5-0 and still rolling the Vikings will put it all on the line once more when Baltimore comes rolling into town on Sunday which will feature Joe Flacco vs. Brett Favre.

Is the kid vs. old man thing getting old yet?

Minnesota continues to employ, and enjoy, a successfully balanced offense that now features a little bit of everything and everyone making them more dangerous than their previous seasons. But question marks in the coverage at times, and some early week injuries has their 5-0 record facing a bit of jeopardy for this first time this year.

Percy Harvin and Phil Loadholt are at the forefront of the injury bug with both being listed as Questionable for Sunday’s game.

Harvin, who hurt his shoulder earlier this week, has been in practice and did participate in nearly everything he should’ve, but considering how valuable he is to the team there is question to just how much the Vikes will actually use him. Harvin has been an integral part of the offense since day one, but the good news is the Vikings have plenty of other options they can utilize.

Phil Loadholt, who has been nothing short of a blessing on the right side which is a nice change of pace for the Vikings is still dealing with that bum ankle, and although he will probably be good to go he will surely be slowed a bit.

Vikings vs. Ravens:

The Vikings in their first three games gave up 9 sacks, but since then have protected Favre better than a Kevlar vest giving up only two sacks in as many games, and the benefits are showing in the passing game.

Overall, Favre has thrown at least 1 TDs in every game since the open of the season and in his last three games he has thrown for over 250 yards. A big part of that is the return of Bernard Berrian and the emergence of Sidney Rice.

If the Vikings are going to keep the Ravens at bay, they will have to utilize the short yardage game to their advantage as the Ravens have trouble stopping the YAC. Mixing things up with Peterson and TE Shiancoe should go a long way towards another game where the Vikings dictate the tempo.

On defense, the Vikings must keep the pressure up on QB Joe Flacco. If Jared Allen and Ray Edwards can continue to dominate up front their chances of stopping Flacco at the point of attack becomes more of a reality, making the Vikings rely on containing rather than traditional coverage.

The Ravens on the other hand posses their own distignguished set of weapons outside of Flacco, namely the backfield.

The Ravens backfield averages 134 yards a game, and it will be a huge test—if not the biggest of all—for the defense to overcome.

The Vikings boast one huge difference maker though, and that is they are the ONLY team in the NFL that has not allowed a rushing TD this season.

The Ravens like to use Willis McGahee as their go to back inside the 5 and McGahee vs. the Vikings endzone down linemen is a matchup that favors Minnesota.

The Ravens should try to keep the ball away from Favre and Peterson with the backfield since they can also utilize the short passing game as well as pound out yard after yard; with 3 quality backs this could be a contest of stamina which is something that could be advantageous for Baltimore.

If the Vikings are to elevate themselves to a Franchise best 6-0, they will have to dig themselves in for a very long game. The Ravens are a very good team, and they will present an even greater challenge.

Another ancillary note about today’s game is the Ravens new found penchant for penalties. The Ravens were called for 19 penalties resulting in over 160 yards in their last two games—games they lost. This aspect could be a huge difference maker in near the end of the game.

Injuries and Interesting Game Facts:

Vikings Injuries:
Percy Harvin – Questionable – Shoulder
Phil Loadholt – Questionable – Ankle
Ray Edwards – Probable – Hamstring

Ravens Injuries:
Jared Gaither – Doubtful – Neck
Mark Clayton – Probable – Shoulder

Vikings are 1-2 all-time against the Ravens
Joe Flacco is 6-2 on the road throwing for 1,712 yards and 13 TDs and only 4 INTs.

My Prediction Minnesota 24 Baltimore 21 OT
Prediction Record 5-0

Last week the Vikings pulled out a nail biter against the Pack solidifying their place atop the Division, and will have to defend that crown on Sunday vs. the St. Louis Rams. The Rams are widely seen as pushovers; a team in total disarray and an easy matchup for the Vikings.

But let’s not get too far ahead of ourselves shall we?

As each week has passed by the Rams have shown enough team improvement to make their rank of 19th a bit misleading. The problem is not with the defense however, but rather the offense. The punch-less Rams are about as threatening as a kitten and outside of Steven Jackson—who accounts for just about 45% of the Rams attack—there is nothing worth mentioning. Yes, Jackson is tough, fast, he can run and block, he can even catch, but when nobody else is stepping up it makes for a bad situation, and puts the defense on the field way much more than they have to be.

Let’s take a look at what needs to be done.

The Vikings Offense vs. The Rams Defense: The Vikings offense should look to control this game from the get go by way of Adrian Peterson since the Rams rushing defense is not as good as the their passing D. But whatever they do, the Vikings are going to want to do it fast and hope to get an early jump on the Rams because this particular game has all the makings of a classic upset:
  

   1. The Vikings had a close win against San Fran two weeks ago.
   2. The Vikings held on to beat the Packers in a very high intensity game last week.
   3. The Vikings haven’t started a season 5- 0 since 2003.
   4.No one expects the Rams to win.

