2009 Vikings @ Panthers

up-to-the-minute division leaders New Orleans the number one seat at the moment Minnesota still with a chance to become number one because they would win the tiebreaker with the Saints right now in the second spot the Minnesota coach is Brad Childress and his fourth year in the recent recipient of a contract extension he's down on the field with Andrea Cramer Andrea thank you very much al well thirty minutes ago you found out your team clinched its second straight and if seen north title how concerned are you about a possible letdown for your team I'm not concerned you know I got a great bunch of guys here and they're gonna get best effort now last night with New Orleans loss you're in line for the possible number one seed how much emphasis we put on getting it well you want to play at home during the playoffs that's one of our goals and get the Super Bowl and win it so you start with that right at the beginning NFC North then he keep stepping and Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin will play he told me he has no lingering symptoms from his migraines but those migraines caused him to have only limited activity two days in the past two weeks he told me he has no concerns about this conditioning and they missed him last week Andrew there he is he's also a guy who returns kickoffs we'll see about that when Minnesota gets the ball because Carolina will start by receiving the kick Ryan Longwell who played four years with Brett Favre in Green Bay before going to Minnesota and Tyrel Sutton they of Northwestern too we go on this Sunday night [Applause] he takes it down to the 31 yard line as we take a look at the Carolina fence not more Oregon State DeAngelo Williams meant Brad who or Western Carolina no playmaker be rushing Utah will send Muhammad Michigan State Jeff King Virginia Tech prevail award South Carolina and Kenzie Bernardo Bentley University Brian Khalil the University of Southern California teacher Benson Ole Miss just forced organ to backup tacos because their two top guys are both on injured reserve [Applause] and they start on the ground defensive play by MIDI you Williams the safety coming up to make the tackle on DeAngelo Williams I think they saw our opening on cameras safety blitz right off the bat coming off the left side here there we go coming right up the left-hand side and is going to hit DeAngelo Williams right in the backfield when you see that early on that means you're gonna have to start thinking about throwing the ball through the Carolina Panthers and Matt Moore stumbles on his way back and then very good after initial contact taking it out to the 36 and let's take a look at that vaunted Minnesota D Cincinnati woodwork Pat Williams lost in high school Kevin Williams Oklahoma State Jerry Allen Cole Mary Academy Chad Greenway the University of Iowa just bring something Ben Libra Kansas State has fallen to the Ohio State University Tyra Johnson Arkansas State medea Williams Maryland Sanji Griffin and the great school attendees a lot of eyes on that looking middle linebacker Brinkley is on third I intended by intended for Smith covered by Antoine Winfield who came back after missing a half dozen games last week with a foot injury and it's a three a tie for the Panthers well anytime you're talking about playing the Minnesota Vikings you're gonna have to deal with Jared Allen and you see exactly how Carolina's plans on doing it Donte Rosario the tight end is gonna help travell Wharton over on that side Jason Baker to punt darius went on to run it back [Applause] it is down that the pony five yard line and now there is a flag referee tonight is Pete Morelli and I think it might be on Dante Wesley of the Panthers the interference with the opportunity to make it fair kids number 20 of the the kicking team 15-yard penalty [Applause] he said 20 I think he meant 21 its Dante Wesley with the with the interference here an odd coming up trying to make a play and just simply had to get out of the way of Wesley you have to give the guy the opportunity to make the catch and obviously Wesley had no idea where the ball was and not the greatest of supports here for the Carolina Panthers Frampton was trying to help guide him into a mr. ho so here comes for leading the Vikings to the line of scrimmage and 42 yard line good field position the Minnesota's first possession and they give the Adrian Peterson for a gain of three here's the Minnesota offense breath for University of Southern Mississippi agent Peterson Oklahoma Sidney Rice soft pillow Bernard Berrian Fresno State Sabu shank old Morgan State best gym flying saucer drug the core where I'm McKinney the Union Steve Hutchinson Michigan John Sullivan Notre Dame Anthony Herrera the real you to fill oh-ho fountain Colorado second down and seven the real UT releases for house Herrera's concerns and that is thought by Jim Kleinsasser who has spent his entire 11-year career with the Minnesota Vikings so for Brett Favre you know the story he was going to retire and would he play wouldn't he play what was he gonna do ride the tractor and then he comes to camp after the preseason had already started and of course he's going to be the starter there's no doubt about that plays a little bit in pre-season and is having one of the best years of his 19-year career this is Chester Taylor taking it to the 40-yard line and will be second down and three is we take a look at the Panther defense they break all around Alice Thomas Northern Illinois University Damian Lewis University of Miami Julie's purpose University of North Carolina Nile digs the Ohio State John Beeston you already know James Anderson magenta Chris Gamble D Ohio State Chris Harris J fair hot girls go free the University of Iowa Richard Marshall Fresno State as in Miami over the right side that time is Adrian Peterson runs in two you already know John beasts in the middle linebacker you already knew knew exactly what they were going to do here Brett Favre I'd say when you're 40 years old sometimes it's tough just to catch up with Adrian Peterson to give him the handoff has to really stretch it out one of the things the Vikings got back to last week though was trying to pound that football in there and we've relying so much on Brett Favre to make all the plays now out of the shotgun under pressure and they get him back at the 49 yard line [Applause] and they train it off they tried to dare number one for San Francisco's number two to pick ground in the second round of rookie at a Florida State with a sack of four we're coming off the left side here is Everett Brown and he's the young man that they so hoped would end up being the balance for Julius Peppers they flip peppers to the other side that time and do come up with the pressure Chris Kluwe the punt captain Wunderland a rookie at a South Carolina once with going it bounds into the end zone for a touchback and the Panthers will take it at 220 when we come back to Charlotte [Music] Sunday night football being brought to you by Southwest Airlines go to Southwest icon grab your bag it's on it's come from best by buyer be happy by but light not too heavy not too light at his ships right and by Sprint official wireless service sponsor of the NFL [Music] in our first possession now they start this drive from the 20-yard line after the touchback war retreats and he'll swing a pass out to the left side the Angelo 23 with the long hurt mattemore wasn't drafted started his college career at UCLA two years there left spent a year in junior college didn't play they went to Oregon State went to the Cowboys camp in oh seven they cut him Carolina picked them up he wound up making three starts here Ford the loam at the end of the o7 season got hurt last years and looked at the loam and with the long time machine his third straight game here is more [Applause] [Music] it breaks a tackle and takes it on to the 24-yard line for a gain of one will be third and six and Ray Edwards the defensive end makes the stop well EJ Henderson the middle linebacker is out in Jasper Brinkley number 50 for the burden really now begins to fall on him and he's going to have to make some plays he stepped up at least stopped the momentum thereof DeAngelo Williams but this defense has been known for so long for their ability to stop the line [Music] [Applause] Henderson [Applause] it's Tyrell Sutton the rookie out of Northwestern who returned the opening kickoff and again Carolina with a three and out and the storylines already developing here it's just a matter of whether or not Matt Moore can complete enough passes to get the Vikings to back off the running game a little bit this is a team that's had 44 rushing touchdowns over the last couple of years they would love to stay with that running game but they can't until Matt Moore can prove he can throw the ball a little baker's second pot in the first five and a half minutes he's a good one 26 [Music] Denarius brings it back out to the 39 yard line 51 yard booth the 14 yard return as the Vikings Sabbath we come back [Music] check it out log on to nbc.com or nfl.com and check out my coreos chat baki andrea is texting will game long from the sideline check it out Sunday Night Football extra Marxist Drive the 37-yard line with a play fake and then he slips and finally goes down to the 28 yard line and that was James Anderson who comes in for the trip with Brett extending the play as long as he could and then he finally