The view from parts unknown...
Joe Webb fans, time to jump on the bandwagon again. Christian Ponder is out with an elbow injury against the Packers tonight, making way for the very-athletic backup QB.
Half-glass empty: The Vikings are the most-cursed franchise in NFL/sports history.
Half-glass full: We still have Adrian Peterson, and Webb can do stuff like this:
That’s about it for the pre-game hype-fest. From here on out, we’ll give updates as they happen from the Frozen Tundra as the Purple try to pull off a monumental upset over the 2012 NFC North champions.
Can they do it with a backup quarterback, though? Back to YouTube, and the Vikings-Rams Mud Bowl,circa 1977. Fran Tarkenton (broken leg) out, Bob Lee in:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o54NH87LjxY
6:26 p.m.: Perfect tweet from Pioneer Press scribe Tom Powers:
https://twitter.com/TomPowersPP/status/287715561310408704
And:
https://twitter.com/TomPowersPP/status/287710971189944320
6:34: Back to Webb. According to ESPN.com, he’s the first quarterback in NFL history to start a postseason game after not attempting a single pass all season.
6:36: From www.gamedaygold.com, Purple fans outside Lambeau. As photog Scott Bertsch put it: “(They) … were in for a big surprise when they found out that Joe Webb would start for the Vikings”:
6:41: From KARE/BMTN’s Eric “PerkAtPlayPerkins”:
Christian Ponder hurt, Kevin Love hurt….. somebody drape Joe Mauer in Bubble Wrap
— Eric Perkins (@PerkatPlay) January 5, 2013
And, on a more serious note:
Webb taking snaps hitting receivers in stride
— Eric Perkins (@PerkatPlay) January 6, 2013
6:45: Leslie Frazier tells NBC that he doesn’t think Webb will be nervous, despite the circumstances.
7:01: Frazier tells KFAN-FM 100.3 that hitting and knocking down Aaron Rodgers will be key to Vikings’ success. Sounds like interview — with a cheery head coach — was taped before Ponder-is-out-news. Kickoff next.
7:05: Weather report from Green Bay Packers site: “Lambeau Field weather: 29 degrees, wind out of SW at 9mph, 78 percent humidity, cloudy, chance of flurries late.”
7:10: Kickoff. Nice return from Sherels, as Vikings get the ball first.
7:11: Webb scrambles for 17-yard run on 3rd and 3.
7:14: VIKINGS 3, PACKERS 0 — Blair Walsh hits 33-yarder to give Purple early lead.
7:23: Packers go three and out on their first possession. Sherels brings it back to the 35, with 8:09 left in the first quarter.
7:27: Webb completes first pass of season to Kyle Rudolph. Then, almost gets picked off, but Purple defense knocked it down. Dumbest. Throw. Of. Season.
7:40: PACKERS 7, VIKINGS 3 — DuJuan Harris in for a TD as Packers take the lead at the end of the first quarter.
7:51: Bad series for Webb. A sack (he tripped over Clay Matthews) and intentional grounding. This seems to be swirling out of control.
7:53: This one says it all, for now:
Watching Joe Webb at QB is like watching a baby giraffe learn to walk; hilarious and pitiful all at the same time #Vikings
— Jennifer Knauf (@Jay_K11) January 6, 2013
7:45: Jared Allen sack of Rodgers stops Packers drive, but Vikes can’t do anything with ball and forced to punt again.
8:10: PACKERS 10, VIKINGS 3 — Goal-line-stand forces Crosby field goal from 20 yards out.
8:15: Webb sacked at the Vikings’ 10-yard-line. Packers gets the ball back at 2-minute warning with great field position — and Green Bay has ball to start second half. Ugh.
8:21: PACKERS 17, VIKINGS 3 — John Kuhn takes it in from 3-yards out for another Packers TD.
8:33: Stats of the game so far: 239 total yards for Green Bay in the first half, 97 for Minnesota. Of that, just six passing yards for Webb….and 197 for Rodgers.
8:42: As second half starts, this Tweet from Star Tribune’s Jim Souhan:
As Denny Green would say, It was a good run.
— Jim Souhan (@SouhanStrib) January 6, 2013
8:53: Dumb penalty — 12 men on field — gives Packers first down at 9-yard line. Kuhn scores on next play.
8:55: PACKERS 24, VIKINGS 3 — Rodgers to Kuhn, who rumbles into the end zone from 9-yards out.
9:06: On 4th and 3 for the Vikies, strip sack by Clay Matthews. Packers ball at midfield. Paul Allen’s call: It’s “52 shades of Clay!”
9:12: From bad to worse, Harrison Smith goes off the field with a knee injury.
9:17: Vikings at midfield, but Webb picked off by Sam Shields. As quarter ends, this one is over.
9:22: Sherels ends string of spectacular play with a punt return fumble at midfield. Packers in business again at the Vikings’ 40.
9:27: Bring Me The News observation: A week after the greatest Vikings game ever, we are now witnessing perhaps the worst. (Next to that 41-0 NFC title game loss to the Giants.)
9:31: Ripping Webb now all too easy. Poor guy. From Joe Anderson:
https://twitter.com/Phunnsie/status/287762775835549696
9:44: After the Vikes turn the ball over on downs at the Packers 43, this one is officially over. Six minutes to go at Lambeau.
9:49: PACKERS 24, VIKINGS 10 — Webb to Michael Jenkins on a 50-yard strike. Two touchdown game.
10:00: FINAL: PACKERS 24, VIKINGS 10 — Good luck Green Bay!
10:01: We love this Tweet:
Congrats #Packers. You beat a second-string QB at home and almost held AP under 500 yards this season. #hellyesI'mbitter #Vikings
— Jess Myers (@JessRMyers) January 6, 2013
