Well, the Minnesota Vikings first scheduled outdoor home game in 34 years didn't go as hoped. The New England Patriots took care of the Vikings by the score of 30-7. Everything started great for the home team. They opened with a nice, crisp 80-yard drive for an early 7-0 lead. That would be the end of their scoring. The Patriots scored the next 30 point. Most of the gifted variety.
The Vikings offense was clearly impacted by the loss of running back Adrian Peterson. He was deactivated for the game. The team made the decision on Friday when an arrest warrant was issued for Peterson for using a switch to discipline his 4-year old son. The news must have rocked the team and his absence yesterday certainly didn't help on the field.
This game was decided by Vikings mistakes. Four interceptions. Three of those led to 17 Patriots points. Patriots defensive end Chandler Jones blocked a Blair Walsh field goal attempt and returned it 58 yards for a touchdown. 24 Patriot points were the direct result of Vikings miscues. That's not a good way to stay competitive in a football game.
The Vikings went through four preseason games and their first regular season game without turning the ball over. It was a nice trend to see. It was terrible to see the trend end. Vikings quarterback Matt Cassel didn't play great. Up 7-0 and feeling pretty good, Cassel threw deep to Jarius Wright. Wright had a step on the defender and Cassel was on target with the ball. It could have been a big play. Unfortunately, Cassel didn't see safety Devin McCourty drifting over. McCourty intercepted the pass and nearly brought it all the way back. He was pushed out of bounds at the one-yard line. Two plays later, the score was 7-7 and the Vikings were scrambling the rest of the game. They couldn't get any sort of running threat going and Cassel was a little off on a lot of passes. His receivers didn't help on a few throws. Tight end Kyle Rudolph usually shows sound hands. He had a couple of drops.
The Vikings were feeling pretty good about themselves after a terrific opening win over the St. Louis Rams last week. The Peterson news was jarring and this game brought them back to earth. There is a lot of talent on this team and they are clearly heading in the right direction. They aren't yet good enough to survive giving golden opportunities to their opponents.
The Patriots ran the ball 37 times. The Patriots have probably gone several games without running the ball 37 times. Tom Brady has been filling the air with passes for years. He threw only 22 passes yesterday. Completing 15 for 142 yards. Very, very modest stats for Brady. The Vikings defense did a nice job against the run for most of the game. The Patriots kept at it and started getting nice gains toward the end of the game. Finishing with 150 yards on the ground. Stevan Ridley gained 101 yards on 25 carries.
Patriots receiver Julian Edelman did most of the damage against the Vikings defense. 6 catches for 81 yards isn't a lot but each of those 81 yards seemed to make a significant impact. 44 of them came on a single play. 9 of them came on a touchdown-scoring play. He also threw in some nice punt returns. He was basically a pain-in-the-Vikings-ass the entire game.
Vikings corner Xavier Rhodes was covering Edelman much of the game. He'll probably get a decent amount of criticism but he didn't play poorly. His coverage was sound much of the time. He was inches from making a big play on the pass that turned into the 44-yard catch and run by Edelman. In only his second year and only a handful as a starter, Rhodes is still learning. He's going to be a good one and this was just a step on the way.
At the start of the 3rd quarter, Rhodes was called for pass interference. The official said that he wasn't playing the ball. He knocked the ball away from the receiver. He saw the ball and swatted it away. For the life of me, I don't know how a player can do that sort of thing without playing the ball.
Edelman was the offensive player of the game for the Patriots.
Chandler Jones was the defensive player of the game and probably the player of the game. He blocked the field goal and picked up the loose ball and took it back for a touchdown. He also had two sacks and eight total tackles. The Vikings really had no answer for him.
Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil had a terrific rookie season in 2012. He took a step or two back last year. Some of those issues might have been due to health issues. He faced Rams defensive end Robert Quinn last week. No sacks but he had his hands full (not literally) with one of the best pass rushers in the league. Jones had a greater impact on the game yesterday. Kalil has to settle down. He has the natural talent to be one of the best in the league. He's going to face challenges every week. He has to keep his quarterback clean.
The Vikings might not have been as good as their 34-6 win last week but they also aren't as bad as their 30-7 loss this week. They simply can't hand the ball to opponents and expect to win games. It doesn't get any easier next when they face a pissed-off 0-2 New Orleans Saints.
As for some of the other games.
I don't know how the officials miss Percy Harvin stepping out of bounds on his supposed 51-yard touchdown run. It still didn't keep the San Diego Chargers from defeating the Seattle Seahawks. The Super Bowl champs really have to figure out how to play their road games more like their home games. They are supposed to be so great.
The New York Jets may have lost to the Green Bay Packers yesterday but it's impossible not to come away impressed by them. The Jets have mostly floundered the past few years but they are playing some sound football right now. If offensive coordinator Marty Mornhinweg doesn't call timeout, and he really shouldn't have been allowed to call a timeout, the Jets tie up that game late. Head coach Rex Ryan can always be counted on to get the defense playing well. The offense has been the surprise. Quarterback Geno Smith was supposed to be a disaster but he's been making plays.
The Detroit Lions looked like a juggernaut against the New York Giants last Monday. They only managed a single touchdown in a 24-7 loss to the Carolina Panthers.
The Ohio teams shocked the top teams from the NFC South. The Atlanta Falcons looked great in beating the Saints last week in overtime. They followed that big win with a lackluster 24-10 loss to the Cincinnati Bengals. While that game took place, the Cleveland Browns stunned the Saints to 0-2 with last second field goal and a 26-24 win.
I can't get used to seeing Jared Allen playing for the Chicago Bears. Probably never will.
The Buffalo Bills, Cincinnati Bengals, Houston Texans, Denver Broncos, Carolina Panthers, and Arizona Cardinals are 2-0. The Philadelphia Eagles could join them if the defeat the Indainapolis Colts tonight. Only the Broncos, maybe the Bengals, were probably expected to be sitting so pretty. But, it's early.
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