he falls victim to the turf maybe they figured out Brett Favre's numbers on the bootlegs which had been pretty good this year and watered the middle of the field it doesn't look like he can stand up anywhere he slipped not once but twice and went down looking for the standing eight-count at the end of that and this is the way the Carolina Panthers have a chance they're going to have to play great defense and they've really been second down at 18 and he goes to Kleinsasser who makes his second catch in flying saucer for the gain of eight John Fox's in his eighth season with Carolina came in and helped resurrect the franchise they had a 1 in 15 year in George secrets last year and then Fox took him to the Superbowl the one thing John hasn't been able to do though has put two winning seasons back-to-back it's been lose [Applause] last year a big winning season this year they have to win their final three games just to get to 500 but Alissa before the sound and a full story fill load hold and he has his hands full tonight against these newspapers number 74 of the offense five-yard penalty third down he was moving and so is Bryant McKinney both yeah pretty easy to see here Julius Peppers looks like he thinks the easier spot is over here on this side against Bill load Holt the rookie and so they're flipping him that way and a little anxious when he saw Julius outside and looking hungry McKinney's number what a lunge Peterson and Taylor both in the down on that grass again and Peterson I'll tell you what sometimes the greatest advantage you can have in a game is if the fields a little messed up and so far we've seen the Minnesota Vikings really struggling just trying to make the simplest of plays Brett slipping on the bootleg and now Adrian Peterson out in the flat unable to keep his speed they might have to go back for some longer cleat or skates now the balance just inside the 30-yard line six of the remaining no score [Music] the unrelated Williams's Pat and Kevin they've each been to the last three Pro Bowls together kevin has been to the last four and they're the first pair of d-line teammates to do that or at least since Mark Gastineau inspected it back in the-- in the 80s and there they are good luck the Angela Williams who's part of as so in front of me and Jonathan Stewart Jason Adubato we talked last night to Pat Williams and I said well so how do you think the Williams wall is gonna do against double trouble and he said they're in trouble they're in big trouble you know he's very complimentary of his friend Kevin Williams and he said he thinks he's the best three technique tackle there is in the game and he said well what about you he said I'm just a big nasty nose tackler that's you know it's unbelievable that that's how you describe yourself in the most glowing terms [Music] second and seven [Applause] [Music] one side and it's going to be ruled and the Minnesota Vikings try to connect to the ball [Applause] recovered at the after the sack fumble it has to be a blown protection here there's no way in the world Jeff King is supposed to block him one-on-one he was supposed to get some help I've got to believe from travell Wharton who ends up blocking nobody and Jared Allen the second-best sacker in the NFL he's good enough when you double-team and we'd really good when nobody won he creates it and then he had a chance to recover it and it slipped out of his grasp and it gets recovered back at the 11 [Applause] Jonathan Stewart and he gets shoved out of bounds there's a flag down that was a third down and 27 holding number 68 to the offense penalty would be declined fourth down Diedrich Vincent with the hole they take the plane Ben Lieber also had a great chance to get that loose ball so the Vikings had every opportunity to come up with his funnel and couldn't that's a drill you do almost every day in training camp and in practice because it is so key to be able to recover those things really Minnesota completely but it's still one of those games where Carolina is hanging it around they just have to find spot Rosario the side line and finally gets tacky the 26-yard bunny stick Tom Baker but Baker's stuck with him and knocks him down at the 26 yard line [Applause] so tomorrow we'll have a very short field to work with so many times that first move is the key move you've got to do something laterally and then get that thing up the field it's amazing when you're returning punts that if you can just find a little bit of a seen watch this one quick little move and then straight up the field a lot of punt returners like to keep going sideways just got that thing up the field so far third consecutive regular season star tonight [Applause] [Music] [Applause] hands the ball off to 8p in peterson to the 21 yard line you know it's interesting Adrian Peterson's one of those guys that's been having such a magical year and those guys over on defense not too bad either but clearly one of the most dominant players in the National Football League but lately hasn't been so good here just three point two large-bore rush and the last four we saw him a couple of weeks ago against Arizona Rosella I think 19 yards rushing so trying to react [Applause] tackle just about at the line of scrimmage by James Anderson we saw far slipping before and a couple of guys on the Vikings slipping so Brett went to the bench put on new shoes and sometimes as molded cleats aren't quite as good and you have to go to those I always dread it doing that a little sometimes because the traction became so good you sort of had to worry about twisting knees [Applause] Julius Peppers coming around the corner and playing with a broken hand lately got by load hold and breaks up the play setting up fourth down in the field goal attempt for long well what's amazing about this as Julius Peppers is getting pressure in just a three-man pass rush that was just coverage that time by Carolina but Julius Peppers has come to play just came up and just caught his elbow as it was going forward so a great defensive stand there for Carolina [Applause] but they get it down and the kick is no good [Applause] the whole [Music] it's manned by dog Ryan long well missing since 2006 very rarely I thought it was a low snap actually as you look at it again that was really not the issue here the issue is it long low hits the upright but good enough attempt the upright [Applause] second year back at a bargain who is their number one pick last season really nice job there by Ryan Khalil up front against Pat Williams the center one of the few remaining guys I'm not going to circle the center you can figure out who that is and Khalil is just going to get just enough of them and they really have to start establishing something on first down I mean let's face it the Carolina Panthers passing game has been this entire season that they don't get this run game going they have no chance to win here since there first and Stuart again take Jasper Brickley who's the rookie middle linebacker that's the first first down for them Brinkley a rookie at a South Carolina does stay on the center one more time that's the block you have to be able to make on that nose tackle when he's offset to the side that you're trying to run have to snap it quickly jump out in front if the play is going to have any chance at all good start for Khalil [Applause] yeah yes you did I'm telling you mr. kibosh the king you don't see this very often but if I praise a guy once he has a chance of making a bad play if I praise him twice in a row it's guaranteed how many times in your lifetime you ever seen the center snap early this is such a makeshift offensive line right now without a warrantee used to be the guards playing tackle deaf sports and his first start at the other tackle we're doing the best they can [Applause] Smith at the 46-yard line of the Vikings for a first down covered by one field by far the top receiver the 15-yard reception for Steve Smith and here's what happens you get a couple runs going and then you get the ball out to your best receiver Steve Smith against the Antoine Winfield we'll watch that match up all night long and the protection was good but I think that that again once you establish the ability to run at least a little bit it sets that play-action up which is what [Applause] [Music] after he crosses the line of scrimmage it'll be second down to nine we talked a little bit about all the changes in the offensive line for John Fox and company but Carolina Panthers for my money may have the best tackle tandem in the National Football League in Jordan gross and Jeff moto and both those guys now on injured reserve so they've had to do some shifting and the Jeff woods making history started white chocolate [Applause] Williams again taking the ball to the 41 yard line and Williams tonight has carried the ball six times for 12 yards and he comes limping off the field yeah that was a sort of a low undercut hit that time on DeAngelo Williams he's thought he saw the cutback Lane and I think it was Antoine Winfield who came across the formation and watch as he cuts back Winfield is going to get him right around the knees as badly and swim five [Applause] to the 28 yard line Mohammed started his career here went to Chicago for a few years then comes back in the to gain of 13 as the first quarter comes to an end in Charlotte [Music] these best tonight's aerial coverage being brought to you by Bud Light downtown shortly get