The Morning After...

No Kool-Aid needed to realize this was a very big win for the Vikings!

The Redskins

• 10 win team in 2005
• who won a playoff game
• upgraded offense at WR
• signed Al Saunders at Offensive Coord
• Many predicted the Skins to be a 10 win team in 2006 and in the mix to win the NFC East.
  

As the Vikings are trying to establish themselves as a playoff caliber team, this game was very important. A road win vs. a 10 win playoff team is a great start to the season. If you take a look at the Vikings first 8 games, this win takes on an even greater significance.

@ WAS - win
Car - didn't look good vs. Atl, but they are very good
Chi - if they want to win the division must beat the Bears at home
@ Buf - gave NE all they could handle
Det - gave Sea all they could handle
BYE - not a loss
@ Sea - NFC rep in Super Bowl last year and on the road
N.E. - home, but tough game

That is a brutal start to the season before we get to play SF, AZ and the Packers twice. 4 of those first 7 games are against Super Bowl contenders and Det/Buf teams who gave the Seahawks and Patriots all they could handle in Week 1. Winning @ Washington is significant because the first 7 games are not pretty for the Vikes.

Grades

Offense (A) - Some VERY key drives that greatly helped us win the game. Opening drive for a TD, last drive of 1st half for a FG, from their own 3 yd line to midfield and the game winning 4th Qtr drive were all very impressive.
QB (A) - Brad was composed from opening drive to the game winning drive late in the 4th. And don't forget the drive to end the 1st half that ended in a FG.
RB (B) - Chester had a nice TD run on the opening drive and looked good on the final drive, but was lackluster in between
WR/TE (C+) - Williamson's dropped passes on 3rd down in the first half could have really hurt. But he made a few other big catches and Robinson came up big on the 2nd half TD.
OL (A) - gave Brad time to make his reads and dominated the Skins in the 4th qtr as they put on a Midwest Coast Offensive clinic!

Defense (B+) - the stats say they gave up 103 yds rushing but 28 of those were really passes to Moss that were considered laterals. Regardless, giving up 266 total yards and 3 red zone FGs forced was great for this defense.
DL (B-) - inconsistent and Jame's roughing the passer penalty almost killed us. But Edwards batted a pass and on 1st and goal from the 5 the D-line came up big on 1st and 2nd down then they allowed Sharper to make a big play on 3rd down to force the FG.
LB (B) - LBs were rather quiet all game. But some thought Chris Cooley might have a big day but was held to 2 catches for -3 yds. And EJ finished tied for team lead with 7 tackles.
DB (B) - Starting the rookie Blue at FS didn't prove costly, Smoot made a couple nice plays and Winfield had 7 solo tackles. Was finished with only 163 yds passing which I was is a win for the DBacks.

Coaching (A+) - Does anyone remember when a Vikings team went on the road vs. a good team and came out as crisp and prepared as they did last night? I was very impressed with the opening drive. And the drives that ended both halves were also very crisp and the team seemed prepared for the 2 min drill like nothing I've seen in a while. Also, we made nice adjustments for the 2nd half, especially defensively. And we cut out the penalties in the 2nd half. Great adjustments and great preparedness, congrats to Major Dad on his first NFL win as a head coach.

I'll be staying at the Motel 6 in Miami, room #212 in January!

Vikings v Redskins Kool-Aided Preview

WEEK 1

Ready for some in depth analysis that will blow your minds? Are you prepared for a verbal abyss of information that will make you the smartest person at your Vikings MNF party? Well strap on your Helga Horns and pay attention...

The Vikings rock and the Redskins suck!!!

Alright here is some real insight...

The Trenches - This could be said for probalby all 16 games this season but this game will likely be won or lost with the O-line and the D-line. The Vikings offensive line will have to be prepared and ready to right what was wrong in the preseason. The Redskin's D-line isn't spectacular, but their LBs are all pretty good. McKinnie, Hutch, Birk, Hicks and Johnson need to give WonderBrad time in the pocket from blitzing LBs and create some holes for Taylor to get into the backfield. If they can do this I really like our chances of moving the ball downfield, especially with Shawn Springs out for the Redskins.

Defensively, our D-line HAS to put pressure on Brunell and occupy enough of their O-line so our LBs will be free to flow to the ball and keep their running game in check.

The Pretty Boys - our offensive skill positions are all decent but nobody is really a dynamic weapon. As discussed above if the guys in the trenches do their job at an exceptional level, our offense will be good enough to put up 20 points or more. The MidWest Coast Offense (copyright John Clayton) will one that eats up yards and eats up clock, but WonderBrad, Chester and the WR core are not good enough to do it all on their own. Given time and some holes they are good enough to get the job done.

The Ball Hawks - defensive LBs and DBs are important to the outcome of this game (duh!). If the D-line does it's job, that doesn't guarantee much if the LBs and DBs don't hold up their end of things. Our LB core which is suspect to begin with HAS to play disciplined. They are athletic enough to cover the likes of Cooley and whoever is in at RB for the skins, but if they bite on play fakes/counters or overpursue they will be out of position and made to look like fools. That will be bad for us.

I am secure in all 4 of our DBs. Winfield and Smoot's ability to cover and tackle (especially Winfield) make them one of the best CB combos in the league. Sharper and Smith are solid as well, just cover guys downfield and let the D-line get in Brunell's face. These guys will make plays on the ball when the skins make a mistake.

Keys to the game

1. O-line must do their job at a high level. Open holes for Taylor and give Brad some time to find the open guy.
2. D-line must make plays in the backfield. Udeze/James have to be in Brunell's face, KWilliams must be making plays vs. the run and pass in the backfield and PWilliams has to occupy linemen to allow Napo/EJ to make plays.
3. Nape/EJ/Leber MUST PLAY DISCIPLINED and make the plays they are suppose to make
4. DBs have to create turnovers when the skins make a mistake.

Verdict
MN - 20
Was - 13