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Dan puts the defense under the microscope, and finds out even more about the performance of Darrelle Revis and others . . . Let’s go . . .
Shaun Ellis displayed great hustle on the first series. On third-and-long, the Vikings called a draw to Adrian Peterson, and Ellis showed terrific effort, running down field, to catch up with the speedy runner, and stop him after a gain of 15, short of the first down. Ellis also had a sack of Favre late in the game.
Mike DeVito did some good work against the run. Ellis and DeVito stopped Peterson for no gain in the middle of the fourth. DeVito (and David Harris) combined to stop Peterson for no gain early in the fourth.
David Harris had an outstanding game.
Harris sent a message to Peterson on the runner’s first carry of the game. He did gain four yards on the play, but Harris crushed him and drove him to the ground. Harris had another big-time hit on Peterson for no gain, early in the second quarter. In the middle of the second, Harris rocked RB Toby Gerhart, who gained just one yard. Harris combined with Bart Scott to stop Peterson for a loss of two off right tackle late in the third quarter.
Scott recovered a botched exchange between Favre and center Ryan Cook late in the first half. The Vikings had a couple of botched snaps, and made a center change in the second half.
Jason Taylor sacked Favre late in the game, but this looked like a coverage sack. Favre had a long time to throw and stayed in the pocket too long. Taylor had a nice run stop on Peterson for no gain late in the third quarter.
Calvin Pace was a little rusty, but made a couple of nice plays. He drew a holding call on TE Jim Kleinsasser that brought back a long run by Peterson off left tackle in the middle of the fourth. Pace sacked Favre late in the first half, but got a piece of his facemask while taking the quarterback down, and was flagged on the play. Pace seemed to get fatigued late in the game, and had a hard time getting off a block on a Peterson run for nine yards off left tackle in the fourth.
Darrelle Revis’ best play might have been in run support and it happened on the first series. With no help, he stopped Peterson in the right flat after just a gain of one.
Revis had some issues with Percy Harvin. On the Vikings’ third possession, he did a poor job on Harvin on a screen (kind of lost him in traffic), and the wide receiver was off-to-the-races, and Brodney Pool prevented a touchdown. He gave up a touchdown late on a crossing route. Also late, Harvin got by Revis on an in-cut, but Favre was off-target. If this had been a completion, the Jets might have lost the game because Harvin had a ton of running room. Revis was beat by WR Greg Lewis for a gain of 33 on the right side late in the game.
Revis recovered a Favre fumble early third.
Drew Coleman had a sack of Brett Favre on a blindside blitz to end the Vikings’ second series.
Antonio Cromartie did give up a touchdown to Randy Moss, but for the most part, was outstanding against the wide receiver. On the Vikings’ third possession, on a pass down the left sideline, Cro did a great job of timing his jump and knocking the pass away. A few plays later, Cro was about to pick off a pass down the deep right side to Moss, but Pool knocked it way as it was about to land in Cro’s hands. Cro had a leaping pick on a two-point conversion. Early in the fourth quarter, Cro drew a pass interference call on Moss down the deep left side.
Kyle Wilson had a PD on TE Visante Shiancoe to end a middle third quarter drive. Wilson was beat soundly by Harvin, and Favre underthrew him in the middle of the fourth. This would have been a long gain.
A Jim Leonhard blitz up the middle, early in the second quarter, forced an incompletion, and ended a drive. Leonhard and Pool knocked away a pass to Shiancoe over the middle late in the third quarter. Leonhard saved a touchdown on a long Harvin kick return late in the game. Leonhard was beat by Harvin for a TD late in the game. This is a ridiculous match-up.
Marquice Cole knocked the ball out of Peterson’s hands on an incomplete swing pass late in the game. He also had an illegal block on special teams.
Late in the third quarter, Harvin beat Dwight Lowery on a crossing route that gained 22 yards. Lowery had a Pick Six late to ice the win. Extensive film study helped him pick up a Favre tendency.
Eric Smith couldn’t get off a block, and Peterson ran by him for a gain of 30 yards on a sweep to the left side, on the last play of the third quarter.