State political leaders made it known earlier this week that a Vikings stadium most likely will not be part of the 2008 legislative agenda, but yesterday owner Zygi Wilf issued a statement to the media that said he looks “forward to advancing” the issue during next year’s session. “We appreciate the willingness of Minnesota’s state leaders to meet with the National Football League this week and address the state’s stadium situation,” Wilf said. “The seriousness of the stadium issue has risen to a priority at the league level. The Vikings and the NFL understand and respect the priorities and pressing issues facing the state, but at the same time the stadium issue needs to be resolved in the near future. Construction costs are rising significantly each year that we delay and there is an urgency to reach a solution. We are confident that state leaders and the Vikings will work together to reach a solution, just as many other NFL cities have done in recent years. We look forward to advancing the stadium issue during the 2008 legislative session.”
Former Vikings assistant coach Dean Dalton told Sports Headliners that Detroit was not a “confident” football team in its game against the Vikings last Sunday. He said the Lions’ performance was “sloppy” in their 42-10 loss.
KFAN talk show host Dan Cole suggested on his show earlier this week that Childress could be the NFC’s Coach of the Year. Wade Phillips of Dallas (11-1) and Mike McCarthy of Green Bay (10-2) are favorites.
You can be sure the Vikings will be following Thursday night’s game in Washington D.C. between the Redskins (5-7) and Chicago (5-7). Those two teams along with the Vikings are on a list of several Wild Card playoff contenders in the NFC. Plus, both come to Minneapolis to play the Vikings in the weeks ahead with the Bears here on Monday, December 17 and the Redskins visiting on Sunday, December 23.
The Vikings are at San Francisco on Sunday to play a 49ers team (3-9) with less than imposing stats. San Francisco averages an NFL league low 13.1 points per game (New England is first at 39.1). The 49ers average 231.7 yards in total offense per game, last in the NFL. The 49ers are also last in passing per game at 145.1 while the Vikings are just ahead at 164.5. The 49ers are 27th among the 32 NFL teams in rushing per game at 86.6 yards per game.
The Vikings are No. 1 in the NFL in rushing offense and defense. The Vikings are averaging 176.8 rushing yards per game, while giving up only 70.5 rushing yards to opponents.
Adrian Peterson’s 6.5 yards-per-carry average is the highest individual average in Vikings history. Robert Smith’s 1997 average of 5.5 yards per carry ranks second. The team’s overall 5.6 yards-per-carry average this season is also the best in team history, exceeding the 2002 team’s 5.3 average.
Peterson leads the NFL in rushing with 1,197, almost 200 yards more than Willie Parker of Pittsburgh, 1,093. The two games Peterson missed because of injury made his chances minimal for gaining 2,000 yards on the season. He would need to average about 200 yards per game in the last four games to reach the 2,000 yard level.
Vikings first year wide receivers coach George Stewart deserves credit for the development of rookie wide receiver Sidney Rice. The 21-year-old second round draft choice from South Carolina has established himself as the team’s best long ball threat. He has four touchdown catches, including one each in the last two games.