Enough cheese! : Vikings can’t beat Packers

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/11/2008

 Green Bay — When the NFL schedules you to play on kickoff weekend on Monday Night Football, it’s a great opportunity. And when you get to play your number-one rival, the Green Bay Packers, a team you have not beaten in three years, you have to seize the opportunity.

And when you get to play the Packers without the legend Brett Favre for the first time since 1991, after the Packers organization accused your coaching staff of tampering — you don’t make them pay?

The Packers made it five straight over the Vikings, winning a 24-19 thriller Monday night at historic Lambeau Field before the largest regular-season crowd in Green Bay history. It’s Mr. Rodgers’ neighborhood, Aaron Rodgers replacing Favre as the Packers’ new quarterback, starting a new era in Packers’ history, a changing of the guard with an outstanding performance in prime time.

Rodgers led the way with a near-perfect performance, completing 18 of 22 passes for 178 yards and two touchdowns, throwing for one and running for another against the Vikings’ highly regarded defense. He did a good job of managing the game and being efficient in his first NFL start.

The Vikings’ defense with three All-Pro defensive lineman — Jared Allen, the NFL’s sack leader, and Kevin and Pat Williams — failed on Monday to put any pressure on Rodgers and surprisingly allowed the Packers to run for 139 yards, most of the yards by Ryan Grant. The Vikings had no sacks, nada, and that was the difference.

Rodgers’ offensive line gave him the time he needed. His mobility and scrambling for 35 yards with a great QB rating of 115.5 kept the Vikings’ defense off balance.

Jared Allen had no tackles and no sacks, and the Vikings’ defense failed to put sustained pressure on Rogers or sack him. Special teams was a major factor, also; when Will Blackmon broke open a tight 10-6 game with an electrifying 76-yard punt return for a touchdown in the third quarter, that gave the Packers a 17-6 lead and forced the Vikings to throw the football more with quarterback Tarvaris Jackson.

In the first half, Jackson passed for just 16 yards, completing only two of seven passes. The Vikings were running the ball effectively with star running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson had 75 yards rushing on nine carries in the first half.

When the Vikings had to play catch-up, Peterson carried the ball 10 more times for just 28 yards. The Packers were able to shadow Peterson and give Jackson and the Vikings the underneath stuff.

The game was ragged and disjointed, with the game officials throwing 21 penalty flags for 160 yards on the Vikings and Packers. It was difficult to establish a rhythm.

Getting off to a fast start is a critical factor to winning the Super Bowl; the 42 previous Super Bowl winners have a 34-7-1 record on the NFL’s kickoff weekend during their championship seasons.

This week, the Vikings need to bounce back at home against the 2007 Super Bowl Champion Indianapolis Colts. That means Coach Tony Dungy and star quarterback Peyton Manning.

It’s the Vikings’ home-opener Sunday at high noon. Buckle up — the Vikings have a short week but need to get a win.

Fitz Extra

Vikings Head coach Brad Childress in season number three for the first time as head coach has loss a regular season opener. He's gotta be having nightmares now that he's 0-5 vs. Mike McCarthy and the Green Bay Packers. The last time the Vikings won a Division title was 2000 Dennis Green was Head coach back then. Fact the Vikings have never won the NFC North title and have loss three regular season games in a row. Childress is now 14-19 as Vikings Head coach.

 Hang Monday Nights Vikings loss on the defense allowing  Aaron Rodgers an the Packers 17 points. The inability to put pressure on Rodgers cost the Vikings big. Last season the Vikings were number one in the NFL against the run the Packers ran for 139 yards an averaged 5.1 yards per carry on 27 rushing attempts both teams had 178 yards passing. The Vikings had 69 offensive plays the Packers had only 49 the Packers averaged 6.5 yards per play the Vikings averaged only 5.1.

 "Slow start when we get in the red zone we have to get 7's instead of 3's, that was a big difference in the game. said Tarvaris Jackson. The one turnover you can't turn the football over we lost the turnover margin and that hurts your chances of winning the game. We were inconsistent, I know I was inconsistent throughout the game. I've got to be more consistent and make plays when they are their to be made. Penalties, everything we can improve all over the board."

 Historically the Vikings have not fared well against AFC teams that's why they are 0-4 in Super Bowls and against the Baltimore/Indianapolis Colts the Vikings have loss 14 of 22 games.

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday & Saturday mornings at 7:50 am and Fridays at 3:50 pm; he also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Larry welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-recorder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.