Vikings Return with Buzzard Offense

A reaction to the Vikings' week 17 win against the Giants

January 4, 2010 at 11:13PM

We are taking what they are leaving. -Brad Childress after the Vikings' week 17 win over the Giants
Let's call it The Buzzard Offense, feeding on whatever the defense leaves us. Props to Coach Childress for swallowing his pride and handing the keys over to Brett Favre once again. He made the mistake of tinkering with what was working, which in hindsight, was completely understandable. Flashback to the Arizona game. What was working suddenly didn't work. Arizona hit us in the mouth and we never recovered. Panic set in. It was time to try something else. And why not? The Vikings were 10-2 and had the wiggle room to change things up, experiment a little bit. If it didn't work out we could always return to what was working. That experiment was getting back to our bread and butter from the past couple of years - our running game. It didn't work out. In fact, it seemed to work worse than with our inferior quarterbacks from the past couple of years. Why? Time for a conspiracy theory: I don't think Brett wanted it to work. Go back and watch the Carolina and Chicago games. Notice Brett's exaggerated hand offs? He turns, extends his arm immediately, giving defenses a second or so of a notice, before Peterson is swallowed up. That's not the handoff I remember from Brett of years past (remember the fake passes he used to sprinkle in here are there?). But that's just a theory. Bottom line is it didn't work and things have returned to normal. And it's not like Peterson isn't getting his touches. Let's not forget he's doubled his previous high in receptions (43) which led to an additional 436 yards. Add it all up and he has only 66 fewer total yards this year than last (on 27 fewer touches). Coach Childress knows who this team is. Live by the pass and die by the pass, taking what the other team gives us. I like our chances. Bring it.

about the writer

about the writer

Ben Van Santen