Minnesota Vikings Stay Alive, Vandalize Redskins' Hopes in Week 12

The Minnesota Vikings and their new head coach, Leslie Frazier, traveled to Washington to face the Redskins in an attempt to salvage the 2010 season.  The Vikings were still mathematically alive in the parity-soaked NFC.  The Redskins, at 5-5 and two games out, were still in the running to take the NFC East, a division filled with enigmatic play. 

The Vikings (3-7) came off a shellacking in Week 11, at the hands of the Green Bay Packers 31-3, which finally resulted in the sacking of head coach Brad Childress. The Redskins, on the other hand, stole an important victory from the Tennessee Titans in overtime, 19-16 to get to .500.

In Week 12, it would be the Vikings who would keep their desperate playoff hopes alive, while the Redskins go back to the drawing board, likely needing help from other teams to make the postseason.

Game Recap

The Redskins and Vikings went tit for tat in the first quarter.  First, the Redskins scored to open the game, going 83 yards in a series masterfully conducted by Donovan McNabb and culminating in a 10-yard TD pass to tight end Fred Davis.  Not to be outdone, the Vikings scored on their next possession, finishing with a five-yard Adrian Peterson run.

Despite both teams having the ball for three series apiece, neither scored in the second quarter, both defenses making short work of their opponents each time.  The score at halftime was knotted at 7.

That changed swiftly in the third quarter as a fired up Brett Favre marched the Vikings from their own 26, throwing for five straight completions at one point.  They scored on that opening drive when rookie running back Toby Gerhart took it in from the five.  Neither team scored on their next two possessions, and when Washington's offense took the ball again, McNabb threw for an interception at the Redskins' nine, on the first play.  The Vikings then converted a 31-yard field goal on the foot of Ryan Longwell, distancing themselves from the Redskins by two scores, 17-7.

Following that field goal, and with 52 seconds left in the third quarter, Ryan Longwell kicked off 63 yards to the Redskins' Brandon Banks, who muffed the ball, recovered, and then busted out a 65-yard recovery run. Four plays later, the Redskins reduced the deficit to seven again as Graham Gano's kick was good from 40 yards in the beginning of the fourth.  The Vikings failed to score on their next possession and the Redskins' came back again with another field goal, this time from 42, narrowing the score to 17-13.

It appeared that the Redskins would take the lead after Minnesota punted at the end of their next drive to Brandon Banks, who again grabbed the spotlight with a 77-yard punt-return touchdown.  However, the score was called back after Washington's Perry Riley was called for an illegal block above the waist.  The Redskins failed to score on that possession.  The Vikings took the ball with six minutes left in the game and five first downs later, Favre knelt for the final two minutes.

Final: Minnesota 17, Redskins 13

Up Ahead

Minnesota's (now 4-7) road to the playoffs is wrought with difficulty.  They have some tough games ahead.  After hopefully getting past the Bills, they will need to go through three of the best teams in the NFC before finishing up on the road against the Detroit Lions, a possibly dangerous team. 

vs. Buffalo Bills

vs. NY Giants

vs. Chicago Bears

@ Philadelphia Eagles

@ Detroit Lions

The Redskins are in trouble following this loss, especially with the NY Giants victory over the Jacksonville Jaguars.  The loss make attaining an NFC East title more out of reach - note, though, that they still have two games left with the Giants and split the season series with the Philadelphia Eagles. Still, they are probably looking at a wild card berth, if any, for the postseason.  Their upcoming games are no picnic, not an easy game in the bunch.

@ NY Giants

vs. Tampa Bay Buccaneers

@ Dallas Cowboys

@ Jacksonville Jaguars

vs. NY Giants

Fantasy Spin

Adrian Peterson left the game in the second quarter with an ankle injury.  Rookie running back Toby Gerhart got the call, carrying the rock for the rest of the game. Word is Peterson was taped up and wanted to get back in the game, but the Vikings opted to continue with Gerhart, a necessary pickup now if you have AP.  Favre was flat; you just don't know what you'll get from him this year. Percy Harvin had the most receptions and continues to be the Vikings' top wide receiver.  Rice, a Favre favorite, who played well last week, is understandably not at full strength, but you get the feeling he'll have at least one big week, maybe more, before the season is done.  

Brett Favre: 15 for 23 for 172 yds, 0 TDs, 9 yds rushing 

Toby Gerhart: 22 rushes for 76 yds, 2 rec for 5 yds, 1 TD

Adrian Peterson: 6 rushes for 36 yds, 1 rec for 34 yds, 1 TD

Visanthe Shiancoe: 3 rec for 54 yds

Percy Harvin: 5 rec for 32 yds

Sidney Rice: 1 rec for 20 yds

Ryan Longwell: Good from 31, with 2 XPs

Vikings' Defense: 4 sacks, 1 INT, 1 FF

Other than dependable Graham Gano, there is little to pick from the Washington Redskins in terms of fantasy right now.  McNabb is still good enough to start, but mixes in too many games like this in between bigger games.  With Clinton Portis out for the season, Keiland Williams is still the man, despite his poor showing today as James Davis showed nothing. 

Donovan McNabb: 21 for 35 for 211 yds, 1 TD, 1 INT, 7 yds rushing

James Davis: 6 rushes for 11 yds, 1 rec for 4 yds

Keiland Williams 3 rushes for 5 yds, 4 rec for 21 yds

Anthony Armstrong: 2 rec for 53 yds

Chris Cooley: 5 rec for 49 yds

Santana Moss: 5 rec for 40 yds

Fred Davis: 5 rec for 25 yds, 1 TD

Graham Gano: Good from 40 and 42, with 1 XP

Redskins' Defense: 2 sacks

Also see: Atlanta Falcons Show Green Bay Packers Who's Boss of NFC in Week 12.

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