After last week’s hard-to-watch game, we have the exact opposite this week. The Jaguars spotted the Purple Warriors 14 points to start the game and the Vikes never looked back. This was easily the most relaxed I’ve been watching the Vikings play on a Sunday in a long, long time.

Napolean Harris returned the first play fumble for a TD

The Buffalo Wild Wings I frequent down here in Houston decided to be a little lax on their channel changing, so I actually missed the first 14 seconds. No big deal, right? Well, in any other game, it wouldn’t have been. The game came on and it was already 7-0 in favor of the Vikings. Needless to say, I was both estatic and horrified. I naturally assumed that we ran the opening kickoff back, but was surprised to see it was newly reacquired middle linebacker Napolean Harris who picked up a David Garrard fumble and ran it back 27 yards to the house. How great is that? A seven point lead with only 13 seconds run of the clock. Was it done from there? No way the Vikings could catch another break so soon, right?

Wrong.

Ensuing kickoff, Witherspoon snags the kickoff and runs it back, only to have Cedric Griffin knock the ball out for Dontarious Thomas to recover for the Vikings on the Jaguars 28. Next play, Chester Taylor rumbles for 11 yards. After that, Berrian takes an end around 14 yards to the Jaguars three. Finally, Taylor takes it in from three yards out after an absolutely beautiful spin move made walking into the endzone easy as apple pie.

Just like that, 14-0 Vikings with 1:35 off the clock. Could you believe it? This stuff happens to the Vikings, not for the Vikings. I was instantly euphoric and relaxed. It wasn’t as lopsided as it probably should have been considering the start, but I can’t find fault with much today.

Obviously, David Garrard had a career day against us. It looks as if we got the good Jaguars QB today, not his inconsistent alter-ego. Garrard had 317 yards through the air on 27 of 45 attempts. That’s a seven yard average per attempt. That’s a pretty dang good day. He did, however, throw two interceptions to only one touchdown, so that wasn’t as good. All in all, he had a great game. If Frerotte had games like that, minus the two interceptions, I’d be extremely happy. Nonetheless, the reason he threw so much was a big plus for the Vikings.

Maurice Jones-Drew getting tackled for little gain

Fred Taylor and Maurice Jones-Drew had combined for 915 yards coming into the game versus Minnesota. You may be wondering how many they had after the game. Their total yardage amounted to 939 yards. That’s 24 yards for the game. I was honestly worried that they would have a decent enough of a game to make Garrard’s life too easy. This? The Vikings defense dominated the Jaguars running game. The Vikes’ defensive line completely dictated the line of scrimmage and forced Garrard to put it in the air early. Of course, the 14 points at the start of the game made the Jags play catch up from the get go. For rushing totals, Jacksonville rushed the ball a paltry 14 times for 35 yards (the other attempts came mainly from Garrard). That’s a 2.5 yard average. The Jaguars were averaging 118 rushing yards a game. Kudos to the Vikings’ defense for holding one of the best running back combos in the NFL to some terrible numbers.

The Vikings offense was adequate at best. They took advantage of the opportunities given to them and the defense did the rest. Frerotte only had 120 yards but only tossed the rock 20 times, completing 12 of them, and only one to the other team. That’s an average of six yards an attempt, which is actually pretty comparable to Garrard. Garrard just had to throw it more. His favorite receiver this week was Shiancoe who caught three passes for 60 yards, 40 of them coming from one play. He didn’t light up the sky, but he did the whole “game manager” thing fairly well.

Adrian Peterson lunging for a first down

The Vikings ran the ball much better than they passed, but it was still an off day. The Vikings running game combined for 122 yards on 34 attempts. That’s a 3.6 yard average for the team. Adrian Peterson continued to be Adrian Peterson running for 80 yards on 17 carries for a 4.7 yard average. Included in those yards are a 16 yard TD scamper to ice the game. Chester Taylor added 25 more yards and Bernard Berrian had two rushes for 22 yards. If you take out Frerotte and punter Chris Kluwe’s “runs” the total yardage becomes 127 yards on 28 attempts. That comes out to a 4.5 yard carry which sounds much better than the 3.6 yard average for the Vikings “total” rushers.

