SB Nation - Percy Harvin

All We Want for Christmas Is...

ericj69 — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 17:58:40 -0000

She's been very naughty, but the Vikings have been nothing but nice this year.

Dear Santa,

Sunday is Minnesota's last game before Christmas. Unfortunately, I don't have much time to write you this year; I have my holiday party for work tonight and a family Christmas tomorrow. I would have written to you last night, but I was too busy watching my fantasy playoff dreams getting crushed by Peyton Manning, Reggie Wayne, and Dallas Clark. So rather than give you a full analysis of the upcoming Vikings/Panthers game (I know you're an avid reader of the Daily Norseman now that the North Pole has Wi-Fi), I'll give you my wish list for the game and the rest of the Vikings' season:

I really wish that you could send some good medicine to Percy Harvin for those migraines he's been having. He really wants that Rookie of the Year trophy as a belated Christmas present, and he deserves it. It'd be a shame for him to miss out on his gift just because he missed games at the end of the year. And of course we need him down the stretch and in the playoffs!
I wish that Matt Moore plays just like Jake Delhomme and sends lots of gifts to our secondary on Sunday night.
I wish that the Vikings will capture the #1 spot in rushing defense yet again. It's becoming a holiday tradition! And if we can stop DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart, it will go a long way towards getting the top rushing defense and winning the game on Sunday.
I wish that we don't have a game like the last time we were in Carolina in 2005. You remember that game, don't you Santa? Steve Smith went wild on us, Daunte Culpepper played his last game as a Viking thanks to blowing out approximately 17 ligaments in his knee, and Minnesota lost 38-13. Can we make some positive memories this time around?
I wish that I could see some good ol' fashioned calf roping on Sunday from Jared Allen. He's been a little quiet lately, and I'd like to see him make a late-season push for Defensive MVP. (Otherwise, Charles Woodson is probably going to win, and you know we don't want that to happen.) I just hope that Allen can outperform Julius Peppers and establish his dominance again.
I wish for a healthy Brett Favre down the stretch and throughout the playoffs. I know, I know--I spent 16 years wishing for the exact opposite thing to happen. You got me there. But you never came through on any of those wishes, so maybe this year you could take my wish into account. Just this once? I vividly remember watching Tarvaris Jackson in the Metrodome during the playoff game against the Eagles last year. There's a very real possibility of that matchup happening again this season, and I'd much prefer to have #4 behind center.
I wish that Chris Gamble will learn from covering Randy Moss and take most of the plays off this week. He should just let Sidney Rice and Bernard Berrian roam free all day. Could you teach Chris that giving space is better than receiving any interceptions?

(More wishes and my Week 15 picks after the jump)

I wish I didn't have to think about the threat of a nude Pat Williams if we win the Super Bowl this year. Did he really say he'll "retire if the Vikings win the Super Bowl this season and will walk off the field wearing nothing but tights and socks"? Don't get me wrong, if seeing too much of Phat Pat ensures us victory I'm OK with it...but yeesh.
Speaking of the Super Bowl, I wish that this team wasn't compared to the 1998 Vikings so much. I see the similarities, but I still remember the t-shirt I had when I was a senior in high school. It read "All I Want For Christmas Is A Super Bowl". It pictured Randall Cunningham as you with our offensive line as the reindeer. Obviously that kind of blasphemy upset you. So I don't even want you to think that the two versions of the Vikings are the same, OK?
I wish that the Vikings will cruise to an easy win on Sunday to secure the 2009 NFC North title and all but lock up a first-round bye for the playoffs.

Thanks Santa! Merry Christmas everyone!

Prediction: Vikings 34, Panthers 13

Oh and one last thing: I wish that all of my Week 15 NFL picks will be right (home team in CAPS):

SAINTS over Cowboys: I wish the Saints would just go ahead and lose a couple games to give us a shot at the #1 seed. But the Cowboys winning in December is going to take much more than a Christmas miracle.

RAVENS over Bears: I wish that Jay Cutler will keep playing like this for years and years to come in Chicago. I never thought Favre's interception record would ever be in jeopardy, but maybe I was wrong...

Patriots over BILLS: I wish that I could turn on ESPN or sports radio and not have to listen to "what's wrong with the Patriots." It's a little drastic for a division-leading 8-5 team.

Cardinals over LIONS: I wish Arizona played like they did in San Francisco when we played them a couple weeks ago. I'd also wish that the Lions weren't such a train wreck, but I enjoy the two victories over Detroit each year.

CHIEFS over Browns: I wish that this game never even existed.

JETS over Falcons: I wish I knew for sure whether Matt Ryan and Michael Turner were playing at 100% this week, because that may sway my pick here.

EAGLES over 49ers: I wish there wasn't a real possibility of Eagles fans flooding Minneapolis for the third straight season. Hearing that "E-A-G-L-E-S EAGLES!" chant makes me want to repeatedly headbutt a pile of railroad ties.

Texans over RAMS: I wish the Texans wouldn't beat up on awful teams at the end of each season to finish 8-8 and be everyone's "sleeper team" the following year. I also wish Steven Jackson didn't have to waste the prime of an incredible career on a string of the aforementioned awful teams.

TITANS over Dolphins: I wish that both of these teams could make the playoffs, because they're a lot more fun to watch than the other AFC Wild Card options.

