Purple panic! Vikings 0-2!
By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 09/22/2010
Starting the season 0-2 is no way to make the playoffs, especially when you lose at home like the Vikings did Sunday 14-10 to the Miami Dolphins.
Brett Favre started at quarterback for the 287th consecutive time, an NFL record in this, his 20th season. So far it has not been so good; the Vikings have been an absolute mess on offense. They’ve committed five turnovers in two games and have produced only two touchdowns.
The result: an 0-2 start. Teams that start the season 0-2 have only a 13 percent chance of qualifying for the playoffs — that is the hole the Vikings have dug for themselves. Twice now the Vikings have lost the turnover ratio to both the New Orleans Saints and the Miami Dolphins, two tough, hard-fought losses. It’s one thing to get beat by a better team; it’s another to lose when you beat yourself.
It’s no shock to me that the Vikings lost to Miami. Historically, the Dolphins have always beaten the Vikings. Remember Super Bowl VII, Dolphins 24-Vikings 7? Miami is now 7-4 all-time against the Vikings, and Head Coach Brad Childress is now 0-2 versus Miami.
Both Chicago and Green Bay are out of the gate at 2-0, and the Vikings at 0-2 are tied with Detroit, who they will play Sunday at Mall of America Field in a must-win game that I will call the Desperation Bowl.
The Vikings have won 14 of their last 17 home games. Winning next Sunday against an improved Lions team is critical. Have you seen the Vikings schedule? After Sunday’s Detroit game, the Vikings play a rugged stretch of six of their next seven games against 2009 playoff teams, including four road games: New York on Monday night, Oct. 11 at Green Bay, at New England and at Chicago.
Whew! That’s a rough stretch, but the Vikings are talented enough to win them all if they can fix their woeful passing game.
Favre has won more games than any quarterback in history, 181. He’s also lost more, 106. He is the record book of football at quarterback, closing in on 70,000 career yards passing and 500 career touchdown passes. In two games he has thrown four interceptions already and just one touchdown pass, and he fumbled in the end zone for a touchdown Sunday.
Despite that reality, the Vikings had a chance to win both games at New Orleans, and Sunday against Miami they got stuffed at the one-yard line on a fourth-and-one with the game on the line. Adrian Peterson, who had a brilliant day running for 145 yards, was stopped cold in the hole in the game’s final minute by Dolphins linebacker Karlos Dansby.
The Vikings went for the win, but they did not get it done when it counted and were not able to overcome their own mistakes. That’s football. There is no crying in football — buckle up and get it done.
When you can’t win on the road and you don’t win at home, you’re in deep trouble. That has to change, or the 50th season of Vikings football will not be one to remember.
Twins First To Clinch Playoff spot.
Baseball's best team (46-18) since the All-Star break the American League Central Champion Minnesota Twins, became the first team to clinch a playoff spot. After a 6-4 win Tuesday September 21st over the Cleveland Indians their 91st win of the year . The Twins are 92-60 it's the 14th time in team history since 1961 that they have won at least 90 games and the first time since 2006.
With 11 games left the Twins can match the franchises best record of 102 wins in 1965 by winning their remaining games. Manager Ron Gardenhire won his 800th career game since becoming Manager in 2002. The Twins also went over the 3,000,000 million fan mark in home attendance the first year at Target Field and the first time since 1988 and will set a franchise mark.
Fitz notes & quotes
Twins MVP star Joe Mauer, with his three-hit performance against the Chicago White Sox last week, reached 1,000 career hits. Mauer is just 27 years old and is the second-fastest Twins player in team history to reach 1,000 career hits. The late great Twins Hall-of-Famer Kirby Puckett reached 1,000 hits the fastest in just 750 games.
NFL
What do Minnesota-Dallas-Carolina-San Francisco-Detroit-Cleveland and Buffalo have in common? They all missed the NFL memo. The 2010 season has started and all seven of these teams are win less at 0-2. The Buffalo Bills and Vikings have scored the fewest points after two games 17 and 19 respectively the Baltimore Ravens have scored just 20 points yet they are 1-1. Only four teams in NFL history have started the season 0-2 and reached the Super Bowl.
Last Sunday the Pittsburgh Steelers and Head Coach Mike Tomlin don't make excuses after beating Tennessee 19-11 at Tennessee the Steelers are 2-0. They are playing with their fourth string quarterback. Starter Ben Roethlisberger is suspended for four games,back-up Byron Leftwich is hurt,third string QB Dennis Dixon hurt his knee in the game Sunday so fourth string quarterback Charlie Batch played. The Steelers won despite throwing for just 21 net yards and 127 yards in total offense.
Former Vikings star Randy Moss has virtually locked up a future Hall of Fame induction. Moss now with the New England Patriots grabbed his 150th career touchdown Sunday. Only three players in NFL history have scored more, Hall of Famers Jerry Rice (208), Emmitt Smith (175),and LaDainian Tomlinson (153).
After week one home teams were 12-4, last week they were just 8-8.
Starting Monday September 27th from 6-7PM- Larry Fitzgerald will host The Monday Night Football Vikings Show-Live at Outback Steakhouse in Inver Grove Heights. Featuring a Live interview with Minnesota Vikings star players. Each interview can heard over www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com call 651-457-7688 to reserve your seat. Enjoy the Bears Vs Packers game at Outback Steakhouse after at 7.30
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and on WDGY-AM 740 Monday - Friday at 12:17 pm and 5:17 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 .
