People just don't understand it. Being a life-long Vikings fan, I know what to expect from both the Vikings and the opponent they're playing. This is regardless of who is coaching or playing throughout the years, because they come and go, but for some reason it's just that franchise name that resounds with fans. It's what makes rivalries so great. People come and go but great rivalries live on because of the names and the traditions.
A few more traditions were upheld again today.
The Minnesota Vikings narrowly clipped the Detroit Lions 20-16 as usual, and the Detroit Lions lost a game. They go hand-in-hand, but losing has become a tradition for Detroit so I thought I'd at least bring it up.
The Lions are now 0-13 and are looking even more likely to become the first team to go 0-16 in NFL history. The 1976 Tampa Bay Buccaneers finished 0-14 and own the monikor of worst team ever, but the Lions could eclipse them in the final three weeks of play.
Meanwhile, the NFC North division-leading Vikings improve to 8-5 now having won seven of their last nine games including a huge win last Sunday night against the Chicago Bears.
Green Bay lost to Houston so that almost undoubtedly eliminates them from playoff contention. I'll go into that later.
I knew from the start, and I was even telling people, that the Lions would challenge the Vikings. The Vikings' players even knew it would be a tough game. Even though Minnesota has now won 19 of its last 22 meeting with the Lions, it was going to be a tough game. Detroit traditionally plays Minnesota close win or lose no matter the record.
Not only that, but give Detroit credit. This is a team that is staring a winless season right in the face and they are not quitting. They tried to te best of their ability to win this football game today. Other teams could just roll over and accept being a loser. At least Detroit wants to go down fighting.
Minnesota was just the better-equipped team when it came down to it.
Game notes:
Gus Frerotte left late in the second quarter with an injury to his back putting Tarvaris Jackson, who originally was the Vikings' starter heading into the season, back into the spotlight. Jackson shined when he needed to especially in the fourth quarter with Minnesota trailing 13-10.
Frerotte finished 7-of-10 for 70 yards and two interceptions.
Jackson and Adrian Peterson helped march the Vikings down the field and the drive was capped off by a dump pass from Jackson to Visanthe Shiancoe for an 11-yard touchdown with 11:22 to go in the fourth to take the lead. Following a Ryan Longwell field goal that made it a four-point game, the Vikings' defense did the rest.
Jackson finished 8-of-10 for 105 yards and a TD, while Adrian Peterson eclipsed the 100-yard mark for the eighth time this year running for 102 yards on 23 carries. Chestor Taylor had 27 yards and a rushing TD as well.
The Williams Wall (Kevin and Pat- again no relation) was allowed to play against the Lions after a judge lifted the four-game suspension placed on them and four other NFL players earlier this week for taking a banned diuretic. Whether or not the Williams' will still be suspended is still to be determined and could even be slapped on them during the playoffs should the Vikings make it in.
Also of note, things got a little chippy early in the game when Gosder Cherilus of the Lions O-line went low on Vikings' defensive end Jarod Allen and injured his knee. Cherilus' hit was legal but it was a cheap shot nonetheless. The next play Moran Norris took a swing at Napolean Harris of the Vikings and Norris was ejected.
Allen was out for a short while but returned to finish with 5 tackles and two sacks proving that he is one of the toughest defensive ends in the game.
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2 comments:
Nagel, the final score was 20-16 not 17-13. Just an FYI.
Anyways, I watched the majority of the Vikings-Lions game over the Bears-Jags game because the Bears had that game in control the majority of the time.
The Lions fought hard and really could have won this game. However they just couldn't make stops in the 4th quarter. Tavaris Jackson played extremely well when he came in for Frerrote.
Now the question beckons: Does Jackson start next week after he played a great game even if Frerrote returns from injury?? Or does Frerrote reclaim the starting job?
Also, will the Williams wall be able to play in the last 3 games of the year, or is it going to be a week-by-week process?
Since I'm rooting for the Bears to win the division, I'm hoping the Williams bros. will get suspended the remainder of the season, but we'll see what happens.
Abouts the Williams wall, I think the Vikings could have still staved off the Bears and Packers through the last four weeks. They could've at least won two, maybe three of the last four. Now they might get screwed because I don't have a doubt in my mind that they won't make the playoffs, the problem though is if the situation doesn't get held up in court for the next two months, they're screwed. The suspensions WILL happen, it's just a matter of when they will start.
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