Minnesota Vikings: Top-10 Plays of The 2008-2009 Season
After another year of football passed, and the Vikings now are currently dissecting the team and improving it in which ever way necessary. But why wait around forever for news of free agent grabs? Why not take a second to relive the moments Minnesota wants to duplicate if not outdo in 2009? Here are the top-10 plays of the 2008-2009 season.
10. Week 15 at Arizona Cardinals - Bernard Berrian returns a 82-yard punt return for a touchdown
A week after Gus Frerotte went down with a back injury, Tarvaris Jackson returned to the fold with authority. He threw for 163 yards on 11 of 18 passing, and had a whopping four touchdowns!
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Although Berrian showcased the first half by giving the special teams a much needed spark and returned an 82-yard touchdown. A few minutes later Berrian was on the receiving end of a 41-yard touchdown pass.
9. Week 14 at Detroit Lions - Jared Allen sacks/forces a fumble on Daunte Culpepper on 3rd and 8, Forces punt
At this point, Jared Allen had well established his dominance in Minnesota. At this point, quarterbacks were running for their lives. In this game, as Allen seemed accustomed to doing quite a bit last season, he sacked Culpepper, near/in the opposing endzone. This play put a staple in the drive and forced the Lions to punt. Allen had two sacks on the former Viking Culpepper.
8. Week 10 vs Green Bay Packers - Jared Allen sacks Aaron Rodgers for a Safety
Jared Allen earned his stripes in '08 not just by the amount of sacks he had, but in how he got them. He didn't miss one game in '08, despite being written off in injury reports week in and week out for a good chunk of the season.
In this game, the Packers came to town in a much anticipated rematch of the first game of the season, and the Vikings came out swinging. Allen wasn't expected to play and was listed as doubtful. Even though he played through pain shots the week before, he spent the following week building himself up to play on Sunday.
Allen not only played, but persevered. He sacked Rodgers in the endzone for a safety which ultimately decided the game (final score 28-27). If Allen hadn't gotten that safety, the one point victory would be the Packers to savor.
7. Week 5 at New Orleans Saints - Gus Frerotte 33-yard touchdown to Bernard Berrian
Not many times in a NFL player's career can they say they screwed up for the better. Even fewer can claim it was a game changing play. It was the fourth quarter and the Vikings were trailing 27-20 with a little over seven minutes to play.
The Vikings desperately needed a touchdown to remain in the game and keep it interesting. Frerotte took a shot with 7:12 remaining intended for Aundrae Allison on a vertical route.
To the surprise of everyone, including Frerotte, Berrian also made a vertical route on accident. He played behind the ball, so that even though Allison was out of the play, Berrian played the ball perfectly for the much needed touchdown. The Vikings eventually kicked the game winning field goal as time expired.
6. Week 5 at New Orleans Saints - MIN blocked 46-yard field goal attempt by Martin Gramatica. Antoine Winfield returns blocked kick for a touchdown
This game can only be described as a giant highlight reel. Although the Vikings victory was huge, it would be overshadowed by the two punt returns for touchdowns by Reggie Bush. Although Bush did a superb job, Winfield stole the show with not only a sack, fumble forced, fumble recovered that put his team into scoring position, but caught the blocked 46-yard attempt and returned it to paydirt.
5. Week 3 vs Carolina Panthers - Antoine Winfield sack, forced fumble, fumble recovery for a touchdown
The Antoine Winfield show strikes again, as Winfield does his memorable play of his career by coming in on a corner blitz, sacking Jake Delhomme, forcing a fumble, AND took it to the house for a touchdown! The Vikings won their first game of the season 20-10 over the Panthers.
4. Week 10 vs Green Bay Packers - Adrian Peterson 29-yard touchdown run with 2:22 remaining to beat the Green Bay Packers 28-27
After fumbling the ball and almost costing the Vikings the game, Peterson came out on this drive with a purpose. He helped lead them up the field and capped the drive off with a 29-yard touchdown run in an emotional win over the hated rival Packers.
3. Week 13 vs Chicago Bears - Goal-line stand on 4th and Goal from the 1
2. Week 13 vs Chicago Bears - Gus Frerotte 99-yard touchdown to Bernard Berrian
Trailing 7-3 in the crucial battle for the NFC North, the Vikings were slated to defend their own endzone on 3rd and Goal and 4th and Goal from their own 1-yard line. The Vikings proved successful and pulled off the miraculous goal-line stand on their own 1 with Allen being in on the tackles. Right after the goal-line stand, the Vikings set up for this unexpected play—a 99-yard touchdown pass from Gus Frerotte to Bernard Berrian.
The 11th time in NFL history such a long play was successful. This play has been dubbed the most exciting of the entire season and I certainly do agree.
and the most memorable play of the 2008-2009 season....
1. Week 17 vs New York Giants - 50-yard Field Goal by Ryan Longwell to win and clinch the NFC North as time expired
With win and in scenario, the Vikings wanted to enter the playoffs their way, rather than watch the Bears lose to the Texans. They fought a hard game against the defending Super Bowl champs, but in the end kicked the winning field goal to stamp their ticket for the postseason with 20-19 victory.
It is true that as far as significance, the kick meant just another win since the Bears did eventually lose to the Texans, but it meant more to the Vikings organization. It showed the franchise wasn't going to make it on the losses of others but the victories that were their own.
It was a matter of pride and celebration. Something they wern't handed, but something they earned. Besides, defeating the defending World Champs has gotta be worth something right? (Even if they had back ups in half the game.)
Inspiration for this article was brought by this highlight video, property of the NFL:
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