BRONCOS over Raiders: I wish the Broncos would win this game, because this is my Eliminator pick and I'm 14-0 so far this year. I also wish I could stop laughing at JaMarcus Russell because he can't even get the start over Charlie Frye this week.

CHARGERS over Bengals: I wish that Chris Henry was still with us, because the Bengals have already had enough to deal with this year after Mike Zimmer's wife passed away. I also wish that if I get one pick wrong this week it's this one. Cincinnati deserves some good news.

SEAHAWKS over Buccaneers: I wish this game took place two years ago when both teams were actually decent.

Packers over STEELERS: I wish the defending champions hadn't completely folded down the stretch so they would actually beat the Packers here.

Giants over REDSKINS: I wish the Giants would just make up their mind about whether they're actually good or not. I never know how to pick their games.

Last week: 11-5

Season so far: 144-65 (including correctly picking Indianapolis last night)

Carolina Panthers’ Hump Day Prognostication (Minnesota Vikings edition)

James The Aussie — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 15:01:01 -0000

More photos » by Morry Gash - AP

5 days ago: Minnesota Vikings' Brett Favre (4) hugs Adrian Peterson (28) after Peterson's touchdown run during the second half of an NFL football game against the Cincinnati Bengals, Sunday, Dec. 13, 2009, in Minneapolis. The Vikings won 30-10. (AP Photo/Morry Gash)

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Good morning Panther faithful and happy hump day! Twelve lords a leapin'? Not quite. This is the current number of Carolina Panthers on injured reserve. It's been a horrible 2009 campaign for injuries, but it could be worse; both the Buffalo Bills and Tampa Bay Buccaneers have 18 players on the IR. After the loss Jeff Otah yesterday the injury ravaged Carolina Panthers (5-8) host the dynamic Minnesota Vikings (11-2) in the last of the Panthers' nationally televised games on Sunday night.

Though not officially announced at the time of this article it appears Matt Moore will be making his third start in a row under center for the beleaguered Carolina Panthers offense. So what does this week hold for the Cats? Find out:

After the jump...

Minnesota run offense vs. Carolina run defense

There's this guy who dons the purple every week. He's pretty good from what I hear... what is his name? Oh yeah, Adrian Peterson. If you aren't aware of Peterson's exploits you've been living under a rock for the last two NFL seasons. Peterson is easily one of the top 5 running backs in the NFL, and some want to anoint him as the next Walter Payton. I'm not willing to go quite that far, but Peterson is an outstanding running back.

Meanwhile, the Panthers' run defense is far from stellar allowing 137.3 yards on the ground each week (26^th in the NFL). If the Panthers want to make some plays in this area they will have to force Peterson to fumble, which isn't a wholly difficult prospect as he's put the ball on the turf 6 times thus far in 2009.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Minnesota pass offense vs. Carolina pass defense

In times of yore purple was reserved as a color for kings... so how fitting the Mississippi Methuselah wears the color for the season likely to be his swansong. Brett Favre has found the fountain of youth in Minnesota turning in a MVP caliber season. Thus far Favre has over 3,000 yards, 27 TDs, only 6 INTs while posting a QB rating of 106. A good reason for this resurgence is a veritable smorgasbord of effective wide receivers. Led by a product of the Carolina's- Sidney Rice, the Vikings also have rookie Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian rounding out their receiving corps. Couple this with Visanthe Shiancoe at TE and the Vikings are very deadly ranked 11^th in the NFL in passing.

Meanwhile the Carolina Panthers' 6^th ranked pass defense has been a bright spot in an otherwise dark season. We've seen the NFL's best and brightest and held the vast majority of passing defenses below their season averages. It would be nice to still have Thomas Davis to keep opposing tight ends honest, but all in all I think the pass D can step up again.

Edge: Carolina Panthers

KEY MATCHUP: Carolina run offense vs. Minnesota run defense

The Carolina Panthers' run offense is a wounded animal at this point. With injuries to both Jordan Gross and Jeff Otah, the normally calm edges do not provide safe harbor for Double Trouble. In the latter part of 2009 the Carolina Panthers' depth on the offensive line has been tested, and been found wanting for the most part. That being said, both DeAngelo Williams and Jonathan Stewart have big play potential every time they touch the ball. The Panthers still hold strong at 4^th in the NFL in rushing, despite slightly weakened performances the last two weeks.

Conversely, the Minnesota Vikings are boasting a very stout run defense. They have an extremely efficient group of LBs led by Chad Greenway who leads the team in tackles. Their run defense is currently ranked 4^th in the NFL and this battle of the number 4's proves to be the most intriguing aspect of Sunday night's game.

Edge: Push

Carolina pass offense vs. Minnesota pass defense

As we embark on week three of the Matt Moore experiment it's starting to look a little more like a 4^th grade science fair project than a Nobel Prize winner. Moore has been efficient, but not dynamic. After facing two fairly weak pass defenses in his first two outings he's up against a rough defense this week. If Moore and the Panthers' 28^th ranked pass offense hope to make any dents in the Vikings' armor he needs to get Steve Smith involved early, and often. Relying on the outlets again this week is not going to move the chains efficiently, especially when the run offense is in for a fight.

