Archive for January, 2011

We’ve seen this movie before.  The Vikings have an opponent they should be able to handle, but for whatever reason come out flat as old tires on offense and uninspired at best on defense.  The result, another head-scratching loss.  The latest flopperoo, a 20-13 defeat by the Detroit Lions, meant little in the grand scheme of things:  The Vikings were not fighting to get into the playoffs, were not even scratching their way back to .500.  They were playing mostly for pride, and to avoid the shame of finishing last for the first time since 1990.  A few guys were [...]

Leslie Frazier is set to have the interim tag officially removed from before his name.  A day after the Vikings fell to 6-10 with a 20-13 loss to the Lions, the team has reportedly reached an agreement with Frazier to become the head coach. Frazier led the Vikings to a 3-3 record after taking over for the embattled Brad Childress.  The highlight of that six game stretch was a road victory over Philadelphia.  It’s hard to pick one lowlight, but for my money it was the whole TCF Bank Stadium debacle against the Bears, which featured Brett Favre suffering a [...]

With the completion of last night’s epic battle for the NFC West title the NFL’s regular season schedule officially came to a close, leaving the Vikings and the other non-playoff teams waiting with baited breath to discover their official draft position for 2011, as determined by final standings and application of mysterious tiebreaking formulas. Actually, I’m sure the Vikings knew what their draft position would be the second the final score became official, but saying it the other way sounds much more dramatic. Now it’s officially official:  the Vikings will draft 12th overall in the first round. Many believe a [...]

By all appearances Brett Favre has played his last NFL game, and this is his last post-game press conference.  Note that Brett never officially announces his retirement.  He’s saving that for later in the off-season.  Why have one farewell presser when you can have several? Follow FanSided on Facebook. Follow The Viking Age on Twitter. Site5 and Fansided Holiday Season Charity Drive: Give to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

Your Viking highlight for the day:  Jared Allen picking off Shaun Hill and returning it for a touchdown.  At this point the score became 13-7 and there was still hope.  Sadly, the Vikings got nothing going on offense in the second half and lost their 10th game of the season.

The season ended today on a seemingly appropriate note:  With the Vikings looking hopeless on offense and listless on defense, and losing to the Detroit Lions.  Five days after looking poised and efficient in leading the team to a huge win against the Eagles, Joe Webb reverted to the clueless rookie form he exhibited after replacing Brett Favre against the Bears.  The Lions’ defense keyed on Adrian Peterson all day, getting huge penetration and holding the Vikings’ Pro Bowler to 31 yards on 14 carries.  Defensively, the Vikings allowed too many long drives, looked horrible tackling and saw Shaun Hill [...]

The season isn’t over yet – as of this posting there’s still a half of (very boring) football left – but Zygi Wilf isn’t waiting to make up his mind on Leslie Frazier.  According to the Star-Trib, the Vikings are set to make Frazier the head coach for 2011 and beyond.  Given Wilf’s past history of quick decisions and quicker announcements, the Frazier hire could be made official as early as today. There was some thought that Wilf could put off making a coaching decision until after the season, just to see what other names might bubble to the surface, [...]

The last Brett Favre drama of the season (and, technically, the first of 2011) proved short-lived.  Moments ago the Vikings announced that Favre will be inactive for today’s game at Detroit.  Earlier it was reported that Favre told Leslie Frazier he wanted to play, but those pesky concussion tests… I will abstain from making any big pronouncements about our having seen the last of Favre in the NFL, cause you know, we’ve fallen for that one before. Anyway, if it is over for Favre…good show #4. Follow FanSided on Facebook. Follow The Viking Age on Twitter. Site5 and Fansided Holiday [...]

How about one more Favre drama for the road?  Yup, Brett Favre is at it again.  According to ESPN, Favre has told coach Leslie Frazier he wants to play today in Detroit. Duh. And now we wait to see if Favre is physically cleared to play, if he is listed as active, if he comes out with the team, etc., He just loves the game kids. Follow FanSided on Facebook. Follow The Viking Age on Twitter. Site5 and Fansided Holiday Season Charity Drive: Give to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America.

An incredibly exhausting, at times mind-numbingly frustrating season finally comes to an end today in Detroit.  The Vikings are coming off their best win of the season, a shocking, in some ways dominating 24-14 victory over the playoff bound Eagles.  The Lions, meanwhile, are on a rare hot streak, having won their last three including two straight on the road.  Another win for the Lions would, by virtue of tiebreakers, lift them out of last place in the NFC North and send the Vikings tumbling to their first basement finish since the infamous 1984 Les Steckel season. Which Vikings team [...]