Trailing Clouds of Heaven: Vikings 30 - Packers 23!

What a game! It truly was an intense game that was filled with great plays by both offenses. As I sat and watched the game I was keyed on watching the offensive lines vs. defensive lines and those battles were won by the Vikings on both sides. Favre was not sacked at all and at one point had over 7 seconds to complete a pass to Dugan and that is exciting to see. On the other end Jared Allen was motoring all over the field chasing after Rodgers. With that said, it is a great start to the season for the Vikings 4-0 and traveling to St. Louis next. Here are my thoughts on players/plays in the game.

Jared Allen

So I was texting my friend Kiah during the game and towards the end he texted me this questions: "Better game/ Favre or Allen?" Now I had just talked to Joe last night about how I am apathetic towards Favre as the QB of the Vikes. He really doesn't evoke emotion in me either negative or positive. So it may come as a surprise that I believe Favre had a better game. The reason I think this is because Favre was going up strength against strength. Favre did what he did against the newly revamped and aggressive defense of the Packers and to not be sacked and to methodically spread the ball around and do what he did has to be appreciated. Allen statistically had a career night and so it would stand to reason that one should say he had the better game, but really folks this is what I expected Allen to do. With Clifton out we all knew that Allen was going to have a big night and the fact that he got to not only go against the 2nd stringer but then the 3rd stringer makes it a little less "flashy" in my opinion. Favre had a great game against strength while Allen did it (albeit impressively and huge with the forced fumble, safety, and 4.5 sacks) against backups.

Sidney Rice

Somehow I am impressed that he could have such a good game seemingly without making it feel like he was dominant (but maybe that is just me as a Sidney Rice fan). Either way he was impressive, but the thing that impressed me the most about Sidney Rice were two things that had nothing to do with his WR position.

First, in the wildcat formation play (which by the way was exciting to see in action) Sidney Rice ends up with the ball and is meant to pass. He looks and doesn't see an opening and so he looks to run but that too is going to lead to a loss of yards and so Sidney Rice has the presence of mind to throw the ball away. That is huge (at least to me it is)!

Second, Sidney Rice went up and snagged two beautifully kicked and placed on-side kicks by Mason Crosby. Mason Crosby kicked those balls perfectly and if not for the superb aggressiveness, hands, and jumping ability of Sidney Rice the game may have ended differently.

Offensive lines

The Vikings pass protection was amazing last night. Their run blocking was okay in my estimation, but that could have to do with the play calling all trying to go outside (or AD pushing it outside all the time). Really some of AD's best runs were play calls towards the middle in which the Packers D-Line won the battle, but AD was able to bounce off his own guys and push it outside to gain some good yardage.

The Packers offensive line struggled to protect Rodgers (although in some of those cases Rodgers didn't exactly help them by holding on to the ball a bit too long at times). The importance of Clifton to that offense is obvious.

Aaron Rodgers

Is a great QB. The only thing I can say about his play last night that could have been improved was sensing the pressure and throwing the ball away. I really believe that if Rodgers would have had the protection that Favre had we could have seen a far different outcome to this game.

Cedric Griffin and Antoine Winfield

I feel like Cedric Griffin had a good night. Here is why I think that. I hardly saw him. In the past games I watched I always saw Cedric Griffin, but last night I didn't seem him as much and to me that means that he is doing his job in coverage.

Antoine Winfield. How can you not love this guy as a Vikings' fan. He is a great run-stopping CB who can cover and tackle. I feel lucky to be able to watch him.

Bernard Berrian

Nice to seem him catch the ball after the case of the "dropsies" last week and very exciting to see him involved productively in the offense.

Percy Harvin

He didn't do anything spectacular, but you can just tell that this team believes in him. He is going to be an exciting part of this offense.

Concerns going Forward

The linebacking corp/Safeties in coverage against Tight Ends. The 2nd game in a row that a tight end has burned the Vikings D big time and that to me is a concern.

My other concern is the ability of the defense (players and coordinator) to fill the gaps so that teams don't exploit Jared Allen's side with screen passes. The Packers were successful with these short screen passes and to me that is another concern of the linebacking corp and safeties.

Final Thoughts by Pink

Yeah, I am just doing it to annoy some people, but imagine with me this being sung by Packers' fans to Brett Favre (give me some leniency here):


You took my hand, you showed me how
You promised me you'd be around
Uh huh, that's right

I took your words and I believed
In everything you said to me
Yeah huh, that's right

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong

I know better
Cause you said forever
And ever, who knew?

Remember when we were such fools
And so convinced and just too cool
Oh no, no no

I wish I could touch you again
I wish I could still call you a friend
I'd give anything

When someone said count your blessings now
For they're long gone
I guess I just didn't know how
I was all wrong

But they knew better
Still you said forever and ever
Who knew? Yeah yeah

I'll keep you locked in my head
Until we meet again
Until we, until we meet again
And I won't forget you my friend
What happened?

If someone said three years from now
You'd be long gone
I'd stand up and punch them out
Cause they're all wrong

And that last kiss I'll cherish
Until we meet again
And time makes it harder
I wish I could remember

But I keep your memory
You visit me in my sleep
My darling, who knew?

My darling
My darling, who knew?
My darling I miss you
My darling, who knew?

Who knew?

Enjoy life. We won and the Packers lost. Elation for the week.