Monday, December 31, 2012
Wow
Where to start?
Ponder was not awful. In fact, for the third straight game he was competent, his one long pass, a completion, was the difference in the game. So MUCH went RIGHT for the Vikings yesterday that it was almost uncanny.
Even the things that went horribly bad did not hurt us. I won't begrudge the Packers getting a touchdown on a play in which the refs originally ruled a fumble. It really was a touchdown. The only problem is that the refs manipulated a league rule to make it happen. The penalty for that red flag being thrown on a play (that is to be reviewed automatically) is that it can no longer be reviewed. It doesn't matter if they started reviewing it or not. YES, the rule is hideously stupid, and they will change it AFTER the season, but the refs deliberately decided not to follow it by adding their own interpretation to it.
That was wrong. The same exact stupid play happened twice this year and as stupid as the rule is, the refs decided NOT to enforce it this time.
That ruling did not effect the outcome of the game, but it sure made for an incredible fourth quarter.
Peterson was ON yesterday. He fell nine yards short of the all-time record, but even that makes him look like a sympathetic underdog at this point. He came out as a humble hero who won the game instead. It's got to be personally disappointing for Adrian the player, but his reputation grows by leaps and bounds with the gracious way he missed that goal.
Both defenses were full of holes, but our line sacked Rodgers more than Green Bay sacked Ponder. The one turnover of the game came from one of those sacks. It ultimately stopped Green Bay's momentum AND resulted in another score for us.
Ponder hit on several key passes in the game and ended with no INTs. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Yesterday he showed a little of both. His last TD pass looked like it was intercepted. How we came up with it bordered on the miraculous. He was throwing the ball wide and high most of the game even on the simplest passes, but our receivers did a great job of hauling in 2/3 of them. Ponder's rating for the game was 120. We'll all take that any day.
I'm already worried about NEXT week. We barely won a game in which Ponder was practically perfect AND Adrian ran for 200 yards. How tough is it going to be to repeat that kind of performance in Wisconsin?
Let's put it this way. If I were a big Green Bay fan, I sure wouldn't be losing any sleep over the outcome of next week's game.
Lightening rarely strikes twice, especially in the very cold winter.
Ponder was not awful. In fact, for the third straight game he was competent, his one long pass, a completion, was the difference in the game. So MUCH went RIGHT for the Vikings yesterday that it was almost uncanny.
Even the things that went horribly bad did not hurt us. I won't begrudge the Packers getting a touchdown on a play in which the refs originally ruled a fumble. It really was a touchdown. The only problem is that the refs manipulated a league rule to make it happen. The penalty for that red flag being thrown on a play (that is to be reviewed automatically) is that it can no longer be reviewed. It doesn't matter if they started reviewing it or not. YES, the rule is hideously stupid, and they will change it AFTER the season, but the refs deliberately decided not to follow it by adding their own interpretation to it.
That was wrong. The same exact stupid play happened twice this year and as stupid as the rule is, the refs decided NOT to enforce it this time.
That ruling did not effect the outcome of the game, but it sure made for an incredible fourth quarter.
Peterson was ON yesterday. He fell nine yards short of the all-time record, but even that makes him look like a sympathetic underdog at this point. He came out as a humble hero who won the game instead. It's got to be personally disappointing for Adrian the player, but his reputation grows by leaps and bounds with the gracious way he missed that goal.
Both defenses were full of holes, but our line sacked Rodgers more than Green Bay sacked Ponder. The one turnover of the game came from one of those sacks. It ultimately stopped Green Bay's momentum AND resulted in another score for us.
Ponder hit on several key passes in the game and ended with no INTs. I mentioned a couple of weeks ago that sometimes it's better to be lucky than good. Yesterday he showed a little of both. His last TD pass looked like it was intercepted. How we came up with it bordered on the miraculous. He was throwing the ball wide and high most of the game even on the simplest passes, but our receivers did a great job of hauling in 2/3 of them. Ponder's rating for the game was 120. We'll all take that any day.
