NFL 2008 RSS
On defense, the Vikings are the best against the rush this season.
The Minnesota Vikings defense has allowed only 71.2 rushing yards per game this season. But they will be put to the
test by the NFL's best rushing attack (148.7 yards per game) led by league's second best rusher, Michael Turner
(1,421 yards). Turner leads the NFL with 15 rushing touchdowns this season.
Michael Turner, La Dainian Tomlinson's former under-study, was recently selected to the 2009 Pro Bowl as well.
Atlanta Falcons (9-5) at Minnesota Vikings (9-5)
Sunday, FOX, 4:15 PM ET
The Falcons (9-5) are currently the 7th seed in the NFC. Ahead of the Falcons in Wildcard spots are the
Dallas Cowboys (9-5) and their NFC South rival the Tampa Buccaneers (9-5). The Eagles (8-5-1), Bears (8-6)
and Redskins (7-7) currently trail Atlanta.
A Falcons win coupled with the right combination of losses amongst the Bucs, Cowboys, Eagles and/or Bears
ensures a trip to the NFC playoffs for Atlanta..
For the Vikings (9-5) their path to the playoffs is much easier. "The playoffs are right there for the taking,"
according to Minnesota Tight End Visanthe Shiancoe. "It's in our control." And he's right, for the Vikings the
objective is easy, win this week and win the NFC North. A win would mean the Minnesota Vikings first division title
since 2000.
The Vikings can still lose this game and win the NFC North as long as the Bears (8-6) also lose.
Vikings - Falcons Series
The Falcons and Vikings meet for the third time in four seasons. The Minnesota Vikings hold a 15-8 advantage in
the overall series and are 9-2 against the Falcons in Minneapolis.
The Vikings defeated the Falcons in Minneapolis in the 2007 season opener, 24-3. In that game, Minnesota rookie
running back Adrian Peterson ran for 103 yards and scored a touchdown on a 60-yard screen pass. Tarvaris Jackson
completed 13 of 23 passes for 163 yards. Defensively, the Vikings were led by DT Kevin Williams, who returned
an interception 54 yards for a touchdown.
The Falcons defense played well, holding the Vikings offense scoreless in the first half. But the Falcons
offense were forced into poor field position throughout the game. The Falcons average starting field position
was at their own 22 and just four times did the Falcons manage to penetrate Vikings territory.
NFL 2008 Week 15: Minnesota Vikings 35, Arizona Cardinals 14
Last week the Minnesota Vikings went on the road and defeated the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals
35-14. The Vikings put together a complete performance, scoring 4 times on offense and once on special teams while
only allowing one touchdown defensively. With the win the Vikings remained one game ahead of the
Chicago Bears in the NFC North.
The Vikings tallied 396 yards on offense, including 239 yards rushing and controlled the ball for 34.5 minutes.
Adrian Peterson rushed for 165 rushing yards while quarterback Tarvaris Jackson threw four touchdowns passes in
placed of injured quarterback Gus Frerotte. On the day, Jackson was 11 of 17 for 163 yards and a passer rating of 135.5.
Adrian Peterson compiled the 165 rushing yards on 28 carries for a 5.9 yard average. He continues to lead the NFL
in rushing and total scrimmage yards.
The Vikings defense limited the NFL's best scoring offense to 7 points and just 43 yards on the ground. The Vikings
sacked Cardinals QB Kurt Warner 4 times and hurried him 27 more times, knocking him down on 17 occasions.
NFL 2008 Week 15: Atlanta Falcons 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (Overtime)
Last Sunday, the Falcons improved their record to 9-5 and (6-1 at home) after defeating the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
in overtime, 13-10.
Kicker Jason Elam provided the vicotry on a 34-yard field goal on the Falcons first possession in the overetime.
It was Elam's second game-winning field goal this season.
Michael Turner rushed for 152 yards on 32 carries and scored his 15th rushing touchdown of the year. Defensive end
John Abraham contributed his third three-sack game of the season. Abraham has 15.5 sacks this year.
Rookie Quarterback Matt Ryan completed 15 of 23 passes for 206 yards and his seventh consecutive
game in which Ryan completed 60 percent of his passes.
ATLANTA FALCONS (9-5)
The Falcons are 6-0 when rookie QB MATT RYAN has 100.0 plus rating. Ryan and Falcons are 6-2 playing in domes this season. In dome games, Matt Ryan has completed 135 of 200 (67.5 pct.) for 1,932 yards with 6 TDs vs. 4 interceptions for
100.3 passer rating RB MICHAEL TURNER ranks 2nd in NFL with 1,421 rush yards, leads league with franchise-record 15 rush TDs and was recently named
to the NFC Pro Bowl squad. Turner had 152 yards & one touchdown last week in the Falcons' 13-10 overtime win over the Bucs.
