It’s time to take one more view of the 2011 Vikings from our vantage point at Mall of America, Field, Section 123. (South end zone view) (Former baseball press box) (Auxiliary Press Box, if you’re transferring this to your diary). As usual, we’ll follpw the game, keep our eye out for amusing/entertaining text from sports experts from abroad and generally have the sense of humor of a 7th and/or 8th grader — but not always in that order:
4:01 After the game, a ton of audio from GameDayGold.com. Give it a listen:
[wpaudio url=”http://assets.bringmethenews.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/001_A_002_Sonymp3_GDGKevin-Williams_2012_01_01.mp3″ text=”Gameday Gold: Kevin Williams on Bears” dl=”0″]
[wpaudio url=”http://assets.bringmethenews.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/001_A_003_Sonymp3_GDGDevin-Aromoshadu_2012_01_01.mp3″ text=”Gameday Gold: Devin Aromashodu on Bears” dl=”0″]
[wpaudio url=”http://assets.bringmethenews.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/001_A_004_Sonymp3_GDGAsher-Allen_2012_01_01.mp3″ text=”Gameday Gold: Asher Allen on Bears” dl=”0″]
[wpaudio url=”http://assets.bringmethenews.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/001_A_005_Sonymp3_GDGJohn-Sullivan_2012_01_01.mp3″ text=”Gameday Gold: John Sullivan on Bears” dl=”0″]
[wpaudio url=”http://assets.bringmethenews.com.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/001_A_001_Sonymp3_GDGDevin-Hester_2012_01_01.mp3″ text=”Gameday Gold: Devin Hester on Vikings” dl=”0″]
3:02: FINAL: BEARS 17, VIKINGS 13
3:01: Interception by D.J. Moore ends drive, game, season.
2:55: Bears can’t do much with it, except chew time off the clock. Vikes get the ball back with 1:51 left in the game. Joe Webb, let’s see what you can do under extreme pressure. He starts out at his own 6-yard-line.
2:47: High snap, and Longwell FG attempt is no good. Would have made it 17-16 with 5:10 to go.
2:42: Cedric Griffin intercepts McCown. Vikes get it on Bears’ 20-yard-line.
2:38: Webb throws incomplete pass on 3rd and 13. Not looking good for Vikes with 6:38 left. BUT: Punt has Bears starting on their own 6. AND: Jared Allen just announced ProBowl starter. Pumped crowd seeking big series here.
2:35: Perhaps play of game for Vikes. Third and nine. Webb scrambles. Hits Aromashodu for first down at Bears’ 41 with 7:45 left.
2:29: BEARS 17, VIKINGS 13 — Gould hits 27-yard FG to stretch Bears lead with 10:19 to go in regulation.
2:15: For third time today, Webb scrambles like vintage Tarkenton and completes a pass. But it’s not enough for first down. Vikes punt. Allen watch on again.
2:12: Text from KFAN/BMTN’s “Tiny” Joe Nelson, in the booth with Vikings play-by-play Paul Allen: “Lots of love for Joe Webb in booth. Can’t ignore his success forever. Not calling for him to start, but recognizing the talent.”
2:06: Standing ovation for No. 69 Jared Allen, who records sack 3.5 today, setting the Vikings single-season team record. One away from setting new NFL record.
1:54: Kevin Williams sacks McCown instead. Fifth for Vikings D on the day.
1:52: Webb picked off by Bears’ Tim Jennings. Bright side: more chances for Allen.
1:50: Tweet from KFAN’s A.J. Mansour: “Mission 1: Get Jimmy a TD. Mission 2: Get Jared 2 more sacks.” Amen.
1:44: Jared Allen ties Vikings all-time single season sack record. He has 2.5 on the day — 21 on the year. He’s 1.5 sacks away from tying Strahan’s NFL record of 22.5 set in 2001. Mark our words. He’s going to do it.
1:40: Nice halftime tribute to J. Kleinsasser. Frazier still hoping to get him the ball one more time before his swan song.
