The (3-5) Minnesota Vikings enter the "Frozen Tundra" this weekend looking for revenge from a week four loss to the (7-1) Green Bay Packers. This bitter rivalry is now entering its 94th game in its history, with the Packers leading the series 47-45-1. These two teams met in week four, and it was Green Bay winning 23-16, thanks to a last minute interception off Kelly Holcomb.This time it will be the Viking's back up quarterback Brooks Bollinger playing for the injured Kelly Holcomb and Tarvaris Jackson. This season, Bollinger is 17 of 24 passes for 215 yards and one touchdown. Bollinger's passer rating is at 112%, and he has been sacked four times this season and thrown no interceptions.
Minnesota's poor offensive performance this year was improved upon last week, as the Vikings newest stud running back Adrian Peterson rushed for 296 yards, three touchdowns, and caught one pass for 19 yards against San Diego. Peterson has been brilliant this season as he has rushed for over 100 yards in every game except week three against Kansas City, and week seven against Dallas. Adrian is also on pace to breaking Eric Dickerson's rushing record of 2,105 yards set in 1984. Adrian Peterson is 1,069 yards shy of breaking the record, with eight more games left to play. If Peterson can keep up the same pace in the next eight games, he will make the Eric Dickerson record chase very interesting. Peterson has already set a Viking record of having more than three 100 yard rushing games by a rookie, and two NFL records, as he rushed for over 200 yards twice in his rookie season, and has broken the single-game record of 295 yards rushing from Jamal Lewis, who set that record in 2003.
Peterson's counterpart Chester Taylor is averaging 4.6 yards per carry and scored his first touchdown of the season last week. Taylor was the Viking's number one running back last year and rushed for 1,216 yards, for an average of 4.0 yards per carry. With the emergence of Adrian Peterson and a two week absence due to injury, Taylor has only carried the ball 58 times this season for 267 yards. Taylor is still a vital part to this Minnesota running unit, as he gives a much needed break to Adrian Peterson, and is a great decoy when need be.
The Vikings passing offense has not been nearly as productive this season. The Vikings offense was criticised every week last season, as the brunt of the blame went to veteran quarterback Brad Johnson. This season the Vikings offensive woes have been partly blamed on rookie Tarvaris Jackson. However, the brunt of the blame should go to Brad Childress. Childress has put Tarvaris is a very precarious situation by having an unseasoned quarterback to lead this team. Jackson is fresh out of Alabama State University, and needs a few years of development in this league before being put in to lead any team. Jackson is very young, raw, and inexperienced. Jackson will be sidelined this week with a broken finger. Childress is also resting his offensive success on Sidney Rice, Troy Williamson, and Bobby Wade.
Bobby Wade has been the most productive receiver this season for the Vikings. Wade's 24 receptions for 284 yards leads the team for receiving. Unfortunately, Wade has not found the end zone. The next receiver for the Vikings has been Sidney Rice. Rice has 18 receptions for 212 yards and two touchdowns. Both Wade and Rice average 11.8 yards per reception, and they both have 40 yards for their longest pass reception. The big difference between the two is that Rice has found the end zone twice. As far as Williamson goes, it's been another disappointing season for him. He is fifth on the list for Viking receivers with 9 receptions for 159 yards and one touchdown. Williamson was drafted in 2005 for his speed, and has been ineffective. Williamson continually drops catchable passes, and in my opinion is looking at being cut next season.
This Vikings offense got a huge boost last week in their 35-17 victory over San Diego. Adrian Peterson led the team with 296 yards rushing off 30 carries. He had three touchdowns and a pass reception for 19 yards. His counterpart Chester Taylor had 9 receptions for 60 yards and a touchdown, while Sidney Rice had 4 receptions for 66 yards and one touchdown. Kicker Ryan Longwell was 5/5 in extra points and 0/1 in field goal attempts. Longwell missed a 57 yard field goal, which was run back 109 yards for a touchdown.
The Vikings need to do much of the same offensively this week. The Vikings need to have Adrian Peterson touch the ball 25 times, Chester Taylor touch the ball about 15-20 times, and mix it up a bit with some passes to Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade. Minnesota should also look at giving short slants to Troy Williamson, then let him use his speed to beat out defenders. If the Vikings can get productions from Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, like they did last week. You should be looking at another Viking victory.
SKOL VIKINGS!!!!
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