Brett is Back!

Well, just as I thought, Brett Favre decided that his long and illustrious career could not end with a pick.  His return has renewed the Vikings legitimate Super Bowl hopes.  Unfortunately, with Sidney Rice out with an unspecified hip injury and Percy Harvin out with another migraine, our receiving core is looking a bit bare.  Another downer is that Adrian, my man, is running scared.  He is not running with the same intense drive that he was in his first two seasons.  Now this just might be preseason, but I still think that he is being plagued by last year's fumbles.

However, in happier news, I have predicted that the Vikings will produce another NFC North division winning team with a stellar record of 14-2.  However, this is, of course assuming that Rice and Harvin are healthy/play well in the season opener against the Saints.  Here is the Vikings schedule with my predicted outcome and a short comment as to why I chose the outcome.

Week 1 @ Saints, W.  Given the fact that the Vikes "lost" to the Saints to end their season last year, I predict a major a** whupping.  That is if the refs decide to see Brett being murdered in the pocket which will surely happen.

Week 2 home v. Dolphins, W.  Easy win.

Week 3 home v. Lions.  W.  My high school football team could beat the Lions easily. Enough said.

Week 4 bye week.

Week 5 @ Jets, W.  After watching the Jets pathetic performance against the Panthers in the preseason, I believe that the glass slippers from last season are gone for the Jets.

Week 6 home v Cowgirls, W.  Last year I went to the Vikes playoff game against these pansies and it was amazing to me how they even made the playoffs.  I expect similar results to last years post-season match this year.

Week 7 @ Packers, L.  I don't think we can sweep them two seasons in a row, but who knows?

Week 8 @ Patriots, W. A depleted Pats squad with a Tom Brady who looks nothing like the one who won all those Super Bowls.

Week 9 home v. Cardinals, W.  Without Kurt Warner and Anquan Boldin, they are nothing. Plus I am going to be there and they have never lost when I came to see them.

Week 10 @ Bears, W.  They Bears suck.  Jay Cutler will once again throw more picks than TD's.

Week 11 home v. Packers, W.  Home turf with Brett, enough said.

Week 12 @ Redskins, W.  Might pose a problem with Donovan McNabb.  Prolly not.

Week 13 home v. Bills, W.  Who plays for them again?

WEek 14 home v. Giants, L.  Eli will finally beat us.

Week 15 home v. Bears, W.  Jay Cutler will score more points for us in this game then for the Bears, I', feelin' it.

Week 16 @ Eagles, W.  Without McNabb, who are they?

Week 17 @ Lions, W.  The Lions have sucked, still suck, and will suck for the entire foreseeable future.

Final record 14-2

Wildcard round: bye

Divisional round: W v. the Packers

NFC Championship W v. the Saints

Super Bowl W v. the Ravens (Just a guess)

LEAVING THE VIKINGS SUPERBOWL CHAMPIONS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Bengals at Vikings

This game is huge for the Vikings. If they pull out a win, they will have beaten the one of the best teams in the AFC and almost guaranteed themselves a playoff spot. If they lose on the other hand, they will be on a two-game losing streak and will have lost ground to the Packers who have an easy win against the now Hester-less Bears. Then, if the Vikings lose and the Packers win, the Vikings will only have a 1 and 1/2 game lead.

Now, with players coming out of the worst game of the season, with the offensive line hurting and E.J. Henderson out for the year, Brett Favre and Adrian Peterson MUST step up their production.

Here are my predictions, number-wise for the top players on the squad:

Favre: 244 yards, 2 TDs and 0 picks.

Peterson: 18 carries, 127 yards and 2 TDs.

Taylor: 7 carries, 38 yards and no TDs.

Rice: 5 catches, 110 yards and 1 TD.

Harvin: 8 catches, 138 yards and 1 TD.

Jared Allen: 3 sacks, a forced fumble and a fumble recovery.

Madden '10 Simulation stats:

Favre: 285 yards, 2 TDs and 2 picks.

Peterson: 23 carries, 117 yards and 2 TDs.

