Louis Villaume
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A recipe to beat the Packers
Posted by: Louis Villaume Updated: December 27, 2012 - 12:54 PM
On December 2nd we had another falling out with Christian Ponder. Minnesota had taken a 14-10 lead over Green Bay in Lambeau Field by halftime. After a 48-yard run in the early second half by Adrian Peterson, we were poised to go up 11 against our hated rival. That is when Ponder threw an interception to Morgan Burnett, killing the drive, and changing the potential upset into the predictable loss at Green Bay.
The loss placed the Vikings at 6-6, and given the impossibility of the remaining schedule, most gave up on the season.
And then Minnesota beat the Bears, Rams, and Texans by a combined score of 80-42. Two of the games on the road, even. Now we are 9-6 and need only win at home to go from 9-23 the last two seasons, to a playoff team. All we have to do is beat the Packers.
And we can.
The recipe is simple. And given this is the season of recipes, I have decided to share....
Get a large mixing bowl, or Dome. Fill it with alcohol, food, and crazy people. Pipe in loud music that forces them to yell until their throats are sore.
Quickly stir in something to get excited about. Defensively, a sack by Jared Allen or Everson Griffen. Maybe an interception by wonder kid Harrison Smith, or a fumble-producing hit from Antoine Winfield. Chad Greenway will cover the ball. Hopefully, that will be the impetus for an early lead.
Offensively, blend in just enough passing by Christian Ponder so that a run-stopping Packers defense is caught off-guard. Just like OC Bill Musgrave managed in the Texans win. With Green Bay bent on stopping AP, Ponder will have chances to exploit single coverage often. But the Green Bay defense has been very good of late. Ponder will need to be smart.
This will get the noise to rise. And let it bake. Do not open the oven door (turnovers).
When we have the lead it is time decorate/frost our meal. And that means lots of Adrian Peterson. I know everyone wants to see him get the record, but our focus should be on All Day pounding would be tacklers all game. Punish them. Sprinkle in a little Toby Gerhart to keep it fresh.
Defensively, everyone has to be at their best. It is time for the front four, and whatever blitz we concoct, to affect Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay has won five straight vs. Minnesota, but not too long ago Rodgers feared the Dome. It is time to remind him of games past.
When we have the lead late in the game, it is time for the fans and the defense to join together. With every great rush by Jared Allen, cover by Josh Robinson, Chris Cook, or A.J. Jefferson, the fans must reward them with noise. Green Bay is very good at the passing game, but in the season's first loss they rushed for 150 yards. This cannot happen again. We must get a lead and force them out of the run so that we can attack Rodgers with a pass rush. And given the sporadic play of Green Bay's offensive line, it is possible.
We will serve the meal to everyone. A national audience, fans off the bandwagon. It does not matter.
More than likely, the reward for winning means a rematch next week back in Lambeau.
Skol.
Villaume: The Door is Ajar
Posted by: Louis Villaume Updated: December 16, 2012 - 1:28 PMMy mother purchased a Nissan Maxima wagon when I was first eligible to drive in the early 1980s. It had fuel injection, and that was new. While it was far from cool to drive your mother's wagon, it was at least fast. And it had a feature of a woman's voice pointing out when the car door was open while the keys were in the ignition. It would state loudly, "The door is ajar."
My friends and I used this frequently to point out when doors were open, or the fact that a door can be a jar. I kept the saying over the years and use it still to point out open paths for students. For example, they could be failing but have the opportunity to pass if they complete missing work, and I will tell them that the 'door is ajar'. It works.
The Vikings have an open door. It is not very wide. They must beat the Rams today, and then somehow sweep both the Packers and the Texans, and then hope the Bears, Seahawks, or another front-runner, struggle. In addition, they need to finish ahead of the Cowboys and the Redskins, both have a similar 7-6 record. The Rams, 6-6-1, also carry minimized hope of a rare playoff possibility. They will be amped up for the game.
The combined record of Minnesota the last two seasons (2010-11) is 6-26. This year they are 7-6. The times are changing. Already Minnesota has moved above the Detroit Lions, early season darlings for the playoffs, and are eyeing the Bears in the division standings. Sadly, Minnesota could only split with Chicago this year, and that may end up being the cause for a playoff miss. Or the lack of ability to win on the road. Or both.
The list of teams to beat Minnesota is not laughable. The Colts, Redskins, Bucs, Seahawks, Bears, and Packers. The Tampa Bay loss being the toughest to swallow. Many of these teams will make the playoffs. Some will win in the playoffs. But as comforting as that is supposed to be, it is not. Minnesotans want more. They want the playoffs. They want good quarterbacking. They want wins.
The game vs. the Rams will be hard fought. Adrian Peterson, with a chance to set the all-time single season rushing record less than a year removed from a major injury, is the catalyst for the Purple's playoff hopes. St. Louis fans will be saying good-bye to Steven Jackson. He will get many carries on his way out the door. It is not often Rams' fans can be excited about December football games. And with Seattle and San Francisco in their division, it may still be a while longer. A game between the Vikings and the Rams that matters... and in Week 15.
No one saw that coming.
