In former Star Tribune writer Jim Klobuchar's book Tarkenton, there is a line to the effect that the old Metropolitan Stadium crowds used to cheer when the offense left the field, so that the defense could get about the serious business of scoring.
Judging by the Vikings' win over the Falcons today, Minnesota may be the only team in the NFL that would be content to allow the other offense as much as 95% of the possession in each game, in hopes of scoring more points.
Granted, the defense will not always have the luxury of playing against Joey Harrington, but everything we knew about the Vikings coming into the game proved true: the defense is good, the offense is incredibly boring.
The offense spent four quarters farting around and trying to not screw up. Were it not for Adrian Peterson running a swing pass 60 yards for a touchdown, we'd be talking about how the Vikes' offense is just as boring, just as non-dynamic, and just as putrid as last year. Other than Peterson's touchdown, no Viking drive advanced past the Atlanta 30.
The defense retained the same strengths as last year; you can't run against the Vikings' front seven (28 carries, only 96 yards for Warrick Dunn and Co.), and they'll get to the quarterback on occasion as well (six sacks). The pass defense was solid as well, holding Harrington and the Falcons to only 4.4 yards per pass attempt, despite the fact that Harrington completed 23 of 32 passes.
So what did this win teach us?
- The Falcons stink.
- Joey Harrington stinks.
- The Vikings defense is good.
- The Vikings offense is not.
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