Rich Martin's Minnesota Twins fan blog

The Vikings didn’t fumble, bumble and stumble their way into the playoffs, but they didn’t exactly come up with a work of art.

Instead they team play in spurts against the Giants, a formidable team that rested its starters in the second half. The red-zone defense was good throughout, and the offense played well early and late for the final (small) margin of 20-19.

The x-factor, as always, was Tarvaris Jackson. How would he play in a high-pressure situation?

Reasonably well. He had one horrible play, throwing an interception when the Vikings were in the red zone, but otherwise was OK. (You could tell how upset he was by that — he got a personal foul for tackling the interceptor out of bounds.)

Adrian Peterson had a big play that gave the Vikes an early 10-0 lead, breaking through for a 67-yard TD run. Otherwise he was pretty well held in check, and fumbled once. He was lucky — teammate Jim Kleinsasser recovered the ball.

Continue reading "Vikings beat Giants, make playoffs"

Some things in this world are complicated. Not many people can describe all those fancy high-risk investments in Wall Street that have caused so much devastation.

But sometimes it doesn’t take much to understand the devastation at the Metrodome on Sunday. The Vikings had four turnovers against the Atlanta Falcons, and that’s it. When you’re minus four in the turnover battle, forget it.

Was this a choke job? I didn’t see the game and don’t know. But it sure sounds like it.

The defense played well, though it had no takeaways — a serious problem for the unit this year. The offense gained more yardage, but it meant little because the Vikings were behind.

Tarvaris Jackson played well except for a couple of fumbles. He threw for more than 200 yards and had two touchdowns.

Continue reading "Vikings in holiday spirit, give game to Falcons"

Anyone who foresaw a Vikings blowout raise your hands. I didn’t think so.

The Vikings saved their best game of the year for a time they really needed it and put themselves on the fast track to the playoffs, up one game on the Bears with two left.

It’s odd. All the oddsmakers picked the Cardinals — though they clinched their division only last week — though they’ve mostly beaten up on weak foes such as Seattle and St. Louis — though the Vikings needed the game more -- though the Eagles clobbered them a couple of week ago. Talk about the herd mentality.

Then again, I wonder how many Minnesota fans figured the Vikes would win this one on the road. Hard-core fans probably thought it was time for the team to blow it.

The Vikes needed a total effort — and got it. The defense beat up on Kurt Warner and got several sacks. (One of the Arizona TDs was on a return of a blocked field goal.) The offense ran and passed the ball at will. Tarvaris Jackson had his best day as a pro, hitting 11 of 17 for 163 yards and four (yes, that’s right, four) touchdowns.

Continue reading "Vikings pillage Arizona, 35-14"

An ugly win is still a win. Maybe Twin Cities fans are glad the game was blacked out — it was a second nerve-racking victory against the Lions.

The Vikings needed a reversal of a play that would’ve left the Lions first and goal; a strong performance by Tarvaris Jackson, subbing for the injured Gus Frerotte; and some strong defensive play in both halves.

I just knew this would be tough. I expected the Lions would win — it would fit perfectly with Vikings lore. It would be like the game against the Cardinals four years ago against when the Vikes made Josh McCown look like Johnny Unitas. (That 2004 loss left the Mike Tice-led Vikes out of the playoffs.)

It didn’t happen, but it sure could’ve.

Frerotte had two first-half interceptions, but the Lions settled for a field goal each time. Those missed opportunities would prove to be costly.

Continue reading "Vikes survive, beat Lions"

It was the epitome of winning ugly.

Minnesota barely gained 200 yards. Adrian Peterson had just 80 yards and a touchdown on 17 carries -- modest numbers for him.

But the Vikes played a Jaguars team that was in the holiday spirit. They gave up four sacks, committed eight penalties.

The real key was all the turnovers -- five of them. It's a great relief for Vikings fans to finally win the turnover battle. In some losses they've given the ball up over and over.

The Vikings recovered three fumbles -- returning one for a touchdown -- and picked off two errant Jags passes. That was really the ballgame.

One of the fumbles was the first score of the game. The Vikes were ahead 14-0 with only two minutes gone.

But Jacksonvill moved the ball well through the air -- they did nothing on the ground -- and closed to within 17-10 at halftime. It was time for Vikings fans to worry -- the team had regularly given up leads, such as last week vs. the Buccaneers.

