Written By Sam Ekstrom
LAST WEEK
The Vikings used a 28-point first half and two blocked punt returns for touchdowns to defeat the ailing Carolina Panthers 31-13. Teddy Bridgewater earned Rookie of the Week honors with a 15-of-21 performance that included two touchdown passes.
The Jets lost a 7-point fourth quarter lead at home to the Miami Dolphins and fell 16-13. Second-year quarterback Geno Smith started the game in place of Michael Vick and only attempted 13 passes, completing seven of them for 65 yards and one interception.
RECENT MEETINGS
In October of 2010, Brett Favre threw his 500th touchdown pass to Randy Moss on a Monday night in the Meadowlands. But Favre’s 264-yard, three-touchdown performance was not enough as the Jets won the game 29-20. Favre threw a pick-six in the final two minutes that sealed the Vikings’ fate.
Four years prior, the Jets, led by Chad Pennington, stormed into the Metrodome and picked apart the Vikings 26-13 behind 339 yards from Pennington. Brad Johnson and Tarvaris Jackson both appeared in the game at quarterback for Minnesota.
In 2002, Pennington was at it again with 324 yards and one touchdown. The Vikings countered with Daunte Culpepper – 288 yards, three interceptions – and lost 20-7.
The Jets lead the all-time series 8-1 with the Vikings’ only win coming in 1975.
COMMON CONNECTIONS
Former Vikings first-round pick Percy Harvin was traded from the Super Bowl champion Seattle Seahawks this season to play in New York. Harvin was dealt from the Vikings for draft picks prior to the 2013 season, spent an injury-plagued year in Seattle and was dealt to the Jets amidst allegations of physical altercations with Seahawks teammates. Harvin scored 29 touchdowns in his four seasons with the Purple.
Back-up Vikings offensive guard Vladimir Ducasse spent four years in New York before signing with Minnesota in the offseason.
Jets receiver Eric Decker, a prized free-agent acquisition who joined the team from Denver, caught passes at the University of Minnesota from 2006-09. He made 227 receptions as a four-year player, gained over 3,000 yards and scored 25 touchdowns.
Jets defensive line coach Karl Dunbar coached with the Vikings from 2006-11 and engineered some superb run-stopping defensive lines. He is now in his third year with the Jets.
FACING HARVIN
This will be the second time Harvin takes on his old team. He played against the Vikings on Nov. 17 of last year, the only regular season game he appeared in. Harvin touched the ball twice, making a spectacular juggling catch and returning a kickoff 58 yards.
“You've got to know that when you go to tackle Percy, you better bring your big-boy shoes,” said linebacker Chad Greenway. “He's as good as anybody getting off tackles and making people miss, and you know the intensity that he plays with, so we know him and who he is.”
Harvin improved each of his first three years in Minnesota and was on pace for an MVP-type season in 2012 before hurting his ankle mid-season. The fiery receiver from Florida reportedly clashed with former coaches Brad Childress and Leslie Frazier, which played a role in his eventual trade. Greenway insists, though, that Harvin was a quality presence in the locker room.
“Percy's a great teammate, absolutely,” said Greenway. “Never had an issue in the locker room with any of us, a guy that was going to give you everything no matter what with what the situation was, whether it's at practice or training camp or a game or a playoff game.”
Harvin has 19 receptions and 17 carries in his short time with the Jets. He told the New York media he is eager to face his old squad.
“I think I’m going to have a blast just seeing some of the familiar faces,” said Harvin. “Going against some of the DBs – I was close with a lot of the linebackers. … It will all be fun for me.”
‘DON’T TALK ABOUT PLAYOFFS!’
The Vikings have been mathematically eliminated from the NFC North race, but not the Wild Card. Here is the ludicrous, couldn’t-happen-in-a-million-years scenario for the Vikings to sneak in to the 6-seed:
Minnesota would have to win out.
Detroit would have to lose all but one of their remaining games. In the case of a tie, the Vikings would have to win the division-record tiebreaker.
Seattle would have to lose all but one of their remaining games. In the case of a tie, the Vikings would have to win the conference-record tiebreaker.
San Francisco would have to lose all but two of their remaining games. In the case of a tie, the Vikings would have to win the conference-record tiebreaker.
New Orleans would have to lose at least one game before the end of the season.
So, technically, Sunday’s game has playoff implications … but don’t hold your breath.
ROBISON LOSES LOCKS
Defensive end Brian Robison, easily recognized for his long hair and pony tail, cut his hair earlier in the week and donated it to Locks of Love. It was the first time he’d trimmed his hair in five years.
The pass-rusher said he was told about Locks of Love, a charity organization that uses donated hair to make wigs, by former teammate Fred Evans.
“He said, if you ever cut your hair you should donate it to Locks of Love. I had no clue what it was,” said Robison. “But I made a promise to him back then that if I ever cut it I would do it, so I kept my promise.
From a football standpoint, head coach Mike Zimmer joked that Robison was faster without his long-flowing mane, and Robison said that defenders would no longer be able to tug on his pony tail.
“There's nothing for blockers to grab onto, although the pony tail was very strong and was able to drag offensive linemen with me,” Robison said.
MATCHUP TO WATCH
Jets’ RBs vs Vikings’ rush defense: New York knows how to run the ball with Chris Ivory and Chris Johnson. They are third in the league in rushing yards per game with 148.2. Minnesota, on the other hand, surrendered 178 rushing yards to Carolina last week, which became the team's main critique of last week's performance.
“I don't think we do a good enough job of stopping the backs when we hit them,” said Zimmer. “We're not bumping them enough that when we hit them, they go down. Sometimes, like I say, they get a couple, two, three yards and those add up when you're running the ball 30 times.”
PREDICTION
New York is winless on the road. Their coach, Rex Ryan, is on the chopping block. They’re playing with a short week of preparation. Minnesota is favored by six points at home and should cover that spread. The Vikings have done well this year in beating up on inferior teams. Vikings 27, Jets 17.
Sam Ekstrom is a staff writer for Cold Omaha at 105 The Ticket and a play-by-play broadcaster in Burnsville, Minn. Hear him on 105 The Ticket weekdays from 2-3 p.m. on “The Michael Knight Show” or Sunday mornings from 8-10 a.m. on “The Wake Up Call.” Follow him on Twitter @SamEkstrom for further insights.