My First Playoff Game

This afternoon I went to my first playoff game, which was the Vikings vs. the Eagles. Overall it was an all right game, but the Vikings have many many things to improve. That just goes to show why the Eagles came out on top 26-14.

In the first half the Vikings looked very sharp and they were beginning to change my first prediction on the game that the Eagles would have a definite and decisive win. Adrian Peterson scored two rushing touchdowns and our defense was hot and shutting them down left and right.

Second half. What happened? There was a complete turnaround of the Vikings team. The offense was generating no yards at all and so the only way we could compete is if our defense picked up a fumble and ran it back to score. That does happen, but playing against running back Brian Westbrook who is guaranteed to get a break away for a score even on the best defenses, you just can't compete on that alone.

A few things the Vikings can do to prepare for next year is work on their special teams. Find one person that runs the ball back for you everytime instead of having a goofy non-set rotation. Get a new quarterback. Obviously Tavaris Jackson isn't quite cutting it for us. We need to find someone who is comfortable throwing the ball and doesn't want to scramble and run everytime, and we need to get someone who can be the leader of the team. The offensive line. Right tackle Ryan Cook hasn't been able to become a solid lineman after being on the team for four seaons. If it hasn't happened now, it probably won't happen. We also need to focus our team around the great tandem of Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor, probably the two best backs this franchise has seen ever. If they can capitalize on this the Vikings will be a major playoff force in years to come.