The Vikings' pass defense is ranked 11^th in the NFL for good reason. The Vikings don't have any true ball hawks in the secondary (only nabbing 6 interceptions this season) but while they lack in this area they more than make up for in coverage. It will be a rough week for Moore.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Special Teams

Special teams have been drastically improved since the early weeks of 2009, but they're far from a strong point. The Panthers only average 19.9 yards per kickoff to the Vikings' 24.4 and the Panthers are allowing almost 11 yards per punt return to the Vikings' 9.1.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Coaching

Each week this proves to be the hardest aspect to prognosticate. The Panthers' coaching has been so up and down in 2009 it's near impossible to guess what will happen on Sundays. We still need to run the ball more and be more inventive on the offensive end; conversely the defensive coaching has been outstanding. Ron Meeks was a real find for the defense.

The Vikings are getting it done on both sides of the ball. The Panthers are getting it done on one side of the ball. This alone makes it a clear choice.

Edge: Minnesota Vikings

Final Summary

The Panthers are playing for pride, and to dampen some of the boundless excitement in the camp of San Francisco 49ers fans who await our 2010 1^st round pick. Carolina is evaluating the talent and depth they have to better prepare them for a 2010 campaign. I know there is a convoluted scenario that shows how we can make the playoffs, but it would require a Christmas miracle of Charlie Brown proportions to make that a reality.

Meanwhile the Vikings are playing to retain the 1^st round bye. The Vikings are a very, very good football team, but most people who read this article on a regular basis know I just can't pick against my Panthers... so my heavily biased prediction is:

Carolina Panthers 27 - Minnesota Vikings 24

Nate Burleson, Mike Holmgren and John Morgan Walk into an Interview

John Morgan — Wed, 16 Dec 2009 00:01:11 -0000

More photos » by Ben Margot - AP

Mike Holmgren will make a decision before Christmas. His choice is between the Cleveland Browns, who have expressed interest, and the Seattle Seahawks, who are assumed to be interested.

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Nate Burleson suffered a high ankle sprain during Sunday's game against the Houston Texans. Seattle initially signed Burleson to a poison pill contract comparable to Steve Hutchinson's. It was a sandbox moment for Tim Ruskell. A chance to kick down the kid's castle that had kicked down his. Seattle later restructured that contract and included a voidable year in 2010.

There's a lot to like about Burleson. If he recovers like many/most athletes post-ACL replacement, he should improve his agility into next year, and be 99% the player he was before the injury by 2010. That lost agility is conspicuous on returns, and, recently, during an end-around attempt against the Texans. Burleson lacks the ability to run angles and curves at a high speed like DeSean Jackson, Percy Harvin, Josh Morgan and, once upon a time, Nate Burleson. Burleson should recover some bendy-quicks, but not enough to be re-signed.

What he'll gain back through recovery will soon thereafter be lost because of age. Burleson turns 29 August of 2010. He's hardly old, be he is old enough to be mismatched with a rebuilding team. He also isn't very good.

Burleson rewards you with flash and kills you with details. He is notorious for quitting routes, deeking blocks and alternating good grabs with maddening drops. Before Greg Knapp, Burleson was an overpriced second receiver poorly fit to Mike Holmgren's system. Burleson appears better fit to Knapp's looser style, but he isn't producing at a much higher level. Despite an increase in targets and a resulting increase in yards, Burleson is still pretty close to a league average receiver.

The short-term impact of the injury is an opening for Deion Branch and Deon Butler. Branch has been phased out this season. It is difficult to be sure if Branch is worse or just less involved. He said before the season started that his knee would never be the same. As routine as ligament replacement is in the modern NFL, some players still do not respond well to the procedure, and it's possible Branch left something on the operating table.

Butler is more interesting, both because he is younger and faster, and because he is free of the controversial origin story. He also might not be much of a prospect. He's built like DeSean Jackson but plays like Darrell Jackson, and though he is quick into and out of his short cuts, it's difficult to see Butler making a career snatching passes in traffic; taking tackles like Bobby Engram.

The other news of the day involves retired head coach Mike Holmgren. Cleveland is hosting Holmgren and attempting to entice him into taking on a head of football operations position. It's a good fit for Holmgren. The team has a young, talented offensive line, a headcase quarterback with SnapOn tools, some young defensive talent and a lot of cap space and draft picks to invest towards a rebuild. Despite inferior leadership, the Browns are closer to contention than Seattle, and farther along in their rebuild. Brady Quinn is a presumptive bust, but a young 25. Hasselbeck did not make a regular season start until he was 26. Brett Favre was having his first great season as a pro at 25. He commemorated his age-24 season with a league worst 24 picks. The idea of a quarterback guru might be farcical, but Browns owner Randy Lerner didn't earn his fortune with smart business decisions. He inherited it from his father.

Holmgren has announced he wants to decide his destination before Christmas. That puts pressure on the Seahawks organization, or is intended to. It's entirely possible Seattle has no interest in Holmgren. I do not think that Holmgren was or will be a terrible GM, but that's a pretty low standard for expectations. I still hold out hope that the Seahawks can hire the NFL's first Billy Beane-like executive. There are numerous angles a smart strategist could exploit in the NFL. A savvy, young, creative and ambitious general manager could free Seattle from the orthodox approach of systems and windows and trend-following, and build the Seahawks into next decade's Red Sox.

Shoot, I'll volunteer myself and promise a return to the playoffs by 2011. I've made a lifetime out of irreverence. I'm sure it reads as ludicrous boasting by an armchair GM, but I am equally sure an outsider not indoctrinated in the league's procedures and methods could hand some of these good old boys their ass. And though it won't be me, I do hope it is somebody, somebody that's not Bill Polian's, by way of Rich McKay, by way of Ozzie Newsome, regional scout and Director of Doing Things the Same Way They've Always Been Done.