Turner has 9 rushing TDs over the past 6 games. When Turner has 8+ carries, his teams are 20-5 (.800). WR RODDY WHITE has 76 catches for 1,197 yards (99.8 per game) & 6 TDs in past 12, including 7 100-yard games. Roddy
White, a first-time Pro Bowl selection, leads the NFC with 1,310 receiving yards & needs 49 yards to set team single-season
record (1,358, ALFRED JENKINS, 1981) RB JERIOUS NORWOOD has 6 career TDs & 4 have been 67+ yards DE JOHN ABRAHAM had 3.0 sacks last week, his 3rd 3-sack game of season and has 25.5 sacks in past 29. Abraham has
83.0 sacks since 2000, 3rd most in NFL. LB KEITH BROOKING had sack & interception vs.
the Vikings in 10/2/05 meeting. CB DOMONIQUE FOXWORTH had interception last week
MINNESOTA VIKINGS (9-5)
The Vikings placed 6 players on NFC Pro Bowl Squad. Vikings tied with Giants for most players on this year's All-Star roster. RB ADRIAN PETERSON made NFL debut vs. the Atlanta Falcons last season
& had 103 rushing yards plus a 60-yard TD reception. Peterson has 1,129 rush yards (125.4 per game) & 6 TDs in past 9, including
7 100-yard games. Since entering NFL in 2007, averages 104.4 rush yards per game, most in NFL RB CHESTER TAYLOR aims for 5th in row with TD Including playoffs, WR BERNARD BERRIAN has 21 TD catches & 15 have been 30+ yards, including 41-yard TD last week. Also had 82-yard PR-TD last week. WR BOBBY WADE had career-long 59-yard TD last week Rush defense leads NFL (71.2 yards per game). DE JARED ALLEN has 57.5 sacks since 2004, most in NFL. Has 12.5 sacks in past 9. Aims for 4th in row with 2.0+ sacks. Had 2.0 sacks in only game vs. the Atlanta Falcons (10/24/04 with the Chiefs). CB ANTOINE WINFIELD had 14-yard INT-TD in last meeting. DT KEVIN WILLIAMS had 54-yard INT-TD in last meeting. S DARREN SHARPER has 49 interceptions since 2000, most in NFL.
Vikings QB TARVARIS JACKSON won only start vs. the Atlanta Falcons & had 60-yard TD. Had career-high 4 TD passes last week. QB
GUS FREROTTE has won 8 of 11 starts this season
PREDICTION: Minnesota Vikings 31 Atlanta Falcons 14
The Vikings sport a 5-1 record at home this season and have won 4 consecutive games (8 of their last 10).
Meanwhile, the Falcons are 3-4 on the road with victories over the Raiders (24-0), Chargers (22-16) and Packers (27-24).
The Falcons road losses are even more telling. The Falcons have been outscored 104-57 in their 4 road losses to the Bucs
(24-9), Panthers (24-9), Eagles (27-14) and Saints (29-25).
In other words, on the road the Falcons are not that good against playoff caliber opponents.
The Vikings are a playoff-caliber team and even though they have the share the same record,
the Vikings have faced much stiffer competition this season.
RELATED NFL 2008 Week 16
|
NFL Week 16: Two Weeks Left in an Extraordinary NFL 2008 Regular Season
With 2 weeks left in the regular season NFL teams find themselves in must-win situations. For the NFC & AFC Top seeds, it's about home-field advantage throughout the playoffs.
For the other teams still in the playoff hunt, it's a matter of survival and about punching their ticket for the
playoffs. As such, the goal is simple: keep winning, control your own playoff destiny and hope not to have to rely
on other teams losing.
Thursday Night Battle Between Colts & Jags Still Meaningful
The Jaguars (5-9) host the hottest team in the NFL. After their mediocre 3-4 start to the season, the Colts have
won seven in a row to improve their record to 10-4.
Ravens vs. Cowboys: Identical Records & Playoff Aspirations
The game features a matchup of teams with identical 9-5 records fighting for a Wildcard playoff berth in their
respective conferences. The Ravens come off a deflating 13-9 loss to the Steelers while the Cowboys head into the
game after a convincing 20-8 victory against the New York Giants.
NFC Leaders Battle It Our for Home Field Supremacy
The NFC's top playoff seed is at stake this Sunday night when the Carolina Panthers visit the New York Giants. The
Giants and Panthers have identical 11-3 records, but appear to be going in different directions.
