Vikings Walked the Plank in Home Opener
I am not happy.
Reading the sports page after a Vikings' loss is about as refreshing and satisfying as that first Monday back to work after you spent your vacation trying to recover from severe food poisoning. That Monday morning postmortem of what went wrong during Sunday's game is the sort of thing that requires a medicinal dose of coffee and, in my case, black eyeliner.
The general, and not shocking, consensus is that not many of us out here in Vikings Land are happy about the Minnesota Vikings home-opener loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. In what became a frightening case of football déjà vu, the Vikings started Sunday's game dominating on both sides of the ball, only to lose momentum, lose the lead, and then lose the game during a disappointing second half disintegration.
While the Vikings improved on their performance in San Diego with quarterback Donovan McNabb passing for 212 yards yesterday in comparison to 39 yards the previous week, noting the improvement in the passing game in the face of a demoralizing loss feels like a weak consolation prize. If the Vikings continue at this current rate of incremental improvement, they should be cruising up to their first win just before their bye week.
Join me after the jump. We'll talk more about the game and then I'll make an impassioned plea for you to cheer me up by doing something ridiculous.
I don't want to slide into the cynicism that starting the season 0-2 invites, but it's a challenge not to. Both the Green Bay Packers and the Detroit Lions won in their match ups today. The Chicago Bears fell to the New Orleans Saints, but having won in week one, they're ahead of the Vikings who are squarely in the NFC North basement.
Just like in San Diego, the Vikings' defense couldn't get off the field in the second half and the offense couldn't stay on the field.
Back on the field after half-time, Tampa Bay marched 44 yards in a 33-second scoring strike, then they took a page out of Sean Payton's book, during the third quarter Raheem Morris and the Buccaneers gambled on an on-side kick that they recovered on their 47-yard line. Tampa Bay charged back from being down 17 points to win 24 to 20, scoring four times to the Vikings' single field goal. Adjusting to the Vikings pass rush, the Buccaneer passing game steadily gained ground against the Vikings' secondary, giving Buccaneers' running game opportunities to get back into the game.
On the offensive side of the ball, Bill Musgrave's multi-dimensional offense from the first half seemed to be nowhere in sight as the Buccaneers adjusted to limit Adrian Peterson (54 career touchdowns) and the rest of the offense struggled to regain their momentum. The Vikings punted away their opening possession of the second half, their only score in the second half coming from a field goal that capped off a 12-play drive at the top of the fourth quarter.
Staring down an 0-2 start that is eerily reminiscent to last season, fans are stuck wondering what the 2011 Vikings' are suffering. Is it poor coaching, poor execution, or poor conditioning? Whatever the culprit, the Vikings are hosting the undefeated Detroit Lions next week in what is a must-win game for the Vikings. The last time the Vikings made it to the playoffs after a 0-2 start was in 2008, but right now the playoffs feel improbable at best.
We can spend a lot of time analyzing exactly why the Vikings got completely owned by the Buccaneers in the second half, but Jared Allen seemed to sum it up the best.
"They kicked the crap out of us in the second half, and that sucks because we were dominating them in the first half. We've got to find a way to play for 60 minutes."
For as much as the Vikings have said that the 2011 season is not a lame duck season and not a rebuilding year, if they don't find a way to finish games that is exactly what it will be. The Chargers and the Buccaneers made adjustments and found a way to come back and win, the Vikings will have to do likewise if they are going to pull themselves out of the NFC North basement. When you look at what the Vikings were able to accomplish in the opening halves of their first two games this season, it makes it that much more frustrating to talk about these losses.
Clearly, the Vikings need a quasi-inspirational song choice and I desperately need a laugh.
Right now, the only thing that is going to make this Monday even a little bit bearable is the fact that it is national Talk Like a Pirate Day--hence my peculiar need for black eyeliner and my black t-shirt with the shiny silver skull and crossbones on it. In a last ditch effort to maintain my sense of humor and perspective, I ask beg that all you scurvy scum here on DN sprinkle your comments lavishly with pirate-speak. It won't take the sting out of the game, or diminish the looming specter of a crap season, but it will make me laugh and I could really use a good laugh after Sunday's game. Yarrr!
68 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
Arrrgh, ye scurvy dogs
Keelhaul the gameplan, make Berrian walk the plank, and bring me a mug of grog ot I’ll run you through with me sword.
Arrrrrrghh!!!!
"I'm crazy? Cyril, you're the one who killed a perfectly good hooker!"--Sterling Archer
The Daily Norseman
Off Tackle Empire
SB Nation Minnesota
Follow @purplebuckeye
Yo, ho! Yo, ho!
