WEEK 7 - MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-3) AT CHICAGO BEARS (3-3)

Transcription

1 Minnesota VikingS AT CHICAGO BEARS SUNDAY, OCTOBER 19, 2008

2 WEEK 7 - MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-3) AT CHICAGO BEARS (3-3) 2008 PRESEASON Date Opponent Result Aug. 8 SEATTLE SEAHAWKS L Aug. 16 at Baltimore Ravens W Aug. 23 PITTSBURGH STEELERS L Aug. 28 at Dallas Cowboys L REGULAR SEASON Sept. 8 at Green Bay Packers (MNF) L Sept. 14 INDIANAPOLIS COLTS L Sept. 21 CAROLINA PANTHERS W Sept. 28 at Tennessee Titans L Oct. 6 at New Orleans Saints (MNF) W Oct. 12 DETROIT LIONS W Oct. 19 at Chicago Bears Noon Oct. 26 BYE Nov. 2 HOUSTON TEXANS Noon Nov. 9 GREEN BAY PACKERS Noon Nov. 16 at Tampa Bay Buccaneers Noon* Nov. 23 at Jacksonville Jaguars Noon* Nov. 30 CHICAGO BEARS (SNF) 7:15 p.m.* Dec. 7 at Detroit Lions Noon* Dec. 14 at Arizona Cardinals 3:05 p.m.* Dec. 21 ATLANTA FALCONS Noon* Dec. 28 NEW YORK GIANTS Noon* * Game time subject to change/fl exible scheduling WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE Tuesday, October 14 Players Day Off Wednesday, October 15 11:45 a.m. - Childress/Frerotte Available 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 12:15 p.m. - Conference Call - Lovie Smith 12:30 p.m. - Conference Call - Kyle Orton 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice * Thursday, October 16 11:45 a.m. - Bevell/Ferraro/Frazier/Peterson Available 11:45 a.m.-12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice * Friday, October 17 11:45 a.m.-12:50 p.m. - Practice * 12:50 p.m. - Brad Childress Available 12:50-1:35 p.m. - Open Locker Room Saturday, October 18 No Access Sunday, October 19 Noon - Minnesota Vikings at Chicago Bears * Practice open through individual drills Sunday, October 19, Soldier Field - Noon (CT) - FOX GAME SUMMARY Currently riding a two-game winning streak, the Minnesota Vikings (3-3) will take on the Chicago Bears (3-3) this Sunday, October 19, at Soldier Field. Kickoff is set for noon. The Vikings and Bears are currently in a three-way tie with the Green Bay Packers for fi rst place in the NFC North. Sunday s game features two of the top 15 units on both sides of the ball, as the Vikings 7th-ranked defense will match up against the Bears 13th-ranked offense and the Vikings 15th-ranked offense will take on the Bears 12th-ranked defense. The game will also showcase two of the top fi ve rushing defenses in the NFL (Vikings, 4th; Bears, 5th). This will be the 95th time the two teams have matched up, with the Vikings holding the overall lead Minnesota is at Chicago. BROADCAST COVERAGE TELEVISION: FOX (Channel 9 in Minneapolis) Play-By-Play: Sam Rosen Analyst: Tim Ryan Sideline Reporter: TBD NATIONAL RADIO: SPORTS USA RADIO Play-By-Play: Larry Kahn Analyst: Tim Pernetti Sideline Reporter: Troy West LOCAL RADIO: KFAN-AM 1130/KTLK FM Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich Sideline Reporter: Greg Coleman Pre-Game Show: Joe Anderson 10:00 a.m. CT KFAN/KTLK serve as the fl agship stations for the 73-station, 6-state Vikings Radio Network. A WIN WOULD... * Improve the Vikings overall record against the Bears to * Give the Vikings a away record against Chicago. * Give Head Coach Brad Childress his third win against the Bears in fi ve games. * Improve the Vikings record against the NFC North to * Give the Vikings an all-time record of in October. * Give the Vikings their fi rst three-game winning streak since Nov./Dec (11/18-12/17-5). WHAT TO WATCH FOR * With a touchdown, RB Adrian Peterson will surpass 100 career points. He currently has 96. * With 96 rushing yards, RB Adrian Peterson will have 2,000 for his career. * With one fi eld goal, K Ryan Longwell will move into a tie for 21st all-time in the NFL with 282 regular season fi eld goals made with former Viking Fred Cox and Jim Bakken. STATS OF THE WEEK * Under QB Gus Frerotte, the Vikings are tied for 3rd in the NFL with nine passes of 25+ yards over the past four games. Frerotte s 86-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian ranks as the the 3rd-longest in * WR Bernard Berrian ranks tied for 1st in the NFL with a 19.8 yards-per-catch average among receivers with 20+ receptions. * The Vikings currently rank tied for 6th in the NFL with 23 plays (18 pass) of 20+ yards. * The Vikings defense currently ranks tied for 9th in the NFL with 10 takeaways (4 INT, 6 FR).

3 MEET THE HEAD COACHES CHILDRESS IN 3RD SEASON AT HELM NFL Head Coach: 3rd Year Overall NFL Experience: 11th Year Coaching Experience: 31st Year Overall NFL Record: (.447) Regular Season: (.447) Postseason: 0-0 (.000) Record with MIN: (.447) Record vs. CHI: 2-2 (.500) College: Eastern Illinois ( 78) Entering his third season leading the Vikings, Head Coach Brad Childress has a team built on his principles for winning football. Childress squad features strong play along both lines, a dynamic running game and an opportunistic defense. A bevy of top-fl ight linemen have been important to developing the identity of the Vikings and are now being complimented by emerging playmakers. The offseason addition of 2007 NFL sack leader and All-Pro DE Jared Allen via trade with Kansas City along with free agent starters WR Bernard Berrian, FB Thomas Tapeh, and S Madieu Williams fi lled key positions with veteran playmakers. With Allen, the Vikings now have 5 Pro Bowlers along the offensive and defensive lines and 7 members of the 2007 Pro Bowl squad. Coupled with a pair of proven 1,000-yard runners in the backfi eld and an aggressive defense with a nose for the ball, the Vikings enter 2008 with a strong nucleus of experienced talent. Since taking over the team in 2006, Childress has placed a premium on playing smart football, minimizing mistakes and winning the line of scrimmage. The 2007 Vikings became the 1st team in franchise history to rank #1 in the NFL in rushing offense and rushing defense. The duos of G Steve Hutchinson and C Matt Birk on offense joined by DTs Kevin Williams and Pat Williams on defense all made second consecutive Pro Bowl trips in The Vikings offense set franchise records by rushing for 2,634 yards (164.6 yards per game) with rookie phenom Adrian Peterson leading the way with an NFC-best 1,341 yards. Peterson s total ranked as the 2nd-highest in team history, and his 5.6 yards-per-carry average ranked 2nd-best in the NFL. Fellow RB Chester Taylor, coming off his fi rst 1,000-yard rushing season in 2006, fi nished with 844 yards and 7 TDs on 157 carries. Together Peterson and Taylor accounted for 2,185 of the team s rushing total, giving the Vikings the most dangerous rushing tandem in team history in terms of yardage. Second-year QB Tarvaris Jackson showed signifi cant improvement from year one as he threw for 1,911 yards and 9 TDs while rushing for 260 yards and 3 scores despite missing 4 games due to injury. He fi nished the season 8-4 as a starter. Defensively, the Williams tandem shut down the run better than anyone in the NFL, and the Vikings posted the #1 rush defense for the 2nd straight year. Over the past 2 seasons, the team has stifl ed opponents by allowing 67.9 yards per game, 2.9 yards per carry and 0.5 rushing TDs per game in those 32 games. Behind the rugged DTs, the Vikings have an emerging trio of linebackers who have a knack for the big play and ball-hawking defensive backs. The 2007 squad tied a francise record by scoring 6 TDs on interception returns and 2 more on fumble returns. The Vikings 13 defensive TDs (9 INTs, 4 FRs) since 2006 lead the NFL and are 5 more than the runner-up Packers 8. On special teams, the Vikings ranked 4th in the NFL with a 24.8 kickoff return average and 6th in the NFL as they held opponents to an average starting fi eld position just beyond the 26-yard line (26.2). The 2008 season marks Childress 31st in coaching and his 11th on an NFL sideline. He currently has a combined record of , including playoffs and bowl action. CHILDRESS COACHING BACKGROUND Minnesota Vikings Head Coach Philadelphia Eagles Offensive Coordinator Philadelphia Eagles Quarterbacks Wisconsin Offensive Coordinator/QBs/RBs 1990 Utah Wide Receivers Northern Arizona Offensive Coordinator 1985 Indianapolis Colts QBs/Quality Control Illinois Running Backs/Wide Receivers SMITH LEADS THE BEARS NFL Head Coach: 5th Year Overall NFL Experience: 13th Year Coaching Experience: 29th Year Overall NFL Record: (.554) Regular Season: (.557) Postseason: 2-2 (.500) Record with CHI: (.554) Record vs. MIN: 4-4 (.500) College: Tulsa Lovie Smith is in his fi fth season as the head coach of the Chicago Bears with a regular season record of Smith s 36 regular season wins through his fi rst four seasons ( ) are tied with Hall of Famer Mike Ditka for second-most wins in a coach s fi rst four seasons with the franchise, one behind Hall of Famer George Halas. Smith also has a 2-2 postseason record, including an NFC Championship and the Bears fi rst Super Bowl appearance in 21 years (2006) to give him the third-most playoff victories in team history behind the six of Halas and Ditka. Smith was originally hired on January 15, 2004, and immediately set forth with three stated goals: end the decade of dominance by the Green Bay Packers over the Bears, capture the NFC North Division for Chicago and win the Super Bowl. The Bears have won six of eight contests against Green Bay during Smith s tenure, as Chicago has won the division twice in the past three seasons (2005, 2006). With the two division titles, Smith joined Ditka as the only coaches in team history to lead the Bears to consecutive division titles. He is also the fi rst coach in team history to lead Chicago to the playoffs in two of his fi rst three seasons and his 41 overall wins tie him with Dave Wannstedt s for third all-time in the franchise annals. Smith was named the 2005 NFL Coach of the Year after becoming the fastest head coach in Bears history to lead the team to a division title, doing so in his second campaign while setting a franchise record for victories by a sophomore head coach with an 11-5 record. Smith agreed to a contract extension through 2011 on February 28, SMITH S COACHING BACKGROUND Chicago Bears Head Coach 2003 St. Louis Rams Asst. Head Coach/Def. Co St. Louis Rams Defensive Coordinator Tampa Bay Buccaneers Linebackers 1995 Ohio State Defensive Backs Tennessee Defensive Backs 1992 Kentucky Linebackers Arizona State Linebackers 1987 Wisconsin Linebackers Tulsa Linebackers VIKINGS-BEARS Won 11, Lost 9; Home 7-3, Away 4-6 Year Site Result Minnesota...W Chicago...W Chicago... L Minnesota... L Minnesota...W Chicago... L Chicago... L Minnesota...W Chicago... L Minnesota...W Minnesota...W Chicago... L Minnesota... L Chicago... L Chicago...W Minnesota...W Chicago... W (OT) Minnesota... L Minnesota...W Chicago...W Series Total: Home: Away: WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 2

4 VIKINGS-BEARS INFORMATION VIKINGS PERFORMANCES VS. BEARS Gus Frerotte... 5 games, 78-of-122 passing, 836 yds, 4 TDs, 3 INTs, 63.9 completion pct. Adrian Peterson... 2 games, 40 attempts, 302 yards, 7.6 avg., 73t long, 5 touchdowns; 2 receptions, 26 yards; 4 kickoff returns, 128 yards Darren Sharper games, 98 tackles, 2.0 sacks, 8 INT, FF, TD, 16 passes defensed Chester Taylor... 5 games, 66 att., 308 yards, 4.7 avg., 42 long, 0 TD Kevin Williams games, 49 tackles, 7.0 sacks, 2 TFL, 18 QB hurries, 2 FR, 3 PD VIKINGS BIG DAYS VS. BEARS VIKINGS VS. BEARS SERIES NOTES * RB Adrian Peterson set a then-franchise record at Chicago on 10/14/07 when he rushed for 224 yards and tied a team mark with three rushing TDs. Peterson also set a team record with 361 combined yards (224 rushing, 9 receiving, 128 kickoff returns). Peterson has fi ve rushing TDs in two games against the Bears. * S Darren Sharper has 8 career interceptions vs. Chicago. He posted a career-high 14 tackles at Chicago on 11/11/01 and also had a careerhigh 2.0 sacks at Chicago on 9/29/03 when he was with the Packers. * The Vikings lead the all-time series with the Bears * The Vikings are at Chicago. * The Vikings won both games against Chicago in 2007 after Chicago beat them twice in * The series has been extremely close as of late, with the Vikings winning fi ve of the past 10 games and 11 of the last 20. * TE Jim Kleinsasser caught a career-high 2 TD passes vs. Chicago on 9/14/03. * K Ryan Longwell earned NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honors with Green Bay vs. Chicago on 12/7/03 when he scored 14 points and went 4-4 on fi eld goals. Longwell also kicked a career-high game-winning 55-yard FG at Chicago on 10/14/07. * DT Kevin Williams posted seven tackles and a season-high 2.0 sacks vs. Chicago on 1/1/06. * CB Antoine Winfield scored the fi rst touchdown of his career when he picked off Rex Grossman and returned it for a 7-yard TD vs. Chicago (9/24/06). * WR Robert Ferguson caught seven passes for 79 yards vs. Chicago on 12/7/03 when he was with Green Bay. * LB Ben Leber posted his fi rst game in which he recorded both an interception and a sack at Chicago on 10/14/07 when he picked off Brian Griese and brought him down for a sack. * Prior to the 2008 season WR Bobby Wade had a previous career high six receptions vs. Chicago on 12/17/07. COACH CHILDRESS ON... Using Bernard Berrian in different ways as of late... No, I mean we are moving him around a little bit. He has the ability to fl ip and play X and Z and we are putting him in the slot from time-to-time. (We are) Motioning him from time-to-time (too). So, yeah, I mean you don t want to let them fi nd him in one spot all the time. (We want to) make defenses hunt for him and I don t think there is any downside to that. I think it helps a little bit that now he has more understanding in terms of the route-running, the fl exibility along the lines that you draw and exactly how we are going to try to attack a team and a defense. What plays are in it specifi cally that we are giving him a fi rst look or a second look. Whether or not the team is living up to expectations... Once again, I would go back and say that there are elements that need to get better and hopefully some of those things are improving. I know the pass game has made leaps and bounds. I think sometimes there s frustration. How come Adrian Peterson can t rush for 300 yards every time we go out? He did it last year. He had 100 yards rushing, which is kind of the Litmus (Test). He had 111 tough yards. He had some nice runs, some tens, some twelves, elevens. He s not going to hit it out of the park every time, so I think that there s the frustration that he s getting held back. But I do see the pass game improving, I do see the defense getting better and better and I saw our special teams improve from last week to this week. That s what you re looking for, improvement and steady growth. (You want to) really be peaking and playing your best football heading down the pike at the end. * This will be the 95 th matchup between the teams, which ties the series with the Packers for most games against any opponent for Minnesota. * Minnesota s fi rst regular season game and fi rst win came against Chicago, when the expansion Vikings upset the Bears at Metropolitan Stadium on 9/17/61. * Minnesota s fi rst shutout came 31-0 against Chicago on 10/12/69. SERIES BY THE NUMBERS Record vs. Bears...Vikings Last regular season game...vikings 20, Bears 13 Vikings largest winning margin...31 (Vikings 31, Bears 0) Bears largest winning margin (Twice , 1989) Current series streak... Vikings 2 Vikings longest win streak...w8 ( ) Bears longest win streak...w6 ( ) Most Points, Vikings...52 (1961) Most Points, Bears...48 (1998) Most Points, both teams...87(bears 52, Vikings 35; 1961) Fewest Points, Vikings...0 (1962) Fewest Points, Bears...0 (Three times) Fewest Points, both teams...13 (Bears 13, Vikings 0; 1962) 2008 STATISTICAL SNAPSHOT (NFL Ranking following Week Six) Vikings Bears 3-3 Record (24) Points Per Game 24.7 (11) 106 (17t) First Downs 106 (17t) (15) Total Offense Per Game (13) (9) Net Rushing Yards Per Game (13) (17t) Net Passing Yards Per Game (12) 4/39 (8t) Had Intercepted/Yards Returned 4/53 (8t) 16/98 (26t) Sacks Allowed/Yards Lost 12/74 (16t) 31:22 (9) Possession Average 31:32 (8) 32.6 (26) Third Down Efficiency 45.7 (6) 19.8 (11) Opp. Points Per Game 18.2 (7) 87 (2) Opp. First Downs 111 (15t) (7) Opp. Total Offense Per Game (12) 73.7 (4) Opp. Net Rushing Yards Per Game 74.3 (5) (15) Opp. Net Passing Yards Per Game (27) 4/2 (19t) Defensive Interceptions/Yards 6/116 (7t) 14/97 (9) Defensive Sacks/Yards 12/108 (15t) + 0 (15t) Turnover Ratio +1 (13t) 37/48.1 (4) Punts/Gross Punting Average 34/40.7 (30) 41/356 (25) Penalties/Yards 40/217 (23) WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 3