The Rams have had trouble stopping the run and with that knowledge, and Adrian Petersonin the backfield, there is a good chance for huge success on the ground. But the Vikings will eventually have to pass the ball and that is where they will need to proceed with caution. The Rams’ Oshiomogho Atogwe is one of the best safeties in the business boasting 14 INTs since 2007. If the Vikings are to air it out, they will have to keep Atogwe in their sights at all times; this is partly what makes the Rams a bit dangerous.

The Vikings will also have to keep Leonard Little a bay at all times. Little is third among active players with 83 sacks since 2000 and has an unstoppable motor very similar to Jarred Allen’s—so you can see where the problem is. If the Vikings can keep the pass rush at bay, the coverage schemes in check, and build an early lead they will afford themselves the type of game control that will allow them to dictate the tone all day long.

The Rams Offense vs. The Vikings Defense: The Vikings are still having trouble dealing with certain coverage packages they employ from week to week, and a lot of those breakdowns actually come from the zone blitzes. The Vikings don’t need to put that kind of pressure against the Rams this week—and quite frankly if they do— it could turn around and make them pay with Steven Jacksonin the backfield.

In 2006—the last time these two team met— Jacksonrushed for over 140 yards and an embarrassing 3 TDs on their way  to a 41-21 rout, and although there has been significant upgrades to the Vikings rushing defense, Jackson is still the same type of imposing runner who always poses a threat when healthy. Since Jackson is literally 45% of the Rams total offense, Jacksonwill be the biggest challenge the Vikings have had to face yet from a RB. The Vikings will not only have to keep their LBs “home”,but they will also have to play solid D outside the DEs if they are to shut down Jackson’s two sided way of attacking.

The Rams will undoubtedly go to Jacksonearly and often as a way of trying to play their own brand of ball control—the more you keep Minnesota’s offense off the field the better chance you have of beating them. But this time around with Leslie Frazier’s unheralded defensive prowess, the Rams will find it much more difficult to rely on Jackson alone forcing them to eventually throw; an aspect of the game the Vikings must take advantage of at every moment—turnovers.

If the Vikings can shut down Jackson effectively, then the Rams have very little chance to do anything at all on Sunday afternoon.

Injuries and Interesting Game Facts:

 Vikings’ Injuries:
Erin Henderson-LB- is Questionable with a calf injury.Darius Reynaud-WR-  is still Out although it is not injury related, and Phil Loadholt-T- is Questionable with an ankle injury.

 Rams Injuries:
Both Donnie Avery and Keenan Burtonare Questionable with hamstring injuries although they are likely to start since the Rams are not only desperate for a win but thin at quality WRs. Anthony Smith-DB-is doubtful with an Achilles injury.

Rams have won 4 out of last five meetings between the two clubs.
Vikings are 22-16-2 including playoffs vs. the Rams.

My Prediction: Vikings 30 Rams 17
Prediction record: 4-0

They say that history repeats itself, and last night’s grueling contest was a small look into the past for Brett Favre in many ways.

Favre began his incredible journey taking over for Don” The Magic Man” Majkowski in 1992, and was the student of the Magic Man at the time. In 1995 Favre—cemented as the Packers’ starter by this point—traveled to Detroit to face his onetime mentor Majkowski in a show down of student vs. teacher.

Majkowski was sacked 5 times, and the student had clearly up ended the teacher in a lopsided victory for the Packers. Enter in 2009 and we have a similar situation: Favre vs. Rodgers.

Rodgers literally did everything he could to keep the Pack close, and boy howdy did he come close. Both quarterbacks had career nights which was a clear testament that neither QB was just going to bend.

For coverage on last night’s game from the Packers’ perspective check this article out by my colleague Alex Petakas.

We can talk about Favre’s brilliant performance going 24/31 for 271 yards and 3 TDs, or his near perfect passer rating, or even the mixed emotions Favre must have had, but then we would be stealing the limelight from the two guys who deserve the game ball tonight.

Sorry Favre, but this one goes out to Jarred Allen and Sidney Rice.

Rice had a brilliant night wreaking havoc in the secondary despite his stats showing an average night at best. Rice hauled in five balls for 70 yards with a single TD, but it was his uncanny ability to exploit the often confused coverage packages Green Bay offered that made him a huge threat all night long.

But as much success as Rice had catching the ball, the true tail of his role in this game was the two onside kicks he recovered for Minnesota. In both instances, Rice resembled some of the greatest power forwards the NBA has to offer, leaping over every player within a 5 yard vicinity just to recover the ball and prevent Green Bay from having another shot at scoring.

On the other side of the ball was Jarred Allen.

Now, I know guys have motors when they play in high intensity games. I know they’re amped up, and playing with more energy than half a dozen children sucking back pixies sticks. But this guy just didn’t freaking stop.

Allen took advantage of some very weak play on the O-line and sacked Rodgers for an outstanding 4.5 times. The guy even chased Jermichael Finley 20 some odd yards down the field for a tackle late in the fourth. The only time Allen looked upset was when he had to sit out a down to throw back some Gatorade.

