The St. Louis Rams offered a theory as to how they would remain competitive without quarterback Sam Bradford: They would use a big, mobile front to key an extra-physical defense, and they would get quarterback Shaun Hill in favorable yardage situations with a strong running game.
Sorry about that, Jeff Fisher.
The most-impressive aspect of Mike Zimmer's first regular-season game as the Vikings head coach was the manner in which his team outmuscled in every area an opponent that was bragging about its muscle.
And to have the Purple do this on the road – after a season in which it was 0-7-1 on the road – had to double the pleasure for the Minnesota TV audience.
The Vikings were leading 34-3 at the two-minute warning and that was more than a rout. It was an accurate reflection of the difference in talent, toughness and brainpower of the two teams.
As they wilted inside the Dome, the Rams became dumber and dumber. As the Vikings rose up, they became sharper and sharper.
We heard more in training camp and exhibitions about the creativity that crusty old coordinator Norv Turner would bring to the offense, but more eye-catching on Sunday was the creativity that the crusty old defensive whiz, Zimmer, brought to that side of the operation.
Right away, there was safety Harrison Smith coming off the far left edge to flummox the Rams, force and punt and leave Hill to mumble, "I wish they still were playing those two deep safeties that we saw on tape from last year.''