5 VIKINGS-BEARS INFORMATION VIKINGS-BEARS CONNECTIONS VIKINGS-BEARS CONNECTIONS - Vikings WR Bernard Berrian was a 3rd-round pick of the Bears in 2004 and played with the team from Vikings WR Bobby Wade was a 5th-round pick of the Bears in 2003 and was with Chicago from Vikings RB Maurice Hicks was originally signed as an undrafted free agent by the Bears in 2002 but spent the season on the reserve/non-football injury list. - Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier played CB for the Bears from and was a starter on their 1985 Super Bowl team. - Vikings vice president of player personnel Rick Spielman served as the Bears director of pro personnel from Vikings LB coach Fred Pagac spent the 1974 season with the Bears as a rookie TE and won the prestigious Brian Piccolo Award. - Vikings defensive line coach Karl Dunbar spent the 2004 season with the Bears in the same role. - Vikings director of player personnel George Paton began his NFL career in the college and pro scouting departments of the Bears. LOCAL CONNECTIONS - Vikings head coach Brad Childress is from Aurora, IL, attended college at the University of Illinois and Eastern Illinois, and coached at the University of Illinois. Childress was recognized Eastern Illinois with the Marmion Centurion Award, the highest honor bestowed on Marmion alumni for exceptional achievement in the chosen fi eld. - Vikings defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier coached at Trinity International University in Illinois. - Vikings DT Fred Evans is from Chicago and attended Morgan Park High. - Vikings assistant special teams coach Brian Murphy is from Elmwood Park, IL. - Vikings defensive backs coach Joe Woods played defensive back at Illinois State. - Vikings defensive assistant/defensive line Brendan Daly attended Sacred Heart-Griffi n High in Springfi eld, IL. - Bears linebackers coach Lloyd Lee is a native of Bloomington, MN, and attended Jefferson High School. NFL CONNECTIONS - Vikings head coach Brad Childress and Bears special teams coordinator Dave Toub coached on the Eagles staff together. - Childress and Vikings G Artis Hicks were also in Philadelphia with Bears DT Darwin Walker, and along with defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier was with the Eagles while Bears FB Jason McKie was in their 2002 training camp. - Vikings DE Jared Allen was teammates with Bears T John Tait in Kansas City during his rookie season of Vikings QB Gus Frerotte, DE Fred Evans and DE Otis Grigsby were all teammates at some point in time with Bears WR Marty Booker on Miami. - Frerotte was also teammates with Bears TE Desmond Clark in Denver in Vikings RB Maurice Hicks played for San Francisco with Bears DT Anthony Adams and WR Brandon Lloyd, and while Vikings offensive line coach Pat Morris was on staff with the 49ers. Hicks also played for the 49ers while Bears quarterbacks coach Pep Hamilton was on staff in Vikings LB Ben Leber played for San Diego while Bears offensive assistant/assistant offensive line coach Luke Butkus was on the Chargers practice squad in Vikings offensive line coach Pat Morris was on staff in Detroit when Bears RB Kevin Jones played there. - Vikings DT Ellis Wyms was teammates with Bears G Dan Buenning in Tampa Bay and Vikings DBs coach Joe Woods was on staff there while Buenning played. - Vikings WR coach George Stewart coached on Atlanta s staff when Bears G/C Roberto Garza played for the Falcons. - Vikings running backs coach Eric Bieniemy and Bears assistant defensive backs/safeties coach Gill Byrd were teammates on the San Diego Chargers from COLLEGE CONNECTIONS - Vikings CB Antoine Winfield s position coach when he was a freshman at Ohio State in 1995 was Bears head coach Lovie Smith. - Vikings QB Gus Frerotte played at Tulsa while Bears defensive coordinator Bob Babich was a volunteer assistant in Vikings T Bryant McKinnie and Bears LB Darrell McClover were teammates at Miami. - Vikings LB Vinny Ciurciu s position coach at Clemson was Bears defensive line coach Brick Haley in Vikings LB David Herron and Bears TE Kellen Davis were teammates at Michigan State. - Vikings WR Bobby Wade played at Arizona with Bears LB Lance Briggs. - Vikings RB Adrian Peterson and Bears DT Dusty Dvoracek were teammates at Oklahoma INDIVIDUAL LEADERS (Qualifying Players Only) 2008 Minnesota Vikings Category Player Total NFC Rank NFL Rank Scoring Longwell t...6t Rushing Yds. Peterson Rushing Att. Peterson Passing Yds. Frerotte Receptions Wade t...26t Receiving Yds. Berrian t Interceptions Four players t...29t Fumble Rec. Leber/Winfi eld t...2t Sacks K. Williams t...4t Punting Avg. Kluwe Punt Ret. Avg. Gordon KO Ret. Avg. Taylor t 2008 Chicago Bears Category Player Total NFC Rank NFL Rank Scoring Gould t...9t Rushing Yds. Forte Rushing Att. Forte Passing Yds. Orton... 1, Receptions Forte t...19t Receiving Yds. Lloyd t Interceptions Payne/Tillman t...12t Fumble Rec. Anderson t... 11t Sacks Brown t...24t Punting Avg. Maynard Punt Ret. Avg. Hester KO Ret. Avg. Manning FROM THE LOCKER ROOM DE Jared Allen On being It s huge. We have a little momentum and we re winning some tough games. Right now we have to go back and clean up these mistakes. We can t turn the ball over like this and expect to win in Chicago. That s going to be a tough game there. That has to be our number one focus right n ow. It s a great win, but we have to put this behind us and move on. On being tied for first place... That s great, but I would rather be in fi rst place at the end of the year. Being in fi rst place now is nice, but we still have a lot of work to do. We have to detail a little bit more and continue to get better. S Darren Sharper On Ryan Longwell kicking a game winner... We know Ryan can do that. He is a kicker that doesn t change much when the pressure is on him. He is really calm and relaxed and an extremely consistent kicker. We konw we can always rely on him to put it through for us. THIS WEEK S MILESTONES * CB Antoine Winfield will play in his 135th career game. * DT Pat Williams will start his 120th career game. * LB Ben Leber will play in his 95th career game (80th start) * DT Kevin Williams will make his 85th career start. * WR Bernard Berrian will play in his 55th career game. * CB Cedric Griffin will start his 30th career game. * G Anthony Herrera will play in his 35th career game and make his 25th career start. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 4

6 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES LAST WEEK Last week the Minnesota Vikings defeated the Detroit Lions on a last second fi eld goal. It was the second come-from-behind victory for the Vikings in consecutive weeks. The win moved the Vikings to 3-3 on the year and into a tie for fi rst in the NFC North with the Chicago Bears and the Green Bay Packers. Vikings Offense Despite only scoring 10 points, the Vikings offense had its biggest yardage output of the year, racking up 392 net yards through the air and 135 on the ground. QB Gus Frerotte improved to 3-1 as a starter, throwing for a season-high 297 yards, including a career-high 86-yard touchdown pass to WR Bernard Berrian. The play was also the longest catch of Berrian s career and the second longest pass play in Vikings history. Berrian had four additional catches on the day for 45 more yards, giving him a career-high 131 yards, eclipsing the mark he had set the previous Monday night with 110. He became the fi rst Vikings player to gain 100 yards receiving in two consecutive weeks since Nate Burleson had two in December Two of Berrian s six 100-yard receiving games have now come with the Vikings. WR Bobby Wade fi nished behind Berrian with 71 yards on four catches and TE Jim Kleinsasser caught two passes for 40 yards, including a 34-yarder that was his longest catch since the 2002 season. On the day Frerotte found seven different receivers. On the ground RB Adrian Peterson, the league s third-leading rusher, gained 111 yards on 25 carries. It marked the ninth time in his young career that Peterson had broken the 100-yard barrier, moving him into a tie for third with Michael Bennett for most 100-yard games a Viking. Peterson has now rushed for 1,904 yards in 20 career games, giving him an average of 95.2 yards per game. Vikings Defense The Vikings defense was stout on the day, allowing just over 200 total yards and only one drive of 50 or more yards. The Vikings defense was disruptive all day, notching six sacks, nine tackles for a loss, and nine QB hurries on the day. DT Kevin Williams had the biggest day as he sacked Lions QB Dan Orlovsky four times during the contest, tying a Vikings record for the second-most sacks in game. It was the fi rst time a Vikings player had notched four sacks since Chris Doleman did it nearly 20 years ago in Williams also led the team with eight total tackles. DE Jared Allen got back on the sack trail and put the Vikings in front in the fi rst quarter when he forced Orlovsky out of the back of the end zone to record a safety. It was the Vikings 38th safety in team history, seven of which have come against the Lions. Joining Allen and Williams with sacks on the day was LB Ben Leber and DE Ray Edwards, who each grabbed half a sack. LB Ben Leber grabbed the Vikings only turnover on the game when he and S Darren Sharper knocked the ball free from Detroit s Calvin Johnson on a big hit, with Leber picking up the loose ball. Leber now ranks tied for second in the NFL with Vikings CB Antoine Winfield with two fumble recoveries. Vikings Special Teams P Chris Kluwe booted his longest punt of the season, 60 yards, and recorded an average of 51.8 yards and a net of 41.1 yards. Kluwe put three kicks into the end zone and one inside the 20-yard line of Detroit. Kluwe now ranks tied for fi rst in the NFL with 19 punts of 50+ yards on the season. He s also tied for seventh with nine punts inside the opponents 20-yard line. Returning the ball CB Charles Gordon took the free kick following the Vikings safety back 42 yards, the longest return of the season for Minnesota. For the second consecutive week, K Ryan Longwell booted a game-winning FG with only seconds remaining. It was Longwell s fi fth game winner as a Viking, which ranks tied for third in team history. Longwell s streak of consecutive made fi eld goals of 40 yards or under was snapped at 41, however, when his 38-yard attempt was blocked. Longwell currently ranks tied for sixth in the NFL with 51 total points on the season. At this pace he is set to break his single-season Vikings high of 99 points. FIRST TIME/LAST TIME The fi rst time the Vikings and Bears met in the regular season was on September 17, 1961, in the Vikings fi rst NFL regular-season game. In a stunning upset, the Vikings defeated the Bears at Metropolitan Stadium. K Mike Mercer scored the franchise s fi rst points with a 12-yard fi eld goal, while TE Bob Schnelker scored the team s fi rst touchdown on a 14-yard pass from QB Fran Tarkenton. In his NFL debut, Tarkenton came off the bench to complete 17-of-23 passes for 250 yards and four touchdowns. The last time Minnesota and Chicago played was on December 17, 2007, on Monday Night Football, a game the Vikings won Trailing 13-6 at halftime, the Vikings shut out the Bears and scored 14 points in the second half for the win. It was Minnesota s fi fth consecutive win, putting the team back into playoff contention for the remaining two weeks of the season. Vikings Offense The Vikings were once again led by rookie RB Adrian Peterson, who ran 20 times for 78 yards and two touchdowns. With his 78 yards, Peterson set a new team record for the most rushing yards in the fi rst season on the team with 1,278, surpassing teammate RB Chester Taylor s previous record of 1,216. Peterson s totals also moved him into third place in team history for rushing yards in a single season and fourth place all-time in Vikings history for rushing touchdowns with 12. On the season, Peterson s combined rushing yardage against Chicago totaled 302 yards and fi ve touchdowns on 40 carries (7.6 avg.). With Peterson opening holes on the ground, QB Tarvaris Jackson threw for a career high 249 yards on 18-of-29 passing. Jackson s 71- yard pass to WR Robert Ferguson, who fi nished with two catches for 79 yards, tied a team record for the most 50+ yard plays for a season (19-9 passes, four runs, two fumble returns, two interceptions, one kickoff and one punt). Vikings Defense After allowing 13 points in the fi rst half, the Vikings defense shut out the Bears in the fi nal 30 minutes of the contest. Minnesota held the Bears to 209 total offensive yards on the day, including just 32 rushing yards on 17 carries. LB E.J. Henderson led the squad with 12 total tackes (8 solo), with CB Antoine Winfi eld notching six. DE Kenechi Udeze picked up 1.0 sack, while S Darren Sharper intercepted Kyle Orton and returned the pick 41 yards. It was Sharper s eighth career interception off a Bears quarterback. Vikings Special Teams K Ryan Longwell connected on two fi eld goals, a 42-yarder and a 48-yard attempt. P Chris Kluwe punted six times for 46.3 yards. BY THE NUMBERS 1 Completions QB Gus Frerotte needs for 1,600 in his career. 3 Takeaways CB Antoine Winfield has against Chicago (2 INT, 1 FR). 4 Kickoff return yards RB Maurice Hicks needs to reach 4,500 for his career. 5 Career sacks DT Kevin Williams has vs. the Bears. 8 Interceptions S Darren Sharper has vs. the Bears. 9 Points K Ryan Longwell needs to reach 250 as a Viking. 55 Distance of K Ryan Longwell s game-winning FG at Chicago in 2007, the longest of his career. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 5

