[SplitPersonality1]

Week Two - Featured Games
D1979: 1998 Minnesota Vikings (15-1, 0-1) at 2007 New England Patriots (16-0, 0-0)
It is only week Two in the Ultimate NFL League and the’98 Vikings find themselves in a bind. The ’79 Steelers have already dispatched the ’78 Rams and the Vikes cannot afford to get two games behind them. Unfortunately, they go up against a rested ’07 Patriots squad that has never lost a regular season game.

The Vikings get the ball first and march down the field rather easily. However, they stall out in the red zone and are held to a Gary Anderson field goal. The two teams trade three and outs and then the Vikings get two more sustained drives in the second quarter leading to two additional field goals.

With four minutes left in the half, Corey Fuller intercepts Brady and runs it back to the Patriot 13. One play later…touchdown! Minnesota has a comfortable 16-0 lead which they take into the fourth quarter. Then the wheels came off.

Minnesota forgets how to play defense. Brady goes to work, throwing pass after pass leading to a Kevin Faulk 2-yard td run. Patriots fail on the 2-point conversion. MIN 16 – NE 6 with 13:34 to go.

Minnesota goes three and out. Brady and crew march down the field for a second td, this time a pass to Ben Watson. Crap! MIN 16 NE 13 with 5:02 remaining

On the first play after the kickoff, Robert Smith runs for 2, but the ball is knocked loose – Patriots recover on the Minnesota 34. Disaster! 4:50 left on the clock

Brady throws a long pass to Randy Moss (I forgot he was on that Patriot team), and New England has the ball on the 6-yard line. Next Brady pass is…. INTERCEPTED!!!! by Corey Fuller in the endzone. Touchback!

Minnesota doesn’t take any chances. They keep the ball on the ground and grind out a few first downs. Game ends with Cunningham taking a knee. Whew. That was a close call. Final score: MIN 16 – NE 13.

Other than that long pass toward the end of the game, neither Randy Moss had much of an impact on the game. Randall Cunningham went 11 for 12 and 117 yards. Robert Smith ran for 103, Corey Fuller had the two pics and POG was Derrick Alexander who had 3 sacks. POG should have been Corey Fuller.

D1972: 1993 San Francisco 49ers (10-6, 1-0) at 1972 Miami Dolphins (14-0, 1-0)
This was another great game. A high scoring affair with four lead changes and great individual performances. Steve Young was crazy efficient going 17 for 19, 258 yards, 2tds and 1 int. Bob Griese was “only” 8 for 10, 107 yards and a td. Mercury Morris and Larry Csonka combine for 218 yards a 2tds. For Frisco, Ricky Watters rushed for 140 yards and 3 tds.

In the end, it was Rickey Watters’ 27 yard td with time expiring which was the difference and Miami falls to 1-1 on the season. Final: SF over MIA 33-30.

D1985: 1977 Minnesota Vikings (9-5, 0-1) at 1985 Chicago Bears (15-1, 1-0)
Chuck Foreman, Sammy White, Ahmad Rashad, Fran Tarkenton for Minnesota. Walter Payton, Willie Gault, Jim McMahaon and Matt Suhey for Chicago. None of these guys played any major factor in this game. It was all about the defense.

Minnesota kicker Fred Cox missed three field goals including the potential game winner from 53 yards out as time expired in regulation.

Chicago’s Kevin Butler kicked the game winner in overtime. Final: CHI 3 – MIN 0