A free-agent’s life for Berrian!
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
'Tis a sweet link you have found me matey!
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Skirvy!!?
I be a ‘orrid pirate talker, nevertheless, I shall grant ye requ’st.
The road to fulfillment in any line of endeavor is always marked by an initial breakthrough; however, that first taste of success needs to be replicated again and again in order for supremacy to be sustained. We are Vikings, and our breakthrough is now. We will get that first down, then get a touchdown. Then we'll kick your ass.
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Sep 19, 2011 4:26 PM CDT reply actions
Great be yer rewards fer that favor.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Or was that shakespearian?
The road to fulfillment in any line of endeavor is always marked by an initial breakthrough; however, that first taste of success needs to be replicated again and again in order for supremacy to be sustained. We are Vikings, and our breakthrough is now. We will get that first down, then get a touchdown. Then we'll kick your ass.
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Sep 19, 2011 4:37 PM CDT up reply actions
Shave their belly with a rusty razor
Oh wait that’s what you do to a drunken sailor. Arrgh can’t even get that right. To bummed to talk like a pirate. Me buccaneers are on me buccen-head and all I can hear is the ghost of 2010
Skol
by SouthernNorseman on Sep 19, 2011 4:28 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Pirates could very well be drunken sailors so I think it works.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Me bleedin gums be telling me a storm is arising off the leeward bow. And it ain't gonna be a pretty one.
alright, first don’t fret lassy, No sense jumping on the poop deck and pissing in the wind. Aye the team is listing a bit leeward but we can tack around that and still make Havana before the grog runs out. We just need to tighten up the jib and toss Berrain out on a rope off the yard arm. Just remember it ain’t mutinee if your successful! oh and ARGH!!!
Something something Tortuga.
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
That comes frighteningly easily to you Grime :)
Me thinks most o’ the lubbers in Viking Land are ready to see Berrian marooned. But what of the coaching? Where were the playcalling adjustments?
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Aye ya can't have a ship shape um.. ship... without a good Captain at the helm
For shame they have led us astray but at least unlike the last scurvy dog who hoisted the colors we’re not riveted by the great whale Tavaris Jackson. No this captain has sailed us passed those shoalie waters and taken us into a safe harbor. The problem is there is no booty in a safe harbor. He needs to step the mast release the main sail and secure the lines, this here is a man o’ war and as such should be seeking the teeth of our enemies so as better ram our fists into them!
Have faith fellow crew from your good friend Bosun Grime, this captain just needs a bit to catch his sea legs. Once he does we’ll be the hardest pack of cut throats on the main.
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
I like to hold onto the hope...
That Leslie Frazier is on his way to being a great head coach and that the kinks are still being worked out because they didn’t have the OTAs to get the new system established. But part of that could be because I find Frazier genuinely likeable so I hope he does well.
According to Percy Harvin, the Vikings’ offensive troubles are partly due to being in the wrong formations for some of their plays. He said that if they had been in the correct formation they could have had a walk-in touchdown. I’m not sure if not being in the correct formation means the offense is undisciplined or if they are still unsure of the plays—that was not entirely clear from what Harvin said. Hopefully, they will correct those issues because on one of the plays in question, they had to settle for a field goal instead of the touchdown.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Yeah I heard that too, sounds like a new offense working with a new OC running through some birthing pains
I can live with that, what I have a harder time living with is the defense doing it as we’ve kept just about everyone where they belong there. What I have the hardest time dealing with is your lack of pirate vocabulary skol girl…
I am a bit ashamed…
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
I was channeling Maureen O'Hara's character in "The Black Swan" with Tyrone Power.
Mayhaps I’ll have to swab the decks for that oversight.
I agree, if’n the offensive woes are naught but the rigors of learnin’ a new offensive system, then I can abide. We shall see.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
The Black Swan?
Please tell me that’s not a pirate movie. Is that one of those books that has Fabio on the cover?
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
It's a pirate movie from the early 1940s.
What, now into classic film?
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Nope, but Tyrone Power was.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
I think the Natalie Portman/Mila Kunis one is just called Black Swan.
The one I’m talking about is from 1942. http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0034522/
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
can't do it...i tried.
but all i can come up with is some sarcastic remark about the movie “pirates of the carribean” where we get to watch johnny depp over-method act in yet another movie where he gets to wear eye liner and be androgynous.
warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!
Hmmm...you say that like that's a bad thing ;-)
Let me preface this and say, this has nothing to do with football.
