Week 1 Game Recap: Minnesota Vikings 19, Washington Redskins 16

What you need to know

Minnesota Vikings

QB Brad Johnson had a 7-2 record with the Vikings last year and he again led them to victory in their first game of 2006. Johnson threw a touchdown pass to WR Marcus Robinson and ended the game with 223 passing yards and no interceptions.

The Vikings made a commitment to run the football. RB Chester Taylor had 31 carries for 88 yards and a touchdown, and also added three receptions for 43 yards. The majority of his runs were up the middle or to the left, taking advantage of the presence of LG Steve Hutchinson and LT Bryant McKinnie on that side of the line.

WR Troy Williamson was Brad Johnson’s favorite receiver with 11 targets. Williamson was an important part of the offense and he was also used as the kick returner. Marcus Robinson only caught one of his six targets but it resulted in a 20 yard score.

The Vikings’ defense gave up a few big plays, but did a good containment job for most of the game. S Dwight Smith was disciplined by the team and did not play in the game.

Washington Redskins

The big story for the Redskins was that RB Clinton Portis was available to play in the game. He did not start, but he entered the game during the Redskins’ first offensive series with 3:30 remaining in the first quarter. Portis was wearing a shoulder harness but did not appear to be hampered by it in any way. He shared the workload with RB Ladell Betts, but was given the carries inside the ten yard line. Portis scored on a five yard run in the second quarter and finished the game with ten carries and two receptions for 50 total yards. He did not appear to be running any differently than normal, and he was able to take hits as usual.

QB Mark Brunell had a quiet game, throwing for 163 yards and no touchdowns. He spread the ball around and did not appear to favor any particular receiver. Brunell threw three laterals to WR Santana Moss and that explains why he apparently had three carries for 28 yards.

Santana Moss came close to having a big game. He gained 97 total yards and could have had a 27 yard touchdown after Brunell threw a good pass into the end zone. Unfortunately for the Redskins, S Darren Sharper timed his hit perfectly and Moss was unable to hold on to the ball.

The Redskins stifled the Vikings’ running game, allowing 86 net rushing yards at 2.5 yards per carry. S Adam Archuleta was used often at the line of scrimmage and ended with eight solo tackles and an assist. LB Lemar Marshall led the Redskins with nine solo tackles and four assists. S Sean Taylor was called for two big penalties, the second of which led to the Vikings’ winning field goal. CB Shawn Springs was inactive for the game. S Pierson Prioleau was due to rotate with Archuleta at safety, but he was injured during the opening kick off and missed the rest of the game with a leg injury.

What you ought to know

QB Brad Johnson, Pass: 16 - 30 - 223 - 1 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 1 - -1 - 0

Johnson had a 7-2 record last year and again led the Vikings to victory. He hit five different receivers for gains of 20 yards or more, and Marcus Robinson converted one for a 20 yard touchdown. Johnson led the team down the field on the opening drive of the game, finding Troy Williamson for a 46 yard reception, the longest play of the night. Johnson’s receivers dropped some catchable balls so his yardage could have been significantly higher. He did not throw an interception in the game, but at least three of his passes were close to being picked off.

RB Chester Taylor, Rush: 31 - 88 - 1, Rec: 3 - 43 - 0 (5 targets)

Chester Taylor was given a big role, carrying 31 times for 88 yards and adding three receptions for a further 43 yards. The carries were a career high for Taylor but he didn’t appear to wear down. He made a 12 yard reception for a first down on the opening drive, before carrying twice inside the ten yard line and scoring on a four yard run. Steve Hutchinson opened a hole on the line and Taylor quickly found it for the score. His longest run of the night was only ten yards and he averaged under three yards per carry. The majority of his runs were to the left or up the middle, taking advantage of Hutchinson and McKinnie on that side of the line. Taylor's longest play of the game came on a floated pass that he took for 24 yards.

RB Mewelde Moore, Rush: 2 - -1 - 0

Moore only carried the ball twice and ended with minus one yard on the night. He was not targeted in the passing game and was used to return two punts.

