A worrisome September schedule became a bigger concern for the Vikings after they lost their NFL regular season opening game on Sunday in Detroit against the Lions. “We need to win these first two,” Jared Allen said last week from Winter Park.
Instead the Vikings’ All-Pro defensive end and his teammates lost 34-24 to the Lions with another road game ahead next Sunday in Chicago against the Bears. After that the opponent is the Browns and the Vikings’ only home game of the month. September closes with a game in London versus the Steelers.
Vikings NFC North Division rivals Detroit and Chicago won games yesterday. Vikings linebacker Erin Henderson pointed out last week games within the division “count double,” so the first two games on Minnesota’s schedule have added significance for a team hoping to win the NFC North and have guaranteed entry into the NFL playoffs.
“It’s a tough situation (the early schedule) but not all bad,” Henderson told Sports Headliners. “Get the away games out of the way early. Really learn a lot about your team and what kind of people you have on your roster early on. Deal with some adversity and be up against some tough situations…some tough crowds. I think we’ll find out how resilient we are and what kind of team we’re trying to be and what direction we’re trying to head in.”
The Lions had more production from their offense yesterday than the Vikings with Detroit having 469 total yards versus Minnesota’s 330 while dominating time of possession. Vikings’ quarterback Christian Ponder had a mixed performance that included passes totaling 140 yards to wide receiver Jerome Simpson but he also had three interceptions and a first half ball that might have been picked off and returned for a touchdown.
Probably the biggest miscue of the day, though, came in the fourth quarter with the Lions ahead by only three points, 27-24. Ponder tripped over Vikings’ lineman Brandon Fusco and stumbled trying to hand the ball off to Adrian Peterson. The Lions recovered Ponder’s fumble at the Vikings 39 yard line.
Then third down penalties by the Vikings helped set up Detroit’s last score of the day. First defensive tackle Letroy Guion was flagged for a late hit on Detroit quarterback Matthew Stafford. Three plays after that a pass interference play on Vikings rookie cornerback Xavier Rhodes—trying to cover All-Pro wide receiver Calvin Johnson—gave the Lions a key first down at the Minnesota 15 yard line. Four plays later the Lions scored a final touchdown to make the score 34-24.
Rhodes, of course, had a difficult assignment facing Johnson but not a surprising one. “If you look…at the history of the NFL, they always target rookies,” Rhodes told Sports Headliners last week. “You do good (even) in the first five games, they’re still going to target you because they feel like you’re a rookie and you don’t know what you’re doing out there.”
Rhodes and the rest of the Vikings will learn more about how resilient they are next Sunday in Chicago.
Worth Noting
While trying to pass, Ponder often had pressure from the Lions’ talented defensive line. His offensive line, particularly left tackle Matt Kalil, had difficult moments.
Vikings’ second-year placekicker Blair Walsh kicked a 52 yard field goal yesterday. He is now 11-11 on field goals of 50 or more yards in his NFL career.
Rookie punter Jeff Locke was unimpressive yesterday averaging 34.8 yards. Walsh, though, likes the potential. “I think the sky’s the limit for him this year,” Walsh said recently.
Philip Nelson has become friends with Adam Weber who was the Gophers quarterback from 2007-2010. “He offered a lot of help,” said Nelson, the Gophers sophomore starting quarterback.
Nelson is a business marketing major with a 3.5 GPA. He is interested in becoming a high school coach.
Gophers senior tackle Ra’Shede Hageman said despite his success as a prep tight end at Washburn he wasn’t recruited by other high schools. He did think about DeLaSalle but didn’t pursue the downtown Minneapolis Catholic school. “I didn’t want to wear uniforms,” he told Sports Headliners.
Last Saturday night’s telecast of the Gophers-Aggies game was produced by AggieVision, a video production group from New Mexico State. Poor camera angles left viewers fortunate enough to see the game on DirecTV frustrated. The camera work just added to the frustration endured by those watching the game on the Big Ten Network website. The visual over the Internet continually had missing action. Fox Sports North will replay the game today starting at 2 p.m.
Could Iowa State football fans already be worrying about their opening game next year against North Dakota State? The FCS Bison have wins against four FBS schools since 2010—Kansas, Minnesota, Colorado State and Kansas State. All were on the road and so too will the August 30, 2014 game in Ames against FBS member Iowa State. The Bison have 32 Minnesota natives on their roster.
The Pirates, competing in the closest division race in the National League, will have their postseason ambitions at least partially determined by former Twins Garrett Jones, Justin Morneau and Francisco Liriano. Jones has pretty much been replaced at first base by Morneau but he could contribute in the outfield or pinch hit. His stats include 13 home runs and 49 RBI. Morneau is off to a slow start with the Pirates with no home runs or RBI in his first seven games. Liriano is 15-7 with a 2.98 ERA and could end the season leading National League pitchers in wins.
MIAC football teams that played nonconference games last weekend all had wins. In a preseason coaches poll, St. Thomas was the unanimous choice to finish first in the league followed by Bethel, Augsburg, a tie between Concordia and Saint John’s, and then St. Olaf, Gustavus Adolphus, Carleton and Hamline. Conference games begin September 21.
Congratulations to Marcia Bach, former executive director of the USTA Northern Section, who will be inducted into the organization’s Hall of Fame on September 27 at the Minneapolis Club. More information is available by calling the USTA Northern office, 952-887-5001.
Minnesota tennis legend David Wheaton is helping host a clinic and pro-am September 23 on the clay courts at Bearpath Golf & Country Club in Eden Prairie to benefit the nonprofit Word Servants organization. The same day World Servants will also hold its annual golf event at Bearpath. For more information contact Michael Minich via email, mminich@worldservants.org.