Football fans rejoice: the offseason officially ends tonight, as the Vikings welcome the Seattle Seahawks to Minneapolis to open up both teams' preseason schedules. The game gets underway just after 7 p.m. at the Metrodome, so make sure to check back with vikings.com for updates live from the Metrodome, including pictures, game insights, and much more.
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Updates From The Metrodome
10:55 p.m. – Just got back from the locker room and Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress’ post-game press conference. We’ll post transcriptions when they become available…Seattle defeated Minnesota tonight by a score of 34-17. In summary, the Vikings first-team offense looked sharp throwing the ball. Jackson dropped back to pass ten times before the Vikings finally ran the ball. Adrian Peterson didn’t get a touch and Chester Taylor carried four times for seven yards and one touchdown.
The Vikings defense wasn’t able to slow down Seattle, as the Seahawks put up 17 points in the first quarter. Minnesota was also hurt by turnovers, as they lost four fumbles and John David Booty threw one interception.
Jared Allen spoke briefly to reporters in the locker room. “First time playing here was fun,” Allen said. “The crowd was great, and it was actually pretty packed here for a preseason game. I enjoyed it; it felt good to be out here and step onto the field for the fist time with a game jersey. I’m excited.”
Coach Childress said he thought Jackson looked sharp throwing the ball tonight. “I thought Tarvaris was sharp from the standpoint of (getting the) ball out. He didn’t have to make many plays with his feet. He did a good job sliding.”
He also said that, despite Hasselbeck and the Seattle offense driving rather easily in the first quarter, the first-team defense did a lot of good things; he also said there were many teaching points. The Vikings played mostly zone defense against Hasselbeck and didn’t mix in many changes.
9:53 p.m. – The Vikings are taking possession with 6:27 to play in the game with the ball on their own nine-yardline. Tonight’s attendance was 62,545, the 105th consecutive home sellout for the Vikings. Also of note was that Madieu Williams and Pat Williams didn’t see any action tonight; Adrian Peterson played, but didn’t get any touches.
We’ll have plenty more for you after the game.
9:43 p.m. – Seattle kicked a field goal to take a 34-17 lead. Fumbles have really plagued the Vikings tonight. On a positive note, defensive back Dee McCann broke up a would-be touchdown reception on the drive. Let’s see if Booty and company can muster up another impressive drive….without the fumble.
9:29 p.m. – What looked to be a promising drive led by rookie quarterback John David Booty turned into another missed opportunity because of a…drum roll please…fumble. The Vikings lost their fifth fumble and gave Seattle nice field position.
9:17 p.m. – After yet another Vikings fumble, the team’s fourth of the game, Seattle took over with prime field position and turned it into another touchdown. Wallace completed the pass to receiver Joel Filani, a one-time Vikings practice squad member, for a score that gave Seattle a 31-17 lead with 4:45 to play.
Safety Michael Boulware was shaken up on the play in the endzone after hitting Filani. We’ll update you on his status, as well as Farwell’s, at a later time.
8:58 p.m. – In Pittsburgh tonight, the Steelers are leading their in-state rival Philadelphia Eagles by a 13-10 score in the fourth quarter, but they lost backup quarterback Charlie Batch to a broken collarbone during the second quarter. According to ProFootballTalk.com, ex-Viking Mewelde Moore apparently mishandled the handoff from Batch, which led to the injury.
8:53 p.m. – The Vikings received the second half kickoff but the offense didn’t hold onto the ball for too long. Brooks Bollinger came on to play quarterback and handed the ball off to Albert Young a few plays into the drive, and Young was blasted by linebacker David Hawthorne. Young fumbled and the ball was picked up by Kevin Hobbs.
But only a few plays later, the Vikings defense responded. Second-round pick safety Tyrell Johnson forced a fumble and the Vikings recovered, but a 15-yard face mask penalty nullified the play and Seattle maintained possession. That put the ball on the nine-yardline and two plays later Wallace completed a pass to receiver Trent Shelton for a touchdown and a 24-17 lead.
8:40 p.m. – Notable First Half Stats:
Offense
QB – Jackson (8-11, 188 yds. 1 TD)
RB – Hicks (6 carries, 37 yards)
RB – Taylor (4 carries, 7 yards, 1 TD)
WR – Berrian (2 catches, 43 yards)
WR – Allison (2 catches, 38 yards)
WR – Wade (2 catches, 38 yards)
Defense
CB – Winfield (3 tackles, 1 assist)
S – Johnson (2 tackles, 1 assist)
Special Teams
WR – Reynaud (53-yard kickoff return)
WR – Johnson (23-yard punt return)
K – Hauschka (35-yard field goal, 2 extra points)
8:35 p.m. – A 35-yard field goal by rookie Steven Hauschka knotted the score up at 17 with 40 second to play in the first half. Hauschka has had a nice night kicking, nailing two extra points, converting the field goal attempt and then kicking off (one touchback).
Seattle took a knee and the teams will head into the locker room tied at 17. We’ll have a first half stats summary coming shortly…
8:19 p.m. – The Vikings second-team offense had their drive fizzle out when they couldn’t convert on fourth-and-short. Hicks looks impressive with six carries for 37 yards, including a 29-yard dash. Nance hauled in one grab for 14 yards and the offensive line was unremarkable; not great, not terrible.
Seattle is pretty backed up now, let’s see what the Vikings second-team defense can do. Keep an eye on #90 Fred Evans.