So the door is ajar. And the Vikings have a chance to open it a little wider with a win. Certainly a loss will shut the door in 2012. There will still be Green Bay to beat. And Houston, who may or may not care about the outcome of the game by that time.
Hopefully by the end of the noon games we can declare with one voice that our door is still ajar..
Skol
Let it Snow
Posted by: Louis Villaume Updated: December 11, 2010 - 9:46 PMEver since the 41-0 loss to the Giants in the 2000 NFL playoffs I have hated the Giants. I do not want to revisit that nightmare.
In 1997, the Vikings were one of four teams from the NFC Central to make the playoffs. Green Bay was to go on to lose the Super Bowl to John Elway and the Broncos, but the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also wild-cards that season. Minnesota, seeded sixth, traveled to New Jersey to play the Giants. At the half, the Vikings trailed 19-3 but rallied behind Randall Cunningham. The 23-22 upset of the Giants meant Minnesota would play the top-seeded 49ers and lose 38-22 to end the season. A memorable season in that we won on the road in the playoffs.
Last season's 44-7 destruction was also enjoyable, and might have played a part in the first round ease with which we thrashed the Cowboys. Yes, beating up on good Giants' teams is almost as exciting as beating the Cowboys. To pound them both back-to-back, well that nears sweeping the Packers, it does.
This season Minnesota is 5-7, and probably just hurting their draft position the rest of the way. The team is playing better (again), and now the playoff hopeful Giants arrive. Or do they?
Presently they are scheduled to come in tomorrow morning at 8 AM. They will be off their routine to say the least. But then, so is the whole of the Twin Cities and friends, as most of us has reveled in this blizzard with opportunity to stay home with our families, watch a good movie, and eat. The area has come to a near stand still. The brave and well equipped will travel, but we also call them the crazy. MnDOT has advised their be no travel. Latest talk has the two teams joining Monday Night Football. But if winds stay at 30 mph, then what?
The 8-4 Giants envision a playoff run behind Eli Manning and a good defense. Well, sometimes a good defense. They did surrender seventy-four points to a suspect Dallas team in a split of their annual series. But they have three times held an opponent to under ten, so the talent is there.
New York fans have to feel nervous given last year's result. Sure, they can rationalize that it was a shell of their team, but the sting is the same. And they are ripe for the picking in 2010. A team stranded in Kansas City that packed for Minneapolis. A diverted flight turned sour. How many of us can stay on our game when that happens?
So the weather outside is frightful. The Vikings are playing delightful. And since the Giants have no place to go. Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow.
Sorry for that ... Skol.
So This Is Thanksgiving
Posted by: Louis Villaume Updated: November 25, 2010 - 10:15 AMIt started as far back as any fan can remember. In 1902 the "National" Football League (no relation), an organization backed by Major League Baseball, would have a Thanksgiving weekend set of games. The Ohio League, some say the birthplace of present day NFL, played games involving the powerhouse Canton Bulldogs in 1905-06. The last year before the official start of the NFL the Buffalo Prospects and the Rochester Jeffersons played to a scoreless tie for the New York Pro Football League in 1919. In 1920 the NFL took shape and the Chicago Bears, Chicago Cardinals, Detroit Lions, and Green Bay Packers dominated the holiday games, save for a two year stretch (1939-40) when the Eagles and Steelers stole the show.
Televising the games first started in 1953. By 1956 CBS had taken control. Of course, the first game shown in color was on a Thanksgiving, 1965, when the Lions hosted the Colts. In 2006, the NFL added a third game through the NFL Network. The present schedule is for both conferences to alternate visiting Detroit and Dallas. The third game is randomly selected, though many feel the AFC should be allowed to permanently host at least one game. FOX and CBS, which have contracts with the NFL until 2013, broadcast the events based on the road team's conference.
Most teams will have opportunities to appear on Thanksgiving. Our own Minnesota Vikings have had six chances, and sport a league best 5-1 record. The Vikings' first appearance was in 1969, when they played at Detroit and won 27-0. They would also shut out the Lions in 1988 23-0. Minnesota has beaten Dallas three times (1987, 1998, 2000) in mostly high scoring games. The Vikings only loss on Thanksgiving was a 38-44 game vs. Detroit in 1995.
The one constant over the years has been that Detroit hosts the first game and that Dallas hosts the second. There has been many memorable games on Thansgiving Day. Maybe the greatest was the 1974 Cowboys game in which Roger Staubach went down and Clint Longley came in off the bench trailing 16-3 and led Dallas to victory. Or twenty years later, Jason Garrett (yes, the present day interim head coach) replaced Troy Aikman and led the Cowboys to a 42-31 win over Brett Favre and the Packers. In 1976, O.J. Simpson ran for 273 yards vs. the Lions, but the Bills still lost by two touchdowns. They were really bad. In 1980, David Williams of Chicago returned an overtime kickoff for a touchdown, the only time in the league's history. 1989 was special for the infamous "Bounty Bowl", when Eagles and Cowboys played amid stories that coaches had offered money for taking players out of the game. And finally, the 1998 blown coin toss call by the referees on Jerome Bettis' mistaken head-tails call, which had led to the rule change that players must call the toss now before it is flipped.
