Sunday, September 14, 2008

Vikings Game Blog

Here are a few thoughts while waiting for THE HUGE GAME

  • I was wrong. I told my wife the Buckeyes would lose 50 - 0 to the Trojans. But they only lost 35 - 3. Stupid me.
  • Kravitz is calling for more Addai. Frankly, I agree with him. He points out a trend I think we've all noticed over the past 12 games. Although it should also be noted that the O-line has been a mess over that same stretch. During the Bears game I was desperately calling for the Colts to run the ball. I can't blame the team for not wanting to donate-a-down by handing off into the line, but the numbers weren't awful. Addai was 12 for 44 with a couple really bad runs bringing his average down. The bottom line is the Colts need to get an early lead and find out what the J.Addai Master can do.
  • I have a very bad feeling about this game. Luckily my wife has promised to take me to Outback if the Colts lose, so I'm in good shape either way.
  • Jeff Saturday and Dallas Clark are both inactive for today's game. Tom Santi will start in place of Clark.
  • Did you know Adrian Peterson's personal assistant is a real viking? Love it. I think all the NFL teams should move for greater incorporation of their nicknames.
  • My wife asks me kindly to Try not to freak Clark out.

First Quarter

1.) Vikings kick off. Nice return by the newly-signed Forsett. Pitch wide to Addai for four. Quick pass to Tom Santi for two yards. HUGE conversion to Gonzalez. Manning had just enough time as the right side of the line was breaking down. Ugly pick by Manning. Good tackle by Marvin.

2.) Peterson busts through an arm tackle by Kelvin Hayden for a huge gain. DZ informs me that there is no way in hell we win this game. Hard to disagree at this point. We need a turnover. Great job by Freddy Keiaho to fill the gap as Peterson turns it wide. GREAT D by Hayden to break up a pass on third and 9. Totally makes up for that missed tackle. Vikings 3 - Colts 0.

3.) The Colts need a touchdown drive to kickstart the stalled 2008 season. Forsett another solid return out to the 32. Very nervous right now as the team looks terrible. Kravitz's Addai thesis is looking very questionable. Pressure from everywhere on third down. Punt.

4.) A 15 yard interference penalty by Tim Jennings gives the Vikings great field position again. Really unforgivable. Peterson to midfield. The gameplan is clear. Sessions sniffs out the swing pass to Peterson for the second time. Big third down here. Great D despite the lack of pressure. I am shocked no one broke open for Jackson to find. Punt.

5.) Fair catch by Forsett will start things at the ten. I'll repeat: The Colts need a touchdown drive. Or maybe an 8 yard loss to Addai. Diem fails miserably. And folks this is why we predicted a loss for the first time in memory. Punt.

6.) BIG punt and Good coverage by Keiaho, Vikings start at midfield. This is hard to watch. I'm not sure there's a fix for sucking at blocking. That's football. Peterson and Taylor are starting to gouge. Grim. Manning has a bewildered look on the sidelines. WOW. Peterson turns a loss of three into a gain of five. Third and 3 from the eight. Ron Meeks looks. . . concerned. Incomplete. Bullet dodged. Vikings 6 -Colts 0.

7.) Forsett unwisely takes a deep kick out and the Colts will start at the 18 yard line. Gonzalez for nine yards. Here's DZ.