down from above Al Michaels along with Cris Collinsworth and Eames Rhea Kramer you saw Williams come limping off he had an ankle issue two weeks ago and missed again against Tampa Bay now he gets hurt tonight Jonathan Stewart is the back as we begin a second quarter [Applause] shower down second down you know the formula for this Carolina offense when they played well remember there are twelve and four last year playoff team and and played well but this year the passing game just has not been there and you can sort of look at some of the numbers for Steve Smith last season eight 100-yard games this year just a lot of the interception become final along the far sideline by Steve Smith a little bit shy of the first time going back to Steve Smith there it is over a four-year period he was averaging about 600 yard receiving games per season Steve in his ninth year out of Utah third-round pick in o'lone the other question to you know loosen Mohammed would be the number two receiver but you know who is right now he still is I guess he's really no depth behind Smith 34 and here Smith again go by Antoine Winfield Ilse DeLange Aaron they invested a high draft choice and him out of USC a couple of years ago but he hasn't done he's inactive tonight well they want to play man coverage now on the outside on Steve Smith coming across in motion but as they do they just sort of take those outside receivers and run them up the field and create just enough space there to pick up the first down this is a pretty nice drive here by Carolina this is the 11th play of this Drive Rand Hoover in his tenth year at a Western Carolina you know the full-back was kind of an endangered species for a while but he's been here for a long time the question always is you know he's a running back better with the fullback or without a fullback most of the guys have come through here in Carolina agreed that Hoover's been pretty good yeah and DeAngelo Williams Benson College you see that and he said I didn't want to fall back when I got here but since been convinced [Applause] the pass is caught by who takes it to the 6 yard line and now it's going to be a third down and two where you'll see Jasper Brinkley the middle linebacker try and get down the hole on this one he's going to go straight back and Jeff King said fine you want to go back there I'll take that one right there get out of the way umpire here we go [Applause] if you're gonna throw it that quickly you don't have to worry quite as much about Jared Allen either snake condemnation Sutton and he will pick up a first down nice job by Keith Vinson that time picking up the stunt looked like they were going to stop right into this one Vincent right here is going to make this block and just stay with his guy there's Kevin Williams he just kept driving him out of the hole so that time Minnesota tried to get fancy up fun and ran right past his life [Applause] [Music] there's 11 carry of Stewart who gets to the one-yard line it will be second down and goal on a drive that began back at the 29 yard line and has consumed seven and a half minutes well but don't assume this one's a touchdown because Minnesota Vikings and goal to go situations the very best in the NFL when you've got the Williams wall and Fred Evans other guys in there this is no cinch fifty play of the drive and openness Hoover for the touchdown the Panthers have the ball for one second and goes 71 yards against the Viking dude Jasper Brinkley I think is going to have to come up here just play the run but play the full-back as well you know exactly who that assignment is when you're putting together your game plan you say that young guy doesn't have a lot of experience let's see if we can take advantage for the extra point and that one is blocked so we've had a missed field goal and a missed extra point with his first touch the Panthers [Music] for the third year in a row in NHL New Year's Day Winter Classic and it's been waiting hard that's the site this time-lapse photography as they construct the rink it'll be the photo few choirs and the Boston Bruins [Music] Fenway Park hockey Tilly in Boston right here on NBC to short get away from Marvin then brings it back to the 35 Viking offense those two work six of the Carolina Sunday night football from Charlotte brought to you by wendy's you know when it's real by Geico 15 minutes in more on car insurance by Sears more values more Christmas that's life will spent Sears and buy Coors Light when the mountains turn me your beer is as cold [Music] NASCAR country here you go from the 36-yard line [Applause] in the middle Brett farm at the age of 40 it's been a spectacular year for him however going back over the past few years there are his numbers early in his career over the first 13 years and they were great in December in January then you go to a five through oh nine eleven and nine and December passing the last year with [Applause] and it's city rice first catch meat has made tonight up at the 45 yard line so the big question obviously Chris as you go down the stretch is you know will far be able to play it all out and you know could you have a better ending to a career not that he would necessarily end it but he told us last night if they win the Super Bowl it might make his decision easier but he didn't say what his decision would be I think we all know what that was and the little secret place [Applause] one other thing about Favre crushes that was the poster boy for everything the NFL is all about and announcers and broadcasters were always salivating over him and then the public got tired of you know am I going to come back I'm going to retire will to be back willing one of whatever and then this year it kind of became like a national joke until he signed it's no joke anymore if anything he's burnish the legacy not really has he's had a tremendous year but as what happened we saw him again serve captain Mullen brings it back to the 15-yard line any flag is down Brett tonight four of his first five but for only 28 yards well it's interesting that they really haven't been able to establish the run during the kick illegal block in the back over 31 to the receiving team half the distance to the goal first down I know two to go in the half six to nothing Carolina [Music] very very important figure in the annals of the National Football League Jerry Richardson who was a good player played with the Colts played in that overtime championship game in 58 and is not all the owner of this team but the founder he brought this team into the National Football League as an expansion franchise [Applause] Stewart was able to break and takes it out to the 10 yard line but one other thing on jerry richardson chris is the fact that here's the man with a heart transplant last year but you know it's good to see him at the game and in pretty good health right now and a guy who as as we just said a man he had the dream getting this team into the National Football League was able to accomplish it yeah where he's got his game face he's out there he looks like he's ready to play he does it [Applause] [Music] for Steve Smith let's check in with Andrea well they taped DeAngelo Williams left ankle out here he tried to test it but they've taken him into the locker room to retai pit now I'm told by the Panthers they are not x-raying it right now but it is the same angle that kept him out of the Tampa game and they are calling his return questionable D'Angelo of course would be a big minus for the team that has to rely on the running game but did [Applause] for touchdown [Music] after that long eight minute drive this one takes fifty seconds and they'll punt from deep in their own territory yeah and he missed twice I mean mad more two times in a row had somebody that looked like they were open out there Steve Smith not easy throws but you can see what they're doing now they're they're taking Matt Moore and rolling him away from Jared Allen that's how much of an impact Jared Allen's having they're actually rolling away from this is Baker's fourth [Applause] fourteen three card [Applause] damn Connor [Applause] one of those place might have been worth the shot to flinch a little bit if the official misses it they could go for the cheap first down 55 over on the right-hand side of your screen I'd say there was some defensive movement that led to that [Applause] fielded by run odd and he'll set the second the NFL stars shining bright is the fight using Panthers antennas V Fight Night Football well the Minnesota Vikings trying to get to Miami but first first things first they're in Charlotte tonight advanced six to nothing [Applause] fifteen plays and a total of 22 yards right off the edge right here Chris Gamble is going to come around and make this play Carolina Panthers what the heck they're five and eight they're gonna come out and fire a few shots tonight they played well against the New England Patriots a week ago they they held down the 20 points in their own place they've been getting turnovers the last three [Applause] [Music] 35 yard line Damian Lewis makes attack let's go back to the punty the false start ruled against Carolina but it could have gone the other way here all right over here dan Conner see if he gets drawn offsides typically if you flinch and get into the neutral zone and it forces the offensive player to move you get the five-yard penalty on the offensive side and that would have been a first down third and four