Austin Collie Update

sroufe — Tue, 15 Dec 2009 14:00:30 -0000

More photos » by Darron Cummings - AP

Indianapolis Colts wide receiver Austin Collie (17) is chased by Houston Texans cornerback Glover Quin after a reception during the first quarter of an NFL football game in Indianapolis, Sunday, Nov. 8, 2009. (AP Photo/Darron Cummings)

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BYU's all-time greatest wide receiver, Austin Collie, was drafted 127th overall last April. The Indianapolis Colts selected him in the 4th round after 19 other receivers had been picked. The Colts drafted Collie after releasing 36 year-old All-Pro Marvin Harrison. Harrison had accounted for over 600 yards receiving in 2008 and the Colts' rookie wideout Pierre Garcon had only made 4 catches all last season. Indianapolis hoped Collie could provide some much needed depth behind All-Pro Reggie Wayne and Anthony Gonzalez.

Not only has Collie provided the necessary depth team President Bill Polian and General Manager Chris Polian were looking for, but he has turned into one of Peyton Manning's primary targets. Collie has scored a touchdown in each of the past two contests and ranks among the NFL's top rookie receivers. You could easily argue that Collie and Minnesota rookie receiver Percy Harvin (drafted 22nd overall) have been the two best rookie receivers in the league this season.

Of course, it doesn't hurt that they are each catching passes from two of the greatest passers in league history. Still, after the Colts lost Gonzalez for the season in Week 1, Collie and Garcon have each stepped in and performed exceptionally well. And now, with the Colts having clinched home-field advantage throughout the AFC playoffs and possibly resting players like Wayne and TE Dallas Clark, Collie could get even more touches in the last few games.

NFL writer Don Banks of Sports Illustrated released a "Draft Redux" re-projecting the first round of the 2009 draft. Where does Collie fall? How about in the first round, 26th overall (to Green Bay), and as the 4th receiver taken.

Here's a brief look at where Collie ranks this season:

Category*	Total	Rookie Rank	NFL Rank
Receptions	50	1st	40th
Yards	540	6th	56th
Average	10.8	10th	83rd
Touchdowns	6	Tied - 1st	Tied-17th

*Among all players with at least 25 receptions

Here are also some links detailing more of Collie's success as a rookie:

An early take on Colts' No. 3 receiver - ESPN (8/12)
Anthony Gonzalez still not ready to practice ... - Stampede Blue (12/8)
Austin Collie, Colts... - FanHouse (10/12)
Austin Collie makes his move among NFL rookies - The Hazean (10/29)
Collie a pleasant surprise for Colts - Deseret News (10/19)
Collie's TD doom Titans - Indianapolis Star (10/12)
Colts' Collie getting some love from "The King" - Stampede Blue (8/26)
Garon, Collie don't miss a beat in Colts' offense - Indy.com (10/8)
Oak Ridge's Collie running with the Colts - ESPN Radio, Sacramento (10/13)
Rookie of the Year: Austin Collie? - Stampede Blue (11/5)

Collie Highlights from Colts v. Seahawks in October (including Collie's first touchdown reception):

Vikings Bounce Back Nicely, Cruise to Win Over Bengals

Anthony21 — Sun, 13 Dec 2009 22:24:44 -0000

More photos » by Andy King - AP

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After last week's debacle, I wrote:

Plenty of problems were exposed tonight, and plenty of challenges have emerged -- now we get to see just how resilient this team is.

Answer: Pretty dang resilient.

After a scoreless first quarter, the Vikings jumped out to a two-score lead over the Bengals by halftime, extended that lead by a touchdown in the third quarter, and iced the game in the fourth quarter. Between missteps by a sloppy Bengals club, an impressive defensive effort headlined by the return of Antoine Winfield, a productive afternoon for Adrian Peterson, and a solid special teams performance, the Vikings looked darn good today.

And of all the factors that lifted the Vikings to a 20-point win over Cincinnati, the defense deserves a huge amount of the credit. One unforgettable scene from today's game: Antoine Winfield dropping what should have been an intercepted pass, and proceeding to do several push-ups between his drop and the next play. Good to have you back, Toine. The man's presence was felt in a big way, as Carson Palmer only managed 94 yards on 25 pass attempts. Chad Ochocinco got into the endzone in the second quarter to bring the Bengals within a field goal, but as far as offensive highlights go, there weren't many for Cincy beyond Ocho's 15-yard score.

Sure, Cedric Benson put up some impressive numbers -- 16 carries for 96 yards -- but nearly half of those yards came on a single carry, and for the most part, the rush defense was solid. All told, the Bengals could only manage 210 yards of total offense, while getting flagged 11 times for 85 yards. The Vikings made their share of unforced errors (nine penalties for 69 yards), but the Purple didn't make any mistakes that were too costly.

On the offensive side, Adrian Peterson rebounded nicely from a rough night in Arizona, finishing the game with a combined 137 yards through the air and on the ground. He also scored twice, including a dive into the endzone for a touchdown in the third quarter that would clinch the victory for the Vikings.

