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Vikings' performance provides hope
By Bobby Hart
Published:
Thursday, September 11, 2003
After last Sunday's 30-25 win over the Green Bay Packers, I felt myself fall into a strange d�j� vu.
It was the same kind of disbelief I encountered when Gary Anderson missed the field goal against the Atlanta Falcons in the infamous 1998 playoff loss, and when the NY Giants stomped the Vikings 41-0 in the 2001 playoffs.
However, this shock felt kind of good. Not just because I witnessed the Packers christen their new Lambeau home with a loss to the underdogs from Minnesota, and not just because I saw Brett Favre choke in front of his cheesy faithful with a four interception performance. It felt good because Sundays game helped me to find the first realistic hint of hope for the Vikings since 1998. Coincidentally, it was the Vikings' first victory in Lambeau since 1998 when a rookie named Randy Moss scorched the Packers for 190 yards and two touchdowns from only five catches in a 30-25 win.
I was in love with what I saw. The Vikings offense finally found a rhythm, and they did so without a premiere running back, considering Michael Bennett's injury. This success should be purely attributed to the offensive line, who is the most reliable group since the 1998 veteran group lead by Jeff Christy and Randall McDaniel. Matt Birk and Bryant McKinnie reminded me a lot of the two 1998 All-Pros. They led a promising performance of the Viking O-line that has the talent and youth to stick together for years to come, if they can keep it up this season.
Despite two familiar fumbles, Daunte Culpepper had an excellent 15-30, 195 yards and three touchdowns, while showing a lot of patience and maturity that was non-existent last season. Daunte clearly has the ability to be a Pro-Bowl quarterback if he has a good offensive line, which he now does.
Although there were no flea flickers or long bombs (but the Kelly Campell 15-yard reverse was nice), the offense used quick slants and other easy routs to tear apart the Green Bay secondary. Moss showed the 150-yard, one touchdown performance that he is more than capable of providing all season, but the test lying in front of the offense is how they will respond to a blitzing team that double-teams him consistently.
Even kicker Aaron Elling, who played in his first NFL regular season game after a pre-season cut by Miami in 2001 and Seattle in 2002, showed promise. His three field goals of 22, 34, and 46 yards marked the most field goals by a Viking on opening day in 32 years. Fred Cox was the last to do so in 1971.
And how about that Vikings' defense (two words that don't usually belong together)? I wouldn't go so far as to say that The Purple People Eaters have returned, but Chris Hovan and company had Mr. Favre shaking in his cleats. Although they only had one sack notched by linebacker Chris Claiborne, they put enough pressure on Favre to make him rush throws into a talented secondary. Yep, you heard it right: "talented secondary."
The Minnesota secondary combined for four interceptions against one of the league's best QBs. It seems as if the Wasswa Serwangas and Kenny Wrights are items of the past. Safety Corey Chavous (two interceptions and seven tackles) looked like a ball hawk, while cornerbacks Ken Irvin and Denard Walker did a great job of swatting balls and sticking to Donald Driver and Robert Fergusen like glue. The two combined for only 80 yards and no touchdowns.
The Vikings defense may struggle without Chavous who could be out 2-6 weeks with a sprained knee, and thanks to another fourth quarter collapse, I wouldn't advise anyone to start getting hung up on any Super Bowl hopes. Minnesota still has a long season ahead of them and will never be taken very seriously in a weak Northern NFC conference, but the Vikings did almost all the right things on Sunday.
I'll take what I can get.
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