by Chester Taylor and that will be a first down so they converted on a third and four on the ball is at the Carolina 28 yard line well I think the Minnesota Vikings had seen enough of Julius Peppers so you put your tight in over here to this side force on tischenko to help out load hold and now brett favre has time and finds Chester Taylor out of the backfield for the first down [Applause] captain ma no one covering on the place six minutes to go now and that's a gain of nine yards second and one watch Sidney Rice right out here come down and get the block on the inside this looks like it's going nowhere because Chris Harris was coming down but Sidney Rice met him right at the line of scrimmage and Chester Taylor saw that there Adrian Peterson a bounce it outside nice [Applause] by Sidney Rice and he gets tackled at the three yard line Richard Marshalls for the moment saving the touchdown Damian Lewis that time thought he had a deflected pass Brett Favre praecox this thing and ends up finding Sidney Rice in the second hole the slant hole is usually the first one over there Brett saw Damian Lewis in his face pulled it back down and then found rice with a big play rice to the right [Applause] Chris Harris and him dead to rights at the one and he sprung away and spins into the end zone you think Adrian Peterson's fast he may be stronger check out this hair is here he's having [Applause] come up with a second safety and neither one of them can get him on the ground [Applause] for the extra point and he does that's the 15 rushing touchdown this season it was Maurice most touchdowns on the ground this year seven six Vikings shucks coming your way a new season of Chuck Monday nights in January [Music] Charlotte North Carolina 37 degrees at game time the Vikings have the lead for the first time of the game was five minutes to go [Applause] this is the kind of guy that you know you don't hear a lot about him the safety for Minnesota but he just donated two million dollars to the University of Maryland his alma mater to establish the Center for Global Health Initiatives focusing on the county in which he grew up outside of DC and the West African nation of Sierra Leone where he was born so you know at a time when you're always hearing about guys stealing two million dollars I mean that would make headlines it's nice to see a guy giving away two million dollars and we salute him [Applause] [Music] [Applause] nice the 13 yards let's go down to Andrea yeah and Alec he didn't want any credit for it but he told me you can't put a price tag on improving people's lives and to that end the goal of the center is to address health issues such as the high infant mortality rate but he's doing more than just giving money he's involved in planning the center which is due to open in 2011 and his foundation also started an elementary school in Africa named after his late mother and we said it's our lifetime commitment beautiful good man thank you Safety's involved in this play along with Jasper Brinkley Stewart caring but one of the things that Jasper Brinkley can do well that is come downhill and play the run they really felt like that for number 54 that was the strength of his game and they liked the fact that the last two games seemed to fit him just perfectly playing against Cincinnati and their running game now Carolina in this running game they say it's not fair don't compare in the EJ Henderson AJ Henderson's a great [Applause] to make the tack you know one of the greatest things about Jasper Brinkley of course is he has a twin brother oh yeah Casper yes sir Jasper and Casper Casper in fact Casper was in the the Carolina can't for a while but they didn't make the team but everybody remembered him deadly don't forget Casper Jasper [Applause] nice moves there he speaks his way and picks up a first down Tyrel son a free agent out of Northwestern had two caches last week and makes his presence felt on this drive one of the things you do to create pass rushers throw screens in behind them why not they're thinking sack they're thinking adding to their total [Applause] right off the edge a good pass rush but Wharton didn't Jerry just kind of let him back inside [Applause] it's tact let's pounds involves coverage at the 43-yard line it'll be second down and five and Matt Moore will let the clock run down to two minutes Panthers as we look ahead with all of their timeouts remaining two-minute warning Minnesota seven Carolina sick [Music] Black's out of 30 rock Christmas tree skating rink Rockefeller Center Cal defeat Toyota end time [Music] especially that one in Pittsburgh with the Steelers beat Green Bay on the final play of the game second down and six first down Jasper Brinkley made the tackle and knock the ball loose tell you one of the things that Matt Moore is doing a really nice job on right now is the place he's called the quiet spot in the pocket when you end up you're playing the best pass rushing team in the National Football League in the Minnesota Vikings and here's a guy that is just beginning to slide around a little bit back there find a spot buy a little time and he's been making some plays [Applause] taking a shot deep down and complete coverage is good that time intended for Smith and he's covered by Antoine Winfield that star on star named Juan Winfield but I tell you they have now decided they're coming after Matt Moore they brought the blitz that time good job by Jonathan Stewart to pick it up and they're lucky tonight get that one picked off you have to give Steve Smith the chance get it out in front of them it's not a very good throw [Applause] anywhere tackled at the 37 yard line and it will be third down and 10 a little bit surprised here well I don't know maybe the Minnesota Vikings considered calling a timeout here you don't want to let the Carolina Panthers run the ball again they need probably let me figure out about four yards to set up a 50-yard field time to draw the third guy that's about right [Applause] [Music] Smit so they don't get enough for the first down but they do get enough to bring Casey out onto the field to attempt a field goal and I if you're a Carolina Panther fan or John Fox you have to feel like that Matt Moore has given you a just about everything you could have hoped for against this pass rush and against this football team coming in here he's moving around he hasn't taken the sacks back there he's been elusive and made some big plays Carolina will their content obviously to let the clock run all the way down Minnesota could have called the time and I do find it to be a little bit surprising first that they didn't leave themselves no time right time out cold here John Casey had his extra point attempt blocked before banana try to give Carolina the lead again a 47-yard four seconds to Jason Baker will hold that any swag is strong Vikings think it was a false story Marilla will enter a consultation false start it is 65 the offense five-yard penalty sale 4th that is really big [Applause] that's Gary Williams number 65 the right tackle with a false start here and now it's so big in fact that they're taking Casey off the field [Applause] they'll marry instead of a 52-yard vs 52 or 53 our field goal [Applause] but crazy into the first name Vikings don't take any timeouts long story and it winds up 7/6 Minnesota with the show the halftime show coming right up [Music] and with that you've seen the scoring in the first half as we start the third quarter in Charlotte Al Michaels Chris Collinsworth and Andrea Kramer and just to set the significance of this one again the Minnesota Vikings have already won the NFC North by virtue of Green Bay's loss earlier today to Pittsburgh but still with a shot and number one [Music] brought back to the 41 by Kennedy and we go back to have a half ended after a false start negates this kick by Casey they elect to go for a Hail Mary so that kick would have been good well look at this though how far did this thing clear by I mean that's got to be five yards the only thing I can think of is maybe you go back to the blocked extra point watch this thing shoot out - Antoine Winfield anything I want to give up a touchdown but you've seen your kicker just kick it about fifty six or seven yards otherwise I'm doing this the 50-yard and pressure on far of that time the coverage by beasts and on Taylor's second down and we go to Andrea well L Brad Childress walked out of the locker room I didn't even say a word and he said to me we didn't have to show up at practice at all this week to gain 66 yards of offense this is embarrassing he said there's no magic here we just have to play he said we've got to change the line of scrimmage as the DeAngelo Williams they said they're going to try to warm him up [Applause] Berrien and finally see some action and he gets tackle immediately by Richard Marshall firing his first catch I love watching veteran quarterbacks played that time Julius Peppers just down inside here Brett sees it goes to the officer knows it's a blitz gonna throw it right underneath easy completion sets up a third short third down and five from the 46 yard line secondary sadly shank oh the tight end going all the way down the field and Dante Wesley covering fourth down well the protection was absolutely perfect you end up in a two-man everywhere he wanted to come over here to the left side a little arrow route when I was taken away he really didn't have it to make plays first