7 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES VIKINGS COORDINATORS Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell enters his 3rd season with the Vikings with 2 Pro Bowlers along the offensive line, the 2007 NFC-leading rusher in the backfi eld, a more experienced quarterback and a new playmaking wide receiver. In 2007, Bevell helped put together the best rushing attack in the NFL as the Vikings averaged yards per game and 5.3 yards per carry. Their 2,634 rushing yards was the highest total in team history while their 22 rushing touchdowns ranked tied for 2nd. The Vikings were led by the rushing tandem of rookie RB Adrian Peterson and RB Chester Taylor, who amassed a combined 2,185 yards on the ground, shattering Daunte Culpepper and Robert Smith s previous highest rushing total by a tandem of 1,991 yards in Against San Diego, Peterson broke the NFL single-game rushing record when he gained 296 yards on the ground. Peterson, along with C Matt Birk, G Steve Hutchinson, and FB Tony Richardson earned trips to the 2008 Pro Bowl. This offseason, Bevell s offense saw the addition of deep threat WR Bernard Berrian, FB Thomas Tapeh and RB Maurice Hicks. Asst. Head Coach/Def. Coord. Leslie Frazier On the defensive side of the ball, Assistant Head Coach/Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier will begin his 2nd season with the Vikings and his 9th season in the NFL. In his fi rst year with Minnesota, Frazier led the team to its 2nd-consecutive #1 ranking against the run, holding opponents to 74.1 yards per game on the ground. The team notched 8 defensive touchdowns and led the league with 6 interceptions returned for scores. The Vikings tied for 9th with 31 takeaways and tied a team record for the most defensive points scored in a season with 50 (8 touchdowns, 1 safety). Prior to joining the Vikings, Frazier won a Super Bowl in 2006 as a member of the Indianapolis Colts staff, coaching defensive backs and serving as a special assistant to Tony Dungy. During that championship season, the Colts defense posted 13 takeaways in the playoffs and allowed only 2 second-half TDs in the 4 postseason games. During the 2008 offseason, Frazier saw his unit add key pieces at defensive end with the trade for Jared Allen, who led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2007, and at safety with the signing of free agent Madieu Williams. Frazier now has 3 Pro Bowlers along the defensive line and 4 members of the 2007 Pro Bowl squad. Special Teams Coordinator Paul Ferraro The 2008 season marks Paul Ferraro s 3rd as the Vikings Special Teams Coordinator, his 4th season of NFL coaching and his 27th season of coaching overall. Ferraro s 2007 special teams units, the core of which have returned in 2008, were some of the most successful in team history. The 2007 squad set team records for kickoff return average, the longest kickoff return in team history, the most punts landed inside the 20, and the most 50+ yard punts. The team also converted a pair of onside kicks. Leading the way on special teams in 2007 was LB Heath Farwell, who topped the team in special teams tackles for the 2nd straight season, was voted by his teammates as the Special Teams MVP and was recognized as a Pro Bowl alternate. The Vikings ranked 4th overall in the NFL with a 24.8 kickoff return average, which also ranked as the highest return average in team history, and 6th in the NFL as they held opponents to an average starting fi eld position just beyond the 26-yard line (26.2). WR Aundrae Allison ranked #1 in the NFC and #3 in the NFL with an average of 28.7 yards per kickoff return, while Kluwe shattered his record of 28 punts inside the 20, as he landed 34. VIKINGS ASSISTANT COACHES Juney Barnett (Assistant Strength and Conditioning); Eric Bieniemy (Running Backs); Brendan Daly (Defensive Assistant/Defensive Line); Karl Dunbar (Defensive Line); Ryan Ficken (Quality Control-Offense/ Running Backs); Jim Hueber (Assistant Offensive Line); Jeff Imamura (Quality Control-Defense/Linebackers); Jimmie Johnson (Tight Ends); Tom Kanavy (Strength and Conditioning); Derek Mason (Assistant Secondary); Pat Morris (Offensive Line); Brian Murphy (Assistant Special Teams); Chad O Shea (Offensive Assistant/Wide Receivers); Fred Pagac (Linebackers); Kevin Rogers (Quarterbacks); Ryan Silverfi eld (Offensive/Defensive Assistant); Kevin Stefanski (Assistant to Head Coach); George Stewart (Wide Receivers); Martin Streight (Assistant Strength and Conditioning); Joe Woods (Defensive Backs) VIKINGS ELECT 2008 CAPTAINS The following are the Minnesota Vikings captains for the 2008 season, as voted on by teammates: Offense - Steve Hutchinson Defense - Kevin Williams * Special Teams - Ryan Longwell * (LB E.J. Henderson was original defensive captain before being placed on IR) The 2008 season marks the second year of the NFL s renewed emphass on season-long captains on offense, defense and special teams through the team captain leadership program, which was created in 2007 by the league and the NFL s Player Advisory Council. The Vikings will also honor offensive, defensive and special teams players of the week that will go out for the coin toss as well. VIKINGS BUILD PRACTICE SQUAD The following 8 players are currently on the Vikings practice squad: #61 Martail Burnett... DE...Rookie...Utah #75 Chris Clark... T...Rookie...Southern Miss. #63 Brian Daniels... G...1st Year...Colorado #11 Jaymar Johnson... WR...Rookie...Jackson State #82 Darius Reynaud... WR...Rookie...West Virginia #67 Isaiah Ross... G...1st Year...Nevada #24 Marcus Walker... CB...Rookie...Oklahoma #34 Albert Young... RB...Rookie...Iowa VIKINGS LATEST ROSTER MOVES Date Player Transaction Oct LB Dontarrious Thomas..Signed Oct T Drew Radovich...Placed on Injured Reserve Oct LB E.J. Henderson...Placed on Injured Reserve Oct T Bryant McKinnie...Removed Roster Exemption Sept T Bryant McKinnie...Activated from Res./Sus. List VIKINGS VS. NFC/NFC NORTH * The Vikings are a combined (.560) against the NFC alltime. * The Vikings are a combined (.564) against the NFC North. * Minnesota is (.558) against the NFC North during the month of October. * The Vikings are at home against the NFC North and on the road. * The Vikings are 1-1 in postseason action against the NFC North. * Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress is 6-7 against the NFC North. * Childress is 4-3 at home against the NFC North and has won the last three home games against the division, defeating Detroit twice and Chicago once. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 6

8 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES After trading away their 1st round pick and two 3rd round picks with Kansas City for DE Jared Allen, the Vikings used two picks on defense and three on offense in the 2008 NFL Draft. With their only selection on Day 1, the Vikings traded up in the 2nd round to take S Tyrell Johnson out of Arkansas State. Johnson was the 2nd safety drafted in 2008 and the highest drafted safety by the Vikings since Orlando Thomas in With their remaining four picks, the Vikings chose QB John David Booty, DT Letroy Guion, C John Sullivan and WR Jaymar Johnson. Round 1 Traded the #17 overall pick to Kansas City Chiefs for DE Jared Allen. Round 2 1. Tyrell Johnson (#43), S, Arkansas State (Traded Philadelphia #47 and #117 pick for #43 and #152) 2008 Defensive Totals: 6 starts, 24 tackles (18 solo), INT, FR, 3 PD Round 3 Traded the #73 and #82 overall picks to Kansas City Chiefs for DE Jared Allen. Round 5 2. John David Booty (#137), QB, Southern California (Traded Green Bay #150 and #209 for #137) 2008 Offensive Totals: Has not played during 2008 regular season. 3. Letroy Guion (#152), DT, Florida State 2008 Defensive Totals: Has not played during 2008 regular season. Round 6 4. John Sullivan (#187), C, Notre Dame 2008 Totals: 6 games played 5. Jaymar Johnson (#193), WR, Jackson State (Practice Squad) Round 7 Traded the #209 overall pick to Green Bay 2008 NFL DRAFT OFFSEASON ACQUISITIONS In one of the most active offseasons in recent team history, the Vikings added several players via free agency, highlighted by WR Bernard Berrian (Chicago), S Madieu Williams (Cincinnati), and RB Maurice Hicks (San Francisco). The team also landed 2007 sack leader DE Jared Allen via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Free Agency Notes WR Bernard Berrian (Chi.) Had career-best 71 catches in Has averaged 14.6 yards per catch during career S Michael Boulware (Hou.) - IR Started for Seattle in Super Bowl XL and intercepted Steelers QB Ben Roethlisberger in the game RB Maurice Hicks (SF) Owns the top 2 single-season kickoff return totals in 49ers history, including team record 1,502 in 2007 CB Benny Sapp (KC) Snared INT off Brett Favre vs. Green Bay last season FB Thomas Tapeh (Phi.) Helped Eagles advance to Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season S Madieu Williams (Cin) Has 9 career INTs, 5 of which have come in the past 2 seasons...also has 268 career tackles DE Ellis Wyms (Sea.) Posted a sack on NFL MVP Rich Gannon in Super Bowl XXXVII during Tampa Bay Buccaneers win Trade Notes DE Jared Allen Led the NFL with 15.5 sacks in 2007 despite missing 2 games...earned 1st Pro Bowl and All-Pro Honors VIKINGS FACTS AND FIGURES Oldest Vikings player Gus Frerotte, 37 Born 7/31/71 Youngest Vikings player Letroy Guion, 21 Born 6/21/87 Most seasons as a Viking Matt Birk 11th Vikings season Most NFL seasons Gus Frerotte 15th season in the NFL College with the most Vikings Maryland, 3 Jeff Dugan, Erin Henderson, Madieu Williams Texas, 3 Cedric Griffi n, Cullen Loeffl er, Brian Robison Conference with the most Vikings Big 12 9 players on 08 roster Largest Viking Bryant McKinnie, T Stands 6-8 and weighs 335 pounds Smallest Viking Antoine Winfi eld, CB Stands 5-9 and weighs 180 pounds Former 1 st -round draft picks 7 Chad Greenway, Steve Hutchinson, Bryant McKinnie, Adrian Peterson, Kenechi Udeze, Kevin Williams, Antoine Winfi eld Pro Bowlers 7 Jared Allen, Matt Birk, Steve Hutchinson, Adrian Peterson, Darren Sharper, Kevin Williams, Pat Williams Coaches who played in the NFL 5 Eric Bieniemy, Karl Dunbar, Leslie Frazier, Jimmie Johnson, Fred Pagac NEW FACES The Vikings have 14 new faces from the 2007 season - S Husain Abdullah, DE Jared Allen, WR Bernard Berrian, QB John David Booty, QB Gus Frerotte, DT Letroy Guion, LB Erin Henderson, RB Maurice Hicks, S Tyrell Johnson, S Benny Sapp, C John Sullivan, FB Thomas Tapeh, S Madieu Williams, and DT Ellis Wyms. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 7

9 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES The Vikings have 6 rookies on their current roster: HEY ROOK! DRAFT CHOICES * S Tyrell Johnson Vikings fi rst pick in 2008 NFL Draft (2nd round, 43rd overall) Second safety drafted in 2008 and highest-drafted safety by the Vikings since Orlando Thomas in 1995 Highest-drafted Arkansas State defensive player since Cincinnati selected LB Bill Bergey #31 overall in * QB John David Booty Played at USC under former Vikings assistant Pete Carroll Left USC ranked 4th in career TD passes and 5th in career passing yards 6th QB selected in 2008 NFL Draft Brother, Josh, was a QB with the Cleveland Browns. * DT Letroy Guion First Florida State player drafted by the Vikings since CB Corey Fuller in 1995 Youngest Viking, turned 21 on 6/21/08. * C John Sullivan Fourth center taken in 2008 NFL Draft; fi rst Notre Dame center since 2003 Served as team captain his senior season. ROOKIE FREE AGENTS * S Husain Abdullah Honorable Mention All-Pac 10 as a senior Named Cougars Defensive MVP Brother, Hazma, was a starter for Denver Broncos in 2007 Teammates at WSU with Eric Frampton. * LB Erin Henderson Brother of Vikings starting MLB E.J. Henderson, he and E.J. have never been teammates before Led ACC in tackles in 2007 and fi nished 9th in the nation with tackles per game Named 2007 Honorable Mention All-American by Pro Football Weekly, Rivals.com, SI.com and College Football News. INTERNATIONAL VIKINGS The Vikings have three players who were born outside of the United States: * G Anthony Herrera was born in Trinidad, Tobago, before emigrating to the United States as a child, arriving in Florida on his 14th birthday. Herrera became a U.S. citizen in the spring of * FB Thomas Tapeh was born in Liberia and moved to the United States with his mother and two sisters when he was nine years old. * S Madieu Williams is a native of Sierra Leone. He moved to Maryland with his family at age nine. NFL WEEK SEVEN SCHEDULE (All Times Cenral) Sunday, October 19 Minnesota at Chicago... Noon San Diego at Buffalo... Noon New Orleans at Carolina... Noon Pittsburgh at Cincinnati... Noon Tennessee at Kansas City... Noon Baltimore at Miami... Noon San Francisco at N.Y. Giants... Noon Dallas at St. Louis... Noon Detroit at Houston...3:05 p.m. Indianapolis at Green Bay...3:15 p.m. N.Y. Jets at Oakland...3:15 p.m. Cleveland at Washington...3:15 p.m. Seattle at Tampa Bay...7:15 p.m. Monday, October 20 Denver at New England...7:30 p.m. Open Dates: Arizona, Atlanta, Jacksonville, Philadelphia VIKINGS INACTIVES The following players were inactive last week vs. Detroit: #4 John David Booty... Quarterback #18 Sidney Rice... Wide Receiver #20 Madieu Williams... Safety #44 Thomas Tapeh... Fullback #60 Drew Radovich... Tackle #72 Marcus Johnson... Tackle #83 Jeff Dugan... Fullback #98 Letroy Guion... Defensive Tackle NFL STANDINGS AFC East Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Buffalo N.Y. Jets New England N.Y. Jets AFC North Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Pittsburgh Baltimore Cleveland Cincinnati AFC South Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Tennessee Indianapolis Jacksonville Houston AFC West Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Denver San Diego Kansas City Oakland NFC East Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. N.Y. Giants Dallas Washington Philadelphia NFC North Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Chicago Green Bay Minnesota Detroit NFC South Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Atlanta Carolina Tampa Bay New Orleans NFC West Team W L T Pct. PF PA Home Away Conf. Div. Arizona San Fran Seattle St. Louis WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 8

