Open Thread, Jets at Vikings
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 10:15 AM CST
in Game Threads
Email
Print
New York Jets at Minnesota Vikings
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minnesota
First off, we've passed 8,000 hits here at the Daily Norseman! Lucky #8,000 was someone from Shreveport, Louisiana. Strangely, they got to this site by doing a MySpace search for Matt Infante. All apologies to whoever it is. . .but Matt's house is a couple of blocks down from here. But, hey. . .hits is hits.
Anyway, on to the football.
Well, folks, here we are. . .second to last home game of the year, playing an opponent that's on our level with our playoff hopes hanging in the balance.
No pressure, huh?
I, personally, have never seen the Vikings beat the Jets. How is that possible, you ask? It's possible due to the fact that the last time the Vikings beat the Jets, the year was 1975. Yours truly was born in September of 1976 (at halftime of a Vikings' game, no less. . .how's that for destiny?) In fact, the Vikings' all-time record against the Jets is 1-6-0. So, I've never seen the Minnesota Vikings beat the New York Jets. I do, however, have a feeling that this will change today.
(Incidentally, the Vikings won their game on the day of my birth, 10-9 over the Detroit Lions at the Pontiac Silverdome. The Lions scored what should have been the tying touchdown at the end of the game, but proceeded to screw up the snap on the extra point to give the Vikes the win. That sounds familiar from somewhere. Anyway, back to today's game.)
The Jets' run defense is, to take a phrase from Bill Walton, "turrible. Simply turrible." They're currently 26th in the NFL against the run, allowing 4.6 yards per carry (only 4 NFL teams are worse) and nearly 140 yards per game. The Vikings, regardless of who's been running the football, have gone over 150 yards rushing in each of the past 3 games. Hopefully, this will translate into a game plan where the Vikings run the football all day long and pound the Jets into the ground.
Meanwhile, we all know about the awesomeness of the Vikings' run defense. They give up almost two full yards less per carry than the Jets do, and since this isn't the year 1999 and I don't see Curtis Martin in the backfield in green and white, I don't expect the Jets to be the team that finds a way to gash Minnesota on the ground.
Against the pass, the Jets aren't a whole lot better, ranking at 17th in the NFL. That's higher than the Vikings rank (26th), but again the Vikings' pass defense ranking is skewed. They rank 13th in the NFL in yards allowed/attempt (6.23) and are 5th in the NFL in opposing quarterback rating (70.5). Meanwhile, the Jets are allowing about the same yards/attempt as the Vikes (6.27) and an opposing QB rating of 76.6, which is pretty good as well.
The team that wins this game will be the team that forces the other team to abandon their running game and put the pressure on that team's quarterback. Chad Pennington hasn't been spectacular or anything this year. . .in fact, he's already set a personal record for INTs in a season (15) and has shown a tendency to put the ball on the ground this year. Granted, Pennington hasn't been Brad Johnson-bad or anything (then again, who has?), but he hasn't been anything spectacular, either.
If a game involving the Vikings is going to come down to run defenses, that makes the choice a relatively easy one.
Gonzo's Final Score Prediction: Vikings 23, Jets 13
Approximately 1:45 to game time, ladies and gentlemen. . .be here!
33 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Coin Toss
An early stop here would be nice.
FOOTBALLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL!!!!
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:01 PM CST reply actions
TURNOVER!
1st and 10, Vikings, in Jets' territory. Injury timeout, as one of New York's O-linemen appears to be injured.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:05 PM CST reply actions
TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!
Vikings' scoring drive went 34 yards in 3 plays, taking 1:21 to accomplish.
Vikings 7, Jets 0, 12:53 left in the first quarter.
Yeah. . .I think this qualifies as a good start.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:10 PM CST reply actions
Jets Injury Update
Probably just a bruised ego from Nap Harris kicking his ass on the play that forced the turnover.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:14 PM CST reply actions
Jets driving
Make it 3 runs for 6 yards. 2nd and 7.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:21 PM CST reply actions
Touchdown, Jets
That gives the Jets 4 carries for 11 yards and a score.
Jets' scoring drive goes 67 yards in 12 plays, taking 6:33 to accomplish.
Vikings 7, Jets 7, 6:20 left in the first quarter.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:24 PM CST reply actions
3 and out for the Vikes
1st and 10 for the Jets on their own 20 when we come back from the commercials.
