TenYards.comJust another WordPress weblog

I’m just going to say it. I thought Minnesota played better in its loss Sunday at Pittsburgh than it did last week in a victory over Baltimore.

Ooohhh. I feel so contrarian.

The difference in Sunday’s game was two turnovers the Steelers returned for touchdowns in a span of 5 minutes, 23 seconds of the fourth quarter. In both instances, the Vikings moved the ball deep inside Steelers territory and were threatening to take a late lead.

“Kind of fluke deals,” Vikings coach Brad Childress said of the two plays: LaMarr Woodley’s 77-yard fumble return and linebacker Keyaron Fox’s 82-yard interception return.

“What are you going to do?” said defensive end Jared Allen. “You win some and you lose some. Their defense outscored our defense at the end of the game. I don’t know what else to say. There’s really not a whole lot else. There’s not much else we can do. We held [their offense] to 13 points. That should be enough to win.”

That was as close as anyone came to pointing fingers in Minnesota’s postgame locker room, and most players and coaches repeated the same mantra.

“We’re disappointed,” Childress said, “but not discouraged.”

Really, it’s hard to do anything but whistle and tip your cap when two linebackers grab the ball and weave their way to the end zone, especially when you consider the superior individual efforts required on both plays. (See below.) The Vikings answered Woodley’s play with an 88-yard kickoff return from rookie Percy Harvin, but they ran out of time after Fox returned the Steelers’ lead to 10 points.

Sound familiar?

Last week, Minnesota jumped to a 14-0 first-quarter lead over Baltimore and was outplayed thereafter. Had it not been for the fourth-quarter heroics of quarterback Brett Favre, and a missed 44-yard-field goal on the game’s final play, the Vikings would have registered their first loss a week earlier.

I didn’t mind telling you that last week, and I don’t mind suggesting the Vikings put on a more impressive showing Sunday in staying with a Steelers team that seemed primed to blow them out of Heinz Field. With cornerback Antoine Winfield sidelined, it was fair to question how the Vikings might fare against a Steelers passing offense that entered the game ranked second in the NFL.

But other than some particularly atrocious tackling on Mike Wallace’s 40-yard touchdown, the Vikings’ defense was surprisingly effective. Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger completed 53.8 percent of his passes for 175 yards, or about 120 yards less than his per-game average this season.

“I thought we played a great game,” cornerback Cedric Griffin said. “We let a few plays go, but at the same time, collectively we played a pretty good football game against a really good team.”

Favre and the offense did its part by maintaining possession for nearly 37 minutes despite a relatively quiet afternoon from tailback Adrian Peterson (18 carries, 69 yards).

If you want to quibble, you could argue the Vikings erred by not handing Peterson the ball four times on the goal line during a third-quarter possession. You know I never hesitate to question Childress’ decisions, but in this case I wasn’t offended. Even Peterson said: “Well, I did get two cracks at it.”

The Steelers have one of the NFL’s best run defenses and they weren’t giving up much Sunday. Peterson’s first two plunges into the line, one negated by penalty, netted nothing. Favre, meanwhile, entered the game as the NFL’s top red-zone passer.

The Vikings certainly didn’t draw up the third-down play to target backup tight end Jim Kleinsasser, but the Steelers covered up the rest of Favre’s options.

Overall, however, the Vikings offense rolled up 386 yards and converted 50 percent of its third-down attempts. Add those figures to Harvin’s special-teams touchdown, along with a defense that seemed to have the Steelers figured out, and you have the ingredients of a huge victory.

In essence, the game came down to two plays, turnovers with especially painful repercussions.

“To think coming into this game that … we were going to have two [turnovers] for touchdowns going their way?” Childress said. “Hats off to those guys. You never know which one of those 70 plays is going to end up being the play.”

Let’s take a closer look at each play:

Return No. 1
Left guard Steve Hutchinson was matched up on defensive tackle Brett Keisel. “I was just riding him around the pocket,” Hutchinson said. Favre said he was planning to throw a pass to receiver Sidney Rice: “I don’t know if we were going to have any success with the play. But I was going to give him a high throw in the back of the end zone.” The play might have taken too long, Favre said, and he might have held the ball too long.

Hutchinson said he didn’t know until later than Keisel had poked the ball out of Favre’s hands at about the 14-yard line. The ball bounced backward and Woodley scooped it up at the 23-yard line. Hutchinson tried unsuccessfully to grab Woodley’s feet at the 33-yard line, and Woodley stepped inside Favre at the 40 before breaking into the open field.

