The bad news? The Chicago Bears won again.
The good news? Everything else that happened on Sunday.
That’s right, folks. Your Minnesota Vikings are now a 4-1 football team that absolutely dominated the Tennessee Titans in every facet of the game. They won by a score of 30-7. They had seven more first downs than the Titans. They had 123 more rushing yards and 43 more passing yards. Plus, they won the time-of-possession battle by six minutes.
It was just an all around good day for the Vikings (including that glorious loss Green Bay suffered!) and here are some main points of interest following the team’s latest victory.
Harrison Smith’s Ejection
Harrison Smith had already made an impact early in Sunday’s matchup by recovering a Chris Johnson fumble and on a couple of nice hits. What will be most remembered, however, is the look on his face when he realized he was being booted from the game when he decided to get too physical with an official following an Antoine Winfield interception.
“I really dont know,” Harrison said of his status for next week. “I hope to be out there. But I made a stupid decision and I have to accept the consequences.”
“Stupid by me,” Smith admitted to Tom Pelissero. “I should never put the officials in a position like that. I should never touch them. I know that. I’ve lost my head before, but I’ve never had an incident with an official. I completely apologize for that.”
Smith deserves credited for owning his mistake, and it is easier to forgive provided the outcome of this game, but we all will hope this event never repeats itself. His intensity needs to be contained between the whistles on a weekly basis. I’d like to say this was just a rookie mistake, but those rules are the same in college and high school and even earlier.
I would be shocked if Smith gets any sort of suspension, but he can certainly be expected to be nailed with a fine upwards of $20,000.
Ponder Makes Some Progress
Christian Ponder sandwiched some very poor decisions with a great start to this game and a strong finish. He ended up completing 25 of 35 passes for 258 yards and two scores. He also tacked on a trio of good looking runs for 31 yards.
His first two interceptions of the year came on back-to-back pass attempts, one at the end of the first half and one to begin the second half. The first resulted in a missed opportunity to add points and the second could have shifted momentum greatly had the Vikings defense not been so dominant today.
Ponder hit eight different pass catchers today, though, and looked mostly comfortable in the pocket, confident, and like he is making strides in the right direction.
Harvin Continues Incredible 2012 Campaign
Last week, Harvin willed his team to a victory by making the most of his special teams opportunities against the Lions, and this week he didn’t get to return a single kickoff.
Instead, he ran the ball twice for eight yards and a score, and hauled in eight catches for 108 yards and a touchdown.
I am becoming more and more convinced that no single player, especially non-quarterback, is as important to his football team as Percy Harvin is to the Vikings right now. His ten yard touchdown catch and run is something I could watch over and over and over and over.
Walsh Leads Impressive Rookie Class
Six rookies registered stats in the box score today, but perhaps none is quite as important than Blair Walsh’s three field goals in as many attempts. Not to mention his five kickoffs for touchbacks, neutralizing the return unit of the Titans.
Rookie cornerback Josh Robinson led the defense with six solo tackles and held up well considering how much the Titans tried to pick on him today.
Rick Spielman and his staff deserve credit for this rookie class coming in and helping in ways, both big and small, to get the Vikings to where they are now.
View Comments
It was nice to see the defense kept playing well with both backup safeties playing.I thought they might get torched but all in all they held up pretty well. The Dline batted alot of balls today too and that helped them get off the field. Fingers crossed they keep the momentum rolling into DC next week, Skol homies!
How bad was EJ Henderson playing the past few years? Kinda hard to recognize this until a guy like Jasper Brinkley steps in and is making a bunch of plays this year. Missed the last part of the game but watching the highlights, the only major screw up was when Jasper didn't turn around in time to defend against the only Titan TD. Good game.
Harvin - MVP of the season to date.
Dugan83, that must have been an important appointment you had today, sure hope everything was legal.
You're right EJ who? I really liked EJ but it does make you wonder?
Everythings fine Johnny, thanks. Just regular business. Had to meet an architect. Sometimes, it happens on Sunday.
Nothing beats winning while you develope.
Commish was at the game today. He seems to be giving handies left and right to Vikings brass. Bet we see more flexed games. SKOL!
this was a fun one, and gb losing makes it that much better. i had hoped that we would've made this kind of progress by the end of the season. nice to be ahead of schedule. great job, vikings!!! props to the FO and the coaching staff (except for the kneel-down at the 2-minute mark)
The Good - Vikings win! (in a George Takei voice) Percy Harvin oh myyyyy! The defense-solid.
The Bad - Simpson's numb foot, Ponder's two INT's, not much else
The Ugly - Harrison Smith gettin' tossed
4-1 baby! Didn't think it would happen.
Harvin is a tough nut. Fast, quick off the line, not afraid of contact, and he has the ability to make the first man miss. This was a big thing for former coach Bud Grant.
Chuck Foreman, for instance. Yeah. Percy's a gem.
I think they keep track of a stat called "passes defended" I am sure we have already surpassed last years total. When an opposing QB throws a pass, I now feel fairly confident we will have a defender near the intended receiver.
Love the sarcasm Coach and I finally feel the same way. I'm sure there will be a letdown here and there but oh boy what a transformation.
Sorry to have mssed the chat yesterday. I have to watch the game on my computer, so it's hard to go back and forth.
4-1 who would have believed it! Well, ME, for one.
I am so excited about this team. Not just this year but the next 5. We have the makings of a verygood team that should make the playoffs easily if not this year, the next couple for sure.
So many geat improvements this year. Can't believe the O-line or the secondary. Both units playing lights out!
Huh? Wasn't this the latest prediction Frans?
------------------------------------------------------------------------
Fran the ManSeptember 17, 2012, 8:04 amReply
I can understand Jared’s frustration, seems he’s always getting double teamed or chipped but that hit out of bounds cost us big time and is inexcusable. Hopefully it’s puts the fire in him for the Niners. . .
I was the positive one at the start of the season, calling for a 9-7 season but I don’t see that at all now that I’ve seen a couple of games. Lousy team, lousy coaching staff, especially Musgrave.
Maybe 4 wins this year, 6 if we get some breaks
Yeah, it was my latest but not my Best!
My best one was earlier, when I predicted; 9-7
So, I'm going with my "Best" one!
Fran, I hate it when Freds does that. Lol He did the same thing to me a couple years ago so dont feel bad. With all the Colt 45's Freds drinks he has one hell of a memory.
The guy can really piss a fellow off Johnny, keeping track of silly stuff like that. . .
a couple sips of kool-aid here is ok. after our bye we really get tested
Warwas:
Beautiful tackle from Erin... I don't care what Freds says, Erin can play.
Freds never said Erin can't play! He can play, just not very well.....he just plays at a second string level. A decent back up, just a linebacker hole that needs to be replaced with a good draft pick next year. When Erin shows he can cover, he might be a first stringer. A decent run stopper, a guy who is lost in past coverage.
Freds is glad to see has recovered from the concussion problems though. Freds just wishes he was recovering on the bench instead of on the field.
Freds, is there a chance that you are just still bitter about losing that bet to me a few years back about Erin being a starter in the first place?