But as a fan since the 1960s ended, I have a beef or two on Turkey Day. My original complaint was the third game. Not that I did not love having eleven hours of football on family day (I did, wife not so much), but when the NFL Network first started, they were not in every household. It hurt to know that as I ate my third slice of ice cream-pumpkin pie (a family recipe - to die for) there was a game going on in the NFL that I was not able to watch. That was more torturous than watching the Lions get killed 47-10 by the Titans in 2008. This situation has since been remedied as my monopolistic cable-provider has come to terms with the NFL.
My next complaint is the Detroit Lions. They are really bad. All the time. I believe I read that they have averaged more than a twenty point loss in six straight Thanksgiving days. For a while it was OK, because it seemed like the day was reserved for making fun of Matt Millen and the Fords. But then the Lions finally let Millen go. Now they are just bad and not so funny. Detroit has young talent, and will be good someday, but frankly, they are a complete bore on television. It is so bad that I find myself cheering for them despite the fact they are my division rivals. Today they will face the Patriots, who recently defeated the Steelers and the Colts. I wonder how that will go?
I am more complacent watching the Cowboys in the 2nd game. I hate them almost as much as Green Bay and more than Chicago. I hated the Hail Mary play, their domination in the Super Bowl years, the Herschel Walker trade, Jimmy Johnson and most of all, Jerry Jones. It is no strange coincidence that the two greatest egomaniacs of owners (Jones and Mark Cuban of the NBA) hail from Texas. This year they host New Orleans, and I hope Drew Brees throws for 600 yards. Sadly, the game really doesn't matter as the Cowboys, like the Lions, are completely out of the playoff race.
The final game tonight will be the Bengals and the Jets. This could have been a great game if Cincinnati had decided to play like they could play when they play. But they chose not. Instead, the contest will be another in which there is a blowout or the Jets win ugly. The best thing to look forward to in this game is the Terrell Owens and Darrelle Revis match up, made larger by Owens' big mouth. I will watch, but I may chose dishes over the second half, as Carson Palmer struggles more than he does not.
So this is Thanksgiving. Another year older. Another year of the Lions and Cowboys. Given the 3-7 record of Minnesota, I say Ziggy should get in those winter meetings and ask to be a permanent host of the future Thanksgivings, when Minnesota builds that new stadium. Or, if we choose not to, then the Wilfs can push for the West Coast to have the late game via the Los Angeles Vikings.
"Yo, Adrian."
Posted by: Louis Villaume Updated: October 31, 2010 - 8:22 AMLike a good (I use that term loosely) Rocky movie, the Vikings face the Patriots as a decided underdog. Brett Favre is injured and questionable to start Sunday's game. The Vikings are suffering defensively from the absence of Cedric Griffin. There is no pass rush as teams have found a way to minimize the Vikings' front four. At 2-4, Minnesota trails both Chicago and Green Bay by a game and a half. And now the team is on the road, where they are 0-3, having lost to the Saints, Jets, and Packers.
New England is undefeated at home. They are scoring nearly thirty points a game. Tom Brady has thrown for eleven touchdowns with only four interceptions. Wes Welker is back, as healthy as ever. Deon Branch has replaced Randy Moss quite nicely, having thirteen catches for one hundred thirty-seven yards and a touchdown in two games. The Patriots defense has stopped the run better than Minnesota in its' first six games.
It looks tough for Minnesota to pull off an upset.....
"Adrian!"
Adrian Peterson is back in 2010. Presently AP is on pace for near 2,000 yards, averaging just short of 5 yards a carry. Peterson is on pace for nearly 50 catches. He has no fumbles to his name in six games. While the Minnesota offense has stalled through the air, they are averaging nearly 137 yards on the ground per game. He looks better than ever.
For Minnesota to pull off an Italian Stallion type effort it will have to rely on Adrian Peterson. That is not to say Minnesota should not throw. On the contrary, New England has surrendered over 280 yards per game through the air, and the Vikings will need to exploit that shortcoming. Hopefully, Randy Moss will be given opportunities to burn his so-recently-former teammates. Favre will almost certainly be at the helm, and he will need a performance closer to 2009 than 2010. But the Vikings' strength so far this year is Peterson. He has totaled 828 yards (running and receiving) in six games, or 138 yards per game.
Minnesota has lost many close games so far this year. An optimist would say that the Vikings were in each game, and could easily be undefeated as opposed to 2-4. A pessimist would say the offense is sputtering through the air, and that we deserve our present record.
One thing is for certain today. If Minnesota pulls off the Rocky-like upset, it will be because of Adrian. Peterson has 157 touches of the ball in the first six games, or more than 26 a game. He may need more today.
Minnesota is desperate, Favre a question mark, and the defense a little suspect. The Vikings need to reach inward and find what has been missing in so many games so far this season. They need a little extra. They need ,,, me?
I will make my first call of the year...
Minnesota 27 New England 24.
Skol Vikings.
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- Villaume: Where does AP rank among the greats?
- Villaume: Nine yards short of perfect
- Villaume: A recipe to beat the Packers
- Villaume: Onward Christian Ponder
- Villaume: The Door is Ajar
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