When the NFL schedule came out and the Browns were opening at home against the Vikings, the first inclination (at least my first inclination) was to say, OK, challenging but winnable.
Then you read more, and you realize it will be one tough afternoon for Eric Mangini’s crew.
My good friend and colleague John Clayton saw 12 teams on his training camp tour, and he says the Minnesota Vikings were the best he saw: “You can't run on them, and they are difficult to pass against because of their pass rush.”
Yikes.
Then there’s coldhardfootballfacts.com, among my favorite NFL sites. It points out in an incredibly intriguing article here that the Vikings in 2009 will “attempt to become the first team to lead pro football in run defense for four straight years (based upon yards allowed).”
It also points out that the Vikings are 24-24 the last three seasons, which shows why the Vikings salivated over the thought of acquiring Brett Favre. Check out the post – it has many other interesting facts, among them that Donovan McNabb is the least-intercept passer in NFL history.
As for the Browns and Sept. 13 … we'll get a good early gauge on Eric Mangini's first season.
…and Vike's QB Brett Favre is the most-intercepted QB in history.
Not that it will matter since AP will probably rush for 400 yards against the Browns.
Posted on 12/31/07!
Jackson doesn't have the killer instinct… Stats aside, I bid farewell to Tice/Culpepper. This year, Childress/Jackson! The Vikes should have grabbed Norm Chow!
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