Patriots 28, Vikings 18 (10/31/'10): What a knockout of a day. Braised short ribs and margaritas for breakfast (Me, Mark, and Bergs arrived in the lot at 11 a.m. for the 4:15 p.m. kickoff). Costumes and candy everywhere. Brisket sandwiches for lunch.
Listening to the Jets get shutout while enjoying the pregame tailgate, I sat around in the sun with Mark, Bergs, Shep and three of his sons reliving some of our favorite days at Foxboro/Gillette. The parking lot was in a festive mood as a group of high school cheerleaders walked around in their uniforms, selling candy to raise money to go to Cheerleading Nationals.
"The best part," Bergs said as we took in the scene. "Is that there's still a game to go watch."
That is the best part.
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WEEK 8: Pointing the way to the top. |
Favre jogged out onto the field ahead of the rest of the Vikings about 50 minutes before kickoff to the boos of the couple of hundred of fans who were already in their seats with Don Julio in hand. Soon the Pats players, wearing my favorite 1970s red throwback jerseys, began filtering out by position. Tight ends Crumpler, Hernandez, and Gronkowski were among the first and went into the end zone and started a one-on-one blocking drill. They looked motivated too. Crumpler, who was named a team captain to replace Kevin Faulk, is the perfect veteran to work with the rookies. They would all have a big role in the win over the Vikings.
The Pats got the opening kickoff and looked to be moving but a penalty nullified a great direct-snap play to Danny Woodhead that would have been good for a first down and the Pats eventually had to kick it.
The first big play of the game came on the Viking's opening possession. With just more than seven minutes to go in the first quarter, the Vikes faced a 3rd-and-2 at their own 42-yard line. The ball was going to Adrian Peterson. He was a perfect 7-for-7 on third down carries so far this season. The ball was snapped, Favre handed it off to Peterson, he cut left, and the Pats D, lead by Jerod Mayo, surged over the line of scrimmage and stuffed him short. That play set the tone for the day and the crowd was into it the rest of the way.
The Vikings got the ball back after a New England three-and-out and Favre lead his offense on a nice 13-play drive down to the Pats' goal line. Actually, it was Peterson who lead the drive but all the attention, as usual, was on Favre. The gutsy folk hero dropped back to pass on a second down play at the Pats 10, and just as he was throwing an incompletion the crafty veteran took the first shot to his chin. Gary Guyton nailed him on a penalized helmet-to-jaw hit that knocked the old man down but not out -- yet.
The Vikes took the ball in for six, but even on the touchdown the Pats D made a statement. Peterson leaped in the air on 2nd-and-goal and was met head-on by Mayo. The hit stopped Peterson in his tracks and he crumpled at the goal line. The refs ruled that he had scored (which from the replay was questionable) but the defense had made the Vikes pay for it every step of the way.
The Pats offense, in a very significant trend that has developed, answered that score with a drive of its own. A few Ben Jarvis carries and a strike to Brandon Tate set the Pats up 3rd-and-goal at the three. Another direct snap to Woodhead, this time without a penalty, and the playmaker took it in to tie the game.
Minnesota got the ball back with just more than six minutes in the half and drove down to the Pats' 10. On third down Favre, who played a solid game, completed a pass to the one-yard line. Brad Childress and the Vikes faced a 4th-and-goal. Most teams, on the road, would have kicked a field goal to take a 10-7 lead into the half. But Childress, as mediocre coaches tend to do, outsmarted himself. He decided to go for it -- maybe trying to show Belichick he could out-Belichick him -- and gave the Pats D a real chance to make a statement. And they did -- loud and clear. Peterson got the ball and the defenders swarmed through the line and stopped him for a two-yard loss. Jermaine Cunningham and Brandon Spikes were first on the spot. The stadium was buzzing all through halftime thanks to that.
Minnesota put up a field goal to open the third quarter and then Brady and Tate made the play of the game at their own 35-yard line. Brady, who had been narrowly escaping the Vikes' pass rush all game, couldn't find an open receiver so he slid to his left to avoid tacklers and then spun completely around and, just as two defenders closed on him, found Tate racing down the left sideline. Brady hit him and Tate did the rest, taking it 65 yards for the score that put the Pats ahead for good.
Rookie Devin McCourty picked off Favre and set the Pats up at the Minnesota 41. A few plays later Ben Jarvis broke a 13-yard run for a touchdown and the Pats were up 21-10. The only thing left was to see how the Favre saga would play out. I'd been waiting a long time to see the Pats punish him. I didn't expect them to take it quite so literally.
The Vikings, needing a score to get back into the game, drove down to the Pats goal line again with about seven minutes to play. Favre dropped back to pass on 3rd down and threw an incompletion, getting hit in the chest by Myron Pryor just as he let the ball go. Pryor's helmet gashed Favre's jaw, knocking him silly and forcing him from the game. The Gillette crowd booed him as he was helped off the field and then carted off to the locker room looking dazed. That's just how sick people are of everything Favre. You never hear people booing guys who are hurt.
Tavaris Jackson came in and threw a TD on his first play and then made the two-point conversion, drawing the Vikes within 21-18. Once again the Pats offense, which struggled often during the game, put together a drive to seal it away. Ben Jarvis (now a member of my fantasy football team) scored his second touchdown, getting spun in the air as he crossed the goal line. The Pats gave out many more big hits than they took yesterday, another good trend that has developed.
Moss got hugs from Brady and Belichick after the game and as he walked off the field got a warm ovation from those who were left -- including me.
The Patriots, predicted to be on the way down by many of the spouting heads, are 6-1. The best record in football. As we set up the post-game tailgate, high-fiving strangers in crazy costumes as they walked by, we all laughed at how our good fortune as football fans continues.
To quote Randy Moss: To Coach Belichick and the Patriots -- salute.
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