It's the Most Ponderful Time of the Year

Ponder still can't throw long and I still do not care.

Bill Musgrave is calling a lot more bootlegs and roll outs (something I've been saying they should be doing ALL season) and Ponder is responding beautifully. EVERY SINGLE VIKING COACH AND OFFENSIVE COORDINATOR always wants our QB to be a pocket passer. They even had Favre taking snaps under center and told him to stay in the pocket when we first got him.

THEN, suddenly, each year they finally decide to let the QB move away from the pocket pressure on a regular basis and BOOM, the whole game changes as the QB can LOOK for quick open receivers as he's rolling out.

The Vikings finally have a ball control offense. Even when Peterson reverts to his normal self and mostly slowly stumbles to the line of scrimmage on play after play, we finally had an offensive scheme in place that allows us to get some yardage with little risk or pressure. FINALLY. FINALLY. FINALLY!

Yes, the Vikings defense did its job yesterday. It was probablty the best game we've played defensively since midway through our first season with Brett. But there was a very good reason for that other than just playing well. The Vikes DOMINATED the time of possesion yesterday. IF the defense isn't on the field all day long they WILL look much better.

That "first and goal from inside the one" stand by the defense was the greatest thing they've done in a couple of seasons.

That all of this happened against the team with the best record in the AFC was phenomenal.

And I'm not going to forget about that record breaking field goal either.

Brian Walsh booted a 56 yarder to get us started on the "right foot." (Puns are essential in this blog.)

That was the first time in the history of the game that a place kicker has kicked at least NINE 50 yarders in one season. Walsh is 9-9 from that distance. Peterson may not be setting any records this year, but what Walsh did was truly amazing.

And using Toby Gerhart at the end was genius. For the first time all day the Vikes were  able to run the ball up the middle for three or four yards a pop, even when Houston KNEW it was coming. The Vikes ended taking all remaining time off the clock and the Texans could do nothing to get back on the field.

One last defensive note: That's the first time the Texans have failed to get a touchdown in a game since 2006.

One last offensive note: Ponder had more yards rushing than the entire Texans team.  (48 to 34)

It's amazing how much different a team can look when you don't force a QB to stand in the pocket on every play.

Sure hope the coaches remember some of the things they learned yesterday.

One last note: The refs. WE we're flagged for a high hit on the QB when Smith clubbed him late in the game LEGALLY. THEY nailed our guy in the the hardest helmet to helmet hit I've seen all year just a few plays earlier and they didn't even throw a flag. I hate refs and their stupidity. REFS should get fined, too. And we should hear about it. They don't have to name names but they should at least let the fans know that officials have to be as responsible for their missed calls as players are for their bad hits.

And these WEREN'T the replacement refs. I still haven't seen where these guys are actually better than the subs.