Vikings Wanna Keep Roll'in

The Minnesota Vikings are looking to keep their three game win streak alive this weekend in San Francisco. The Vikings suffered a humiliating loss to these 49ers last year in San Francisco 9-3, as Brad Johnson and his Vikings had no offense whatsoever and only compiled 238 total yards offensively. Brad Johnson threw for 136 yards, no touchdowns, and one interception, while Chester Taylor rushed for 96 yards on 26 carries, and Artose Pinner, Bethal Johnson, Brad Johnson, and Tony Richardson each had one carry for a total of 11 yards. This was a very dark day for Brad Childress's coaching career, and raised many more questions about the Vikings failing offense.

The 2007 season began as it did in 2006. The Minnesota Vikings won their home opener in 2007 23-3, then lost their next three games by a combined score of 13 points. The Vikings offense was once again ridiculed, and this time first year starter Tarvaris Jackson was getting all the heat. It looked as if the Vikings were to have another season of poor offensive play and great defensive maneuvers. It was the defense and not the offense keeping the Vikings in their games this season, and appeared it was going to be a very long season for Jackson and his offense.

In week two against the Detroit Lions, Jackson threw four interceptions, and no touchdowns before leaving in the fourth quarter with a groin injury. Jackson would then miss the next two weeks of play and have the bye week off to recover. Tarvaris would then return in week six against the Bears and a part of week seven before exiting with another injury. Jackson would miss one week with a concussion, and return in week nine against the Chargers. Jackson would be out in week 11 against the Packers, and make his final return in week 12 against the Raiders.

It was the Raiders game were Jackson would begin to show a glimmer of hope that continue on to this point. Since playing well against Oakland, Tarvaris Jackson would start to improve weekly. In games versus the Oakland Raiders, New York Giants, and the Detroit Lions, Jackson would earn a passer rating of 79.9%, 139.2%, and 111.4% respectively. Jackson's pass completion ratio would go from a high of 56.5% before the Oakland match up, to a new high of 83.3% against the New York Giants. Jackson has thrown three touchdowns and one interception in the past two weeks as well. Tarvaris has recently found a way to connect with his receivers and is now possessing a newly regained confidence in himself. This young man is showing signs of competing gracefully in the NFL and seems to be improving weekly.

Another Minnesota Viking offensive player showing signs of improvement is wide receiver Sydney Rice. Including the match up three weeks ago in Minnesota against the Raiders, Rice has caught 10 passes for 153 yards and two touchdowns. Rice has also thrown two passes and completed them both for a total of 94 yards. Rice's first career completion was to Visanthe Shiancoe for 79 yards against the Raiders. Rice then caught a 60 yard touchdown reception on the first play of the game in New York against the Giants.

Minnesota's Bobby Wade has also shown signs of improvement. Wade caught his first touchdown pass of the season last week against the Lions. Bobby Wade is the team leader in receptions and receiving yards. On the season, Wade has 37 reception for 426 yards and one touchdown. In the past three weeks, Wade has caught 11 passes for 133 yards and one touchdown, and has been a big part of this newly vamped Minnesota offense.

Visanthe Shiancoe has also contributed to this offense recently. He has a 79 yard reception from Sydney Rice, and in the past three weeks has caught 4 passes for 114 yards and no touchdowns, but has aided in keeping the Minnesota offense on the field longer.

The backfield for the Vikings has been number one all season. With the one-two punch of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, Minnesota has kept defenses on their heels all season long. Adrian Peterson leads the team in rushing with 1,197 yards on 184 carries and 10 touchdowns. Peterson's longest touchdown was for 73 yards in week six against the Bears, followed by a 62 yard touchdown against the Chargers in week nine. Peterson's longest carry of the season with out a touchdown was for 55 yards in week four against Green Bay.

The other half of the one-two punch is Chester Taylor. Taylor has taken over for Adrian Peterson the past few weeks because Adrian missed two weeks with a torn LCL. Since regaining the number one spot at running back, Taylor has carried the ball 67 times for 311 yards and five touchdowns. Taylor has easily led the team in rushing the two weeks of Peterson's absence, and shown just why the Minnesota Vikings are so deadly in the backfield.

The Vikings defense has surged as well since the win streak has begun. In week 11 against the Raiders Minnesota allowed 344 yards passing, but prevented Daunte Culpepper and his Raiders to reach the end zone all but one time. The defense sacked Culpepper four times, had one interception and one forced fumble. In week 12 in New York, Minnesota allowed Eli Manning to throw for 273 yards and gave up one passing touchdown and one rushing touchdown. Minnesota also intercepted Manning four times, and ran three back for touchdowns. The Vikings went on to sack Manning three times, forced no fumbles and only allowed the Giants to rush for 75 yards on 19 carries. Then last week against Detoit, the Vikings allowed Jay Kitna to throw for 260 yards and one touchdown. Minnesota had no interceptions, but forced two fumbles and had a kick return for a 103 yard touchdown. The Lions only rushed the ball six times for 23 yards.

With the Vikings playing and winning as a team, Brad Childress and his team have found a way to win. Childress has also credited his team's recent success to a talk he had with the the Monday after the Green Bay game. Childress addressed his team about forming new habits, and said it takes 21 days of work to form a habit. The Vikings have made a habit of winning since then, and are now back in the playoff race. If the Vikings can continue their winning ways, they will find this once washed out season as a huge success. Look for our newly energized Vikings to keep on playing and winning in the upcoming weeks. I have even went out on a limb and stated the Vikings will win out and make the playoffs this season. Lets keep cheering them on, supporting our team, and watching them as they continue to play as well as they have, and bolster their newly gained confidence.

SKOL VIKINGS!!!!