I’m not sure which is bigger news in Minnesotaland this Tuesday. On one hand, the Vikings played an impeccable game against the 49ers and won handily. On the other hand, the Packers got hosed by the replacement refs in Seattle and are now 1-2 heading into Week 4 against the desperate 0-3 Saints.
Pretty good week to be a Vikings fan.
But let’s face it, for now, it’s fine to laugh and say, “Couldn’t have happened to a more deserving team.” But that call was truly awful, and no one should be celebrating it. It could have been us and with Jim Harbaugh getting about 15 timeouts in the fourth quarter, it nearly was.
For the first two weeks, everyone let this mess slide saying, “It hasn’t cost anyone a game.” Well now it has. And what does the NFL have to say?
"“The result of the game is final.”"
It sure is, NFL, and that’s the problem.
We’re switching it up a bit this week for our Hennepin Ave update and showing you the direct results of our writers’ Week 3 lineup moves along with their pre-Sunday thoughts. Just in case anyone actually thought we knew what we were doing.
WEEK 3 MATCHUPS
Grumpy Fraziers (1-2) DEF
Recurring Migraines (2-1), 89-77
Grumpy Fraziers – Dan Zinski
Sep 20, 2012; Charlotte, NC, USA Carolina Panthers quarterback Cam Newton (1) watches a replay during the third quarter against the New York Giants at Bank of America Stadium. The Giants defeated the Panthers 36-7. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-US PRESSWIRE
| QB | Cam Newton, Car QB | NYG | L 7-36 | 9 |
RB
Arian Foster, Hou RB@Den
16
RB
DeAngelo Williams, Car RBNYG
7
WR
A.J. Green, Cin WR@Wsh
25
WR
Victor Cruz, NYG WR@Car
4
TE
Brent Celek, Phi TE@Ari
3
FLEX
Frank Gore, SF RB@M
4
D/ST
Seahawks D/ST D/STGB
13
K
Blair Walsh, Min KSF
8
TOTAL: 89
Dumped Randall Cobb and the injured Aaron Hernandez. Picked up Brandon LaFell and Brent Celek. Played Cam Newton and got squat from him Thursday night. Also got squat from Victor Cruz. Playing Frank Gore as a flex because I fully expect him to run all over the Vikings. Fully expect to be 0-3 by the end of the weekend.
Recurring Migraines – Levi Satterlee
| QB | Jay Cutler, Chi QB | StL | W 23-6 | 6 |
RB
BenJarvus Green-Ellis, Cin RB@Wsh
7
RB
C.J. Spiller, Buf RB@Cle
11
WR
Brandon Marshall, Chi WRStL
7
WR
Brandon Lloyd, NE WR@Bal
10
TE
Rob Gronkowski, NE TE@Bal
2
FLEX
Malcom Floyd, SD WRAtl
5
D/ST
Bears D/STStL
23
K
Garrett Hartley, NO KKC
6
TOTAL: 77
Sep 23, 2012; Chicago, IL, USA; Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler (6) is sacked by St. Louis Rams defensive end Chris Long (91) during the second half at Soldier Field. The Bears won 23-6. Mandatory Credit: Rob Grabowski-US PRESSWIRE
I love Jay Cutler this week. He just came off an embarrassing loss where he threw four picks and got called out by teammates. I say he turns it around, especially against St. Louis, one of the worst passing defenses in the league. I know, it’s kind of crazy to bench Tom Brady, but he’s never spectacular against the Ravens (especially in Baltimore), and I’ve got a feeling (those never go wrong, right?).
Like a fantasy genius, I added Giants RB Andre Brown, but then forgot to start him before Thursday’s kickoff. It always feels good to see 24 points riding the pine, especially when he was probably just a one-week addition until Ahmad Bradshaw comes back. Did I ever mention that I hate Thursday night games?
