Nothing easy about it: Vikings win 30-27

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 10/08/2008

 NEW ORLEANS, LA — When you’re 1-3 and facing a must-win situation, difficult times require difficult measures. On Monday night, the Vikings were bailed out by the New Orleans Saints, surviving the administration of Bush in the Super Dome.

 If life were only a game. Reggie Bush’s spectacular, record-tying performance of two electrifying second-half punt returns of 71 and 64 yards, both for touchdowns, were wasted by the New Orleans Saints.

 It was a night when the Saints could not get out of their own way with mistakes: dropped balls, 11 penalties for 102 yards, a blocked field goal that was recovered and run back 59 yards for a touchdown by Antoine Winfield, a missed fourth-quarter 46-yard field goal by Martin Gramatica, and four turnovers. All of which contributed to the bailout.

 The Saints found a way to allow the Vikings to escape the Big Easy with a critical 30-27 win. Twice this year, the Vikings have lost games when Adrian Peterson has rushed for 100 yards or more (Green Bay-Indianapolis). Monday night Peterson was shut down completely — 32 yards on 21 carries — yet the Vikings won. It goes to show that somebody always benefits from a bailout.

 Dree Brees threw for 330 yards, and Bush and the Saints had 729 combined yards; yet this game was decided by a huge interference call on Saints defensive back Kevin Kaesviharn. Bernard Berrian was the victim of interference on a deep ball from quarterback Gus Frerotte. The penalty amounted to 45 yards and set up the game-winning 30-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell with just 13 seconds left.

 The Vikings deserve credit for winning the old-fashioned way like they used to when Bud Grant and Dennis Green were on the sidelines. Sometimes you get out-played, but you’ve got to hang in there as a team. Brad Childress’ team finally did that.

 The Saints may have contained Peterson, but the threat of Peterson opened up the deep ball. The Vikings also benefited from two very questionable officials’ calls, one on a Bush fumble in the first half when Chad Greenway clearly was pulling on his face mask as he fumbled.

 Running back Chester Taylor, on an option pass, threw a touchdown. Winfield returned the first blocked field goal for a touchdown by the Vikings since 1976, when Bobby Bryant did it against the Los Angeles Rams in a playoff game.

 Winfield has become a lethal weapon. He was simply sensational Monday night. He came in on a delayed blitz and sacked Brees, forcing a fumble and recovering it.

 Frerotte delivered a gutsy performance, 19-36 for 222 yards and a touchdown. He stood up to the pounding he took in the pocket, once getting knocked down and forced to leave the game, yet returning to lead the Vikings to victory in the fourth quarter despite leading the game 20-10 at the half and not establishing their bread-and-butter run game with Peterson.

 The Vikings won because they finally played 60 minutes as a team with no turnovers. Wide receiver Bernard Berrian also starred with six catches for 110 yards and a touchdown.

 It was the kind of win that can turn your season around. The Vikings are now 2-3 trailing Chicago in the tight NFC North. They host 0-4 Detroit next Sunday at high noon at the Metrodome before an October 19 date with the Bears in Chicago.

Fitz Extra

 Losing 2007 defensive MVP linebacker E.J. Henderson will be difficult for the Vikings to overcome. Henderson was placed on injured reserve this week and will be lost for the rest of the year. Henderson the sixth year linebacker had 4.5 sacks last year and led the Vikings in tackles with a 155. He has led the defense in total tackles 3 of the last 4 years.  

The Vikings are 2-1 since Brad Childress made Gus Frerotte the starter at quarterback. The defense certainly has played better led by NFC Defensive player of the week cornerback Antoine Winfield, who has scored two touchdowns, had two sacks and two fumble recoveries in both wins. What has the switch at quarterback done for the team psychologically? "We have the same mentality, said Darren Sharper whoever is behind center that we are going to go out and try to make plays. The receivers are going to do that the offense is going to that."

 On defense we have to make sure we do what we do. And slowing teams down not allowing any team to score points. The change is not going to change us as a team as far as how we are thinking about that position or our team. We always have the mentality that we can go out and beat the opponent that we have to face. And we will support whoever is behind center"

 Winning the turnover battle is key to winning.

 The Vikings have scored touchdowns off turnovers in both wins and won the turnover ratio Monday Night 4-0. Last season the five teams with the best turnover differential- San Diego, Indianapolis, New England, Tampa Bay, and Seattle all won their division and combined for a 59-21 record (.738).

 Tough Economic Times In The Dessert.

 Michael Bidwell President of the NFC West leading Arizona Cardinals, said " In the last three years the greater Phoenix, Arizona  community was number one and two in the nation in terms of job growth in the United States. That has changed, last year in Arizona it dropped to 29th and in 2008 it's fallen to 49th. Corporations are folding our economy is falling."

 The Movie "The Ernie Davis Story about the University of Syracuse star will open in theaters soon. Syracuse had a great run on running backs back in the day. Jim Brown, Jim Nance, Larry Csonka, Floyd Little, and Ernie Davis.

 Blame The Republicans!

 With the Final Four in Major League Baseball featuring Philadelphia Vs Los Angeles in the National League and Tampa Bay Vs Boston in the American League in best of seven series. Twins fans can blame the Republican National Convention at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul this summer as the number one reason why the Twins missed the playoffs.

The Twins finished 5-9 on that marathon 14 game road trip the teams longest road swing since 1964. Other factors were trading Johan Santana 16-7, giving up on club house leader Torii Hunter who helped the Los Angeles Angels win 100 games. And waiting two weeks too long to bring Francisco Liriano back to the big leagues from Rochester. 

 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.