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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. wholesale jerseys . - The Minnesota Vikings defence cant stop anybody. Theres a different quarterback under centre every week. The star defensive end is the subject of trade rumours. And the coaching staff is stepping out onto thinner and thinner ice with each successive blowout loss. Other than that, things couldnt be going better for them. The Vikings (1-6) have already lost as many games as they did all of last season while making a surprising run to the playoffs. After getting hammered by the Green Bay Packers in a 44-31 loss on Sunday night that was nowhere near as close as the final score indicated, coach Leslie Frazier finds himself trying to come to grips with a season that looks all but lost. "There was no scenario going through my mind that would put us at 1-6 in this juncture," Frazier said. "Looking at the way our games have transpired, I do understand why we are where we are. I do believe we can get some things fixed and get going here. Theres definitely some things we have to work on to get done, but I do believe its possible to get it done." If Frazier has exhibited one defining characteristic during his three-plus seasons on the job, its an unshakable sense of calm even in the most difficult moments. In the wake of an embarrassing loss to their NFC North rivals at the Metrodome on Sunday night, his resolve is being tested yet again. Aaron Rodgers dissected the defence, converting over 72 per cent of the Packers third downs and directing scoring drives on every possession but the last one, when he took a knee to mercifully run out the clock. For the season, opponents are converting 51 per cent of their third downs against the Vikings, by far the highest number in the league. "Were so bad right now on third down on defence," Frazier said. "Youve got to look at how were doing it, what were doing schematically, and also the people that youre asking to do certain things. Can they get it done? Do we need to be doing something different based on the people that were asking to execute the defence?" The NFLs trade deadline is Tuesday afternoon, and several Vikings have heard their names come up in the rumour mill. Defensive end Jared Allen and seldom-used backup running back Toby Gerhart are two of the players mentioned most often. "Honestly, Im not even going to address it," Allen said after the game. "Im not going to speculate on something that I havent had a conversation about. And Im not going to speculate on something that hasnt happened. I cross all bridges when I get to them and right now Im trying to figure out a way for us to make this defence better." Frazier said he knows players read reports on the internet, but coaches would buckle down on them this week to make sure theyre focused going forward. "Were going to try to continue to keep them focused on the task at hand, and in this case, its trying to prepare as well as we can for this ballgame against Dallas," he said. "Thats whats most important." Frazier declined to identify a starting quarterback for the Cowboys game. The Vikings have changed starting quarterbacks, either because of injury, ineffectiveness or both, five times in their last six games, and all indications are another change will be made this week. Christian Ponder started against the Packers because the recently acquired Josh Freeman had a concussion. But Ponder failed to seize the opportunity after being benched a month ago, looking skittish in the pocket and unable to work through his progression of receivers with any efficiency. Veteran Matt Cassel is the only quarterback to win a game for the Vikings this year, but Frazier said Monday that Freeman or Ponder will start against the Cowboys. "Hes done everything weve asked him to," Frazier said of Cassel. "Hes practiced well, prepared well. He was ready yesterday if needed be, and hell continue to work as hard he can. I dont know if theres any one thing I can point to and say why its Christian and Josh in this determination." As long as Freeman is fully healthy, he is the likely choice to face the Cowboys. He had a terrible debut against the Giants two weeks ago, but the Vikings want to get a long look at him to see if he could be their quarterback of the future. And while Frazier has heard fans calling for his ouster, the team still seems to stand firmly behind him. "Coach cant get out there and throw a pass or run, or block," Adrian Peterson said. "Its on us as players to make this turnaround." ___ AP NFL website: www.pro32.ap.org ___ Follow Jon Krawczynski on Twitter: http://twitter.com/APKrawczynski cheap nfl jerseys . LOUIS -- Duke forward Jabari Parker has won the Wayman Tisdale Award, presented by the U. wholesale nfl jerseys . -- Reginas Mark McMorris is taking home a silver medal and a fractured rib from Saturdays