vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Go Figure: Could Blair Walsh lead the NFL in scoring this year?
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Adrian Peterson, Percy Harvin Updated: September 11, 2012 - 11:55 AM
As the Vikings prepare for Sunday’s Week 2 game with Indianapolis at Lucas Oil Stadium, here’s a look at a handful of eye-opening figures and facts.
14
Points scored by Blair Walsh in his NFL debut. The rookie kicker out of Georgia ranks fourth in the NFL in scoring after a week, trailing Atlanta’s Matt Bryant, Washington’s Billy Cundiff and San Diego’s Nate Kaeding, who all had 16 points in Week 1. Walsh hit both of his extra points Sunday against Jacksonville, then hit field goals of 20, 42 and 55 yards in the fourth quarter and a game-winning 38-yarder in overtime.
19.5
Average starting field position for the Jaguars after Walsh’s six kickoffs Sunday. Three of those kicks went for touchbacks. The Jaguars started at the 16, 18 and 23 following the Vikings’ other three kickoffs.
3
Interceptions thrown by Colts quarterback Andrew Luck in his rookie debut Sunday in Chicago. Luck went 23-for-45 for 309 yards and a touchdown. But he was plagued by the miscues and will need to take care of the ball better if Indianapolis hopes to defeat the Vikings in Week 2.
2
Interceptions made by the Vikings in their past 12 regular season contests, dating back to last season. The Vikings went nine full games without a pick in 2011 – from Week 6 through Week 15. They were without an interception again Sunday against Jacksonville.
18
Passes thrown to Reggie Wayne in the Colts’ season opener. Wayne, now in his 12th NFL season, caught nine of those balls for 135 yards, clearly emerging as Luck’s favorite target. Since the start of the 2004 season, Wayne has averaged six catches and 77 receiving yards per game with 62 touchdowns in 129 games.
2
Passes caught by Percy Harvin beyond the line of scrimmage during the Vikings’ season opening win over Jacksonville. Harvin jump started the Vikings’ first touchdown drive by turning consecutive quick-hit passes into gains of 16, 5 and 11 yards. Harvin finished the day with six catches for 84 yards. Harvin caught three balls behind the line of scrimmage and one right at the line and had 74 yards after the catch.
6,836
Career rushing yards by Adrian Peterson after his 17-carry, 84-yard effort against the Jaguars. Peterson became the Vikings’ all-time leading rusher in overtime, slipping past Robert Smith’s mark of 6,818 yards. Peterson needs 438 more rushing yards to break into the top 50 of the NFL’s all-time list. And while Robert Smith left video congratulations Sunday, encouraging Peterson to go after “the other Smith,” Peterson is only 37 percent of the way to Emmitt’s all-time record of 18,355 yards.
20
Career games with multiple touchdowns by Peterson, including the postseason. Peterson now has 74 career TDs with 69 coming in the regular season. Peterson has had at least 10 touchdowns in every season and is well on his way to continuing that streak.
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| Chicago Cubs - LP: J. Russell | 4 | FINAL |
| Pittsburgh - WP: W. Rodriguez | 5 |
| Detroit - WP: M. Scherzer | 5 | FINAL |
| Cleveland - LP: C. Kluber | 1 |
| NY Yankees - LP: V. Nuno | 2 | FINAL |
| Baltimore - WP: J. Johnson | 3 |
| Tampa Bay - WP: A. Cobb | 4 | FINAL |
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| Cincinnati - WP: M. Leake | 4 | FINAL |
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| Atlanta - WP: C. Kimbrel | 5 |
| Oakland - WP: D. Straily | 1 | FINAL |
| Texas - LP: Y. Darvish | 0 |
| Los Angeles - LP: Z. Greinke | 2 | FINAL |
| Milwaukee - WP: M. Fiers | 5 |
| Boston - LP: F. Doubront | 1 | FINAL |
| Chicago WSox - WP: J. Quintana | 3 |
| Kansas City - WP: B. Chen | 7 | FINAL |
| Houston - LP: P. Clemens | 3 |
| Arizona - LP: M. Reynolds | 4 | FINAL |
| Colorado - WP: W. Lopez | 5 |
| Seattle - LP: A. Harang | 0 | FINAL |
| LA Angels - WP: J. Williams | 12 |
| St. Louis - WP: A. Wainwright | 10 | FINAL |
| San Diego - LP: E. Volquez | 2 |
| Washington - LP: Y. Maya | 2 | FINAL |
| San Francisco - WP: J. Affeldt | 4 |
| Memphis | 89 | FINAL |
| San Antonio | 93 |
| Date/Opponent | Time | W | L | Score |
| 2013 preseason | ||||
| Aug 9 - vs. Houston | 7 pm | |||
| Aug 16 - at Buffalo | 6 pm | |||
| Aug 25 - at San Francisco | 7 pm | |||
| Aug 29 - vs. Tennessee | 7 pm | |||
| 2013 regular season | ||||
| Sep 8 - at Detroit | Noon | |||
| Sep 15 - at Chicago | Noon | |||
| Sep 22 - vs. Cleveland | Noon | |||
| Sep 29 - vs. Pittsburgh (in London) | Noon | |||
| Oct 6 - Bye | ||||
| Oct 13 - vs. Carolina | Noon | |||
| Oct 21 - at. NY Giants | 7:40 pm | |||
| Oct 27 - vs. Green Bay | 7:30 pm | |||
| Nov 3 - at Dallas | Noon | |||
| Nov 7 - vs. Washington | 7:25 pm | |||
| Nov 17 - at Seattle | 3:25 pm | |||
| Nov. 24 - at Green Bay | Noon | |||
| Dec 1 - vs. Chicago | Noon | |||
| Dec 8 - at Baltimore | Noon | |||
| Dec 15 - vs. Philadelphia | Noon | |||
| Dec 22 - at Cincinnati | Noon | |||
| Dec 29 - vs. Detroit | Noon |
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