The NFC North is an interesting conference to try and handicap this year.
The Packers have pretty well dominated this conference over the past years, with the Lions showing promise, and the Bears actually playing a bit of spoiler.
Now the Pack is retooling and the Lions and Bears are hoping they have found the pieces to make them a complete team.
Oh, and the Vikings are pretty well rebuilding, but they have some great young talent to go with All Day and the boys.
Showing posts with label Minnesota Vikings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Minnesota Vikings. Show all posts
Friday, August 30, 2013
Friday, March 15, 2013
Christian Ponder strikes back at Percy Harvin
Seattle Seahawks wide receiver Percy Harvin got his way and was traded away from the Minnesota Vikings partly because of his reported feelings about his former quarterback Christian Ponder.
Ponder has wasted very little time stepping to the proverbial podium and letting it be known that he could care less what Harvin says, does or thinks.
The Pioneer Press ran a variety of statements from Ponder that started off assertive but eventually became pretty direct.
Ponder started off by stating that he and Harvin had a nice relationship and that since he did not hear the words come out of Harvin’s mouth, it didn’t matter much.
“The thing is, there’s no quote strictly from Percy that he was the one saying it,” Ponder said. “I haven’t put too much thought into it. If that was his opinion, that’s unfortunate. But he’s a Seahawk now, so it doesn’t really matter.”
That turned into this.
“People have their opinions. There were things I could have done better (last season). But now that he’s on a different team, his opinion doesn’t really mean much.”
Ponder has wasted very little time stepping to the proverbial podium and letting it be known that he could care less what Harvin says, does or thinks.
The Pioneer Press ran a variety of statements from Ponder that started off assertive but eventually became pretty direct.
Ponder started off by stating that he and Harvin had a nice relationship and that since he did not hear the words come out of Harvin’s mouth, it didn’t matter much.
“The thing is, there’s no quote strictly from Percy that he was the one saying it,” Ponder said. “I haven’t put too much thought into it. If that was his opinion, that’s unfortunate. But he’s a Seahawk now, so it doesn’t really matter.”
That turned into this.
“People have their opinions. There were things I could have done better (last season). But now that he’s on a different team, his opinion doesn’t really mean much.”
Tuesday, March 12, 2013
Percy Harvin Traded To The Seahawks
After what was looking like an upcoming soap opera between Percy Harvin and the Vikings, NFL Insider Jay Glazer has reported that the Vikings have traded Harvin to the Seahawks. Adam Schefter revealed that the deal is expected to include Seattle’s first round pick in this year’s NFL draft (25). It also includes a 2013 seventh-rounder and a middle-round pick in 2014.
A steep price to pay for a receiver who has yet to catch 1000 yards in any one season?
Maybe, but there is no doubt the Seahawks desperately needed help at the position. Sidney Rice has one strong year under his belt, back when he was catching passes from Brett Favre in 2009. Pushing him to the No. 2 spot, with Golden Tate sliding in at No. 3 makes this unit look much more dangerous than it did in 2012. Add Marshawn Lynch in the backfield and the team boasting one of the better defenses in the league, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team contend for the NFC West as soon as this year. So from a talent standpoint, I think the Seahawks made the best move possible. They may have been eyeing one of the top receivers in this year’s draft class, but why not use that pick to get a guy who already has NFL experience?
A steep price to pay for a receiver who has yet to catch 1000 yards in any one season?
Maybe, but there is no doubt the Seahawks desperately needed help at the position. Sidney Rice has one strong year under his belt, back when he was catching passes from Brett Favre in 2009. Pushing him to the No. 2 spot, with Golden Tate sliding in at No. 3 makes this unit look much more dangerous than it did in 2012. Add Marshawn Lynch in the backfield and the team boasting one of the better defenses in the league, I wouldn’t be surprised to see this team contend for the NFC West as soon as this year. So from a talent standpoint, I think the Seahawks made the best move possible. They may have been eyeing one of the top receivers in this year’s draft class, but why not use that pick to get a guy who already has NFL experience?
Monday, January 7, 2013
NFL Playoffs Week One Wrap Up: NFC Edition
By: Rich Bergeron
Despite an impressive first quarter of football executed by the Washington Redskins Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks made the right adjustments on defense and took complete control in the 4th quarter on the way to a 24-14 win. Washington QB Robert Griffin III (10-19, 84 yards, 2 TDs, 5 carries, 21 yards rushing) came into the game with a bum knee, sporting a knee brace throughout the game and leaving in the fourth quarter after stumbling to corral an errant snap. The Seahawks spent most of the game struggling to assemble scoring drives and had to overcome a fumble near the goal line just when it seemed like they were on the combeack trail. The 14-13 halftime score would hold up right until the final minutes of the game.
Despite an impressive first quarter of football executed by the Washington Redskins Sunday, the Seattle Seahawks made the right adjustments on defense and took complete control in the 4th quarter on the way to a 24-14 win. Washington QB Robert Griffin III (10-19, 84 yards, 2 TDs, 5 carries, 21 yards rushing) came into the game with a bum knee, sporting a knee brace throughout the game and leaving in the fourth quarter after stumbling to corral an errant snap. The Seahawks spent most of the game struggling to assemble scoring drives and had to overcome a fumble near the goal line just when it seemed like they were on the combeack trail. The 14-13 halftime score would hold up right until the final minutes of the game.
