Vikings 29 - 22 Raiders

Coming off a horrid game in Green Bay in which they seemed not just over-matched but completely unprepared, the Vikings turned the ball over six times today.  I have to believe that against anybody but Chokeland, that would have been enough to ensure a loss, so I cannot express the relief I felt when they pulled off a win.  The Vikings started the game in style, on the first play of the game lining up with an empty backfield, running an end-around and then a reverse to Sidney Rice, who then threw a 79-yard pass to Visanthe Shiancoe.  On the next play, Chester Taylor powered the last ten yards into the end zone, and the Vikings were off to a great start.  Then they decided to make things fair by spotting the Raiders the ball a few times... six turnovers in all, which along with Sebastian Janikowski's powerful leg kept the Raiders in it.  With less than two minutes to go, Chad Greenway iced the game with an interception in Raiders territory, but instead of staying down and letting his team run the clock out, he tried to run with it, and promptly coughed the ball back up.  Fortunately Darren Sharper came up with the last second pass deflection to keep the game from going into overtime, but it never should have been that close.  I was impressed and amused with Sidney Rice on the receiver option, throwing the 79-yard pass to Shiancoe, and later getting himself out of trouble and still getting off a 15 yard pass to Troy Williamson... what's even more amazing his Williamson got his googly eyes and small hands going the same direction and caught it (actually that was a really nice catch).

Next week the New York Giants, who always come to town and derail the Vikings when they're on a roll, and lose in bizarre fashion to struggling Vikings teams in New York... the 5-0 '97 Vikings lost to New York and finished 9-7, squeaking into the play-offs where they came up with the most improbable last minute victory imaginable... at Giants Stadium.  Then there was that 24-21 win with 3 points on offense... I predict Eli Manning will be crying into his mother's apron by halftime.