2022 Scoop from the Siege Week 1, 2022: Vikings 20, Packers 0

[Bundy]

With the Green Bay front office collapsing into a puppet state earlier this year, it was no surprise to Minnesota faithful that they'd be favorites against the Cheeseheads to start the season. That said, there were still uneasy and nervous feelings prior to kickoff on Sunday.

 

Vikings captains Paul Gurule, Mathew Madden, and Paul Munford walked to the 50 yard line for the coin toss and were cheered by a rabid swarm of Vikings fans who had made the trip over to Lambeau. For Green Bay, the captainship received no ovation at all, which seemed to set the tone for the game.

 

"We were expecting a deafening home crowd to really drown us out, and then when that happened, we knew we had it in the bag," quipped Madden during post game media interviews. The Vikings won the coin toss, chose to receive, and then used that energy to march on a 14 play drive that churned through over 6 minutes of the games opening quarter, culminating in a 1-yard dump off from QB Christian Sinnock to Gurule. Sinnock struggled through 2 preseason games, though the only offensive starters he truly played with were WR3 1st rounder Alex Williams III and C Darren Willard, so it was exciting for Vikings fans to see what he's capable of with a full arensal.

 

Minnesota's defense came in clutch on their first drive, forcing a 3-and-out that truly quieted the green-clad home fans. The Minnesota fans soon became those drowning out the Green Bay players, with rookie RB Cooper McGough icing his 2021 College Football Rushing Title, scampering for a 37-yard score on the 2nd Vikings drive and putting them up 14-0. It was over from that point on.

 

Midway point through the 3rd quarter, the frustrations truly boiled over for the Packers. Punter Ralph Meek, disagreeing with the decision to punt down 17-0 from the Vikings 33, absolutely boomed a punt that maybe the field crew should have put up the net in the goal posts for. Meeks punt hammered off his foot, straight down the field but soaring past the goal line, past the end line, through the goal posts, and eventually landing in the bleachers about 60 feet up. The CBS sideline reporter asked him about it, and all Meek had to say was "souvenir ball."

 

Rookie Report

Though the Vikings offseason series FAN or MANkato came to an abrupt halt due to unforeseen time constraints, it was clear that UDFA Oswaldo Urrutia was the biggest standout from camp amongst the rookies. Urruita posted 31-728-11 at Alabama last year, and had a more than solid preseason, going 12-137. The Vikings believe in him enough to officially name him MANkato, and he received important reps during this opening regular season contest, carrying the ball for 19 yards. The Vikings have traded WR4 Tracey Borders to Washington in an attempt to get the ball to Urrutia even more.

 

Cooper McGough, of course, had the rushing touchdown in the 1st quarter, and though he's splitting time with veteran Bruno Hansen, who sees the bulk of the carries, he still managed 7 carries for 59 yards and the TD.

 

Hyped rookie Alex Williams III did exactly what he was drafted to do, stretching the field for 4 receptions for 72 yards.

 

Defensively, UDFA CB J.P. Cunningham finished with 3 tackles, and DE Mitch Rivers had an assisted tackle. Rookie kicker and late signee Robin Reynolds faired better than his short lived UDFA predecessor, going 2/2 on XP and making 2/3 FGs, with the miss coming from 44, which is proving to be not a gimmee kick across the league. Returner Bryn Moore finished with one kick return for 23 yards, and one punt return for 15 yards.

 

A rookie who did NOT play well was one all to familiar to the Vikings front office.

 

Have You Seen Me?

 

former Jayhawks receiver Junior Ogbah was selected by the Packers in the 1st Round. Though we can't confirm, rumors with Vikings insiders say that the Vikings didn't view Ogbah as being worth more than a mid-3rd round selection. Ogbah didn't due anything bulletin board material wise in the debut, struggling to just 2 receptions for 12 yards on 5 targets, with one of those targets being snatched in by savvy Vikings vet Marcos Maldonado. Kansas coach @Bundy has been quiet regarding Ogbah following a media driven explosion of drama surrounding Ogbah's sitting out of Kansas' Pro Day, during which the coach did not hold back with reporters about the advice he'd given Ogbah, and how it hadn't been followed. A massive rift between the 2021 Preseason All-American and the school has grown since, with many in the Jayhawks locker room seeming excited that Ogbah is gone. Senior Kansas receiver Adam Williams, with whom Ogbah shared an apartment last year, even tweeted a pic of him and new roomie Marcell Maysonet with the caption a breath of fresh air.

 

Vikings corner Maldonado brushed off the drama aspect, saying "none of us care about any of that - what matters is that we blanked our so called 'rival' on their turf in the first game ever for either team, and that's something you can't take away from us ever. You always remember your first - we get to remember it fondly for the rest of our lives, and they have to look back in disgust."

 

The Vikings got screwed by the League and have a Week 2 Bye ? so they'll use this weekend to rest and get better settled into Minneapolis, before Tracey Borders returns to Minnesota with his new team in a Week 3 showdown between Washington and Minnesota that deserves top billing.

[subsequent]

Wow. that picture of the Viking ship is great. What camera did you use?!

[Bundy]