Secondary breakdowns spoil good play up front

The Vikings defensive line got as much pressure as one can reasonably expect against Colts quarterback Peyton Manning on Sunday, and it still wasn't enough to bail out their pass defense.

Manning looked uncomfortable all game, but he still made a handful of critical throws and attacked cornerback Cedric Griffin in particular to rally the Colts to an 18-15 victory at the Metrodome.

"We were hitting them all day," said Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, who had a sack and two quarterback hurries. "We were on top of it. There's a reason he's Peyton Manning."

The Vikings traded for Allen this offseason with the hope that his pass-rushing ability would improve the pass defense, which ranked last in the NFL in 2007.

Allen and his linemates harassed Manning with constant pressure, but breakdowns in the secondary enabled him to finish with 311 passing yards on 26-for-42 passing.

"Our front four played tremendous and our linebackers also," safety Darren Sharper said. "They went after him and didn't allow him to sit back in the pocket."

Manning went at Griffin a number of times, and slot receiver Anthony Gonzalez had a huge game with nine catches for 137 yards. Griffin described his own performance as being "a little off."

"I just think that I have to go out there and concentrate a little more," he said. "I wasn't really into the man as I used to be."

Gonzalez beat Griffin on a weird play in the third quarter. On a third-and-6 from the Colts 24-yard line, Gonzalez got behind Griffin and caught a deep pass down the left sideline. Gonzalez cut back toward the middle of the field and was tackled by Vikings nickelback Charles Gordon at the 18-yard line, but Gonzalez lateraled the ball to Reggie Wayne, who took it for what was ruled a touchdown. But the Vikings challenged, and replays showed that Antoine Winfield had tackled Wayne at the 1-yard line. The Colts scored three plays later.

Griffin took responsibility for the 75-yard play, saying he gambled hoping for an interception.

"It was my fault, and I take it for the team," he said.

Said Vikings coach Brad Childress: "We were in three-deep zone, and I thought we kind of chattered our feet a little bit and lost a little focus out there. That didn't need to be that way."

The Vikings were in a Cover-2 zone when Manning used a play-action fake and hit Wayne on a 32-yard touchdown pass up the seam with 5 minutes 54 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Sharper couldn't get to Wayne in time.

"You have to react to the run, and Peyton Manning did a great job," Sharper said. "Reggie got up the seam. I tried to grab him but I couldn't get him."