Chargers at Vikings, Open Thread

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 8:33 AM CST in Game Threads

San Diego Chargers at Minnesota Vikings
Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome
Minneapolis, Minnesota

	1st	2nd	3rd	4th+OT	F
Chargers	7	7	0	3	17
Vikings	7	0	14	14	35

San Diego	Stat	Minnesota
123.4 ypg (12th)	Rush Offense	155.3 ypg (2nd)
197.1 ypg (22nd)	Pass Offense	151.7 ypg (30th)
320.6 ypg (19th)	Total Offense	307 ypg (23rd)
24.6 ppg (8th)	Scoring Offense	18.7 ppg (20th)
88.9 ypg (7th)	Rush Defense	74.4 ypg (3rd)
241.4 ypg (27th)	Pass Defense	288.3 ypg (32nd)
330.3 ypg (18th)	Total Defense	362.7 ypg (27th)
18.4 ppg (12th)	Scoring Defense	19.6 ppg (14th)

Well, if there isn't a Chargers' site on SBNation for me to take the team colors off of, we WILL use the powder blue, damn it!

Don't let the Chargers' statistical numbers fool you. . .they've been playing significantly better over the past month of the season, having rebounded from a 1-3 start to put up three very convincing victories over Denver (41-3), Oakland (28-14), and Houston (35-10). The Chargers look now like the kind of team that everyone expected them to be from the beginning of the season.

The Chargers are very talented on offense, and even more so after the bye-week acquisition of WR Chris Chambers from the Miami Dolphins. Paired with youngster Vincent Jackson, the Chargers now have a big, talented receiving duo. . .bad news for a Vikings secondary that might not have the services of Antoine Winfield this afternoon. Of course, you can't forget about Antonio Gates, who is the best tight end in the National Football League by a significant margin (in my opinion). Oh, and they can run the football too. They have this running back. . .name escapes me at the moment. . .Thompson. . .Timlinson. . .Tomlinson! That's it. . .LaDanian Tomlinson. You've probably heard of him. . .set the single-season TD record in 2006, probably the best running back in the league today, on his way to being one of the all-time greats. Yeah, that guy.

San Diego is also very dangerous defensively. Their secondary is a bit suspect, but their front seven is extremely talented, led by LB/DE/Roid Monster Shawne Merriman and huge DT Jamal Williams. Even if the San Diego secondary is suspect, with the Vikings' complete ineptitude in the passing game, I'm not really sure that it will make much difference.

I'm hesitant to predict a Chargers' blowout, if only because the Vikings don't get blown out very often, but don't be terribly surprised if today's final score is a little worse than what I'm predicting.

Gonzo's Final Score Prediction: Chargers 23, Vikings 13

My picks for this week will be in the comments section. Hopefully we can at least get a competitive game out of today's contest. I hate being on the wrong end of an ass kicking.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

0 recs | Comment 32 comments

Story-email Email | Print |

Comments

Inactives for Today

Sorry this isn't up sooner. . .my quest for lunch took longer than I thought it would.

Chargers
TE Scott Chandler
WR Buster Davis
WR Malcolm Floyd
C Nick Hardwick
CB Paul Oliver
LB Shaun Phillips
LB Anthony Waters
QB Charlie Whitehurst (#3 QB)

Vikings
S Mike Doss
QB Kelly Holcomb (#3 QB)
T Chase Johnson
TE Garrett Mills
DE Jayme Mitchell
FB Naufahu Tahi
WR Troy Williamson
CB Antoine Winfield

Three and out for the Chargers on their first series. Vikings have 1st and 10 on their own 8 to start with.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 12:07 PM CST 0 recs

Touchdown, Chargers

After stonewalling LT two times in a row, the Vikings finally let him into the end zone on 3rd and goal. Kaeding adds the extra point to make it 7-0, San Diego.

Chargers' scoring drive covered 53 yards in 10 plays, taking 5:39 to accomplish. The drive started after a Kluwe punt that may or may not have been partially blocked by San Diego's Antonio Cromartie.

Chargers 7, Vikings 0, 5:44 left in the first quarter.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 12:22 PM CST 0 recs

BIG return!

Aundrae Allison fields the return, fakes like he's going to pass it backwards, and goes right down the middle of the field to take the ball to the San Diego 40.

GREAT job by Allison. Now let's see if the Vikings do anything with it.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 12:24 PM CST 0 recs

TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!

And do something with it, they did.

Adrian Peterson punches it in from a yard out for a touchdown.

