Vikings Jump Over obstacles to go 3-1

by poohty_t | 9 years ago | 0 Comments

In week 4 the Vikings faced a familar opponent. One that always produces a close tight fight. This game was no different despite the final score. 

 

The Packers came into the game on a mission to avenge last weeks loss. At the start of this is , defense ruled the day . On their first possesion, the Packers QB Rodgers threw an int to CB Rhodes on about their 35 yardline. However, the Packers defense held up well , and held the Vikings to a FG. After that is was a few punts by both teams until the Packers Lacy bullied his way into the endzone , breaking 3 tacklers to go up 7-3 . The Vikings managed to score a td of their own on a pass to WR Jeffery in between some tight coverage to go up 7-10 before halftime.

 

The Vikings got the ball after halftime, but had to punt. Once again the defenses of both teams were stout. The packers got the ball back , but got shut down and had to punt. There was alot of this in the game.The Vikings managed to drive down and score a TD on another pass to WR Jeffery to go up 7-17. On the following drive the Packers quickly got down the field in just two plays and scored a TD on a run by Lacy again to make it 14-17. The lead the Vikings just got vanished quickly. The Vikings failed to get moving on their next drive, having to punt. Then Rodgers threw his second pick , this time to Tre Waynes on about the Packers 35. Once again though, their defense held up well , holding the Vikings to a FG to make it 14-20. So dispite the turnovers, their defense kept them in this one with a shot to win . The Packers got the ball back , but could only get to midfield before having to punt on a 4th and 8. The Vikings drove down the field , and scored a TD on a run by HB McKinnon  , along with the two point conversion to make it 14-28 with 2 minutee left in the game . The Packers managed to get down to the Vikings 25 yardline , but failed on a 4th down attempt to get the first down and with only 1 timeout left, the Vikings kneeled it out. 

After the game we talked with coach Tizel . " We knew this team was going bring a dog fight. Thier defense is very good and quick. We had to just be patient and keep doing what we were doing . Bascially rely on our own defense as well. We got lucky and got two turnovers and for once we didnt turn the ball over at all. That to me was the difference. Our last couple games have been very close games, that we found a way in the end to pull out the win. This has been what has killed us in the last two years, losing too many close ones at the last minute. We knew we had to get better in the last 3 minutes of games, and play like we did the rest of the game. "

We asked him about his playcalling on kickoffs and punts. Coach Tizel replied "Look, we know some teams have great returners, and sometimes it seems its to easy for them to return the ball on someone with great returners. Im not just gonna easily hand the ball to their best returner and let us get burnt by him , which very well could be the difference in the game. We will continue to kick the ball away from any good returners. We will not be burnt by one this season, you can mark that down."

We then asked him to talk about his team and his feeling on them. " Well , we got ranked as one of the lowest overall skilled teams in the league this season at the start.I think that lit a fire under our team and gave us the motivation we needed to prove that ranking wrong. Last season our QB was 5th in total yards passing. 3rd in number of TDs, we had two WRs with over 1000 yards recieving and our HBs accouted for over 1400 yards on the ground. Our defense did need some work , but we feel like we got some good pieces in the draft and made some moves to help that along. Our FS we picked up, Baynes, has filled in perfectly in the absense of Smith , who we miss, but for the furture of the team, we had to make a move with.Right now he is in 2nd place for most INTs this season with 4 already which is already more than Smith had all last season. We think he will form into a great FS for us. We jsut have to stay focused, one game at a time. I know some see us in first place right now and think, they have turned it around. I hope so, but our schedule this season is a very tough one.We still have alot of very tough teams ahead of us. Hopefully we can pull out an upset or two and make our way back to the playoffs this year. I , as a coach, have never won a playoff game, id like to change that if we can. "

 

This game , dominated by defenses , only allowed 338 yards passing between both teams combined. As well only 184 yards rushing between the two. The Packers had 3 sacks and numerous knock downs on Teddy, while the Vikings managed 5 sacks, but also had 5 penalties for 40 yards while the Packers had none.