Brett Favre continued to struggle a bit, completing just over 50% of his passes while tossing a touchdown and an interception. The absence of Percy Harvin couldn't have helped matters for Brett, who never targeted his other favorite receivers -- Shank and Rice -- with any sort of consistency this afternoon (though it should be noted that one of Sid's four receptions was a nine-yard touchdown in the first quarter that lifted the Vikings to a 10-0 lead). It was a shame that Brett couldn't get into a rhythm for the second game in a row, but then again, that doesn't matter a whole lot when everything else is going right for the Vikings. And that was the case today.

Jasper Brinkley made three tackles today in relief of E.J. Henderson, but the real story was the emotional lift provided to this defense through the return of Antoine Winfield. After nine tackles and a few push-ups, Antoine had given everyone a reminder -- as if we needed it -- of just how valuable he is to this defense. You would have never guessed this guy had been sidelined for as long as he was, since he didn't miss a beat out there.

By the way, something that will probably go under the radar but deserves mention is the performance from the special teams. Aside from a penalty or two, it was near-perfect. Longwell went 3/3, Cincy averaged three yards per punt return and under 20 yards per kickoff return, and Kluwe was kicking the ball nicely out there. For a group that has sometimes struggled to rebound from a tough 2008 season, the special teams looked good today.

But Antoine Winfield and Adrian Peterson will headline this game, and rightfully so. Winfield was simply tremendous, and Peterson's pair of touchdowns helped him break a single-season team record for rushing touchdowns. This week was about rebounding from a setback, and both of those guys did just that.

Interview: Daily Norseman stop by to give us knowledge on the Vikings

Kirkendall — Sat, 12 Dec 2009 18:01:58 -0000

Some are already looking towards week 15 against the Chargers as the biggest game of the year for the Bengals, limiting the importance of this weekend's game against the Minnesota Vikings. However, in an odd world of things, both the Vikings and Bengals have proven very little against winning teams this year. If it wasn't for the Packers, neither team would have won a game against a team that has a winning record at this point in the season. So while Sunday's game has little to do with playoff implications, it does have a lot to do with proving that they belong with the NFL elite. Confidence is a big thing in the NFL and from Cincinnati's perspective, they'll need to beat the Vikings to prove that they can travel to California and beat the Chargers with the second seed in the AFC on the line.

But what about these Vikings? What should we expect? I sat down with Gonzo from Daily Norseman, who gives us some knowledge on our opponent this weekend, in a game that features two teams with a combined 19 wins this year.

1) The Vikings have played the Packers twice already. This is significant because before losing to the Cardinals, the Vikings had only beaten one team with a winning record. Then they lost by 13 to the Arizona Cardinals during last week’s Sunday Night football. Is there a feeling that the Vikings have a lot to prove against the Bengals, who are the third-ranked team in the AFC?
This week's game against the Bengals is, in my opinion, the most vital game of the season for Minnesota, because it could really set a tone for the team the rest of the way. If they beat the Bengals, it becomes easier to write the Cardinals' game off as simply a one-time bad performance, which I'm sort of under the impression it was. A loss to the Bengals, however, means that we could end up completely out of control going into what should be a relatively easy final three games of the season. The Vikings DO have a lot to prove against the Bengals this Sunday, and I think they'll be more than up for the challenge. I'm of the opinion that Sunday night in Arizona was the perfect storm of the Vikings coming out flat, the Cardinals being fired up, and Minnesota putting together their worst game of the season. I would be shocked if they played as badly against the Bengals as they did against Arizona.

2) Brett Favre is arguably having his best statistical season in his career. It seems that he’s willing to check down more often. Are there any concerns that Favre could take a downward spiral late in the season like last year when he played through an injury with the Jets?
With a guy Favre's age behind center, the concern obviously has to be there, but I don't think it's completely warranted. As you stated, last season Favre got injured during the course of the season, and it affected his ability to throw the football. As anyone this year that's watched Favre can see, his ability to physically throw the football is as good as ever. He's not playing through an injury this year or anything like that. What worries me more than that, however, is his admission that he let his emotions get the better of him against the Cardinals, which led directly to one of his interceptions. He can't afford to have that happen if the Vikings are going to continue to play well in the regular season and the post-season. He needs to continue playing smart, solid football, check it down when he has to, and just do what he's been doing through the first 3/4 of the season.

3) How will losing E.J. Henderson impact the defense?
The loss of E.J. Henderson is a significant one, to be sure. After he missed most of 2008 after dislocating his toes, it looked like he was finally back to being the old E.J. Henderson. Henderson is also one of the linebackers in the nickel package for the Vikings, as well as the defensive signal caller. Ben Leber will most likely take over Henderson's responsibility on both those fronts, and Jasper Brinkley, Minnesota's fifth-round pick in the 2009 draft out of South Carolina, will man Henderson's spot in the middle on first and second down. Brinkley has a world of potential, and with the Williams Wall in front of him, hopefully there won't be a lot of drop-off for Minnesota.

3a) The Vikings have one of the best rush defenses in the league. We’ve argued at Cincy Jungle that the Bengals need to attack the Vikings secondary. What would you say is the weakness in the Vikings defense this year?
Minnesota's front seven can compete with any team in the league, but the secondary has been no better than average for most of the year. More specifically, the safety play for most of the year has bordered on atrocious. Granted, the team has been without Antoine Winfield since Week 7, and you obviously have to change up your schemes when you lose someone of that caliber, but it doesn't excuse what we've seen from Madieu Williams and Tyrell Johnson for most of the year. (Johnson is unlikely to play on Sunday, and he'll likely be replaced by Jamarca Sanford, the Vikings' seventh-round pick in the 2009 Draft out of Ole Miss.) But the safeties are definitely the weak link in the Minnesota defense, because I think the Vikes have been pretty solid at CB for most of the year despite the loss of Winfield.

