The
Minnesota Vikings came in to the 2015 season with high expectations from fans
and even some of the media were actually talking good about the purple.
The draft
was held and on paper appeared in my eyes to be a solid draft and continuing
the last few years of getting guys that made the 53 man squad.
The
preseason started off with a bang beating the Pittsburgh Steelers in the Hall
of Fame game and then winning 3 more before losing the finale to Tennessee.
Yes, the Vikes were 4-1 but they suffered a major loss when they lost starting
right tackle, Phil Loadholt for the season. Oh no, my thoughts was who will
take Loadholt’s spot?
The Vikings
who had been struggling in the last couple of years were finally thought of
high enough to play in the first game on National TV as they traveled to San Francisco.
The Vikings were even a favorite and on the road. It was looking so good with
so many 49ers retired; a brand new head coach and really 49ers I don’t believe
were thought to be all that good.
The games do
need to be played and to the horror to me and so many Vikings fans were in
shock watching the 49ers look like world beaters as they seemed to do whatever
they wanted to. I went to bed jut sick with my hopes on the season and to see
the Vikes embarrassed on TV was tough.
It seemed
that loss really woke up the Vikings for the season as they win the next 2 both
at home. The season summary sees a heart breaking loss to the Broncos followed
by wins 5 in a row before getting beat handily by the Packers which was a 3:30
national TV game. This game was even flexed and on to 3:30 national tv and once
again disappointment.
I know the
team goes to Atlanta after the Packer game and what do the Vikings do? They win
on the road so once again I am feeling good knowing the next week we are back
home to play Seattle who had no Marshawn Lynch. I thought a home game we should
be able to take but I was wrong as I sat in my seats at TCF and watched the
purple get destroyed by Seattle.
Oh no we now
go to Arizona for a national tv game knowing the first 2 we were humiliated.
The pregame guests were all picking Arizona by double digits. Please don’t get
destroyed on TV again I prayed. Coach Zimmer had the boys ready to compete and
compete they did. They played the heavily favored Cardinals tough and it came
down to the controversial play with Teddy not throwing the ball away and
instead get strip sacked when the team was in field goal range to at least send
it into overtime. It was indeed a tough loss even though it was a game that was
supposed to be one sided.
The team has
8 wins in their pocket eclipsing last year’s total of 7 and games left with 2
home and 1 on the road.
Minnesota
wins the next 2 at home by a combined score of 87-34 beating Chicago and New
York Giants and yes the season may have taken even a better turn as the Giants
game had been flexed to prime time in which the Vikings had been 1-15 in
national TV Games. It was so cold that night but the real heat was put on by
the Vikes defense as they harassed Eli Manning all night. Destruction on
national TV was a game never to forget.
The season
comes down to this in which the NFL had to love as the 10-5 Minnesota Vikings
traveled to take on the 10-5 Green Bay Packers. The winner takes the division and
earns the number3 seed and a home game. Which Vikings team will show up?
The Vikes
take a commanding 20-3 lead and yet I was not comfortable until the game clock
said 0:00. The Packers did make a tremendous comeback in fact coming down to
the final Hail Mary pass into the end zone.
I stood up
in my chair with my heart pounding out of my body and I kept saying to myself. Please
knock it down and you are division champs.
The defense
makes the play and I get to see the team I cheer for my whole life go running
onto the field. The dowsing of Gatorade on Coach Zimmer was the moment of the
season.
The
Minnesota Vikings are your 2015-2-16 NFC North Division Champs. That saying
both seeing and saying it is incredible and what a rush.
The Seattle
Seahawks now come to town and not many are giving the Vikes a prayer but I feel
until the game cock say 0:00 I won’t stop believing.
The season
had so many players step up in the regular season beginning with rookie wide
out,Stefon Diggs. He is inactive the first 3 games of the season and finally inserted
into the lineup and what does he do the rest of the season? He catches 52 balls
for 720 yards and 4 TD’s.
Blair Walsh
stated our shaky and so much talk in the media will the Vikes keep or cut? He
ends up going 34-39 on field goals including 6 of 50 yards or longer including
a 54 yarder. Blair kicked 33-37 PAT’s good for 135 points.
How about
Eric Kendricks, 2nd round draft out of UCLA? His year was so good he
ended up being the first rookie to lead the Vikings in tackles since 1961.
Linval
Joseph I believe would have been pro bowl bound if he had not been injured. The
man was a beast in the middle.
Who can
forget Harrison’s Smith season including an interception return for a TD which
broke the Vikes all-time record for interceptions returns for touchdowns.
Rookies,
Danielle Hunter who wears # 99 had 4.5 sacks in college total gets 6 in his
first year alone with the Vikings.
Teddy
Bridgewater’s 2nd great December in a row really helped propel the
offense and his pass completion percent and passer rating were unbelievable.
Adrian
Peterson is out all but 1 game last season comes back to win the NFL rushing
title and gets his 8th season of touchdowns in is career.
There were so
many players who stepped up and just because I didn’t write about them
specifically does not mean they didn’t have a good year. It is truly a team
sport.
The
offensive line say what you want about them seemed to get the job when it
really counted. Offensive line coach, Jeff Davidson might be his best job yet.
Mike Zimmer
in my eyes even though it may not happen should be the NFL Coach of the year
with all the accomplishments including a division title and going 5-1 in the
NFC North. He has my vote!!!!
The season
opening loss to the 49ers and yet the Vikes go onto make the playoffs while the
49ers season turned so sour they fired their coach in only his first season in charge.
The Vikes go
6-2 at home and a whopping 5 wins on the road which is incredible. Add in the Vikes winning for the first time
since 2007 in Chicago. This season had so many things that normally go wrong go
right.
The season continues
Sunday January 10th in what is expected to be a top 10 coldest ever playoff
game in the NFL.
I will be
there and I predict the upset as I say the Vikes win 20-10.
Thanks for
reading
Todd
Walkingstick
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