Second Quarter

  • Bob Kravitz article today should have said: Remember the last time the Colts had a healthy offensive line? It was at Jacksonville last year. Running behind this line is absolutely impossible. It's time to go all passing. Reggie Wayne makes a huge catch.
  • They are going to kid Joe killed at this rate. It's time for 60 passes.
  • Gonzo is seriously atoning. Manning is focusing only him it seems. They have no time to look deep at all.
  • Another blown block by a rookie TE. Unreal.
  • The problem with the offensive struggles is that they embolden teams to run us to death. The Colts are just going for strips on every play.
  • Faced now with a huge 3rd down, the Colts defense must make a stand. This could be the last pass (or draw) they see all day.
  • ##%$#@#$@#$#$@$ Well, that was fun while it lasted. Illegal contact foul revives a stalled drive. Mathis and the Vikes O-Coordinator blow up the drive anyway.
  • ALL TOGETHER NOW: YOU CAN'T RUN WIDE ON THE COLTS. RUN UP THE MIDDLE. The Vikings gash us up the middle and then try and get cute with end-arounds and bootlegs. I'd stab somebody with my Vikings horns if I rooted for that team.
  • That punt downed at the one-smells like: a. a challenge b. a safety. Take your pick.
  • Joe is a warrior, I'll give him that.
  • Did Reggie really just drop the go ahead TD? Good Lord. Hey, Ugoh is hurt! Aweeeeesome.
  • Wow, that was creative spotting by the official. 1st down.
  • Diem goes downfield illegally? Nice.
  • Can I at least explain that I originally thought we'd score 10 points today. When I heard Saturday might play, that's when I said we'd score 20. Just wanted that on the record. The third down play never has a chance as Harrison would have been short of the sticks anyway. I don't know if there is any possible way to make it to half down less than 10, but it would be a minor miracle.
  • Here's a huge 3rd down play for the defense. A stop, and a trip to locker room down 6 would feel almost like winning. Not really. I'm still stunned that Reggie Wayne dropped a 96 yard TD pass. Unreal.
  • Demond writes: Which would be more improbable: winning this game or coming back at SD last year? I vote San Diego.
  • HUGE play by Hayden. He's been big all day long. He is SAVING this D.
  • A huge penalty by the Vikes temporarily saves us from doing the Safety dance.
  • Santi and Manning have a close bond due to their injuries. They are bursa sac buddies.
  • Charlie Johnson almost gets Manning killed. Why does he never get hurt?
  • More pressure. I think I saw my paper boy playing right guard. Hunter Smith has another big punt, and we survive down 6-0 (knock on wood).
  • Jackson runs around, hits some passes, and gives Longwell a 53 yard FG attempt. It's money. Unreal.

Half Time report: Is it as bad as it looks? No, it's way worse. I've never seen worse line play. Even so we'd still be in front if everyone else had played mistake free. Manning's pick was bad. He stared Harrison down and the DB cut in front. Wayne's drop was reminiscent of the NE drop last year. The defense played as expected, but really until the last FG, you sort of felt like they might hold us close. The Vikes have had amazing field position and start the 2nd half with the ball. They'll put us down 16-0. I think we get shut out today. The offensive line is indescribably bad. Diem and Johnson are a disaster. If they got crap on themselves, the crap would wipe itself off.

Third Quarter

  • Did Dan Dierdorf really just blame the line problems on Tony Ugoh's injury half way through the second quarter? Wow. He is a dumb man.
  • Hey! There's the biggish return given up we've been looking for!
  • The Vikes could kneel for the rest of the half and win this game. I'm out for a while.
  • Manning to Gonzo to about the 25, Gonzo spins and gets 5 more yards. as he goes down, he flips to Reggie. Wayne leaps over Gonzo AND the tackler, breaks one tackle and is tackled as he dives for the goal line. Replay canceled the TD and moved the ball to the 1/2 yard line.
  • Addai TD is being challenged, and I think will be overturned. We'll have to go for it on 4th down.
  • WHOO HOO! All it took was a crazy play and an awful call on the field for us to score!
  • Nice play by Freddy, SAAAAAACK FREEEEENY
  • FREEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEENY SAVED US! FUMBLE! COLTS BALLLLLLL! Freeney had the strip/sack fumble on Jackson; Dawson fell on it.
  • The catch streak lives! Marvin takes a hit, but hangs on for a first down.
  • We were dead to rights, but one of the most improbable plays I've ever seen has bailed us out, and the Horse lives. It's freaking miracle.

Quarter 4.