No matter who the Packers threw on him—and sometimes it was more than one guy—Allen just continued to be a disruptive force up front.

I don’t know, the guy just seems like one of those lineman who dreams of sacking QBs, wakes up and sacks his roommate for the hell of it, draws pictures of himself sacking guys while eating breakfast; unreal.

Between Allen’s domination of the D, and the heroic play of Rice, and the inspiring play of Favre the Vikings served a very stout message to the rest of the NFL that this team is the real deal and should not be taken lightly.

You hear that St. Louis? You’re next!

When you played the Vikings before, you always had to worry about the running game even before Peterson came to town. Now you have to worry about the passing game as well, and on November 1^st, the greatest rivalry in football will dance again in the frozen tundra of Lambeau.

Ah, isn’t this game great?

Some interesting game facts:

1. Vikings extend their streak of no single RB rushing for over 100 yards to 27 games.

2. Favre becomes the only QB in the history of the NFL to beat every team in the NFL.

3. Jermichael Finley had a break out night showing himself as the TE the Packers thought he could be grabbing 6 balls for 128 yards and a TD

4. Aaron Rodgers also had a career night completing 26 of 37 passes for 384 yards and 2 TDs.

Within a few short hours The Green Bay Packers and The Minnesota Vikings will be battling for divisional supremacy in the NFC North; or the Norris Division as I like to call it in memoriam, and while we have been introduced to the more familiar storylines associated with this game such as Favre vs. his old team for the first time, the student vs. the master for the first time, and so on, there is one other story line we haven’t touched on yet.

Leslie Frazier, the Assistant Head Coach and the Defensive mastermind who has created the number one rushing defense in the NFL since he arrived in Minnesota, has otherwise enjoyed a near flawless track record. The Minnesota defense has its fault yes, but it is still one of the elite clubs in the league.

Frazier can look at his club with pride, dignity, and a world of respect for the players he has helped shape into one of the fiercest groups in the NFL. But as a COACH, Frazier can’t help but see the one goofy stain on his immaculate record; the one stain that is as indelibly annoying as a whinny kid in a restaurant.

That stain has a name, and in Minnesota  he is talked about with a seer; he is Ryan Grant.

The last player to rush for over a hundred yards—or hell for that matter even a hundred on the nose— was Ryan Grant on November 11^th, 2007. Now, yes, there have been other contests against Green Bay since then, and the Vikings have shut him down every time disallowing Grant to duplicate his performance from that evening.

 But so long as Grant is in the league, he wears that accomplishment like a target every time he faces the Vikes. It is a constant reminder to Frazier that—To err is human, but to stop Grant is divine!

Tonight’s matchup is the professional grown up version of King of the Mountain. If Minnesota wins they get to keep their number one crown in the Division all for themselves, but if they lose they will have to share first place with not only Green Bay, but also Chicago.

Sharing first place with the Bears is bad enough, sharing it with Green Bay AND Chicago is just downright dirty.

The Vikings are riding a 26 game streak in which no runner has reached or topped 100 yards; a streak that began with Grant. Tonight the Vikes will try to extend that streak to 24.

But for as much as the hoopla surrounding the game will be center stage, we take a look at what the Vikings will have to do in this very important matchup against the Pack.

Rodgers and the Passing Game: Rodgers will undoubtedly inundate the Vikings secondary—or at least try to—will a barrage of passes. But in order to shut down the Packers there are two key things one must do and that is eliminate his weapons and pressure the heck out of him

The Packers offensive line is in disarray and has problems stopping the outside rush especially from bull rushers so Ray Edwards and Jared Allen should have no trouble getting the Rodgers, and since the Packers running game is all but virtually non-existent any attempts up the middle will be easily handled by the Williams duo.

The Vikings on the other hand must also realize that they are having trouble putting together a solid defense against QBs attacking them in the zones. If Rodgers DOES get some protection you can bet he will try to exploit them early and fast.

Peterson and Favre: Favre will more than likely have some mixed emotions going against his old team which is where Peterson will have to be utilized. The Packers have had trouble dealing with inside runners this year as seen here. If the Vikes can get Peterson going early, they can make quick work of the Pack and control the game.

Getting back to Favre; the Packers’ secondary and new 3-4 alignment is nothing to take lightly as they are one of the premier teams in turnover ratios. They must exercise caution when going deep and quite frankly I wouldn’t recommend it at all. If the running game gets established then the long ball will be unneeded making the Packers defense limited in turnover opportunities.

Injuries and Interesting Game Facts:

Vikings Injuries:
Darius Reynaud is out with a hamstring injury which leads the way for Bernard Berrian who will also assume return duties.

Packers Injuries:
Nick Collins is said to be a go despite dealing with a clavicle sprain. The Packers are already without SS Atari Bigby so this may cut down on the Vikes success in the short passing game. Chad Clifton remains doubtful with an ankle sprain but whether he is in or out it shouldn’t matter.

Packers are 49-45-1 all-time against the Vikings.
Vikings are 24-23 at home against the Packers

My Prediction: Vikings 24 Packers 21