10 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES 2008 STRENGTH OF SCHEDULE The Vikings face the toughest strength of schedule of all NFC teams during the 2008 NFL season. Minnesota hosts the past two Super Bowl Champions - N.Y. Giants and Indianapolis Colts and plays six teams that went to the 2007 playoffs - Green Bay, Indianapolis, Tennessee, Tampa Bay, Jacksonville and N.Y. Giants NFL Strength of Schedule Team 2007 Pct./W-L Pittsburgh Steelers / Indianapolis Colts / Jacksonville Jaguars / Minnesota Vikings / Baltimore Ravens / Cincinnati Bengals / Cleveland Browns / Houston Texans / Detroit Lions / Tennessee Titans / Chicago Bears / Green Bay Packers / Dallas Cowboys / Washington Redskins / NY Giants / Philadelphia Eagles / St. Louis Rams / San Francisco 49ers / Seattle Seahawks / Tampa Bay Buccaneers / Arizona Cardinals / Carolina Panthers / Miami Dolphins / Atlanta Falcons / NY Jets / Kansas City Chiefs / Buffalo Bills / New Orleans Saints / Denver Broncos / Oakland Raiders / San Diego Chargers / New England Patriots / DOME FIELD ADVANTAGE The Vikings currently have a combined record of (.644) at the HHH Metrodome in the regular season and the playoffs. The team has never been shut out at the Dome and hasn t been shut out at a home stadium since 10/7/62, when they lost 13-0 to Chicago at Met Stadium AWARDS CB Antoine Winfield NFC Defensive Player of the Week - at New Orleans, 10/6/08 GMC Sierra Defensive Player of the Week - at New Orleans, 10/6/08-7 tackles (6 solo), 4 tackles for a loss, 1.0 sack, 1 pass defensed, forced fumble, and a fumble recovery - Also returned a blocked fi eld goal 59 yards for a touchdown, which was a fi rst in Vikings history. VIKINGS VS. NFC NORTH Team Total Games All-Time Series Titles* Chicago Bears Detroit Lions Green Bay Packers * Since 2002 division realignment PRACTICE SQUAD MAKES PERFECT The Vikings have several players on the 53-man roster who have climbed the NFL ladder, starting their careers as practice squad players. Vikings starting RG Anthony Herrera was a practice squad player as a rookie in Vikings CB Charles Gordon and LB David Herron began their careers as practice squad members with the club and moved into regular roles with the team. Veteran RB Maurice Hicks was a member of the 49ers practice squad in 2004 before moving to the active roster and setting team record for kickoff return yards in 2006 and Special teams standout Vinny Ciurciu entered the NFL in 2003 on the Panthers practice squad but ended that season playing in the Super Bowl for the team against New England. The Vikings top special teams player, Heath Farwell (IR), came into the NFL as a rookie free agent and spent the majority of his rookie season on the Vikings practice squad before moving to the active roster. UNDRAFTED DOESN T MEAN UNDESERVING For many NFL players, not being selected in the 7 rounds of the draft is extra motivation to prove their worth. The Vikings feature a number of undrafted players who have earned valuable roles on the team. The most notable is 2-time Pro Bowl DT Pat Williams, who was a rookie free agent with Buffalo in 1997 before moving into a starting role with the Bills in The Vikings had 3 undrafted rookies make the 53-man roster in LB Erin Henderson, S Hussain Abdullah and T Drew Radovich. Vikings long snapper Cullen Loeffler was a rookie free agent with the club as was starting RG Anthony Herrera and DB/return man Charles Gordon. Vikings lineman Artis Hicks was a rookie free agent with the Eagles and went on to start in the Super Bowl for the team. The Vikings most notable all-time undrafted players include future Ring of Honor inductees John Randle and Mick Tingelhoff. VIKINGS PRONUNCIATION GUIDE Players Husain Abdullah...WHO-sane ab-dul-la Bernard Berrian...bare-E-an Vinny Ciurciu...chur-choo Jeff Dugan...DOO-gan Gus Frerotte... FUR-ott Letroy Guion...LA-troy GUY-on Otis Grigsby...grigs-BEE Anthony Herrera... HA-rare-ah Tarvaris Jackson...ta-VAR-is Tyrell Johnson... TIE-rell Jim Kleinsasser... KLINE-sauce-er Chris Kluwe... CLUE-ee Ben Leber...LEE-ber Cullen Loeffl er...leff-ler Brian Robison... ROB-ah-sin Visanthe Shiancoe...vi-sahn-tay SHANK-oh Naufahu Tahi...nah-fah-WHO TAH-hee Thomas Tapeh... ta-pay Madieu Williams... muh-dee-you Antoine Winfi eld... an-twan Ellis Wyms...wims Coaches Eric Bieniemy... bee-en-uh-me Tom Kanavy... ka-nay-vee Fred Pagac... PUG-itch IMPORTANT 2008 SEASON DATES October 14 - Trading Deadline January Wild Card Playoffs January Divisional Playoffs January 18 - Conference Championships February 1 - Super Bowl XLIII, Tampa, Florida WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 9

11 VIKINGS TEAM NOTES KEEP AN EYE ON IN 2008 TEAM * The Vikings will look to reach the postseason for the fi rst time since * The Vikings will look to capture their fi rst winning season under Head Coach Brad Childress and their fi rst since * The Vikings will look to win the division for the fi rst time since 2000 and win the NFC North for the fi rst time since the NFC Central was realigned in * The Vikings offense will try to lead the league in rushing yards for the second consecutive season, a feat that has never been accomplished by Minnesota. * The Vikings defense will look to lead the NFL against the run for the third straight season. * The Vikings will look to have a 1,000-yard rusher for the third straight season and only the 4th time since * The Vikings will look to have a 1,000-yard receiver for the fi rst time since INDIVIDUAL Offense * RB Adrian Peterson will look to lead the NFC in rushing for the second straight season after fi nishing #1 in 2007 with 1,341 yards. * RB Adrian Peterson can become the fi rst player since Robert Smith to post back-to-back 1,000-yard rushing campaigns. * RB Adrian Peterson needs four 20+ yard carries to pass Michael Bennett for 2nd place in team history. Peterson currently has 16. * RB Adrian Peterson needs 96 rushing yards to surpass 2,000 rushing yards for his career. * C Matt Birk will look to make his seventh Pro Bowl appearance and take sole possession of the most Pro Bowl appearances by a Vikings center. Birk is currently tied with Mick Tingelhoff with six. * G Steve Hutchinson will look to have a 1,000-yard rusher behind him for the 8th straight year (every year Hutchinson has been in the NFL). * TE Jim Kleinsasser needs 59 more receiving yards for 1,500 in his career. * TE Visanthe Shiancoe needs 69 more yards for 500 career yards. * WR Bernard Berrian will look to gain his fi rst 1,000-yard season. He currently has 436 receiving yards. Defense * With a defensive touchdown, DT Kevin Williams will have sole possession of the all-time lead for defensive touchdowns by a Viking. * DE Jared Allen will look to lead the league in sacks for the second straight year. * With a fumble recovery, CB Antoine Winfield can tie former CB Bobby Bryant for most fumble recoveries by a cornerback in team history (7). Winfi eld currently has six. * With an INT for a TD, Darren Sharper will move into a tie for 2nd place all-time in the NFL. Special Teams * K Ryan Longwell needs 56 points to move into 23rd place in all-time scoring in NFL history. * K Ryan Longwell needs two fi eld goals to move into 20th place alltime for fi eld goals made and 20 to move into 19th place. * P Chris Kluwe will look to break his own record for 50+ yard punts in a season. He holds the team record with 29 in 2007 but currently has 19 in * RB Maurice Hicks will look to eclipse 5,000 career kickoff return yards. He currently has 4,496 yards. AT 2008 STATISTICAL MILESTONES Offense * QB Gus Frerotte surpassed 20,000 career passing yards with his 296 against Detroit (10/12). He became only the 87th player in NFL history to accomplish the feat. * QB Gus Frerotte became the 73rd quarterback in NFL history to win 40 games when he defeated the Lions (10/12). * With his 111 rushing yards vs. Detroit (10/12) RB Adrian Peterson tied Michael Bennett for third place in team history with nine 100-yard games. * WR Bernard Berrian eclipsed 2,500 career receiving yards when he caught six passes for 110 yards at New Orleans (10/6). * WR Bernard Berrian surpassed 100 career points with his touchdown catch against Detroit (10/12). * WR Bernard Berrian set a career high with 131 receiving yards vs. Detroit (10/12), breaking his previous career high of 110 yards from the week before at New Orleans (10/6). * WR Bernard Berrian notched the second-longest reception in Vikings history with his 86-yard catch against Detroit (10/12) * With 100+ receiving yards at New Orleans (10/6) and vs. Detroit (10/12), WR Bernard Berrian became the fi rst Vikings player to gain 100 receiving yards in back-to-back games since Nate Burleson had two in December * With his 64 receiving yards at New Orleans in (10/6), WR Bobby Wade eclipsed 2,000 career yards. Defense * DT Kevin Williams 4.0-sack game vs. Detroit (10/12) ranked second for most in a Vikings game and was the most since Chris Doleman s 4.0 in * DT Kevin Williams blocked his fi rst career fi eld goal at New Orleans (10/6). * With his sack of Colts QB Peyton Manning (9/14), LB E.J. Henderson moved into fi fth place all-time among Vikings linebackers with 10.5 career sacks. * CB Antoine Winfield moved into a sixth-place tie for takeaways among Vikings cornerbacks with his fumble recovery at New Orleans (10/6). He is now tied with Earsell Mackbee and Willie Teals with 20 total takeaways. * CB Antoine Winfield moved into a second place tie in Vikings history for most touchdown returns in a career with his fourth at New Orleans (10/6) when he returned a blocked fi eld goal. * S Tyrell Johnson notched his fi rst career interception at New Orleans (10/6). * CB Cedric Griffin blocked his fi rst career kick at Green Bay (9/8). Special Teams * K Ryan Longwell reached 300 career made fi eld goals (including postseason) with his game winner against Detroit (10/12). * K Ryan Longwell moved into a tie for third place in Vikings history for the most game-winning fi eld goals in a career with his fi fth gamewinner vs. Detroit (10/12). * CB Antoine Winfield s return of a blocked fi eld for a TD at New Orleans (10/6) was the fi rst in franchise history in the regular season. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 10

12 VIKINGS OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS RUSHING OFFENSE UNDER CHILDRESS Since Brad Childress took over in 2006, the Vikings have rushed for 5,198 yards over the past three seasons, which ranks 4th in the NFL during that time frame. The Vikings fi nished with the #1 rushing offense in 2007 with 2,634 yards, and currently the team ranks 12th in 2008 with 744 yards on the ground. Rushing Yards (Regular Season) Team Attempts Yards 1) Jacksonville... 1, ,631 2) Atlanta... 1, ,437 3) San Diego... 1, ,208 4) Minnesota... 1, ,198 * The Vikings rushing yards per game over the past three seasons ranks 5th in the NFL. * The team s 4.7 yards-per-carry average over the past three seasons ranks tied for third behind the Atlanta Falcons 4.9 average and the New York Giants 4.8. Rushing Average (Regular Season) Team Attempts Yards Avg. 1) Atlanta... 1, , ) N.Y. Giants... 1, , t) Minnesota... 1, , t) Jacksonville... 1, , * The Vikings 146 rushes of 10+ yards from (13.1% of Vikings rushes) ranks 4th in the league. Rushes of 10+ Yards Team Rushes of 10+ Yards 1) Jacksonville ) Atlanta ) Washington ) Minnesota * RB Chester Taylor s 95-yard TD run against Seattle (2006) ranks as the longest run in the NFL in the past three years. * The Vikings have scored 37 rushing touchdowns during that time, which ranks 8th in the NFL. * In 2007, the Vikings offense ranked tied for 6th in the league in explosive plays (10+ yards) with 213 (87 rush, 126 pass). The team also scored 19 touchdowns on plays of 10+ yards, which ranked tied for 9th in the NFL. The Vikings 87 rushes of 10+ yards in 07 led the league and the 19.4 yards-per-rush average of those 87 carries also ranked 1st. * The Vikings 2007 ground attack ranked #1 all-time in team history and the 5.3 yards-per-carry average also ranks tied for 1st. The Vikings 22 rushing TDs that year ranks tied for 2nd all-time. Vikings Single-Season Rushing Yards 1) 2, ) 2, ) 2, Vikings Single-Season Rushing Average 1t) t) VIKINGS QUARTERBACKS Fifteen-year veteran QB Gus Frerotte, in his second stint with the Vikings, leads the team in 2008 after playing with the Miami Dolphins in 2005 and the St. Louis Rams for the past two seasons. Frerotte spent the seasons with the Vikings where he started two games (both wins) and completed 38-of-66 (57.6%) passes for 690 yards and 7 touchdowns. He set the franchise record for single-game passer rating at points and threw 4 TDs in his fi rst Vikings start. He has started 88 career games, including playoff games for two different teams. Third-year QB Tarvaris Jackson serves as the backup in 2008 after leading the team in Jackson has started 16 of 18 games played since coming into the league as a rookie in 2006 and has completed 249 of 435 passes (57.2%) for 2,702 yards and 12 TDs while rushing 80 times for 402 yards (5.0 yards per carry) during his career. Serving as the Vikings 3rd quarterback in 2008 is John David Booty, who was drafted out of USC in the 5th round (137th overall) of the 2008 draft. While with the Trojans, Booty posted a 20-3 record as a starter. He currently ranks 4th on the all-time USC career TD passing list with 55 TDs. IN GUS WE TRUST The Vikings win over Detroit (10/12) was QB Gus Frerotte s 40th career victory and his fi fth as a Viking. He is now 5-1 as a Vikings starter, dating back to his fi rst stint with the team in This season he has completed 78-of-140 passes (55.7%) for 988 yards and three touchdowns. Since Frerotte took over in Week Three, the Vikings have averaged 94 more passing yards and nearly three more points a game. The Vikings also rank third in the NFL with nine passes of 25+ yards with Frerotte at the helm. Over the past two weeks, Frerotte has found a favorite target in WR Bernard Berrian, who notched a career-high 110 receiving yards at New Orleans (10/6) only to break his record the next week against Detroit (10/12) with 131 receiving yards. In both games, Berrian pulled in TD passes from Frerotte. Frerotte s fi rst two Vikings victories came in 2003, when he beat San Francisco and Atlanta. In those games, Frerotte completed 30-of-45 passes (66.7%) for 506 yards, six touchdowns and one interception. He holds the highest passer rating in Vikings history with his rating against the 49ers. Vikings Quarterbacks To Start 3-0 Player/Season Consecutive Starting Wins 1) Daunte Culpepper, ) Jeff George, ) Bob Lee, ) Gus Frerotte, 2003, Vikings Single-Game Passer Rating Player/Game Rating 1) Gus Frerotte, vs. San Francisco, 9/28/ ) Warren Moon, vs. New Orleans, 11/19/ Vikings Most Touchdown Passes In First Start Player/Game TDs 1t) Gus Frerotte, vs. San Francisco, 9/28/ t) Todd Bouman, vs. Tennessee, 12/9/ THROWING IT DEEP Vikings Single-Season Rushing Touchdowns 1) t) t) Under Frerotte, the Vikings rank third in the NFL with nine completions of 25+ yards over the past four weeks. In the fi rst two games the Vikings longest pass was for 24 yards. Frerotte s 86-yard TD pass to WR Bernard Berrian ranks as the second longest pass in the NFL during that time and the third-longest WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT pass BEARS in The Vikings 1,000 yards passing over the past four weeks ranks 7th in the NFL.

