Rams 13
Vikings 10
After a couple of high scoring significant games against the Rams in the late 90s including the ridiculous blow-out loss to the Greatest Show on Turf in '99 and some dreary games since, I eventually concluded the only way to enjoy the Rams was with green beans and mint jelly. I thought tonight's game was a frustrating debacle that would never end, mainly because I forgot how many TV time-outs there are in football and how rough it is to sit in a seat designed for a Chinese contortionist (thank you so much 1979 legislature for packing three tenants into the most cramped fire trap you could slap together on the cheap). By the third quarter my back and knees are so sore I can't stand up to let them by without grabbing the seat behind me for support and grimacing, although for the first time I actually got some guilty looks from the be-seens who go on walkabout every ten minutes for more lite beer and prawn sandwiches. By the way, if you're one of those people who gets up on 3rd and 4 in the red zone, or on a 3-2 pitch with 2 outs and two runners on, everybody notices and comments on it loudly to their neighbor as soon as you leave. Don't be that guy, or his high maintenance girlfriend.
Anyways, there were some positives early, which is all that counts in the first preseason game. Troy Williamson was a midget with small hands, bad eyesight, and amazing but useless speed that made him stand out as some sort of cruel joke as the replacement for Randy Moss, but a trip to the ophthalmologist seems to have paid off, and he came up with a couple of very nice catches in traffic for first downs. The receivers and the passing game in general looked like a huge improvement on last year, as the Tardis actually completed some passes in addition to showing off his mobility on a nice scamper for a first down. The linebackers seemed much better positioned to make use of their athleticism, notably Donterrious Thomas returning an interception well over 60 yards for a touchdown. The receivers and linebackers were major concerns, so this was quite welcome. Top draft pick Adrian Peterson looked good catching balls out of the backfield, and showed a lot of spirit hitting the hole quick and dragging defenders with him over the first down marker. The problem is the running game still looked pretty dire: Peterson was sent right up the middle into a brick wall when the line couldn't open holes for him, and the Vikings ran a lot last year for little gain in a losing season. The linebackers and the secondary may be ball-hawks, but the pass rush was weak, and a critical element of the Tampa-2 defense the Vikings are so enamored with is pressure from the front four. Ryan Longwell can't kick off, and he couldn't hit a 41-yard field goal either, which makes me wonder if by the time the team is straightened out he'll be washed up. The team's total offensive output was 3 points, and only Thomas' touchdown gave them a shot at winning at home. I'm remaining positive, mainly because after a long absence the ice cream stands at the Dome are serving walk-away sundaes again.
Frankly I'm all for the commissioner's proposal to eliminate two of the exhibition games and have an international week in the regular season. Meaningful games on neutral fields all over the world... well, mainly in Germany I suppose. And happy birthday to Dru Berrymore, wherever you are.
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