard rusher in three consecutive games. Led by Ray Lewis and their ferocious front seven, Baltimore slowed down Adrian Peterson as well as any NFL defense can hope to do for three quarters before he broke open a 58-yard run with minutes to go. But their weakness over the past few years comes against the pass, where they have been repeatedly exposed by New England, Cincinnati, and now the Vikings. Their secondary is not lacking in star power with Ed Reed, Dawan Landry and Fabian Washington, but they need to fix their problems against the pass if they hope to survive against the pass-happy playoff-bound teams such as the Colts and Saints.
On offense, the Ravens looked magnificent through the air, but their line looked overmatched at times by the dominating Vikings defensive front. Jared Allen and Pat and Kevin Williams made Joe Flacco's day miserable, knocking him down repeatedly and stepping on his foot several times (an experience that hurts like hell, especially when the guy stepping on you weighs more than 260 pounds). Even though he had some great passes, Flacco looks like he misses mammoth offensive tackle Jared Gaither, who sustained a neck injury against the Bengals and missed this game.
Ravens @ Vikings Halftime Report
Most NFL teams dream about moving the ball as easily as the Vikings did on their first two drives; after Adrian Peterson had a 26-yard run on the second play from scrimmage, Brett Favre carried them the rest of the way with a pass to Sidney Rice and the opening score to tight end Visanthe Shiancoe. Their next drive produced more of the same, ending in a TD pass to Bernard Berrian. Meanwhile, the Ravens passed early and often as their first two possessions ended in three-and-outs.
The first nine minutes aside, the biggest plays of the first half were the ones that didn't happen. Derrick Mason was within inches of what would have been an easy touchdown (he was at least ten yards wide open) from Joe Flacco on a pattern that went 60 yards downfield. Later in the second quarter, instant replay overturned an incorrectly called play that was initially judged by referee Mike Carey to be a fumble when Flacco's arm was clearly going forward while he had possession. The "fumble" was then returned for a touchdown by Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson, but was wisely challenged by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and proved to be an incomplete pass.
The Baltimore showed signs of life when the Minnesota defence let up after the two minute warning, driving down the field on a penalty-ridden drive that brought them into the red zone. The half ended on a positive note for the Ravens with a Steve Hauschka field goal.
In the other matchup of the week between two NFC heavyweights, the New Orleans Saints are currently leading the New York Giants by a score of 27-14, bolstered by three Drew Brees touchdown passes.
The first nine minutes aside, the biggest plays of the first half were the ones that didn't happen. Derrick Mason was within inches of what would have been an easy touchdown (he was at least ten yards wide open) from Joe Flacco on a pattern that went 60 yards downfield. Later in the second quarter, instant replay overturned an incorrectly called play that was initially judged by referee Mike Carey to be a fumble when Flacco's arm was clearly going forward while he had possession. The "fumble" was then returned for a touchdown by Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson, but was wisely challenged by Ravens head coach John Harbaugh and proved to be an incomplete pass.
The Baltimore showed signs of life when the Minnesota defence let up after the two minute warning, driving down the field on a penalty-ridden drive that brought them into the red zone. The half ended on a positive note for the Ravens with a Steve Hauschka field goal.
In the other matchup of the week between two NFC heavyweights, the New Orleans Saints are currently leading the New York Giants by a score of 27-14, bolstered by three Drew Brees touchdown passes.
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