GUI spud yes captain my captain 7:6 Minnesota [Applause] [Music] little bit more about Matt Moore born in Southern California grew up as a UCLA fan who winds up at UCLA spot starter for two years he was also drafted by the Angels vote for did science been a year out of football and then Murray enrolled at Oregon State where he played for two seasons not drafted went to the Dallas camp and Carolina claims of more flavors before the start of the o7 season new tonight [Applause] sets up the screen here makes the catch [Applause] the flag is all the way back in the sixth and it could be for us roughing the passer in the pasture number 93 first out Kevin Williams got in there as he threw the screen pass and cost him 15 well remember now defensive tackles they're defensive players are not allowed to go low on the quarterback from the knee down and Kevin Williams was stumbling and you could see him just eventually lunging into the quarterbacks knees and that is what they are trying to prevent they want to keep these quarterbacks healthy yes that's a 15-yard earn a big one here comes a wild cat now the 47 yard line Jonathan Stewart is going to take the snap in [Applause] but like Marmite secrets not a lot of form to that one they're all over the joint you know the Wildcats kind of ended in Miami and people are picking it up around the rest of the league and trying to just put on a little something different there and Jonathan Stewart though you know I mean this is no slouch you got DeAngelo Williams out of the out of the game right now but Jonathan Stewart drafted in the first round and as far as backup one backs he has the most yards in the league [Applause] Muhsin bullet for a first down [Applause] just a simple zone defense and anytime you end up running the football and ended up in those second and five situations you can see the linebackers jumping up trying to play the run and Musa Mohammed is two bowls over the middle there's a Minnesota Vikings we wonder what the heck you know the chance to have the top seat and their plan like this again Brett Farve Matt Moore matt coles bred a living legend will why not there's Brett in 92 for a season with the Packers and I'm Matt Moore looking [Applause] coming around on an end-around and Ray Edwards said no no no we diagnosis played before look better than Ray Edwards looked to Steve Smith coming around there if you're gonna run to reverse a lot of times you like to block this guy out here on the end of the line of scrimmage or sort of things like that happen second and 15 [Applause] 70,000 there is none Ben Lieber the linebacker going all the way down the field with the coverage on the tight end Jeff King then Lieber hesitates at the line of scrimmage right here looking in the backfield then King has it wide open clothes that he stripped the arm before the ball got there you can make an argument not sure the ball was catchable he was going to get there [Applause] [Music] but they didn't give the signal that it was in calculus they just [Applause] well short over to cover Steve Smith and its fourth and 16 well that's one of the problems that you end up with when you have a backup quarterback in the game there's timing throws like that back shoulder you stop route here it's something that Jake Delhomme and Steve Smith to practice a bunch but you don't get much time as a backup quarterback with the starters yeah it's the fun of the night he's averaged 43 yards [Applause] five yard line into the seventy-six Minnesota [Music] next Sunday night two nights after Christmas it is Dallas and coming up the next field in Landover football night starting at 7:00 Eastern Time Cowboys Redskins Sunday Night Football a week from tonight now Minnesota apply opponent by rice rice with a big gain of 25 to the 45-yard line for a kid from South Carolina from Gaffney 25-yard gain with a lot of folks looking on tonight in the stands Sidney Rice when he sees the safety dropping out there Chris Harris he just goes in the void and I take her Sidney Rice the former basketball player he has really turned into something this year brett farr keeps telling him out go to you then i think he was starting to believe it to Shenko over the middle talking about rice playing basketball Gaffney South Carolina just about a half an hour from Charlotte right on the Carolina border North Carolina South Carolina and some pretty good moves if I want mr. rice then he uses him in football get the rebound and basketball that he said Brett Farve as soon as it was over that one against st. Louis came sprinting down the field picked him up and said I told you they can't cover you I told you that he is really built that guy up from the very beginning you know he hasn't had a great career he had some injuries he had to deal with and I tell you what since Brett Favre got here he said I've never had a guy I can just throw the ball up in the air like that to like a Larry Fitzgerald and watch him make plays I remember we were in Arizona a couple of weeks ago in Minnesota and for our said you know he's like Charles Barkley I don't go up and get the rebound for me yeah you know the interesting thing though he was telling us last night he said when I heard to Brett Favre was coming in and he was coming to the compound and all the news helicopters were overhead he said I started getting nervous just thinking about the idea that Brett Favre was going to be my quarterback still feels that way sometimes when he's in the huddle they said he looked he looked at far was telling us it so many people asked him for his jersey got off the field he said [Music] 72 from the 47 this piece of covering Peterson the illegal formation offense only six men on the line of scrimmage five-yard penalty still second down [Applause] like they're trying to run a little pick on john pease and they're coming down inside screen him off a piece and said I'm not going to put up with that I know what you're trying to do comes out there and Adrian Peterson a little parting shot [Applause] and he drops it'll be third down seventy Julius Peppers forced the issue getting in far faced Julius Peppers now back on the left side against Bryan McKinney and at Julius Peppers when he decides he wants to play some football he can certainly get it done the one thing I will give him some credit for the Carolina Panthers blitz about as little as any team in Hannah have sex that's pretty good consider the fact that tt seven [Applause] in the grass doc day Leslie will get credit for the shack he did everything but pull the pin on that Hand Grenade when he threw it out of there just the three-man rush again and here's captain mutter Lin on the outside working against Bernard Berrian and knocks him out of bounds so Fred had no one [Applause] merci Harvin down the middle of field we haven't said his name very much at all Sydney Wiese Chris Gamble but it once again Brett Farr pressure I just and Chloe with a bomb the end zone [Music] from the 29:54 [Music] if you check out Jay Leno this week among the guests Jeff Bridges Adam Lambert [Applause] [Music] Pacific [Applause] early on Williams with six attempts 13 yards but on the bench and Stewart 11 for 33 you know he started the night by talking about the Vikings and the importance of this game in the sense that they've already won the north so they're going to the playoffs the question is what seed will they be if they win tonight they're a game back in New Orleans and then somehow along the way of New Orleans News is a game and Minnesota winds up with the same record Minnesota woman from the tiebreaker [Applause] but conversely if they lose this game and Philadelphia is a game behind and Philadelphia catches them which could happen Philadelphia would own the tiebreaker over Minnesota so Minnesota right now pretty solid too could be won but could also be 3 which is gigantic because 3 means you're playing in a wild-card game yeah but you know I think the bigger story is what we've been seeing out of the Minnesota Vikings into the last three weeks you know teams have to get hot and start playing their best football coming down the stretch and certainly with Brett parks [Applause] to the outside intended for Brad Hoover and Oakley fourth down and four maybe they just don't like playing on Sunday night I guess this has really been unimpressive so far I mean you've got Brett Favre who's playing absolutely the best football of his career not even close when you look at some of the numbers 27 touchdown passes just six interceptions and he's fishing for answers and those pictures over there baby this guy right here will be there Baker ready to punt to receive it from the 30-yard bunched up at the 36 with 24 remaining in the third quarter and the Viking is leading the Panthers by water coming up on Friday and a merry Christmas to all of you yes come on our entire crew at NBC Sports and I'll go back to work next Sunday Dallas taken on a loss right now Minnesota nursing [Applause] so you know you hear about stretching and all the things that the modern-day athlete does well here's Brett Favre and this is Brett Favre's pregame stretching routine at the age of 40 as you get older you have to stretch a little more right you know try and stay loose and yeah you know so it's probably what figured 20-25 minutes where they're stretching that's it you think he knows what Pilates is [Applause] to the 40 don't pull double meeting there little shovel pass the shank oh that's