Vikings Lose To Panthers 26-7 12/20/2009

Lost My Stream Of Consciousness

The honeymoon is over Viking fans. Coach Brad Childress and 40-year-old gunslinger Brett Favre had a little tiff on the sidelines during the crushing loss to the 5-8 Carolina Panthers. Final score, Panthers WIN, Vikings, Schism!

Apparently Childress wanted to pull Favre out of the game Sunday while the Vikings were winning, 7-6. He also wanted to pull him during several other games this season. (And when I say pull, I mean BENCH!) Favre categorized the confrontation as a heated argument, that Childress wanted to bench him. Favre said he wasn’t going to the bench, but that he was going out to play. His words, we were winning at the time, 7-6, not 70-6.

Of course the media sharks smelled the chum in the water and began a feeding frenzy bringing up the schism word, and the injury of Brett’s arm last year, and the way he finished last season with the Jets, and even the way he finished the last five games for the past 6 plus years. (Cue the Jaws music) Now that there is blood in the water, the sharks will not let up until they have consumed all the flesh. The repellent is a victory against the Bears in Chicago on Monday night in front of a national audience. If the Vikings suffer a loss, Police chief Brody will be logging plenty of overtime in Amityville.

Plenty of fans and media sharks have been waiting for this day to say in a loud united voice, “We told you so!” Favre’s arm is broken, he has lost his zip, Childress has lost control of the team, he’s a lousy couch, etc. To put the blame on Sundays loss squarely on one mans shoulders is wrong.

Case in point. The Vikings defense is without MLB EJ Henderson. He was a key part of the run defense. A rookie is replacing him, and although Brinkley played adequately, he is a certain downgrade to Henderson. I don’t think it was a coincidence that the Panthers were the first team in 36 games to have a 100 yard rusher with Henderson out. Last week against the Bengals, Benson almost hit the century mark. With Henderson out. So there’s that.

And then there is this. The offensive line play has been abysmal the past several weeks. I have said this before, and I’ll say it again. LT Mckinnie is adequate at best. Loadholt is a rookie and bound to make mistakes and get taken to task. Sullivan at center is adequate but he is certainly no Matt Birk, a perennial all pro center. Cook and Hicks, at best subs, not starters. That leaves Hutchinson carrying the load. And it shows. In the past few games, Favre has been sacked plenty and knocked down constantly. So there’s that.

Plus, Percy Harvin has been sidelined with Migraines. He was a major target for Brett Favre, giving headaches to opposing defenses and as an added bonus, usually gave the offense good field position with his exceptional kick off return skills. So there’s that.

In a nutshell Viking fans, Brad Childress has lost his team to the new gunslinger in town. It took Favre and his skill to unleash the so-called kick ass offense that Tarvaris Jackson could not run effectively. How can he now pull Favre out? How can he now tell Favre not to check out of run plays? How can Childress bench Favre, for whatever reason, let it be a loss of stream of consciousness, a rip in the space time continuum, a torn rotator cuff, or five sacks and an interception and two losses out of three.

Fret not Viking nation. Viking Thunder has the answer. In the last three games played, Adrian Peterson had 12 carries for 35 yards in the loss to Carolina. He had 26 carries for 97 yards in the win against the Bengals. He had 13 carries for 19 yards in the loss to the Cards. See the pattern? Of course you do. Favre is the gunslinger but Peterson is the rock carrier. Get Peterson 25 plus touches against the Bears Monday night and Viking Thunder guarantee’s a victory.

Instead of jamming Peterson up the middle, how about getting him into open space. In the past several games, Peterson had some long pass receptions. Twenty rushes, 5 passes, equals a Viking victory.

Monday night, the weather should be cold, perhaps snow on the ground, swirling winds, and the Bears looking for revenge. Brad and Brett need to kiss and make up, get this ugly mess behind them and the team, maybe put on their Wranglers and toss the ball around in the mud a little bit. Even more, the offensive line needs to wake the hell up. If they play the way they have the past several weeks, this magical season will end with a loss to the Eagles in the playoffs.

With the Eagles breathing down the Vikings necks for that second bye week spot, the game against the Bears is a must win.

SKOL VIKINGS!

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