Vikings go down in a blaze of mistakes

By: Larry Fitzgerald
Minnesota Spokesman-Recorder
Originally posted 10/23/2008

 CHICAGO — When you have the opportunity to clear a path and seize control of the NFC North, you’ve got to do it. Last Sunday, on a gorgeous day on the banks of Lake Michigan at historic Soldier Field, the Vikings’ modest two-game winning steak came to an end.

 Just like that, the Vikings are now the odd team out. On a day that began with Chicago, Green Bay and the Vikings all locked in a three-way tie for first, the Vikings played giveaway.

 The Bears 48, Vikings 41 — yes, 89 points scored in a game played by two teams that believe they have championship-caliber defenses. It was the most points ever scored by the two teams combined in this rivalry that started in 1961, a span of 95 games.

 Bears quarterback Kyle Orton looked like Tom Brady, throwing for nearly 300 yards and two touchdown passes with zero interceptions. It was a Sunday when the Vikings outsmarted themselves.

 Head Coach Brad Childress decided that the Vikings were under no circumstances going to kick to the electrifying Devin Hester, the Bears’ All-Pro kick returner. Apparently he had nightmares from last year, or from two weeks ago when Reggie Bush ran back two punts for touchdowns on Monday night.

 For fear that Hester would run it back on the less-than-stellar Vikings special teams unit, the Vikings basically gave the Bears great field position with squib kicks around midfield. Football is still a game of field position. The Bears made Childress pay; his strategy backfired.

 The Bears took possession at the 46, 48, 41 and 37 yard lines, scoring two touchdowns and adding two field goals. Throw in two gift touchdowns by the Vikings special teams and four interceptions by quarterback Gus Frerotte, and you have the foundation for a Sunday of blunders.

 “This game was not characteristic of the Vikings-Bears rivalry,” said Vikings safety Darren Sharper. “It’s usually a low-scoring game [with] tough defense, and it’s also not characteristic of our defense. But, they made some plays. We had a couple of fluke plays that added to the points for them, but they made some plays, too.

 “So, it was a tough pill to swallow,” Sharper said, “but we’ve got to go back during this off week and see what we  can improve on and use it as motivation for our stretch run of these last nine games.”

A week after the Vikings escaped with a 12-10 win over the hapless Detroit Lions at home with boos thundering and chants of “fire the coach,” the Vikings were offensively productive with 439 yards of total offense. That included another 100-yard rushing day and two touchdowns for Adrian Peterson.

 However, the great field position the Vikings provided the Bears, combined with five turnovers and two major blunders on special teams, added up to a game in which you produce 41 points and lose. The Bears just went into a spread offense and did not try to run, and they picked Leslie Frazier’s defense apart.

 They never got sustained pressure on Orton; he kept the chains moving. That is not easy to do — losing when you score 41 points, that is. In fact, it’s the first time in the Vikings’ history that they scored 40 or more points and lost.

 Previously, the Vikings were 11-0 when they scored 40 points or more. In 2002, when Mike Tice was head coach, the Vikings lost 45-39 in overtime to Buffalo at home. So, chalk one up for Chilly. He’s making history, if nothing else.

 “Our front four is so dominant, and our linebackers do a great job of slowing down the run,” said Sharper. “It’s tough to move our tackles, so teams know that they can’t be too effective running the football. So, they try to attack us through the air.

 “A lot of times, teams have been successful. We’ve been able to slow down some teams, but today Orton did a good job. He went to the right places with the football.”

Fitz Extra-

Vikings star Adrian Peterson is well on his way to becoming the first Vikings running back since Robert Smith to rush for 1,000 yards or more in consecutive seasons. After seven games Peterson has run for 684 yards on 151 carries averaging 4.5 yards per rush with 5 touchdowns. He has run for 100 yards or more four times so far however the Vikings are just 1-3 in those games. NFL teams with 100-yard rushers in 2007 won 73 percent of the time. The bottom line is the Vikings are playing one of the toughest schedules in the league and are 0-3 vs. 2007 playoff teams 1-2 vs. Green Bay -Chicago- Detroit and are 1-3 on the road.