13 VIKINGS OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS RUNNING BACKS The Vikings currently boast one of the most dangerous running attacks in the NFL, led by RBs Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. Together the two accounted for 2,185 yards on the ground in 2007, which surpassed Robert Smith and Daunte Culpepper s 1,991 combined rushing yards in Peterson and Taylor also fi nished #2 and #3 in the league with rushing averages of 5.6 and 5.4 yards-per-carry respectively. Peterson broke the NFL record for most rushing yards in a single game with 296 against the San Diego Chargers and Taylor has the longest run in Vikings history with a 95-yard scamper at Seattle (2006). RB Maurice Hicks joined the Vikings in the 2008 offseason, after spending the previous four years with the San Francisco 49ers. With the 49ers, Hicks had 205 career carries for 869 yards (4.2 avg.) and six touchdowns. He was also a weapon on special teams as he owns the top two single-season kickoff return totals in 49ers history, including the team record of 1,502 in Also joining the Vikings during the 2008 offseason was FB Thomas Tapeh. Tapeh, who graduated high school in St. Paul, MN, and attended the University of Minnesota, is in his 5th year in the NFL, having played with the Philadelphia Eagles from Tapeh played with the Eagles when Vikings Head Coach Brad Childress was the Eagles offensive coordinator, and both men helped the Eagles advance to Super Bowl XXXIX after the 2004 season. Tapeh helped RB Brian Westbrook set a career-high with 1,333 rushing yards and opened holes for Westbrook to break the 100-yard mark 14 times during , including playoffs. FBs Jeff Dugan and Naufahu Tahi round out the Vikings backfi eld. Dugan, a 7th-round draft choice (220 overall) in 2004, has started 12 games during his Vikings career, including 7 in He is a physical blocker who helped the Vikings set a team record with 2,634 rushing yards in He can also line up at TE. Tahi is in his 3rd year in the NFL and with the Vikings. He was originally picked up by the Vikings from the Cincinnati Bengals practice squad. WINNING ON THE GROUND The Vikings are a combined 11-4 when one of their current running backs rushes for 100 yards. Adrian Peterson - 9 games record vs. San Diego, 11/4/07 W at Chicago, 10/14/07 W vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 L vs. Detroit, 12/2/07 W vs. Green Bay, 9/30/07 L vs. Detroit, 10/12/08 W at Green Bay, 9/8/08 L vs. Atlanta, 9/9/07 W at Kansas City, 9/23/07 L Chester Taylor - 6 games record at Seattle, 10/22/06 W vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 W vs. Arizona, 11/26/06 W vs. Detroit, 10/8/06 W vs. Carolina, 9/17/06 W at San Francisco, 12/9/07 W FOOTBALL HAT TRICK RB Adrian Peterson and former RB Chuck Foreman are the only running backs in team history to rush for 3 TDs in single games twice during their Vikings careers. The 2007 Vikings were also the first team in franchise history to ever have a running back rush for 3 TDs in a single game more than once in a season Vikings 3-Rushing TD Performances Adrian Peterson... at Chicago, 10/14/07 Adrian Peterson... vs. San Diego, 11/4/07 Chester Taylor...vs. Oakland, 11/18/07 RUSHING TO THE TOP RB Adrian Peterson ranks 3rd in the NFL with 563 rushing yards, trailing only Michael Turner (597) and Clinton Portis (643). Peterson also has 3 rushing touchdowns on the year. Since entering the league last year, Peterson has rushed for 1,904 rushing yards and 15 touchdowns. Portis has just one more yard (1,905) during that time. Peterson has a career average of 95.2 rushing yards per game in his 20 NFL contests, which ranks as the highest in the NFL from This year Peterson became the fi rst Vikings RB in team history to break the 100-yard plateau in the opening two games of the season. He ran for his ninth career 100+ yard vs. Detroit (10/12), which is tied for 3rd in Vikings history. Peterson s 160 yards on the day against the Colts in the season opener ranks as his 3rd best game as a pro and Peterson joined former RB Robert Smith as the only Vikings players to gain 300+ yards after three games in a season. In Week One, Peterson became only the 2nd RB in Vikings history to rush for 100+ yards in consecutive openers- vs. Atlanta in 2007 and at Green Bay in He joined Vikings all-time leading rusher Robert Smith in the feat, which he accomplished in the 1996 and 1997 openers. Peterson can join Smith and Chuck Foreman as the only Vikings RBs to post consecutive 1,000-yard rushing seasons if he continues his pace NFL Rushing Leaders 1) Clinton Portis, WAS ) Michael Turner, ATL ) Adrian Peterson, MIN NFL Rushing Leaders 1) Clinton Portis, WAS... 1,905 2) Adrian Peterson, MIN... 1, NFL Rushing Touchdowns 1) LaDainian Tomlinson, SD ) Clinton Portis, WAS ) Joseph Addai, IND ) Adrian Peterson, MIN ) Marion Barber, DAL Vikings Career 100-Yard Rushing Performances 1) Robert Smith ) Chuck Foreman t) Adrian Peterson t) Michael Bennett... 9 Peterson s 100-Yard Rushing Performances vs. Atlanta, 9/9/ at Kansas City, 9/23/ vs. Green Bay, 9/30/ at Chicago, 10/14/ vs. San Diego, 11/4/ vs. Detroit, 12/2/ at Green Bay, 9/8/ vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/ vs. Detroit, 10/12/ Peterson s Career Touchdowns Game Play vs. Atlanta, 9/9/ pass from Jackson at Kansas City, 9/23/ run at Chicago, 10/14/ run, 73 run, 35 run at Dallas, 10/21/ run vs. San Diego, 11/4/ run, 64 run, 46 run vs. Detroit, 12/2/ run, 13 run vs. Chicago, 12/17/ run, 8 run at Green Bay, 9/8/ run at Tennessee, 9/28/ run, 3 run WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 12

14 VIKINGS OFFENSIVE TEAM NOTES VIKINGS OFFENSIVE LINE The Vikings offensive line is anchored by two perennial Pro Bowlers in C Matt Birk and G Steve Hutchinson. Birk, who has appeared in 136 career games with 113 starts since being drafted by the Vikings in 1998, has played in six Pro Bowls ( ), which is tied with Mick Tinglehoff for the most by a Vikings center. He has paved the way for some of the best rushing performances in Vikings history, having been a fi xture in the lineup for four of the Vikings top fi ve single-season performances during his seven seasons as a full-time starter. He has also helped set the top three team rushing marks. Hutchinson joined the Vikings in 2006 and helped the team lead the NFL in rushing yards in 2007 with 2,634. Widely considered the top guard in the NFL, he has appeared in fi ve Pro Bowls and is a 5-time All-Pro. Hutchinson has blocked for 1,000-yard rushers in each of his seven NFL seasons. T Bryant McKinnie returned in Week Five from a four-game suspension. McKinnie had started 87 straight regular season games prior to the suspension and has blocked for three of the top fi ve single-season rushers in team history. Also starting along the line are T Ryan Cook and G Anthony Herrera. Backup T Marcus Johnson and C John Sullivan fi ll out the rest of the offensive line. FOLLOWING ROUTE 76 Since joining the Vikings in 2006, perennial All-Pro LG Steve Hutchinson has proven his worth. In 38 games with the Vikings he has blocked for a 100-yard rusher 16 times (Adrian Peterson-9, Chester Taylor-6, Artose Pinner-1). Hutchinson has now blocked for a 100-yard rusher 47 times in his career and has made room for three games with a runner over 200 yards. He has had a 1,000-yard rusher behind him in each of his seven NFL seasons and is off to a fast start again in 2008 as Peterson has 563 yards through six games. Hutchinson has appeared in fi ve Pro Bowls during his seven accrued seasons in the NFL. VIKINGS TIGHT ENDS The Vikings tight ends unit includes 10-year veteran Jim Kleinsasser and two players in their second year with the Vikings in Visanthe Shiancoe and Garrett Mills. Last season, Kleinsasser and Shiancoe played a critical role in the Vikings #1-ranked rushing attack. Averaging yards per game, the team gained 2,634 yards on 494 carries. Kleinsasser was recognized for his unselfi sh blocking with a spot on the USA Today s All-Joe Team. He has now blocked for four of the top fi ve single-season rushing totals in team history. Not only did the Kleinsasser and Shiancoe duo assist in the Vikings rushing attack, but the two also contributed in the passing game. In Shiancoe s fi rst year with the Vikings, he fi nished with career highs in every category, hauling in 27 receptions for 323 yards and one touchdown. He caught the longest pass by a Vikings TE in team history, a 79-yarder on a reverse by WR Sidney Rice. Kleinsasser added four catches for 43 yards and currently ranks 5th in Vikings annals for career catches by a TE with 159. Mills joined the Vikings on September 2, 2007, after his release in fi nal roster cuts by New England. He was inactive for the opening 15 games of the season before dressing in the fi nale at Denver. In that game, he caught two passes for 26 yards, including a long of 18. SHIANCOE MAKES PLAYS TE Visanthe Shiancoe has two of the Vikings fi ve receiving touchdowns on the season. He currently ranks third on the squad with 13 receptions for 155 yards in the fi rst six games. In Week Two, Shiancoe caught a 34-yard TD pass from QB Gus Frerotte. At New Orleans (10/6) Shiancoe caught his second TD of 2008 on a pass from RB Chester Taylor. Shiancoe now has six TDs for his career. VIKINGS WIDE RECEIVERS In 2008 the Vikings receiving core is benefi ting from the addition of big-play WR Bernard Berrian, who was acquired as a free agent from Chicago this past offseason. The former 3rd round draft pick of the Bears played four seasons for the Vikings NFC North foe and used his exceptional speed to rack up 2,197 yards on 150 receptions. Berrian joins incumbents Sidney Rice and Bobby Wade as the Vikings starting wideouts. Rice, 22 years old, is in his second season in Minnesota. As a rookie Rice gained 396 yards and scored four touchdowns. His four trips to the end zone ranked him second behind Kansas City s Dwayne Bowe for rookie TD catches. The former high school quarterback also threw two passes on trick plays that resulted in 94 yards for the Vikings. His longest pass, 79 yards, is the longest in Vikings history by a non-quarterback. Bobby Wade returns to his preferred slot position in 2008 after a strong season last year in which he led the Vikings in receptions with 54, which was also a career high. Second-year man Aundrae Allison, holder of the longest play in Vikings history - a 104-yard kickoff return - and Robert Ferguson round out the receiving core. Ferguson has started 34 games over his career and has compiled 1,977 receiving yards to go with 13 TDs. BERRI NICE WR Bernard Berrian currently ranks tied for first in the NFL among receivers with at least 20 catches with a 19.8 yards-per-catch average. He has hauled in 22 receptions for 436 yards and two touchdowns on the season. His 436 yards ranks tied for ninth in the league and his 86-yard touchdown catch vs. Detroit (10/12) ranks as the third longest in the NFL in After having just three catches for 38 yards through the fi rst two games, Berrian has caught 19 passes for 398 yards and two TDs over the last four. Berrian has six of the Vikings seven longest receptions of the season and has led the Vikings in receiving yards four times. In Week Five at New Orleans, Berrian caught his fi rst touchdown as a Viking, a 36-yard reception in the fourth quarter that tied the game at 27. Over the past two consecutive weeks, Berrian has put up his two highest single-game receiving yardage days of his career at New Orleans and 131 vs. Detroit. Prior to joining the Vikings, Berrian had four games with 100+ yards and in just six games with Minnesota, Berrian has two. Yards Per Catch Average Among Receivers With 20+ Receptions Player Rec. Yards Average 1t) Bernard Berrian, MIN t) Vincent Jackson, SD ) Greg Jennings, GB Receptions of 25+ Yards Player Rec. of 25+ 1) Greg Jennings, GB...9 2) Lee Evans, BUF...7 3) Bernard Berrian, MIN...6 Berrian s Highest Single-Game Receiving Yard Totals 1) vs. Detroit, 10/12/08 2) at New Orleans, 10/6/08 3) vs. Seattle, 10/1/06 WADE LEADS TEAM WR Bobby Wade currently leads the Vikings with 25 receptions. Wade has tallied 287 receiving yards for an average of 11.5 yards per catch. He set a career high for receptions with seven at Tennessee (9/28) only to break it with eight at New Orleans (10/6) a week later. Last season Wade led the Vikings and set personal career highs with 54 receptions for 647 yards and three scores. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 13

15 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE LINE The Vikings defensive line contains three Pro Bowlers in defensive tackles Kevin Williams and Pat Williams and newcomer DE Jared Allen. Together Kevin and Pat, along with defensive ends Ray Edwards and Kenechi Udeze and now Allen (on reserve/non-football illness list in 2008), have formed the toughest defensive line in the NFL against the run for the past two-plus years. In 2007, the team allowed an average of 74.1 yards per game on the ground, and only three teams - Dallas, Washington and Denver - gained 100 yards rushing, while the longest individual rush was for 30 yards. The previous season the Vikings allowed just 985 rushing yards (61.6 per game), which ranked 2nd since the 1969 AFL-NFL merger to only the 2000 Baltimore Ravens, who gave up only 970 rushing yards during their Super Bowl Championship season. Kevin has played in three Pro Bowls while Pat has played in the past two. In one of the biggest 2008 offseason moves in the NFL, Allen joined the Vikings via a trade with the Kansas City Chiefs. Having led the NFL in sacks with 15.5 in 2007 despite missing two games, Allen earned his fi rst Pro Bowl and All-Pro Honors that season. His 45.0 sacks rank 2nd to only DE Jason Taylor (47.0) since Allen entered the league in Filling out the rest of the line is Edwards, who tied for the team lead in sacks in 07 with 5.0, as well as defensive tackles Fred Evans and Ellis Wyms and defensive ends Otis Grigsby and Brian Robison. Wyms joined the Vikings via free agency during the 2008 offseason and Douzable was drafted by the team in the 5th round of the 2008 draft (152 overall). Robison earned all-rookie honors in 2007 as he ranked 3rd among NFL rookies with 4.5 sacks. WILLIAMS WRITES HISTORY DT Kevin Williams currently has four career defensive touchdowns, which is tied for 1st for the most career defensive touchdowns (INTs and FRs) in Vikings history. Williams needs one more to take over sole possession of the career record. In 2007 Williams tied a team record for the most interceptions in a season by a defensive lineman (2) and the team record for the most INTs in a career by a defensive lineman (4). Williams NFL TDs vs. Jacksonville, 11/28/ fumble return at Seattle, 10/22/ fumble return vs. Atlanta, 9/9/ INT return at San Francisco, 12/9/ INT return Most Career Defensive Touchdowns (INT-FR) - Vikings 1t) Kevin Williams, (2-2)...4 1t) Orlando Thomas, (2-2)...4 1t) Dewayne Washington, (3-1)...4 1t) Joey Browner, (3-1)...4 1t) Bobby Bryant, (3-1)...4 1t) Paul Krause, (2-2)...4 1t) Ed Sharockman, (3-1)...4 Most Career Interceptions By A Defensive Lineman - Vikings 1) Kevin Williams, ) Chris Doleman, , t) 4 Players... 2 Most Single Season INTs By A Defensive Lineman - Vikings 1t) Kevin Williams, t) Tim Newton, HURRY UP AND THROW DT Kevin Williams currently ranks tied for first among DTs and fourth in the NFL with 6.0 sacks. Against Detroit, Williams notched 4. Most Sacks In A Single Game 1) Randy Holloway, vs. Atlanta, 9/16/ t) Kevin Williams, vs. Detroit, 10/12/ t) 8 other players VIKINGS DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 14 NOWHERE TO RUN Under Head Coach Brad Childress, the Vikings have allowed only two 100-yard individual rushing performances in the past 38 games. Only St. Louis Rams RB Steven Jackson (12/31/06) and Green Bay Packers RB Ryan Grant (9/8/08) have reached the century mark during that time with 142 and 119 yards respectively. Over the past three seasons ( ), the Vikings have given up a total of 2,612 rushing yards, which leads the league during that time. Opponents are averaging just 68.7 rushing yards per game from The Vikings ranked #1 against the rush in both 2006 and 2007 and are currently ranked 4th in 2008, having given up 442 yards through fi ve games (73.7 avg). Opponents Rushing Yards Team Yards Allowed 1) Minnesota...2,612 2) Baltimore...2,814 3) Pittsburgh...3,184 Opponents Average Rushing Yards Per Game Team Avg. Yds/Game 1) Minnesota Vikings ) Baltimore Ravens ) Pittsburgh Steelers Opponents Average Rushing Yards Per Game Season Avg. Yds/Game(Rank) (1st) (1st) (4th) Opponents Average Rushing Yards Per Carry Season Avg. Yds/Carry (Rank) (1st) (2nd) (4th) Opponents Rushes For Negative Yards (No Kneeldowns) Season Negative Rushes (Rank) Yards Lost (Rank) (1st) (1st) (1st) (1st) (T-2nd) (T-4th) STACK OF SACKS After a slow start with only 2.0 sacks during the fi rst two weeks of the 2008 season, the Vikings have notched 12.0 sacks over the past four weeks. The team s 14.0 sacks on the season currently ranks ninth in the NFL. DT Kevin Williams leads the way with 6.0 sacks on the year, already surpassing the Vikings individual highs of 5.0 in Williams exploded for 4.0 sacks against Detroit (10/12), which ranks as tied for the most in a single game in His 6.0 sacks ranks tied for fourth in the league. Rounding out the rest of the Vikings sacks are DE Jared Allen, who has 3.0, CB Antoine Winfield with 2.0, LB Chad Greenway and LB Erin Henderson with 1.0 apiece and LB Ben Leber and DE Ray Edwards with 0.5 apiece. Over the past two years, the Vikings 52 sacks ranks 11th NFL Sacks Team Sacks 1) Philadelphia t) Arizona t) N.Y. Jets t) Pittsburgh ) San Diego t) Dallas t) N.Y. Giants t) Tennessee ) Minnesota