WR Troy Williamson, Rec: 4 - 77 - 0 (11 targets)

Williamson was Johnson’s favorite target in the passing game with 11 targets. He caught a 12 yard pass on third and nine on the opening drive, before making a 46 yard reception on third and seven. He gained 15 yards after the catch on the 46 yard play and it was the longest from scrimmage in the game. Williamson allowed a pass to go straight through his hands on the next drive and it might easily have gone for another touchdown had he held on. He dropped another pass on the Vikings’ fourth possession before making a nine yard catch for a first down which was negated by a penalty. Johnson looked for him deep at the end of the first half but the ball was uncatchable. Johnson then threw deep into triple coverage on the Vikings’ opening drive of the second half. The ball should have been picked off. Williamson was hit on the helmet by one pass as he tried to come back to make the catch. On the Vikings’ last scoring drive, Williamson evaded a tackle and made a 13 yard reception, and then drew a penalty when Sean Taylor grabbed his face mask. Williamson was also used to return kicks, averaging 24.5 yards on four returns.

WR Billy McMullen, Rec: 1 - 22 - 0 (1 targets)

McMullen was only targeted once in the game, but he caught it for a 22 yard gain on third and nine, keeping alive a drive that ended in a touchdown for the Vikings.

WR Travis Taylor, Rec: 1 - 24 - 0 (2 targets)

Taylor was not much of a factor in the passing game and was only targeted twice. His one reception came on a play over the middle and he gained 24 yards.

WR Marcus Robinson, Rec: 1 - 20 - 1 (6 targets)

Most of Robinson’s targets were deep balls. He only managed to catch one of them, but it resulted in a 20 yard touchdown after he outran CB Carlos Rogers. Robinson dropped one long pass that was catchable, and drew a penalty on another play when Sean Taylor was called for unnecessary roughness.

TE Jermaine Wiggins, Rec: 5 - 29 - 0 (7 targets)

Wiggins was a significant part of the passing game and only Williamson had more targets for the Vikings. He converted on third and four, making a seven yard reception. He made another catch on the following play and fumbled the ball out of bounds after trying to hurdle Sean Taylor. He later drew a holding penalty and then made a 15 yard reception for a first down on the Vikings’ final drive of the first half. Johnson targeted him with a left handed pass as he tried to evade a sack, but Wiggins dropped it.

TE Jim Kleinsasser, Rec: 1 - 8 - 0 (2 targets)

Kleinsasser was targeted twice. He caught the first for an eight yard gain, but the second was a deep pass which was overthrown.

PK Ryan Longwell 2 - 3 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 7 points

Longwell attempted a 54 yard field goal which went short and right, but redeemed himself with conversions from 46 yards and then 31 yards to seal the victory. He did not get to attempt the extra point after the opening score as the snap was bobbled. He made the other extra point.

MIN Rush Defense

The Vikings allowed 103 net rushing yards in the game. They gave up 23 yards to Santana Moss on a lateral, and 15 yards to Clinton Portis on another play. Portis was also allowed to run wide and he scored a five yard touchdown without being touched.

MIN Pass Defense

The Vikings gave up 37 yards when they forced Santana Moss out of bounds and then watched him come back on to the field to make the reception. The pass rush did not trouble Mark Brunell that much, and he wasn’t sacked or intercepted all night. The highlight for the defense came when Darren Sharper hit Santana Moss in the end zone to knock loose what would have been a 27 yard touchdown.

QB Mark Brunell, Pass: 17 - 28 - 163 - 0 TD / 0 INT, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0

Brunell failed to make enough plays to carry the Redskins to victory. He threw three laterals to Santana Moss, the first of which went for a 23 yard gain. He also scrambled well for a first down on the Redskins’ opening possession. Brunell found Santana Moss in the end zone for what would have been a 27 yard score, but the ball was knocked loose by Darren Sharper. Brunell threw a poor pass on an intended screen to Ladell Betts and DE Ray Edwards almost intercepted it for what would have been an easy touchdown. Brunell fumbled once but the Redskins recovered the ball.

