Sep 7, 2007, 16:47 GMT
- OK...first let's dispense with the silliness.
All the references to this week's season opener between the Atlanta Falcons and Minnesota Vikings that in any way mention exiled quarterback Michael Vick in connection with phrases like 'Dog Bowl,' 'bark is worse than his bite' or 'eluding a growling defense' end here.
Needless to say, the greyhound-fast signal-caller will not be unleashed on the Atlanta sidelines this Sunday at the Metrodome, having instead been sent to the NFL's doghouse by animal control officer, errr...commissioner Roger Goodell after a recent in-court plea agreement.
Into Vick's stead steps fellow former first-round pick Joey Harrington, who washed out in both Detroit and Miami before signing with the Falcons during the off-season to presumably serve as Atlanta's No. 2 upon the departure to Houston of backup supreme Matt Schaub.
Rather, the University of Oregon product enters the season as a starter for the fourth time in his career - he was 3-0 in openers with the Lions - and is perched atop a dubious depth chart now featuring former Baltimore Ravens starter Chris Redman as chief understudy.
Coach Bobby Petrino is new to the Falcons as well, having come from the University of Louisville in a seemingly ill-fated plan to mentor Vick's maturation process into an all-around offensive field general from the quarterback's spot.
Atlanta was 7-9 overall in 2006 after starting the year at 3-1 and hanging in the NFC playoff race through Week 14, before dropping the final three games by a combined 72-48 count.
Minnesota's Brad Childress enters his second season at the helm of the recently foundering Vikings' ship, which slumped to 6-10 last year after a 4-2 start through the schedule's initial month-and-a-half.
Childress begins 2007 with a relative newcomer under center, where second-year man Tarvaris Jackson will make just his third career start. He assumed the role late last season, becoming just the third rookie QB to start a game in team history.
SERIES HISTORY
The Vikings have a 14-8 lead in their all-time regular season series with the Falcons, but were 30-10 road losers in their last meeting with Atlanta, in 2005. Minnesota won the previous meeting, a 39-26 affair in Atlanta. The Falcons were 30-24 overtime winners when they last visited Minnesota, in 2002. The Vikings' last home victory over Atlanta took place in 1989.
In addition to the regular season series, the teams have faced off twice in postseason play. Minnesota dealt Atlanta a 30-24 setback in a 1982 NFC First- Round Playoff, and the Falcons avenged that defeat by denying the Vikings a Super Bowl berth with a 30-27 overtime upset in the 1998 NFC Championship.
Petrino and Childress will be meeting each other, as well as their counterpart's team, for the first time as head men.
WHEN THE FALCONS HAVE THE BALL
Harrington gets another crack at running an NFL offense after a brief stint with the Dolphins, where he passed for 2,236 yards, 12 touchdowns and 15 interceptions a year ago. With Atlanta, he'll have the option of leaning on dynamic running back Warrick Dunn, who ran for 1,140 yards and scored four touchdowns in 2006. Tight end Alge Crumpler caught 56 passes for 780 yards and eight scores a year ago, while New Orleans export Joe Horn moves east after catching 523 balls for 7,622 yards and 50 touchdowns in seven seasons with the Saints.
Minnesota's overall defense was third in the NFC last season with an average yards-allowed clip of 300.2 per week. Pro Bowl defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams return to lead a rush-stopping unit that permitted an NFL-low 61.6 yards per game. Meanwhile, veteran safety Darren Sharper, who tied for the team lead with four interceptions, has helped his teams to a 33-10 record through his career in games in which he's had at least one pick.
WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL
Jackson, a 6-foot-1, 232-pounder from Alabama State, passed for a feel-good 214 yards in his final start of 2006 - a 41-21 loss to St. Louis. Overall, he completed 47-of-81 passes for 475 yards, two touchdowns and four interceptions. Sixth-year running back Chester Taylor had a career year in his first season with Minnesota, going for 1,214 yards and six TDs in 304 carries, along with 42 catches. But Taylor figures to give a sizeable portion of his carries to No. 7 overall Draft pick Adrian Peterson, the former Oklahoma star who had a solid first NFL preseason. Wide receiver Troy Williamson, who caught a 16-yard TD pass in his last meeting with the Falcons, caught 37 passes for a team-best 455 yards in 2006.
Defensively, the Falcons thrived on opportunity, racking up a plus-6 turnover ratio that was good for third in the conference. Rod Coleman had a team-best six sacks last season and has 50.5 since 2001, the most in the league by a defensive tackle. He had two sacks the last time he faced the Vikings, but is questionable this week with a knee injury. Elsewhere, linebacker Keith Brooking returns after leading the team in tackles for a sixth straight season, and defensive end Jamaal Anderson - a 6-foot-6, 280-pounder from Arkansas - makes his pro debut after being selected eighth overall in April's draft.
FANTASY FOCUS
Sans Vick, primary offensive choices for the Falcons include the yard-gobbling Dunn at running back and touchdown-grabbing Crumpler at tight end. For Minnesota, the distribution of carries between Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor is in question as Week 1 is set to begin. Meanwhile, the Vikings' defense is a quality choice for its overall prowess, while cornerback DeAngelo Hall and his big-play capability - 10 interceptions for 308 return yards in 2005-06 - make Atlanta a solid defensive selection.
OVERALL ANALYSIS
All eyes will be on Harrington and the Atlanta offense, which faces a major obstacle with its running game against a stingy Minnesota front seven. That could force the new passer into the sort of primary role that's proven a problem for him in previous career stops. Conversely, Jackson is no Fran Tarkenton/Tommy Kramer/Randall Cunningham throwback just yet, but his running ability combined with the presence of Peterson and Taylor should allow the Vikings to control the clock and win a low-scoring affair.
Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Vikings 17, Falcons 13
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