a first down well they finally get Bret bar moving around here a little bit since he's all stretched out now and this is one of the things that he has done best in his career he says if I have a complaint with Darrell Bevell our offensive coordinators that he doesn't get me out there enough I like buying time No Peterson he takes it to the midfield stripe speaking of bootlegs take a look at this it's a pass where the quarterback moves in the opposite direction of the play fake so everybody going left he goes right and take a look at this when Brent does this the rating is almost perfect six touchdowns no interceptions but it really adds a lot of pressure to the deck six seconds and creates an opportunity second mate protection [Applause] finally but a flag is thrown so we'll see if it holds up Percy carpets though grandma Kenny Lee number 74 Danya our penalty still secondary so that's Brian McKinney so we haven't talked about Harvin that would have been his first catch of the night it's a good thing that Julius Peppers is flexible after McKinney got hold of his neck a little limbo coming in there pretty easy they really haven't gotten Percy Harvin too involved in this game either it came in this last week with the migraines different without him involved last week and just need to get born and inside Second Avenue [Music] as he gets [Applause] three the safety rectum and furry made the catch and then the recovery is by the other safety Chris Harris well just one of those middle reads right down the middle of the field and the thing that you have to do is the safety is make him pay and Charles Godfrey who had a couple of big hits last week makes what may be a game changer here I thought Sidney Rice had the ball TV has possession couple of steps I think that is a completion in the fumble good call by the official first fumble of Rice's young career Paras had a forced fumble last week and has [Applause] into Minnesota territory to the 47 and so many times you see a defensive play that gets this crowd into the ballgame and now it's Stewart who's going to get the opportunity cuts all the way back and Leslie Frazier the defensive he said nervous it breaks on [Applause] it's bumped in the backfield and then picks up a yard maybe to Pat Williams in on the tackle a spot the ball just inside the 45 yard line Jasper Brinkley understands exactly what Leslie Fraser was talking about the young linebacker who's had an easy shot here at Jonathan Stewart you'll watch him right here come in looks like I got a my god oh my god oh what brinkley has just limped off the field that's some news there they already without EJ Henderson and he believes [Applause] third time he is called Kings number tonight so here is Libra normally playing on the outside but with Brinkley playing in the middle only the middle linebacker will wear the helmet speaker but the rookie doesn't get it right now he's just trying to be worked through some cramps on the sidelines neighbors should be able to [Applause] [Music] what - gets away and it's workday's down a crime for roughing the passer don't get it intended for Kenneth Lord will be fourth down couldn't tell if there was some contact down the field that time or not what look like Antoine Winfield kind of let him run by but for Matt Moore you know he just occasionally will sail balls you know we saw it last week against New England we've seen it this week in this ballgame that in the NFL you have to hit those opportunities [Applause] there Sunday Night Football being brought to you by kayak Kurtz one and done by Verizon Wireless America's largest 3G network by Toyota moving forward and by McDonald's I'm lovin it Charlotte MC home of the Panthers home of Larry Brown's flop cats Panthers scored six points in the third quarter over the last eight games but you know they had opportunities why they didn't take the field goal at the end of the first half I'll never understand that one and then on the next Drive they took it right down the field and they ran that reverse and knocked him out of field goal range there had to punt had another opportunity there so they just haven't done enough on offense to win the football 1:37 to this point in the game overall 6th and yardage in the league [Applause] 14 yard line after the gain of about three it's easy to talk about Brett Favre in the passing game but the story line again here tonight is Adrian Peterson averaging three yards of carry this is a team and this is a running game before Brett Favre got here that you would have said if you add this kind of a passing attack they're going to be unstoppable running game now [Applause] Chester Taylor Carrie make the catch it is James Anderson plaintiff nice game tonight the outside linebacker with the coverage it'll be third down at seven well you've got to be able to block Julius Peppers to have a chance and peppers right in the face of Brett Favre they're gonna make you sort of catch it and one two on the ground [Applause] Falls they're gonna call at peppers is just [Applause] first half tells the crowd I wanna hear 37 jeebus peccaries it's made about the fact he's making a meal again Mayim two million a game if he's going to play like this I tell you what just a flat-out bulrush going to take Bryant McKinney and cram them right back into prep for sometimes you get set for those speed pass rushers on the outside you expect to move they cram you right in the middle and throw you into the quarterback [Applause] khloe's kick the 44 47 yard line the Minnesota Vikings 223 to go in the third quarter her older we talked about John Fox in fact he's that's a really good year here but the longest tenured head coaches without back-to-back winning seasons will Bart Starr was in Green Bay for nine years and then Sam white coaching Chris Collinsworth that was part of the issue of Cincinnati and then John Fox you know losing record winning losing winning 500 losing and yeah [Applause] it was heat Farwell that a clear shot at him and couldn't knock him down and war is able to escape out of the pocket turned it into a one-yard gain instead of about a six yard sack Matt Moore with not his first Houdini move here tonight he comes on the bootleg and I tell you Ray Edwards was right there along with Heath Farwell and more that sometimes a one-yard gain is a great way that was [Applause] takes the ball of the 38-yard line and that will be eight first down that was just a fantastic run great job by keyed Rick Benson getting out on this one from the guard position and getting a key block but check out the way that Jonathan Stewart finishes his runs he is a load the DJ Williams just got plastered on the tail end of this one [Applause] or Gables - Stuart [Applause] minimal game Greenway and Edwards are there yeah you hit it right on there out ray Edwards is really playing a good game against the run it's talking to Leslie Frazier the defensive coordinator they were really concerned could they hold up against the run if he couldn't play right over here and he has really done a nice job against Jeff King standing him up making the play Leslie Fraser - understood matéo [Applause] De Rosario and the tie then picks up a first down pretty nice play call that time by Jeff Davidson motioning the tight end Dante Rosario in the backfield so they could get the little rough the little pick play on the outside Rosario's having his best year going to motion him here and then get him out and just just enough room there [Applause] the first down now they are in fear going [Applause] thank you [Applause] Kevin Williams is bidding getting so close all night you just wondered when he was finally going to get there and that time he did in key trick Benson had no choice but to hold on this one right here watch the hole with a great move and then Vincent grabs him late so once again the Carolina Panthers make a big play and it comes back I've seen more flagrant holes than that [Applause] similarly phones the flag [Applause] head score [Applause] and it's an try on a windshield let's pour the sack take us to the end [Applause] you know at a field goal range scoring in the third quarter Minnesota seven Carolina [Applause] [Music] aerial coverage tonight being brought to you by Bud Light Charlotte North Carolina major banking center downtown Charlotte and right at the edge of downtown Bank of America Stadium Al Michaels Cris Collinsworth Andrea Kramer start the fourth quarter with the second down in 26 at the 42 yard line for the Panthers who had a first and ten at the 26 yard line but then a 10-yard holding penalty and a six yard sack and now it's second down in 26 over already know what John Fox considers the rain for John Casey not 52 yards we figured that much out [Applause] [Music] [Applause] when the coverage was very good he got it out to Jonathan Stewart but did you see who was on there Williams yep there you go we're going to take another look here at key trick Venson the right guard in this holding call lets you make the call I think when he got that right hand out and sort of you see those shoulders turn like that you're going to get that call on the tail end of it of course if there had been pass interference they would have all set and looked at it a couple of times I didn't think it was pass interference when I look [Applause] at first myth goes by him at the end to give Carolina to Lee 42 yards [Applause] inside man-to-man coverage was underneath help from a dua all