Oct

7

Post Game Thoughts: Week 5, Vikings and Saints

Posted by The Jazzy One

October 7, 2008 |

Well, the Vikings managed to squeak one out somehow last night, beating the Saints 30-27.  (Read the NFL.com recap here)

 Of course I wanted the Vikings to win, but we did not deserve that one.  Our defense played well, but our offense and special teams stunk.

The whole world is talking about Reggie Bush and his two punt returns.  What no one is mentioning is that there was a return in between the two TDs that should’ve been another score.  Bush had everyone beat, but he fell to the ground himself and allowed the Vikings to down him.  If it wasn’t for him falling, we would be talking about Bush’s THREE STRAIGHT punt returns for TDs, which is unexceptable from a special teams unit.

I personally am not thrilled with Frerotte.   Because his total yardage is higher, and because we’ve went 2-1 with him at QB, most of the Vikings world thinks he’s some huge improvement over Jackson, but last night I watched him throw barely over 50% (19-36) and I watched the receivers constantly bail him out, making catches that they’re jumping to grab, coming back to get underthrown balls.  Terrible.  His 3rd down pass to Berrian in the endzone near the end of the game was knocked down, but it should’ve been picked.  It was a short pass, and he threw the ball to the inside… right where the defender was.  His 36 yard throw to Berrian was about 10 yards short of the mark, but Berrian made the play by coming back and sliding to the ground to get it.  He missed short dump off passes at least a couple times in the game.  The only reason his yardage is higher than Jackson’s is because the coach trusts him more.

Luckily for us, our defense played well, and Antoine Winfield was a beast.   The defense had 3 forced fumbles (2 recovered), and 2 interceptions last night.  The sack/forced fumble by Winfield was a great play.  When they blitz him, good things happen.  The interception by Ben Leber was nothing short of an amazing catch.  The Vikings didn’t get any sacks, but they knocked Brees around a little bit (well, after the first quarter, anyway), and they batted down a few passes.

The play of the game had to be the blocked fieldgoal returned by Winfield for a touchdown, though.  That was a 10 point swing.  The Vikings should’ve been down 10-0, but instead they were tied.

All in all, I think the Vikings were lucky to win.  Never once in this game, even when the Vikes were up by 10, did I feel safe with the game.  The Saints were the better team, and if it weren’t for the turnovers, the Vikings would’ve been toast.


Comments

2 Comments so far

  1. Kevin Klimack on October 7, 2008 1:37 pm

    Not pretty but congrats on the win!

  2. The Jazzy One on October 9, 2008 11:14 am

    Thanks. We’ll be seeing you guys next week I guess!

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