The Vikings are the darlings of the NFL after a wholly unexpected 3-1 start, including two victories against 2011 playoff teams. But with that success brings added scrutiny, and it's fair to question whether the Vikings can sustain on the low-octane offensive model displayed at various points during this start. Let's be clear on how rare it is to win a game without an offensive touchdown, as the Vikings did Sunday. For this franchise, at least, it hasn't happened since a 2005 victory over the New York Giants. It's a once-in-seven-years kind of thing. The Vikings scored six points Sunday aside from Percy Harvin's 105-yard kickoff return and Marcus Sherels' 77-yard punt return. But maybe that's the point. Perhaps this team's identity will be to find ways to win, without any theme or trend. Eventually in the NFL, confidence snowballs.
Sunday's victory wasn't perfect. But it included many of the accomplishments Frazier wants every week.
The turnover battle? Won, thanks to Mikel Leshoure's third-quarter fumble, forced and recovered by safety Jamarca Sanford.
Run defense? Sturdy, surrendering only 55 yards on 20 Detroit carries.
Strong ground attack? Present, thanks to Adrian Peterson's 102-yard day.
No wonder Frazier seemed as pumped as he's ever been as a head coach.
The Vikings are resilient, they're focused and, man, they're packing quite a pop right now. Just ask Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, who managed five catches for 54 yards. But Johnson also had took big shots several times. The most notable came with 2 minutes left in the first half when Stafford put a 13-yard touchdown dart right onto the 81 of Johnson's jersey.
For a second, it looked like Detroit would pull within 13-10. Until both Vikings safeties, Sanford and Harrison Smith, sandwiched Johnson.
Smith's textbook shot sent the ball skidding into the turf for an incompletion. Detroit settled for a field goal.
Thanks for the link! I loved that hit on Johnson in the endzone and it's a blast to be reading all this positive news about the team. I hope they can keep things rolling next week against Tennessee.
Yes, I think that's the point right now. I think the Vikings current identity is one of being opportunists. If the other team lets their guard down or shows a weakness, then the Vikings go after it. I think that's sound strategy for a rebuilding team like the Vikings.
The Vikings seem well prepared for their games and they're finding ways to win. All three units - offense, defense, special teams - contribute to the games. That's been helping the Vikings cover the places where they still have pieces missing.
Note: If in doubt about a roughness call or potentially dangerous tactics, the covering official(s) should always call unnecessary roughness.
There's a quote I can't remember about not knowing what something is, but knowing it when you see it. As soon as you see the play you can't help but wonder if a flag is going to be thrown. He wraps him up, pulls him back two yards, lifts him off his feet, and slams him to the ground. Necessary?
Demi wrote:
There's a quote I can't remember about not knowing what something is, but knowing it when you see it. As soon as you see the play you can't help but wonder if a flag is going to be thrown. He wraps him up, pulls him back two yards, lifts him off his feet, and slams him to the ground. Necessary?
If the ref blows the whistle, then I can see a penalty as the play is dead. Until that time, his job is to get him to the ground for the tackle. If he pulls the receiver on top of him, the receiver is not yet down. So, yes - necessary. I made a comment in the game thread when Peterson was tackled in a similar fashion (that wasn't called). My comment was that I didn't think Peterson's tackle was a penalty, but if the tackle by Robinson was, then the defender that tackled Peterson should have also been flagged.
I've told people a million times not to exaggerate!