he has to do is play the puck the deep ball here and he just got turned around and lost his feet he thinks Steve Smith dragged him to the ground I didn't see it he was jumping up and down at the end of the play claiming he was interfered with what a throw by Matt Moore and they're going for - to try to make it a seven-point game third and 26 and everybody in the house [Applause] he had Kenneth more in the back of the endzone behind Sunday night football brought to you by windows 7 your PC simplified by Campbell's Chunky soup party nutritious by DirecTV no one else's while your feet in HD and by Zales Phillips Center [Music] third and 2649 career touchdown reception Smith this season was six touchdown reception ten one last week against New England the kick is a bouncing ball that will stay in to the 40 that time Rhys Lloyd is the kickoff guy and had a little bit of a fade on it how about Steve Smith we showed you a shot of the guy with the steam coming off his head that pertained to Steve Smith too he's yelling at everybody he wants the football in his hands in between the third and fourth quarter he's yelling at Minnesota he's yelling at his vet she's yelling at his coach and sometimes if you lobby enough they finally throw you a ball I should have tried that never sampled Avenue was at the 15 [Applause] Adrian Peterson Peterson tonight as he was to wish to go on Sunday night against Arizona bottled up 12 carries 35 yards that's less than three yards per toad you know and especially when you consider this Carolina team has been through so many defensive tackles [Applause] [Music] [Applause] he gets clotheslined by captain Mullen but not until he picks up a first down you know what Al this is just amazing to watch Brett Farve work sometimes he saw the linebacker drop underneath this slant instead of throwing it in the first hole he waits and throws it in the second hole James Anderson's been playing football his whole life everybody throws his land he was expecting it [Applause] can't make the catch but a flag comes in from the secondary too in fact one close to the line of scrimmage and the other in the secondary tried to hit that quick screen offensive pass interference [Applause] 10-yard penalty that time the adlib burned bread far because on this play you cannot hold the ball because barian thinks you're going to flip the thing right out to percy harvin so he's going in to block against Richard Marshall well when you hold the ball and throw it down the field that block turns in the pass interference [Applause] first and Tony [Applause] 30 yard line that's Vasant they shank oh let's put him in a position for a second down and 12 up to the 31-yard line I don't think there's anybody in New Orleans cheering for the Carolina Panthers tonight it'd be I don't think they could clinch it tonight but they certainly are going to be in a position where I think they play Tampa Bay next week where they could clinch it then should the Caroline [Music] [Applause] those two receivers and three defenders are there barian was done and it's captain muddled in on the coverage rookie low draft choice saying the other base know what I can intercept the Brett Farve pass I'm gonna go up to him and have my autograph the ball going to get a chance to play again [Applause] bred out today it's his real name great-great-grandfather get you [Applause] he throws incomplete upfield foreshank though at the 50-yard line Julius Peppers came in and he beat artist Hicks is in there at the moment in place of McKinney and came around to spoil it fourth down unbelievable watch peppers on this would beat the double-team comes in has Brett dead to rights Brett pulls an Eli man and gets out of there makes a perfect throw and Jenko dropped take say backwards and a flag is down at the 40-yard line during the kiddie Kolding number 57 of the receiving team candy our penalty [Applause] 12:18 to go aboard The Tonight Show coming up this week and the ones that guess will be Lance Armstrong Jimmy Fallon Tom Arnold will be stopped advised to be show late night this week on NBC [Music] [Applause] force that abounds bye Tyrell Johnson and it's a gain of 23 yards well Ben leavers got to maintain position out here he's got to contain this to the outside when he sinks down inside Stuart sees it and bounces out around the edge they've had to shuffle so many linebackers leave her with a big mistake there Steve Smith working down the field against Cedric Griffin that's about five or six yards of that quality morning [Applause] Gary Barnidge first time they've called his number tonight and in the Minnesota line backing group Brinkley who got an IV on the sidelines is back in the game in the middle here's Brinkley right here he's going to have to do something that he's probably not so comfortable doing though this time does a nice job that Mike backer has to run with anything that goes down the middle any time they split the safeties and that's the part of the game they weren't sure he'd be able to do as well both pretty good [Applause] she crosses the 50-yard line he stopped there but Mitchell be a gain of six yards third and four let's say I have a lot of respect for Tyrell Sutton I really do this young man was forced into earlier this season against the New Orleans Saints playing the full-back position and for a tailback to go into fullback we go boy that's not going to be very good he blocked his tail off that game he was knocking people around he's finally getting a chance to run the ball and doing a good job it's a 580 230 [Applause] [Music] [Applause] 44 yards well once again pin leaver a little late getting underneath this route he's got the flat and he just missed it mattemore snuck that ball in there it's not the cornerbacks respond the linebacker has to get out he didn't get there and just missed the game of inches about a foot there Steve Smith is knew where the camera was - at the end of the floor [Applause] for Jonathan Stewart as he gets tackled by Brinkley Minnesota with 11 wins this season but in only one of those 11 have they trailed by five or more one the game that was early in the season against Detroit and right now they're down by five and in peril of going down by eight or more I'll tell you talked about this being a trap game earlier this is no fluke this is a weapon he's one for nine on third down this girl great [Applause] [Music] get those feet moving we talked about the yardage this guy gains after initial contact and evidence right here gets off the back getting an opportunity tonight [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Claes and he's been the difference [Applause] and they lead by a dozen Carolina Minnesota seven On February 7th the who takes the field for their first Super Bowl performance ever can the Bridgestone Super Bowl 44 halftime show so brett favre no stranger to fourth-quarter comebacks will have to affect one here from Minnesota the one that [Applause] into the end zone for a touchback this red bander you [Music] [Music] Julius Peppers big night carolina defense having a great night [Applause] the double coverage Marshall is there along with Godfrey and Minnesota is going to come up to the line no huddle first down I think they're trying to wake themselves up out of this funk that they're in I'll tell you they have absolutely had the [Applause] [Music] Peterson made up to the 35-yard line still no huddle Brett was telling us he thought that this would be a year he just turned around and hand the ball off and threw it about 15 20 hasn't worked out that way too many times the running game bargain wants a flag huh Marshall covering on the play it'll be third and five and Brett Farve want somebody to block Julius Peppers every single time down Arta six in the ball game [Applause] which isn't any better than what McKinney was doing [Applause] first Paris and the deflection will be fourth down [Applause] I'll tell you what it's a good thing that who is that Percy Harvin was able to get up a little bit because that ball was sailing for a good four or five seconds Brett very lucky that one wasn't picked kick again is taken down at the 21-yard line Carolina Panthers and start to think about chewing up some time with 808 remaining in the fourth quarter big night for Julius and a big night for the Panthers Blackie's allowing a hundred or more rushing yards and each to the lash [Applause] that's against Arizona Cincinnati and now here tonight that's because I have to do right here is stop the run as the Panthers will try to chew up some clock time Jonathan Stewart with 87 yards rushing tonight it has been 36 consecutive games the Vikings have not allowed a hundred yard rusher but Stewart certainly with a chance but I tell you this this defense what's different to me it without EJ Henderson in there and that was my big question this is a team that has been built around running the ball and stopping the run the fourth quarter this is Stuart and he gets to the 21 yard line you can't blame your defense is playing so well I mean the Minnesota Vikings essentially just daring you to throw the football everybody up around the line of scrimmage it's going to be almost impossible to run the ball at this point but you've got this kind of a lead against the Vikings in your own field and really with what your team is doing defensively why not let them have a chance to not take any chances yourself q possession game and stop here for the Minnesota