Straight chicks tend (there are exceptions to everything) to like guys like Johnny Depp most of the time. There could be a lot of reasons for this, but we just do. However, then we ovulate and we want guys like Vin Diesel and Jason Statham. And there’s your random insight to women.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
but this is a football blog, the ony insight about women i want is close ups of the cheerleaders.
warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!
You should learn to respect your female football fans, son.
No slogans. Just win!!!
that's not being disrepectful to any football fan.
read more, preach less.
warcraft, you are my guitar hero !!!
So what you're saying is if Statham wore eye liner...
Ok tried to put eye liner on, poked myself in the eye…
Actually pretend I never wrote that first sentence…
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
'Tis the Black Spot
Chilly Bones pressed the black spot onto the team, causing the team to fall dead at halftime. Since then Jim “Leslie” Frazier has found the secret playbook which tells where the fabled treasure is hidden. Unfortunately, “x” marks the spot, and no one on the coaching staff can tell it apart from an “o”.
Old Blind Favre tried to show us the way, but now Long John Mcnabb is in charge, he of the wooden (throwing) arm, and no one is sure whether he is on our side or not.
Just when things looked at their darkest, and the fans were going to walk the plank rather than watch another game, Ben “All Day” Petersen revealed that he knew where the treasure could be found, and led the team in a rousing chorus of “11 defenders on Aaron Rodgers chest, yo ho ho and a Lombardi too, Jared Allen’s got another sack of you”, on the way to SB success.
by Beserker on Sep 19, 2011 5:13 PM CDT via mobile reply actions 1 recs
Tears man, tears
The road to fulfillment in any line of endeavor is always marked by an initial breakthrough; however, that first taste of success needs to be replicated again and again in order for supremacy to be sustained. We are Vikings, and our breakthrough is now. We will get that first down, then get a touchdown. Then we'll kick your ass.
by Alittlemore_cowbell on Sep 19, 2011 5:43 PM CDT up reply actions
Thank you Beserker!
The line “yo ho ho and a Lombardi too” is going to make me laugh for a long time :)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
My feller shipmateys don't walk the plank yet
this is a good team still. If we played the 2nd halfs of those games half as well as the firsts this would be a top ten team. We showed improvement from Week 1 to Week 2 and if we doulble that improvement in week 3 we beat the Lions.
The Lions are not creme puffs
You’re right that the team is still good. The first halves that the Vikings have put together have been as good as any in the NFL. But I think it is going to take more than a 50% improvement for the Vikings to be able to beat the Lions on Sunday. The Lions are 2-0, fresh off an authoritative victory over the Kansas City Chiefs. I have maintained that if Matt Stafford got sufficient protection so he wasn’t missing big chunks of the past two seasons because of injuries, that they would be good. And even when the Lions were terrible they still played the Vikings tough. If the Vikings are going to end their losing streak on Sunday against the Lions, they are going to have to play a second half that is even better than the first half. I like to think they are capable of that, but we’ll see.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Avast ye mateys
If these Viking son a biscuit eaters don’t win this Sunday, it’ll be yo ho ho and a bottle of run for me! As for that hideous willy livered ingrade Berrian, I beesech he to scrape the barnacles off ye rudder or to come back here with our Viking loot you scallywag, or a clap of thunder will shirley nock you on your ars. Because a true Viking always continues to fight! -
“I’ve been a puppet, a pauper, a pirate, A poet, a pawn and a king; I’ve been up and down and over and out, And I know one thing; Each time I find myself flat on my face, I pick myself up and get back in the race”.
Time to go eat dinner at ARRRRRRRRBYS!
Nice one Abba!
It is so true that McNabb hasn’t been getting a whole lot of help from Berrian. McNabb’s protection isn’t great, so there’s usually a fair chance that he won’t have ideal throwing conditions—the receivers need to help the guy out.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
LOL.
You have a pretty good-spirited outlook here.
As a Lions fan, I understand the feeling…. if it’s inevitable, might as well enjoy it!
No slogans. Just win!!!
I try, I really try :)
So, as a Lions fan, how excited are you about what Matt Stafford has been able to do? Watching him the past couple seasons, I like him. Unfortunately, he was getting the crap beat out of him because he didn’t have good protection. Seems that the Lions have fixed that though and Stafford is set for a good season.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
I put the blame squarely on...
Starting the second half in freakin prevent defense! We were playing not to lose instead of playing to win. We were playing like we were 30 points up in the fourth instead of having half the game to play. We were trying to coast the rest of the game out. That’s on the coaching staff.
