It is time
to move on from the tough Cleveland loss. It is harder for me sometimes when a
home loss like that occurs as I sit in my seat feeling helpless and deflated
afterwards. Life does go on and I am now getting ready for the biggest game of
the season.
It is still
early in the week and I feel like people are giving up so early. Yes it is
frustrating but the season has a long ways to go. It can easily turn around or
worst fear it could get ugly. I am hoping of course for a turn around. There
are so many holes in this ship currently but my faith believes Frazier and
staff can get it done. Will it be easy? Absolutely not but with time things
could start going our way. It is now 2 weeks in a row losing in the last
minute.
I was
shocked at 2 articles I saw Tuesday night with one Brett Favre’s agent coming
out and saying Brett is in the best shape of his life. The other article I saw
was trading Adrian Peterson. It is only 3 games in people let’s not lose our
heads.
The first
game the team scores on the first play of the game then week 2 the team scores
on opening kickoff. The Cleveland game the team takes the opening drive and
punches it in. As tough as it is there have been positives.
The Vikes now
host Pittsburgh Steelers in London, England playing in Wembley Stadium on Sunday.
This is the 7th NFL game in the NFL International series. The Vikes
played in the first game in 1983 when they played St. Louis in a preseason
game.
Personal note: This will be my first
home regular season game I have ever missed in 14 years.
Game time: noon
Channel 4 with the broadcast team of Jim Nantz
and Phil Simms
Las Vegas Odds: Pittsburgh by 2.5
VIKINGS-STEELERS SERIES HISTORY
This will be
the 17th meeting with each team having won 8 games
Vikes are
5-2 at home and in Pittsburgh are 3-5 and one neutral ground the Vikes are 0-1
vs Pittsburgh. It was the Super Bowl loss in New Orleans
This will be
the 4th time the teams have played in September with the Vikings
holding a 2-1 advantage.
The Vikes
are looking for their first win over Pittsburgh since 9/24/95 and are looking
for their first win at home vs Pittsburgh since 9/21/86
A win over
Pittsburgh would extend the Vikes to 5 wins in a row heading into the bye week.
The streak started in 2009. It is the 2nd longest behind the New
Orleans Saints.
A look at some of the comparison in
numbers between Pittsburgh and Minnesota
Minnesota
has scored 81 points while Pittsburgh has 42. That is an average of 27 to 14
Minnesota’s
run game averaging 120.7 per game while Pittsburgh has 51.7
Each team
has given up 10 sacks through the first 3 games
Since the
1970 merger Pittsburgh has the most home wins with 239 followed by Denver (229)
Miami (224) then VIKES (222) tied with Dallas.
VIKES FACTS FROM 2013
Greg
Jennings and Chad Greenway will both be playing in their 100th NFL
game
Erin
Henderson becomes the 2nd linebacker in Minnesota history to record
2 sacks and 1 interception in one game which he accomplished in the Cleveland
game
Vikes kick
return man; Cordarrelle Patterson is 2nd in the NFL with a 37.4
average on kickoff returns. He is now 2nd in team history with the 2nd
fastest score when his 105 kickoff touchdown return took 13 seconds. In 2012
Percy Harvin took 12 seconds to return a kickoff vs Detroit.
Minnesota is
tied for first in the NFL with 6 interceptions after having only 10 all of last
season. The team also has 10 take aways which is good for 2nd
The Vikes
are tied for 2nd fewest penalties with Carolina as both only have
12. Indianapolis is number 1 with only 8 penalties
THOUGHTS ON THE GAME
The Vikes
are too talented of team to let this go on. There are so many questions
swirling. Is Musgrave using his offensive players? Is Frazier the man to get
the job done? Is Ponder the quarterback of the future?
The Vikes
have some serious injury concerns in the secondary with Chris Cook, Jamarca
Sanford, and the play of AJ Jefferson.
The Steelers
offense is terrible and should give the Vikes several more opportunities to add
to their league lead.
I believe
the loss to Cleveland will open up some eyes showing each player that wears
purple that if you don’t come to play hard you will lose.
A 0-4 would
be devastating but yet the season would not be over. This story that broke on
Wednesday with Ponder’s ribs I would think the physical Steelers defense would
want to add more pain.
Mike Tomlin
is a great coach and will have his Steelers ready. Both teams 0-3 so logically
someone will have their first win. I will not pick a score but I will say
Minnesota will get the win go into the bye week and get to work. I look for a
knock down drag out street fight with a low scoring game maybe coming down to
Bair Walsh winning the game.
Thanks for
reading
GO
VIKES!!!!!!
Purplestick
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