The Battle for the AFC King of the Hill
The top two seeds in the AFC meet this Sunday, as the AFC South Champion Tennessee Titans (12-2) host the
AFC North Champion Pittsburgh Steelers (11-3). While both teams have clinched a first-round playoffs bye,
this Sunday game will likely determine which team gains homefield advantage in the AFC.
4th Time Better Be the Charm for the Jets Out West
The Jets head to the west coast for the 4th time this season to face the Seahawks in Mike Holmgren's last home
game as Seattle's head coach. With the Dolphins and Patriots also sporting 9-5 records, this week's matchup
is significant. The Jets cannot afford to look ahead to the season finale against the Dolphins.
Eagles Aim for 4th in a Row at Redskins Expense
The Eagles look to win their fourth straight game as they travel to Washington to take on the Redskins.
The Washington Redskins (7-7) downward spiral continued last week in Cincinnati as Washington suffered
its third straight loss and defeats in five of their last six games.
NFL 2008 Playoffs & Playoff Scenarios
Heading into NFL 2008 Week 16, the AFC playoff scenario is down to 6 teams fighting for 4 spots. While in the
NFC 8 teams are vying for 4 spots. A look at the playoff races and playoff scenarios.
SHARE
NFL 2008 WEEK 16 RESULTS – DECEMBER 18, 20-22
(All times local)
Indianapolis Colts at Jacksonville Jaguars, 8:00 PM (NFLN - Thursday, December 18)
Baltimore Ravens at Dallas Cowboys, 7:00 PM (NFLN - Saturday, December 20)
San Diego Chargers at Tampa Bay Buccaneers, 1:00 PM
Pittsburgh Steelers at Tennessee Titans, 12:00 PM
Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos, 2:05 PM
Houston Texans at Oakland Raiders, 1:05 PM
N.Y. Jets at Seattle Seahawks, 1:05 PM
Atlanta Falcons at Minnesota Vikings, 4:15 PM
Cincinnati Bengals at Cleveland Browns, 1:00 PM
Philadelphia Eagles at Washington Redksins, 4:15 PM
New Orleans Saints at Detroit Lions, 1:00 PM
Miami Dolphins at Kansas City Chiefs, 12:00 PM
Arizona Cardinals at New England Patriots, 1:00 PM
San Francisco 49ers at St. Louis Rams, 12:00 PM
Carolina Panthers at N.Y. Giants, 8:15 PM (NBC)
Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, 7:30 PM (ESPN - Monday, December 22)
NFL 2008 WEEK 15 RESULTS – DECEMBER 11, 14-15
(Home Team in Caps)
CHICAGO BEARS 27, New Orleans Saints 24 (OT)
N.Y. JETS 31, Buffalo Bills 27
Seattle Seahawks 23, ST. LOUIS RAMS 20
Minnesota Vikings 35, ARIZONA CARDINALS 14
ATLANTA FALCONS 13, Tampa Bay Buccaneers 10 (OT)
Pittsburgh Steelers 13, BALTIMORE RAVENS 9
CINCINNATI BENGALS 20, Washington Redskins 13
CAROLINA PANTHERS 30, Denver Broncos 10
HOUSTON TEXANS 13, Tennessee Titans 12
New England Patriots 49, OAKLAND RAIDERS 26
INDIANAPOLIS COLTS 31, Detroit Lions 21
DALLAS COWBOYS 20, N.Y. Giants 8
JACKSONVILLE JAGUARS 20, Green Bay Packers 16
San Diego Chargers 22, KANSAS CITY CHIEFS 21
MIAMI DOLPHINS 14, San Francisco 49ers 9
PHILADELPHIA EAGLES 30, Cleveland Browns 10
NFL 2008 WEEK 14 RESULTS - DECEMBER 4, 7 - 8
(Home team in CAPS)
SAN DIEGO 34, Oakland 7
Miami 16, BUFFALO 3 (Toronto)
DENVER 24, Kansas City 17
SAN FRANCISCO 24, N.Y. Jets 14
CHICAGO 23, Jacksonville 10
New England 24, SEATTLE 21
Minnesota 20, DETROIT 16
ARIZONA 34, St. Louis 10
Houston 24, GREEN BAY 21
PITTSBURGH 20, Dallas 13
INDIANAPOLIS 35, Cincinnati 3
BALTIMORE 24, Washington 10
NEW ORLEANS 29, Atlanta 25
Philadelphia 20, N.Y. GIANTS 14
TENNESSEE 28, Cleveland 9
CAROLINA 38, Tampa Bay 23
|
|