Return No. 2
On a second-down play at the Steelers’ 19-yard line, the Vikings called a screen pass to receiver Chester Taylor. “I think it was a good call,” Favre said. “We were moving the ball extremely well at that time, and things happen.”

Again, Keisel made the key play. He recognized the screen immediately, moved laterally down the line of scrimmage and drilled Taylor just as the ball arrived. Indeed, Taylor said, “I got hit in the process of catching the ball.” The ball slipped through his hands and into the Fox’s. Hutchinson missed Fox at the 24-yard line. “I guess I’m not a linebacker,” he said. Left tackle Bryant McKinnie lost his pursuit angle and Favre slid before he could attempt a tackle on the right sideline.

Those two plays ensured the Steelers’ victory, and let’s be clear: No one awards style points for victories. Every game is important, but if you choose to look at Minnesota’s season from the big picture — and when they’re 6-1, I think that’s OK — you saw more encouraging signs for its long-term future in Sunday’s loss than you did in a victory last week.

That’s probably why you didn’t see too many people bent out of shape after the game. If you’re going to lose — and every team in the history of the NFL has except for one — there’s no shame if it comes in a close game on the home field of the Super Bowl champions.

“Things like that happen,” Childress said. “I’m proud of the way guys competed. Don’t like the result. [But] it’s been a resilient group from the standpoint of coming back and wanting to improve.”

Ryan Longwell converted all four of his field goals for Minnesota, his final one — a 31-yarder — with 1:56 remaining in regulation proved to be the difference and lifted the Minnesota Vikings to a thrilling 33-31 victory over the Baltimore Ravens.

The Vikings watched a seemingly comfortable 17-point fourth-quarter lead evaporate and trailed 31-30 after Baltimore’s Ray Rice scored on a 33-yard touchdown run with 3:37 remaining.

Brett Favre quickly moved Minnesota down the field and Longwell drilled the go-ahead field goal on the first play following the two-minute warning.

Baltimore refused to go away quietly as Joe Flacco, who enjoyed a career day passing, marched the Ravens to within striking distance of a game-winning field goal. However, Steven Hauschka pulled a 44-yard attempt left of the upright as time expired.

“It just goes to show in the NFL how good teams are,” Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams, who had two sacks, said. “They kept fighting, kept throwing punches and got back in it. In the end, we end up throwing a knockout punch with a field goal, and they missed theirs.”

Favre threw three touchdown passes, including a pair to Visanthe Shiancoe, for the Vikings, who are off to their first 6-0 start since 2003. Favre finished with 278 yards on 21-of-29 efficiency, while Adrian Peterson rushed for 143 yards on 22 carries.

Sidney Rice made six grabs for 176 yards, including a critical 58-yard reception on the drive that set up Longwell’s decisive kick.

Flacco connected on 28-of-43 passes for a career-best 385 yards and two touchdowns, but it wasn’t enough to help the Ravens (3-3) avoid heading into their bye week on a three-game losing streak.

“We can overcome anything,” Flacco said. “This group of guys is great. We’re going to look at the game, see what we can improve.”

Ray Rice had 10 receptions for 117 yards, accrued 77 yards on the ground and recorded two scores.

Longwell’s 40-yard boot stretched Minnesota’s lead to 17-3 with 7:16 to play in the third quarter. Ray Rice, though, answered three minutes later, breaking through the clutches of a couple would-be tacklers and surging down the left sideline for a 22-yard touchdown.

A slant pass to Sidney Rice on the first play of the ensuing Minnesota drive turned into a 63-yard completion and set up a first-and-goal at the Baltimore eight. The Ravens’ defense held their ground and forced the Vikings to settle for a 22-yard Longwell field goal.

Shiancoe’s second touchdown — a one-yard catch — made it 27-10 near the five-minute mark of the fourth quarter.

Baltimore responded less than two minutes as Mark Clayton made leaping grab in the end zone for a 32-yard score. Minnesota countered when Longwell converted from 29 yards out, expanding the margin to 30-17.

The Ravens then went 73 yards in three plays, with Derrick Mason’s 12-yard touchdown closing the gap to six. After Minnesota went three-and-out, Baltimore started its next drive at the Vikings 33-yard line. Ray Rice scampered to the end zone on first down and the extra point gave the Ravens their first lead of the game.

Sidney Rice’s lengthy reception on second down placed the ball at the Baltimore 18. After three consecutive runs by Peterson, Longwell moved the Vikings ahead.