  • Huge 3rd and 10, but even a FG helps at this point.
  • Manning avoids the sack, but throws a tad high to Santi, who can't hang on in the end zone.
  • It's San Diego all over again. AV pushes it. Wow.
  • Why is Minnesota throwing at all? The D forces a huge 3rd and 8. Jackson throws it to no one. RUN A DRAW VIKINGS. Colts ball.
  • Demond writes: I just realize. They suck. And we are losing to them.
  • The hope is short lived as Manning's pass is tipped and picked. The throw was awful. It was waaaaay behind Wayne. That's two bad picks on Manning.
  • Chester Taylor is stuffed on third down. Longwell will try another long FG. WIIIIIDE. Wow.
  • Bills score to go up 1 in Jacksonville.
  • Peyton hits Reggie inside Vikings territory. Robinson fights for a first down. Man, I'd kill for that FG right now.
  • TOUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUUCH DOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOWN WAYNE. Great protection (!) Wayne runs the post for the score. Two point conversion....
  • DOM FOR 2 TIE GAME. Crazy call, he might even have been down, but the Vikes have no challenges. This is nutsville.
  • Football is weird. An hour ago, I was ok with losing this game. Now...I would be devastated.
  • Hayden is draped in coverage again (missed call-it was interference). Here comes a HUGE third down for Jackson and for the Colts D.
  • INCOMPLETE! NO FLAGS. Barrion tripped on his own two feet. Colts ball. The Vikes are offsides on the kick, and the Colts get a bonus 5 yards.
  • HERE COMES THE RUN. Addai is brilliant, and the Vikings are gassed. First down on 2 good runs in a row.
  • Manning avoids the rush and Gonzo makes a great catch. This is going to be a hell of a an 18 plays. 1st down with a snatch catch by Gonzo.
  • Two minute warning. 2nd and 9. We need about 20 yards to win it.
  • Third and 9 as Gonzo was held with no call. Ball at the 40. WOW.
  • Incomplete as the protection fails completely. Gozno can't come up with it, but it would have been short. Damn.
  • DID TIM JENNINGS JUST SAVE US? Ball at the one! Great play to down the punt. There will be a booth challenge, and it will be close. Looks CLEAN! No angle that I can see can overturn this. Play stands.
  • Stuff on first down. Time out number 1. Dear God, don't let APete go 96 yards.
  • Here we go, third down and five. One timeout left. A stop and we get it with a chance to win.
  • THEY STONED THE SCREEN! PUNT WITH 1:23 from the three! Forsett is at the 50 awaiting the punt.
  • FORSETT TO THE 35 on a 25 yard return. LATE FLAG....late hit on the Colts after the play. I'm sick. Dumb Ass.
  • Jags lost. Titans are going to be tough all year.
  • Robinson drops an easy pass. 3rd and 10. Wow.
  • HOLY CRAP to WAYNE TO THE 30
  • AV on to win it. 47 yards with 8 ticks left.
  • DO A DANCE! DO A DANCE! DO A DANCE!

Post Game Recap:

It was San Diego II, only this time Adam Vinatieri hits the kick. I've never seen the Colts play worse than they did for two+ quarters, but then Anthony Gonzalez (the UNQUESTIONED player of the game-I will hear no debate on this) saved us with a huge catch and flip to Reggie Wayne. It was an amazing win, and I'm thrilled.

To be honest, we escaped. The Vikings decided they didn't want to gain huge chunks of yards with the run, and handed us a chance to get back in it. The line was still dicey, but when Addai (who ran hard despite getting destroyed on nearly every carry early) scored the first TD, the Vikings defense lost something. They got tired of beating Manning to a pulp, and only pressured him on every third or fourth throw, instead of every throw. Peyton and Reggie both had their mistakes today, but in the biggest spot, they hooked up for a sweet play (think Denver 2006 go ahead TD) and gave AV the chance at redemption.

He took it.

He made it.

We danced.

76 comments:

Anonymous said...

They should have just cancelled the game after Bennie Wells was sat out. What an embarrassment for them.

Funny that Brent Musburger wouldn't shut up about Overrated State getting that Field Goal.

Anonymous said...

Why are we going with the same game plan as Chicago? Ugh.

Anonymous said...

I don't have it on TV or radio, but Kravitz or anyone else who insists on running the ball when the blockers are getting overwhelmed needs a kindergarten level refresher course in football.

