4:24 p.m. – The Metrodome lights are slowing warming on as we’re just under three hours away from kickoff. The Minnesota Vikings Cheerleaders are on the field working with members of the Junior Cheerleaders in preparation for their halftime performance.
Stay tuned to the blog as we’ll have pregame notes, deactivations, and much more all throughout the night.
And as a note for you regulars, congrats to vikings.com Writer Mike Wobschall who is getting married tonight in Minneapolis. He’ll be back on the scene for the start of the regular season in Green Bay, so I’ll be filling in as best I can for the next two weeks.
5:01 p.m. – Both Vikings and Steelers fans are starting to file into the Dome. Given their vaunted history, it’s not a surprise that the Steelers have one of the strongest fan bases in the NFL and their fans always show up to support their team, whether they are playing in the Steel City or on the road.
In terms of the team on the field, the Steelers are 1-1 this preseason, with their most recent game resulting in a 24-21 loss at Buffalo. Much like the Vikings, the Steelers have been hit with the injury bug this preseason, having lost backup quarterback Charlie Batch for possibly the season. They inked former Jaguars quarterback Byron Leftwich to help backup Ben Roethlisberger. Another Pittsburgh QB to keep an eye on is rookie Dennis Dixon, who tore up the NCAA last season before suffering hurting his leg late in the season. He has looked good this preseason and will present a challenge to the Vikings defense given his ability to make things happen out of the pocket.
Fellow first-year player Rashard Mendenhall is battling with veteran Willie Parker, who is also coming off a leg injury. Mendenhall, a first round pick out of Illinois, scored a touchdown last week against the Bills and could push Parker for the starting job.
5:33 p.m. – There are nine other NFL preseason games tonight, including these notable matchups:
-NFC north rival Detroit is hosting Cleveland and are currently thumping the Browns by a 26-6 score.
-It’s a battle of New York (in New Jersey) as Brett Favre makes his second start for the Jets as they take on the Giants at the Meadowlands.
6:29 p.m. – We are now just over thirty minutes away from kickoff at the Dome, and both teams are on the field warming up. We should have word on tonight’s deactivations soon.
In the meantime, check out this link which talks about a new initiative that the Vikings are doing this year: Kickoff Week 2008. There will be several events all over the Twin Cities leading up to the opening game of the season at Green Bay, so make sure you come support the Purple at one (or more) of the gatherings.
6:37 p.m. – As promised, here are the inactives for tonight:
Sidney Rice – WR
Garrett Mills – TE
Brian Robison – DE
Tarvaris Jackson – QB
Bobby Wade will start in place of Rice.
6:41 p.m. – Per the Star Tribune, wide receiver Bernard Berrian, who is not on the ‘will not dress’ list, won’t play due to a toe injury. That means the team will be without its starting quarterback and both starting wideouts, which could lead to the first-team offense getting less time tonight and more time in Dallas next Thursday.
7:00 p.m. – The National Anthem is in the books and we’re ready to get underway. To follow up-to-the-minute stats, click here to visit NFL.com’s Game Center.
7:04 p.m. – The Vikings captains tonight were Adrian Peterson and E.J. Henderson. The Steelers called heads and loss the toss and elected to defer so Pittsburgh will get the ball to start the game.
7:14 p.m. – Ray Edwards was key in stopping Pittsburgh’s first drive: he tackled Willie Parker for a four-yard loss on second down and then got to Roethlisberger to force an incomplete pass on third down, forcing a punt.
The Vikings then took over after the punt on their own 16-yard-line, and didn’t do much, and they too were forced to punt on their first possession. Minnesota’s offense looked very out of sync, taking three false start penalties. Cleary not having Jackson, Rice, and Berrian in the mix is affecting them early.
7:24 p.m. – Pittsburgh tried a trick-play of sorts to start their second drive, and gained five yards on a direct snap to Parker who ran the ball up the middle.
Later on the drive, the Steelers came up one yard short on third down and quickly got up to the line to try and run a play to gain the first down as opposed to going for the field goal. That notion would backfire on them as the Vikings defense held strong on a Roethlisberger sneak attempt so Minnesota took over on their own 35-yard-line.
7:30 p.m. – The Vikings were again unable to get much going on offense. It appears as though their inability to stretch the field without Berrian or Rice on the field is really allowing the Steelers aggressive 3-4 defense to sit up close to the line of scrimmage and really clamp down on the run / short passes.
7:32 p.m. – Yet again, the Steelers started a drive with a direct snap to their running back, and again the Vikings were able to contain the play, as Darren Sharper tackled Parker for no gain. Pittsburgh managed to get one first down but that was it, and they punted it away to the Vikings late in the first quarter.
7:38 p.m. – Minnesota’s offense was against stifled and forced into a three-and-out. Pittsburgh takes over on their own 41-yard-line.
7:45 p.m. – The first real action of the game occurred thanks to Minnesota’s Kevin Williams, who chased down Mendenhall and forced a fumble that rookie safety Tyrell Johnson, starting in place of the injured Madieu Williams, recovered near midfield.
The Vikings offense took over and moved the chains for the first time on the night, thanks in large part to a 25-yard reception to close the first quarter by tight end Visanthe Shiancoe that brought the team down to the Pittsburgh three-yard-line. Peterson loss a few yards on an outside run on first down, but the team was able to gain those yards back as former U of M star Thomas Tapeh nearly caught his second touchdown of the preseason, but he was taken down by another former Golden Gopher, Tyrone Carter. Finally, on third down, Peterson leaped over the pile for his first score of the preseason to give Minnesota a 7-0 lead with 14:12 remaining in the second quarter.