3a) Reports suggest that Antoine Winfield could return this week after missing the previous six with a foot injury. What does his return mean to the secondary?
Winfield's return is huge, particularly when you're lining up against a team with one of the most talented receivers in the league. Winfield goes back to being the #1 guy, which allows Cedric Griffin to go back to the #2 spot and Benny Sapp can go back to being the nickel guy instead of starting. Winfield's presence in stopping the run also can't be underestimated, as there's no better run-support corner in the NFL, in my opinion. Every account I've read says that he's rested, healed, and ready to go, and I hope to heck we see him out there tomorrow afternoon. His presence against the Bengals could be huge, both against the run and against the pass.

4) Jared Allen is a beast. How should the Bengals game plan against one of the league’s best pass rushers?
I think you have to do what the Cardinals did against him... you constantly have to have someone over on his side along with the tackle, whether it's a tight end, a running back, or sometimes both. If you try to block Jared Allen one-on-one for the better part of a game, he's going to beat you unless you have a truly elite left tackle like a Joe Thomas or someone along those lines. You need to double-team him, you need to chip him, try to get him frustrated... and then hope that the rest of the line does their jobs against the Williams Wall and Ray Edwards (who is having a surprisingly good season thus far).

5) Sidney Rice is having a career year, already surpassing the 1,000-yard receiving mark. However, he only has four touchdowns. Does the Vikings offense tend to look away from their receivers in the red zone?
I'm not sure if it's that they "look away" from Rice in the red zone. . .it's just that Favre has been so good about spreading the ball around to all of the options he has this season that Rice has just been in the wrong place at the wrong time, for lack of a better way to put it. Whenever a Favre-led offense gets into the red zone. . .and it's been this way ever since he was in Green Bay. . .the tight end is the guy he loves to look for, and the nine touchdown catches for Visanthe Shiancoe this season are a testament to that. The go-to guy in the red zone can change from one day to the next. . .it might be Shiancoe, it might be Rice, it might be Bernard Berrian, it might be Percy Harvin...it just depends on matchups and who's open at that particular time. That's the thing that Favre has brought this year, the fact that defenses can't just key on one particular guy in the passing game.

6) Arizona limited Adrian Peterson to 19 yards rushing on 13 attempts. What did the Cardinals find out that shutdown Peterson?
They found out that the Vikings were way too quick to give up on the run, which is something that's been rare this season, and something that absolutely can not happen against the Bengals. As good as Brett Favre has been this season, the Vikings' offense needs to run through Adrian Peterson. Granted, Peterson seems to be a bit more impatient this season than he was his first two years. . .he's not letting his blocks develop at times. . .but he's also not getting a ton of help from the offensive line. According to the folks at Football Outsiders, the Vikings have the most "stuffed runs" in the NFL this season, and after what the Vikings' offense has done on the ground the last two seasons, that's completely unacceptable. I would be thoroughly shocked, however, if Peterson had a performance against Cincinnati as bad as his performance against the Cardinals.

Bengals Banter: will carnivorous Bengals feast on Norsemen who have a stunning lack of fangs and claws?

A Pragmatic Bengals Fan — Fri, 11 Dec 2009 20:14:33 -0000

More photos » by Tony Tribble - AP

12 days ago: Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford, left, looks at Cincinnati Bengals linebacker Dhani Jones after Jones tackled him during the first half of their NFL football game in Cincinnati, Sunday, Dec. 6, 2009. (AP Photo/Tony Tribble)

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On the morn after the Browns' defeat of the Pittsburgh Steelers (essentially knocking them out of the playoff picture), things are pretty quiet around the interwebs in regards to our 9-3 Bengals.

I hope you all enjoyed that game as much as I did last night. Living in Northeast Ohio, you should have seen my facebook homepage during and especially after the game. It was quite entertaing, to say the least. Of course, I didn't participate in the ribbing or the smack talk. I would never do such a thing. Now, links ensue!

Florio notes in his Friday One-Liners that Chris Crocker has returned to practice and he says he plans to play Sunday at Minnesota.

Mr. Florio also questions the validity of the Bengals however in his weekly 10-Pack for SportingNews, wondering if the Steelers' and Ravens' recent struggles undermine the Bengals' achievements so far this season.

Clark Judge over at cbssports.com calls Bengals at Vikings the game of the week in his Peek-at-the-Week.

cbssports.com also gives us a video preview of Sunday's game. I typically like Pat Kirwan, but he seems to be much higher on the Vikes than he is for the Bengals going into the weekend. Nothing like continuing to prove folk wrong, am I right?

Finally over at cbssports, here's the page containing their expert picks. Even split over the six writers as to whether the Bengals cover the 6.5 point spread this weekend.

Heading on over to ESPN, Adam Schefter is the only expert on the panel picking the good guys on Sunday. Bang it here.

More Schefter here, pondering Percy Harvin's chances of playing through a migraine this weekend. He also gives the Bengals' offensive line major props toward the end of the article.