Apparently, Peyton spoiled everyone over the years with the stretch. Do lots of Colt fans think that generating a running game with poor offensive line blocking is normal? Don't they watch other NFL games?

Stan

Anonymous said...

Hey it's the Tony Dungy rule!

Auto first.

Anonymous said...

Looking at the stats so far, it looks like the Vikes are stuffing the run, getting a good pass rush, taking away 88 and 87, and daring the Colts to try to generate an offense by throwing dinks to Gonzo, Santi (who?) and the backs.

Is the defense really as bad as the stats look? Peterson already over 100, almost 10 yrds per, Tayler averaging over 5. I've seen this movie before.

Stan

Deshawn Zombie said...

Yes, the D has been bad and Peterson has been good with some sweet runs. The Vikes have really screwed up by doing ANYTHING other than running up the middle. A good team has us down 30 right now.

shake'n'bake said...

Peterson is booming and busting, he's breaking off some big ones. But he's getting stopped enough for the Colts for to force punts and FGs

Demond Sanders said...

I think you hit on the depressing part: It is way worse than it looks.

Demond Sanders said...

The really sad part is the D is playing its ass off.

Play Sorgi so Peyton doesn't get seriously hurt in the last 20 minutes.

shake'n'bake said...

It's a two score game with a full quarter to go and you're conceding the game?

Deshawn Zombie said...

Yeah, you can live with what the D has done today. Considering the field position they've had, the D deserves a medal.

I wouldn't run my dog behind our line right now.

Deshawn Zombie said...

I seriously don't think we'll score. At all. I have yet to see anyone on the line play competently even for consecutive plays.

shake'n'bake said...

so what was that about not scoring?

Deshawn Zombie said...

Greatest play I can ever remember

If that's what it takes to score, then...

wow

chipbennett said...

Can you give a recap for those of us in the black hole that is Saint Louis?

shake'n'bake said...

and it's not a TD (probably).

Deshawn Zombie said...

Seriously, If all you have to do to score is throw it on 3rd and 10 for 60 yards, have the WR make a sweet move, then lateral it to a another WR who leaps over two players, breaks a tackle and dives into the endzone...

Well just do that every time!

Anonymous said...

Holy Geez. Gonzales knew we couldn't score from the 10 so he flipped it. Now, if this gets overturned, we still might get shut out. Sweet play, though!

Deshawn Zombie said...

Manning to Gonzo to about the 25, Gonzo spins and gets 5 more yards. as he goes down, he flips to Reggie. Wayne leaps over Gonzo AND the tackler, breaks on tackle and is tackled as he dives for the goal line. Replay canceled the TD and moved the ball to the 1/2 yard line.

Deshawn Zombie said...

He looked in to me on that last sneak

chipbennett said...

So, a little improvised hook-and-ladder, with a Sweetness Leap thrown in for style?

Nice to see Buster punch it in.

Anonymous said...

Yeah, the sneak looked like a TD more than the Addai run.

chipbennett said...

Did this one get challenged/overturned, too?

Anonymous said...

Upheld based on lack of evidence. He really didn't get in though, IMO. We now have a sliver of hope.

Deshawn Zombie said...

I'm back to live blogging

TD good

Anonymous said...

Nice breather for the D. COME ON, GUYS!

chipbennett said...

Was that just a sack/strip by DFree???

Please,GameCast, don't tease me!

shake'n'bake said...

So we should put Sorgi in now?

Deshawn Zombie said...

Don't act smug, Shake. This is no oridinary 'combeback'. This could be the craziest thing ever.

Demond Sanders said...

PUNCH THIS IN

Anonymous said...

Oh man. Three tries from the one and we still might not have gotten in. Seen that movie too. at Buffalo (2003?), four tries from the one and Edge had to make a great extra effort to get in on 4th down. Then the disaster vs. NE at the goal line (same month?)

Stan

Demond Sanders said...

Wow. Just wow.

Cut AV please. Just cut him. This is San Diego Part II.

chipbennett said...

How does AV miss from 30 yards?!?

