It has been 1001 days since the Vikings have been in first place alone. Yes, the Chicago Bears don’t play until Monday so for now the Vikes are in first place alone thanks to a lot of solid efforts by different players.
When is the last time you heard the FOX pregame guys talk about the Vikings in a positive way? The comments were so fun to listen to as Jimmy Johnson talked about the Vikings defense.
When is the last time you could hear booing with the Vikings being the road team and the home team fans were letting their own team have it? The opening kickoff return by Percy Harvin for a touchdown really brought out the boo birds that could be heard through the TV set.
The Detroit Lions set an NFL record Sunday by being the first team to allow a kickoff and punt return for a touchdown 2 game in a row. Detroit had the same thing happen in the Tennessee game last week.
Congrats to Coach Frazier for getting his first win against an NFC North opponent. The last road win by the Vikings in the NFC North was in 2009 when the Vikings won at Green Bay.
This draft class of 2012 each week gets better and better. I am so happy with the performance of left tackle, Matt Kalil. He seems to really be handling himself well.
Rhett Ellison is getting playing time just no stats to show his efforts. He would not be on the field if the coaches did not think he could contribute.
Kicker Blair Walsh has been so special and so much appreciated by his efforts. Yes, he missed one field goal, but that is going to happen eventually. The stat of 5 touchbacks Sunday was huge; in fact it tied a team record. He has been a gift with his ability to keep the opponents starting position around the 20.
5th round draft choice Robert Blanton made an outstanding play on Chris Kluwe’s beautiful punt in the 4th quarter. Blanton was able to down the ball at the 2 leaving 98 yards for the Lions offense.
Josh Robinson is getting more playing time and is getting picked on but I still love his effort. He gets right in there and is not afraid to hit. Last week against the 49ers he got his first career interception.
The play of Harrison Smith has been unbelievable. The play in the end zone in Detroit when Calvin Johnson had an apparent touchdown until Smith and Jamarca Sanford made a tremendous hit jarring the ball and the officials called in incomplete. How many close calls on Sunday did Smith come so close to an interception Sunday? His time is coming. The effort he puts forth as a startin rookie safety has got to have the rest of the NFL on alert of his hitting abilities.
The defensive backs coming into the season was where many people were concerned with so many youngsters. My thought so far so good and can only get better assuming they stay healthy.
The defensive back who may have played his best game of the year was 14 year veteran, Antoine Winfield. He is simply amazing with his size and his continually able to take the big guys down rather easy.
I am really appreciating the safeties and their hitting. It has been a while since we can say that. Lion’s running back Mikel Leshoure breaks through the line and here comes Sanford to lay the wood causing a fumble.
The defensive line played well but I thought the player who had the best game was Everson Griffen.
The passing game Sunday did not have as good of day as I had hoped. They did enough to get the job done. The insertion of Jerome Simpson made a huge difference. The 2 flags Simpson drew as the Lions interfered with him were just as good as a completion. The pass Ponder floated and Simpson went up to get it was spectacular. The play call at the time was beautifully timed and I give credit to Coach Bill Musgrave for the call. Thank you for not being predictable on that particular call.
Do you ever feel yourself trying to tell Ponder through the TV, watch out a guy is so close to getting you? The presence of feeling pressure coming, Ponder seems to be getting better.
How can you not talk about a win without mentioning a certain running back who is playing out of his mind considering what he just went through with the surgery. You just have a feel he is a shoe lace away from breaking the long one. The first 100 yard game by AP is incredible considering the amount of fighting for extra yards after getting hit. His 28th 100 yard game as a Vikings is one short of Robert Smiths team record of 29.
Special teams were key, along with the defense on Sunday. Percy Harvin’s opening kickoff touchdown and then punt returner Marcus Sherels’ awesome return was just what the team needed on the road for the spark. I thought for sure when he caught it he was going down but to his credit he had an incredible return. Sunday was Sherel’s 25th birthday. What a way to celebrate your birthday.
Overall it does not matter which Vikings unit is better than the other it is a team effort that got the job done on the road Sunday.
The Vikings are the talk of the league and it is fun to listen. Just think winning 3 games all last year and now winning 3 of the first 4. It is going to be a good work week.
Thanks for reading
Purplestick
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