Seahawks Rookie Quarterback Russell Wilson (15-26, 187 yards, TD, 8 carries, 67 yards rushing) outperformed Griffin despite getting picked long after Griffin in last year's draft. Wilson also overcame 5 sacks in the game. Seahawks Running Back Marshawn Lynch (20 carries, 132 yards, TD) catapulted his team into the lead with a 27-yard touchdown scamper in the fourth quarter, and the Seahawks defense never let up. The Seahawks offense squandered a few key red zone opportunities, settling for field goals instead of touchdowns at crucial points in the game, but the team's defense kept Washington scoreless through the final three quarters.
Coach Pete Carroll's squad often doesn't receive the respect they deserve, and this is not the first time the team notched a surprise win. Fans may remember the play widely considered to be responsible for the end of the NFL officials lockout earlier in the season when Russell Wilson threw a hail mary "caught" by Golden Tate in the end zone to propel the team to a controversial win over the Green Bay Packers. The team might need that kind of miracle to come out of Atlanta next weekend with a victory. The Falcons started the season carrying an undefeated record into week 10 and only lost three regular season games, though all those losses were against teams that didn't make the playoffs. Still, the Falcons only lost one of those three games at home, and that defeat came in a season finale that was not really a must-win scenario. Look for the Seahawks to bow out of the playoffs next week in a blowout win for Atlanta.
Tuesday, December 11, 2012
Adrian Peterson Runs All Over Chicago Bears in 21-14 Minnesota Vikings Win
Adrian Peterson continues to amaze week in and week out.
When the Minnesota Vikings have the ball, teams could put 11 guys in the box and he's still run wild.
Everyone knows he's getting the ball, and he's still able to accumulate big, timely plays for his team.
It started on the first play from scrimmage. Peterson went right up the middle, through the secondary and was taken down 51 yards later.
"The guy's unbelievable," Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder said of his star running back. "I don't know if he's human or not."
Peterson topped 100 yards before the first quarter was over and is about 400 yards away from a 2,000 yard rushing season.
"I think about it," Peterson said of 2,000 yards. "I don't try to think about it too much. I feel like it will happen. It's obvious we're going to continue to run the ball and the chips will fall where they may."
When the Minnesota Vikings have the ball, teams could put 11 guys in the box and he's still run wild.
It started on the first play from scrimmage. Peterson went right up the middle, through the secondary and was taken down 51 yards later.
"The guy's unbelievable," Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder said of his star running back. "I don't know if he's human or not."
Peterson topped 100 yards before the first quarter was over and is about 400 yards away from a 2,000 yard rushing season.
"I think about it," Peterson said of 2,000 yards. "I don't try to think about it too much. I feel like it will happen. It's obvious we're going to continue to run the ball and the chips will fall where they may."
Monday, November 12, 2012
Minnesota Vikings 34, Detroit Lions 24: No Answers Hunt Report
Last weekend, the Detroit Lions were the tormentors, mauling the Jacksonville Jaguars. Today, they were the tormented once again by Christian Ponder, Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings from start to finish. No Percy Harvin? No problem. There were few answers for this latest beating at the hands of the Vikings, and the Lions were rarely involved in this hunt despite a few tepid comebacks. As a result, the light at the end of the playoff tunnel is beginning to dim.
Here's the other talking points from perhaps Detroit's most crippling loss of 2012.
Tough Defense Disappeared. From the first few plays of the game, one of which just so happened to be a long bomb to Harvin's replacement Jarius Wright, the Lions didn't have any defensive spark or answer. Peterson did what he wanted on the ground, and the defensive line didn't do much to affect Ponder's accuracy outside of a few scattered breakdowns. If the last two weeks were a step in the right direction, this game was two gigantic steps backward, especially within backfield coverage. Today, the Lions looked like they were badly missing their bigger named stars like Louis Delmas, Amari Spievey and Corey Williams. If that isn't bad enough, Chris Houston left late Sunday with an apparent ankle injury. Ouch. Literally.
Much Of The Day, The Offensive Game Plan Stunk. It's no coincidence that when the Lions simply started force feeding the ball to Calvin Johnson, things started to get better in a hurry for Detroit's passing attack. Yes, the Lions want to be a running team to keep defenses honest. There are no mysteries, however, as nobody like Peterson occupies their backfield. Detroit has to throw in order to win, and Johnson is their best hope to move the ball in chunks. He made all the tough catches today, so the question is, why wasn't he being targeted much earlier? Last year in Minneapolis, the exploits of Johnson were the reason the Lions won. This time around, they went to him too late for any miracles.
Here's the other talking points from perhaps Detroit's most crippling loss of 2012.
Tough Defense Disappeared. From the first few plays of the game, one of which just so happened to be a long bomb to Harvin's replacement Jarius Wright, the Lions didn't have any defensive spark or answer. Peterson did what he wanted on the ground, and the defensive line didn't do much to affect Ponder's accuracy outside of a few scattered breakdowns. If the last two weeks were a step in the right direction, this game was two gigantic steps backward, especially within backfield coverage. Today, the Lions looked like they were badly missing their bigger named stars like Louis Delmas, Amari Spievey and Corey Williams. If that isn't bad enough, Chris Houston left late Sunday with an apparent ankle injury. Ouch. Literally.
Much Of The Day, The Offensive Game Plan Stunk. It's no coincidence that when the Lions simply started force feeding the ball to Calvin Johnson, things started to get better in a hurry for Detroit's passing attack. Yes, the Lions want to be a running team to keep defenses honest. There are no mysteries, however, as nobody like Peterson occupies their backfield. Detroit has to throw in order to win, and Johnson is their best hope to move the ball in chunks. He made all the tough catches today, so the question is, why wasn't he being targeted much earlier? Last year in Minneapolis, the exploits of Johnson were the reason the Lions won. This time around, they went to him too late for any miracles.
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