The Minnesota Vikings will likely go into their game against the Detroit Lions today without receiver/running back/ returner Percy Harvin. It's a huge blow but there could be some good to come of it. Quarterback Christian Ponder is struggling. This will force him to discover targets other than Harvin. Tight ends, in particular Kyle Rudolph, have to get open over the middle and at intermediate depths. Big guys present nice targets for a young, struggling quarterback. Receiver Jerome Simpson has to provide a deep threat. He's been hampered with a suspension and nagging injuries. Today will also be the debut of rookie receiver Jarius Wright. He has the speed and shiftiness to make an impact. Most importantly, the Vikings need running back Adrian Peterson to keep doing what he's been doing.
It may be a little early for a game to be a must win, but the Vikings really need to win this game. They have their bye next week. With their recent struggles they need to go into their week off on a high note. 6-4 sounds a whole lot better than 5-5.
The Houston Texans-Chicago Bears game tonight sure looks like a must see. NBC is striking it rich with many of their matchups. No disrespect to the undefeated Atlanta Falcons, the Bears might be playing the best all around football in the NFC. Except for a terrible hiccup against the Green Bay Packers, the Texans have been terrific all year.
The Texans recent evolution has been remarkable. Only a few years ago, they relied on an explosive offense revolving around stars Matt Schaub, Arian Foster, Andre Johnson and Owen Daniels. Their defense, centered around the play making of end Mario Williams and linebacker DeMeco Ryans, was a little better than average. Both were sent packing as Wade Phillips built a swarming 3-4 defense seemingly in a blink of an eye. Now, they are potent on both sides of the ball.
Cal has had some difficulties recently, especially this year. For whatever reason they've managed to play well against Oregon. Perhaps the best Pac-12 team over the past several years, Oregon has really had to fight for their wins against Cal. For a little over a half last night, Oregon had a fight. Then it got out of control. 59-17 out of control. Shocking that it was 24-17 early in the third quarter.
I figured that ESPN announcer Matt "I damn near destroyed the Detroit Lions" Millen was going to ask Oregon quarterback Marcus Mariota out on a date before he left Berkeley. There was a lot of love in that booth.
Mariota was excellent. I hadn't seen him play much before last night. Most of Oregon's damage before this game was on the ground. Cal shut the Duck running game down. They forced Mariota to beat them. He did.
Oregon's offense puts so much pressure on an opponent. You can't make mistakes and you have to score touchdowns. A bunch of touchdowns.
Cal quarterback Allan Bridgford, making his first real start, opened things up for Oregon with an interception deep in Cal territory. The rout was on after that.
Cal didn't help themselves much with at least a half dozen personal fouls.
So, USC canned one of the ball boys for deflating footballs for the Trojans game against the Ducks last week. It's considered cheating. They say that it's easier to handle, throw and catch a slightly deflated football. Unless Matt Barkley and his little boys of Troy have itty bitty hands I don't see any benefit to this. I'd much rather catch a nice full football than a slightly deflated football. Silly USC. As for the ball boy, they say that he acted alone. I really can't imagine the kid doing this without some sort of approval from above. They threw the kid under the bus. Very nice, USC.
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