October 25, 2012 The Vikings put their 5-2 record on the line when they host Tampa Bay at 7:20 tonight, pregame on WJON at 6:00. The Buccaneers are 2-4 and are coming off a loss at home against New Orleans. Minnesota won at home against Arizona 21-14 on Sunday. Minnesota is relatively healthy for tonight's game with just 2 players not expected to play because of injury.
Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Minnesota Vikings — 8:20 P.M.
Mall of America Field, Minneapolis
Tampa Bay (2-4) quarterback Josh Freeman is the 11th-rated passer in the NFL. He'll have to contend with a Vikings' defense that is tied for third in the league with 22 sacks. With quarterback Christian Ponder committing seven turnovers in his past three starts, Minnesota (5-2) may rely on running back Adrian Peterson. Peterson's 652 rushing yards are tied for third in the NFL. He'll face a Buccaneers' run defense that ranks third in the league, allowing just 76 yards per game on the ground.
October 24, 2012 The Vikings had a few players miss practice Tuesday in preparation for their game Thursday night at home against Tampa Bay. Tight end John Carlson (concussion) and running back Adrian Peterson (ankle) missed practice. Carlson isn't expected to play Thursday night while Peterson sat for precautionary reasons.
Brian Urlacher and D.J. Moore each collected turnovers to stifle potential second-half touchdown drives, and the Chicago Bears beat the Detroit Lions, 13-7, in Chicago on Monday night. It was the fourth straight win for Chicago (5-1).
The Bears led 13-0 when the Lions threatened in the third quarter, advancing the ball to the 1-yard line before Urlacher recovered a fumble by Joique Bell of Detroit (2-4). Quarterback Matthew Stafford drove the Lions back into the red zone three possessions later, only to have Moore intercept his pass from the 3-yard-line.
October 22, 2012 The Vikings won 21-14 at home against Arizona Sunday afternoon to improve to 5-2. Adrian Peterson ran for 153 yards on 23 carries and 1 touchdown. Peterson tied Robert Smith with his 29th career 100-yard rushing game. Percy Harvin had 2 carries for 10 yards and 3 catches for 37 yards and 1 touchdown. Christian Ponder was 8-17 passing for 58 yards and 1 touchdown with 2 interceptions for Minnesota. Harrison Smith capped the Viking scoring with a 31-yard interception return touchdown.
N.Y. Giants 27 — Washington 23
Eli Manning threw a 77-yard touchdown pass to Victor Cruz with 1:13 left, and the New York Giants beat the Washington Redskins, 27-23, in East Rutherford, N.J. on Sunday. Cruz's score came just 19 seconds after rookie quarterback Robert Griffin III had given Washington (3-4) the lead via a 30-yard TD pass to Santana Moss. Griffin had a final chance for another rally, but Moss fumbled the ball away with 39 seconds to play as the Redskins were driving on New York (5-2).
October 19, 2012 The Vikings have given running back Adrian Peterson and defensive end Jared Allen a break this week. Both missed practice Thursday for precautionary reasons. Peterson has a sprained left ankle and Allen has been bothered by a groin injury. Both are expected to play Sunday when the Vikings host Arizona at noon, pregame on WJON at 11am.
Frank Gore ran for 131 yards and Alex Smith threw a 12-yard touchdown pass to Delanie Walker to secure the win, as the San Francisco 49ers beat the Seattle Seahawks, 13-6, at Candlestick Park on Thursday.
San Francisco (5-2) held the Seahawks to 251 yards of total offense on its way to claiming first place in the NFC West. Down 6-3 at the half, the 49ers scored all of the second half points while stiffening on defense.
Seattle Seahawks at San Francisco 49ers — 8:20 P.M.
Candlestick Park, San Francisco
Despite having the NFC's second-worst offense, Seattle (4-2) has found a way to win close games behind rookie quarterback Russell Wilson. Seahawks' running back Marshawn Lynch, the NFC's top rusher, will need to gain ground against a 49ers' defense that allows 275.8 yards per game, the fewest in the league. Quarterback Alex Smith had a dreadful game for San Francisco (4-2) in last week's loss to the Giants. The Seahawks, who have the league's fourth-ranked defense, will look to cause more trouble for Smith via the pass rush, especially with left tackle Joe Staley likely out with a concussion.
October 16, 2012 The Vikings face the 4-2 Arizona Cardinals on Sunday the Cardinals will play without quarterback Kevin Kolb. ESPN's Kevin Siefert is reporting that Kolb is expected to be out several weeks after he had multiple ribs detach from his sternum as well as suffering a sprained sternoclavicular joint in his chest area against the Bills this past Sunday, according to a team source. Kolb began the season as the backup to John Skelton but Skelton was injured in the first game and Kolb has been the quarterback for the Cardinals ever since.