16 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES ALLEN NOTCHES FIRST VIKINGS SACK Vikings newly-acquired DE Jared Allen, who fi nished as the 2007 NFL sack leader with 15.5 sacks, currently ranks second on the team with 3.0 sacks. Allen notched his fi rst sack as a Viking in Week 2 vs. Indianapolis when he caught QB Peyton Manning for a 5-yard loss. It was Allen s fi rst sack of Manning. Against Detroit, Allen chased QB Dan Orlovsky out of the back of the Lions end zone for a sack and a safety. Since entering the league in 2004, Allen s 46.0 sacks rank 2nd in the NFL behind only Redskins DE Jason Taylor, who has 47.0 during that time frame. NFL Sack Leaders from Player Sacks 1) Jason Taylor ) Jared Allen ) Aaron Kampman ) Robert Mathis ) Patrick Kerney NFL Sack Leaders Player Sacks 1) Jared Allen ) Patrick Kerney t) Demarcus Ware t) Mario Williams VIKINGS LINEBACKERS The Vikings were dealt a signifi cant blow in Week Four when they lost 2007 Team Defensive MVP and 2008 defensive captain E.J. Henderson for the season due to injury. The middle linebacker, Henderson has led the Vikings in tackles in each of the past two seasons with 155 and 142 tackles respectively. Henderson also has recorded 8.5 of his 10.5 sacks over the past two seasons as well as scoring his lone career touchdown on a 45-yard interception return in Replacing Henderson is LB David Herron, second-year man out of Michigan State. Herron made his fi rst career start at Tennessee in Week Four after playing in his fi rst career game on December 23, Flanking Herron is Ben Leber and Chad Greenway. Leber, a seven year veteran out of Kansas State, was acquired by the Vikings from San Diego in He has three-times been a starter on the NFL s numberone rated rush defense with San Diego in 2005 and Minnesota in 2006 and Leber started 10 games in 2007 and tied for the team lead with 5.0 sacks. Greenway is in his second season at linebacker after missing all of his rookie season with a knee injury. He was a fi rst round selection (17th overall) of the Vikings in 2006 after an impressive college campaign where he was named an All-American his senior year. In his fi rst year starting for the Vikings in 2007 Greenway showed his playmaking abilities as he led the team in takeaways with 6 (4 FR, 2 INT) and was second on the team with 130 tackles. His four fumble recoveries tied him for the NFL lead. Greenway also returned an interception for a touchdown off of eventual Super Bowl MVP Eli Manning. Joining the Vikings in Week Seven was LB Dontarrious Thomas, who was originally drafted by the Vikings in the second round (#48) of the 2004 NFL Draft. Thomas played in 59 career games with 10 starts for Minnesota during his fi rst stint and fi nished with 145 tackles (96 solo), 1.5 sacks, one forced fumble and one fumble recovery. He also was a mainstay on special teams, collecting 46 special teams stops. Former Carolina Panther and Boston College Eagle Vinny Ciurciu, and rookie Erin Henderson, brother of E.J. and Maryland product, round out the linebacking core for Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier and linebackers coach Fred Pagac. LB Heath Farwell, who led the team in special teams tackles in both 2006 and 2007 with 25 and 32 respectively, was lost for the 2008 season with a torn ACL in the fi rst preseason game. MAN IN THE MIDDLE The Vikings lost a key playmaker on defense in Week Four captain LB E.J. Henderson was lost for the season due to injury. Henderson left leading the team with 36 tackles (28 solo). He also had one of the team s 8.0 sacks and one of the team s fi ve fumble recoveries. Over the past four years ( ) Henderson has led the team in tackles three times. In 2004 he led the squad with 125 stops. In 2006 his 142 tackles led the Vikings and last year his 155 stops were a career--high and led the team. He was named the team s 2007 defensive MVP for his performance. The only year Henderson didn t lead the team in tackles was in 2005, when he ranked 2nd with 102. GREENWAY TACKLES THE NFL Vikings LB Chad Greenway currently leads the team with 54 total tackles (37 solo) through the fi rst six games. In Week Four at Tennessee, Greenway led the team with 12 total stops (9 solo). For his career ( ), Greenway has 120 solo tackles and 184 total stops through 22 games. In 2007, he ranked 2nd on the team with 130 total tackles (83 solo), tying for the team lead once and leading the squad in three games. Greenway also ranked tied for 1st in the NFL with 4 fumble recoveries in In Week Three vs. Carolina, Greenway notched his fi rst NFL sack when he threw QB Jake Delhomme for a two-yard loss. In Week Five, he forced a fumble by stripping the ball from RB Reggie Bush. S Tyrell Johnson recovered the ball for the Vikings. VIKINGS DEFENSIVE BACKS The Vikings return three of four starters in the secondary for 2008 with CB Cedric Griffin, S Darren Sharper, and CB Antoine Winfield. Sharper, the 12-year veteran, is the leader in the secondary and the owner of several impressive numbers. The four-time Pro Bowl starter has 53 career interceptions (17 with the Vikings), the most by any active player in the NFL. He also is tied for fi fth in NFL history with eight career interception return touchdowns. Winfi eld, another veteran, has played nine seasons in the NFL. A fi rst round pick (23rd overall) by Buffalo in the 1999 NFL draft, Winfi eld had gone on to record 763 career tackles and 18 interceptions prior to the 08 season. Winfi eld is still playing some of his best football, notching touchdowns off of interceptions in each of the last two seasons. The former University of Texas star Griffi n enters his third year with Vikings after being drafted by the team in the second round of the 2006 NFL Draft. Griffi n scored the fi rst touchdown of his NFL career last year in Dallas when he received a lateral from teammate LB Ben Leber off of a fumble and took it 28 yards for a score. Joining the three starters is 2008 free agent pickup S Madieu Williams. Williams adds another veteran body in the defensive backfi eld having been a three-year starter (missed his sophomore season due to injury) for Cincinnati. With Williams sidelined for the fi rst few games with a neck injury, however, the Vikings fi rst selection in the 2008 NFL Draft (2nd round, 43rd overall) S Tyrell Johnson is gaining some important and meaningful reps at the safety position. Johnson was named the 2007 Sun Belt Conference Defensive Player of the Year as a senior at Arkansas State. Adding depth to the secondary is CB Charles Gordon, CB Marcus McCauley, S Eric Frampton, CB Benny Sapp and rookie S Husain Abdullah. JOHNSON STEPS UP Rookie S Tyrell Johnson had a huge impact in the Vikings Week Five win at New Orleans (10/6). Making his fi fth consecutive start, Johnson recovered a fumble, notched an interception, made fi ve total tackles and collected a quarterback hurry. Johnson now has 26 total tackles (17 solo) on the season along with three passes defensed, an INT and a fumble recovery. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 15

17 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE TEAM NOTES FUMBLES LEAD TO SCORES With CB Antoine Winfield s fumble recovery for a TD in Week Three, the Vikings scored their 46th TD off a fumble recovery since the 1970 NFL merger. That total ranks tied for 1st during that time span. Fumble Recoveries for a Touchdown Since NFL Team FR for TD 1t) Minnesota Vikings t) Tennessee Titans t) Atlanta Falcons t) Oakland Raiders Since Head Coach Brad Childress took over in 2006, the Vikings have scored six times on fumble recoveries (fi ve defensive recoveries, one offensive recovery), which ranks tied for 1st in the NFL. Fumble Recoveries for a Touchdown NFL Team...FR for TD 1t) Minnesota Vikings t) San Diego Chargers ) Houston Texans... 5 SHARPER IMAGE S Darren Sharper is currently tied for the Vikings team record for the most interception returns for a touchdown with three. As a Viking, Sharper has notched 17 INTs. He now has 1,024 career return yards, which ranks 8th in NFL history. Sharper currently leads all active players with the most interceptions (53) as well as the most combined takeaways (58). His 53 INTs are tied with Deion Sanders for 21st all-time. Interceptions By Active NFL Players 1) Darren Sharper ) Champ Bailey Combined Takeaways By Active NFL Players 1) Darren Sharper (53 INTs, 5 FRs) 2) Champ Bailey (43 INTs, 6 FRs) NFL Career Interception Return TDs 1) Rod Woodson t) Ken Houston t) Deion Sanders t) Aeneas Williams t) Darren Sharper t) Eric Allen... 8 Vikings Career Interception Return TDs 1t) Darren Sharper (S) t) Jimmy Hitchcock (CB) t) Dewayne Washington (CB) t) Audray McMillian (CB) t) Joey Browner (S) t) Bobby Bryant (CB) t) Ed Sharockman (CB) t) Rip Hawkins (LB) TAKEAWAY TOINE A ballhawker who hits with authority, Vikings CB Antoine Winfield frequently fi nds himself around the ball. He currently ranks tied for first in the NFL with two fumble recoveries. In Week Five, Winfi eld notched his 20th Vikings career takeaway (13 INTs, 7 FRs), which ranks 8th for the most in team history among cornerbacks and 23rd overall. Winfi eld also returned a blocked field goal 59 yards for a Vikings touchdown against New Orleans, which was a first in team history. Winfi eld now has 32 tackles on the season, 2.0 sacks, an INT, 6 PD, 4 TFL, 3 FF and 2 FR. The Vikings have notched 40 interceptions from , which ranks 12th in the NFL during that time. Nine of those INTs have gone for touchdowns, a total that leads the league over the seasons. The team has scored 14 defensive touchdowns (9 INTs, 5 FRs) in the past 38 games, and that also leads the league over the seasons. NFL Interceptions ) Green Bay t) Baltimore t) San Diego ) Tennessee t) Chicago t) Jacksonville t) New England t) Cincinnati t) Indianapolis t) Cleveland t) Oakland ) Minnesota...40 PICKS, PICKS, PICKS NFL Defensive Touchdowns ( ) Minnesota Vikings (9 INTs, 5 FRs) Green Bay Packers (8 INTs, 4 FRs) Vikings Defensive Touchdowns ( ) Game Play vs. Chicago, 9/24/06... Antoine Winfi eld 7 INT return - L vs. Detroit, 10/8/06... Ben Leber FR in end zone - W vs. Detroit, 10/8/06... E.J. Henderson 45 INT return at Seattle, 10/22/06... Kevin Williams FR in end zone - W at Green Bay, 12/21/06... Fred Smoot 47 INT return - L vs. Atlanta, 9/9/07... Kevin Williams 54 INT return - W vs. Atlanta, 9/9/07... Antoine Winfi eld 14 INT return at Detroit, 9/16/07... Ray Edwards 9 FR return - L at Dallas, 10/21/07... Cedric Griffi n 28 FR return - L at NY Giants, 11/25/07... Darren Sharper 20 INT return - W at NY Giants, 11/25/07... Dwight Smith 93 INT return at NY Giants, 11/25/07... Chad Greenway 37 INT return at San Francisco, 12/9/07... Kevin Williams 18 INT return - W vs. Carolina, 9/21/08... Antoine Winfi eld 19 FR return - W PICKS FOR SIX Over the team s 48-year existence, only seven times have the Vikings returned two or more interceptions for touchdowns in the same game. In each of those games, the Vikings were victorious. Game Players with INTs for TDs Result at Green Bay, 10/29/ Wally Hilgenberg and Paul Krause... W vs. New Orleans, 12/4/ Carl Lee and Jesse Solomon... W 45-3 vs. Detroit, 10/8/ Issiac Holt and Mike Merriweather... W at Chicago, 11/2/ Jack Del Rio and Carlos Jenkins... W vs. Detroit Lions, 11/23/ Corey Chavous and Brian Williams... W vs. Atlanta Falcons, 9/9/ Kevin Williams and Antoine Winfi eld... W 24-3 at New York Giants, 11/25/ Chad Greenway, Darren Sharper, Dwight Smith... W WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 16

18 VIKINGS DEFENSIVE/SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES FOUR STATS, ONE PLAY In Week Three, CB Antoine Winfield collected four defensive statistics on the same play - a quarterback sack, a forced fumble, an opponent fumble recovery and a fumble return for a touchdown - when he hit QB Jake Delhomme near the end of the fi rst half, knocking the ball loose and returning it 19 yards for the score. It was only the 3rd time in team history that a player has recorded four stats on one play. RETURN TO SENDER Under Head Coach Brad Childress, the Vikings have scored 18 times on returns (INT, FR, KR, PR and blocked FG), a number that ranks 2nd in the league from The Vikings have scored 14 times on defense, returning 9 interceptions and 5 fumble recoveries for touchdowns. The other 4 scores came on a kickoff return, a punt return, a blocked fi eld goal and an offensive fumble recovered for a TD. NFL Returns/Defensive Touchdowns Team... TDs 1) Chicago ) Minnesota ) Green Bay ) Arizona ) San Diego Most INT Returns For Touchdowns In A Single Game - NFL 1) 4... Seattle...vs. Kansas City, 11/4/84 2t) 3... Minnesota...at NY Giants, 11/25/07 2t) 3... Tampa Bay...vs. New Orleans, 12/11/77 2t) 3... Cincinnati...vs. Houston, 12/17/72 2t) 3... Houston...vs. San Diego, 12/19/71 2t) 3... Buffalo...vs. NY Jets, 9/29/68 2t) 3... Baltimore...vs. Pittsburgh, 9/29/68 2t) 3... Philadelphia...vs. Pittsburgh, 12/12/65 2t) 3... Cleveland...vs. Chicago, 12/11/60 2t) 3... Baltimore...vs. Green Bay, 11/5/50 PICKS, PICKS, PICKS In the Vikings 48-year history, the team has returned 78 interceptions for touchdowns; 9 of those INT returns have come in the past 3 seasons under Coach Childress and his staff. TAYLOR MADE RB Chester Taylor currently ranks 5th in the NFC and is 12th in the NFL with a 25.6 yards per kickoff return average. Taylor has returned eight kickoffs for 205 yards, with a long of 37. In Week 2, Taylor returned three kickoffs for 93 yards, an average of 31.0 yards per return. His fi rst two returns were for 37 and 35 yards, giving the Vikings starting fi eld position at their own 38 and 34-yard lines. NFC Kickoff Return Leaders Player Returns Yards Average 1) Jerious Norwood, ATL ) Felix Jones, DAL t) Allen Rossum, SF t) Danieal Manning, CHI ) Chester Taylor, MIN HICKS RETURNS After missing the fi rst two games due to injury, RB Artis Hicks returned four kickoffs for 110 yards (27.5 avg.) in Week Four against the Titans (9/28). Hicks has now returned 11 kickoffs for 254 yards (23.1 avg.) with a long of 34. His 23.1 average ranks 10th in the NFC and 22nd in the NFL. WHEN THE GAME IS ON THE LINE One of the most accurate kickers in the NFL since entering the league as an unheralded rookie free agent in 1997, K Ryan Longwell currently ranks tied for second in the NFL with 14 field goals made. He also ranks tied for sixth with 51 points on the season. With the Vikings, Longwell has made 41-of- 42 fi eld goals from inside 45 yards. His streak of consecutive fi eld goals made inside 45 yards was broken vs. Detroit (10/12) when his 38-yard attempt was blocked. Longwell owns the team record for the most consecutive FGs made under 40 yards with Field Goals Made Player... FGs Made 1) Jason Elam, ATL t) Ryan Longwell, MIN t) Joe Nedney, SF...14 Most Game-Winning FGs in Vikings Career 1) 9, Fred Cox, ) 7, Fuad Reveiz, t) 5, Ryan Longwell, t) 5, Rick Danmeier, Longwell s Game Winners Date...Game...FG...Time... Final 12/27/98...at Detroit : /17/00...Philadelphia : /15/00...San Francisco : /24/00...Tampa Bay :31 OT /14/04...Minnesota : /21/04...@ Houston : /12/04...Detroit : /24/04...@ Minnesota : /11/05...Detroit :17 OT /11/06...@ Washington : /17/06...Carolina :25 OT /14/07...@ Chicago : /6/08...@ New Orleans : /12/08...vs. Detroit : LONGWELL S 281 IS 23RD IN NFL HISTORY K Ryan Longwell currently ranks 23rd all-time with 281 made FGs. NFL Career FGs Made (Regular Season) 1) Morten Anderson ) Gary Anderson ) Matt Stover ) John Carney ) Jason Elam ) Jason Hanson ) Nick Lowery ) Jan Stenerud ) Norm Johnson ) John Kasay ) Eddie Murray ) Al Del Greco ) Steve Christie ) George Blanda ) Adam Vinatieri ) Jeff Wilkins t) Pat Leahy t) Jim Turner t) Matt Bahr t) Mark Moseley t) Jim Bakken t) Fred Cox ) Ryan Longwell WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 17

