Blair Walsh

It's hard to compare a rookie kicker with a talent like Ryan Longwell, but replacing Longwell may turn out to be one of the smartest thngs the Vikngs have ever done. Longwell MAY have made that 55-yarder with time running out in yesterday's game, but Walsh sent it through with distance to spare. He'll need time to become a consistent veteran kicker, but right now I'll take his leg strength over any kicker in the league.

The Vikings started horribly yesterday. They basically ran it three times and punted the entire first half. Once Ponder was allowed to throw the ball more than once on any given drive, the Vikings caught fire. It was still troubling that they had to settle for so many field goals when they had first and goal situations.

Another bonus? (Super Steve mentioned this in his comments yesterday.) We re-discovered how to use Percy Harvin. Short passes, long passes, returns, and just plain runs up the middle took lots of pressure off Adrian Peterson who does NOT have to be our entire offense. In fact, if anything, using Peterson LESS is a good way to become a better team. IF defenses can't key on him, the Vikings actually have a chance to confuse defenses.

A secret weapon? Kyle Rudolph at 6 feet 6 inches makes a huge target for Ponder and Ponder found him often. You don't need TONS of great wide recievers. You need a couple of guys who are open consistently. Rudolph IS one of those guys.

The bad? The Vikings defense giving up a 50-yard TD with 20 seconds left and the game on the line was just plain dumb. THAT'S the one play every team sends three defenders to the endzone and they just stand there to knock it down. That touchdown simply should not have happened.

The best? WE WON! We're now tied for first with the Bears and the Lions. We haven't been in first place in this division for two seasons.

Observations: I watched the better parts of three games yesterday and for the most part the replacement officials blended in perfectly.

I say, "for the most part" because it was obvious a couple of their inexplicable "non-calls" in the Packer/49ers game may actually have affected the outcome in that one. The 49ers offense quite obviously jumped early TWICE in one of their TD drives against the Packers. Instead of third and long twice, they were given first downs. That TD drive was the difference in the game. It also prevented the Packers from getting the ball back and doing some damage of their own before the first half ended.

But refs ALWAYS make stupid mistakes that affect the outcomes of games. That these screwed up some is just par for the course in major league sports.

Football is back, either way. And for at least one more week, I get to enjoy it.