The View from Parts Unknown:
Week 15 already? Why, just yesterday we were wondering how the Vikings could possibly win six games this year after the debacle of 2011.
Thanks to Adrian Peterson, Vikings fans have December football worth watching, starting with today’s contest in St. Louis against the Rams. The best Rams-Vikings game in history? Had to be the Mud Bowl playoff win in 1977. Without Fran Tarkenton in the lineup, General Bob Lee got the job done in an L.A. monsoon:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o54NH87LjxY
Today, it’s an inside affair, and a win allows Minnesota to stay alive in the 2012 playoff chase. A loss, and well, let’s just say it’ll be good for the economy as sad Purple fans may trade holiday shopping for football next Sunday.
Over the next few hours, as usual, we’ll track the game and offer incredibly astute insights from around the Web and Twitterverse. And we’ll do that starting right now with Tweets from Henry Lake (KFAN) and Brian Murphy (Pioneer Press):
11:35 a.m.:
If we are truly worthy of being a playoff contender, then we have to win on the road. #Vikings
— Henry Lake (@lakeshow73) December 16, 2012
11:36:
Too bad this could not be an outdoor game. Balmy, sun-splashed morning in St. Louis. Nary a frozen beer bong or hypothermic drunk around
— Brian Murphy (@murphmedia_) December 16, 2012
11:50:
Awesome pre-game photo by PiPress' Ben Garvin: Adrian Peterson, Minnesota's headless horsemanRT @bengarvin: #vikings. pic.twitter.com/PrR43arq
— Brian Murphy (@murphmedia_) December 16, 2012
12:02: Vikings win toss. Will defer, and kick off to Rams.
12:04: Rams start it out at the 12. Key to everything on defense is getting off the field on third down.
12:08: Jared Allen picks up his 10th sack of year. Big third and 18 to start. Incomplete. Vikes get ball. Nice start … decision to defer pays off early.
12:12: Jerome Simpson catches a pass over the middle in traffic from Ponder. In Red Zone. Touchdowns needed, not field goals.
12:17:VIKINGS 7, RAMS 0 — Ponder runs it in from the 5-yard line to give Vikes early lead.
12:18:Ponder-O-Meter (which debuted here last week) goes from 4 to 5 after that opening drive, where he was 3-3 for 38 yards and 8-yards rushing including the TD.
12:29: Brian Robison out with a shoulder injury. Not sure of his return. Everson Griffen takes over.
12:44: Mistral Raymond out with a foot injury.
12:48: VIKINGS 7, RAMS 7 — Sam Bradford to Brian Quick for a four-yard TD pass to give St. Louis the tie.
12:53: VIKINGS 14, RAMS 7– Adrian Peterson 82-yard TD run. Amazing.
12:58: A ton of Tweets out there honoring Adrian Peterson. This one says it all:
https://twitter.com/The_Street_FA/status/280385973957836800
12:59: Vikings recover fumble. Minnesota ball, thanks to Chad Greenway.
1:01: VIKINGS 17, RAMS 7 — Blair Walsh hits 50-yard field goal.
1:07: VIKINGS 24, RAMS 7 — Everson Griffen pick 6. Vikings destroying Rams.
1:11: Vikings play-by-play guy Paul Allen: “This Vikings defense is absolutely obliterating Sam Bradford.”
1:12: Christian Ballard sacks Bradford. This is getting really fun to watch.
1:18: VIKINGS 27, RAMS 7 — Walsh hits another field goal, a 38-yarder.
1:22: Walsh’s kick sets a Vikings rookie record for points scored in a season with 107. Randy Moss had 106 in 1998.
1:31: Rams kicker Greg Zuerlein misses 57-yarder before the half.
1:36: VIKINGS 30, RAMS 7 — Walsh with third FG, from 42-yards out.
1:46: Vikes get the ball to start the second half. Up 30-7, and still plenty of whining in Twitterverse:
https://twitter.com/dougeefargo/status/280397322075119616
1:50: Robison not coming back in second half. Shoulder injury.
1:58: Greenway sacks Bradford on key third down. Fourth on the day for Vikings D.
1:58: After terrible punt, home crowd booing Rams. Vikings ball at their own 40.
2:03: VIKINGS 33, RAMS 7 — Walsh now 4-4, hitting one from 53-yards out.
2:27: VIKINGS 33, RAMS 14 — Bradford to Danny Amendola from 6-yards out as St. Louis ends scoring drought.
2:44: VIKINGS 33, RAMS 22 — Bradford to Lance Kendricks from 6-yards out as the Rams creep closer.
2:49: AP has 160 yards. Time to get it closer to 200 and take some time off the clock. This one is too close after being up 33-7. 7:48 left.
2:50: AP goes 52 yards. He now has 212 yards. Game over.
2:52: VIKINGS 36, RAMS 22 – Blair Walsh hits 51-yarder. 5th FG of day.
2:58: Fourth and 10 for the Rams on their 49 with 4:29 to go. Incomplete. Vikes take over on downs.
3:04:Packers beat Bears, win NFC North. Bears fall to 8-6, to be tied with Vikes.
3:05: At two-minute warning, Rams driving again, on Vikings 15-yard-line.
3:09: Fourth and three from the Vikings’ 12. Incomplete. Ball game. Victory formation.
3:08: FINAL: VIKINGS 36, RAMS 22 — Vikes improve to 8-6.