1:33: Halftime thoughts from Star Tribune team, right here.
1:26: BEARS 14, VIKINGS 13 — Longwell hits 26-yard FG after drive stalls at Bears’ 8-yard-line. Paying customers boo the decision.
1:22: KFAN’s Dan Cole, on Webb: “This staff can’t evaluate talent..they drafted Ponder and they had Webb…wow…”
1:21: Telling Tweet from FSN’s Tyler Mason: “Joe Webb is now 7-for-8 for 93 yards since taking over for Ponder, who was 4-for-10 for 28 yards and an INT.”
1:16: Webb, almost sacked at the 5-yard-line, spins out of it, and completes pass to Percy Harvin at midfield. “Rubio” chants break out.
1:14: Jared Allen gets another sack. That’s 20 on the year. One more to tie Doleman for the all-time Vikings single-season record.
1:13: During halftime, we’re wondering if throng will take advantage of 2-for-1 replica jersey sales in Metrodome lobby:
1:08: Vikes on move with Webb at the controls — 6:44 left in 2nd quarter. Uh, check that. Webb sacked for 10-yard loss at 30-yard line on third down. Longwell kick no good.
1:01: Ponder has hip injury. His return is “questionable” at this point.
12:56: Ponder shaken up. Webb into play QB for Vikes. Purple fans give him OK ovation — but nothing to indicate that they want him there next September.
12:53: BEARS 14, VIKINGS 10 — Charles Tillman picks one off, heads to end zone to give Bears first lead of game.
12:49: VIKINGS 10, BEARS 7 — McCown hits Roy Williams with 22-yard TD pass. Missed assignment by Mistral Raymond.
12:42: Jared Allen in on sack of McCown. He’s credited for half-a-sack, bringing his total up to 19 on the season.
12:37: VIKINGS 10, BEARS 0 — Percy Harvin runs it from 5-yard line to give Vikes ten-point cushion.
12:34: They wake up a bit when Jamarca Sanford picks up a fumble. Vikes have it on Bears 18.
12:31: Very sleepy quarter so far. Perfect for the post-hangover crowd.
12:19: A week-after-Christmas miracle! After kickoff Devin Hester tackled at the 3-yard-line. HOWEVER: Penalty on Vikes. They have to re-kick it. Hester returns it to Bears’ 23. Sigh.
12:17: VIKINGS 3, BEARS 0 after Longwell hits 26-yard FG. That’s his 134th FG as a Vike — good for 2nd place in team history.
12:13: Vikes get ball back on fumble. Knocking on door for first score.
12:02: Vikings get ball first. Sherels brings it out of the end zone out to their 25-yard-line.
11:55: Jim Kleinsasser — retiring after today after 13 years with Purple — is introduced last — big, huge, deserved ovation. According to AP, he’s the only team captain today. Very classy.
11:53: Led Zeppelin plays for last time inside dome this season. Approximately 45K fans stand at attention. Lots of purple seats empty at introductions.
11:51: Scalpers outside claim they’re getting $40 for nosebleeds. Crafty devils, lying to the media on the first day of a new year.
11:50: Check out this photo. It’s 24 degrees outside dome. Kid, on left, no jacket — although those yellow leggings look warm. The guy on the right seems comfy with the Vikes garb. For our money, we think gramps in the middle got it right. No flash..all warm:
11:47: U2 may be famous for the line “All is quiet on New Year’s Day…” but the for many reasons, we’re going with this Doors song to symbolize Jan. 1, 2012 inside the dome:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZDN9y2vTdUs
11:38: This is it. The field has been cleared of players. Up next: The end. But, the end of what? Certainly another Vikings season. They’re 3-12. The Bears? The end. They’re 7-8, and also going home after the game. But it’s also the end of the Metrodome lease. In a pre-game news release, Vikings new stadium guru Lester Bagley says when the game is over — the Vikes are basically stadium free agents. Here’s the audio from Eric Nelson of GamedayGold.com:
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