So, on the whole, the Vikings offense did what they had to; they took advantage of opportunities, didn’t turn the ball over, and ran the ball like the they are expected to. The defense did their part to keep the game from every being very close.

Four of the top five leading tacklers were in the Vikings secondary, which on a normal day would be a bad thing. Considering the run to pass ratio of the Jaguars, I would have been surprised if it were any other way. Antoine Winfield continues his Pro Bowl campaign with 12 tackles, 11 of them solo. He also forced a fumble. What an animal. He continues his dominating play. Don’t let his lack of interceptions fool you; teams just don’t throw his way as often as they do other Vikings’ cornerbacks.

The Vikings defensive line wasn’t at the same level pass rushing they were when playing the Packers, but they applied enough pressure to keep Garrard nervous. Don’t get me wrong; Garrard made all the plays he could, but the Vikings still sacked him four times during the game. Kevin Williams led the way with 1.5 sacks, Ray Edwards getting the other half of one of those. Backup defensive tackle Ellis Wyms contributed with another sack, and the big immovable object Pat Williams got a sack as well. Four sacks on 45 dropbacks isn’t that good, but it’s good enough. The Vikings still came out with a win, so it’s okay with me.

I haven’t commented on him much this year, but Ryan Longwell continues to be one of the most consistent and reliable members of the 2008 Minnesota Vikings. He was three for three on Sunday, one of them a 54 yard bomb. After going one for six on field goals over 50 yards the past two seasons, he’s four for four on them this year. Incidentally, that’s a Vikings’ franchise record. Longwell is 22 of 26 this year on field goals and 25 of 25 on extra points. He’s earning his money this year.

I still can’t help but wonder why Minnesota’s passing game is becoming so stagnant the past few games. For awhile there, it looked like Frerotte was going to have a career year and Berrian was a guaranteed 1,000 yard receiver. Now? Not so much. Berrian had one catch for six yards against the Jaguars. For someone making that kind of money, it’s simply unacceptable. I understand that he can’t throw the ball to himself, and he’s playing the “distraction” role, but he has got to run his routes, make good cuts, and get open. That’s what we pay him to do; stretch the field. It only helps EVERYONE on the team. It makes those safeties back off and helps those linebackers play a bit more off which, in turn, gives Adrian Peterson more room to run. And isn’t that what we all want to see?

Also of concern: the Vikings third down conversion percentage. They were four for 13 on third down. That’s a terrifying 31%. Again, simply unacceptable. I understand we ran the ball a lot on first and second down because of our lead, but we have to convert some short passes to keep those sticks moving, especially on third down. Gus needs to be a little more accurate and Childress has to call some more quick throws. Where are the slant routes? The out routes? Where are the screen passes? They will keep the defense honest and give the offense even more options.

Peterson making a cut

Overall, the Vikings played a good enough game to keep me relaxed enough to enjoy it. And you know what? It was a nice change. I’m all for the nail biters that come down to the last drive if the Vikings can pull out the win. There’s nothing better than knowing the souls of the opposing team’s fans are crushed, but being on the other side of that coin is equally as horrible. The Jaguars game? Like a nice cruise through the mountains; scenic enough to watch, but the lack of oxygen makes you just euphoric enough to be smiling the whole time.

Next week is the biggest game of the year yet: the Bears visit the Vikings at the Metrodome on a national stage for sole possession of first place in the NFC North following the Saints’ beatdown of the Packers on Monday Night Football. Can we beat them? Without a doubt. Will we? I have supreme confidence. I’m sure Andrew will have some good insight on that game later in the week. Until then…

SKOL Vikings!

Woot Woot!