Taylor: 6 carries and 41 yards.

Rice: 6 catches 94 yards and 1 TD.

Harvin: 5 catches, 79 yards and 1 TD.

Madden Final Score: Vikings Topple Bengals in Lopsided Win: 31-19.

My prediction: Vikings Capitalize On Late 4th Quarter Surge: 31-27.

If the Vikings win life will go on in the football world and radio hosts will say that the Cardinals game was merely a bump on the road. However, if the Vikings lose, radio hosts everywhere will say that they were right, the Vikings suck now with their tremendous 3 losses, and that they are no longer a threat, even though they are still atop the NFC North with a 1 and 1/2 game lead. Skol Vikings!

I guess not......and then some

After Brett Favre set the consecutive game record for a position player, everything went downhill including star linbacker E.J. Henderson breaking his leg. A terrible loss to the Cardinals last Sunday, an NFC North title may not be a given. With the Packers streaking and the Vikings' tough upcoming schedule, the Packers could end up with a NFC North title.

During the depressing loss, Brett Favre threw 2 interceptions and had his lowest QB rating since the loss to Pittsburgh. He did not look like even a shadow of his performance against Seattle just two weeks before.

Peterson's performance only added to the disappointment of the night as he rushed for 19 yards on 13 carries. For any given running back in the NFL, this is a terrible game, but for the league's premier running back, this is simply atrocious. Not only were his stats pathetic but his decision making and cuts were contemptible. The Vikings are doing, to Peterson, what the Bears did to destroy the career of Devin Hester. Both teams took the best position players, perhaps in the history of the game, and tried to use them as receivers. Both are mediocre receivers at best, but the main point is the huge drop in the players statistics as a running back, Peterson, and returner, Hester.

With a huge game against the Bengals this Sunday that the Vikings must win to keep their hopes of home field advantage alive, the Vikings have a tough road ahead of them if they want to win the Super Bowl. Skol Vikings!

Division title? Vikings at Cardinals

This week against the Cardinals, the Vikings could secure a NFC North title, if the Packers lose to the Ravens. After the amazing and terrible performances each team had, respectively, the Vikings had 500+ yards of total offense and the Cardinals let up 500+ on defense. The Cardinals may also be without QB Kurt Warner, who is questionable with a neck injury.

Another Cardinal weakness, no pun intended, is that they average scoring only 24.3 points per game. The Vikings average 31.1 in the same category. The Cardinals also do not have a good defense, ranking 24th against the pass and 13th against the run. With the Vikings offense ranking 7th and 9th in those categories, respectively, they should cut through the defense like it was made of Swiss cheese.

The only issue with the Viking this week, it would appear, is that with both of their world-class running backs banged up, they might have a little trouble running the ball. However, with Harvin showing that he could do some running also last game, perhaps some trick plays to Harvin would work for some more rushing yards.

A sideline issue has come to light concerning Bernard Berrian and Adrian Peterson. Both were caught speeding. Here are the articles Peterson's and Berrian's.

Here is my break down of the game leaders:

Favre: 360 yards passing, 3 TDs, 0 picks.

Peterson: 128 yards rushing, 2 TDs rushing, 1 Td receiving.

Rice: 160 yards receiving, 2 TDs.

Here is how Madden '10 simulation broke it down:

Favre: 320 yards passing, 2 TDs, 1 pick.

Peterson: 111 yards rushing, 1 TD rushing.

Rice: 104 yards receiving, 1 TD.

My prediction is: Vikings 38, Cardinals 17.

Madden: Vikings 27, Cardinals 20.

Either way if the Vikings want it its there for the taking. NFC North Title coming up! Skol Vikings!

MVP Ownage

Brett Favre was electrifying last Sunday against the Bears. He threw for 392 yards and 3 Tds just a week after his near perfect performance of 213 yards and 4 Tds. Right now, there is no player on this planet who is playing better than Farve is with the Vikings.