19 VIKINGS SPECIAL TEAMS NOTES LONGWELL RANKS 24TH IN ALL-TIME SCORING K Ryan Longwell currently ranks 24th in NFL history with 1,294 points. Since entering the league in 1997, Longwell ranks third in total scoring behind kickers Jason Elam and Adam Vinatieri All-Time NFL Scoring Leaders Player/Seasons Games Points 1) Morten Anderson, (25) ,544 2) Gary Anderson, (23) ,434 3) George Blanda, (26) ,002 4) John Carney, (21) ,861 5) Jason Elam, (16) ,847 6) Matt Stover, (18) ,846 7) Norm Johnson, (18) ,736 8) Nick Lowery, (18) ,711 9) Jan Stenerud, (19) ,699 10) Jason Hanson, (17) ,685 11) Eddie Murray, (19) ,594 12) Al Del Greco, (17) ,584 13) John Kasay, (17) ,549 14) Steve Christie, (15) ,476 15) Pat Leahy, (18) ,470 16) Jim Turner, (16) ,439 17) Matt Bahr, (17) ,422 18) Adam Vinatieri, (13) ,418 19) Jeff Wilkins, (14) ,416 20) Mark Moseley, (16) ,382 21) Jim Bakken, (17) ,380 22) Fred Cox, (15) ,365 23) Lou Groza, (17) ,349 24) Ryan Longwell, (12) ,294 NFL Scoring Player Points 1) Jason Elam... 1,368 2) Adam Vinatieri... 1,297 3) Ryan Longwell... 1,294 FROM 50 AND BEYOND K Ryan Longwell has connected on 16 fi eld goals from 50+ yards during his career. He also has three of the fi ve longest fi eld goals in Vikings history. Longwell s 50+ Yard Field Goals - Career Date FG Final 9/2/97, at Detroit W /17/99, at Denver L /8/00, at Detroit L /29/00, at Miami L /12/00, at Tampa Bay L /16/01, at Tennessee L /5/03, vs. Kansas City L /11/04, at Tennessee L /17/04, at Detroit W /11/05, at Detroit L /23/05, at Minnesota L /13/05, at Atlanta W /13/05, at Atlanta W /14/07, at Chicago W /14/08, vs. Indianapolis L /6/08 at New Orleans W Longest Field Goals In Vikings History 1) Paul Edinger, vs. Green Bay, 10/23/05 2) Ryan Longwell, at Chicago, 10/14/07 3t) Jan Stenerud, vs. Atlanta, 9/16/84 3t) Paul Edinger, vs. Chicago, 1/1/06 5t) Ryan Longwell, vs. Indianapolis, 9/14/08 5t) Ryan Longwell, at New Orleans, 10/6/08 5t) other players PINNING THEM DEEP Vikings 4th year P Chris Kluwe is currently tied for first in the NFL with 19 punts of 50+ yards on the season. Kluwe also ranks fi fth in the league with a gross punting average of 48.1 yards. Kluwe has punted 37 times for 1,781 yards. In Week Four at Tennessee, Kluwe punted six times, all of which traveled over 50 yards (52, 50, 57, 57, 52, 56), setting a new Vikings record for the most 50-yard punts in a single game. Kluwe s 54.0-yard punting average on the day ranks as the fourth highest in team history. Kluwe now owns three of the top five performances in Vikings history. In 2007 he broke a single game team record at Detroit (9/16) when he punted 4 times for 230 yards, a gross average of 57.5 yards per punt. Kluwe has 42 punts of 50+ yards for his career, which ranks fi fth in Vikings history. Kluwe has also left opponents inside their own 20-yard line nine times in 2008, which ranks tied for seventh in the NFL. Leaving opponents inside the 20 is familiar territory for Kluwe, as he has done so 88 times since entering the league in That total ranks 5th during that time span. In 2007, Kluwe left opponents inside the 20-yard line 34 times, which ranked 3rd in the NFL and was a Vikings single-season record Gross Punting Average Player Gross Punting Average 1) Donnie Jones, STL ) Mike Scifres, SD ) Shane Lechler, OAK ) Mat McBriar, DAL ) Chris Kluwe, MIN Punts of 50+ Yards Player 50+ Yard Punts 1t) Chris Kluwe, MIN t) Donnie Jones, STL ) Dustin Colquitt, KC Punts Inside the 20-Yard Line Player Punts Inside 20 1) Mike Scifres ) Brian Moorman, t) Nick Harris t) Brad Maynard ) Dustin Colquitt ) Chris Kluwe Vikings Single Game 50+ Yard Punts 1) Chris Kluwe, vs. Ten., 9/28/ t) Harry Newsome, vs. Phx, 10/13/ t) Greg Coleman, vs. Chi., 11/25/ Vikings Single Game Gross Punting Average Player GPA 1) Chris Kluwe, at Det., 9/16/ (4 punts yards) 2) Mitch Berger, vs. Cin., 11/15/ (4 punts yards) 3) Chris Kluwe, vs. TB, 9/11/ (4 punts yards) 4t) Chris Cluwe at Ten, 9/28/ (6 punts yards) 4t) Harry Newsome vs. Phx, 10/13/ (5 punts yards) Most 50+ Yard Punts In A Single Season Player 50+Yard Punts 1) Chris Kluwe, t) Chris Kluwe, t) Mitch Berger, WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 18

20 Where Vikings Rank among the NFC leaders (TOP 10) VIKINGS LEADERS IN THE NFL Week Berrian, Receiving Yards (436) NR NR NR NR NR 6 Kluwe, Punting Average (48.1) Henderson, E.J., Fumble Recoveries (1) NR NR NR 2T 4T 5T Johnson, Fumble Recoveries (1) NR NR NR NR 4T 5T Leber, Fumble Recoveries (2) NR NR 2T 2T 4T 2T Longwell, Scoring (51) NR 3T 2T 4T 2 4T Peterson, Rushing Yards (563) Peterson, Total Yards Scrimm. (619) Peterson, Rushing TDs (3) 3T 9T NR 4T 7T 8T Taylor, Kickoff Return Avg. (25.6) NR Williams, K., Sacks (6.0) NR NR NR NR NR 2T Winfield, Fumble Recoveries (2) NR NR 2T 2T 1T 2T Where Vikings Rank among the NFL leaders (TOP 10) Week Berrian, Receiving Yards (436) NR NR NR NR NR 9T Kluwe, Punting Average (48.1) NR NR NR Leber, Fumble Recoveries (2) NR NR 4T 6T 8T 2T Longwell, Scoring (51) NR 3T 2T 7T 3 6T Peterson, Rushing Yards (563) Peterson, Total Yards Scrimm. (619) NR Williams, K., Sacks (6.0) NR NR NR NR NR 4T Winfield, Fumble Recoveries (2) NR NR 4T 6T 1T 2T Where Vikings Rank Offensively and Defensively (NFC) Week Overall Offense Rushing Offense Passing Offense T Points Scored Overall Defense Rushing Defense Passing Defense Points Allowed 11T Turnover Ratio 11T 7T 6T 10T 4T 8 Where Vikings Rank Offensively and Defensively (NFL) Week Overall Offense Rushing Offense Passing Offense T Points Scored 16 22T 23T Overall Defense 18T Rushing Defense Passing Defense Points Allowed 22T Turnover Ratio 22T 12T 10T 21T 7T 16T NR-Not ranked in top 10 Done Prior to Monday Night Football WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 19

21 VIKINGS EXTRA POINTS VOICES OF THE VIKINGS KFAN-AM radio mid-day personality Paul Allen enters his 7th season as the Vikings radio play-by-play voice in Joining him in the booth for the 2nd year is former Vikings LB and coach Pete Bercich, while former Vikings punter Greg Coleman will serve as the sideline reporter. KFAN-AM (1130) and KTLK (100.3 FM) serve as the fl agship stations for the Minnesota Vikings Radio Network, which includes outlets in six states: Minnesota: Iowa: Market Station Freq. Market Station Freq. Twin Cities KFAN-AM 1130 Ames KASI-AM 1430 Twin Cities KTLK-FM Cedar Rapids KMJM-AM 1360 Aitkin KKIN-FM 94.3 Mason City KGLO-AM 1300 Alexandria KIKV-FM Sioux City KMNS-AM 620 Austin KNFX-AM 970 Spencer KICD-AM 1240 Bemidji KBUN-AM 1450 Bemidji KBHP-FM Montana: Benson KSCR-FM 93.5 Miles City KKRY-FM 92.5 Blue Earth KBEW-FM 98.1 Brainerd KBLB-FM 93.3 North Dakota: Crookston KROX-AM 1260 Bismarck KXMR-AM 710 Dassel KARP-FM Carrington KDAK-AM 1600 Detroit Lakes KDLM-AM 1340 Devils Lake KDLR-AM 1240 Detroit Lakes KRCQ-FM Dickinson KLTC-AM 1460 Duluth WEBC-AM 560 Fargo KFGO-AM 790 Ely WELY-AM 1450 Ely WELY-FM 94.5 Grand Forks KKXL-AM 1440 Fergus Falls KBRF-AM 1250 Jamestown KQDJ-AM 1400 Grand Rapids KMFY-FM 96.9 Minot KRRZ-AM 1390 Hibbing WMNT-AM 650 Oakes KDDR-AM 1220 Hutchinson KARP-FM Valley City KOVC-AM 1490 Intl. Falls KSDM-FM Williston KEYZ-AM 600 Jackson KRAQ-FM Mankato KHRS-FM Mankato KXLP-FM 93.1 South Dakota: Mankato KYSM-AM 1230 Aberdeen KSDN-AM 930 Marshall KARL-FM Milbank KMSD-AM 1510 Morris KKOK-FM 95.7 Mobridge KMLO-FM New Ulm KNUJ-FM Pierre KPLO-FM 94.5 Park Rapids KPRM-AM 870 Sioux Falls KXQL-FM Pine City WCMP-FM Sisseton KBWS-FM Rochester KRCH-FM Watertown KWAT-AM 950 Rochester KWEB-AM 1270 Yankton KVTK-AM 1570 Roseau KCAJ-FM St. Cloud WJON-AM 1240 Wisconsin: Spring Grove KQYB-FM 98.3 Amery WLMX-FM Staples KSKK-FM 94.7 Balsam Lake WLMX-FM Thief River Falls KTRF-AM 1230 Eau Claire WMEQ-AM 880 Wadena KSKK-FM 94.7 Hayward WHSM-FM Walker KQKK-FM LaCrosse KYOB-FM 98.3 Waseca KOWZ-AM 1170 Menomonie WMEQ-AM 880 Winona KWNO-FM 99.3 Rice Lake WKFX-FM 99.1 VIKINGS ON THE AIR Catch the Vikings every Saturday during the season from 6:00-7:00 p.m. on back-toback FSN North shows - Vikings GamePlan and Vikings Weekly. Vikings GamePlan offers an in-depth look at the upcoming opponent. Hosted by Vikings play-by-play announcer Paul Allen, the show lets fans watch and listen to Head Coach Brad Childress and assistant coaches discuss the week s matchup and the state of the 2008 Vikings. Vikings Weekly is a 30-minute segment that gives fans an opportunity to see their favorite athletes off the fi eld in a more personal setting. Players allow host Ann Carroll and crew to follow them outside of Winter Park to get a glimpse of their hobbies, their families, and other parts of their lives that fans otherwise wouldn t know. ALLEN TEAMS WITH JDRF TO SACK DIABETES Vikings DE Jared Allen is launching a new initiative called Sack Diabetes. This regular season, in each city where Allen plays, he will donate $3,000 for every sack he records through his newly formed foundation to the local Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) chapter. For every sack Jared records at the Metrodome, he will make a $3,000 donation to the Minnesota JDRF chapter. Cities where Vikings play this season include: Date Team JDRF Chapter/Branch 9/8...Green Bay... Northeast Wisconsin 9/28...Tennessee... Nashville Chapter 10/6...New Orleans... Louisiana 10/19...Chicago... Greater Illinois 11/16...Tampa Bay... Tampa Bay 11/23...Jacksonville... Jacksonville 12/7...Detroit... Greater Detroit 12/14...Arizona... Desert Southwest COMMUNITY CALENDAR VIKINGS PARTNER WITH THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA DE- PARTMENT OF PEDIATRICS TO TACKLE INFLUENZA Free fl u shot clinics offered throughout the metro; Kickoff event at Midtown YWCA on Tuesday, Oct. 14. The Minnesota Vikings, in partnership with the University of Minnesota Department of Pediatrics, are Tackling Infl uenza. With the help of the University, the Vikings are sponsoring three free fl u clinics throughout the metro in an effort to protect children and families from seasonal infl uenza. The fi rst clinic, scheduled for Tuesday, October 14, will serve as the kickoff to the team s effort. Vikings players Vinny Ciurciu, Brian Daniels, Ray Edwards, Heath Farwell, Charles Gordon, Erin Henderson, Anthony Herrera, David Herron, John Sullivan and Kenechi Udeze, as well as Vikings cheerleaders and Viktor the Viking will be signing autographs and giving away prizes from 3:30-5:00 p.m. Tuesday, October 14, 2008 Kickoff 3:00 p.m. 7:00 p.m. (Players onsite from 3:30 p.m. 5:00 p.m.) Midtown YWCA 2121 East Lake Street; Minneapolis Friday, October 17, :00 a.m. 4:00 p.m. (while supplies last) Brookdale Mall 694 and Hwy 100; Brooklyn Center Wednesday, December 3, 2008 Time TBA at St. David s Child Development and Fam ily Services BUSINESS VENTURES Outside of Winter Park, several Vikings players dedicate a signifi cant amount of free time operating their own entrepreneurial ventures. * Matt Birk opened Matty B s, a supper club in native St. Paul in the spring of 2006, and Matty B s Urban Bar and Grill in Minneapolis in the fall of * Vinny Ciurciu started a sportswear company, Anger Sports, with his brother that specializes in workout and casual clothes. * Bobby Wade owns a visual marketing company, Free Mind, that specializes in promotional items. * Pat Williams owns an automobile detailing company, Automotive Concepts, in the Twin Cities. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 20

