Vikings not feeling very receptive

Brian Peterson, Star Tribune

Bernard Berrian couldn’t come up with the catch in the fourth quarter, saying he stumbled after being tripped from behind.

Bernard Berrian dropped one more pass than he caught, and Sidney Rice got hurt. And don't get started on Visanthe Shiancoe.

By CHIP SCOGGINS, Star Tribune

Last update: September 14, 2008 - 11:18 PM

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Bernard Berrian had one drop and no catches Sunday. Sidney Rice had no catches and is scheduled to have an MRI on his right knee today. And tight end Visanthe Shiancoe dropped another potential touchdown.

Not exactly a stellar showing by the Vikings receiving corps in an 18-15 loss to the Indianapolis Colts at the Metrodome.

Vikings quarterback Tarvaris Jackson earned his share of criticism, but he was not solely to blame for the team's woeful passing attack.

Facing a Colts defense that moved a safety into the box to try to neutralize the run, the Vikings got only five catches for 79 yards from wide receivers -- including zero receptions from their starters.

"You have one-on-one matchups outside," offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell said. "Whether they were playing man or whether they were playing zone, it's still one-on-one. You've got to win. You have to throw and catch."

The Vikings didn't do either very well. Berrian's lack of production through two games is the most perplexing. Signed this offseason to a six-year contract that calls for $16 million in guarantees, Berrian has not provided that deep threat the Vikings had hoped for.

He caught three passes for 38 yards in the opener at Green Bay. On Sunday, he dropped a pass on the first possession and then tripped on a deep throw on third-and-5 late in the fourth quarter.

Berrian had a step on cornerback Kelvin Hayden running down the sideline. Berrian appeared to stumble, but he said Hayden tripped him, which caused him to fall.

"I just tried to keep my feet for as long as I could," he said.

Rice sat out most of the second half after injuring his right knee on a deep throw in the second quarter. Rice said he landed awkwardly and then heard a "popping" sound when he tried to run.

"I came back in the third quarter and tried to make a move," he said. "My whole knee was just popping. I couldn't even come out of my route."

Rice tried to wear a sleeve over his knee but he said that didn't help. He said he will have an MRI today.

Bobby Wade and Aundrae Allison were the only wide receivers to catch a pass, and that's not nearly enough production from that position, especially when the defense is committing safeties to stop the run.

Berrian, who is battling a toe injury that caused him to miss much of the preseason, said he believes the receivers have good chemistry and timing with Jackson. He pinned the problems Sunday on a general lack of execution by the offense.

"It wasn't really anything [the Colts] were doing," Berrian said. "We just didn't execute on offense. We get down to the red zone and we were kicking field goals all day. We can't do that. Field goals are OK to a point. But you have to follow them up with touchdowns."