Arizona @ Minnesota Recap

What a relief to squeak out this win!  And believe me, it was a SQUEAK despite the score.

Thank goodness for Adrian Peterson!  Without his 153 rushing yards, we'd be sunk.  Without that ass-busting first down at the very end of the game to stop the Cardinals from getting the ball back, we'd be sunk.  Heck, let's also throw a shout-out to Harrison Smith for his quick hands and presence of mind - that pick-six turned out to be the game winner!  Not to mention it happening so early in the second half gave us a boost that our defense held on to, despite our offense looking lost and confused.

Game ball definitely goes to our defense.  They never gave up, even when our offense couldn't stay on the field and give them a breather.  They held Arizona to a missed field goal after some SERIOUSLY questionable penalties, Antoine Winfield managed to force a stop on a 4th-and-1, Smith's pick-six, and they only gave up two touchdowns after being on the field for 69 plays (the Vikings offense only managed 47 plays).  Brian Robison was also quietly awesome for us - I believe he had 8 tackles?
That said, enough already with the missed tackles - I realize you're trying to avoid a FedEx envelope from Goodell, but if I had to watch one more Arizona Cardinal run past a Viking falling down and grabbing at his ankles last Sunday...I might have had to punch something.

Special teams were also great - too bad a block in the back negated Percy Harvin's kickoff return for a touchdown.  I think it devastated our offense to go from a touchdown to a 3-and-out.  Chris Kluwe had 7 punts and that Peterson guy only managed to return 4 of them, which is pretty damn good.  He had a rough day with snaps - don't know which one it was, but one of Cullen Loeffler's snaps came up to about his shoulder and he still punted it off.  I hope the two of them get back in sync pronto.  We can't afford our special teams to get slipshod, because we WILL lose if that happens.

The offense...it offends me.  Two stupid, needless interceptions from Ponder - one with 5 seconds left in the half!  Mr. Ponder, I realize you're having a great time in that "early stages lovey dovey" relationship with Miss Steele, but when you're on the field, please forget she exists.  At the very least, learn how to throw the football away.  The word "uncatchable" needs to be engraved on your eyeballs.
And the stupid penalties!!  THIS GOES FOR ALL OF THE PLAYERS - ENOUGH WITH THE STUPID PENALTIES!!!

I am also pissed at the playcalling.  Three consecutive passes when Ponder is in such a non-rhythm he couldn't hit the wide side of a barn?  His name is Adrian Peterson.  He can run the football.  We also have a young man named Toby Gerhart, who also has some minimal experience in this area.  Keep defenses honest.  Also, stretch the damn field!!  Percy Harvin can catch long bombs, he did it plenty at the University of Florida, and Simpson is getting better. 

I can only hope we keep winning.  But these ugly wins are scaring me worse than any haunted house ever could!