Game Day Thoughts

"Steve Sabol is a badass."
               -filmmaker Peter Berg on Sabol's film making skills

"I was sold when he walked through the door."
               -Bill Belichick when Sabol approached him about wearing a mic for an entire season

"I don't think that he ever met a stranger."
               -Michael Irvin

We could go on forever talking about Steve Sabol. I hope that we do.

NFL Network had a nice remembrance of Steve Sabol in their pregame show. I always found it interesting that Sabol went all the way to Colorado College to play football. Same school as NFL legend Dutch Clark. While there Sabol played against Bill Parcells.

I feel fortunate to have had the opportunity to visit NFL Films in June. Without actually having done so I feel that I have met Steve Sabol. It was an honor.

The Minnesota Vikings chopped down the best team in the league in their 24-13 defeat of the San Francisco 49ers.

The NFL is real lucky that the hacked up time out situation by the replacement officials didn't really impact the game. 49ers coach Jim Harbaugh called his third timeout and then challenged the play on the field that Vikings running back Toby Gerhart had fumbled the ball. Harbaugh didn't have the timeout to challenge anything. The officials allowed it and gave the ball to the 49ers. Fortunately the Vikings got the ball right back with an interception. Harbaugh later challenged but lost another play. So, Harbaugh ended up with five timeouts in the second half. That's ridiculous. Mistakes in judgement are one thing. Not knowing the rules is something that should never enter into a game. The lockout with the officials has to end. If it was in doubt before, it isn't now.

This could be the game that quarterback Christian Ponder and tight end Kyle Rudolph introduced themselves to the league.

The 49ers did a great job of tangling up the feet of Vikings running back Adrian Peterson at the line of scrimmage. It looked like he was a step away from breaking something several times but the 49ers didn't allow it. Peterson is getting stronger each week. He'll soon be stepping through those like the pre-injury Adrian Peterson.

Receiver/returner/running back Percy Harvin is a beast. No touchdowns yet but he's been the Vikings biggest difference maker through three games. The most difficult to defend football player in the league.

This was the best that the Vikings offensive line has played this season. The 49ers defense is a real chore. The Vikings gained about 150 yards on the ground. The 49ers don't allow that kind of yardage very often. They chased Ponder a few times but never sacked him.

As well as the Vikings offense played the defense was the real difference. They never allowed the 49ers to get in a rythym. Linebacker Chad Greenway was all over the field. He's had a real nice start to the season. When the defense was put in a difficult situation with the timeout fiasco they took the ball right back on an interception by rookie Josh Robinson and then a fumble recovery by Brian Robison. The interception by Robinson was the first by a Vikings corner in I can't remember how long. Jared Allen's first sack of the season forced the fumble that Robison recovered. When the Vikings needed a big play by the defense they often got one. Perhaps their best moment came after the second half kickoff. 49ers returner Kyle Williams took the kickoff back about 95 yards to the Vikings 14-yard line. The defense forced a field goal. They gave up points but they stifled the momentum caused by the big return.

The Vikings have now blocked two kicks on the season. Defensive tackle Letroy Guion blocked a David Akers field goal attempt yesterday. Rookie tackle Matt Kalil blocked an extra point in the first game. Kalil is playing great at left tackle and making an impact on special teams. If Guion had missed on the block it looked like Kalil might have been there to swat it away.

As smart as Ponder has been with the ball so far this season he's still had one throw in each game that is right in the hands of the defender. Fortunately the defenders have yet to hold onto the ball. Lucky. The lucky moment yesterday was due more to receiver Michael Jenkins slipping than a horrible throw. This luck won't hold for long in the NFL so Ponder has to be real careful.

The Vikings get a big boost next week with the return of suspended receiver Jerome Simpson. They haven't been real successful going vertical in the passing game. It's hoped that Simpson's speed and athletic ability will change that. The Vikings really need someone to pressure the defense opposite Harvin.

I was hoping that the Vikings would hit Simpson's return with at least a record of 2-1. I figured that the two wins would come against the Jaguars and the Colts.

I still think that the San Francisco 49ers are the best overall team in the league. They are strong in all phases of the game. The 49ers didn't really seem overconfident or anything like that. The Vikings just made plays. Mostly, I think that the Vikings are a better team than most thought. Week in and week out they aren't yet in the class of the 49ers or Green Bay Packers or Baltimore Ravens or Atlanta Flacons or New York Giants or Houston Texans but they can be a nuisance against any of the top teams. They are moving in the right direction as a team and as an organization. A win like this can get a young team that doesn't know any better on a roll.

I had pretty much written off 49ers receiver Michael Crabtree last year. His effort in the playoffs was pathetic. This season he looks like the football player that he was always meant to be. He's a very talented receiver.

Two of the best defensive players in the entire league play in San Francisco. I absolutely love watching linebacker Patrick Willis and defensive end Justin Smith play football. They play their respective positions as well as any player ever has. A real joy to watch. Linebacker Navorro Bowman isn't far behind.

Sports Illustrated's Peter King, always interesting in his NFL coverage, says that Houtson Texans' J.J. Watt will be the best 3-4 end in the league by the end of the season. Watt is awesome but I'll leave that title with Justin Smith until he retires.

I hope that Patrick Willis' ankle injury is nothing much.

Same goes for the knee injury suffered by New York Jets corner Darrelle Revis.

The hit that Denver Broncos linebacker Joe Mays put on Matt Schaub was ridiculous. Everything that the league is trying to get out of the game with the penalties, fines and suspensions was seen in that hit. Mays had only serious injury in mind. Leads with his head. Directed straight at Schaub's head. Zero intention to wrap up the player he's trying to tackle. It was a mess. Mays should be suspended for a while. Thankfully Schaub's head seems fine but he lost part of his ear.

Saints at 0-3 sure is perty. They spent too long playing their dirty little games. Serves them right.

I love watching Maurice Jones-Drew run.

Don't the Cardinals know that they are supposed to suck? 3-0 and knocking off the Patriots and Eagles in successive weeks. My goodness.

I only saw the end of the Patriots-Ravens game but the officiating had too great of an impact. Not in a good way at all. I'm not sure what game some of these officials are watching.

Interesting that this game ended on a Ravens field goal attempt just like the AFC Championship game. This time it went the Ravens way. Barely.

The Patriots have a losing record for the first time since 2003. Incredible.

Ravens receiver Torrey Smith had an amazing game under brutal circumstances. He learned of his brother's death in a motorcycle accident earlier in the day. My thoughts and prayers are with Torrey Smith and his family.

The officials lockout has to end! Now!

Next week is bad news for the Detroit Lions.