7:55 p.m. – After Edwards and Kevin Williams combined on a sack of Roethlisberger on first down, Williams continued his strong game by sacking Big Ben on the next play resulting in a third and 25 for the Steelers. As you’d imagine, the Steelers simply ran the ball (ex-Viking Mewelde Moore got the carry) and were forced to punt on fourth down.
8:08 p.m. – Unfortunately for the Vikings, on the very next play, Gus Frerotte threw a interception on an out route as Pittsburgh’s Ike Taylor picked off the pass. Minnesota nearly forced a field goal attempt but Moore was able to wiggle free from a tackle and gain a first down to keep the drive going.
A Henderson personal foul penalty for facemasking extended the Steelers drive again, and after a Pittsburgh timeout, the Vikings ‘D’ held strong and held the Steelers to a field goal, making it a 7-3 advantage for Minnesota with 6:40 left in the second quarter.
8:15 p.m. – On a third-and-long, Frerotte did a great job of avoiding a Steelers blitz and connected with Aundrae Allison for a 13-yard completion, just enough for a first down to keep the drive alive. The third down magic would run out at least for this drive though, as Frerotte was sacked on the next third down situation, forcing another Vikings punt. Pittsburgh took over at their own 21-yard-line with 2:54 remaining in the half.
8:29 p.m. – Just prior to the two-minute warning, Pittsburgh tight end Heath Miller dropped a third down pass that would have resulted in a first down, forcing a punt.
Minnesota took over deep in its own end with all three timeouts remaining. A 13-yard pass to Martin Nance moved them chains for a first down, but a Matt Birk unnecessary roughness penalty on the next play negated that gain. Facing a first and 22, Minnesota elected to take a cautious approach, running the ball on the next two plays but then were able to gain a first down thanks to another Frerotte-to-Allison hook-up. However, Frerotte was then sacked to end the first half.
Injury Update: Vikings wide receiver Robert Ferguson injured his leg and his return is questionable.
So, at the half, the Vikings continue to lead by a 7-3 score.
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9:05 p.m. – The Vikings received the ball to start the second half, and the first team offense remained on the field to start the third quarter. Thanks in large part to a pass interference call on Pittsburgh, the Vikings were able to put together a solid drive, with the end result being a 37-yard field goal by Ryan Longwell, extending the Vikings lead to 10-3 with 10:06 left in the third quarter.
Minnesota’s top defensive unit did NOT come out to start the second half, but they showed by their first half performance they are ready to go for the regular season in holding Pittsburgh to three points, six first downs, and only 76 total yards.
As expected, Leftwich came in to start the second half and looked a little rusty, but that’s to be expected given his brief time in Pittsburgh.
Of note on Pittsburgh’s drive, Vikings cornerback Marcus McCauley made a great defensive play while covering Steelers wide receiver Willie Reid one-on-one on the outside. With a fourth-and-two situation at the 36-yard-line, the Steelers elected to go for it. After a timeout by Pittsburgh, the Black and Gold were able to pick up a first down to keep their drive going.
Another former Golden Gopher, running back Gary Russell, got into the game late in the third quarter and played well, but he might be a candidate to be cut in the coming days given the depth ahead of him at the position.
Minnesota’s defense was able to hold the Steelers to another field goal, so with 2:50 left in the third quarter, the score is now 10-6 Vikings.
9:28 p.m. – John David Booty is now in at quarterback for Minnesota. The former USC standout was able to complete a few short passes during his first possession at the helm, but the end result of the drive was a punt.
On the Steelers next drive, which brought us into the fourth quarter, Mendenhall was able to take advantage of the Vikings having their second-teamers in the game and run for some good gains.
The drive was extended thanks to a late hit on Leftwich by Minnesota rookie Letroy Guion.
Pittsburgh again went for it on a fourth-and-short situation, and this time they were able to get the first down on a pass to fullback Billy Latsko. With the ball now at the Minnesota 34, Mendenhall cranked off a 16-yard run for another first down. Minnesota’s Otis Grigsby, who has impressed this preseason, tackled Russell behind the line for an eight-yard loss on a great play.
In the end, Reed hit his third field goal of the night to close the gap to just a point, as the Vikings now lead 10-9 with 10:02 left in the fourth quarter.
9:45 p.m. – Midway through the fourth quarter, Booty and Co. took back over with a one point lead. Minnesota’s offense was unable to move the ball and was forced to punt it away with just over eight minutes left in the fourth quarter.
During a late drive with just over four minutes left, Mendenhall put a damper on his great night by fumbling the ball in Minnesota’s end thanks to a Erin Henderson hit, giving the Vikings a chance to run out the clock and win the game.
The Vikings blog is now going to head down and watch the rest of the game on the field to make getting to Head Coach Brad Childress’ post-game press conference an easier task. We’ll check back in after the press conference with some final thoughts on this evening’s game.
10:34 p.m. – Well, as you know by now, a late field goal by Jeff Reed, his fourth of the game, gave the Steelers a 12-10 win and dropped the Vikings to 1-2 in the preseason. They wrap things up at Dallas this Thursday.
Head coach Brad Childress seemed to be most concerned about the penalties on the night. As a team, the Vikings had 10, which was too many in his eyes. He also spoke of the fact that the offense was unable to get in a rhythm without Jackson, Berrian, and Rice in the lineup. He would not commit to any of those three being on the field come Thursday, but said that if they had to both Berrian and Jackson could have played in some capacity tonight but the team opted to play it safe.
All in all, the first team defense was really good tonight against a tough offense that has a good deal of weapons. Conversely, Pittsburgh’s defense stifled Minnesota’s offense, but the Vikings were obviously not at 100 percent.
So, the team heads to Dallas on Wednesday in preparation for their game the next day. Childress said the main goal of this game would be to evaluate players who may or may not be cut in the coming weeks, so while it might not be the most glamourous of things in the world of the NFL, several backup jobs are likely on the line in the “Big D” come Thursday.