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: Blair Walsh to the Pro Bowl? Vikings to the playoffs?
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Bears, Lions, NFC, Packers, Vikings defense, Adrian Peterson, Chad Greenway, Percy Harvin Updated: November 13, 2012 - 8:19 AM
As the Vikings take Week 11 off for their bye, here’s a look at a handful of eye-opening figures and facts.
23
Field goals made, in 24 attempts, by Blair Walsh. The rookie kicker, who was drafted in the sixth round in April, is on pace to make 37 field goals, which would break Gary Anderson’s single-season team record of 35 set in 1998. Walsh’s 95.8 percent accuracy, if it continues, would also mark just the second time a Vikings kicker made at least 95 percent of his field goal attempts for a season. (Yes, you may recall that Anderson made all of his regular-season kicks in ’98.) Walsh has already set the team record for touchbacks in a season. He notched his 41st touchback of the year in the fourth quarter Sunday, breaking Mitch Berger’s mark of 40 set in 1998.
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6
Victories by the Vikings so far this season, the most at their bye week since a 7-1 start in 2009. The Vikings were 2-6 at the bye last season and 1-2 with an early bye in 2010. Now, they’re staying alive in the hunt for an NFC wild card.
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8
NFC teams with records at .500 or above right now. The division leaders are Atlanta (8-1), Chicago (7-2), San Francisco (6-2-1) and New York (6-4). That puts the Vikings smack dab in the middle of a wild card chase with Green Bay (6-3), Seattle (6-4) and Tampa Bay (5-4). New Orleans, Dallas and Detroit – all 4-5 – could sneak back into the picture with a well-timed hot streak.
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24-11-1
Combined record of the Vikings’ remaining four opponents. They will play the Bears (7-2) and Packers (6-3) twice each and also have road trips to play the Rams (3-5-1) and Texans (8-1).
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629
Rushing yards for running back Adrian Peterson in his past four games. So is this the hottest four-game stretch Peterson has ever had in his career? Only once before Peterson has rushed for at least 100 yards in four consecutive games (Weeks 6-10 in 2008). Peterson’s highest rushing yardage total in a four-game stretch is 653, accumulated between Oct. 14 and Nov. 4 of his rookie season in 2007. That included his NFL-record 296-yard eruption against the Chargers.
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114.2
Christian Ponder’s quarterback rating in the Vikings’ 34-24 win over Detroit. Ponder was 24-for-32 for 221 yards and two touchdowns. He has had a rating above 100 three times this season – against Jacksonville, Indianapolis and now Detroit. His rating has dropped below 75 four times – at Detroit and also versus Arizona, Tampa Bay and Seattle.
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2,027
Passing yards for Ponder in his 10 starts this season. He has a completion percentage of 65.2 and has thrown 12 touchdown passes compared with eight interceptions while taking 24 sacks. Last season? In 10 starts as a rookie, Ponder threw for 1,754 yards with a .544 completion percentage, 13 TDs, 13 picks and 30 sacks.
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5
Interceptions by the Vikings defense this season after Chad Greenway picked off a Matthew Stafford pass in the first quarter Sunday. The Vikings settled for a field goal after Greenway’s interception gave them possession at the Lions 25. For the season, they have turned those five picks into only 16 points. Only the Cowboys’ and Colts’ defenses have fewer interceptions this season, each with four. Four other teams have five picks. Last season, the Vikings posted just eight interceptions all year.
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16
Games missed by Vikings starters this season. Receiver Percy Harvin missed his first game since 2010 on Sunday with a sprained left ankle. Nose tackle Letroy Guion was also sidelined against Detroit with a turf toe problem. But the Vikings have remained relatively healthy all season. Here’s the full docket of missed time by starters: safety Mistral Raymond (six games); receiver Jerome Simpson (four), cornerback Chris Cook (two but now on injured reserve); linebacker Erin Henderson (two), Harvin (one), Guion (one).
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| Seattle - LP: F. Hernandez | 0 | FINAL |
| Cleveland - WP: J. Masterson | 6 |
| Toronto | 0 | Postponed |
| NY Yankees | 0 |
| Arizona - LP: W. Miley | 1 | FINAL |
| Miami - WP: R. Nolasco | 2 |
| Cincinnati - LP: A. Chapman | 2 | FINAL |
| Philadelphia - WP: A. Bastardo | 3 |
| Houston - LP: L. Harrell | 0 | FINAL |
| Pittsburgh - WP: J. Locke | 1 |
| Los Angeles - LP: K. Jansen | 2 | FINAL |
| Atlanta - WP: L. Avilan | 5 |
| Tampa Bay - WP: M. Moore | 3 | FINAL |
| Baltimore - LP: C. Tillman | 1 |
| Boston - WP: J. Lackey | 5 | FINAL |
| Minnesota - LP: P. Hernandez | 1 |
| Milwaukee - LP: K. Lohse | 2 | FINAL |
| St. Louis - WP: J. Gast | 4 |
| NY Mets - WP: S. Rice | 4 | FINAL |
| Chicago Cubs - LP: K. Fujikawa | 3 |
| Chicago WSox - LP: J. Peavy | 2 | FINAL |
| LA Angels - WP: J. Vargas | 6 |
| Kansas City - LP: K. Herrera | 3 | FINAL |
| Oakland - WP: J. Blevins | 4 |
| Washington - LP: D. Haren | 4 | FINAL |
| San Diego - WP: A. Cashner | 13 |
| San Francisco - LP: B. Zito | 0 | FINAL |
| Colorado - WP: J. Nicasio | 5 |
| Detroit | 8 | FINAL |
| Texas | 11 |
| Memphis | 83 | FINAL |
| San Antonio | 105 |
| Los Angeles | 0 | FINAL |
| Red Bull New York | 1 |
| Sporting Kansas City | 1 | FINAL |
| D.C. | 1 |
| Real Salt Lake | 2 | 2nd Half 32:00 |
| Chivas USA | 1 |
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- Rand: Here's what local pro teams are missing
- Hartman: Webb shifts from QB to full-time receiver for Vikings
- Neighborhood residents weigh in on new Vikings stadium design
- Hold off on buying that Urlacher jersey ...
- New Vikings stadium unveiled
- Vikings' Chris Kluwe to sign with Oakland Raiders
| 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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