the Avenger [Applause] minutes off the clock [Applause] Minnesota tries to plead the case that he was on the chart they won't win that 16 yards and a key third down conversion well again moving the pocket to buy some time Antoine Winfield had given up the touchdown they go out and up he slips down like we've seen and Steve Smith with a monster ball game [Applause] and that's 9 catches for 157 yards [Applause] and there will be a challenge here you saw the Vikings sideline one of the assistants contending that he stepped out of bounds coach's challenge we don't see anything that would overturn this call we think it's going to stand Smith had his foot very close to being out of bounds we think it's in bounds number one and secondly is there enough there to overturn it the call on the field was he was in bounds we don't see it I thought as he turned to pivot off of that foot you could pretty clearly see that it looked like to me it was inbounds and he was trying to plead his case and Jared Allen who tell him Jim hey you're gonna be staying on the field be something bound Jared Allen's been a little quiet tonight you know the Carolina Panthers have done a nice job on him that's a new look at it from the from our aerial coverage I'd say yeah that's the closest but I still don't see enough to overturn it if any part of the foot is is on the sidelines he'd be out of bounds but you still don't see it even from that which was the best of the angles you know we've got to there we go Morelli after reviewing the play the ruling on the field will stand considers inbound Minnesota will be charged a timeout and a challenge and that's the double whammy that you lose the challenge you lose a timeout you're down by 12 and you've already used a timeout of the half so you down to one what did Steve Smith tell us the other day who's tired to be in the number one receiver they want he wants him to bring in somebody to take some pressure off of him playing the slot [Applause] maybe some income it is one the 37 Stuart can take the ball up to the 40-yard line you know so much of this team is really built around the ability to stop the run so that they can rush the passenger this is the leading team in the National Football League as far as getting sacks on the quarterback but in this one because they've had to play the run so much and bring safeties down they've been vulnerable and pass defense in situations they typically have not been and for Jared Allen the opportunities to go get the quarterback just haven't been there they have two sacks tonight meanwhile Moore has 242 passing yards and the touchdown [Applause] the second pass thrown to him tonight the 6'5 247 pound third team third string tight end 55 yards much Barnidge watch the adjustment he makes on the football here completely covered I think that's Antoine Winfield out there could not be in a better position and he just swims late over the top of Winfield uses that big body and refuses to go to the ground and in many better alternative six [Applause] goes Johnathan Stewart and the total yardage in this game is now Carolina 383 and Minnesota 174 one remember this was a team coming in that was averaging about 11 points a game over the last four games this was a an offense that was struggling in a major way but being at practice on Friday you could see there was no quit in the team it was freezing cold it was awful I couldn't wait to go inside but those guys were flying around and playing hard and for the second time in three weeks the Vikings second down and going [Applause] like to knock him down and also Chris when you think about it I mean this is a team - there - starting tackles including Jordan gross one of the best in the league - their starting quarterback Jake the lone DeAngelo Williams got hurt early tonight six carries 13 yards and they are handing it to the Vikings yeah you really hit on a key point too what a job he's done I'm Jared Allen but Jeff Schwartz the wookie making his first start at the other tackle position we mentioned the past protection as well give him credit [Applause] [Music] [Applause] Panthers have scored three touchdowns on their last three possessions you always get the pics down here Dante Rosario is going to just rub off on Ben Lieber gets just enough of him on the right-hand side to open up there was running back there Jonathan Stewart [Applause] [Music] is really stunning 26 Minnesota seven [Music] so we started the night talking about maybe Minnesota getting the number one seed if they won out in New Orleans stumbled now you're in a position here with Minnesota on its way to a loss where New Orleans completely solidifies the chance to become number one Minnesota would have to win ball to New Orleans lose both not to be number one but now Minnesota's gonna get to Philadelphia breathing their neck for a possible Minnesota they have the Monday nighter in Chicago next week then they have the Giants at home Philadelphia has Denver in Philly next week then they go to Dallas for a huge game which could determine the NFC's but if Philly can win out in Minnesota loses tonight and loses one more game Philadelphia would wind up as the second suit you know the Dallas Cowboys December swoon may not be the story this week it may be Brett Favre's December swoon [Applause] [Applause] give life to the Viking hopes all the way to the 17th far says let's get down the field no huh no let's go 63 yards on that play [Applause] [Applause] [Music] where's this bid [Applause] and again Julius Peppers getting into the face of Favre on the release on those surprise Julius Peppers this time on r26 they benched by McKinney apparently I don't think that there's any injury involved and Julia's pepper says he's done all night with the pressure on far just the poor decision Brett trying to make a play LOB's one up for the corner but there was nothing there Chris Harris was all over it sometimes Brett can lock on to a receiver and there's Vasant ischenko running down the middle of that defense which was really where the hole was [Applause] Phar throwing only his second redzone pick of the season it comes with two and a half minutes remaining and the Minnesota Vikings right now with the warning [Applause] a 15-yard gain and that's 109 yards on the ground the night and that's something you rarely see a bat gaining a hundred yards on the ground against the Vikings set watch him make Chad Greenway miss on this one he is just right in the middle of the hole there's Greenway and there he goes and he's been doing it all night long this is the first hundred yard rusher against this Minnesota Vikings defense now in 36 games and appropriately Jonathan Stewart what a great game he's had two-minute warning [Music] you [Music] two nights after Christmas in washington's place a matchup so heated with one playoff chase as visions of a cheeky ownership danced through there put those big dreams to bed so two minutes real football fight it's the cowboys and Redskins on Sunday night got a few storylines in that one next week postgame report bob is here the injury has an interview the Wendy's postgame report following this the ballgame NFC feels a little different right now doesn't it after last night now tonight you know adelphia playing so well Dallas looked as good as I've seen them in a long time where did they come to play last night the Saints losing at home you've got the Vikings who looked like the 2 seed now looking pretty bad for two of the three weekends Green Bay losing when they had a chance to pretty much cement a playoff spot losing in the last play of the game still for the record of 95 oh by the way the Indianapolis Colts Peyton Manning keep rolling along don't they 10 right say what John Fox has to be proud of his guys yeah you know there's a lot on the line and we all know the rumors out there and coaches that might be available but the stars tonight got it done check out Matt Moore's numbers completely outplayed Brett Favre and everybody else in this ballgame Stewart tremendous against one of the top run defenses or at least in the past don't know now without EJ Henderson either they still fill that bill Minnesota Vikings a team that almost never allows a hundred yards through a ball carrier last time they allowed a hundred yards to an individual it was Ryan grant of Green Bay back in November of oh seven so long ago that Favre was handing the ball off to grant I'll tell you what I am no longer looking at schedules and making predictions we looked at some of the schedules this weekend and you go oh boy that's a win for this team that's a win for them and it just doesn't matter and the NFL anything could happen in any ball game we know that Brett Favre prefers to not see Julius Peppers any time go subscribe to some of those services they'll tell you right yeah I watched our time it's like taking stock takes watch television that's the end of the game and what a night for the Carolina Panthers [Applause] pretty stunning especially the magnitude of this one you know after the Arizona loss you're thinking okay well they lost the one they probably needed the loss and woke them up I don't know this doesn't look like a wake-up call to me and the New Orleans Saints breathe a little sigh of relief our sights 26-7 post [Music]

Channel: Bart Simpson

Views: 7,307

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Id: Z5l5Si6yIzo

Length: 116min 31sec (6991 seconds)

Published: Wed Oct 13 2021