James Walker has a very, very enjoyable edition of "Remember the Offseason?" in which he posts comments from Bengals fans and fans of the other teams in the division in regards to the Bengals' chances in 2009. It's a quality read.

The experts over at Fox Sports are in line with the others, all but Adam Schein pick the Vikes.

Here's Fox Sports' preview of the Bengals/Vikings game this weekend. They also ilst the game as the game of the week.

The folks over at WDR opine (sarcastically as per uzhe) about Sunday's game.

Have fun clicking, and we'll see you over the weekend for CLINCHFEST 2009!!!!1!!!1!!1

Sorry. Got a little excited.

A Pragmatic Bengals Fan

Arizona Cardinals News: McKinnie's Stance Tipped the Defense Edition?

Hawkwind — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 16:59:27 -0000

More photos » by Ross D. Franklin - AP

Could offensive tackle Bryant McKinnie's stance have led to the Arizona Cardinals defensive dominance on Sunday night? That's the rumor..... (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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The Arizona Cardinals enter Monday night's game with the 49ers with two major goals staring them in the face, beat a divisional opponent and win the NFC West. With a win the Cardinals secure their second consecutive NFC West title, and obviously a second straight trip to the post season, but first they're have to repay an opening week loss to the Bay Area boys.

Did Bryant McKinnie's 'tell' lead to the Vikings blowout loss? - Interesting conspiracy theory regarding the Cardinals defense being able to determine a run or pass play depending on McKinnie's stance.
Shutdown Corner defensive player of the week: Tamba Hali - Not one but two Cardinals' defenders were in the running for defensive player of the week (Bertrand Berry and Karlos Dansby).
Playoff matchup could favor Cardinals - An Arizona vs. Minnesota matchup in the playoffs seems probable and the Cardinals hold that advantage.
Mike Sando's MVP Watch - With his latest stellar performance, Warner joined Johnny Unitas as the only players in NFL history to post four consecutive games with a passer rating of 120 or higher, but does that make him a MVP candidate?

Cards' little guys making big impact - The Cardinals have seven players under 6 feet, and Stephens-Howling (5-7) and Adams (5-8) are the shortest. But they played large over the past two weeks. At Tennessee two weeks ago, Stephens-Howling, a running back, returned a kickoff for a touchdown and downed three punts inside the 5. Adams, a cornerback, played in passing situations last week against the Vikings and often was matched up against Percy Harvin, a favorite to win offensive rookie of the year honors.
Hard-hitting Cardinals shedding finesse label - The Arizona Cardinals are pummeling that "finesse team" label into submission. Sure, Kurt Warner throws some pretty passes and he has some marvelous receivers to catch them. But the Cardinals' tough side was on national display Sunday night in a dominating 30-17 victory over the Minnesota Vikings.
Warner delivers outside the numbers - Warner is amazing outside of the numbers.
A healthy Boldin produces - Since then, Boldin has played at a Pro Bowl level, averaging 7 catches and 84 yards a game. He's scored three touchdowns. In his previous seven games, Boldin averaged five catches for 58 yards and score one touchdown. "He's certainly played well since then," Whisenhunt said. "The one thing you always worry about is having to fight those things (injuries) all year."
NFL assistants eye possible lockout - Assistant coaches throughout the league, including with the Cardinals, have their eyes on 2011. If a new collective-bargaining agreement with the players isn't reached by March of that year, the owners are expected to lock out the players. That could mean pay cuts or job losses for team employees, including assistant coaches.

Practice Report: Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

Kirkendall — Thu, 10 Dec 2009 14:42:32 -0000

BENGALS	WED	THUR	FRI	STATUS
TE Chase Coffman (ankle)	OUT	OUT	OUT	IR
DT Domata Peko (knee)	OUT	OUT	OUT	OUT
RB Bernard Scott (foot)	OUT	OUT	OUT	OUT
S Chris Crocker (ankle)	DNP	DNP	LP	Questionable
S Kyries Hebert (knee)	DNP	DNP	LP	Questionable
WR Chad Ochocinco (knee)	--	--	LP	Probable
CB Morgan Trent (knee)	DNP	LP	FP	Probable
C Jonathan Luigs (back)	--	FP	FP	Probable

VIKINGS	WED	THUR	FRI	STATUS
WR Percy Harvin (illness)	DNP	DNP	DNP	Questionable
S Tyrell Johnson (concussion)	DNP	DNP	DNP	Doubtful
T Phil Loadholt (shoulder)	DNP	LP	LP	Questionable
RB Adrian Peterson (foot, ankle)	DNP	LP	LP	Probable
WR Bernard Berrian (hamstring)	LP	LP	LP	Probable
CB Cedric Griffin (neck)	LP	LP	LP	Questionable
G Anthony Herrera (concussion)	LP	LP	FP	Probable
G Steve Hutchinson (shoulder)	LP	LP	LP	Probable
T Bryant McKinnie (ankle)	LP	LP	FP	Probable
CB Karl Paymah (knee)	LP	LP	LP	Questionable
TE Visanthe Shiancoe (ribs)	LP	LP	FP	Probable
DT Pat Williams (foot)	LP	LP	FP	Probable
CB Antoine Winfield (foot)	LP	LP	LP	Questionable
QB Brett Favre (not injury related)	--	--	LP	Probable

Primer: Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2)

