Two must-watch games for Vikings fans in 2010

The 2010 NFL schedule was released on Tuesday, and for those who love the purple and white Minnesota Vikings jerseys, there are at least two games you must watch and care the results. The first one is the season opener against last year’s Super Bowl champions, the New Orleans Saints, and the other one is against Brett Favre’s old team, the Green Bay Packers.


According to the schedule, the Vikings will have only one chance to try if they could beat the team that cut their way to the Super Bowl last season in the NFC championship game and caused the Vikings to run out of chance again where it seemed only one step away from the championship. The team has been division champions for 18 times, nine NFC or AFC appearances and four Super Bowl appearances since the combination of AFL and NFL but never made it to the League Championship. However, hopes are always greater in new beginning, and the Vikings will definitely do their best for the redemption. On the other side, all Saints fans will hope that their beloved team will also keep their perfect performance to defend the championship. So, whatever team’s fans you are, this game just can’t be missed.

What is worth more expectation is that whether Brett Favre would wear back the No. 4 Vikings jersey in 2010 season. As recent speculations have been tending to his return, the other game on Oct. 24 Sunday night against the Packers will attract as much attention as the season opener. If Favre really decides to play his 20th season with the Vikings, the team would be the only team he has ever played for more than one year out of Green Bay. His first NFL season with the Atlanta Falcons was almost nothing, and his first season after leaving Packers with the Jets resulted in another retiring announcement. Being a Packers quarterback for 16 years, Favre, however, had his best season with the Vikings. If he returns to play another game against the former home team, I guess he will have more haters in Green Bay but also more fans in Minnesota.

Rodgers led Packers to win by throwing three TDs

Without star safety Ed Reed, the Baltimore Ravens had to struggle in coverage while playing against the Green Bay Packers on Monday night, and finally lost the game 27-14 to the Packers, who are now sitting pretty in the playoff race.


You can call it lucky for Packers or unlucky for Ravens. Aaron Rodgers did arise cheer from fans in his No. 12 replica Packers jersey by throwing three touchdowns, with two to tight end Jermichael Finley. But he was still apt to throw interceptions. Again he threw two interceptions. And in preparation for playoffs, he needs to improve himself a lot.

What’s more a big part of the Packers’ win was gained through a committed 23 penalties for 310 yards, the second-highest yardage total in an NFL game. That is perhaps why Ravens coach John Harbaugh insisted his team is “still breathing” in the playoff race.

Winless Bucs gave 4-3 Packers fourth loss of the season

The Green Bay Packers fans were disappointed again. They made a good preparation for Brett Favre’s comeback but the Packers frustrated them with a 26-38 loss to the Minnesota Vikings. When they pulled themselves together and expected that their team would at least win the next game, which was against the last winless team of this season. However, they had to face another embarrassing loss.


The Tampa Bay Buccaneers welcomed their first victory of the season by beating the Packers 38-28. The victory also confirmed rookie Josh Freeman’s starting job in the Tampa Bay as it was his first start and he managed to end the league’s longest losing streak at 11 games.

Being the 17th pick in the draft and the third quarterback taken behind Matthew Stafford and Mark Sanchez, Freeman was playing with poise that belied his inexperience and passed for 205 yards and three touchdowns. As the third and youngest starting quarterback for the Bucs, he gave the struggling team plenty of reasons to be optimistic about the future.

As for the starting quarterback wearing Packers jersey, Aaron Rodgers, he threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns. Comparing to rookie Freeman, the league’s top-rated passer threw three interceptions but had one returned for a TD that put the game out of reach in the final minute. Not beyond expectation, Rodgers was sacked six times, amounting to 37 times in eight games. The frustrated quarterback may need a good rest to gain enough strength for next playing.

Packers returner Blackmon and RT Colledge injured knees

During the 30-23 loss to Minnesota on Monday night, the Green bay Packers returner Will Blackmon and right tackle Daryn Colledge were the first signs of the loss when they were helped off the field with knee injuries.


Blackmon was injured in the second quarter. He cut to his right and his left knee appeared to buckle as he tried to head up field. Blackmon remained on the turf for several minutes and was taken on a cart to the locker room for examination. According to Coach Mike McCarthy, it was a sprained knee. Jordy Nelson took over Blackmon’s job and the latter was to be evaluated on Tuesday.

Colledge injured his right knee when he got tangled with a Vikings defensive linemen in the third quarter. He was replaced by rookie T.J. Lang. “We’ll see how it is tomorrow,” Colledge said. “I’ve never missed a start. I don’t plan on making Detroit the first one.”

Other injured players in packers jersey needed to be evaluated on Tuesday included running back DeShawn Wynn, who had a wrist injury, and linebacker Desmond Bishop, who bruised one of his knees.