22 VIKINGS IN THE COMMUNITY Jared Allen Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation Aundrae Allison African American Adoption Agency Bernard Berrian Special Olympics Minnesota Matt Birk H.I.K.E. Foundation (Hope, Inspiration, Knowledge and Education) United Way Brad Childress Saturday Special Community Guests Program Special Olympics Minnesota Vinny Ciurciu University of Minnesota Children s Hospital, Fairview Ryan Cook United Way Hometown Huddle Jeff Dugan Ronald McDonald House Starkey Hearing Foundation Ray Edwards Summit Academy OIC Heath Farwell R.T. Autism and Muscular Dystrophy Association Charles Gordon Catholic Charities St. Joseph s Home For Children Chad Greenway Lead the Way Foundatio Memorial Blood Centers Zeta Tau Alpha Breast Cancer Awareness Cedric Griffin Salvation Army E.J. Henderson Gamespeed/E.J Henderson Youth Foundation Police Activities League Anthony Herrera University of Minnesota Children s Hospital, Fairview Artis Hicks Ronald McDonald House Steve Hutchinson American Heart Association What Moves U Campaign Tarvaris Jackson Catholic Charities St. Joseph s Home For Children Marcus Johnson Youth Water Safety Tyrell Johnson Minneapolis Park and Recreation Board Jim Kleinsasser The Make-A-Wish Foundation Chris Kluwe The United Way Lift Up America Ben Leber University of Minnesota Children s Hospital, Fairview Cullen Loeffler Sherriff s Youth Program The Lone Star Paralysis Foundation Ryan Longwell Hunger Solutions Minnesota Marcus McCauley African American Adoption Agency Bryant McKinnie Breast Cancer Awareness NFL Youth Football Junior Player Development Garrett Mills Starkey Hearing Foundation Jayme Mitchell Salvation Army Harbor Light Center Adrian Peterson Adrian Peterson s All Day Foundation Special Olympics Minnesota Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities Sidney Rice Children s Home Society Family Services Adoption Program Darren Sharper Sharper Kids Foundation Team Spokesperson for Books for Africa Visanthe Shiancoe Kaboom! Playgrounds Naufahu Tahi United Way Thomas Tapeh Kaboom! Playgrounds Chester Taylor Kaboom! Playgrounds Kenechi Udeze Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities The Marrow Program Leukemia and Lymphoma Society Bobby Wade What Moves U and NFL Play 60 Kevin Williams Children s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota Madieu Williams Madieu Williams Foundation YMCA Pat Williams Vikings Children s Fund Bowl With the Vikings United Way Live United Big Brothers Big Sisters Antoine Winfield North Community YMCA NFL Play 60 WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 21

23 VIKINGS EXTRA POINTS QUICK HITS Franchise Founded: January 28, 1960 First Head Coach: Norm Van Brocklin First Regular Season Game: 9/17/61 - Vikings 37, Chicago Bears 13 First Playoff Game: 12/22/68 - Vikings 14, Baltimore Colts 24 First Super Bowl: Super Bowl IV (1/11/70) Vikings 7, Chiefs 23 Playoff Appearances/Games: 25/42 Super Bowl Appearances: 4 - Super Bowl IV, VIII, IX, and XI All-Time Record (Reg. Season and Postseason): All-Time Home Record: All-Time Away Record: Home Stadiums: Metropolitan Stadium ( ) HHH Metrodome (1982-present) Stadium Info: Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome Capacity: 64,121 Address: th Avenue S., Minneapolis, MN Playing Surface: FieldTurf Training Facilities: Winter Park Address: 9520 Viking Drive, Eden Prairie, MN Training Camp: Minnesota State University-Mankato Address: 700 Ellis Avenue, Mankato, MN Owner/Chairman: Zygi Wilf Owner/President: Mark Wilf STADIUM UPDATE As committed as the Vikings are to bringing a Super Bowl championship to the fans and to the state, the franchise is equally devoted to securing a long-term home for the team in Minnesota. The Vikings are one of the few NFL franchises without a stadium solution but remain determined to collaborate with the State Legislature, the Governor and local leaders to resolve this issue. With the team s Metrodome lease set to expire in 2011 and costs increasing $50 million with each year of delay, 2009 is the critical year to preserve the long-term viability of the Vikings in Minnesota. Working with the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission (MSFC), the Vikings are moving forward on a public-private partnership that will open a new, multi-purpose stadium on the current Metrodome site in the year The two sides will present this stadium development plan to the 2009 Legislature for consideration. The joint proposal will include specifi c stadium design and program elements, a fi nance plan and principles of agreement on how the new facility will be operated and governed, all crucial topics for state leaders to analyze as they work to reach a stadium solution in The economic development proposal will include three critical elements that go beyond hosting Vikings home games: A retractable-roof stadium that will give Minnesotans a state-of-theart venue to be used year-round for high school and amateur sports, trade shows, community and cultural events, as well as national and international happenings. A Winter Garden light rail train station that will serve as a connecting point for the future Central Corridor light rail line and the existing Hiawatha line. This gathering place is integral to the Vikings vision of the overall development and will host indoor/outdoor activities for transit riders, neighborhood residents, downtown workers and stadium attendees. A privately-fi nanced redevelopment of the Downtown East area that will include offi ce buildings, residences, shops and restaurants. This exciting project will create jobs, boost the economy and bring a renewed energy to this area of Minneapolis. VIKINGS YEAR-BY-YEAR Year Preseason Regular Season Playoffs (SB loss) (SB loss) (SB loss) (SB loss) Totals (.605) (.548) (.429) VIKINGS ALL-TIME COACHES Years Head Coach Total Games Regular Season (%) Playoffs (%) Overall (%) Norm Van Brocklin (.369) (.000) (.369) , Bud Grant (.618) (.454) (.607) Les Steckel (.188) (.000) (.188) Jerry Burns (.547) (.500) (.544) Dennis Green (.610) (.250) (.591) Mike Tice (.492) (.500) (.493) Brad Childress (.447) (.000) (.447) WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 22

24 MEDIA INFORMATION Bob Hagan, Director of Public Relations Tom West, Assistant Director of Public Relations Jeff Anderson, Manager of Public Affairs Evan Koch, Public Relations Assistant Tom Halkin, Public Relations Intern Pat Ottum, Public Relations Intern The typical Vikings weekly media schedule during the season is below: Monday 12:35 p.m. - Childress Press Conference 2:30-3:15 p.m. - Open Locker Room Tuesday Players Day Off - No Media Access Wednesday 11:35 a.m. - Childress/Frerotte Available 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice* Thursday 11:35 a.m. - Bevell/Frazier/Ferraro/Peterson Available 11:45 a.m. - 12:30 p.m. - Open Locker Room 1:30-3:30 p.m. - Practice* Friday 11:45 a.m. - 12:50 p.m. - Practice* 12:50 p.m. - Coach Childress Press Conference 12:50 p.m. - 1:35 p.m. - Open Locker Room Saturday No Media Access VIKINGS PR STAFF CREDENTIAL REQUESTS Credential requests are honored for accredited media on specifi c assignments and must be made through the Vikings PR department. Credentials will not be issued to writers or photographers working on a free-lance basis unless the request is made by a recognized publication or news entity. Season-long credentials are issued in July; game-bygame credentials must be requested at least one week prior to each home game. WEEKLY MEDIA SCHEDULE Sunday Post-Game - Coach Childress Press Conference Post-Game - Open Locker Room * Practice is open to media through indivicual drills COACH CHILDRESS PRESS CONFERENCES Head Coach Brad Childress will be available in the fi eldhouse or on the outdoor practice fi eld on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays during the regular season. COORDINATOR AVAILABILITY Offensive Coordinator Darrell Bevell, Defensive Coordinator Leslie Frazier, and Special Teams Coordinator Paul Ferraro will be available every Thursday during the regular season. All other interview requests for the coordinators should be directed to a member of the PR staff. ASSISTANT COACH AVAILABILITY All position coach interviews must be scheduled through the PR department a day in advance and cleared by Head Coach Brad Childress. Position coaches are available for questions on specifi c players and the position group but coordinators will always serve as the primary spokesmen in their areas. METRODOME GAME DAY INFO * The media will call window/media check-in is located at Gate D. A security representative will check bags before allowing entrance into the stadium. Main Press Box * The main press box is located in sections Upon entering the concourse, take a right. Seating charts are located in the press box and wireless internet is available. * A pregame meal will be served in the press box and a halftime meal will be served in the Vikings Lounge directly across the concourse through the glass doors. Meal tickets for halftime will be distributed near the end of the 2nd quarter. * Vikings PR representatives Bob Hagan and Tom West are located in seats 87 and 88. Visiting team PR representatives are located in seats For fi eld access, follow the stairs at the back of the press box all the way down to fi eld level. Auxiliary Press Box * The auxiliary press box is located in sections Upon entering the concourse, take a left. Seating charts are located in the press box. * Pregame and halftime meals will be served in the press box. * Vikings PR representatives Jeff Anderson or Evan Koch is located in seat 58. *For fi eld access, follow the stairs at the back of the press box all the way down to fi eld level. Photographers Workroom * The photographers workroom is located on the fi eld directly behind the south goal post (closest to the photo check-in tunnel). Upon entering the concourse, take a right and go to the elevator directly across from the main press box and take it to fi eld level or continue through the concourse to the overhead sign that reads Field Access and follow the stairwell down. TV Camera Holding Area * The video waiting area for TV camera operators is located in the back of the fi eld entrance tunnel behind the check-in table. Follow the same procedures as photographers to get to the fi eld. VIKINGS ON THE WEB The Minnesota Vikings offi cial website, which can be viewed at provides Vikings fans with everything they need to follow their favorite team. Vikings.com is one of the league s most traffi cked sites and is the only place on the web that provides complete video and audio of all Vikings press conferences. Additionally, the website provides unique and exclusive written and video content that can only be found on Vikings.com. Vikings media members can fi nd stats, press releases, weekly game releases and updated rosters under the press tab. WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 23

25 FROM THE HEAD COACH Monday, October 13, 2008 Head Coach Brad Childress Okay, just getting back to yesterday s game, as I mentioned to you, particularly in light of seeing the Bears highlights, that s a good win. Kevin Williams (had a) great performance. When you are talking about four sacks, five tackles for a loss, eight tackles, I mean (that s) just a dominating performance. Bernard Berrian has come a long way here in the last couple of weeks from probably the mid-to-low 20s in terms of yards from scrimmage. I think he is up to sixth in the passing category. Gus (Frerotte) was over 300 yards passing at one point in time, then fell back on one of those passes. (He) made some critical throws. So we are about to put that game behind us and move onto Chicago, tied for the division lead. Just for perspective, I think what is important is you look at those games and how they end every week you look at games like the Bears and Atlanta we talk about them all coming down to the last second. Obviously the Bears thought they had it in hand. Our game with Detroit, Dallas and Arizona going to overtime, with some last-second kicking issues, both a field goal made to tie it then obviously the blocked punt. (The) Houston (versus) Miami game was won at the last second with a kick. Then St. Louis at Washington, they moved back and a field goal won that at the last second with a walk-off. That is the way this thing is set up. Like I said there are not a lot of walks in the park. Not many at all. Most of them are going to the fourth quarter. So again it feels good to get that win and I m not turning it back. Those are hard to come by. A couple of things that I obviously think we need to improve on are some of those drive killing penalties, particularly after big plays when you are down there in plus territory. We should have been, if I m not mistaken, first and goal, or second and one at the one after Chester s (Taylor) one run. We had a big play, I want to say, to Bobby Wade or to Bernard Berrian. After an eight-yard gain we back up from first and 10 and it was going to go to second and two to first and 20. Those are kind of things that you kind of got to get out of your own way with. But 10 weeks, (we are) all even, there has only been one of the division games that have been played between the three people that are leading right now and that would be us and Green Bay. Chicago has to play Green Bay twice. We are getting ready to play Chicago; we play them twice. Then obviously we got our game with the Packers. So 10 games, there is a lot, a lot, a lot of stuff that happens from here on out. Q: Are you concerned that you were able to get a lot of yards but not a lot of points yesterday? A: I think the big issue there is the turnovers. Those things will make a game left-handed in a hurry, particularly when you turn it over on the one yard line going in after a third down conversion. You ve got a chance to sway the balance there. So any time you turn it over all those numbers you forget about because the ball is going back to them after you have driven the ball and it kind of sticks a pin in where you are at. Q: Are you concerned with Adrian Peterson s fumbles? A: Well I know that Eric Bieniemy works with all of those guys all the time just on keeping it high-and-tight and ball security and those types of things. The thing about that is when you put that on fi lm, whether you are in fact a fumbler or you are not a fumbler, defensive coaches look at that and you become a target. So when we say your tape is your resume, with that having happened the last couple of weeks, he becomes an added target where it is, Hey we can take the ball from that guy. We do. We certainly look at that all the time. Q: Looking at the tape of the fumbles, are there things that can be corrected? A: There are. Some of them are just violent hits. (They are) just that where he is stunned or his arm got numb. A couple of them might have been a little bit lower carries than we are looking for, but predominantly they are pretty good shots on the football or on a neck or head or something like that. Q: What is David Herron s status after taking a beating in the game and where does that leave you regarding depth at middle linebacker? A: Well he is beat up. He has got a couple of different things going on and we will probably wait to see where he is at as we go to Wednesday. But we are going to make a move and sign (Dontarrious Thomas) back that we worked out a couple of weeks ago and Rick (Spielman) got him off heading to Dallas here right after the game. So he has been in. We talked to him this morning and he might be in the locker room when you guys go back there this afternoon. And what he does is he gives us a guy who is familiar with our system. Obviously he didn t want to leave but he had to go for the money and free agency. It didn t work out there in San Francisco for whatever reason but he still looks like he possesses some tools and he knows our drill. He knows the linebackers coach. He knows the system. He knows the special teams. He knows our values. So he is extremely excited to be back here with us. Q: Would he be ready for next week? A: He should be yeah. He should be. We had some conversation about maybe making a move last week but it probably wouldn t have been fair to him. Q: When he was here last he was working at all three linebacker spots. Now, because of the situation you are in at middle linebacker, do you just have him focus on the middle position? A: I think we will probably end up seeing where he is at familiarity-wise. When you leave, what comes back to you? We will go up and talk about it upstairs. Fred (Pagac) does a great job of cross-training those guys and if it comes back fast you fi gure out how one relates to another. Nothing says that he can t. Q: What were the causes of all of the sacks? A: Well there was about one of everything. About one of everything. We had a rush to cover where we made a decent pick-up, but with the extra guys coming Gus probably has to get the ball out of his hand. One was a movement sack. We were going to naked back out the other way and we really didn t come down and secure everything down inside. One you would put on Ryan Cook with the speed rush around the end. I m trying to think about what the fourth and the fi fth one were but there was a lot to go around. You just don t want that when you are back there throwing it. Those set you back as much as anything and it s demoralizing. The only thing more demoralizing would be a sack-strip where the ball comes out. We had one of those where Chester (Taylor) seemed to come up with the football. And what you know about hitting the quarterback is every seven sacks the quarterback is going to lose the ball and every 21 sacks the quarterback is going to leave the game. So you don t want that. Q: Have you been using Bernard Berrian in some more diverse different situations lately? A: No. I mean we are moving him around a little bit. He has the ability to fl ip and play X and Z and we are putting him in the slot from time-to-time. (We are) Motioning him from time-to-time (too). So, yeah, I mean you don t want to let them fi nd him in one spot all the time. (We want to) make defenses WEEK 7 - VIKINGS AT BEARS - 24