slopestyle event at the Winter X Games.DENVER -- The Broncos had just enough healthy players to hold on for John Foxs first win in Denver. Even if their lineup was left looking like a preseason game, when fans wonder, "Whos that guy?" The Broncos staved off a last-minute drive by the Cincinnati Bengals to hold on for a 24-22 win Sunday despite losing two more key players to injuries. Kyle Orton threw two touchdown passes to Eric Decker, who atoned for a big fumble with nine receptions for 113 yards in his first career start. Willis McGahee ran for 101 yards and a touchdown on 28 carries in his heaviest workload in three seasons. "It didnt always look pretty -- it couldnt look pretty with the way our personnel was," Orton said. "We had nine or 10 guys that are usually on the field that are out. ... It was tough sledding out there but we stuck together." The injury epidemic grew to 10 players, including a half dozen starters and two more who were expected to start before being sidelined in the off-season. "The next man up is the best man up," linebacker Joe Mays said, "and whenever your number is called you have to go out there and execute whatever the coach asks you to do. Every single player on the team deserves to be here and you never know when your number is called." Next man up? How about last man standing? Even Tim Tebows No. 15 was called Sunday -- not to replace Orton at quarterback as his fans have been harping about, but to line up as a slot receiver after Eddie Royal went down with a strained left groin shortly after rookie tight end Julius Thomas went out with an injured right ankle. "Im going to do whatever I can to help the team," said Tebow, who was never targeted in the passing game but did his best to block. "If they ask me to go out there and run some routes and block some people, Ill go do it." Orton said he wouldnt have hesitated throwing it Tebows way. It just didnt come to that. "Oh, hes an athlete," Decker agreed. "He can catch some passes." The Broncos (1-1) beat the Bengals (1-1) with a heavy diet of the I-formation consisting of two wide receivers, two tight ends and two backs. Andy Dalton showed no ill effects from a bruised right wrist and forearm, throwing for 332 yards and hitting fellow rookie A.J. Green 10 times for 124 yards and Jerome Simpson four times for 136 yards. After scoring on four straight possessions, the Bengals looked as though they had caught a bigg break when Britton Colquitts 82-yard punt was called back because Broncos gunner Chris Harris didnt get back inbounds quickly enough. cheap jerseys from china. On the re-kick, the Bengals got the ball at the Denver 45-yard line instead of their own 11 with 5 1/2 minutes left. Rather than try a 53-yard field goal, however, the Bengals went for it on fourth-and-1 at the Denver 36 even though they were 1-for-11 on third-down conversions. Green sneaked into the right flat, but Robert Ayers sniffed out the naked bootleg and drove Dalton into the ground as his pass fell incomplete. "It was the best decision I could make at that point" was all Bengals coach Marvin Lewis had to say about not sending out kicker Mike Nugent, who was good from 45, 37 and 23 yards in Denvers thin air where Sebastian Janikowski tied the NFL record last week with a 63-yarder. Denver couldnt run out the clock after Ryan Cladys second holding call, and Cincinnati got the ball back at its 5 with 2:25 left and no timeouts remaining. The Bengals reached midfield at the minute mark, but nickel back Jonathan Wilhite, playing for Champ Bailey, sacked Dalton. Then another backup -- Wesley Woodyard, playing for D.J. Williams -- made a diving deflection of a pass to tight end Jermaine Gresham. That brought up fourth-and-19 from the Bengals 43, and Daltons desperation pass went out of bounds with 23 seconds left. The Broncos were missing five starters at kickoff in Bailey, Williams, wide receiver Brandon Lloyd, defensive end Elvis Dumervil and tailback Knowshon Moreno. They were quickly joined on the sideline by Thomas. Royal limped off the field in the second quarter. After Deckers second TD catch, a 52-yarder, gave Denver a 24-15 lead, Von Miller recorded his first sack as a pro on the games next snap. With Mile High rocking, Dalton hit Simpson over the middle for an 84-yard gain that set up Greens tiptoe touchdown catch that made it 24-22 early in the fourth quarter. That was Denvers last slip-up. "This is one of the best wins that Ive ever been a part of," Orton said. "This is a great win to battle the way we did, just to have a total team win." Notes: The Bengals lost for the ninth straight time in Denver, where Cincy hasnt won since 1975. ... McGahee, who hadnt carried the ball more than 20 times in a game since November 2008, rushed 28 times for 101 yards. ... The Bengals lost WR Jordan Shipley to a left knee injury. wholesale jerseys cheap jerseys ' ' ' |
