Game Day Thoughts

"I'm thinking win, score, get out of here."
     -Minnesota Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr

The Minnesota Vikings-Tampa Bay Buccaneers game had to be settled in overtime. There was a single play from scrimmage in that overtime. Barr stripped Buccaneers rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins of the football after a ten-yard gain, scooped up the loose ball, and raced 27 yards for the game-winning touchdown. 19-13 Vikings.

Despite the Buccaneers scoring on their last three possessions in regulation, despite Vikings rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater leading the offense to last second field goals at the end of each half, the last field goal forcing overtime, this Vikings win was due to the defense. It seemed fitting that the defense would put up the winning score.

Barr has played well all season. It was just a matter of time before he put a game-changing/game-winning play. He hasn't been in any nation-wide media discussion for defensive rookie of the year. He should be. He still makes some mistakes. Head coach Mike Zimmer will even point out that his rookie linebacker made a mistake on the game-winning play but Barr has enough instincts, speed, and athletic ability to make up for these mistakes.

Anthony Barr isn't the only Vikings defensive player that is playing at a very high level. Defensive end Everson Griffen has been a nightmare for offenses the past two weeks. Three sacks against the Buffalo Bills last week. Another sack yesterday. He had the attention of the Buccaneers line with double teams and holding, called and un-called. Nothing the Buccaneers did was very effective. Griffen was disruptive all game.

The Vikings defense has given up 17, 17, and 13 points the last three weeks, If the offense was even slightly more productive, the team would have three wins rather than one.

The first possess in the red zone for either team was at the midpoint of the third quarter. That was the Vikings and they got a touchdown. A beautiful 17-yard Bridgewater pass to Greg Jennings. The score was 3-0 Vikings at the half. 13-13 at the end of regulation. Most people sleep through games like this. The light scoring was due more to terrific defense than pathetic offense. I actually prefer defensive battles to unrestricted scoring. 41-37 games are often 41-37 games because of an absolute lack of anything resembling a defensive presence.

The Vikings offense wasn't completely absent. They were actually moved the ball. They just didn't finish many drives. 332 total yards. 97 yards rushing. 235 yards passing. Teddy Bridgewater was efficient. Mostly in not turning the ball over. The touchdown throw to Jennings was beautiful. Perfectly placed over the defender and in front of the back of the endzone. He had some clutch throws on third-and-long. Including another beautiful throw to Cordarrelle Patterson that was to a small window between the defender and sideline. Bridgewater's biggest problem was too many passes batted down or tipped at the line. Those ended some promising drives. He also had a terrible pass on the regulation-ending, game-tying drive that should have been intercepted by Bucs corner Jonathan Banks.

Speaking of Bucs defenders, defensive tackle Gerald McCoy and Lavonte David are fantastic. Any discussion of the top-10 defensive players in the league likely includes them. Especially David. He was everywhere. He does everything that you could possibly want in a linebacker. Tackle ball carriers, rush the passer, defend the pass. Everything.

It was strange waking up to an NFL game in progress. A 6:30 west coast start for an NFL game just feels weird. The game was weird too. The Atlanta Falcons score 21 unanswered points in the first half. The Detroit Lions scored 22 unanswered points in the second half. The Lions win. Pretty much everything is going nicely for the Detroit Lions this season. Well, except for the kicking. Although is was a field goal that won the game yesterday. On the second try thanks to a penalty. The Lions are missing a lot of key players to injuries but keep winning. 6-2 and on the verge of getting very healthy.

Just when you think that you have the pulse of the league yo get games like the Pittsburgh Steelers-Indianapolis Colts and New Orleans Saints-Green Bay Packers. The Colts and Packers have been playing like they could be meeting in a Super Bowl in a few months. The Steelers and Saints have been playing like they certainly won't. The Saints thrash the Packers. The Steelers put 51 points on the Colts. At least the Colts showed a lot of fight at the end of the game.

That's why they play the games.

The New England Patriots had a productive second quarter yesterday against the Chicago Bears. 31 points.

The hypocrisy of the NFL. The league has gone out their way to silence players and their endorsements. The players can't sport their fancy "Beats by Dre" head phones but there's a "Beats by Dre" commercial in the middle of an NFL game telecast. That's bad.