I'm already worried about NEXT week. We barely won a game in which Ponder was practically perfect AND Adrian ran for 200 yards. How tough is it going to be to repeat that kind of performance in Wisconsin?
Let's put it this way. If I were a big Green Bay fan, I sure wouldn't be losing any sleep over the outcome of next week's game.
Lightening rarely strikes twice, especially in the very cold winter.
Sunday, December 30, 2012
The Game
I know a lot of Green Bay and Chicago fans think that Chicago is the main rivalry for the Packers, and though they do have the longest rivalry in football, today's game is the one that fans nationwide will be watching.
I know going in that it will take a massive effort and a lot of luck for the Vikings to win today, especially if rumors of Packer fans filling the Dome proves to be true, but knowing this is the last game of the season and that the game matters to BOTH teams makes this game pretty special for everybody involved.
No predictions. No accusations. Just excitement. Hoping Ponder can keep his streak of not-awful games alive. Hoping for a BIG first half by Peterson with NO turnovers as he goes for those extra couple of yards on every carry. Hoping for an absolutely huge day by the defense.
Also hoping for Chicago, Dallas, and Giants losses no matter what. Our odds of making the playoffs this week are better than last week but we still have to beat Green Bay to guarantee it.
I'm not proud. I don't mind backing into the playoffs if we have to. Getting there is way more important than not getting there. I'll take it anyway I can.
Go Vikings!
(And Washington, and Detroit, and Philly as well.)
I know going in that it will take a massive effort and a lot of luck for the Vikings to win today, especially if rumors of Packer fans filling the Dome proves to be true, but knowing this is the last game of the season and that the game matters to BOTH teams makes this game pretty special for everybody involved.
No predictions. No accusations. Just excitement. Hoping Ponder can keep his streak of not-awful games alive. Hoping for a BIG first half by Peterson with NO turnovers as he goes for those extra couple of yards on every carry. Hoping for an absolutely huge day by the defense.
Also hoping for Chicago, Dallas, and Giants losses no matter what. Our odds of making the playoffs this week are better than last week but we still have to beat Green Bay to guarantee it.
I'm not proud. I don't mind backing into the playoffs if we have to. Getting there is way more important than not getting there. I'll take it anyway I can.
Go Vikings!
(And Washington, and Detroit, and Philly as well.)
Wolves Win
I figure if I type this over half the time the time this season I'll be pretty satisfied.
Pekoic and Love were the stars, and I like the idea that Pekovic gets listed first on many of these reports. he looks weird, he shoots weird, he looks uncoordinated most of the time BUT he scores and he gets his rebounds.
The defense couldn't stop Phoenix last night so they did the next best thing. They outscored them.
A solid game. A solid win. Keep it going Wolves. Keep it going.
The fans are responding now, too. The Wolves had their second straight sellout last night and their third of the season. Winning has always been the key.
Pekoic and Love were the stars, and I like the idea that Pekovic gets listed first on many of these reports. he looks weird, he shoots weird, he looks uncoordinated most of the time BUT he scores and he gets his rebounds.
The defense couldn't stop Phoenix last night so they did the next best thing. They outscored them.
A solid game. A solid win. Keep it going Wolves. Keep it going.
The fans are responding now, too. The Wolves had their second straight sellout last night and their third of the season. Winning has always been the key.
Saturday, December 29, 2012
Gopher Football
They were doing great with the three man backfield, then they changed that and couldn't score the rest of the game.
Odd coaching.
The Gophers finish 6-7 on the season so this really wasn't that big a deal with a loss or a win.
Odd coaching.
The Gophers finish 6-7 on the season so this really wasn't that big a deal with a loss or a win.
Friday, December 28, 2012
Adrian Peterson Quote Of the Day
The only thing vaguely human about Adrian Peterson is the layer of skin hiding his robot parts.
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