10/22/09 Week 7 Vikings @ Steelers Report

Last Week
MVP! MVP! Say it with me, and pound your hands on your desk in rhythm for dramatic effect. MVP! MVP! The Vikings have an MVP candidate on their hands after six weeks. And it’s not All World Running Back Adrian Peterson as many predicted before the season. It’s a 40 year old guy from Mississippi and the star of the movie “There’s Something About Mary”. Yes, Brett Favre. The guy that was ridiculed by pundits and analysts this summer for not being able to make a decision on retirement is now getting praised by even his harshest critics. Everyone thought that this would be Adrian Peterson’s team and that Favre would need to learn how to become a game manager. It played out that way the first two weeks, with Adrian carrying the load and Favre dinking and dunking. Then one play in Week 3, an amazing 32 yard touchdown throw won the game and changed everything. Now Favre is throwing all over the field and taking his shots deep. He led another 4th quarter comeback last week against the Ravens, including a 58 yard pass to Sidney Rice that set up the game winning field goal.

Running around on the field flinging 40 and 50 yard bombs, moving around in the pocket and even throwing some blocks, Favre is an impressive sight. And with his gray hair and grizzly stubble hidden under his purple helmet, you would think he was a twenty five year old quarterback in the prime of his career. However, when Favre removes his helmet and you listen to this gray-haired veteran talk about how every part of his body, other than his arm, is in pain, you realize that this guy is playing in uncharted territory. There have been some 40 year old quarterbacks in the NFL in the past, but none have played at this level. At an MVP level! He’s competing with Peyton Manning and Drew Brees right now as one of the best quarterbacks in this league. Only one guy may be more deserving right now for the MVP of the league, and that’s Kyle Orton. How bad were the Broncos supposed to be with their young coach, and having traded Pro Bowl gun slinger Jay Cutler for the prototypical “game manager” Kyle Orton? No one thought they would even win six games this year, and yet they now stand at 6-0.

As I was out of the country last week and had an anonymous guest writer pen my report, I’ll skip my usual “Projections vs. Reality” piece and substitute it with the cliff notes version named only “Reality”.

The Game: Outcome: Vikings 33, Ravens 31

Adrian Peterson: Outcome: 143yards

Brett Favre: Outcome: 278 yards passing, 3 TDs and 0 interceptions.

Percy Harvin: Outcome: 12 combined yards on 2 receptions and 1 rush

Bernard Berrian: Outcome:18 yards

Sidney Rice: Outcome: 176 yards

Visanthe Shiancoe: Outcome: 48 yards and 2TDs

Chester Taylor: Outcome: 22 combined yards

This Week
This may be the toughest game yet, because it’s on the road and at defending Super Bowl champion Pittsburgh. The Steelers are currently favored by four points, but when you look a little closer at their schedule you can begin to see some cracks. The Steelers are 4-2. Their four wins come against losing teams: Tennessee, Detroit, Cleveland and San Diego. Their two losses come against teams with winning records: Chicago and Cincinnati. I expect this trend to continue. I predict Vikings 24, Steelers 20.

Rumors
A retirement home in Detroit lost its Bingo Number Caller to the NFL. He was hired as an offensive consultant for the Washington Redskins and in two weeks he went from calling Bingo numbers to calling plays. The big question now is NOT who will be the next coach of the Redskins, although Shanahan, Holmgrem, Gruden and Cowher are all rumored to be considered. The real question is, who will replace Sherm Lewis in the retirement home? There have been whispers that this Detroit home is planning on making an offer in the offseason to a certain player known as #4 who has been known to contemplate retirement every spring and summer. To the managers of that retirement home, I say, “Good luck getting a decision from that guy.”

Injuries
Percy Harvin was limited in practice on Wednesday with a shoulder injury and is listed as questionable. Adrian Peterson was also limited on Wednesday with an ankle injury but is listed as probable. Brett Favre is NOT listed on the injury report. Watch out Steelers!

POSITION ANALYSIS AND FANTASY FOOTBALL PROJECTIONS

QUARTERBACK
The Steelers have the 12th ranked pass defense. Steelers safety Troy Polamalu did not practice on Wednesday but is listed as probable. When he plays, the Steelers are a different team. This won’t be an easy game for Favre, so there may be better QB options for your fantasy team.

My Projection: 210 yards, 2 TDs and 1 interception


RUNNING BACKS
The Steelers are number two in the league in stopping the run. However, they have not played against Adrian Peterson. I expect this to be a close game and Chester Taylor to not get many carries. Expect 20-25 carries from Peterson.

My Projection: 90 yards and 1TD for Peterson. 30 combined yards for Chester Taylor.


WIDE RECEIVERS
It’s really tough to figure out who to start at wide receiver. Berrian was supposed to be the man, but Percy Harvin showed up the first two weeks. Then Berrian had a couple good games. Now, Sidney Rice has become the top fantasy target. He scored touchdowns in Weeks 3 and 4. In Week 6, he had 175 yards receiving. Rice has become a low end #2 WR (meaning Top 24). Berrian is a #3 (meaning Top 36) and an injured Harvin is a #4 WR.

My Projection: Rice 70 Yards and 1TD, Berrian 90 yards. I would not start Harvin because of the injury. I will, however, announce his status before kickoff via Twitter.


TIGHT ENDS
“All he does is catch touchdowns.” No, I’m not talking about ex-Vikings great, Chris Carter. I’m talking about current starting tight end, Visanthe Shiancoe. He has only 17 receptions on the year, but 5 of them have resulted in touchdowns. This is an outstanding percentage. My Projection: 30 yards and 1TD


KICKER
Longwell is the #2 fantasy kicker in the NFL if you don’t factor in bye weeks. He is a must start every week.


DEFENSE
The Vikings Defense is not playing as well as people expected, and this is not a good matchup. I don’t expect the Vikings will be a top 10 fantasy defense this week.

Two fourth quarter comebacks, the best running back in football, a quarterback that holds virtually every important passing record in league history, and one of the best sack artist in the league. What’s not to like about this team? Mike Martz, former Rams’ coach and current analyst on NFL Network, suggests that the Vikings’ safety play is a weakness. Hey, Mike, I thought you were an offensive guy. What are you doing critiquing the defense? As an offensive coach, I’m sure that Mike enjoys watching this team on Sundays. I know I do.