|
2013 Regular Season
Week 1
Minnesota 0-0 at Detroit 0-0
We open with a tough matchup against a division rival and thankfully Matt Cassell is named the starter at QB. We ta an early lead on a 24 yard Blair Walsh field goal and that is our highlight. Detroit is up 17-6 at the half as Stafford hits Jeremy Ross with a minute left the that takes the wind out of our sails. We hold Detroit to five 3 and outs in the 2nd half, but with AP we generate no ground game and can't claw our way back. Toby Gerhart nets 38 yards on 18 carries and Cassell is 24-48, 285 yards and 2 picks. A sole bright spot on defense is MLB Erin Henderson's 12 tackles and 2 assists.
Final: Detroit 24 Minnesota 6
Week 2
Minnesota 0-1 at Chicago 1-0
No let up here and we never lead, down 10-0 at half, with our only score coming on a 3 yard run by the returning Adrian Peterson, who is hobbled, but still nets 69 yards on 12 carries (5.75 YPC). The problem is we are behind the whole game and don't want to overwork him right away anyhow. Cutler burns our young secondary twice deep, going 49 yards to Brandon Marshall and 42 yards on Alshon Jeffery on his way to a 22-29, 274 performance. Cassell is again mediocre going 23-40, 153 and another pick and we rarely touch Cutler, getting only 2 hurries and a knockdown.
Final: Chicago 23 Minnesota 7
0-2, both division losses and we are in a hole! On the bright side, Kyle Rudolph is back at 100%, as is Jared Allen, who played through a nagging injury. AP is back, but will not be full strength for 2 weeks still, while we get starting RT Phil Loadholt back next week.
|