RB Clinton Portis, Rush: 10 - 39 - 1, Rec: 2 - 11 - 0 (2 targets)

Portis did not start the game but he did come in on the Redskins’ first possession with 3:30 left in the first quarter. He was wearing a shoulder harness but it did not seem to affect him in any way. He did not shy away from contact and appeared to be at full strength. He came close to breaking a big run but was stopped after a 15 yard gain. When the Redskins moved inside the ten yard line, it was Portis that got the carry. He broke left and ran into the corner of the end zone untouched for a five yard touchdown. It was his 50th career touchdown. Portis was given another carry inside the five but he was held to a one yard gain. Betts did not steal any carries inside the five yard line. After Brunell fumbled, Portis chose to dive and recover the ball for the Redskins.

RB Ladell Betts, Rush: 8 - 22 - 0, Rec: 3 - 31 - 0 (4 targets)

Betts started the game and carried four times before Clinton Portis saw any action. Betts gained 22 yards on eight carries and he was also targeted four times in the passing game. His biggest contribution came on a 25 yard reception which he then fumbled but the Redskins were able to recover.

RB Mike Sellers, Rec: 1 - 2 - 0 (1 targets)

Sellers caught his only target for a two yard gain.

WR Antwaan Randle El, Rush: 2 - 7 - 0, Rec: 5 - 34 - 0 (5 targets)

Randle El made a seven yard catch on third and five on the Redskins’ opening drive and then made a six yard reception for another first down later in the half. He also had a 12 yard gain for another first down, and caught a pass at the end of the game to get the Redskins into field goal range. Randle El caught all of his targets and also contributed by returning punts.

WR Santana Moss, Rush: 3 - 28 - 0, Rec: 3 - 69 - 0 (4 targets)

Four targets is a misleading statistic for Moss. He also received the ball three times on laterals out to the wide left. He took the first of those for 23 yards on the Redskins’ opening drive. Moss gained nine yards on third and six during the same drive. His biggest play of the day came on the Redskins’ final possession of the first half. He was forced out of bounds before the ball was thrown, but he came back on to the field and made a 37 yard reception. Brunell found Moss in the end zone with a well thrown 27 yard pass, but Darren Sharper knocked it loose. On the Redskins’ final drive, Moss made a 27 yard reception on the sideline with the clock running down.

WR James Thrash, Rec: 1 - 19 - 0 (1 targets)

Thrash was only targeted once in the game, catching the pass for a 19 yard gain and a first down.

WR Brandon Lloyd (5 targets)

Lloyd was targeted five times in the game, all in the second half. One was a deep ball, one was on a no play, and Lloyd failed to make any of the five catches.

TE Chris Cooley, Rec: 2 - -3 - 0 (7 targets)

At least two of the seven targets attributed to Cooley were balls that were thrown away by Brunell. Another gave Cooley no chance and he was hit in the backfield by CB Fred Smoot for a big loss. Cooley caught one other pass for a six yard gain and was not as much of a factor as he was last season.

PK John Hall 3 - 4 FG, 1 - 1 XP, 10 points

Hall made field goals of 27, 27 and 22 yards, as well as converting his only extra point try. But he also missed a 48 yard field goal at the end of the game which would have taken the game into overtime.

WAS Rush Defense

The Redskins contained the Vikings’ running game very well for most of the night, allowing 86 net rushing yards at 2.5 yards per carry. The longest play on the ground only went for ten yards. Lemar Marshall led the team with nine solo tackles and four assists. Adam Archuleta was used in run support and he made eight solo tackles and an assist. The Redskins allowed Chester Taylor to score on a four yard run.

WAS Pass Defense

CB Shawn Springs missed the game due to injury. The Redskins gave up five plays of 20 yards or more, each to a different receiver. The longest play went for 46 yards. Carlos Rogers was also beaten by Marcus Robinson for a 20 yard touchdown. Sean Taylor was called for unnecessary roughness and then for a face mask penalty. The latter allowed the Vikings to move into field goal range for the go ahead score. Demetric Evans had one sack and was a threat on several occasions. The Redskins had at least three opportunities to make interceptions, but were unable to make any of them. DE Phillip Daniels was briefly hurt but he returned to the game almost immediately.