Peterson will need 208 yards next week to break the all-time NFL rushing record.

The Minnesota Vikings not only stunned the nation Sunday when they routed the Houston Texans, they also did so without Adrian Peterson running 100 yards.

The Vikings, in arguably one of their most impressive games of the season, came into Houston as nine-point underdogs and won 23-6 to keep their playoff hopes alive. The Vikings came out with a vengeance, holding the Texans to just a field goal in their first possession and then driving 78 yards for the score. QB Christian Ponder linked up with TE Kyle Rudolph for a three-yard touchdown.

Two possessions later, Houston was driving when QB Matt Schaub handed the ball off to RB Arian Foster. LB Jasper Brinkley hit Foster hard and the ball came out. CB AJ Jefferson was there to recover. The turnover led to a Vikings 56-yard field goal by Blair Walsh, who set an NFL record for his ninth 50-yard field goal of the season.

» Continue reading “UPSET ALERT: Vikings Win Big in Texas”

EW. PACKERS! EW.

Coming off big losses, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers will meet up for a division game Sunday at Lambeau Field.

The Packers (7-4) are coming off their most lop-sided loss since December, 2007. The Vikings (6-5) are coming off a less-than-stellar performance in Chicago where they fell to the Bears 28-10.

“I was (surprised),” said RB Adrian Peterson, who recorded his fifth straight 100-yard rushing game with 108 on 18 carries. “We had a great week of practice. We just came out and couldn’t get anything going. We’ve just got to shake it off and move forward.”

The Vikings had numerous turnovers and miscues that led to their defeat in Chicago, including two turnovers that led to touchdowns. The Vikings will look to Peterson to get back to their winning ways. Peterson has five straight 100-yard games, averaging 147 yards per game during this span and running for 727 yards. The Packers have lacked at the running back position, with their top three running backs running for 739 yards all season. Good news for Peterson? Packers defensive end CJ Wilson, who specializes in stopping the run game, has been all but ruled out Sunday.

» Continue reading “Vikings Take on NFC North Rival Packers Sunday”

Election day may be over, but there’s still something to vote for

The 2013 Pro Bowl Ballots were released this week and the Minnesota Vikings have quite a few guys showing up on the ballot this year.

The Vikings (6-5) have had many standout players this year that have led to this turnaround season from last year’s dismal 3-13 record. Automatic Pro Bowl bid Adrian Peterson is leading running backs in the league with 1,236 yards, averaging 5.8 yards a run and seven touchdowns, less than a year after having major ACL surgery.

Percy Harvin, also a likely Pro Bowl bid has 62 receptions for 677 yards and four touchdowns. He also has 16 kickoffs and averages 35.9 yards per kickoff return. Harvin appears twice on the Pro Bowl ballot as a wide receiver and kickoff returner. Tight end Kyle Rudolph, among top tight ends, has 39 receptions for 361 yards and seven touchdowns.

On the defensive side of the ball, veterans are having standout seasons. DE Jared Allen has 32 tackles and seven sacks this season. CB Antoine Winfield has 81 tackles and 3 interceptions. DE Brian Robison is having an exceptional season with 30 tackles and 5.5 sacks. LB Chad Greenway has 107 tackles this season, which is good for second in the league.

Rookies also have a good showing on the 2013 ballot with K Blair Walsh going 24-26 on field goals, with a 55-yard FG on his resume. Safety Harrison Smith is also leading rookies with 63 tackles and one interception.

Voting is going on now on Vikings.com and NFL.com. Vote for your favorite Vikings players to get to Hawaii in 2013.

YO ADRIAN!

The Vikings jumped out to an early 3-0 lead following Chicago first possession of the game, a Matt Forte fumble, but that would be the last time the Vikings would lead Sunday. Adrian Peterson’s lost fumble and Christian Ponder’s interception in the second quarter both led to Bears touchdowns and the Bears were off to a handed win.

“Very disappointing game,” said head coach Leslie Frazier. “We didn’t execute the way we need to on the road against a good football team. We wanted to be better in the red zone on offense and defense and we did not get that done.”

The third quarter showed a glimmer of home for the Vikings, when Antoine Winfield intercepted one of Jay Cutler’s passes and the Vikings ended up scoring on that drive on a Ponder to Kyle Rudolph two-yard pass. On the Bears next possession, Mistral Raymond picked up what looked like a second Forte fumble and ran it back 52 yards for a touchdown, but upon review the touchdown was called back and the Bears went ahead and kicked a field goal.

“Any time you have opportunities to score touchdowns in the red area on the road, you’ve got to find a way to get it done,” said Frazier.

