Vikings vs. Lions Analysis

by DHVikes12 on Dec 11, 2011 5:59 PM CST

Despite a poor and sloppy game by the Minnesota Vikings they managed to stay competitive with their NFC North rival Detroit Lions. Christian Ponder struggled throwing 3 interceptions and fumbling on the first play from scrimmage. Two of the four turnovers resulted in Lions touchdowns. The Vikings had no choice but to give Joe Webb a shot to lead the team. Webb responded with a long 65 yard touchdown run. His explosiveness helped the Vikings stay within six points with 3 minutes remaining. The Vikings drove from their own 20 down to the one yard line and it came down to one play. The drive stalled at the Detroit 1-yard line as linebacker DeAndre Levy stripped Webb on a rollout at the 10, punctuating yet another way for the Viking to lose. Replays showed that Levy grabbed Webb's facemask on the final play but no call was made. The ball then bounced away from the end zone and was recovered by Lions defensive end Cliff Avril at the Vikings 43-yard line with no time left on the clock and the Lions went on to win 34-28. Webb finished with seven carries for 109 yards and was 12 of 23 passing for 84 yards. Harvin led the Vikings with 156 all-purpose yards, including a touchdown reception. Webb’s 109 yards rushing is the Vikings single game rushing record for a quarterback. It was amazing that the Vikings were even in this game being -5 in the precious take/giveaway. Coach Frazier stated after the game, "The decision regarding Christian...this wasn't the Christian we were accustomed to seeing. If Christian is healthy (next week) he's our #1 quarterback." I think this is a great decision because I believe Joe Webb is not a long term quarterback for the Vikings. We need to keep evaluating Ponder to see if he is a viable option at quarterback. Cedric Griffin, who has struggled all year after having ACL surgery on each knee in the past two years, was benched after the Lions' second touchdown and replaced at the right corner by Benny Sapp. This was a head-scratcher to some Vikings fans but Coach Frazier says, "You’ve just got to be able to execute some of those basic fundamentals that we ask." After watching Cedric get toasted by Titus Young, I agree with the decision. As I stated in my last post, I believe Cedric Griffin is not cornerback and is a "safety at best" option. Overall, the Vikings need to overhaul the back-end of their defense. This is one of the worst Minnesota Viking secondary’s in the team’s history. The Vikings will play host to the NFC South-leading New Orleans Saints next Sunday. The Vikings are 20-9 all-time against the Saints but have lost the past two, including the 2009 NFC title game in overtime at the Superdome. This will be the fourth season in a row the Vikings will face New Orleans. The Vikings have dominated the Saints at home, holding a 12-2 record in games played at Met Stadium and the Metrodome. The Vikings will have a tough time taming Drew Brees, especially the way the Vikings secondary is playing.

Poll

Who is your quarterback?

Joe Webb

19 votes

Christian Ponder

59 votes

Andrew Luck

7 votes

Robert Griffin III

11 votes

96 votes | Poll has closed

This FanPost was created by a registered user of The Daily Norseman, and does not necessarily reflect the views of the staff of the site. However, since this is a community, that view is no less important.

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Comments

Ponder is the Vikings starting QB.

Frazier has made that clear and it is certainly true that Ponder has shown good promise and that it is certainly too early to throw him away. It is also true that Webb has shown a lot of promise and has not yet had the opportunity to demonstrate whether he is a starting NFL QB. I do not understand why some people want to give Ponder time to grow and yet want to decide with even less evidence that Webb is not capable. There is no need to decide about either of them yet. Keep developing both of them, as the team is doing.

by berserkerND on Dec 11, 2011 6:12 PM CST reply actions 1 recs

But Webb sure was fun to watch

"Winning isn't everything but losing is nothing" - Ace Bricka coach of the Galaxy Aces

by FFXVIKE on Dec 11, 2011 6:32 PM CST up reply actions 1 recs

agreed!

by DHVikes12 on Dec 11, 2011 6:35 PM CST up reply actions

How about a both Ponder and Webb option in the poll?

I see a lot of good things from both of these guys and can’t see a downside to having them both improve at QB. Maybe we’ll even end up trading Webb sometime in the future for a draft pick that turns into a great wide-receiver which would end the zombie topic in a nice circle of life style.

by CanadianViking on Dec 11, 2011 6:53 PM CST up reply actions

Only one is going to be QB at a time

They’ve hitched their cart to Ponder, so they might as well let him get the most of their attention. And that’s what they’re going to do. I just want to see Webb on the field. The man has shown he can make plays happen with the ball in his hands. It won’t be as the starting QB.

by REVENGE4KLUWE on Dec 11, 2011 8:09 PM CST up reply actions

That was the most fun football this season. :)

by berserkerND on Dec 11, 2011 6:37 PM CST up reply actions

Can we get some paragraphs up in here?!

"At this point, what we got to lose, right? So we might as well throw caution to the wind and hit people in the face."
--Vikings DE Jared Allen

by NMVike on Dec 11, 2011 6:43 PM CST reply actions

Heard Frazier say

He yanked CP because of the last turnover, Ponder tucks that for a gain 100% of the time. He pulled up and tossed an ill-advised pass so Frazier assumed he was too tight and in pain.

by Jepp The Viking on Dec 11, 2011 6:48 PM CST reply actions

The answer isn't on the poll

I couldn’t vote

If we can't laugh at ourselves, Packer fans will call us crybabies and we will be forced to kick their tooth in. I really don't want to go to jail (again).

by Alittlemore_cowbell on Dec 11, 2011 9:09 PM CST reply actions

Ponder dangit.

"Like I said, I don’t think anybody on this team knows what schism is, let alone could use it in a sentence. I thought it was an STD when I first heard it. And I was like whoa, we preach abstinence around these parts." - Jared Allen

by Landonio on Dec 11, 2011 9:22 PM CST reply actions