Mid Week Statistical Analysis Of Green Bay Packers @ Minnesota Vikings (hence the picture)

 First Of All:  The Past Is The Past.  Anybody who follows the Vikings already knows that the Vikes are 0-5 in their last five meetings with the Pack.  If you want a excellent run down of what went wrong in those last five meetings check this out.  I am not worried about yesterday, only worried about Sunday.  Today I am only looking at 2008 stats, I know they have played one game already but I want to compare league rankings and stats.  Then hopefully we can make a scientific decision on Sunday’s huge match up, with a little help from our friend above.  Shall we call him Aaron? OK we will. 

 Stat:                                   Vikings        Packers               Advantage

Record:                                 4-4               4-4                  Even

Div. Record:                          1-2               2-0                  Packers

Pts For:                                 182               210                  Packers

Pts Against:                          188               178                  Packers

Streak:                                  Won 1           Lost 1               Vikings

Total Offense Rank:               13                14                    Vikings

Total Defense Rank:              11               20                     Vikings

Offense Passing Rank:            17               9                       Packers

Defense Passing Rank:          23                5                      Packers

Offense Rushing Rank:           6                  21                    Vikings

Defense Rushing Rank:           2                 27                    Vikings

 Starting QB Rating:                22                5                      Packers

Home/Road Records:         (H) 3-1        (A) 2-2                  Vikings

3rd Down Conversions:        34.2%           44.1%                 Packers         

Opponent 3rd Down Conv.:  35.6%           38.7%                 Vikings

Tally this all up and the score is Vikings 7- Packers 7.  That was alot of work for nothing right?  Well we all know that there is alot more to a game than statistics.  For instance, injuries and potential suspensions can and will play a big part in this game.  All we can do is hope that the Williams(s) suspensions (if they happen <<being optimistic), won’t happen until after this packers game.  The whole Jared Allen thing, well its way too early in the week to know anything.  My gut feeling on Allen is that he will want to play, but the team won’t want to risk further injury.  Even though the odds are stacked against them, I think the vikings can win the game for the following reasons:

1.)  The Vikings are at home.  They will play better and with more confidence at home.

2.)  Adrian Peterson.  If he has a big day, and it looks like he could considering the Packers tend to give up a lot of yards on the ground, he will run all over the Pack.

3.)  The Vikings secondary must have a big game.  It is no secret that the Packers will go to the air and this would be a perfect time for Sharper to get his first INT of the year.  This is not a new idea, there are several people calling this already.

Well thats about it for tonight.  I’ll try to give you three reasons the Packers will win tomorrow, even though I don’t want to.  But hey we have to explore all the possibilities.  Meanwhile, lets hope Jared Allen’s shoulder magically heals and Marty and Doc take the Williams(s) back in time in (a rather large) Delorean to fix this whole steroid / supplement thing.  Without further ado, your daily anti-packer sentiment:

Great game on Sunday.  Madieu Williams did a great job in his first regular season action in purple.  His interception in the end zone was crucial and his eight tackles made for a real nice debut.  I can only think that as he gets up to “game speed” that he will only get better.  Bernard Berrian continues to emerge as a deep threat for the passing game.  AP got it going in the third quarter (there was never a doubt in my mind that he wouldn’t) and the special teams turned in a great game.  The defense, man what is there to say…Jared Allen is a ANIMAL.  The last sack he got was just amazing.  That being said it doesn’t look too good as for Allen’s upcoming game on Sunday.  The game this Sunday is huge (I don’t have to tell you that) and without Allen, the prospect of the Vikes winning is decreased greatly.  By mid week I should have a detailed analysis of the game on Sunday against the Packers up for you to check out.  I also plan to get some anti packer stuff going this week starting with the Packer Fan Applicationthat I stole from Purple-Pride.com.  I ran the Tecmo Bowl predictor over the weekend and that page is up and running, check it out to see how the Tecmo Vikings are doing so far compared to our real life Minnesota Vikings.  On Friday I will unveil my Tecmo Prediction against the Packs for the weekend.

I have always searched for a unbiased method of predicting who wins the football game and the score.  Well the best thing I could find was letting Tecmo Bowl play it out on computer vs. computer.  I am not sure I like the outcome.  Granted I had to sub in the Houston Oilers for the Houston Texans, but hey we had Herschel Walker charging for 56 yards.  Watching the non stop action I couldn’t help but wonder how Brad Childress somehow found a way to coach the Tecmo Vikings.  Special teams again were an issue with two missed field goals, and Childress’s non stop use of the flea flicker was not confusing the tough Houston D.  Oh well lets hope for a better turn out this Sunday.  I’ll be keeping a separate page for Tecmo outcomes vs. Actual Vikings outcomes for the rest of the year (I may even go back and replay the previous match ups on Tecmo if I get bored enough) to see how things shake out.  Hopefully Wade Wilson and Anthony Carter will pick it up a little bit.

Houston @ Minnesota:

Well folks this could be a close one.  Danny Sheridan’s odds have the Vikings a 4.5 point favorite over Houston with a total of 47 points scored.  Assuming that 3 of those points are due to the fact that Minnesota is the home team, that is not much of a lock.  The Vikings have to keep Houston receiver Andre Johnson quite on Sunday.  Johnson has had 130+ yards in each of his last four games.  This will be a big test for the first game action Madieu Williams  will see in a purple uniform.    The one and only other time these two teams have matched up was on Oct. 10, 2004 when the Vikings won in overtime 34-28.  Minnesota is outnumbered in alot of the statistical categories against Houston, but Houston does give up a average of 119 rushing yards per game and that bodes well for Adrian Peterson.  We know the Vikes can stop the run, it is the passing game of Houston they must contain on Sunday in order to win.  If they can’t contain the Texans passing game then they must at least keep up with it by continuing their offensive such that came from somewhere in the Chicago game.  I think the Vikes will win especially if they can keep the ball out of the Houston offense’s hands by pounding the ball with Adrian and controlling the clock.  ATP Prediciton: 24-17 Vikings Win!

Weekend Menu:

11:00AM ET – (FSN) Vikings Gameplan

11:30AM ET – (FSN) Vikings Weekly

1:00PM ET – (CBS) Houston Texans @ Minnesota Vikings (See the fancy map below to find out if the game will be on your TV)

Well thats about it for today.  Let hope the next post involves discusion about the 4-4 Minnesota Vikings!  I’ll see if I can get the Tecmo vs. Actual season page up and running over the weekend.  I will try and keep adding interesting things to the sidebar, any suggestions would be great! Have a good weekend. ATP