Kirkendall — Wed, 09 Dec 2009 15:00:26 -0000

Game: Cincinnati Bengals (9-3) at Minnesota Vikings (10-2)
Series Leader: Series tied, 5-5
Streak: Bengals have won two of the past three
Coaches vs. Opponent: Lewis: 1-0. Childress: 0-0
Broadcast: CBS (12:00 PM CT): Greg Gumbel, Dan Dierdorf. Westwood One Radio: Kevin Kugler, Mark Malone. SIRIUS: 129 (Cin.), 122 (Min.). XM: 107 (Min.).
SB Nation: Daily Norseman
NFL.com: Game Center
Weather: Dome
Uniform: White
Television Coverage: Many states. Check the map [506]

Cincinnati Bengals

With a win, head coach Marvin Lewis (55-53-1) will surpass Paul Brown (55-59-1) for second most wins in team history (Sam Wyche: 64-68).
Bengals look to go undefeated against the NFC North -- they went undefeated against the NFC North in 2005.
Against the NFC North in 2009, Carson Palmer has nine touchdowns, four interceptions and a 111.6 passer rating.
Cedric Benson only needs 31 yards rushing for his first career 1,000-yard rushing season.
Bengals are 5-0 when Benson rushes 25 times or more and averages 135.4 yards rushing per game in those five games.
Chad Ochocinco looks to record his third consecutive 100-yard receiving game against the NFC, averaging 115.3 yards receiving in those games.
Chad only needs 90 yards receiving to record his seventh 1,000-yard receiving season in his career.
Jonathan Fanene recorded his first pick-six last week.

Minnesota Vikings

In four career starts against the Cincinnati Bengals, Brett Favre is 3-1.
Favre has recorded 1,799 yards passing, 16 touchdowns and only one interception at home this season for a passer rating of 119.1.
Since entering the league in 2007, Adrian Peterson has rushed for 4,204 yards -- by far, most in the league.
In four home games against the AFC, Peterson is averaging 184.5 yards per game and four touchdowns.
Chester Taylor recorded 139 yards rushing in his only start against the Bengals, while with Baltimore, on December 5, 2004.
Wide receiver Sidney Rice leads the NFC with 1,036 yards receiving.
In his past four home games, Rice has 25 receptions for 555 yards and two touchdowns.
Percy Harvin leads all NFL rookies with eight touchdowns (six receiving, two on kick return).
Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe is second among tight ends with nine touchdowns and looks to record a touchdown in his fourth straight.
Jared Allen has 3.5 sacks and two forced fumbles in his past two games.
Since 2004, Allen has 70 quarterback sacks. Most in the NFL.

TEAM RANKINGS

Offense	Bengals	Vikings
Total	331.9 (18th)	383.8 (5th)
Scoring	21.2 (16th)	29.9 (2nd)
Third Downs	41% (12th)	47% (3rd)
Rushing	133.9 (6th)	123.6 (11th)
Rushing TDs	9 (t-16th)	13 (t-9th)
Passing	198.0 (21st)	260.2 (9th)
Passing TDs	16 (t-16th)	27 (2nd)
Sacks Allowed	22 (t-8th)	25 (t-12th)
20-yard Passes	31 (21st)	42 (9th)

Defense	Bengals	Vikings
Total	293.2 (4th)	311.4 (8th)
Scoring	15.6 (1st)	19.4 (10th)
3rd Downs Allowed	33% (1st)	33% (3rd)
Rushing	81.8 (2nd)	84.2 (3rd)
Rushing TDs	6 (t-6th)	3 (t-1st)
Passing	211.5 (12th)	227.2 (21st)
Passing TDs	13 (8th)	18 (t-18th)
Sacks	29 (t-9th)	40 (1st)
QB Rating	73.7 (7th)	91.2 (24th)
20-Yard Passes Allowed	33 (t-13th)	41 (t-25th)
Interceptions	14 (t-6th)	9 (t-22nd)

Special Teams	Bengals	Vikings
Kickoff Return	21.8 (25th)	24.3 (t-8th)
Punt Return	11.8 (5th)	9.4 (t-12th)
Punting (Net)	43.8 (22nd)	37.9 (17th)
Punts Inside the 20	20 (t-13th)	19 (t-16th)

2009 STATISTICAL INDIVIDUAL RANKINGS

Carson Palmer	Stat	Ranking
Quarterback Rating	85.0	18th
Yards Passing	2,547	17th
Touchdowns	16	t-13th
First Downs	129	15th
Average Yards/Att	7.0	18th
Completions	222	17th
Interceptions	10	t-18th
Times Sacked	22	t-17th

Cedric Benson	Stat	Ranking
Yards Rushing	969	7th
Attempts / Game	24.1	1st
Touchdowns	6	t-14th
First Downs	45	8th

Chad Ochocinco	Stat	Ranking
Receptions	62	19th
Yards Receiving	910	12th
Touchdowns	6	t-12th
20-yard receptions	14	t-8th
First Downs	48	t-7th

CAREER AGAINST THE MINNESOTA VIKINGS

Carson Palmer

Date	Result	Comp.	Att.	Yards	TDs	Int
9.18.2005	W 37-8	27	40	337	3	1

Chad Johnson

Date	Result	Rec	Yards	TDs
9.18.2005	W 37-8	7	139	1

Cedric Benson

Date	Rushes	Yards	TDs
10.14.2007	18	67	0
12.3.2006	9	60	1
1.1.2006	9	35	0
10.16.2005	3	2	0