NFL: Let the real games begin!

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 9/3/2008

 Here we go! Buckle up! Another exciting National Football League season is here, and ready or not, it’s time to get it on. Last year was one of the best seasons in league history, and now it all starts over: 32 teams thinking and believing the same thing — Super Bowl. Last year, the New England Patriots won 18 straight games, including playoffs, and lost the Super Bowl 17-14 to the wild card New York Giants in the final seconds.

 Last year, 2007, was one season we won’t soon forget. The New England Patriots — one of the most dominant teams ever — outscored their opponents by a record 315 points. Winning an NFL record 18 straight games including playoffs, they are the only 18-1 team in NFL history to not win the Super Bowl. Records were flying last season: Seven quarterbacks passed for 4,000 yards or more, the most ever in one season. Forty-two times, kicks were returned for touchdowns — also a new record for one season.

 New England quarterback Tom Brady and former Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss combined to set new NFL records. Brady threw 50 touchdown passes for 4806 yards, breaking Peyton Manning’s single-season mark of 49. And Moss grabbed 23 touchdown passes, breaking Jerry Rice’s single-season mark for receivers of 22.

 Brett Favre, after 17 years in the NFL with the Green Bay Packers, is now a New York Jet. Can Favre snatch the headlines in New York away from the Super Bowl Champion Giants? Eli Manning owns that town now; last year, he threw 19 touchdown passes and 19 interceptions during the season but in the playoffs delivered four clutch performances in helping the Giants upset Tampa Bay, Dallas, Green Bay and New England. What did we learn? Defense still wins championships.

 Now that Favre is on Broadway, does that mean the Vikings can finally beat the Green Bay Packers?

 Last year, the Packers won the NFC North with a 13-3 record and will open the 2008 season with Aaron Rodgers at quarterback Monday night, September 8, against the Minnesota Vikings. The Vikings have one of the NFL’s best defenses and have added defensive end pass-rushing specialist All-Pro Jared Allen to team with Pat and Kevin Williams and Ray Edwards. Linebackers E.J. Henderson, Chad Greenway and Ben Liber are good. On the backend, Antoine Winfield and Cedric Griffin will man the corners with veteran All-Pro Darren Sharper, the leader of that group at strong safety helping talented rookie Tyrell Johnson at free safety.

 Speaking of leadership, this is Brad Childress’ third year as head coach; 6-10 and 8-8 is his report card — 0-4 against the rival Packers. Last year, the team caught fire, winning five straight games. This is a big season for the Vikings, and Childress and his team have the talent to play with anybody.

 “I’m becoming more vocal as a leader,” said Adrian Peterson. “I like to lead by my actions, to go out and practice hard every day like I did last year as a rookie, and establishing to those guys [that] I’m about business. It’s about working hard, setting a tone in practice with a tempo by the way I practice.”

 Offensively, the Vikings are counting on third-year quarterback Tavaris Jackson to stay healthy. He was 8-4 as a starter in 2007 and managed a potentially explosive offense with record-setting running back Adrian Peterson, Chester Taylor, and new fullback Thomas Tapeh. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian was signed as a free agent from Chicago as a deep threat, and young Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade are solid receivers.

 “It’s very exciting to be a part of this team,” said Jackson. “And just knowing that the potential that we have on this team and the guys that we have, it’s exciting every day knowing we have a chance to be really good.”

 Up front where games are won and lost in the trenches, the Vikings with All-Pros Chad Hutchinson, Matt Birk and big Bryant McKinnie are experienced an powerful across the left side of the line; newcomers guard Anthony Herrera and Ryan Cook are on the right side. If this group performs, Jackson will have a chance to prove he can lead the Vikings to the playoffs.

 This team should have better balance throwing and running, but controlling the game with the running game is where it starts. And getting ahead will be critical so they can unleash that pressure defense with Allen, Edwards, and Pat and Kevin Williams.

 “I think it all starts with winning games early on,” said, Darren Sharper. “You never want to get caught at the latter part of the season having to say we have to win this game and hope for another team to lose. That’s a bad situation to be in. If we can start out fast and win the games we’re supposed to win, we’ll be fine.”

 The Vikings will be returning to the playoffs. They have seven Pro Bowlers; this could be one of their best teams since Dennis Green was in charge years ago.

 Here’s how I see the NFC North: 1. Vikings (11-5), 2. Packers (10-6), 3. Chicago (8-8), 4. Detroit 6-10.

 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-re corder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.