The Viking Age
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Week 5 review and grades: Minnesota Vikings vs Houston Texans

By Nicholas Coyer

Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels (35) against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels (35) against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Texans 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /
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Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels (35) returns a punt for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Marcus Sherels (35) returns a punt for a touchdown during the second quarter against the Houston Texans at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

Special Teams – Grade: A

Blair Walsh did not miss a kick the entire game! Sadly that’s the opening to the special teams grade… Of more importance, Minnesota Vikings Punt Return Specialist Marcus Sherels  returned a Shane Lechler punt 79 yards for a touchdown that put the Minnesota Vikings up 24-0 at that time and pretty much put the nail in the coffin for the Houston Texans with 8:46 remaining in the 2nd quarter. It’s amazing that Sherels on punts and Patterson on kickoffs are much more successful going right through the coverage team than around them.

Special teams have been a thing of beauty for the Minnesota Vikings this 2016 season. Many were upset that Jeff Locke had a 34 yard punt in the game, but in all honesty the kick was short because he had a Texan coming at him and he had to just get rid of the ball and live to fight another day. Awesome showing by the Minnesota Vikings special teams unit all around. Hats off to Blair Walsh on this day, maybe Minnesota Vikings fans can quit holding their collective breaths on field goal tries and PATs!

The Fans – Grade: A

So US Bank Stadium and Minnesota Vikings fans are a match made in Heaven. Loud fans, loud stadium, and a Minnesota Vikings defense that gives almost too many reasons to cheer, have combined to make US Bank Stadium a nightmare for opposing offenses.

It now appears that the Minnesota Vikings will not get to experience the first home loss at US Bank Stadium this season. Dallas is currently the only team we face at home with a winning record up to this point, Arizona of 2016 is not Arizona of 2015, and everybody else is sub-par. The 13th man can play a pivotal role as it has, and keep the inaugural campaign a perfect run

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