Vikings 7, Jets 7, 4:20 left in the first quarter.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:31 PM CST reply actions
Jets driving again
Incomplete by Pennington makes it 3rd and 5. Need to hold them to 3 here.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:35 PM CST reply actions
And the Jets get NOTHING!
1st and 10, Vikings, from their own 19-yard line.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:37 PM CST reply actions
And the Vikes go 3-and-out again
Vikings 7, Jets 7, 0:19 left in the first quarter.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:40 PM CST reply actions
End of the first quarter
Jets are back down to the Vikings' 32-yard line, thanks to a 15-yard face mask on Ben Leber.
The Vikings, since the first 2 minutes of the game, haven't looked particularly good. I sure as hell hope this changes.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:43 PM CST reply actions
Vikes hold the Jets to a FG
Jets' scoring drive goes 49 yards in 7 plays, taking 3:38 to accomplish.
Jets 10, Vikings 7, 11:39 left in the first half.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:49 PM CST reply actions
Hey, another penalty!
But this team is more disciplined without Mike Tice around. Just ask anybody.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:52 PM CST reply actions
It would have been three and out. . .
So, it ended up being a 4-and-out instead.
Jets 10, Vikings 7, 9:30 left until halftime.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 12:58 PM CST reply actions
Guess what? Jets driving again
10-7, Jets, 6:25 left in the half.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:05 PM CST reply actions
Touchdown, Jets
And here I thought pushing off was illegal. Silly me.
Jets' scoring drive goes 61 yards in 7 plays, taking 3:38 to accomplish.
Jets 17, Vikings 7, 6:12 left until halftime.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:09 PM CST reply actions
Hey. . .three and out again!
15 plays, 44 yards, 2 first downs, and about 100 penalties so far this game, and we're getting shithammered.
And Leon Washington gets a monstrous return of a monstrous Kluwe punt to set the Jets up in Vikings' territory again.
17-7, Jets, 4:25 left in the half.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:14 PM CST reply actions
Jets extend their lead
Jets' scoring drive goes 4 yards in 4 plays, taking 1:37 to accomplish.
20-7, Jets, 2:48 left until halftime.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:18 PM CST reply actions
Vikings fail to score
Still 20-7, Jets, 0:46 left until halftime.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:29 PM CST reply actions
And more points for the Jets
Jets' scoring drive goes 46 yards in 6 plays, taking 46 seconds to accomplish.
23-7, Jets, at halftime, and the Vikings are lucky it's that fucking close.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:35 PM CST reply actions
Second half start
2nd and 7 for the Vikes from the New York 48.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:50 PM CST reply actions
And as soon as I say that. . .
1st and 10, Jets, from their own 13.
23-7, Jets, 12:08 left in the 3rd quarter.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:52 PM CST reply actions
Surprise. . .Jets driving again
2nd and 7 for New York.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 1:58 PM CST reply actions
Another FG for the Nuge
Jets' scoring drive went 84 yards in 15 plays, taking 7:41 to accomplish.
26-7, Jets, 4:27 left in the third quarter.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:12 PM CST reply actions
Holy crap. . .a punt!
1st and 10, Vikings. . .
And TARVARIS JACKSON is in the game at quarterback!
Alright, let's see what the kid can do.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:22 PM CST reply actions
End of the third quarter
Jackson in at QB. . .looked good on his first throw.
If Johnson is the starter again next week, I'll be pissed.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:26 PM CST reply actions
It actually LOOKS like an offense!
Nice pass to Williamson broken up by an even nicer defensive play by Hank Poteat, and the Vikes punt it away.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:34 PM CST reply actions
TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!
Vikings go for 2, for reasons that escape me, and don't get it.
Drive went 71 yards in 5 plays, taking 1:41 to complete.
26-13, Jets, 6:15 left in the game.
And Tarvaris Jackson rules your world.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:48 PM CST reply actions
TURNOVER!
1st and 10, Vikings, on their own 26 yard line. Still trailing 26-13.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:54 PM CST reply actions
Jackson looking GREAT
Another first down for the Vikings. . .they're in the red zone.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 2:58 PM CST reply actions
Two-minute warning
Did I mention that Jackson has looked really good so far? Because he has.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 3:02 PM CST reply actions
And as I say that. . .
Not a bad throw by T-Jack. . .just a great play by Barrett.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 3:04 PM CST reply actions
Ballgame
It was even less exciting than I'm afraid I managed to make it sound.
by Christopher Gates on Dec 17, 2006 3:13 PM CST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
