Vikings Week 6: A Win Is A Win

Bernard Berrian hit the nail on the head with his postgame comments on Sunday when he said, "This game should've been a blowout." The Vikings 12-10 anything-but-thrilling win over the anemic Detroit Lions on Sunday was possibly the most boring 3 hours of my entire week. When you have a 20 month old daughter that loves playing, dancing, and putting together puzzles with you - it isn't too hard to compartmentalize what boring is and what boring isn't. This game goes in the compartment of super boring as well as super frustrating. When you need a questionable pass interference call on a 2nd and 20 in your own territory - you clarly are not playing well offensively. Here are my postives and negatives from week 6.

Positives

1. A Win in the NFL is a Win - Often overlooked in a game like this is the fact that the Detroit Lions are professionals as well and came into Minnesota wanting and probably deserving a win on Sunday. They clawed and scratched anyway they could to put themselves in position to win. The Lions played hard (especially on D) - and in the NFL anytime you get a win like this and keep this positive in the locker room - I'll take it!

2. Berrian 2 stratight - Bernard had the first back-to-back 100 yd. receiving games for the Vikings since 2004.

3. Kevin Williams and J Kleinsasser - Keving Williams led the Vikings on D with 8 tackles and 4 sacks (a total for 6 on the year now). Also Jim Kleinsasser catching a pass and running 34 yards was exciting. Anytime you see a guy that big (272 lbs.) run that far and that fast it is a good thing

4. First Win w/out - I see it as a positive that the 2008 version of the Minnesota Vikings can win a game without a touchdown from CB Antoine Winfield. One of your best defensive players shouldn't be counted on week in and week out to score points.....that's what you pay offensive players for?

Negatives

1. Offense - The Lions defense has been giving up an average of 36.7 points per game coming into Sunday's game. The Vikings offense scored 10 (the D scored the other 2 pts.). If we are going to make any considerable playoff push - we have to put the ball in the end zone. We managed 392 total yds - and that should be enough to win. Turnovers hurt as AP fumbled twice and Gus threw a pick. Overall we need a better performance.

2. E.J. - E.J. Henderson being lost for the season is a huge loss. E.J. was playing at what one commentator called "a Pro Bowl level". Look for the Vikings rushing attack to suffer. We gave up 100 yds. on the ground overall. There were moments of concern as rookie Kevin Smith ran for a 50 yd. run and Rudi Johnson seemed to find some holes at times (but only managed 32 yds.). Look for better running teams to exploit this weekness. E.J.'s replacement David Herron also left the game and was off and on with injury so with limited depth at MLB the run defense could be exploited in the coming weeks.

3. Bobby Wade's Stache - Anyone that saw a close up of Bobby Wade on Sunday would probably agree that Bobby needs to shave that stache.....man that was not a good thing! It makes matters worse when you see the stache amidst a holding call by Wade.

Next week it is off to the Windy City to play the Bears. The Bears will be ready and will be a tough test on the road.....playing a division rival....who is coming off heartbreaking loss to the now rejuvanated Atlanta Falcons (I'm guessing no one cares about Michael Vick anymore). I think this will be a close game and I am leaning towards 3-4 instead of 4-3, but as we saw Sunday who can predict the NFL.

Earth From Above

Check out these spectacular images.

Stay At Home Dads = Wimpy and Unibiblical???

Mark Driscoll recently took a stand for a conviction that he has for him, personally, and for the men of the church he Pastors. I personally love when he reads the question he immediately knows how he will answer and says "This is now the time when most of you will leave"......and lastly the stand that he takes saying "That in this church this is pretty much grounds for church discipline." Check out the video.

Vikings: Week 5 - Thank You Mr. Gramatica

I just finished watching a nerve racking football game that

1. Had me out of my seat on several occassions yelling at the projection screen while having others stare at me (I watched the game amongst about 50 Canadians that couldn't have been anymore apathetic....although I did meet a Viking fan from Ontario and I made his day because I was the first Viking fan that he'd ever met! What a joy for this guy knowing he wasn't the only one out there...)
2. Had me thinking Zygi Wilf would turn into Al Davis and fire Brad Childress if we blew this one.
   
3. Hoping that Gus can play quarterback the rest of the season and remain healthy and not "fuzzy"? and
   
4. Laughing at Gramatica.....when a kicker is that cocky...it is just flat out funny when he stinks it up that bad.
   

The observations of this game came down to a couple of positives and a couple of negatives

• Positive - A. Winfield had the game of his life and overall has to be our MVP this season so far. In our two wins - who has turned the game in the Vikings favor and created momentum for us to be "in" the game and have a fighting chance? That man is #26. Yes he was Johnny on the spot for the blocked FG run back for a TD, but also had some game changing hits on D. Brees. My only thought was that they need to put him in on punt coverage....find someway to get him on the field (more on this issue later).
• Negative - We failed to put a team away when we had 'em down. The Vikes D in the 2nd quarter continually forced the Saints into punts and the Vikes couldn't capatilize and that continued on throughout the third quarter until Reggie had his way.....AP didn't have his best game and the O-Line didn't perform well against a depleted D-Line from New Orleans.
• Positive - Bernard Berrian and Bobby Wade. I really liked what I saw out of these two guys. Again Berrian had a drop, but seriously compared to Troy Williamson this guy is money. 6 catches for 110 yds. and a TD. Perhaps Berrian's 2 biggest plays that won't make the stat sheet are 1) his making sure that the Saints defender didn't intercept a ball thrown at the end of the half to the inside shoulder of Berrian instead of the outside shoulder where we probably would've had a TD and 2) The pass interference call that resulted in a huge gain and set up the game winning field goal. Bobby Wade turned in another solid possession - workman - like night with 8 grabs for 64 yards.
• Negative Negative Negative! - Last time I checked it wasn't a penalty to punt a ball out of bounds....a penalty is only issued on a kick off....and when I watched this game the coaching staff or Chris Kluwe's minds went to La La Land....for a stretch...where Reggie Bush returned 2 punts for TDs and probably should've had another one - except he slipped. Special Teams has been an area I have pleaded for help here the last couple of weeks. When are we going to improve in this area....and wow! did Erin Henderson get lit up on that first punt return for a TD

This game would've stung massively if the Vikes didn't come back and win the game. Gus showed why his veteran presence is so vital right now. Taking hit after hit...he delivered when it counted. T Jack should be taking notes. Next week home against the Motor City Kiddies.

Taking a Breath

It is Saturday and I usually don't blog on Saturday, but I feel the need to communicate the overwhelming load I have off my shoulders. I just completed my 6th lock in (1 for every year in youth ministry). These gatherings are pretty important to our youth ministry in building relationships and provides opportunity for kids to bring their non-saved friends so they can hear about Jesus - Even though tonight when I was going to speak for a short while the Pizza man came 15 minutes early and walked right into the room where I was speaking. All in all it was a good night. I spent some time with a couple dudes from the church on Friday putting together a sequel to last year's rules video. It is silly, pointless, and flat out dumb - I pray that somehow God can glorify Himself through this.

Parents Fighting: Football Team Doesn't Care

Check out this story from Minnesota by Rick Reilly - in which a Football team is making big news even though the parents can't get along and the school may be shutting down after this year

Study Bible!

If you are looking for a new study Bible I highly recommend the new ESV Study Bible put out by Crossway. It drops soon!