BACK IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT

                        Timely Defense, Balanced Attack and A Newcomer Carry Pack over Minnesota

The 6-5 Minnesota Vikings entered Lambeau Field yesterday eager to prove they belonged with the big dogs. Their surprising record notwithstanding they exited after the Green Bay Packers took their best shots and turned them away by a score of 23 -14. More to the point they took Adrian Peterson’s best shots and won anyhow. For the 50-somethingth time in NFL history a running back put up 200 or more yards rushing and for only the 3^rd time since that feat was accomplished the team with a big day from a big back went away empty-handed. With the win coupled with the Bears loss to Seattle Green Bay moved right back into a tie for first place in the NFC North.

In the process the Packers exposed the obvious one dimensional nature of the Vikings. The Vikings play book must be among the thinnest in the NFL – Peterson run right/ Peterson run left/ Peterson up the middle/ pray Christian Ponder doesn’t have to throw a pass/ punt. Peterson had himself a magnificent day rushing for 210 yards on 21 carries, a ridiculous pct. of 10 yards/ carry and 1 TD on a run the gashed the Packers for 82 yards. Peterson’s brilliance was on display all game and he almost carried the Vikes on his broad shoulders. A couple ill-advised Ponder passes were picked off putting the Vikes to bed and in essence sinking their ship for the season.

It didn’t look like the Vikings would be able to even muster a counter offensive early on. On the opening drive James Jones made yet another wonderful catch, a highlight reel grab of 32 yards that gave the Packers an early 7 – 0 lead. After a quick turnaround courtesy of a Morgan Burnett interception of a poorly thrown Ponder pass thrown behind TE Kyle Rudolph Aaron Rodgers drove the Packers into scoring position and star crossed K Mason Crosby drilled a 30 yard field goal that hit the upright, but it was struck so hard the ball finally bounced Crosby’s way and was good, getting not just the monkey but King Kong off Crosby’s back, even for a few breaths.

The Packers went back to something that had worked for them in the past, a dual back running attack led by James Starks and Alex Green. It was a formula that was very successful as the tandem backs combined for 127 yards and a very respectable 4.6 yards/ carry for the game.  

For a brief while in the 1^st quarter the Packers looked as if they would make a laugher out of this key contest. A long drive by the Vikings ended when Ponder hit Rudolph for a 2 yard TD that closed the gap to 10 -7. After Rudolph’s catch the Packers lost some of their drive and focus and it showed in the play on the field. For whatever reason this year the Packers have been able to start hot but for reasons unknown when they do they inexplicably cool just as quickly. A Tim Masthay punt knocked the Vikes back to their own 8 and the Packers were sitting pretty.

Ponder scrambled out of trouble for 9 yards and Peterson was stuffed on 2^nd down setting up a 3^rd and 1 situation. To no one’s surprise Peterson got the rock and drove into the teeth of the Packers line, a line that had contained his damage to this point. But when Peterson couldn’t find a hole in the middle from his own 18 he broke his run outside to the right, cut upfield and was aided by some of the worst attempts at tackling the Packers have seen in recent games. The tackling, or lack thereof, brought back memories of last years’ grab and bounce off style that forced Mike McCarthy to issue the off season edict about improving the tackling. Granted, trying to grab onto Peterson is akin to asking a matador to hang onto the bull but in not wrapping up Peterson AD has a huge advantage as he is cut from stone and a beast that loves contact.

The only benefit in Peterson’s long run was keeping him on the bench for the next series as he was gassed from his blast. Facing a 14 -10 deficit Rodgers moved the Packers close enough to send Crosby out for a field goal try of 53 yards at the end of the half. Crosby hit a kick that may have been the ugliest in his recent cold stretch, shanking it wildly to the right and having no chance of being good.

Crosby’s woes continued when he hit the 2^nd half opening kickoff out of bounds. If Crosby wasn’t feeling the heat in chilly Lambeau he certainly was the most isolated individual on then Packers bench as the phone directory for available free agent kickers had to have been opened somewhere in the Packers’ press box.

