Statement Game: A Midseason Clash In The 'Burgh

At roughly 4 P.M. Eastern Standard Time on the 25th of October in the year of our Lord 2009 we should know a lot about the Minnesota Vikings.  Three of our top play-makers are banged up. (Winfield, Harvin, and AP)  We are playing on the road, in cold-ish weather against the defending Super Bowl Champion Pittsburgh Steelers.  Our game will have the largest viewing base of the early games.  This game, as the title suggests could be our statement game.  If we can put together 4 solid quarters of football and beat the champs on their turf it will send a statement to the rest of the league.

It will tell the rest of the league we are for real.  It may, for a moment shut up ESPN and media doubters.  Not only that but it will be a huge confidence boost.  Not to mention at 7-0 we would need only 3 to 4 more wins to likely wrap up the division.

Our toughest test will be our secondary play.  If Winny can't go our test will be even tougher.  Big Ben can make plays and most dangerous on a broken play when he can run around and wait for a receiver to get open.  The key will be for our front seven to get to Ben before he can wiggle off the hook and create a big play.  We don't even have to completely shut down Big Ben...we just need to limit him.  Also he can be prone to throwing picks or fumbling, so we need to capitalize on those mistakes.  We have been living with a bend but don't break defense for the past two seasons, and last week in the fourth quarter we saw it break.  We can't let that happen again.  We need to understand that we will give up yards, we just need to clamp down and not let them score, something we failed at in the fourth quarter last week.

On offense I think we need to let Adrian Peterson take this game over.  I think our O-line is doing a better job at run blocking and the Steelers will be without their top run stopper.  I also believe the Steelers will be the first team we've played this year that will really attempt a balanced defensive approach and try and stop the run and the pass, so I think that will open things up more for Peterson.  I think Favre will throw the ball less this game.

I hope the Vikings will be fired up for this game.  I think the ending of that last game has left a bitter taste in their mouth.  I think it's a good test for them mentally.  I believe it keeps them on their toes and they can't rest of their laurels.  We have the play-makers, we have the veteran leadership, we have (maybe) the coach.  And thus far lady luck appears to be shining on us.  We have the elements.  Hopefully they can all come together for a mid-season statement.  It's time to find out what this team is made of.

Skol Vikings.