8:11 p.m. – Okay, the Vikings defense finally got a stop and now we’ll see the second-team Vikings offense, led by Gus Frerotte. I’m anxious to see how he plays, along with running back Maurice Hicks, offensive linemen Drew Radovich and John Sullivan, receivers Aundrae Allison and Martin Nance.
7: 58 p.m. - After a pass interference penalty put them on the goal line, the Vikings punched it on as Fahu Tahi led the way for a Chester Taylor touchdown. Taylor displayed some athletic ability by leaping over the pile for the score.
7:55 p.m. – A few observations after one quarter of play…
I love it that the Vikings haven’t run the ball once yet…Jackson has looked sharp, that is good to see…Berrian looks speedy and has had some nice plays, that’s encouraging…the defense didn’t look great; I’m sure they’ll be asked about that a lot after the game.
Overall, the quarter was exciting because of all the scoring. But the defense’s performance and the injury to Farwell are just as disappointing as how great the offense has looked passing the ball. More to come.
Oh, and also, Chester Taylor just took a handoff as I was finishing this entry. So, there’s one running play.
7:48 p.m. – Details on Heath Farwell’s injury are not yet known, but that would be an unfortunate loss for the Vikings if he will miss significant time. Farwell is a spectacular special teams player and a reliable reserve linebacker. Let’s hope he’ll be okay.
Hasselbeck appears to be done for the night, but that hasn’t stopped Seattle’s offense. Backup Seneca Wallace has come in and led Seattle down the field. Wallace went three-for-three for 33 yards, including a 15-yard touchdown pass to Jeb Putzier. Seattle leads 17-7.
7:40 p.m. – Seattle turned the Shiancoe fumble into three more points to take a 10-0 lead. A nice return by rookie receiver Darius Reynaud put Minnesota near midfield, then a strike from Jackson to Bernard Berrian put the Vikings on Seattle’s 25-yardline. The drive almost stalled there, but a clutch completion to Berrian brought the Vikings to the six-yardline. Berrian almost scored, but tripped over his feet before sliding into the endzone. One play later, Jackson hooked up with his new fullback, Thomas Tapeh, for a touchdown and the Vikings made the score 10-7.
To this point, the Vikings have not ran the ball. Good to see from an offense committed to improving their passing attack. Also, Tapeh's touchdown tonight is his first score in the Metrodome since November 8, 2003, when he was a member of the Golden Gophers and they were taking on the Wisconsin Badgers.
7:21 p.m. – As poorly a start as the defense had, the offense didn’t fare much better. After a nice completion from Tarvaris Jackson to Jim Kleinsasser, Jackson hit his other tight end – Visanthe Shiancoe – down the middle of the field. But Shiancoe fumbled and Seattle recovered. They have the ball in Vikings territory.
I’ve noticed Tyrell Johnson in there quite a bit for the Vikings. He’s been in on a couple of tackles. He’s a nice player and a great tackler; it will be interesting to see how he plays at this level.
When the Vikings offense comes back out, assuming Jackson will still be under center, watch for more bootlegs. He is athletic, so bootlegs are an effective strategy for him. It also reduces the amount of field and defense he has to read. Any quarterback has to love that.
7:14 p.m. – Well, unfortunately that didn’t take long. Seattle takes a quick 7-0 lead after quarterback Matt Hasselbeck leads the green and blue on a seven-play, 76-yard drive that was capped by an 18-yard pass to Jordan Kent.
7:09 p.m. – Heath Farwell, E.J. Henderson and Adrian Peterson were the Vikings team captains tonight. Seattle won the toss and elected to receive. So, we’ll see Henderson, Jared Allen and the rest of the Vikings defense first tonight.
6:50 p.m. -- For those interested, here are the NFL.com Game Center live scoring links for the other preseason games going on around the league tonight:
Eagles @ Steelers
49ers @ Raiders
6:45 p.m. -- Here are the inactives for Minnesota:
21 – Marcus McCauley – CB
45 – Garrett Mills – TE
96 – Brian Robison – DE
6:35 p.m. -- The Vikings quarterbacks, running backs, receivers and specialists have come onto the field to warm up. Aundrae Allison, Daniel Davis, Maurice Hicks Jaymar Johnson, Darius Reynaud and Albert Young were among those fielding kickoffs and punts. There won’t be enough kick and punt return opportunities tonight to get a good luck at each individual in game action, but it will be interesting to see how the guys who do get an opportunity perform. I’m looking forward to seeing Allison and Hicks return kickoffs; they are both well-accomplished returners.
Speaking of Albert Young, he’s a guy I think we’ll see a lot of tonight. He and Hicks will see a lot of carries because I’m sure the Vikings coaching staff will want to limit the touches that both Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor receive.
I’m looking forward to seeing quite a few players tonight, including John Sullivan and Drew Radovich, Tyrell Johnson, John David Booty, Fred Evans and Benny Sapp, among others. Of course it will be fun to watch the starters, but preseason is really about finding out who of the young and inexperienced has what it takes to make a 53-man roster.
Seattle receiver Nate Burleson returns to the Metrodome tonight. He has good speed and he’s quite shifty; it will be interesting to see how many snaps he plays tonight.
4:06 p.m. -- Members of the 2008 edition of the Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders are on the field getting ready for their first performances of the season in just a few short hours. The teams will soon be taking the field to get ready for tonight's game, which kicks off in just under three hours. The vikings.com team will check back in closer to gametime to give you an update on any pregame news or notes we come across in the coming moments. For now, check out the below links to get you ready for the game.
Seahawks Game Preview by vikings.com Writer Mike Wobschall
Vikings vs. Seahawks Press Release // 2 MB PDF
Latest Unofficial Vikings Depth Chart