Author: David Shama

On a day when the Vikings showed the intensity missing the Sunday before, it was fitting that cornerback Antoine Winfield, whose energy has helped make him an All- Pro, returned to work after missing six games with a foot injury.  There was a lack of urgency about the Vikings play in a 30-17 loss to the Cardinals last week in Arizona but not so yesterday in the Metrodome where the Vikings dominated Cincinnati, 30-10.

“That was the difference between this week and last week in the desert…the intensity and the energy that the Vikings played with,” said former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton.  He praised the emotion the Vikings (11-2) showed on offense and defense in beating a Bengals team (9-4) that he said was almost efficient enough to have come to Minneapolis with only one loss, not three.

The Vikings defense was impressive for most of the game including a strong start holding the Bengals on their side of the 50 yard line until midway through the second quarter.  It took an unnecessary roughness penalty by defensive tackle Kevin Williams on quarterback Carson Palmer to place the Bengals in Vikings territory.  Later on that drive the Bengals scored their only touchdown of the game.

In the last minute of the second half the Vikings scored twice on field goals for a 16-7 halftime lead.  The second field goal came with a few seconds remaining, and it followed a fumble by the Bengals’ Brian Leonard caused by a Winfield tackle.

“I think the key play of the game was probably the fumble he (Winfield) caused right before the halftime with four seconds to go,” Dalton said. “That made it a two score game with that extra field goal.”

Winfield ranks with the NFL’s better cornerbacks, certainly the more physical ones.  His return yesterday was timelier than it might otherwise have been because two starting players on defense couldn’t play, middle linebacker E.J. Henderson and strong safety Tyrell Johnson.

No one has to tell Dalton, who analyzes the Vikings in the media now, how important Winfield is to the team.  “He’s critical,” Dalton said.

Dalton said Winfield gives the Vikings “confidence on the backend in pass coverages” and then he talked about Winfield’s run support.  “He’s just a beast against the run,” Dalton said.

Winfield quickly diagnoses what’s happening in front of him and reacts.  No pondering, just moves quickly to make the tackle.  “That’s why he gets underneath lead blockers (and) blows up the running backs (and) blows up wide receiver screens,” Dalton said.

The Bengals will give a nod to Winfield about that.  He led both teams with nine tackles yesterday.

Floyd Reese, who was an assistant coach with the Vikings in the 1980s and later a long time executive with Houston and Tennessee, might be the next general manager in Cleveland. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2009/12/11/floyd-reese-could-be-the-next-browns-gm/

Former Vikings defensive coordinator Foge Fazio died recently from cancer.

Gophers football coach Tim Brewster’s home in the western suburbs is for sale because his drive to campus and back is more than 30 miles each way, making for a long commute time.

Look for the Gophers to throw the ball frequently to MarQueis Gray in the December 31 Insight Bowl.  Gray will be available to play quarterback if needed but is expected to perform mostly at wide receiver in the game.

The Insight Bowl is the only Big Ten affiliated post-season game televised by the NFL Network.

With several free agent third basemen available, the Twins are well positioned to find a quality player because they have a need and a winning team.  Don’t minimize the value of the positive “chemistry” in the team locker room for helping to attract a third baseman.

TwinsFest will be January 29-31 at the Metrodome.  More than 50 current, former and future Twins players are expected to appear during the weekend.  A complete list of players will be released in the coming weeks on www.twinsbaseball.com.  Tickets are available through various sources including the team’s Website and pro shops.

FOX Sports North is televising “Minnesota Twins: A September to Remember” on various dates this month and in January.  The one hour special covers the team’s dramatic comeback to win the Central Division and includes extensive commentary from manager Ron Gardenhire.  Upcoming air dates include 9 p.m. next Saturday and 7 p.m. on December 29.

The Lynx will select second in the Dispersal Draft involving Sacramento Monarchs players today.  The Lynx are expected to choose either Nicole Powell or Rebekkah Brunson, both former WNBA All-Stars, according to an email from a franchise spokesman.  The draft begins at noon.

Vikings offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell suggested yesterday that All-Pro running back Adrian Peterson can be more effective by not trying to go the distance on some plays.  Specifically, Bevell said it can be better to “punch” into the hole rather than cut back while trying to make a big run.

“I think he tries to break every run,” Bevell said.  “…I am not saying because he’s trying to break every run that he’s not doing his job.  But I do believe there are some he needs to cram in there (the hole) and get the positive gain, and not try to slip it outside.  Because sometimes when you slip it outside, you’re running east and west, and that’s when you get hit for a minus yardage play.”

Bevell answered questions at yesterday’s Vikings news conference including about the team’s running game that produced 62 net yards last Sunday in a 30-17 loss to Arizona.  Peterson ran for only 19 yards, the second lowest of his career and fewest yards since he had three against San Francisco during the 2007 season.

Bevell wasn’t critical of Peterson yesterday and said expectations for Peterson to gain 200 yards a game aren’t realistic.  Peterson, with 1,103 yards this season, has gained 100 yards or more only once in his last six games.

Peterson, with four games remaining in the regular season, has been under 100 yards nine times this season.  All of last season he had only six games where he gained fewer than 100 yards.

Defenses have prioritized to stop Peterson and that has created opportunities for the Vikings to pass effectively. The challenge in running the ball on Sunday at home against Cincinnati will be formidable.  The Bengals rank second in the NFL in rushing defense, giving up 81.8 yards per game.  They are 12^th against the pass yielding 211.5 yards per game.

Peterson and his Vikings teammates weren’t pleased with their work at Arizona.  Coach Brad Childress said earlier in the week his team didn’t play with “urgency,” and yesterday Peterson blamed “lack of attitude.”

“Personally, I feel in that game everyone wasn’t there,” he said.  “Lack of attitude.  It can trickle down to an entire team.  I feel like that was all it was.  That can make the run look bad.  It can make the pass game look bad.  Special teams.  It was all around.  We can correct those things.  Make sure we come in with the right mindset.  We’ll be all right.”