News

Print
RSS

Vikings Use 14-Point 4th Quarter To Top Seahawks 24-13

Posted Aug 28, 2010

After dominating the 1st half but entering the locker room tied at 10 and then falling behind in the 3rd quarter, the Vikings pulled out a 24-13 come-from-behind victory over the Seattle Seahawks at Mall of America Field on Saturday night to improve their preseason record to 2-1.

In his first extended action of the preseason and first appearance at Mall of America Field since the Divisional round win over the Dallas Cowboys, QB Brett Favre had his share of ups and downs with the 1st team offense. Favre was 16 of 26 for 187 yards – satisfactory numbers at this stage in the preseason – but he also had a pair of INTs, one of which was a tipped pass.

Favre and the Vikings 1st team offense racked up 223 yards of offense in the opening 2 quarters and looked especially sharp on 3rd downs, where they converted 4 of 7 opportunities. But inconsistent protection, penalties and turnovers compromised scoring opportunities and as a result the Vikings went into halftime knotted up in a 10-10 tie. Favre and the 1st teamers played 2 series in the 3rd quarter, the first of which ended in an INT and the second was a 3-and-out.

RB Adrian Peterson was the 1st team offense’s star, rushing for 37 yards and 1 TD on 11 carries and also adding 2 receptions for 36 yards. Peterson’s TD was a 24-yard dash where he hurdled some defenders and danced around others on his way to the goal line. That score knotted the game at 7 early in the 2nd quarter and came immediately after Darius Reynaud ripped off a 73-yard kickoff return.

Other offensive standouts for the Vikings 1st team included newly-acquired WR Greg Camarillo, who had a pair of catches for 34 yards, and also OL Anthony Herrera, who got the start at C. The offensive line played well with Herrera at C and saw a dropoff when he moved back to his regular position of RG and reserve C Jon Cooper entered the game. Percy Harvin also saw some time on the field and had 2 catches for 30 yards, an encouraging site for the Vikings after the 2nd-year WR has missed significant time with his migraine condition.

The Vikings 1st team defense was sharp and dominant, holding Seattle's 1st team offense to just 98 net yards of offense in the 1st half and 6 points through 2 quarters (Seattle’s 2nd quarter TD came off a tipped pass that was intercepted and returned 86 yards for a TD by rookie S Earl Thomas). CB Antoine Winfield led the Vikings 1st teamers with 6 tackles, which included a play near Seattle’s goal line where he upended TE Anthony McCoy in his trademarked-fashion, and DE Ray Edwards registered a sack.

Seattle turned Favre’s early 3rd quarter INT into a FG, which gave them a 13-10 lead. There was no other scoring in 3rd quarter as both teams took their 1st teamers out of the game.

The Vikings offense opened up a bit in the 4th quarter, with both Sage Rosenfels and Joe Webb leading scoring drives. Rosenfels capped his drive by lofting a pass to Javon Walker in the endzone. Walker, acquired earlier in the week, made an acrobatic catch over 2 defenders for the score, giving the Vikings a 17-13 lead after the Ryan Longwell PAT.

On the Vikings next possession, Webb entered the game and capped his drive by hitting fellow rookie Ryan D'Imperio. The fullback bullied his way into the endzone for a 7-yard score that gave the Vikings a 24-13 lead.

Rosenfels finished going 5 of 6 for 71 yards and the TD to Walker. Webb was 1 of 1 for 7 yards and the scoring toss to D’Imperio. Rookie RB Toby Gerhart made a mark on the box score with 30 yards rushing on 7 carries. Camarillo finished as the Vikings leading receiver, tallying 4 receptions for 47 yards.

The Vikings dominated Seattle in nearly every major statistical category, including time of possession (37:08 to 22:52), total net yards (358 to 286), 1st downs (21 to 13) and 3rd down efficiency (8 of 16 to 2 of 15).

The win moves the Vikings preseason record to 2-1 and sets them up for their preseason finale against the Denver Broncos at home on Thursday evening.

Latest Videos

Latest Audio

More Vikings News