Favre Proves he is still “The Man”, as Frazier Collects the Win as Vikings New Head Coach

In a game where both teams desperately needed a win, the Minnesota Vikings pulled through in a 17-13 lackluster performance over the Washington Redskins. This game marked the start of a new era in Minnesota with new interim head coach Leslie Frazier winning his first ever game with the title. Brad Childress was fired earlier in the week after the Vikings, who were considered by most a Super Bowl contender, started the season at 3-7 and struggling to find consistency behind the iron man of football quarterback Brett Favre.

The Redskins came into the game off an important road victory over the Tennessee Titans at 5-5 and barely holding onto any hope of reaching the playoffs. The game began on a positive note as Washington quarterback Donovan McNabb marched down the field for an 83 yard drive on 8 of 8 passing, ending in a 10-yard pass to tight end Fred Davis for a touchdown.

Minnesota responded quickly on their very next drive to tie the score at seven on a five yard touchdown run by Adrian Peterson. That drive lasted under four minutes with Favre connection to Adrian Peterson for 34-yards on a screen play and Visanthe Shiancoe for 13 more to put the Vikings just outside the red zone. Peterson’s score came two plays later, but his action would end soon thereafter. Peterson injured his ankle on a running play early in the second quarter and would be taken out of the game but not before he reached 1,000 yards on the season for the fourth consecutive time in as many seasons. This made way for rookie out of Stanford Toby Gerhart to come in at running back for the majority of the game.

Toby Gerhart seemed to struggle early on finding running room, and both teams were held scoreless in the second period. With Adrian Peterson out and Gerhart going into the half with 13 yards on five carries, the Vikings seemed destined to rely on Brett Favre in the second half. Favre responded on the Vikings first possession of the second half by going 5 of 5 for 55 yards, landing on the Redskins nine yard line, when Gerhart scored his first NFL touchdown after two rushing attempts.

As Gerhart was finding a way to rush into the end zone, Washington could not seem to get any sort of running game going. Washington only handed the ball of 13 times the entire game as starter Clinton Portis was placed on IR earlier in the week. Normal backup Ryan Torain was also kept out of his second consecutive game, leaving the duty of running the ball mainly to practice squad call up and former Clemson standout James Davis. Davis could not get anything going but still managed to lead the Redskins with 11 rushing yards on six carries, with the team finishing the game with only 29 total rushing yards.

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With the score at 14-7, and a few punts later, Washington was pinned back at their own five yard line when Donovan McNabb threw an interception. Minnesota linebacker E.J. Henderson seemed to be invisible as the ball hit him in the hands, giving them the ball at the Washington nine yard line. Washington’s defense prevailed as Brett Favre was sacked on third down by Andre Carter and Albert Haynesworth, forcing Ryan Longwell to kick a 31-yard field goal.

Washington behind 17-7 and the stadium silent, home crowd favorite Brandon Banks sparked the team with a 65- yard kickoff return to put the Redskins at the Minnesota 28 yard line. McNabb was sacked by Vikings standout defensive end Jared Allen to end the third quarter, and Washington could not recover as they were forced to kick a 40- yard field two plays later.

After Graham Gano connected on the field goal and a Vikings three and out, the Redskins would get the ball back down 17-10. McNabb then struck deep to Anthony Armstrong for 45 yards on first down to the Vikings 24 yard line. With no sign of a running game, Washington resorted to three consecutive pass plays for one yard and was forced to another Gano field goal, this time from 42 yards out.

The Redskins would then hold Minnesota to another three and out and force a punt with just over seven minutes remaining in the game. Down 17-13, Brandon Banks electrified the crowd once more with a nifty 77- yard punt return for a touchdown. This would have given the Redskins a 20-17 lead late in the fourth, but Washington was called for an illegal block forcing the Redskins back to their own eleven yard line. Washington went three and out and had to punt the ball back to Minnesota with just over six minutes left in the game.

Minnesota would then run out the rest of the game clock by sustaining a 14 play drive, behind the running of Toby Gerhart. Gerhart ate up a bulk of the clock by gaining 25 yards on eight carries, finishing the game with 76 yards on 22 carries and the touchdown. With the game on the line though, Brett Favre proved once more that age just does not matter when he scrambled for ten yards on a third and eight to win the game. Washington was out of timeouts and could not stop the clock as Brett Favre would seal the deal three kneel downs later.

By Jason Stein
ProFootball-fans.com Washington Redskins Correspondent