: Giants Vs. Vikings: Eli Manning Closes Half With Kevin Boss TD
Update: Giants Vs. Vikings: Brandon Jacobs Gives New York 7-3 Lead
Already over 100 yards on the ground, the New York Giants are employing the time-honored Tarvaris Jackson countermeasure: keep him off the field. RB Brandon Jacobs pounded in the first touchdown of the night from one yard out after a goal line stand that took about forever, involving a Tom Coughlin challenge of a non-touchdown and so forth.
Giants QB Eli Manning is a mere four-of-ten for 34 yards and two picks. He did nothing but hand off on this touchdown drive, perhaps a winning recipe for the Giants. Jacobs produced a 73-yard run down the sideline, a terrifying sight for any defensive back.
After stepping out for a moment, Vikings QB Tarvaris Jackson has been on the field for all but one play. He's completed nine of 12 passes for 71 yards and bulled his way to a fourth-down conversion. The Giants have otherwise taken Minnesota's running game out of play, allowing only 1.8 yards per carry.
Update: Giants Vs. Vikings: Brett Favre's Streak Officially Over, Tarvaris Jackson Leads Vikings To Field Goal
The Minnesota Vikings got the ball first in tonight's strange, strange Monday night game at Ford Field, with QB Brett Favre watching QB Tarvaris Jackson from the sideline. On the quick opening drive, Jackson completed two of three before the Vikings punted away the ball.
After an Eli Manning interception, the Jackson and RB Adrian Peterson drove Minnesota into the red zone, where WR Sidney Rice appeared to trap a potential touchdown pass against the ground. After the incompletion, kicker Ryan Longwell kicked through the game's opening score. Here's Jackson just having fun out there:
Surprisingly, the Ford Field crowd isn't quite as anti-Vikings as one might've expected. The Detroit stadium is even playing the Vikings' traditional first-down horn-blowin' sound effect, a mighty neighborly gesture from one rival to another.
Jackson has completed five of seven passes for 36 yards and dove for a successful fourth-down conversion. Peterson has rushed for nine yards.
Update: Brett Favre Consecutive Games Streak Ending Gives Tarvaris Jackson Start For Vikings
Brett Favre's consecutive games streak is now over. The Minnesota Vikings listed him as inactive for Monday night's game against the New York Giants. The Vikings (and the Giants) have already had to deal with a lot since this game was originally scheduled on Sunday before the Metrodome roof collapsed. Now that his consecutive games streak has been snapped, Tarvaris Jackson becomes the starting quarterback for the Vikings.
Jackson replaced Favre last week when he went down early in the game. Jackson completed 15-of-22 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions.
How long will Jackson be the starter? There's already been speculation of whether Favre will end the season on injured reserve. The Vikings have yet to make that decision. They have just three games remaining after Monday night against the Giants.
Favre hasn't practiced this week so it's been all Jackson in practice. We'll see if the Vikings go with a heavier dose of the run to take the pressure off of him.
For his career, Jackson has completed 59 percent of his passes with 24 touchdowns and 21 interceptions. He was originally a Vikings second round pick in 2006. Now he has the task of replacing a football legend.
Update: Percy Harvin Injury: Migraines Will Keep Vikings WR Out Vs. Giants
After a weekend of speculation that migraines would keep Percy Harvin out of tonight’s Minnesota Vikings game against the New York Giants, Harvin is “definitely out” tonight, according to NFL.com’s Steve Wyche.
Harvin’s condition seems to have gotten worse recently. He hasn’t been able to practice for two weeks now, and actually didn’t even make the team’s flight to Detroit. He’s struggled with migraines for most of his life, and hoped he’d found a solution this past offseason, but has still had to miss time this year.
With QB Brett Favre out as well for the first time ever, expect the Tarvaris Jackson-to-Sidney Rice connection to form the bulk of Minnesota’s passing game. Favre’s absence coupled with the Ford Field setting will make this a must-see-if-you-can game, but Harvin’s presence will be missed.
Harvin has 733 yards from scrimmage in his second NFL season. He posted 925 last year, turning in quite a few electrifying plays on offense and special teams.
Update: Brett Favre Inactive For Vikings; Consecutive Games Streak Ends At 297
After nearly two decades of consecutive games started, Brett Favre will sit. The Minnesota Vikings announced their inactive for Monday night's game against the New York Giants and Favre's name was on it, which means he will not play.
Favre currently holds the record for consecutive games started. That streak now ends at 297 games. Colts QB Peyton Manning takes over as the new active leader.
Favre has ankle, chest and shoulder injuries and was knocked out of the Vikings Week 13 game. Favre said this weekend that he didn't think he would be able to play if the game had been on Sunday, but it was later rescheduled due to the Metrodome roof collapse. Even after the game was rescheduled, he said he didn't think he would be able to play.
Here's a photo of the inactive list the Vikings submitted to the league.
Update: PHOTO: Minnesota Vikings Logo On Ford Field Turf
To prepare Ford Field for the Minnesota Vikings, the Detroit Lions grounds crew has had to pull off a quick and unexpected turnaround in the past 24 hours. The Lions played the Green Bay Packers yesterday, and even though the crowd will be largely anti-Vikings, the building still needed to be redone to at least look like a home game for the Vikes.
