The Cleveland Browns always bring back a great feeling as the Vikes Hail Mary pass from Tommy Kramer to Ahmad Rashad that put the Vikes in the playoffs back at the old Met
The time
starts now to get in the win column with absolutely no excuse why the team can’t
win this game. The talk of the Bears loss is getting old and now time to focus
on this week’s opponent. I can’t help but think the team has heard and seen
enough to go to Mall of America Field and destroy the Browns. I do not want a
16-9 win I want it blowout city. I will get into more game thoughts later.
Game time: Noon on Channel 4
Broadcast team: Kevin Harlan and Solomon Wilcots
Vegas odds: Vikes by 5.5. I am just wondering
after Wednesday’s announcements of 3rd string Brian Hoyer starting
at QB and then later on in the day the Browns trade running back Trent
Richardson. This has got to lift the odds by at least 3.
Vikings players facts:
Wide
receiver Jerome Simpson is 4th in the NFL with a 21 yard average per
catch
Jared Allen
leads all NFL defensive ends in starts with now 96 consecutive
Kevin Williams’s
interception in last week’s Bears game now puts him at 5 for his career which
is a new record by a Vikings defensive lineman. Williams is now tied with the 5
with former Bengals’ Dan Wilkinson in the NFL all time.
Kevin will
be starting his 158th game for the Vikes which will surpass Alan
Page and now Williams will be in 3rd behind Carl Eller (201) and Jim
Marshall (270) Congrats Kevin!!
Jared Allen
has failed to get a sack in his career against 4 teams (Cleveland, New Orleans,
Pittsburgh and Seattle.) In knowing this year’s schedule Jared will only have
one team left in which he does not have a sack and that will be New Orleans.
Cleveland will come off his list this weekend.
The Vikings
only have 8 penalties in the first 2 games which is good for 2nd in
the NFC.
VIKES-BROWNS HEAD TO HEAD
Minnesota
leads the series 11-3 including a 7-1 record at home vs the Browns. The Vikes
have beat Cleveland 4 straight times looking for 5 after Sunday.
The last
time Minnesota opened up home in Week 3 was back in the 2009 season. Week 1 was
in Cleveland that year and Minnesota won 34-20 behind 3 TD’s by Peterson.
BIG DAYS FOR CURRENT VIKINGS PLAYERS
VS CLEVELAND
Matt Cassel
as the Chiefs quarterback went 22-40 for 331 yards and 2 touchdowns
Adrian
Peterson rushed for 180 yards and 3 touchdowns in 2009
Kevin
Williams has 2 tackles and a sack along with a recovered fumble in 2009
Jared Allen
in 2006 with the Chiefs had 7 tackles.
KEY MATCHUPS TO WATCH FOR
Browns left
offensive tackle, Joe Thomas vs Jared Allen.
Will Jared get his sack against Cleveland? I say an emphatic YES!!!
Vikes
defense as a whole vs Wednesday announcement of 3rd string
quarterback, Brian Hoyer. The defensive line has got to be licking their chops
in hopes of a big day.
The Vikes
secondary will get a good challenge with Davone Bess who came over from the
Dolphins just this year. I read some good info on a Browns website that is very
interesting with Bess.
Since 2009
Bes has 267 receptions which are good for 14th best in the NFL. I also found that 130 of the 267 were 3rd
down receptions which are good for 2nd most in the NFL. That
calculates to 42 percent. I would say on 3rd and distance Mr. Bess
had better have some attention.
Added note
on the Browns roster: MarQueis Gray former Gopher quarterback is 3rd
on the depth chart for tight ends on the Browns.
PREDICTION
You can
laugh if you want but I am seeing a 38-3 game. A stomping of the Browns is much
needed. A win by 16-10 is a win but this team needs to take out some serious frustrations
by players and fans and give no mercy.
I also have
been reading that the team realizes that Cordarelle Patterson needs to be on
the field more. He will have a big day.
I felt
Ponder looked a little better in the 2nd half minus the terrible
interception taken back for 6. Ponder has a great opportunity to show fans at
least for this week’s his upside.
Fantasy owners
will love Peterson this weekend as well.
The dome
will be rocking as it is the last home opener at Mall of America Field history.
I am so excited to be a part of it. I plan on driving back home with a smile
and will listen to KFAN call in show with fans excited.
Thanks for
reading
Purplestick
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