Vikings Run Over Texans to Get to .500

The Minnesota Vikings got their record back to .500 with a 28-21 victory over the Houston Texans on Saturday.

The Vikings racked up 177 yards rushing behind Adrian Peterson who did the bulk of the work, and Chester Taylor who finished off the rest.

The Vikings took a shot down field on the first play of the game, as Gus Frerotte found Bernard Berrian on a 55 yard bomb. Adrian Peterson capped the drive off with a one yard touchdown run.

After a good defensive stop, the Vikings looked to be on their way to extending their lead to two scores but an easily catchable ball from Frerotte on a five yard slant route was bobbled by Bernard Berrian which led to a Houston interception return for a touchdown.

After a few defensive stops the Vikings were able to extend the lead to 14-7 after a drive that was typical of the new aged Vikings. It took Minnesota 13 plays to go 53 yards, which was capped by an eight yard touchdown pass from Frerotte to Sidney Rice.

The Vikings pushed the lead out to 21-7 after Chad Greenway sacked Matt Schaub and forced him to fumble which was recovered by Ben Leber. Frerotte was able to hook up with Berrian again and he more than made up with his bobbled ball that led to the interception.

Berrian ran a crossing pattern and was found by Frerotte. Berrian bobbled the ball slightly but it allowed him to slide past the pursuing defensive back and it was off to the races, and Berrian had a 49 yard touchdown catch.

After taking a 21-7 lead into halftime, most fans in the Metrodome had to be thinking that the Vikings had a shot to put up a bunch of points en route to a sizeable victory. The story would be much different than that ideal vision.

After Matt Schaub had been under relentless fire from the Vikings defense in the first half and came up limping late in the 2nd quarter, the Texans went with Sage Rosenfels, a move that would have an immediate impact.

Rosenfels led the Texans on a 72 yard scoring drive that brought the game to 21-14. That scoreline remained as the game went into the 4th quarter after multiple defensive stops by both teams.

On the Vikings' second drive in the fourth quarter, Adrian Peterson took advantage of a fatiguing Texans defense, rattling off two carries for a total of 43 yards. Peterson finished the game with 139 yards on 25 carries and a touchdown.

After running the ball effectively during the drive, Vikings tight end Vinsanthe Shiancoe was able to split the Houston safeties and Frerotte duly obliged and found him for a 25 yard score, improving the Vikings' lead to 28-14.

Houston wasn't done and Rosenfels was able to successfully drive the Texans down the field on the ensuing drive before hooking up with Andre Johnson on a 14 yard pass play. The drive ate up a lot of the clock and Houston was forced to go for the onside kick with just under three minutes left on the clock.

Darren Sharper recovered the onside kick with an impressive leap to catch the ball that was well above his head. However, after the Vikings failed to get a first down the Texans would have just under two minutes to drive the length of the field to tie it up at 28. The Vikings sacked Rosenfels on both 3rd and 4th downs and were able to take the ball over on the Texans' two yard line.

Frerotte just had to kneel down to end the game and give the Vikings the 28-21 victory.

It was certainly nice to see the Vikings come out with a shot down field and it was even nicer to see it work. Adrian Peterson got his carries, yards, and touchdown, and looks to contend for the rushing title so long as he stays healthy and Clinton Portis continues his form.

While some of the play calling issues I have with Childress (and that I pointed out in my preview) were addressed, Childress still reverted back to throwing when I thought he should run and vice-versa.

Frerotte went 11-for-18 for less than 200 yards, but had three touchdowns, and with effeciency being the name of the game in the NFL Vikings fans can't have too many complaints with his performance.

The interception was not his fault in the least, but he seems to have a problem making a good throw when he absolutely needs one though. He had Shiancoe wide open to get a first down, which would have subsequently led to the end of the game.

Instead he threw it low, and while Shiancoe should have made the catch, it was an easy throw that should have hit the tight end between the numbers.

The defensive played its most complete game this season. They had five sacks, knocked the starting QB out of the game, and forced three turnovers. The defensive line roughed up Houston's front line all game, and hurried both Houston QBs nearly all day.

Another performance like that and the Vikings will beat the Packers at home and end the losing streak against their hated rivals.