Midfield logo, end zone text, and smaller logos near the twenties all needed changing. Here’s the progress they’ve made, via Daily Norseman:
Not bad at all. The stadium has also recently hosted the MAC Championship Game, requiring some branding updates around the facility. But do you think the Lions crew will go out of its way to switch out the Lions walkout tunnel banner, goal post padding, and general fieldside flair for whatever purple stuff they can find? After all, if there are going to be Lions logos in the crowd, why not leave a few sitting near the field?
Update: Giants Vs. Vikings: Detroit Crowd Could Counter Minnesota's Travel Advantage
So many Detroit football fans lined up to get free tickets to tonight’s game between the Minnesota Vikings and New York Giants that Ford Field had to stop handing them out. Bad sign for the Vikings — Detroit’s an NFC North rival town, meaning the Vikes are walking into an all-out road game. And they won’t even boo the Giants!
Daily Norseman, our Vikings community, is just happy to be playing on Monday Night Football so late in the season, while Big Blue View is worried about the effects of all this travel on the Giants. New York has been on the road since early Saturday morning, and DE Justin Tuck has just about had it:
“A lot of guys are jet-lagged and tired,” defensive end Justin Tuck said from the Giants’ Detroit hotel earlier tonight. "Right now we’re just trying to get off our feet and trying to get our minds back into the football game. There’s been lot of ups downs and uncertainty around it. At least now we know where we’re playing and there are things we have to handle on the football field.
We’re going to get to see a really interesting crowd dynamic tonight, as Lions fans would cheer for just about anybody over the Vikings. Will that make up for all the time the Giants have spent traveling and sitting in hotels all weekend?
Update: Brett Favre Injury Leaves Him Doubtful Vs. Giants; Streak Expected To End Tonight
Will Brett Favre’s games-played streak end tonight as the Vikings play impromptu Monday Night Football against the New York Giants? ESPN’s Ed Werder reports Favre believes it likely will, as the sprained shoulder he suffered against the Buffalo Bills last week is expected to keep him out. QB Tarvaris Jackson would get the start in relief.
He also has various other injuries, including an ankle and chest, and reportedly texted a USA Today reporter that he’s glad to be “chillin for a change,” which would mean he’s either not playing, thinks the game is being played in the snowed-up Metrodome, or has offseason plans that don’t involve tractor labor.
Favre has started an NFL-record 297 straight games. If he can’t go tonight, Indianapolis Colts QB Peyton Manning would be the new streak-holder, with 205 straight starts. Tampa Bay Buccaneers CB Ronde Barber and Redskins LB London Fletcher have also started well over 100 straight games each.
Coach Leslie Frazier yesterday described Favre’s likelihood as “doubtful,” but added, “sometimes you never know with him.”
Yesterday morning, Twitter’s most popular joke was the one about the Metrodome roof collapse buying Favre an extra day to heal up and keep his streak alive. Even Vikings WR Bernard Berrian got in a punchline, though apologies in advance if you load his Twitter background on your work computer.
Giants Vs. Vikings: Brett Favre Injury Has Him Doubtful For Monday's Game In Detroit
The Metrodome's roof collapsed in Minneapolis on Sunday which resulted in the NFL pushing back to Monday night the game between the New York Giants and Minnesota Vikings. So the two teams will now play at 7:20 p.m. at Ford Field, home of the Detroit Lions. The game will be broadcast locally in New York and Minneapolis and will be available on DirecTV's Sunday Ticket.
The Giants have had their fair share of adversity as they spent the weekend in Kansas City where they had to divert their plane on Saturday after the Minneapolis airport closed.
The Vikings are going through their own bit of adversity -- QB Brett Favre isn't expected to play as he suffers from ankle, chest and shoulder injuries. If QB Tarvaris Jackson goes instead, it will mean the end of Favre's streak of 297 consecutive games started. The Vikings, though, are holding out some hope he'll be able to go, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter.
Asked for Brett Favre's status in a text this am, Vikings HC Leslie Frazier responded: "Doubtful but sometimes you never know with him."
Favre's injury occurred last week when he was knocked out of the game against the Buffalo Bills. Though he's been injured and put his streak in doubt before, it appears this time it may be for real. The game kicks off Monday night at which point we'll find out if Favre will indeed miss the game.
New York Giants QB Eli Manning has apparently decided to stage a Brett Favre tribute tonight to honor the 'Slinger's 297-start streak. After throwing two Favrely interceptions, he fired a touchdown through tight coverage to TE Kevin Boss for a six-yard touchdown with seconds left in the first half:
The catch was challenged by the booth, as Boss bobbled the ball between his legs as he went down, but was upheld. The Giants completed the nine-play, 71-yard drive in just under two minutes.
New York is outgaining the Minnesota Vikings 211 yards to just 94, but don't pin that entirely on QB Tarvaris Jackson. He's 10-of-13 for 77 yards, while the Vikes' running game has produced only 27 yards on 14 attempts. WR Sidney Rice has also dropped two tough but somewhat catchable passes. Jackson has also been sacked twice. Even after that great throw by Manning, Jackson has been the best quarterback at Ford Field so far tonight.