Vikings' scoring drive went 39 yards in 5 plays (23 of those yards going to Peterson) and took 2:55 to accomplish.

And hey, we scored after our first drive! I don't know how I feel. . .it's such an infrequent occurrence.

Vikings 7, Chargers 7, 2:49 left in the first quarter.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 12:29 PM CST 0 recs

New NFL Rule

If the play clock runs out when you're the visiting team in the Metrodome, the referees will simply reset it for you.

Man, I don't know what the hell that was all about.

Vikings 7, Chargers 7, 1:44 left in the first quarter. Vikings have 1st and 10 from their own 20 when we come back from commercial.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 12:40 PM CST 0 recs

Chargers on a short field again

Vikings backed up in their own end zone. . .Kluwe punts it out to the Vikings' 45 or so, where it goes out of bounds.

Man, we can't keep holding the Chargers off if we keep letting them start every drive nearly in field goal range.

Vikings 7, Chargers 7, 9:50 left until halftime.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:01 PM CST 0 recs

Punting back and forth

I will say that Philip Rivers looks terrible for San Diego so far. He's currently 6/15 for 59 yards.

Yes, he's still playing the Minnesota pass defense.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:13 PM CST 0 recs

That's 10 straight

Incompletions for Philip Rivers. He's currently at 6/17 for 59 yards.

By comparison, Tarvaris Jackson is 6/12 for 63 yards.

Two-minute warning in Minneapolis, folks. Vikings and Chargers still tied at 7.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:22 PM CST 0 recs

Slowest two-minute drill

EVER!

Peterson converts a third down for the Vikings, and the clock has ticked all the way down to 46 seconds. Mind you, Minnesota has all their time outs.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:27 PM CST 0 recs

Jackson down

Jackson scrambles up the field, gets the first down, and gets crushed by a couple of Chargers. He's not moving.

Hopefully it's not serious.

Time out, Vikings.

:29 left in the half, Vikings and Chargers tied at 7.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:29 PM CST 0 recs

Jackson sitting up

That's an encouraging sign, at least. I wouldn't expect him back this afternoon, though.

Looks like it's Brooks Bollinger time, everybody.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:32 PM CST up 0 recs

Jackson being carted up

But he did walk to the cart under his own power.

Updates when they're available.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:33 PM CST up 0 recs

Oh, you're fucking kidding me

Longwell comes in and attempts a 58 yard field goal, which comes up short. We should have been going to halftime.

However. . .

The ball was fielded about 2 centimeters in front of the back end zone line by San Diego's Antonio Cromartie, who runs it out of the end zone and proceeds to go 109 yards for a Chargers TD.

109 yards. I wish I was fucking joking.

Chargers 14, Vikings 7 as we go to the locker room.

Damn it.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:40 PM CST 0 recs

So, to recap

Thus far. . .

-LaDanian Tomlinson has 35 yards rushing on 12 carries.

-Philip Rivers concluded the first half by throwing 10 straight incompletions against a secondary that doesn't have their best player.

-Antonio Gates has zero catches to this point.

Aaaaaaaaaaaaaaand we're losing by a touchdown.

Yeah. . .no misprints there. Sad, isn't it?

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 1:46 PM CST 0 recs

PETERSON!!

TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!

TOUCHDOWN, ADRIAN PETERSON!!

Peterson takes the handoff from Bollinger on 3rd and 3, goes over the left side, breaks a couple of tackles, and streaks 64 yards for the touchdown!

The Vikings needed a drive like that to answer the crushing play at the end of the half, and they got it.

Vikings drive went 83 yards in 6 plays, taking 2:16 to accomplish.

Tied at 14, 12:44 left in the third quarter.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:02 PM CST 0 recs

VIKINGS BALL!!

Rivers fumbles the snap on the first play from scrimmage, and Chad Greenway pounced on it!

1st and 10, Vikings, from the San Diego 20.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:04 PM CST 0 recs

First and goal, Vikings

Shiancoe with a great catch and run for the first.

1st and goal, Vikings.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:06 PM CST 0 recs

ARGH!

Second and goal for the Vikings, handoff goes to Chester Taylor. . .it LOOKED like he was down, but the ball came out and the Chargers fell on it.

At least a Viking tackled Marlon McCree before he ran it all the way back.

I'm not sure if they're going to review this or not. They went to commercial straight away, so I haven't seen a replay yet.

Why the hell Peterson wasn't in there in that situation is beyond my comprehension.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:09 PM CST 0 recs

E.J. Henderson is a beast

He almost crushed Philip Rivers on third down there, but it was good enough to force an incompletion.

