Monday, September 10, 2007

Vikings, Patriots Open With Victories

I watched the opening weekend of football at Professor Thom's yesterday, and there was a good crowd of fans taking in the games. I think many stayed away because the Jets-Patriots game was on national TV. (The bar gets many more Pats fans when they are not seen in NYC.)

Unfortunately, I was late getting to the bar, and I couldn't see the Vikings-Falcons game, as there was a large variety of fans from different teams, such as Eagles, Redskins, Bills and even Titans fans. So I had to follow the game via updates from the other games on the TVs.

It was a game the Vikings were supposed to win and did. The defense was the story for the Vikes, who had six sacks and returned two interceptions for TDs, courtesy of Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfield. It was also a fine debut for Adrian Peterson, who was thrust into fulltime duty when Chester Taylor injured his hip in the first half.

Peterson rushed 19 times for 103 yards, and made a great catch out of the backfield and scampered 60 yards down the sidelines for a touchdown to seal the Vikings victory. Tarvaris Jackson went 13-for-23 and 163 yards with one interception for the Vikes.

The Patriots had a relatively easy time with the Jets, winning handily, 38-14. Ellis Hobbs ran back the second-half kickoff 108 yards for a TD and set a new NFL record. Randy Moss had a big day in his Pats debut, catching nine passes for 183 yards and a TD, and Tom Brady threw for 297 yards and two TDs. The Patriots have now won seven straight against the Jets at the Meadowlands.

It was no better for the Giants, who lost a shootout to Dallas, 45-35. But they may have suffered a big loss in that Eli Manning hurt his right shoulder, and had to leave in the fourth quarter.

It looks like it maybe a long year for fans who support either team that calls the Meadowlands home.

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