Sucked Back In: Vikings Surprise New York

13 November, 2005

The true believers expected a win in New York. Recently, the Giants have owned the Vikings. When the Vikings recovered the opening kick's fumble on the New York 27-yard line, wows were yelled in my living room. Amazingly, the Vikes had a chance immediately.

Then, the Vikings went three and out. Settling for a 40-yard field goal seems short of what would be needed against the explosive Giant offense and when it went wide right, it seemed the Vikings were doomed.

But the Giants did not capitalize. Instead, the Vikings D held tough. Against the odds (pregame shows hyped Eli Manning's paltry 5 INTs this year), Darren Sharper picked off Eli deep in Giants territory and Minnesota had the ball 17-yards from the promised land.

But the calls of doom were not far off. The Giants blocked a 32-yard attempt by kicker Paul Edinger. Maybe the Vikings were doomed.

And the Vikings D surprised us all again. It climaxed with Darren Sharper's 92-yard touchdown interception return. After no offense (the word inept comes to mind), the Vikings were in the lead 7-0.

When it was all done, three unlikely plays led to all the Vikings touchdowns. After Sharper's long INT, Koren Robinson returned a kick return for 86 yards and Mewelde Moore returned a punt for 71 yards. It was amazing.

Without the offense getting it together, the Vikings were beating the New York Giants on the backs of the defense and special teams. Two of the weaknesses stepped it up and delivered the improbable W.

Now the believers should return. Even without Daunte and without any offense, the Vikings win. The faithful are sucked back in. The glimmer of hope is alive! Yep, you're sucked back in.

Vikings Can Take Giant Step Up or Giant Drop Off

Do or Die in Week 9

This feels bad. The Vikings need a victory and now they head east to play the Giants. Recently history makes me want to talk like Rainman - bad, baad, very baad.

The last visit to New York to play the Giants is painful to Vikings fans. It was the NFC Championship game and it was over as quickly as it started. When the game was over, it was ugly - 0 - 41. Complete domination and humiliation.

Historically, the Vikings and Giants are even. It's hard to believe but since 1964, the Vikings & Giants at 10-10. The teams are 4-4 in Minnesota and 6-6 in New York. That's hard to believe when you consider the Giants are on a three-game winning streak against Minnesota. The recent wins are all in Minnesota (20-27 in 2002, 17-29 in 2003, 13-34 in 2004).

Now, the Vikings can step up. If the Vikings can break the streak, if they can chase away the demons, this can be the launching pad. With the Bears hosting the Forty-niners, the Vikings cannot afford to lose ground on the division leaders. If the Bears win and improve to 6-3 and the Vikings lose to New York and drop to 3-6, the Vikings likely leave their playoff hopes in New York.

So Sunday, it's time to break the streak. Or, to start over and forget 2005 ever happened.

Culpepper Provides the Easy Costume

Have you ever been stuck on Halloween? With the pressure on, you don't know who or what to be. Then, it occurs to you because you're a Vikings fan.

I think I met a kid who either bailed on his previous costume or who was stuck. Either way, the kid's a genius. Amongst Dora the Explorer, Darth Vader, and even Trinity from The Matrix Movies was Daunte Culpepper. Normally, you wouldn't give a kid credit for throwing on a jersey and calling it a costume. After all, even I could do that.

No genius is in the details.

So it wasn't the purple #11 jersey that made the Daunte Culpepper costume remarkable - it was the crutches.

It's the easiest costume, yet brilliant. One #11 jersey and two crutches. Brilliant!

Bleed on,
Don

PS What was your favorite Vikings-related Halloween costume?

Culpepper Provides the Easy Costume

Have you ever been stuck on Halloween? With the pressure on, you don't know who or what to be. Then, it occurs to you because you're a Vikings fan.

I think I met a kid who either bailed on his previous costume or who was stuck. Either way, the kid's a genius. Amongst Dora the Explorer, Darth Vader, and even Trinity from The Matrix Movies was Daunte Culpepper. Normally, you wouldn't give a kid credit for throwing on a jersey and calling it a costume. After all, even I could do that.

No genius is in the details.

So it wasn't the purple #11 jersey that made the Daunte Culpepper costume remarkable - it was the crutches.

It's the easiest costume, yet brilliant. One #11 jersey and two crutches. Brilliant!

Bleed on,
Don

PS What was your favorite Vikings-related Halloween costume?