National Football League

Minnesota Vikings: Purple Pride Ponderings week 1 vs Titans

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 2:40 p.m. ET

share

facebookxredditlink

foxsports

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Tennessee Titans 25-10 during week 1 of the NFL season, but what kind of Purple Pride Ponderings remain?

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; General view of the coin toss before the game between the Minnesota Vikings and Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

The Minnesota Vikings went into the 2016 campaign with high hopes. A brand new stadium, top-tier defense, and young quarterback on the rise. Then the worst possible scenario happened just a couple of weeks before week one. Teddy went down with a horrific, non-contact knee injury which left teammates and the Purple faithful feeling sick. Not only were we expecting big things out of Teddy this year, we all feel a connection with the always smiling, caring leader of this team.

Not content to just mail in the season, the Vikings front office worked some quick magic to try to salvage the season. The big trade with the Eagles for Sam Bradford made a big splash around the NFL world, particularly for what the Vikings gave up to get him.

At first glance it seemed like too much. But after further review and realizing just how creative Spielman can be with the additional mid-round picks the Vikings have, all is not lost. Sure Hill started against the Titans, but Bradford will be the one to lead this team into the playoffs if the Vikings want any postseason glory.

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Shaun Hill (13) passes the ball with defensive pressure from Tennessee Titans linebacker Wesley Woodyard (59) during the second half at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Christopher Hanewinckel-USA TODAY Sports

Serviceable Hill

Coach Zimmer did his best to keep the Titans guessing whether it would be Hill or Bradford starting at quarterback. I don’t think anyone was surprised to see Hill get the start in the one. Bradford is still getting familiar with not only the playbook, but his receivers as well.

Hill went 18 of 33 for 236 yards and no touchdowns. The Vikings needed at minimum, a game manager type of performance from Hill and they got exactly that. While he didn’t turn the ball over, it’s clear that his arm is just not one that will send fear into opposing secondaries. Hill had Diggs wide open in the first half for what surely would have been a touchdown. It was a bad throw that I’m sure Bradford hits with ease.

The Titans secondary is weak but that still did not detract them from stacking the box to stop Peterson. There isn’t a defense in the league that will be worried about Hill beating them. Peterson’s bad day was a clear reflection of this. Once Bradford is behind center, defensive coordinators will be a bit more hesitant to put all the focus on stopping the run. This is best offense Bradford will have played for and Bradford might be the best down-the-field QB the Vikings have had since Favre.

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Stefon Diggs (14) carries the ball against the Tennessee Titans during the first quarter at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean-USA TODAY Sports

Wide Receiver Depth?

During the draft, the Vikings went after what was clearly a need when they took Treadwell in the first round. Since then though, the Vikings receiving corps appears to have flourished out of nowhere. Treadwell never got off the bench and Jarius Wright was inactive for this game.

The biggest and most pleasant surprise thus far has been the play of local product Adam Thielen. Thielen had four catches for 54 yards as the third wide receiver and it quickly becoming the Vikings version of Jordy Nelson. Toss in a big game by Diggs and the usual targets for Rudolph, it’s safe to say the Vikings are in good hands at the wideout position.

Expletive-filled Halftime

Sure would have liked to been a fly on the wall during Halftime. There’s no doubt that Coach Zimmer absolutely laid into this team, especially the Defense. In a true tale of two halves, the Vikings defense woke out of their slumber and salvaged this much-needed road win.

Offensively this team stayed as stagnant as it was in the first half. Adrian Peterson’s fantasy owners were left dismayed that they used their first round pick on him as he rushed 19 times for a paltry 31 yards. Fear not Peterson owners, remember the debacle of a game he had in week one last year against the 49ers? He went on to win the rushing title and with Bradford soon to be at the helm, his lanes will once again open up.

Sep 11, 2016; Nashville, TN, USA; Minnesota Vikings kicker Blair Walsh (3) kicks the ball as Tennessee Titans defensive back Valentino Blake (47) defends at Nissan Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Nelles/The Tennessean-USA TODAY Sports

Bipolar Walsh

Blair Walsh continues to drive Vikings fans insane. When he misses, he misses badly. It amazes me how he can miss extra points and short field goals only to drill 50 yarders right down the middle. After the game when asked about Walsh Coach Zimmer said his performance was “disappointing” and followed that up by saying “He’s our kicker”. Zimmer is a no-nonsense type of coach but there appears to be too much coddling when it comes to Walsh.

There’s no doubting that Walsh cost the Vikings a chance to advance in the Playoffs last year when he missed the game winner against the Seahawks. Special teams are an integral part of a winning football team. I’m not sure how much longer the Vikings can continue to stomach our current Dr, Jekyll and Mr, Hyde style of kicker – I know that fans can’t, just search Blair Walsh on twitter.

Final Thoughts

During my appearance on Sportscast Radio Online last night, I was asked to give the Minnesota Vikings a letter grade for this game. I gave them a B- to C, leaning heavily towards that C grade. This team came out flat in the first half, the kicking game is still a mess, and the offensive line needs to get considerably better at run blocking regardless of who is at quarterback. Kudos to the coaching staff though for whatever defensive adjustments they made at halftime. Without the defensive scores the Vikings would have left Tennessee in similar fashion to last year’s week one.

What’s on Tap

Only week two and it’s already Packer week. This one is a bit bigger than life though with the first ever regular season game at US Bank Stadium on Sunday Night Football. The big talker early in the week will be who starts at Quarterback for the Vikings, Hill or Bradford? I really don’t think much thought should be put into this. There is no chance Hill starts in our shiny new Star Destroyer with Collinsworth, Michaels, and Tayfoya in town. Well actually Tayfoya does live here, but you get my point.

This game is far too big for a career backup and the amount spent to get Bradford suggests that he’s under center, under the National spotlight. Let’s just hope that the first start for Bradford in purple on National television goes far better than it did when Freeman started on Monday night a few years back.

That’s all I have for this week, till next time, SKOL Vikings!

More from The Viking Age

This article originally appeared on

share

Get more from National Football League Follow your favorites to get information about games, news and more

in this topic

National Football League

Tennessee Titans