Minnesota Vikings keep play-off hopes alive with win
In their first game without Pro Bowl receiver Randy Moss, the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Arizona Cardinals in a 27-24 overtime victory on Sunday in Minneapolis. Quarterback Brett Favre threw for a
career-high 446 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions as the Vikings improved their record to 3-5 and remain third in the NFC North.
It's fitting that Favre plays for the Vikings. The punishment that his 41-year old body has endured throughout the course of his NFL career is starting to leave more then a mark. Favre is barely standing
with two fractures (one in his ankle, one in his heel) and tendonitis in his right elbow. Yet the ageless wonder did it again.
After a scoreless first quarter, the Vikings got on the board after Favre connected on a 12-yard swing pass to running-back Adrian Peterson. But on the ensuing kick-off, the Cardinals answered with a 96-yard
return by LaRod Stephens-Howling. That was not the only big special teams play for Arizona. On the opening kick-off in the second half, Vikings’ Percy Harvin fumbled the ball which was then recovered and returned 30 yards by Michael Adams for a score
to give Arizona a 21-10 lead.
“There was a point in that game where I think everyone in the building thought this is not going well. We don’t stand a chance,” said Favre, after his fourth-quarter comeback win. “But we did.”
Minnesota is far from being an offensive juggernaut but they sure were hard to stop in the final minutes of the fourth quarter. As the game progressed, the Vikings’ offence came to life and were able to
erase a 14 point deficit. Then in typical fashion, with under a minute in left on the clock, Favre threw a 25-yard touchdown strike to tight-end Visanthe Shiancoe to send the game in overtime.
With momentum on their side and a depleted Arizona squad, the Vikings were able to march down the field in overtime after a big run from Peterson and a 22-yard catch from receiver Bernard Berrian. Both
plays set up Ryan Longwell’s 35-yard game-winning field goal in overtime. This was certainly an important win for this franchise that has been struggling lately.
"The big thing is getting a win right now," Owner Zygi Wilf said before the game. "The big thing is to win this game and to be crowned division champions and we're going to fight our (butts) off."
It’s rare to see a team such as Minessota loaded with talent on both sides of the ball and with countless Pro Bowlers in a position of the underdog. But that’s exactly where you will find them from here
on out.
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