Still tied at 14 after the Scifres punt, with 6:44 left in the third quarter.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:21 PM CST 0 recs

There is nothing greater

Than watching Adrian Peterson put his head down and just destroy people.

Peterson's at 19 carries for 132 yards and 2 TDs.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:23 PM CST 0 recs

Maybe one thing

I'd rather see him do that 20-25x per game now so I can watch him destroy people for years rather than 31x to see him set a record once.

The Vikings are 2-0 when Adrian Peterson runs for 200+ yards and scores 3+ TD's. Brad Childress's "kick-ass system" and the rest of his hand-picked personnel are 1-5 this season when Adrian Peterson is not doing everything for them.

Hire Marty Schottenheimer!

by KC Viking on Nov 4, 2007 4:02 PM CST up 0 recs

TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!

Bollinger with a 40-yard touchdown pass to Sidney Rice (sponsored by The Daily Norseman).

Beautiful throw by Bollinger, beautiful catch by Rice, beautiful drive by the Vikings.

So much for that San Diego momentum.

Longwell tacks on the extra point to make it 21-14, Vikings, with 3:07 left in the third quarter.

Vikings drive went 81 yards in 6 plays, taking 3:37 to accomplish.

I'm damn near giddy. . .this is amazing!

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:27 PM CST 0 recs

Start Bollinger

Give Tarvaris another chance if Bollinger is injured or ineffective and have an open competition for the starting job in the offseason, but let's try to win NOW.

Unless this team can win nine games this season (6-2 in the remaining games), Brad Childress should be fired and replaced with Marty Schottenheimer. Otherwise, there is no way any of our current talent will stay, and nobody will want to go to MN as a free agent, either.

In 24 regular season games as the Vikings' head coach, Childress has a 7-15 record when the greatest rookie RB ever isn't able to bail his ineffective system out with 200+ yards and 3+ TD's.

by KC Viking on Nov 4, 2007 4:09 PM CST up 0 recs

Around the NFC North

Kansas City 14, Green Bay 13, 10:27 remaining

Detroit 30, Denver 0, start of 4th quarter

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:33 PM CST 0 recs

Three quarters down

San Diego will start the 4th quarter with a 2nd and 2 from the Minnesota 26 when we come back.

Vikings 21, Chargers 14, one quarter of football left to be played.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:36 PM CST 0 recs

Chargers settle for three

Chargers put a bit of a drive together, but end up settling for a 36-yard Nate Kaeding field goal to make the score 21-17.

Chargers' drive went 63 yards in 10 plays, taking 3:58 off the clock.

Vikings 21, Chargers 17, 14:09 left in the ball game.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:42 PM CST 0 recs

Damn!

Peterson get to inside the Chargers 20, but he fumbles, and it gets recovered by San Diego.

Man, crappy timing for a turnover there.

Chargers have 1st and 10 from their own 22.

Vikings 21, Chargers 17, 10:07 left in the ball game.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:53 PM CST 0 recs

Addendum

AP's over 200 yards for the afternoon now. 205 on 26 carries, to be exact.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 2:54 PM CST up 0 recs

TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!!

After a spectacular punt return by Mewelde Moore, the handoff goes to Peterson, and he does what Adrian Peterson does best. . .

SCORE FREAKING TOUCHDOWNS!!

47-yard TD run for Purple Jesus, and the Longwell extra point makes it 27-17.

7:44 left in the ball game.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 3:01 PM CST 0 recs

TOUCHDOWN, VIKINGS!

This time it's Chester Taylor, who did an outstanding job on that drive.

Drive went 40 yards in 9 plays and took 3:02 off the clock.

Now the only drama left is to see if Adrian Peterson sets the single-game rushing record. He's at 258 now. . .Jamal Lewis' 295 is well within reach.

Vikings 35, Chargers 17, 4:22 left to 3-5.

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 3:12 PM CST 0 recs

Gotta go

Need to pick the wife up from work.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

The Daily Norseman - The greatest Vikings' site on the Internet!

by Gonzo on Nov 4, 2007 3:14 PM CST 0 recs

He Did IT!!!!! He Fucking Did It!!!!!

Adrian "All Day" Peterson has officaly surpased Jamal Lewis' single game rushing record of 295 by getting 296 against a normally stout rush defense. Oh and by the way ITS HIS 8TH NFL GAME!!!!!!!!!!!

by OnTheThirdDayHeMadeAD on Nov 4, 2007 5:18 PM CST 0 recs