Continue reading "Vikes beat Jags, 30-12"

I'm sure some Vikings players could empathize with the Jaguars on Sunday. They've played poorly and gift-wrapped a game to other teams.

It's not that the Vikings did that much. Gus Frerotte had a poor game. Minnesota rushed for only 122 yards, which isn't that much.

But Jacksonville made mistake after mistake. They had three fumbles and tossed two interceptions.  Gave up four sacks. Committed eight penalties.

The turnovers were decisive. The Vikings were up 14-0 early, with a fumble on a botched snap the first screwup. Napoleon Harris returned the fumble for a TD.

The Vikings offense didn't do much but it didn't have to. The defense was stifling and the Jaguars got into the holiday spirit a month before Christmas.

This was very close to a must-win for the Vikings. Chicago won, and Green Bay is favored to win the division after a lopside win over the Bears last week.

Continue reading "Vikes accept gifts from Jags, win 30-12"

This was going to be a tough game, and most people forecast that the Bucs would win. The Vikings weren't awful, losing to a tough Tampa Bay team that's 7-3 overall and 5-0 at home.

But the trends are troubling. The Vikings lost a lead -- again. They were up 13-6 at halftime and lost 19-13. They lost the turnover battle, fumbling twice while getting only one turnover.

The second fumble occurred when the Vikings were about to score and tie the game. Ouch.

And yet another quarterback picked apart the Vikes' pass defense. Jeff Garcia went 23 for 30 for 255 yards with no TDs and no interceptions. He was sacked only once.

This time Adrian Peterson wasn't enough. He gained 85 yards, almost half of the team's measly total of 210 yards.

The Bucs were better in the second half. The Vikings offense did nothing, and the Bucs tied on the opening drive after the half. They were the better team, especially after the break.

Continue reading "Vikes can't buck Bucs' home-winning trend"

It looked grim for a while, but the Vikings overcame some sloppy play to beat the Packers at home, 28-27. Adrian Peterson scored on a 29-yard run to give Minnesota the lead.

Mason Crosby's 52-yard field goal went wide right, giving the Vikes the win. But it seemed almost like three games.

The Vikings won the first game, taking a 21-10 lead that included two safeties.

The Packers won the second, scoring on an interception return and a punt return to take the lead 24-21. Then, after coach Brad Childress went for it on fourth and one and didn't make it at the Minnesota 40, the Packers scored a field goal.

The third and final (and shortest) game was the Vikings' final drive that was almost all Peterson. He carried the ball and caught two passes. Overall Peterson gained 192 yards rushing and 33 yards receiving. He had only one blemish, a fumble on the fourth and down play.

Continue reading "Vikes ride Peterson to victory over Packers"

Every time you think the Vikings are going to tank, they win.

Every time you think they're going to make a run, they lose.

This Sunday was another do-or-die win, and the team managed a close win over Houston, making Sage Rosenfels look like Peyton Manning in the process.

Once again you can cite some really good things and some awful ones.

Adrian Peterson gained 139 yards, Gus Frerotte threw three touchdown passes and the defense got two interceptions, a fumble recovery and five sacks.

But the D also gave up more than 400 yards, almost giving up a two-touchdown lead to an inferior opponent.

Yes, Houston had a three-game winning streak, but the teams they beat were Miami, Detroit and Cincinnati, all at home.

So, with the win, the Vikings are 4-4, a game behind the Bears -- who barely beat the Lions -- and tied with the Packers, who lost to the Titans.

Continue reading "Vikes eke out win against Texans, 28-21"

It was a wild and crazy game, unlike past 7-3 contests in the old black-and-blue division.

The Vikings scored plenty of points, but lost two fumbles, threw four interceptions and gave up two special-teams TDs.

The special teams have been horrible for some time now. They nearly cost the Vikings the game against New Orleans. Maybe it's time to replace the special teams coordinator. There's been nothing special about the punt and kickoff teams.

Adrian Peterson rushed for more than 100 yards and scored two touchdowns, but it wasn't nearly enough. Gus Frerotte threw for 298 yards and a pair of scores, but those four picks were killers.

And the Bears offense passed at will. Kyle Orton's a pretty good quarterback, but the Vikings' pass defense was weak. They had no interceptions and just two sacks, both by Jared Allen.

Continue reading "Turnovers doom Vikings"