A calm Flacco guided the Ravens to the Minnesota 26, but Hauschka failed to close the deal.

The Vikings built a 14-0 lead in the opening quarter, finding paydirt on each of their first two possessions.

Minnesota got the ball to begin the game, and Favre led the Vikings on a six- play, 61-yard march that culminated with a 19-yard scoring strike to Shiancoe, his fourth touchdown reception of the season.

After Baltimore went three-and-out on its next series, Favre capped a seven- play, 55-yard drive with a four-yard touchdown toss to Bernard Berrian.

Minnesota appeared to extend the lead early in the second stanza. Vikings defensive end Jared Allen hit Flacco from behind as he was in the motion of throwing the ball. The officials initially did not blow the play dead, indicating it was a fumble. Linebacker E.J. Henderson astutely picked up the ball and rumbled 37 yards to the end zone. To no one’s surprise, Baltimore challenged the fumble ruling and the replay confirmed that it was an incomplete pass.

Hauschka kicked a 29-yard field goal to put Baltimore on the board in the waning moments of the first half.

Posted by Matt Field

Oct. 5 (Metrodome) — Brett Favre threw three touchdown passes to lead the Minnesota Vikings to a 30-23 win over his former team, the Green Bay Packers.

Favre spent 16 seasons with the Vikings’ division rivals, winning three National Football League Most Valuable Player awards and a Super Bowl title. He came out of retirement a second time in August to join the Vikings and this was his first game against the Packers.

The 39-year-old quarterback completed 24-of-31 passes for 271 yards as the Vikings improved to 4-0 on the season.

Favre threw touchdown passes of one yard to Visanthe Shiancoe in the first quarter at the Metrodome in Minneapolis, 14 yards to Sidney Rice in the second and 31 yards to Bernard Berrian in the third quarter. The Packers fell to 2-2.

Posted by Matt Field

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – For the Minnesota Vikings, a Monday night matchup against the Green Bay Packers is about as big as a regular season game gets.

“All you’ve got to do around here is say Packer week, and everybody gets excited,” cornerback Antoine Winfield said.

When they’re playing for first place in the NFC North at the quarter mark on the schedule, well, the intensity will only increase.

When Brett Favre happens to be the Vikings’ new quarterback, the public interest in this rivalry is on the verge of explosion.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about. It’s just a regular game to me,” linebacker Ben Leber said.

He kept his straight face for, oh, a few seconds.

“This is probably the most anticipated game I think, for a regular season game, that I’ve ever been a part of,” Leber said.

Winfield claimed he heard ABC was considering postponing the popular “Dancing with the Stars” show this Monday to avoid losing too many viewers to partner network ESPN.

“Everyone will be watching the Monday night game,” Winfield said.

This is NFL-style hype at its highest form.

“It will be ridiculous. I love it,” guard Anthony Herrera said, adding: “It’s personal for Brett. It’s personal for us. They’re going to come after him.”

Coach Brad Childress often acknowledges his players aren’t living “in a vacuum” when he’s asked about the importance of maintaining focus in the face of adversity or distraction.

He’s right: They live — at least during the season — in Minnesota, where during a crowded weekend of notable sporting events there’s no question what game is on every fan’s mind.

With Favre’s 16 prolific years throwing passes for the Packers and departure on bad terms last summer, the intrigue has ratcheted up. It stretches well beyond the Upper Midwest, too.

“It’s a Monday game and obviously people are going to be excited for that,” linebacker Chad Greenway said. “Obviously Brett playing Green Bay is going to be the biggest headline. We’re aware of all those things that go on. We hear about it every day. We’ve just got to maintain a level of consistency as far as the way we practice and prepare. We have a pretty veteran locker room here, and I think that’s going to help us out this week.”

Leber was asked if he anticipated a pep talk from Childress about the importance of maintaining focus.

“I don’t really think he needs to,” Leber said. “I think everybody knows what’s at stake, and more importantly we’re on a roll right now. I know that we want to go out and fight for Brett and get a win for him, but at the same time we want to be 4-0. It’s been a huge motivation for us to be 4-0 and just keep this streak going. That’s our main concern.”

Childress, ever the low-key leader, did his usual downplay routine.

“I know it won’t be crazy in here,” the coach said. “The place won’t be vibrating or anything like that. We just kind of go about our business and see what they’re doing schematically and what we can play off of. I’m sure they’re going to do the very, very same thing. Playing somebody in your division, obviously you know those games count like two. And then we’re going to see them here in a short period of time in another month. So all the rivalry stuff, that will take care of itself. I know there is some mitigating circumstances, but for us it will be a good week of preparation.”

