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Dan Leberfeld checks in with some things to look for in the Jets-Vikings game – just the good stuff . . . don’t miss out . . .
While there is a lot of talk about the Vikings vaunted run defense, but they have been good, not great this year. There first three opponents did have success against them on the ground, including Miami’s Ronnie Brown, who had a 51-yard scamper. Also the Saints were able to ground-and-pound the Vikings down the stretch.
With all the talk about Randy Moss, don’t sleep on Percy Harvin. He’s had two weeks to rehab a hip injury, hasn’t had a migraine this week, and could be a very tough matchup for the Jets. He could be a big, big problem for Drew Coleman or Kyle Wilson . . .
For some reason, Brett Favre has awful chemistry with Bernard Berrian. The speedster has just five receptions for 38 yards, just 7.6 yards. They just don’t work well together for some reason . . .
The Jets run defense will have their hands full with Adrian Peterson, who is coming off a 160-yard, two touchdown performance against Detroit. But one factor that should help the Jets a little is the absence of the Vikings starting center John Sullivan (Mount Kisco), who is out with a calf injury. Ryan Cook is filling in for Sullivan, and Sione Pouha should win this matchup. Cook is the tallest center in the NFL at 6-6. One of the things that makes Pouha so good is his low center of gravity. He’s great at getting under lineman to make tackles. He should be able to do that with regularity against the 6-6 Cook.
Randy Moss is the perfect receiver for Brett Favre, and I mean perfect. Favre likes to throw balls up for grabs down field, and Moss is great at winning these kind of jump ball situations.
“You think Randy comes in, we’re just going to throw it up to him?” Favre said. “It’s 11 guys on him, we’re just going to throw it up to him? There may be times where that’s the case. I’m just joking, 10 guys, maybe. But he offers a totally different dimension.”
He’s really not joking. He’s going to throw it up to him several times a game. And with that being said, Antonio Cromartie might be a good matchup for him because at 6-3, he can compete well for these jump balls.
Darrelle Revis will clearly get his turns on Moss, but Cromartie can also so the job.
It’s a crock that Moss took the second half off in the Jets-New England game. He didn’t have a good half because Cromartie did a great job on him. If Revis doesn’t want to give “Cro” credit for a job well done, that’s his problem . . .
The Vikings are a little thin in the secondary with 2010 first-round pick Chris Cook out with a knee injury. Cook has been playing in nickel situations. He would line-up outside, and starter Antoine Winfield would move into the slot. With Cook out, expect to see a lot more of former Jet Lito Sheppard . . .
Jason Taylor had a candid comment on what happens when you start to hit Brett Favre.
“You can get him to sail balls when he chucks and ducks,” said Taylor.