That could very well be it.
I know that the Buccaneers made offensive adjustments, but it still seemed like the Vikings’ defense backed off the attack.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
We had them where we wanted them
What if the VIKES were 17 points down at the half what would we hear/ It’s over becasue this team is not built to come from behind they do not have the recievers. This team is built to win games by getting ahead and then running running running with a few short passes and an ocassionaly long one if wide open. Where we were in the last two games is exaclty where we needed to be to win games like this, but we could not get it done. That is the really sad part.
McBad looks really tired after the first quarter. Maybe he need to rotates quarters with Ponder or WEB to catch his breath (just kidding) Actually he needs a 14 game breather.
AND WE LET EM' OFF THE HOOK!
Somebody bring me some rum….
I say throw Ponder in
Give him a chance to play and see if he’s worth the #12 overall pick.
He’s not learning anything watching that washed up has been McNabb and I think he will outperform him as a rookie. Ponder has an upside, McNabb over the hill. Start the rookie.
From 0-16 to the Superbowl baby!
by DLions4Eva on Sep 19, 2011 11:54 PM CDT via mobile reply actions
Shakesbeard the pirate
was a great pirate poet and he would have said the second half of the Vikes game was squarely in the poop deck!
Try to learn from others mistakes because there just is not enough time in this world to make them all your self
by montana vikes fan on Sep 20, 2011 12:31 AM CDT reply actions
Indeed it was :)
Seemed like I was watching a different team entirely.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
I JUST HOPE THERE
Is a great number 1 pick out for next years draft. And the front office dont mess that up
When it looks like the season is not going to be good...
That high draft pick is the only real consolation.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
This here is a Viking pirate post! I don’t mind if you bring your lily white faces down here as long as you pay for yer grog, but if you don’t talk the talk then walk the walk or face me cutlass!
Oh and Ponder is but a ships boy now, he needs time to learn the ship and the crew. Hell the man hasn’t even had a solid run on the main yet. He needs time to get the crews timing down and realized he’s no longer playing in his mothers washing tub. Let the lad learn before you throw him to the sharks.
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
Bah somehow this got stuck down here.. :p
got to stay out of the grog.
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
The real trick
T’will be in gettin’ you to quit the pirate banter.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
ARGH.....Shiver 'me timbers
’Twas nightmares that our Vikes lost their bearings twice, not once but TWICE…
I wager the Cap’n (coach) should walk the plank, and send BB and Johnson with him as well, n’ more nice…
In our language….Fire t’ bastards, yes I b’ cold as ice…..
…………………………………………………………………………………….
Would you like t’ try em again and go for three?
This whole thin’ set not well with t’ likes of me!
These two weeks o’ sufferin’
Has me in constant need o’ Bufferin
…………………………………………………………………………………………..
If they get their head out o’ their arsch, then we will see…
Two halves o’ good football playin’
THAT FIRST VICTORY POSSIBLY?
I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...
by vikingfanfrom afar on Sep 20, 2011 8:40 AM CDT reply actions
Ah has me reminiscing of Keats.
Or would that be Cookie monster?
I'm like the Dali Lama of kicking ass
'Ay Mate
Is a monster n’deed
I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...
by vikingfanfrom afar on Sep 20, 2011 4:12 PM CDT up reply actions
T'was quite nearly a sonnet :)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
You brin' a smile t' me face!
scant reason for those in these Vikin’s land…
and t’ lands com’ from afar…
to include here in t’ sand ….
- No snow in Dubai though except in the Mall of the Emirates!
ARGGGGH!!!!!
I would rather be IN the Arena than watching from the stands...That is my life!
* Read Teddy Roosevelt's "Man in the Arena" if you need further explanation...
by vikingfanfrom afar on Sep 20, 2011 4:17 PM CDT up reply actions
Glad you got a chuckle out of this :)
Gotta find ways to keep a sense of humor when football gets bleak.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
tis nothing but a scratch m' lady.
Arrrg. I curse them bloody buccs mothers and blast be to their mothers sons… but ye can’t spend all the day in squallier or grog. We fell t’ those slimy buccaneers true, but tis not important how many times ye fall, tis important how many times ye get back up!
Ye new Viking sails will be fully unfurled Sunday an ye Norsemen will draw thy swords an bury them deeply into the beasts from Detroit. Songs o’ Nordic triumph will be sung loudly over t’ lamination o’ t’ lions fans.

T’ Vikin’s have never lost when I have been t’ t’ dome and I WILL be thar in person on Sunday!
