Tennessee Titans are coming to town

The Vikings-Tennessee game has been moved to 3:25 which seemed to surprise fans who thought the game was at the normal noon. Don’t forget it is televised by CBS.

In looking at some information I found this is the Vikings 13th time in team history they have started 3-1. The streak is at 4 times in a row starting with the 1988 season in which the Vikings have made the playoffs starting with this record. The 2004 season is the last time in fact they started 5-1 and the coach was Mike Tice. The season has a long ways to go but I do find this stat rather interesting.

The Titans are coming to town Sunday and the Vikings hold a 7-4 lead in the series. I like the fact that Minnesota is 6-1 at home against Tennessee.

Some history on the series going back to December 26, 1998 the Vikings played at the Tennessee Oilers. This was the last game in the Oilers era before becoming the Titans. The Vikings won that game 26-16 and in doing so the Vikings broke the NFL scoring record which has since been broke again. The receivers back then rookie Randy Moss, Cris Carter and Jake Reed. Who can forget that year even though it did not end the way I hoped.

The game on Sunday should be a fantasy owners dream with whoever has Titans running back, Chris Johnson and of course All Day, Adrian Peterson. They are both coming off 100 yard rushing performances in the week before. The defensive lines will both have their hands full trying to stop these 2 superior athletes. I am confident in the Vikings defense they will shut Johnson down.

The Minnesota defense is 1 of 5 teams in the NFL not to allow a run of 20 plus yards. It is a dream to watch the Vikings defense swarm again. The team speed is so impressive.

One are of the game that will be fun to watch will be both special teams. Percy Harvin, who leads the NFL with a 38.3 yard average, gets more exciting to watch each week. You just have the feel every time he touches the ball he will take it to the house.

Tennessee return man, Darius Reynaud if you remember not to along ago was a member of the Purple squad we all love.

One common fact on both of these return men is they both share the longest kick return for a touchdown going 105 this season. The men also share another fact and that is both had their kick returns against the Detroit Lions in back to back Sunday games.

In terms of special teams the last time a team in the NFL had a 95 plus yard kickoff return and a 75 plus yard punt return in the same game you need to go back to December 17,1977 when the Detroit Lions played the Minnesota Vikings. The strange twist on this is the Vikings won that game 30-21.

Marcus Sherels now stands alone in the Vikings history book. He is the only player in team history that has a kickoff and a punt return for a touchdown, and recorded a sack which he got in 2011. No other Vikings player can lay claim to that stat. Way to go Marcus, a local man out of Rochester John Marshall High School, the U of M and now a Viking.

The Tennessee Titans have 2 former Vikings on their roster. Guards Steve Hutchinson and Chris DeGeare were part of the 2011 Vikings. DeGeare was in Vikings camp this year before getting cut and signing with Tennessee.

Sunday Tennessee Titans starting quarterback Matt Hasselback’s dad Don played for tight end for the Vikings in 1984.

In closing it is hard to believe our own quarterback Christian Ponder is the only quarterback in the NFL who has yet to throw an interception. The way last year went and with many people I talked to had doubts Ponder was legit. His stats simply do not lie.

I am such a huge fan, yet this week was tough after a win. I was shocked to hear how much negativity about the offense. I heard people say, they cannot even score an offensive touchdown. My thought on this is, it is a team sport isn’t it? Three phases working to get the job done. Three wins already after three all last year. I would have thought I would have talked to happier people. I know how I feel and that is all that matters. I am a believer in Coach Frazier and his staff along with the youthful 2012 Minnesota Vikings.

Two people amongst many who I would like to give a ton of credit to and this is Rick Spielman and Defensive Coordinator Alan Williams for the start to this season.

Next up: Looking for A BIG WIN against the Titans

Thanks for reading
Purplestick