Vikings/Texans Post-game Thoughts

[tmscr]

Blair Walsh (aka The Terminator) anyone?

It was a great win, but IMHO Walsh is the Vikings not-so-secret weapon and could be the difference in a playoff game. The dude is automatic from 50+, and then after he scores on the other team he kicks them and rubs their faces in the dirt by putting it out of the end zone.

Other guy I thought played really well for the Vikes today was Everson Griffen (aka The Total Package). I didn't even notice Robison was out. Griffen put consistent pressure on Schaub from his rush position and made plays in the run game. He was huge today.

blair walsh has been CRUCIAL to the vikings success this season. you can make the argument that he played the biggest part in at least 2 wins this season. his first FG today was a pivotal point in the game. 56 yarder. with a miss, the texans would have had the ball at midfield. this may turn out to be one of the biggest draft steals in viking's history.

[tmscr]

another unsung part of this vikings team is the play of the special teams units. kluwe (who i've been hard on all year) had a great day. kick and punt coverage has always been an issue for what seems like the entire time i've watched the vikings. this year it's been HUGE for us. i'd like to see our opponent's average starting position. kudos to the ST coach

[Dark]

Here were Ponder's stats from today:
16/30, 174 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1 FUM
Those aren't terrible stats, but 16/30? That is not good completion percentage at all. The 0 INT stat is very impressive especially since he had 30 attempts. 174 yards is impressive as well. If he can play like this and AD shows up next game, I believe we can win it and possibly make it to the playoffs.

[tmscr]

Here were Ponder's stats from today:
16/30, 174 yds, 1 TD, 0 INT, 1 FUM
Those aren't terrible stats, but 16/30? That is not good completion percentage at all. The 0 INT stat is very impressive especially since he had 30 attempts. 174 yards is impressive as well. If he can play like this and AD shows up next game, I believe we can win it and possibly make it to the playoffs.

here's my take on ponder: there were two passes i can remember that ponder NEVER should have thrown and really could have changed the course of the game. he also lost a fumble and had another near-fumble that probably would have been returned for a TD. this is what is most concerning about him. i can live with a rookie making turnovers if it's a poor read or he gets crossed up with his WRs, but i can't accept the "falling down throw up a prayer" passes he seems to make just about every week. if he can eliminate those bonehead throws and be somewhat accurate, he can keep the job.

i think today also highlighted (outside of simpson's drop) that, while not great, the WRs/TEs can indeed get themselves open and make plays provided that someone gets them the ball.

[mondry]

Wow, what a game! The texans went far beyond any other team we've played this year in their willingness to ONLY defend Adrian Peterson. The bootlegs to rudolph, including the TD were just taking candy from a baby. Even Jenkins was getting open and had a nice long completion and I'm honestly really surprised that was their game plan. Like sure you don't want to lose to AD single handedly but to not even respect the passing game at all was a huge mistake.

Eversen Griffin should probably be starting over Robison, he was explosive and disruptive. Him and Harrison Smith, I felt like they were going to make a big play on nearly every snap! To hold Houston, the #3 scoring points per game offense to 2 field goals and 6 points is just insane...

To me this was the best performance of the year, on the road, against a 12-2 team trying to lock up home field advantage. That is certainly exciting.

I won't mention 2000 ravens defense but holy crap, if we can play like this on D / special teams with AD... even Ponder can take this team far.

[Demi]

It was a great win, but IMHO Walsh is the Vikings not-so-secret weapon and could be the difference in a playoff game. The dude is automatic from 50+

Don't forget his holder who hasn't screwed one up yet!

And it's easy for Bummy McBumBum to keep his cool when the defense has them locked down and the running game is clicking, and even THEN he's barely over 50% throws up two horrible ducks into coverage. Had a half dozen horribly inaccurate passes.

But hey, he "only" had one bonehead fumble and was horribly inaccurate so let's extend him!

[Reignman]

Some folks are saying that the Texans gave us this game.

Those folks are in denial. The Texans are still playing for homefield advantage so they certainly didn't give us this game. There was a lot of frustration on those faces late in the 2nd half.

[Demi]

Eversen Griffin should probably be starting over Robison

Should be starting over Allen. Robison is disruptive and in on plays all the time. Allen keeps getting dominated, even when they were going 1 on 1 with him he was getting buried regularly.

[Reignman]

Don't forget his holder who hasn't screwed one up yet!

And it's easy for Bummy McBumBum to keep his cool when the defense has them locked down and the running game is clicking, and even THEN he's barely over 50% throws up two horrible ducks into coverage. Had a half dozen horribly inaccurate passes.

But hey, he "only" had one bonehead fumble and was horribly inaccurate so let's extend him!

Forgive us, we're so used to seeing him play like crap that when he has an average game it looks like he played lights out haha. I thought he played great in the 1st half, but he was right back to his old self in the 2nd half.

[mondry]

Should be starting over Allen. Robison is disruptive and in on plays all the time. Allen keeps getting dominated, even when they were going 1 on 1 with him he was getting buried regularly.

I honestly wouldn't argue it, Griffin is a beast.

[Hunter Morrow]

Ponder was so awful in some games these past 2 months that people get giddy when they him throw for 50 percent, sub 200 yards and a 1 turnover/1 touchdown game.

In fairness, there were 3 legitimate drops and plenty of catchable balls.

[Cliff]

Ponder was so awful in some games these past 2 months that people get giddy when they him throw for 50 percent, sub 200 yards and a 1 turnover/1 touchdown game.

In fairness, there were 3 legitimate drops and plenty of catchable balls.

Ponder kept drives alive too. Had some very impotant runs. They won TOP by nearly 10 minutes.

He was horrible these last 4-5 weks so seeing him do well is a good thing. Nice to see this time of year.

[Purple bruise]

Ponder kept drives alive too. Had some very impotant runs. They won TOP by nearly 10 minutes.

He was horrible these last 4-5 weks so seeing him do well is a good thing. Nice to see this time of year.

I could not agree more. I am savoring this victory for many reasons. The main one is of course the fact that the Vikes went on the road and beat one of the top rated teams and kept their play-off hopes alive. I see a vast improvement in the defense and can not say enough positives about coach Frazier and the job he has done with this 3-13 team (now has three times as many wins as last year and has now defeated the Texans and 49ers). The team is doing all of this despite losing maybe the best "all around" player in the league, Harvin. And having the worst receiving corp in the league.
Kudos to Spielman, whos wise drafting has paid off with much of this teams improvement. Shoring up the pass protection, adding some quality wideouts, and getting Harvin back will assure this team much success for years to come.
P.S. it would be a shame if Harrison Smith does not make it to the Pro Bowl along with Walsh, Petersen, Greenway, Sullivan and Kalil.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Awesome game.

I knew Peterson would struggle today. I having been saying it all week. Oh, but no, the media had to beat the damn rushing record over our collective heads all week. I never thought Peterson would get the record, but I always thought 2,000 was a strong possibility.


Next week versus Green Bay will be the biggest game this franchise has had in a long time. I am going to try to find tickets. Hopefully I do and I can bring my 'magic' to the dome so we can win.

[PurpleMustReign]

This, IMO, was Frasier's biggest win as HC of the Vikings, other than maybe the game in Philadelphia a few years back.
Hopefully, now that they control their own destiny, they will extend their season past this upcoming weekend!

I never expected they would be close to a playoff spot at the end of this season!!