The Green Bay Packers' final game against the Minnesota Vikings at the Metrodome was a disaster for the home team. The Packers surgically took apart the Vikings 44-31. It really wasn't that close. Vikings are now 1-6.
The Vikings honored their great safety from the 1980s, Joey Browner, at halftime. He became the 21st person inducted into the Vikings' Ring of Honor. A very much deserved honor. Browner was a fantastic football player.
The defense could have used Browner. They could have used a bunch of him. The Packers never punted. They probably didn't even dress a punter. The Vikings defense simply couldn't get off the field on third down. They played great on 1st and 2nd down. They forced a bunch of third downs but quarterback Aaron Rodgers was unstoppable. Nearly every single third down was converted. Those that weren't led to field goals or successful fourth down attempts. No punts. A damn shame.
The Packers held the ball for 40:54. That left only 19:06 for the Vikings. Not much time. The Vikings only had the ball for about 2 minutes of the third quarter. Very sad. This was the difference in the game. If the Vikings offense was able to string even two or three first downs together on those two third quarter possessions, they likely knock a score two from the Packers total.
The defense has to get off of the field. They just have to.
The offense scored 31 points. That's enough to win a bunch of games.
The game started great when rookie receiver Cordarrelle Patterson took the opening kickoff 109 yards for a touchdown. He nearly broke another in the second half. He's a special player. The Vikings need to get him more involved in the offense.
Considering the Packers complete control of the game, it's a surprise that they only held a 24-17 lead at the half. It was close because of a clutch, tough touchdown run by Adrian Peterson at the end of the half.
Peterson only had 13 carries for 60 yards. Peterson carrying the ball only thirteen times is never a good thing.
I'd start Christian Ponder again next week but I'm glad that it's not my call. Ponder wasn't great but wasn't bad either. He made some nice throws. He also didn't make any serious mistakes (interceptions). There were actually no turnovers for either team. No surprise for the Packers but it's a shocker for the Vikings this season. I just want to see a quarterback established as the quarterback. Ponder or Josh Freeman.
The Packers offense dismantled the Vikings defense but the overall team performance was so much better than the fiasco against the New York Giants last Monday.
It's the Dallas Cowboys next week. In Dallas. The Vikings have yet to win a game in the United States. Dallas would be a great spot for that first one.
I really like Dallas Cowboys middle linebacker Sean Lee. He's always around the ball. Two interceptions yesterday. He retrurned one about 74 yards. I'm hoping that the linebacker that followed him at Penn St. becomes a similar player. Vikings rookie Mike Mauti.
Kinda funny to watch Dez Bryant throw a fit on the sideline and everyone ignores him.
Bryant had a good game. 3 catches 72 yards. Two of those catches were touchdowns. A terrific 5-yard catch and a 50-yard catch and run.
Then there was Calvin Johnson. My goodness. He was fantastic last week when gained 155 yards against the Cincinnati Bengals. He more than doubled that yardage total against the Cowboys. 14 catches for 329 yards! And an itty-bitty 2-yard touchdown. The Lions needed every one of those yards as they pulled out a shocking 31-30 last second win.
This was the fifth time that Johnson passed 200 yards in a game tying the NFL record held by the amazing Lance Alworth.
The New Orleans Saints are kinda flying under the radar. Their fast becoming a pretty scary team. They have a defense now.
Chip Kelly is sure taking the NFL by storm with his high octane offense. His Philadelphia Eagles lose to the one-win New York Giants 15-7. It doesn't help that quarterback Michael Vick keeps leaving the field.
Cincinnati Bengals receiver Marvin Jones had a fantastic day against the New York Jets. 8 catches for 122 yards and 4 touchdowns. It was no surprise for anyone that followed his college career at Cal.
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