Vikings standouts for the day were Peterson, who ran for his fifth 100-yard game in a row with 108 yards on 18 carries. Rookie WR Jarius Wright, who has stepped in since the loss of Percy Harvin, also had 7 catches for 49 yards

“[This was] not the kind of performance you need when you’re on the road in a division game,” said Frazier. “We’ve got to go back and look at film and look at what we can do to improve.”

TE Kyle Rudolph scores the Vikings lone touchdown in their loss to the Bears

A quick recap of the Vikings 28-10 loss to divisional foe, Chicago Bears

HOW THE GAME WAS LOST

Plain and simple, the game was lost with the turnover battle. The Vikings committed three turnovers (a fumble by Adrian Peterson, a fumble on an QB to RB exchange and a Christian Ponder interception).  Peterson’s fumble and Ponder’s interception both led to Chicago touchdowns.

TURNING POINT

The Vikings came out of halftime strong with an interception on the Bears first drive of the half by Antoine Winfield.  Winfield’s interception led to a two yard touchdown from Christian Ponder to Kyle Rudolph.  This cut the score 25-10.  On the Bears next drive, it seemed like Matt Forte fumbled with Mistral Raymond returning it 52 yards for a touchdown.  Initially, refs said it was confirmed.  However, moments later, they said the play was under review (LOL WUT).

Following the review, the call was over turned and Bears retained possession, while 6 points were taken off the board for the Vikings.

If the call had stand, the Vikings would have been down 7 points with a huge momentum shift towards the Vikings.  However, the Bears continued the drive and god a field goal to put them up 28-10.

» Continue reading “Vikings Lose To Bears 28-10″

Rookie Jarius Wright breaks out from the inactive list with a big game in replace of Percy Harvin

YAY! A Vikings win! YAY!

The Minnesota Vikings well head into their much needed bye week 6-4 after a HUGE 34-24 victory over the Detroit Lions.

HOW THE GAME WAS ONE

Christian Ponder shushed doubters today with an effective game at quarterback. He finished 24-of-32 for 221 yards, two touchdowns, ZERO (!!!) turnovers, one sack and a QBR of 114.2.  Pretttty good game for a guy people have been saying he should be benched for back-up Joe Webb.

The Vikings set the turn early with a 54 yard completion to rookie Jarius Wright during their first drive.  That completion for Wright, who was filling in for injured Percy Harvin, was his first career catch after being inactive for the first nine weeks of the season.  Ponder and co. finished the drive with a three-yard TD pass to Wright, in which the Vikings never looked back and led the rest of the way.

PLAYER OF THE GAME

Even with big games from Christian Ponder and rookie Jarius Wright, the game ball goes to RB Adrian Peterson, who finished with 171 yards on 27 rushes (which were both season-highs) and one touchdown.

Peterson also surpassed 1,000 yards rushing during their game, which was the fifth time in his six year career he has done so.  Only year without 1,000 yards rushing was last season after he missed numerous games with an injury.

It truly says a lot about Adrian Peterson, his work ethic, and his recovery from his gruesome knee injury that it only took him 10 games to reach 1,000 yards in a season where expectations were “lowered” for the back.

PLAY OF THE GAME

The play of the game comes from the player of the game on Adrian Peterson’s 61-yard touchdown run in the fourth quarter, which effectively sealed a Vikings victory.

The 61-yard TD run came on an important Vikings offensive drive after the Lions had just put up seven points.

VIKINGS SHOW UP OFFENSIVELY

So much has been said the past few weeks of the Vikings lack-off effective offense, but today they showed they can truly compete with anyone when they are “on.”

Christian Ponder hit 10 different receivers, including himself, today. (Although the pass to himself went for -15 yards, it’s still pretty cool, kinda.).

“We had a ton of guys, 10 receivers including myself, that stepped up and made plays,” Ponder said post game.

Kyle Rudolph, who has been quite for the past few weeks, showed up today when the Vikings needed someone to ease the loss of number one receiver Percy Harvin.  Rudolph finished the day with seven catches for 64 yards.

A lot has been said about the Vikings lack of down field throws, but today Ponder hit six different receivers for passes of 10+ yards.

WHAT DOES IT MEAN

The Vikings will head into their bye week 6-4, which seems a lot better than heading into 5-5.  Following their week off, the Vikings will continue division play with away games at Chicago and at Green Bay. Let’s just say, the brutal part of their schedule is upon us, so let’s enjoy the good for one week!

Vikings ground attack led them to a 21-14 victory over the Cards

Vikings won, despite less than spectacular performance by quarterback Christian Ponder.

Sunday’s game was certainly the ugliest of their 5-2 season. But despite a dismal game from Ponder, the Vikings, with the help of Adrian Peterson’s legs, ran their way to a 21-14 victory at Mall of America Field. Ponder ended the game with just 58 yards, one touchdown and one interception.