Anonymous said...

Missed FG? Seen that movie, too.

shake'n'bake said...

I hate the negativity. I was ugly but far from over.

Anonymous said...

Time for a new kicker.

Deshawn Zombie said...

That's fine.

My point is that it was the worst line play I've seen since the 1997 Colts.

And they were really bad.

chipbennett said...

Yeah, I can't say I understand the calls to get rid of AV...

Demond Sanders said...

I think we might have to fumble the ball forward for an 80 yard score.

Sorry about the negativity. You aren't used to seeing it because we usually win.

Demond Sanders said...

Also: there are a lot of reasons to be negative.

shake'n'bake said...

Why is Kenton Keith wearing 87?

chipbennett said...

So whose fault was Manning's second pick?

Demond Sanders said...

Peyton threw it way behind Reggie.

shake'n'bake said...

some on him, the pass was behind Wayne, but Wayne tipped it up,

Anonymous said...

Wayne didn't have a CHANCE to catch that ball. KK wouldn't have gotten a hand on it even.

shake'n'bake said...

yeah, second replay showed it better, bad throw

chipbennett said...

Hey, a missed FG - good field position...

Anonymous said...

The last few throws, Peyton hasn't been under much pressure but he's been throwing like it's right in his face. He needs to take a little extra time. The line play has gotten him seeing ghosts.

chipbennett said...

Touchdown Wayne?!?

Anonymous said...

TD! Would you go for one or two?

Anonymous said...

WE'RE BACK! THE VIKINGS REALLY DO SUCK!

chipbennett said...

TIE GAME!!!!!!!!!!!

Anonymous said...

Just continue to drop back in the shot gun giving us some more time and let er rip. Run isnt going to work and we cant operate under center.

Anonymous said...

Wow! I am glad I didnt have tickets to this Vikings and Colts game! Field Goals and INT's nothing special! I did get tickets from http://www.eSellOut.com (That Face Value Tickets Site)...I just hope it's much better play from the QB spot by the time I go and watch from the indoor eyesoar!

-Geoff

Jeremy Cohen said...

The Vikings are absolutely terrible.

Terrible.

chipbennett said...

GameCast sucks - how do we have the ball at their 30?

Anonymous said...

STAY IN BOUNDS, JOE! 4 MINUTES LEFT!

shake'n'bake said...

It looked like Wade grabbed Hayden first on that close PI no call

chipbennett said...

Where are we on the field? GameCast can't make up its mind again.

Anonymous said...

ball at the two. how many TOs do we have?

Demond Sanders said...

My cable has gone out. Unreal

chipbennett said...

Who committed the late hit?

We didn't need to go anywhere, now we need 20 yards.

Anonymous said...

Reid = dumbass

chipbennett said...

Back in FG range!

Anonymous said...

Tavaris Jackson worst QB in the NFL. Terrible.

Nice win though.

JC

chipbennett said...

Holy crap!!!

Anonymous said...

COLTS BABY!!!! PLAY LIKE COW DUNG AND STILL WIN THE GAME!!!

chipbennett said...

Please, someone let me know once it's a final...

Anonymous said...

18-15 COLTS! FINAL!

chipbennett said...

GameCast says it's in the books.

Wow... just wow.

shake'n'bake said...

There will be a smile on my face all week now. Crazy crazy game.

Anonymous said...

Holding the offense together with chewing gum and baling wire, 18 gets it done with smoke and mirrors.

Good guy to have at QB when you need a comeback.

Stan

Demond Sanders said...

My power is out, but we got stolen internet baby! Was able to listen to the last minute in the car.

Un-freaking-believable. The defense was on it today. Proud of those guys. AP is the real deal.

Demond Sanders said...

I LOVE YOU PEYTON

Unknown said...

Our offensive line is being held together with bubble gum and scotch tape, and the boys in Blue hold in together long enough to give Vinatieri a chance at redemption.

This went from "Un-fucking-believable." to "Un-fucking-believable!"

What a game.

Deshawn Zombie said...

Demond IMs me every few minutes just to say:

I love you, Peyton.