Love Boats (2-1) DEF Cbfalcon (1-2), 85-69
Love Boats – Steve Retka
| QB | Drew Brees, NO QB | KC | L 24-27 | 19 |
RB
Doug Martin, TB RB@Dal
7
RB
Ben Tate, Hou RB@Den
0
WR
Julio Jones, Atl WR@SD
12
WR
Reggie Wayne, Ind WRJac
8
TE
Jacob Tamme, Den TEHou
3
FLEX
Antonio Brown, Pit WR@Oak
12
D/ST
Cardinals D/STPhi
21
K
Matt Bryant, Atl K@SD
3
TOTAL: 85
September 23, 2012; New Orleans, LA, USA; New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees (9) looks for a receiver against the Kansas City Chiefs during second half of their game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. The Kansas City Chiefs defeated the New Orleans Saints 27-24 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: John David Mercer-US PRESSWIRE
There are two noticeable names missing from this list, with both Adrian Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald riding the bench this week. It wasn’t an easy decision, but both of them are going up against great defenses. Peterson is facing a stingy 49ers’ run defense in a game that will most likely see the Vikings fall behind early and be forced to pass a lot. Fitzgerald, on the other hand, is facing an Eagles’ pass defense that has only 7 passing touchdowns the last 7 games. More importantly, Fitzgerald just doesn’t get a lot of targets with Kevin Kolb under center. If Skelton was the QB this game I would probably keep him in the lineup, but I just can’t risk being burned again this week by him.
The other big question marks for me this week are with Julio Jones and Pierre Garcon. Both are dealing with injuries, so I’ll be keeping an eye out for updates until kickoff. However, if both receivers are active, they should have productive days. I’m also counting on a big performance from Reggie Wayne against a suspect Jaguars’ defense. I also picked up the Cardinals’ defense off the waiver wire, which should do well against the turnover-prone Eagles.
Cbfalcon – Cristy Brusoe
| QB | Matthew Stafford, Det QB | @Ten | L 41-44 | 18 |
RB
Ray Rice, Bal RBNE
20
RB
DeMarco Murray, Dal RBTB
10
WR
Hakeem Nicks, NYG WR@Car
0
WR
Marques Colston, NO WRKC
4
TE
Jermichael Finley, GB TE@Sea
6
FLEX
Stephen Hill, NYJ WR@Mia
0
D/ST
Ravens D/STNE
0
K
Sebastian Janikowski, Oak KPit
11
TOTAL: 69
McKinnie’s Bathroom Scale (2-1) DEF
The Blair Walsh Project (1-2), 126-53
McKinnie’s Bathroom Scale – Paul Howell
| QB | Ben Roethlisberger, Pit QB | @Oak | L 31-34 | 31 |
RB
Darren McFadden, Oak RBPit
17
RB
Michael Bush, Chi RBStL
12
WR
Calvin Johnson, Det WR@T
22
WR
Andre Johnson, Hou WR@Den
13
TE
Jimmy Graham, NO TEKC
7
FLEX
Trent Richardson, Cle RBBuf
10
D/ST
49ers D/ST@Min
4
K
Dan Bailey, Dal KTB
10
TOTAL: 126
The Blair Walsh Project – Nick McAndrews
| QB | Aaron Rodgers, GB QB | @Sea | L 12-14 | 9 |
RB
Peyton Hillis, KC RB@NO
1
RB
Mark Ingram, NO RBKC
1
WR
Roddy White, Atl WR@SD
5
WR
Percy Harvin, Min WRSF
8
TE
Vernon Davis, SF TE@Min
11
FLEX
Jordy Nelson, GB WR@Sea
1
D/ST
Texans D/ST D/ST@Den
4
K
Stephen Gostkowski, NE K@Bal
13
TOTAL: 53
Stay tuned for updates every Friday on the happenings of Hennepin Ave and upset ramblings about the replacement refs…until the real refs come back, then upset ramblings about the real refs! Oh no, I’m getting nostalgic.
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