The ensuing drive was the worst possible scenario for the Packers as Peterson tore off another long run of 48 yards and was finally hauled down at the 12 by Tramon Williams. Peterson continued his barrage with another jolt up the gut for 4 yards. The harsh reality of the Vikings offense reared its ugly head. Even a player of Peterson’s caliber gets winded. Putting the ball in Ponder’s hands has been an adventure to be sure, and Ponder rolled to his right and made a horrendous decision when he threw back across his body and S Morgan Burnett cut the route and stole away a certain score with his 2^nd pick of the day.

The injury plague that has enveloped the Packers this year claimed another victim when T.J. Lang, filling in at RT for the IR’d Bryan Bulaga went out with an ankle sprain, joining the list of sidelined Packers that now includes LT Derrick Sherrod, TE Andrew Quarless and S Sean Richardson. Out goes Lang and up steps UDFA rookie OL Don Barclay in his first taste of pro ball. The green rook had a few hiccups getting started as he was flagged for holding twice but he managed to fit in and contribute, a refreshing change from last week’s porous effort against New York.

McCarthy must have gulped hard when on his decision to send Crosby out to try a 47 yarder when the Packers drive stalled at the Minnesota 32 in the 3^rd quarter. In fact McCarthy had left the offense on the field and said after the game “I liked the tempo we had” when he was asked about his decision to go for it. The Packers had a 4 receiver set in against an overmatched Viking D but Minnesota managed to eke a timeout and dodge the mismatch. After McCarthy reconsidered he sent Crosby out as almost everyone connected to Green Bay held their collective breath. Crosby struck the ball solidly as he has throughout his slump and at first the ball appeared as if it would suddenly jerk wide right again.

It didn’t. Crosby’s kick was almost down the middle and while not a crucial or even tough kick it has to do wonders for Crosby’s psyche to just have a day when he made more than half his kicks.

As the Packer lead extended the defense focused in on Peterson and finally got the matchup they had been seeking forcing Ponder to go to the air to valiantly try to match scores. Ponder completed only 12 of 25 passes all day, and only 2 of them were to a wideout. When Peterson was stuffed for a 1 yard loss and Minny was held to a 3 and out perhaps the most impressive drive of the year by Green Bay ensued.

Clock-killing, ball control, pass-and-run combinations were missing from last year’s arsenal. Rodgers led a 20 play all but 11 minute drive that ended with another Crosby field goal, a relative chip shot that had no doubt. The drive featured both Starks and Alex Green running the ball and Rodgers spread the ball among his corps of pass catchers including the welcome sight of Greg Jennings. The 11 minute drive is by far the longest single drive of this NFL season and is the reward for McCarthy’s patience and dedication to running the ball. The most impressive aspect of the drive was not any single play or yardage gained but the fact that the Packers repeatedly ran to the right side, the side flanked by newcomer Barclay who not only held his own but made several key blocks, some almost laughable.

James Starks closed out the scoring with a run to – where else – the right side and Barclay led the charge. As MLB E.J. Henderson looked to close the lane Barclay got in his way more than laying a lick on his man, whiffing badly but forcing Henderson to go backwards away from Starks. While Barclay and the rest of the linemen enjoyed a post-game laugh at his technique when Starks hit the end zone 22 yards later all was forgiven. Starks’ TD was the first rushing TD since the Indy meltdown and only the 3^rd of the year for Green Bay.

The return of the running game also yielded yet another telling stat. The Packers controlled the ball for over 38 minutes leaving little for the Vikings to mount a challenge. These Packers are more balanced and more capable of a ground and pound style.

With the loss Minnesota has serious holes to plug. WR Percy Harvin missed his 3^rd straight game and none of the other Viking receivers has stepped up. The harsh reality will be seen by other teams whoop will no doubt tack the box and make the Vikings other players beat them.

Green Bay, on the other hand, now has a 3 -0 mark in the division and when Seattle dumped Chicago in OT the Bears/Packers matchup on December 16 took on a whole new meaning. Both teams will have to avoid looking beyond next week’s contest. The Pack has to avoid the ‘trap game” against the Lions next week. With Detroit’s season done and the Lions out of contention they would love nothing better than to drag someone down with them. Their front four is imposing and that should be more than enough to keep tem focused.

Time to enjoy the ride. The view is always much better from the driver’s seat.