Once again, Favre was so amazing that he was replaced by his backup, Tarvaris Jackson, in the 4th quarter, again for the second time in as many weeks! Favre also has a season high interception drought, having not thrown a pick for four weeks running. Here is a video of Favre's highlights. There is a section in it called Favre's Weapons, which shows just how good his receivers and running backs are and how he uses them.

Percy Harvin had his first 100+ yard receiving game against the Bears. He showed his loyalty to Favre on a long grab on third down at the end of the Favre video.

Peterson, however, did not have a very good game, fumbling twice. Although he only lost one of the two, this is still disturbing as he leads all running backs in fumbles in the last two seasons. He did not quite get the intense amount of yards that I guessed he would, but had an average 85 yards and 1 Td.

Although it was not quite the 45-14 blowout I anticipated, but quite a drubbing anyway. The NFC North is almost ours with a magic number of 2. Skol Vikings!

Peterson: starting or sitting? Vikings vs. Bears round 1

The big story this week for the Vikings is whether or not star running back Adrian Peterson will play against the division rival Chicago Bears. The Chicago Tribune ran a story on the cover of its sports section titled "No Adrian? Bears not buying it". The article says "[saying] Peterson won't play is like saying Charlie Weis will coach Notre Dame for the next five years." There is no stopping Peterson from starting.

ESPN's Madden '10 simulation has the Vikings winning 34-19, which is somewhat realistic. However, in the simulation, many factors are unrealistic including: Forte rushes 21 times for 99 yards, Ryan Longwell misses a 47 yarder and Favre only passes for 249 yards and 2 TD's.

The Bears defense gives up on average, 122.3 yards per game on the ground. This gives Peterson a great chance to break out with a huge game. If he weren't sick, I would say he gets more than 200, but, as it is he will get 150+. The Bears defense has been very stringent against the pass so far this year, ranking 8th in the NFL this year. Despite this fact, Favre will throw for 200+ and 4 TD's again.

The Vikings defense will absolutely crush the Bears terrible offense this week keeping forte under 50 yards, picking Cutler at least twice and generally dominating the game.

The high powered Vikings will seal the Bears fate of missing the playoffs with a stunning 45-14 blowout this week. Skol Vikings!

Review of the Seahawks game

Once again the Vikings pounded a heavily under matched team, absolutely destroying the Seahawks last Sunday. The final score, 35-9, showed just how bad the Seahawks are. In the second quarter's first score was a 23 yard strike to Harvin. From there the Vikings just kept hammering, scoring two more touchdowns in the second quarter on a 9 yard slant to Sheancoe and a 3 yarder to Berrian. To see those highlights and more, click here.

The most amazing play of the game was a Favre to Rice touchdown in the third quarter. After this play, the Vikings lead was extended to 28-0. After the Seahawks kicked a field goal, the Vikings were confident enough to put in back-up QB Tarvaris Jackson. Although he has looked better, Jackson seems to be more composed and comfortable in the pocket.

Jackson had a lucky break on a pass to Rice that was deflected. He showed more pocket calm and improved route reading skills on the TD pass he throws to Rice. Jackson's highlights start at the 3:00 mark on this video.

Many people have said that the Vikings didn't beat the Seahawks soundly enough. This goes to show how highly fans think of the Vikes. Favre, the NFL's highest rated passer, had an outstanding game, throwing only 25 passes and completing 22. He also had 4 TD's, 213 yards and a 141.8 QB rating for the game. That rating is only surpassed by his back-up Jackson's rating of 144.3.

Peterson had a mediocre game with 82 yards. He wishes that he could have held on the 83rd yard that he lost on his last two carries, each were for negative yards. If Peterson would have held on to that last yard, he would have stayed at 1000 or just over. He now stands at 999 yards for the season.

With 6 games left to play the Vikings magic number is 3. Any combination of Viking wins or Packer losses will give Minnesota a division title and a trip to the playoffs. Now, for the Vikes to secure home field advantage, I believe their magic number is 8. This would almost force the Vikings to win out and hope the Saints lose 2 or more games. Skol Vikings!