Victory, she be approaching! SKOL!!!
Vikings Valhalla .com
by Admiral BigGun on Sep 20, 2011 11:36 AM CDT reply actions
If the Vikings haven't lost when you've been at a game...
Then I’m going to cross my fingers and hope that tradition continues. Have fun at the game and make a sign that says Daily Norseman in big, bold letters ;-)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
Sorry
but every time I hear something like that I think we are due to lose then. For instance if I turn on the game and they say the Vikes have not lost to this time in the past 10 meeting, I think, then we are due to lose and most of the time we do.
Try to learn from others mistakes because there just is not enough time in this world to make them all your self
by montana vikes fan on Sep 22, 2011 10:40 AM CDT up reply actions
Understandable attitude...
When you look at it pessimistically, then you don’t have that unpleasant collision with reality if they lose. But, if they win, then you’ve had a pleasant surprise. Considering the way that the Vikings and the Lions have been playing, I think it could be anybody’s game. That said, I’m still going to cross my fingers and hope for a Vikings win.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
I will
cross my fingers, legs, what ever it takes!
Try to learn from others mistakes because there just is not enough time in this world to make them all your self
by montana vikes fan on Sep 23, 2011 12:18 AM CDT up reply actions
Arrr, and I fear that Cap'n McNabb'll get the black spot!
I worry that this sort of game will drudge up all of the other McNabb criticisms about him not being great in the 4th quarter, etc. He is in a worse situation that Washington last year, and really the D was the culprit who should be keelhauled…and they be gettin’ Kevin Williams back in less than a fortnight!
I like Donovan McNabb. I love the Vikings. I’m going to be patient since I want this to work out for the better.
Well said.
Quarterbacks can get a lot of the blame when things are going wrong, but it was hardly McNabb’s fault the Vikings’ defense had trouble getting off the field. I’m trying to be patient, but that’s a tough one when you’re waiting for the Vikings to get that first win :)
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
It's all about taking the positives
I don’t think there was anyone out there who could have realistically predicted smooth sailing right from the start of the season for the Vikings.
We have a couple of things working against us; off season was very short thanks to the lockout, new coaching nucleus, very young roster with a lot of un-proven guys in key places, not to mention McNabb is learning a brand new offense to him (just look at Kerry Collins it could be worse)
In my opinion this might be one of the better years for the Vikings in recent memory. They looked almost unstoppable in the first half of both games this year, granted changes have to be made in the second half we need to finish games. But clearly in the first half they have a very good game plan and execute it very well, something unheard of in the Chilly era.
Frazier will be an excellent coach I am sure of it, he needs a year of experience maybe, but success rarely occurs over night and I think that is what too many people have come to expect this season.
(I do think Tyrell and Berrian need to go, Sanford has proven leaps and bounds greater and then there is Berrian he has to have some of the worst hands in Vikings history…save Williamson of course, although finding replacements at this time might prove problematic)
by Grape Drank on Sep 20, 2011 11:31 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
True, given the set of situations facing the Vikings...
Most of us were going to at least try to temper our expectations. But then the Vikings came out in the first halves of the first two games and played some really good football. If those first halves had been more mediocre, it would probably be easier for me to maintain lowered expectations.
The things that keep me from despair are exactly the things you mentioned. Leslie Frazier is a good coach and a good guy. Part of what makes him a good coach is that he surrounds himself with a good coaching staff and then trusts them to do their jobs. Part of what makes him a good guy is his calm strength. The way Frazier worked to calm things down despite the drama last season was really a testament to his character and the respect the players have for him. I like to think that those same character traits will help the Vikings concentrate on the task in front of them with the Detroit Lions on Sunday.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman
McNabb disappeared
Blame the defense if you want but in true McNabb fashion he disappeared as the game got close. The bottled up AP and McNabb couldnt do anything to make them pay for it.
This team is not horrible but McNabb is….they will be much better once he is on the bench.
I warned Purple Nation what to expect while McNabb was the QB.
He is garbage. Even if the O-Line isnt the greatest, you have to show the leadership skills to make something happen in a close game. McNabb showed you what he does in close games pretty well already this year.
Its Ponder time.
Please, don't be so circumspect. Tell me how you really feel ;-)
If things don’t turn around on the offense, then you might get to see Ponder sooner rather than later. I like Ponder and I think that the more experience he can get with the speed of the game in the NFL, the better.
Life being what it is, one dreams of revenge.
- Paul Gauguin
The Daily Norseman

by 






















