To get you ready for week 11, FanHouse is previewing all 16 NFL games. Here is the Minnesota Vikings/Oakland Raiders preview.2007 Records:
Oakland Raiders: 2-7 (4th in AFC West)
Minnesota Vikings: 3-6 (4th in NFC North)
Last Week:
Packers 34, Vikings 0
Bears 17, Raiders 6
Why We Care: Hmmm, because we can see
When the Raiders have the ball: With Culpepper facing his former team, Kiffin decided to turn back to the veteran. It makes sense since Culpepper will be very fired up to face the Vikings and the coach who told him to head elsewhere. But it also makes sense since Culpepper has been a little bit better than Josh McCown. The Raiders success this year has come on the ground where LaMont Jordan and Justin Fargas are both on pace to rush for more than 900 yards. But Culpepper will have to be the one to beat the Vikings--despite last week's blip against the Packers, the Vikings are great at stuffing rushing attacks and bad at keeping teams from gashing them through the air.
When the Vikings have the ball: Taylor is pretty good, but Adrian Peterson was the Vikings offense. Peterson has nine touchdowns, the rest of the Vikings offense has six. Peterson has 45 percent of the team's yardage and 40.5 percent of the team's non-penalty first downs. In other words, the Vikings' approach of three-and-outs sandwiched around 50-yard touchdown runs was sunk the minute Peterson tore a knee ligament. Tarvaris Jackson is expected back under center this week, which is great news for the Raiders. Brooks Bollinger and Kelly Holcomb haven't been good, but Jackson has been bad enough that Vikings coach Brad Childress is the only man left who believes he's anywhere close to being an NFL starting quarterback. The Raiders defense may not be great, but they do shut down passing attacks, and no passing game is easier to shut down than Minnesota's.
The Edge: Minnesota is a pretty decent team when Adrian Peterson is at tailback. Chester Taylor may be one of the best backups in the game, but with no passing game, the Vikings are in big trouble. Add in a fan base that hates the coach and this could be Oakland's chance to steal a win.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-17-2007 @ 12:36PM
Tbone333 said...
Some Vikes fans are afraid to root for a loss. Not me. I figure a loss to the Raiders followed by a killing by the Giants (come GMen you've had our number lately, keep it up) should be a coach killer.
I would not root for losses to better out draft position but if they led to Chilly being canned then I have to say I am willing to take them in stride.
Fire Childress, take extra precaution with AD and let’s reload for next year. We are going nowhere with KA and I will accept a step backwards to move forward.
Reply
11-17-2007 @ 8:37PM
buberb said...
Yes, Vikes need to lose this if they are to move ahead, Childress probably
is law-abiding, decent, punctual and loving to his family. He is, however.
a prisoner trapped deep inside "the box". He is an emblem of "in the box"
thinking, totally incapable of escaping to think outside the "box". Embracing imagination - which as Einstein said is more important than knowledge is not part of his personality. He can not thus will not make game plans, make half time adjustments, and most importantly "inspire"
those who play and work under him because of an undeserved inflated notion of himself. Sadly,his ego-centered stubborness is sinking the aspirations of many talented young players and Vikings well wishers.
For the first time in 4 decades of rooting for Vikes, I hope they lose and - ugh! -to a team I despise. It will help speed the time when we can say goodbye to the shivering Chill regime and move on to again regain respectability and competitveness.
a sad confession from --- ---- an ol' Vikes fan.
Reply