Oh, to be in the NFC South. The 4-7 Minnesota Vikings would be at the top of that division if they played in that division. Instead, they are at the bottom of the NFC North looking up at the 8-3 Green Bay Packers.
The Vikings lost to the Packers in Green Bay earlier in the season. The embarrassing 42-10 score was made embarrassing by a ridiculous 28-point 2nd quarter for the Packers. Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder was especially generous. If the other three quarters were the only that counted it was a fairly even game. All four quarters count so the game wasn't a good one for the Vikings. Yesterday's Packers-Vikings game wasn't as embarrassing for the Vikings but the end result was the same. The Packers won 24-21.
The score might have been reversed if Vikings rookie quarterback was more accurate on his throws. He had open receivers throughout the game. He was high on some throws. He was behind receivers on some throws. The most damaging Bridgewater throw was a poor decision as well as inaccurate. He lofted a pass deep and into coverage to Greg Jennings. Packers safety Micah Hyde intercepted at the Vikings 47-yard line. Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers needed only four plays to get to the end zone, regain momentum, and put the Packers up 14-7.
That poor throw was a big play, perhaps the biggest play of the game.
The Vikings did answer with a field goal to make it a close 14-10 at the half.
If the Bridgewater interception wasn't the difference in the game, the Vikings inability to take advantage of positive field position to start the 2nd half was. They opened the second half on their own 39-yard line. A Matt Kalil holding penalty negated a nice first down play. Three and out after that. The defense forces a punt. The Vikings offense starts their second possession of the half at the 50-yard line. They manage to score points on a 51-yard field goal. The defense then gives up a field goal. The Vikings start their third possession on the Packers 37-yard line. Three and out. Three possessions begin in good spots and the Vikings score only three points.
Vikings receiver Charles Johnson has become Bridgewater's "go-to-guy" the last few weeks. It's really no surprise as he is routinely getting open. 11 targets yesterday. Johnson would have had a huge game if Bridgewater was more accurate. They did connect on a 22-yard touchdown in the 2nd quarter. They should have had a 33-yard touchdown in the 3rd quarter. The pair connected on only three passes for 52 yards. Johnson had one drop but the missed connections were routinely due to missed throws. Charles Johnson has been a nice find for the Vikings this year. He's a find made even better by the fact that he was originally a Packers pick in the 2013 NFL Draft. The Packers loss has definitely been the Vikings gain.
It was good to see Vikings tight end Kyle Rudolph back, He's missed much of the season after undergoing sports hernia surgery. He returned last week but played little. He made some plays yesterday. Three catches for 50 yards. He still looks a little hobbled. Even hobbled, his return is significant. He provides a terrific, big target for Bridgewater.
The Vikings added running back Ben Tate to the roster last week after he was released by the Cleveland Browns. He was dressed yesterday but didn't play. That really wasn't a surprise as he had only about two practices after arriving in Minnesota late in the week.
Jerick McKinnon and Joe Banyard carried the load in the backfield. Both played well. They didn't get a lot of yards but they moved the chains. Banyard got his first NFL carries. Each of his touches were effective. Five carries for 26 yards. 3 catches for 19 yards. McKinnon gained 54 yards on 15 carries. As a team, the Vikings gained 112 yards on the ground.
Defensively, the Vikings played well. The Packers had scored over 50 points in each of their last two games. In that sense, 24 is outstanding. The Packers offense is scary. Rodgers teamed up with ten lawn chairs is scary. The receiving pair of Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb is one of the best in the league. Throw in the running of Eddie Lacy and the Packers offense is scary. He now has two 100-yard games on the season. Both came against the Vikings. Lacy running like this with Rodgers throwing like he always does is a scary combination. They can light a defense up through the air and grind out a game on the ground. The Vikings did well to keep the Packers scoring down to 24.
It's astonishing that Jordy Nelson has yet to make a Pro Bowl appearance. He's been one of the most productive receivers for a few years now. Vikings corner Xavier Rhodes faced Calvin Johnson, A.J. Green. Josh Gordon, Brandon Marshall, and Alshon Jeffery as a rookie last year. When asked which receiver was the most difficult to cover, Rhodes didn't take long to single out Nelson.
Speaking of Rhodes, he's staying on the path to becoming a very good, maybe even great, corner. Yesterday was one of his better games.
Vikings rookie linebacker Anthony Barr might be hitting the supposed "rookie wall." He's missed some tackles the past couple of weeks. He's been fantastic most of the season. Making plays all over the field. He's got to fight through this. He's a keeper.
Bridgewater's accuracy issues were the difference in the game. The missed connections ended possessions and killed opportunities for Bridgewater to get in any sort of a rhythm. He's at his best in two-minute drills and on third down. It's the pressure situations that seem to loosen him up. When he's loose and just playing a game, he's at his best. He's an accurate passer so his bout of inaccuracy was a surprise. It was as if he was pressing. Trying to be too perfect. He'll get there. He has too much talent. He works too hard. Future Bridgewater-Rodgers duels will be classics. You heard it here first.
A couple of high-flying teams came back down to earth. The Arizona Cardinals visited the Seattle Seahawks and came out with their second loss of the season. The Detroit Lions were taken apart by the New England Patriots.
The Cardinals (9-2) still have a two game lead over the Seahawks and San Francisco 49ers in the NFC West. The Cardinals will have a true fight to maintain that lead. They should handle the Atlanta Falcons next week. After that they face the solid Kansas City Chiefs, the pesky St. Louis Rams, the Seahawks again, and close out the season against the 49ers. If the Cardinals can keep that lead, they will be battle-ready for the playoffs.
Lions idiot center Dominic Raiola decided to dive at the knees of a Patriots defensive lineman on the final play of the game. The idiot admitted that his intentions were malicious as he believed that the Patriots final score was excessive in the Lions 34-9 loss. Pretty pathetic Raiola. If the NFL is truly concerned about player safety, this idiot should experience an extended timeout.
The 49ers may not be scoring many style points but they are winning. They found a way to score more points than the Washington Redskins yesterday for their third straight win. They have a huge game against the Seahawks on Thanksgiving. The two meet again in two weeks. The 49ers will have to play better than they have. Especially on offense. But, they do control their own fate. That's where a team wants to be at this stage of the season.
Interesting Stat:
Mike Ditka, Lovie Smith, and Marc Trestman each started their Chicago Bears coaching careers winning 12 of their first 26 games.
The Sunday Night Football peeps finally found themselves a good game. The Dallas Cowboys were the last team to score as the beat the New York Giants 31-28.
The Vikings final five games of the 2014 season are against the Carolina Panthers, New York Jets, at Detroit Lions, at Miami Dolphins, and Chicago Bears. They can win those games. Bridgewater has to be far more accurate than he was yesterday but they can win those games. 9-7 is still possible. It's likely not enough to make the playoffs this year. With a rookie quarterback, a first-year head coach, and some bullshit off-the-field stuff, it's a good start toward a better future.
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