Vikings win fourth straight

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 12/12/2007

 Just like that, the suddenly red-hot Minnesota Vikings (7-6) registered their fourth straight win by dominating 27-7 the once-proud San Francisco 49ers (3-10) to complete a clean sweep of the state of California’s NFL teams. The Vikings have beaten San Diego, Oakland, and San Francisco this season.

 The regular season is, for all intent and purposes, the primary; now the Vikings have grabbed sole possession of the NFC’s sixth and final playoff spot. With three games left in the regular season, the Vikings control their playoff fate.

 Again, they stuck to their playoff format by using a dominating defense and a potent running game to climb above the .500 mark for the first time since week one. Pro Bowl defensive tackle Kevin Williams intercepted a Trent Dilfer pass on the game’s first play and rumbled 18 yards for touchdown. It was the eighth defensive touchdown this season for the Vikings and the second this year for Williams.

 From that point on, the Vikings were in control and never looked back. Quarterback Tavaris Jackson then drove the Vikings to two scores to increase the lead to 17-0. When the Vikings score 24 points or more this season, they are 7-0.

 Jackson, in just his first year as the Vikings’ starting quarterback, improved his record as a starter to 7-2. He completed 16 of 25 passes for 163 yards and one touchdown of 19 yards to wide receiver Robert Ferguson. Running back Chester Taylor ran 84 yards for a touchdown, giving the Vikings a 27-0 halftime lead.

 Taylor had a game-high 101 yards rushing on just eight carries. The Vikings’ potent one-two punch at running back — Adrian Peterson and Taylor — ran behind Minnesota’s big, physical offensive line led by Chad Hutchinson, Bryant McKinnie and Matt Birk.

 Peterson and Taylor have combined to score 18 touchdowns this year. Taylor has run for 716 yards this season.

 On a day Peterson was held in check, running for only three yards on 14 carries, he still reached the 1,200 yard mark for the season. The Vikings forced five 49er turnovers and knocked Dilfer out of the game.

 With three games left, two at home against Chicago and Washington and one at Denver, the Vikings are now in position to clinch a playoff spot by winning all three. Next up: the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football at the Metrodome. 

 Fitz Notes & Quotes

No Vikings running back has ever led the NFL in rushing, much less a rookie. With three games left, Peterson with 1,200 rushing yards trails Pittsburgh running back Willie Parker’s 1,217 yards by just 17. LaDainian Tomlinson is also in the hunt with 1,195.

 Sunday, December 23, the Vikings play their final regular-season home game against the Washington Redskins. Washington Head Coach Joe Gibbs has won three Super Bowls and is one of only three coaches in NFL history to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame and return to coach in the NFL after being inducted. The others are George Hallas and Paul Brown.

 The Twins have not yet pulled the trigger on trading two-time Cy Young Award winner Yohan Santana to Boston. Apparently, the Twins are asking for David Ortiz and the Red Sox 2007 World Series Trophy in the deal.

 Future Gophers?

Gophers Men’s Basketball Coach Tubby Smith is extremely high on two talented local high school basketball stars. Frank White’s talented son Royce White is 6’-7” and plays forward for DeLaSalle, and Rodney Williams, also 6’-7”, plays forward for Robbinsdale Cooper. Smith is hopeful of building the foundation of his program with two of the state’s top players.

 Moon should know!

Former Vikings star quarterback Warren Moon had the courage to leave the country and play pro football in Canada to prove he could play quarterback in the NFL. After a brilliant career at the University of Washington and earning MVP honors in the Rose Bowl, Moon was told by NFL scouts back then that he had to play wide receiver or defensive back.

  Moon, the first Black quarterback inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame, now works as an NFL game broadcast commentator in Seattle on KIRO Radio (710 AM) for Seahawks games. When asked about the unfair criticism of Vikings QB Tavaris Jackson, Moon said,  “It does not matter whether you’re in Philadelphia or Minnesota, they [fans and media] are tough on us when you play the quarterback position, particularly when you’re a young quarterback.”

 Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, and biweekly he commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). He welcomes reader responses to lfitzgerald@spokesman-re corder.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.