Favre won’t be available for comment until Thursday, but after Sunday’s comeback victory over San Francisco he was already looking ahead to Green Bay’s arrival.

“It’ll be a big game for a lot of reasons,” he said. “They are a good football team. We’re going to have to play better than we did today to win it — to win any games.”

With an extra day between games this week, the Vikings rested three of their veterans during Tuesday’s light practice. Favre did not have his helmet, and neither did left guard Steve Hutchinson or tight end Jim Kleinsasser during the drills that were open to reporters. Also, punt returner Darius Reynaud was not present, having hurt his left hamstring in Sunday’s game.

Reynaud said the injury isn’t serious, but acknowledged the bad timing with such a big game on the schedule.

“After I got hurt I went, ‘Damn, Monday night,”‘ Reynaud said. “It’s nothing major, nothing too serious.”

The same can’t be said about the game.

“We’re ready for it,” running back Adrian Peterson said. “That doesn’t change the game. We still have to line up across from those guys and play football. That’s what we’re going to do.”

While some villagers in Wisconsin attempt to get clearance to burn remnants of Lord Favre’s Packer days, here’s a story that shows it’s not just yahoos that are hot about Favre in purple.

Greg Bedard of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel spoke with a number of Packer legends and they don’t like this new chapter at all.

Sue Thurston, wife of Packers Hall of Fame guard Fuzzy Thurston, has removed three framed and autographed Favre photos from the house including, as Bedard notes, one that said, “To Sue — From your favorite Packer, Brett Favre. Too bad, Fuzzy.”

Fuzzy Thurston, suffering from the aftereffects of throat surgery, doesn’t speak on the subject but his wife says, “We really don’t bring it up in front of him. He doesn’t like it at all. He’s very disappointed. He blames both sides.”

Jerry Kramer, another Packers Hall of Famer who played next to Thurston, blames Packers GM Ted Thompson, not Favre. But, channeling the fan side of him, he says, “It’s not just another person that walked away, it’s Brett, whom we all loved and admired and thought the world of, and now he’s on the dastardly Vikings. The only thing that could be worse for me is the Bears, and I don’t know if that would be worse. Brett Favre wearing a Vikings uniform playing the Packers? That’s about as bad as it gets.”

Willie Davis, LeRoy Butler, Antonio Freeman — they’re all here weighing in on Favre, some of them not too Favre-ably.

The level of agita in Green Bay as Favre’s first meeting with the Pack approaches is about what we expected. But this one’s in Minnesota. Depending how things play out Monday night and in the succeeding weeks, there may not be a tent big enough to fit over the circus that will be Brett Bowl II, Return to Lambeau.

PFT

On Wednesday, word emerged that Eagles quarterback Mike Vick has renewed acquaintances with Nike.

Mike Principe, whose agency represents Vick for marketing purposes, said that Vick has signed an endorsement deal with Nick.

Agent Joel Segal said that Vick is “excited to be part of the Nike team again,” but Segal said that Vick and Nike agreed not to discuss the details of the arrangement.

Nike apparently didn’t get the memo.

Darren Rovell of CNBC reports that a Nike spokesman says the company has no agreement with Vick.  Instead, Nike is simply giving Vick free product.

“Nike does not have a contractual relationship with Michael Vick,” Nike spokesman Kejuan Wilkins told Rovell in a statement. “We have agreed to supply product to Michael Vick as we do a number of athletes who are not under contract with Nike.”

Says Rovell on his Twitter page, “I knew this was all bogus.”

The purpose of the ruse is obvious.  Principe and Segal, buoyed by the lack of criticism and/or outcry regarding Vick as he embarks on the second phase of his career, opted to take a liberty with reality, presumably in the hopes that the vague suggestion that Nike has re-embraced Vick might prompt other potential endorsers to follow suit.

But they didn’t count on the negative reaction to the impression that Nike was paying Vick in an economic environment where shoe deals have become scarce.  And so Nike, which might have initially agreed to stay silent in response to whatever Vick’s camp said about the situation, needed to set the record straight.

Bottom line?  Vick’s camp needs to continue to urge Mike to remain humble.  The apparent fact that his arrangement with Nike was deliberately distorted by those around him makes us wonder how hard he’s pressing them behind the scenes to shake the trees that previously dropped cash-filled apples onto his feet.

PFT – Mike Florio