Archive for September, 2011

Here we go again. Another big halftime lead for the Vikings. Two quarters of dominating defense and efficient-if-unspectacular offense. Is it just another set-up for disappointment or will the Vikings hold the lead? They can’t blow a 20-point halftime lead to the Lions at home can they? The Lions will have to play a lot better in the second half if they hope to erase the 20-point deficit. The Vikings have been throwing lots of different looks at Matthew Stafford who has not responded well. The rush has been getting to him. Detroit’s one deep shot to Calvin Johnson was [...]

Yes, the Vikings can beat the Lions today. Or do we believe the Lions have become invincible? Come on. They’re the Lions. Their 2-0 record was compiled against a discombobulated Buccaneers squad (that unfortunately finally got their act together in the second half vs the Vikes) and a completely disintegrating Chiefs team that was clearly shell-shocked after Jamaal Charles’ injury. The Vikings can and will run the ball vs. Detroit’s defense, and if the Vikes get to Matthew Stafford, he will make dumb mistakes. Kevin Williams is back today which should help the pass rush and take a little pressure [...]

The NFC North (or NFC Central for the sake of this blog post) has a history of drafting defensive players to create match-up problems for a difference maker on offense. When Randy Moss was a rookie in 1998 he tore up the NFL for 17 touchdowns and the Vikings had their finest version of a kick ass offense in team history. So the following spring the divisional rival Green Bay Packers used their first three draft picks on cornerbacks (Antuan Edwards, Fred Vinson and Mike McKenzie) knowing they’d have to face Moss for years. History has repeated itself over the [...]

This is a little segment we like to call…5 Questions. I asked Zac Snyder, editor of the SideLion Report, 5 Questions. Here is what the man, the fan, of the Mo City Kitties had to say: Clint: Give us Vikings fans a sense of what it means to Detroit for the Lions to be winning again? Zac: I’m sure there will be no shortage of cliche looks at the city and how the Lions are lifting the spirits of an economically depressed region. I suppose all that stuff is true but it shouldn’t be forgotten that Detroit was a football-depressed [...]

Your injury report for the Friday before the big Lions game: Chris Cook – Questionable (Groin) E.J. Henderson – Probable (Knee) Jared Allen – Probable (Shoulder) Asher Allen – Probable (Toe) Percy Harvin – Probable (Illness) Michael Jenkins – Probable (Groin) Marcus Sherels – Probable (Chest) Kevin Williams – Probable (Foot) Play us out Van: Like The Viking Age on Facebook. Follow Dan Zinski on Twitter.

Two quick ones on this fine Friday afternoon: A day after missing practice with a stomach ailment of unknown origin, Percy Harvin is back out there with his teammates getting ready for Sunday’s tilt with Detroit. Look for Percy to be featured on 99% of offensive plays this week for the Vikings. Yes I’m kidding. Guess who’s back? Yup, Brett Favre. No I don’t mean he’s back with the Vikings; I don’t even mean he’s back in the NFL. He’s back…with Southern Miss football. On October 1 Favre will serve as a color analyst for the broadcast of Southern Miss [...]

Everything surrounding Percy Harvin this week has been dramatic. First it was playing in only 30 snaps on Sunday, then it was Percy making a statement to the media on how the offense lined up in the wrong formation on multiple plays, then it was both Leslie Frazier and Bill Musgrave making contradictory statements on if he’s being used enough in the offense and now today we learn that he missed practice with a stomach ailment. But what exactly is going on here? It still doesn’t make sense that the Vikings would keep their most explosive wide receiver off the [...]

Nils says: I don’t know about you but I’ve seen enough Donovan McNabb for one year. That guy was washed-up three years ago and now he’s not only washed-up, he’s bloated with noxious gasses and being slowly eaten by seagulls. The only thing left is for someone to come bag McNabb up and drive what’s left of him to the rendering plant. Sorry Donovan, but your day is over. It’s time to let the kid play, and by the kid I don’t mean Joe Webb. It’s Ponder time baby. The Vikings used a #12 overall pick on him and now [...]

That sound you heard earlier today was Viking Nation issuing a collective gasp at the news that Percy Harvin was absent from practice. Nervous fans can now breathe a little easier knowing Percy was not kept out because of a migraine. In his post-practice talk Leslie Frazier revealed that Harvin’s absence was due to an illness characterized as “general stomach issues.” That’s the same stuff that used to keep me out of class on test days after I forgot to study. So it doesn’t sound too serious for Percy. I expect he’ll soon be returning to practice and will be [...]

The NFL is very serious about stopping players from faking injuries to slow down offenses, and Chris Kluwe is very serious about lampooning the league’s efforts. I wonder how Roger Goodell feels about Kluwe calling him “Rog.” You know what would be awesome? A Kluwe/Goodell reality show where they go around the country looking for weird jobs. I want to see Kluwe and Goodell shoveling pig poop. Like The Viking Age on Facebook. Follow Dan Zinski on Twitter.