“To win an ugly game like this is huge,” said Ponder. “That shows how good of a team we are.”

Peterson was the star of the game, running for a season-high 153 yards and notching his first touchdown since week one. With a quiet day from wide receiver Jerome Simpson and tight end Kyle Rudolph, the Vikings needed Peterson’s feet to get them in the win column Sunday.

“There’s still a little missing. You guys probably think I’m crazy, but it is,” said Peterson. “I feel good. I’m not going to complain. I’m just going to keep working and just keep getting better each week.” » Continue reading “Vikings Pick Up Ugly Win Against Cardinals”

Vikings can thank Adrian Peterson for the 21-14 victory over the Cards

A win is a win is a win no matter how ugly the win is and the Vikings came out of Sunday’s match-up versus the Arizona Cardinals with a 21-14 win.  And trust me, the score is much prettier than the game was.

HOW THE GAME WAS WON

The Vikings defense and RB Adrian Peterson, with a bum ankle, carried the Vikings into a 21-14 victory over the Cardinals.

The Cardinals had no answer for Peterson who ran for 153 yards on 23 carries and one touchdown.

On the other side of the ball, the Vikings pass rushers had a field day in their time gathering seven sacks: three by Brian Robinson, two by Jared Allen, one by Antoine Winfield and Kevin Williams.  On one of Robinson’s sacks he forced a fumble, which Kevin Williams recovered.  Rookie Harrison Smith also intercepted Cardinals second-string QB for a touchdown of his own that turned out to be the difference in the game.

A testament to the Vikings defense, the Cardinals began four series in Vikings territory in the first half which resulted in only four points. D-E-F-E-N-S-E!  » Continue reading “Vikings Less Than Stellar In 21-14 Victory Over Arizona”

Adrian Peterson returned to scene of knee injury, but couldn’t come away with a Vikings victory

Vikings fall to Redskins in dominant fashion 38-26, ending Washington’s eight-game home losing streak.

Christian Ponder led the Vikings on a second-half comeback, but it wasn’t quite enough to stop Robert Griffin III. The Vikings jumped out to a 9-0 lead, kicking three field goals in the first quarter, but never making it to the end zone. The Redskins then scored 24 unanswered points, their defense stopping the Minnesota offense until late in the third quarter, when Blair Walsh booted his fourth field goal of the game.

“We definitely had some opportunities early in that game to alter the approach of our opponent, but we didn’t capitalize on some early opportunities in that first quarter and they ended up coming back to haunt us late on,” said head coach Leslie Frazier.

The 12-point deficit wasn’t insurmountable, until ex-Vikings safety Madieu Williams picked off Ponder and ran it back for six, giving the Redskins a 31-12 lead. Ponder did make things interesting, leading the Vikings to back-to-back touchdowns. The first was a 9-yard pass to wide receiver Michael Jenkins and a two point conversion to tight end Kyle Rudolf, the second was a 1-yard pass to Kyle Rudolf, making the game 31-26. The Vikings defense made good stops on the Redskins’ offense, but on their final try, Griffin III put the Vikings down for good, with a 76-yard touchdown run. » Continue reading “Vikings Fall To Redskins, End Three-Game Win Streak”

Vikings celebrate a 23-14 victory over the 49ers

Quick recap of the Minnesota Vikings shocking 23-14 win over the proclaimed “Best team in the NFL,” aka the San Francisco 49ers.

HOW THE GAME WAS WON
Essentially, the Minnesota Vikings dominated from start to (almost) finish, when they refs wanted in one the action.

The Vikings took control of the game on their 16-play, 82-yard opening drive.  The Vikings faced a 4-1 at the SF one yard line and Leslie Frazier and the Vikings elected to go for it.  QB Christian Ponder connected with TE Kyle Rudolph for a one yard touchdown catch to put the Vikings up 7-0 and they never looked back.

ALMOST TURNING POINT
The Vikings went into halftime with a 17-3 lead, but people in Minnesota know that this isn’t a huge deficit for the opposing team, especially one as good as San Francisco.

The 49ers received the ball to start the third quarter and Kevin Williams returned it 94 yards to the Vikings 14 yard line, which caused all Vikings fans to go, “UT-OH, NOT AGAIN!”

Thankfully, the Vikings defense held the 49ers offense to a field goal.  On the Niners next next possession, they once again drove down the field.  But this time, the Niners were able to put up 7 when Alex Smith connected with TE Veron Davis to put the Vikings up only 4.

“CRAP, NOT AGAIN!!!” said all Vikings fans. » Continue reading “Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings Beat SF 23-14″