Washington vs Minnesota

Something Old, new, borrowed and blue

Yeah it was a marriage made in heaven with a new coach, a new attitude and an old quarterback who knows how to win. Brad Johnson led a 54-yard fourth-quarter drive, capped by Ryan Longwell’s 31-yard field goal with one minute remaining, to give the Vikings a 19-16 victory over the Washington Redskins on Monday night. New Head Coach Brad Childress won the approval of his team and fans alike on his debut game. It boosted their ego to win a game against a rival who made the playoff last season on their home field. Minnesota is poised and ready to take on the league. They feel they have hardened themselves to battle readiness and that says a lot.

The Redskins had a chance recover after Longwell’s kick, but John Hall — who has struggled with leg injuries for the last two years — was wide left with a poorly hit 48-yard field goal attempt with 12 seconds remaining. It was tight but not tight enough.

Chester Taylor, the Vikings’ free agent signing from Baltimore, rushed 31 times for 88 yards and a touchdown, upstaging Clinton Portis’ surprise return for Washington. Portis, who spent the week downplaying his chances for the game because of a shoulder injury, entered the game late during the Redskins’ first drive and finished with 39 yards on 10 carries.

The focus of the game turned from the somber loss to the remembrance of the 2001 attacks. There was over 90k in attendance a new record for the NFL.

The Vikings become the 10th road team to win in the NFL’s opening weekend, the most in Week 1 since 1983, when there were 12 road winners. So does this mean that there’s a new trend brewing? Who knows?