 The Vikings are not getting the job done on special teams. Chris Kluwe has struggled punting, the Vikings are getting beat and have allowed a league high five touchdowns on special teams in seven games. They are -4 in the turnover ratio as coach Childress calls it ball security. The Vikings are a power running football team having out rushed their opponents 899 to 495. In the passing game the Vikings have thrown for 1606 yards while their opponents have thrown for 1642 yards. When the Vikings come back from the bye they have five of their remaining nine games at home. With seven Pro Bowl players the Vikings are optimistic they can catch Green Bay and Chicago in the NFC North.

 "We will make the corrections, said Jared Allen. It's got to be obvious stuff it's going to be detailed stuff if a guy's not playing proper technique or a guys not making a tackle. We are only one game out, I'm going to go do some pheasant hunting and clear my head and come back ready for this nine game stretch we got. The season's still young we're one game out of first and by the end of it, it's not where you start it's where you end up."

 "We keep killing ourselves, we can take a lot from this game said Peterson. We put 400 some yards on a pretty good defense in their house and 41 points. I really feel like the offense is starting to reach that stride."

 "I guess the bye comes at the right time, said Bernard Berrian." Who's on fire with 28 receptions for 517 yards averaging a whopping (18.5) yards per catch. "People are banged up get some rest heal up get away from the game but still stay into the game keep your body in shape and come back."

 "The bye comes at a good time because it's pretty much the middle of our season. Guys can look at the first half and see what they need to improve on. And look at this last nine game stretch as us coming out and getting some momentum getting on a winning streak and we'll definitely be in their at the end." Said Darren Sharper.

 *I was surprised to find out that Trent Kirchner an NFL scout for the Carolina Panthers is the most famous name from Fulda, Minnesota. Kirchner is a hard worker and willed his way into the NFL a graduate of St. Johns University. Kirchner was advance scouting the Arizona Vs Dallas game in Arizona to help prepare his team Carolina against the Arizona Cardinals this Sunday when Larry Fitzgerald Jr. and the first place Cardinals come to town.

  The Cardinals hope to get Anquan Bolden back this week after missing two games. Fulda, Minnesota is also the birth place of Star-Tribune-KSTP Radio columnist/personality Pat Ruesse. Fulda is the place that in late January host the annual Fish O-Rama it dates back to the 1950's. People come from many miles away all over that week to feast on 2,000 pounds of Smoked Carp.

 *The Federal Communications Commission has sided with the NFL in a long running programming dispute with Comcast Corporation. The ruling is that Comcast should carry the league's NFL Network on its digital cable package. Now an administrative law judge will decide if Comcast will be forced to carry the NFL programming at a certain price.

 *Former DeLaSalle star and Michigan State graduate Alan Anderson is playing basketball professionally overseas in Russia . Anderson was recently named the teams MVP for Triumph Lyubertsy. 

*Daunte Farmer has officially turned Pro, the young former Minneapolis Technical Community College golfer who was coached by Tony Morrow at MTCC. Farmer played in his first Pro tournament this week on the Pepsi Tour in Tempe , Arizona . Farmer has been working hard the last couple of years under the watchful eye of Master Teaching Professional Rod Lidenberg. And while in Arizona with teaching Pro Mark Polich. NPN- Managing Partner Larry Fitzgerald, author Tom Tuttle, and Passionate Golfer Inc have supported the career development of Farmer.

 *A couple of national sports writers made a point that they are not fans of Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress. They have issues with his interview style." "Every time you ask a question during and interview, It's like a gun fight."

 *Ex Vikings fullback Rick Fenney has overcome some tough times he served jail time recently for wire fraud he currently lives in Phoenix , Arizona .

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.Lar ry-Fitzgerald.com.