Week 03: Vikings Defeat Panthers 20-10

Even Joe Montana Had An Off Day

Normally every quarterback that faces the Viking defense puts up career type numbers as the pass defense is annually ranked at the bottom of the barrel. Today however, the defense came to play in all aspects. Of course, the Panthers could not run against the Vikings being held to 47 yards on the ground. The surprise came on the passing defense. Delhomme was 17-29 for only 191 yards for 59% and no TD passes. A good effort no doubt, but not stellar numbers.

Does Brad Childress look like a genius now! Now hold on a second. The Vikings committed 9 penalties for 100 yards today. Lets put this in a little more focus. The Panthers on their first possession pick up a 15 yard penalty against Griffin for face masking. The 15 yards helped the Panthers kick a 43 yard field goal. Without the penalty, they were out of range.

On the Vikings first possession, two offensive penalties are committed. One a false start by Peterson and another on Cook for holding after Peterson ripped off 12 yards and first down. Result, Vikings punt.

In the second quarter, the panthers are driving but the Vikings stop them on third and six. However, Gordon gets called for pass interference giving the panthers a new set of downs. The result, Panthers move the ball and score a TD.

In the 4th quarter with the Vikings leading 17-10 and driving, needing a TD to put the game away, Taylor catches a screen pass from Frerotte and scores from 14 yards out. Play is nullified by a holding penalty. On the next play, on third and 11, Peterson catches a swing pass and takes it 17 yards to the six for a first down. Play is nullified by holding penalty. Vikings settle for a field goal.

As you can see, penalties can be devastating. The Vikings didn’t dodge a bullet today. They dodged a bazooka. Since Childress took over three years ago, the Vikings are one of the most penalized team. These penalties add up and have cost the Vikings many wins the last two seasons. I know penalties happen, but if Childress wants to be considered a guru, he needs to cut down the penalties.

MVP of the game. There is no doubt, it is Antoine Winfield. Winfield not only sacked Delhomme, he forced a fumble and picked it up and scored tying the game at 10 just before halftime. Winfield’s play sparked the vikings and when they came out in the third quarter, marched down the field and scored an offensive touchdown. They never looked back from there. This one play by Winfield could very well be the turning point for the Vikings season.

So much for all the talk on the message boards that Jared Allen wears out as the game goes on and becomes ineffective in the fourth quarter. Today, Allen pressured Delhomme all day and recorded a sack in the fourth quarter and smacked Delhomme’s hand creating an errant pass. Two sacks in three games.

Kevin Williams also came to play. Two sacks today. The team recorded 5 sacks total today. The defense allowed a paltry 204 total net yards. That is a dominant performance.

Switching to offense. Adrian Peterson was a game time decision to play. He tweaked his hamstring in last weeks game. Peterson rushed for 77 yards on 17 carries for a respectable 4.5 yards per carry. Chester Taylor saw considerable action rushing 11 times for 44 yards and catching 3 passing for 22 yards.

Onward to the receivers. Tight End Shiancoe opened the game catching a pass for 5 yards and then dropping a pass that would have been a first down. However, shiancoe did redeem himself catching a 35 yard TD pass putting the Vikings up 17-10.

Bernard Berrian started out shaky. He dropped a perfect pass that was intercepted. However, he also redeemed himself with three catches for 79 yards with a significant 48 yard catch.

Sidney Rice did not play but Wade (3 catches for 35 yards) and Ferguson (1 catch 9 yards) and Allison (1 catch for 5 yards) filled in admirably.

That’s about it! Did I leave anything out? Oh yea, the Vikings had a quarterback change today.

A Change Would Do You Good

Gus Frerotte was 16-28 for 204 yards, one TD, one interception, for a 57% completion rate. And he won the game. Frerotte went down down several times today connecting big several times. He also looked off the defenders and completed the standard passes that Tarvaris Jackson was incapable of doing. At the age of 37, he still has a cannon, pocket savvy, and enough scrambling ability to escape the sack.

I know it is but one game, but the more he plays with the first team, the better his timing will be. Carolina is a very good team so Gus passed a very difficult test. As the weeks go on, and he stops throwing the ball to Shiancoe, perhaps his completion rate will creep into the middle 60′s percentage. And I didn’t notice any gold chains around Frerotte’s neck during the game.

SKOL VIKINGS!

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