Purple Pride Ponderings
Minnesota at Detroit
December 5, 2005
Catch us if you can.
That was the movie theme the KFAN webmaster used for his gameday graphic, and fittingly so.
The Bears have won eight in a row, and every time I think maybe they’ll finally lose, that insane defense makes another big play to seal a win. When you see Orton’s stats each game, it makes you wonder how they ever win a game. I wouldn’t even call him serviceable to be honest, just look at this line from the Green Bay game, and it’s a normal game for him:
6/17, 68 Yards, 0 TD’s, and 1 Int
Orton has passed for over 200 yards only one time this entire season.
Are you kidding me? How do the Bears win eight in a row with QB play like that?
Defense and a serviceable running game, that’s how. This Bears defense is sick, and I feel better than the Super Bowl Champion Ravens, Bucs, and ’85 Bears teams.
So can we catch the Bears?
Probably not.
Should the Vikings find a way to win out the rest of their games (and it’s looking better every day for them to do so), the final game against the Bears in Minneapolis could be for the Division thanks to a tough final four games for the Bears.
Next week they travel to a reeling Steelers team, come back home against a Falcons team fighting to make the playoffs, travel to Green Bay where Favre and the Pack will want revenge, and wrap things up against the resurging Vikings at the Metrodome.
We still have a slim chance to win the division, but if not, we are starting to look good when it comes to sneaking in as Wildcard team.
First Play
Johnson to Robinson, 80 yards to the hizzouse – money.
What a play call and about time. Reminded me of the good old days when we had Randy Moss. I’ve been clamoring for Koren “turned his life around” Robinson all year, and it’s good to see the coaching staff finally find ways to incorporate him into the offense more.
Koren is a game breaker, and showed so on Sunday. With his size and speed, there aren’t many defensive backs in the game that will be able to contain him for 60 minutes. And how about that throw by Brad Johnson. Robinson didn’t even have to stutter step. Guess the old man still has an arm, something that Garcia has apparently lost.
Hopefully that one play is a sign for more to come.
Lions’ Front Four
That is one nasty unit, and should be the backbone the Lions build around. They disrupted so many running plays and stopped Bennett in the backfield more times than the crowd at Ford Field chanted Joey Harrington’s name.
Kluowie!
It’s a shame that one player’s bone-headed mistake could possibly shorten Chris Kluwe’s marvelous rookie campaign. We haven’t had a punter like him since Greg Coleman. Hopefully he recovers fast, not sure of the extent of his injury at the time of this writing, but I don’t think ankles are meant to roll the way his did.
Props to Paul Edinger for filling in as punter the way he did. He averaged 37.5 on two punts, not bad for someone that had only punted on other time in his career. Plus, he had that angle to the sideline down - that always helps.
SoftMoore?
I love Mewelde Moore, but the guy comes off as too soft for me. He seems to pull himself out of games for the most ticky-tac injuries. All this does is open the door for Bennett and make Tice have second thoughts about keeping him a starter.
Quick Hits
• Where was Sharper this game? Oh yeah, Garcia forgot how to throw a ball down the field.
• Why did security tackle the guy with the Fire Millen sign? I’ve seen far worse and nobody does anything about it. I’m thinking Millen made the call himself. The Lions fans deserve better and I agree with the sign wielding fan, it’s time for Millen to go.
• While Tice appears to have given up on Williamson, Mike Williams doesn’t appear to have been a better pick as most thought.
• 345 yards of offense for the Vikings. Looks like the offense is awake and will only get better as guys like Burleson get healthier.
• I’m still pimping Brian Williams. He’s hitting hard and breaking up pass after pass.
• Was I the only one that felt like we dominated the entire game, only to end up with the hebbie gebbies right at the end? Thankfully Chavous put that to an end with the interception.
• Koren’s 148 yards receiving was the first game this year a Vikings wideout has gone over the century mark. That’s just sickening and a sad, sad stat.
The Week Ahead
The St. Louis Rams, once known as the greatest show on turf. A week ago we were lead to believe that Fitzpatrick had revitalized the show, but after losing the way they did at home, that would be a big fat no.
I like the way the Vikings defense is playing and feel that the offense is coming into its own as well. Another road win has this team in high spirits, and coming home to all the Purple faithful will only jack them up even more.
I look for the Vikings to roll all over the Rams in the Dome, this one will not even be close.
Thoughts from the other games
• Looks like Coach Dungy is the only one that can prevent the Colts from having a perfect season. Word is that he’s going to start sitting players next week. I’m not a fan of that. Not only does it prevent an end to this yearly ’72 Dolphin watch, it could hamper the rhythm players have and cost them dearly in the playoffs.
• The Falcons are falling apart and might miss the playoffs if they keep playing the way they are. Look what the Panthers did to them, and then think back to what the Bears did to the Panthers. More proof that my thought of the Bears being the best in the NFC as legitimacy.
• I heard someone mention that the Jags could hang with the Colts. Right - and they must be counting on all the starters for the Colts to take some pine. Thanks to an Edwards injury, the Jags were able to eek out a win against the Browns.
• The Texans are the most creative team in the NFL. They find the most creative ways to lose games.
• Feely misses another clutch kick for the Giants, but the Giant D hangs on to secure the win.
• Big Ben tosses three TD’s, but matches it with three costly INT’s.
• Bucs D nabs four Brooks passes and only win 10-3.
• Bills start off game with 21 1st quarter points and Miami finishes with 21 4th quarter points in one of the craziest come back wins for the Dolphins in NFL history.
• Speaking of History, the Dolphins’ Chris Chambers sets team records with 15 catches for 238 yards. He’s my fantasy stud of the week, and everyone else’s I’m sure.
• Redskins assure me that the Vikings should have no problems winning at home against the Rams. Vikings should be able to run the ball well based off the Rams’ pathetic run D on Sunday.
• Chiefs prove they are still a team to reckon with as they beat a good Broncos team at home.
• Randy’s Raiders get shocked by the Chargers. Yeah, that was lame and not actually true.
• Eagles look beyond pathetic at home. Sure they are without their star receiver and quarterback, but so are the Vikings, and they seem to be doing fine. 42-0 = biggest shutout in Monday Night Football history.
• Maybe I need to start including the Seahawks when talking about the best team in the NFC. Nah, the Bears’ D has me sold.
To wrap things up this week, take a look at the following teams that are either tied or below the Vikings:
Patriots (7-5)
Falcons (7-5)
Steelers (7-5)
Redskins (6-6)
Eagles (5-7)
Packers (2-10) – Had to rub this one in!
Now think of that same list five weeks ago. The NFL season is 17 weeks long my friends, and as I said earlier, things can and will change.
Later,
Keith Michaels
venomlace@yahoo.com
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