Sunday
September 22nd and the home opener is finally here. The first 2
games tough road losses so let’s get home and start some home cooking with a
win was my thought as I made my way up 35N towards Minneapolis.
The walk through
all the purple clad fans on the way to the dome is a feeling like no other. I
am reunited with my family of 64,000.
The game as it
played out started hostile and ended hostile. The new policy with bag checks
outside the gate really got some of the fans riled up. I had a lady sit next to
me as she showed up a half hour late for the game as she got held up outside.
She was so mad and she told me the fans outside were really upset.
The Vikes
have the Gjlallahorn blown by a different person each home game. On Sunday was
a great touch as the last home opener in Mall of America Field’s history had
Hubert H “Buck” Humphrey IV who represented the Humphrey family blow the horn.
The beginning of the dome back in the day was called Hubert Humphrey Dome. What
a nice touch to involve the family in this historic day.
The Browns
kickoff to start the game and what so the Vikes do, yes they take it and drive
the ball all the way down and ends with a Peterson Touchdown. I thought wow
what a way to start a game. Cleveland has not been given any chance to win this
game. The way the game ended I guess Cleveland was not given this memo.
The Browns
played like they had nothing to lose. It was unfortunate on the Browns first
touchdown how wide open their receiver, Gordon got and just how easy he made it
look. The Vikes were to destroy this team but this was not the way to start. I
felt if the Vikes left the Browns with any hope this day will not be as easy as
advertised.
The Vikes
offensive play calling has been questioned, the defense has been questioned and
now Sunday the Browns made the Vikes special teams look absolutely silly.
The fans in
the stands get up as one on 3rd downs to cheer louder for our
defense. The Browns took the air out of the stands as 4th and 1 and
the Vikes waiting for the punt. A snap to the up man and there he goes almost 30
yards. I can’t remember the last time the Vikes looked that foolish.
I was upset
about that but the game must go on. A nightmare reoccurs again as the Browns up
17-14 set up for a field goal to make it 20-14. I was alright with that knowing
we can still take the lead with a touchdown. The unthinkable as Jordan Cameron
somehow gets to the outside with no Vikes noticing and catches a touchdown from
the field goal holder. You have got to be kidding. I was in the stands and did
not see that guy either.
The Browns
are for real Sunday and played with nothing to lose. I felt the Browns offensive
and defensive lines played liked they wanted the game more. I did a lot of
watching Joe Thomas vs Jared Allen and what a war. The Browns defensive line
gave Peterson very little. I could not believe how physical the Browns played
Sunday.
The Ponder
situation in my mind is out of control. His running was awesome but his passing
was brutal. The fact that did not help I felt is the offensive line got badly
outplayed. Ponder was never made to feel comfortable. The fact when he did have
time some of his passes were brutal. It was late in the game with the Vikes up
3 and with a chance to seal the deal. Ponder on 3rd and 3 had an
open Jennings but badly overthrew his receiver.
I will add
one thing about Jennings as my wife and I noticed Jennings go to the sidelines
and get down in the middle of the offense and talk to them. He looked pretty animated.
The next drive after his talking to the Vikes ended up scoring. I liked the
leadership that Jennings took in that situation.
I am sure
you heard the booing through your tv screens Sunday and if you did not I can assure
you it was loud and constant. The team was booed off the field at halftime. It
was a boo fest at Mall of America Field. If it wasn’t booing it was chanting
Cassel, Cassel, Cassel.
It was a
homer opener with so much on the line with a chance for win number 1 and it
ended up with fans wanting to tear the dome down before it is scheduled for.
It was not
my envisioned what so ever when I arrived Sunday. It is so tough to sit at a
game and hear so much booing.
There is so
much negativity from fans both hearing it at the dome and on the call in radio
show on the way back home.
I will say I
saw positive and was encouraged to see the effort Marcus Sherels put in. He
played so well. Harrison Smith played a good game minus the touchdown that was
given up to beat the Vikes. The effort by Erin Henderson with 2 sacks and an interception
was nice to see. The kickoffs by Blair Walsh were huge one again.
I honestly can’t
say anybody on offense stood out and if I did would give a nudge to Cordarrelle
Patterson and Greg Jennings. The catch by Patterson with the ball thrown behind
him and yet he hauled it in was amazing.
I feel I am
a positive person but today was tough. It is hard to watch a 3rd
string quarterback look so good and a Vikings special team get embarrassed
twice.
There a lot
of leaks in this ship. The Vikes now 0-3 with so many questions. A positive today
that did not involve the game was seeing the Packers lose. I have to look for
something. Ponder is in trouble and now the decision lies on Fraziers’
shoulders. Can we have a quarterback with issues keep leading the Vikes. No,
0-3 is not the end of the world but time is ticking with the urgency to win in
London next Sunday.
Thanks for
reading
Purplestick
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