Brett Favre insists he isn’t in the midst of another December meltdown. The health of one of his favorite targets, though, continues to present a problem.
Favre will look to help the Vikings clinch their second straight division title when they visit the Carolina Panthers on Sunday night, although he may not have rookie standout Percy Harvin to throw to.
Favre struggled late last season after helping the New York Jets to an 8-3 start, throwing nine interceptions as the club closed 1-4 and missed the playoffs.
While Minnesota (11-2) has secured a spot in the postseason, Favre threw three interceptions in the last two games - equaling his total through the first 11 - and three touchdowns after tossing seven in the previous two contests.
“I don’t think I’m falling apart in December like most people seem to think,” Favre said after a 30-10 victory over Cincinnati last week. “So I feel fine. I don’t feel much different than most guys in that locker room at this stage of the season.”
Favre went 17 of 30 for 192 yards against the Bengals - only the third time he was held to fewer than 200 passing yards and the first since September. He was picked up by Adrian Peterson, who rushed for 97 yards and a touchdown, and a defense that gave up 210 yards after allowing almost 400 a week earlier in a loss to Arizona.
The win allowed Minnesota (11-2) to secure a playoff spot. With a victory or a Green Bay loss at Pittsburgh on Sunday, the Vikings will clinch the NFC North for the second straight season.
A return by Harvin, who sat out last week with migraine headaches, would give the Vikings’ offense a boost. The speedy first-year player, though, is still struggling with the problem and his status for Sunday is uncertain.
Harvin, one of Favre’s favorite third-down targets, is second on the team with 681 receiving yards and six touchdowns. He is also averaging 29.0 yards on kickoff returns, second in the league, with two TDs.
“Percy obviously is a dynamic player and threatens the defense,” Favre said. “It’s just not the same. I don’t think we’ve really shifted gears in the plays we’ve ran … but when Percy’s not in there, he’s so physical and fast … and when he’s not in there you see a different approach defensively.”
The Vikings are trying to reach the 12-win mark for the first time since going 15-1 in 1998.
Minnesota will be visiting Carolina for the first time in four years. The Panthers (5-8) have lost three of four and are coming off a 20-10 defeat to New England on Sunday.
Matt Moore(notes), making his second straight start, went 15 of 30 for 197 yards and one touchdown. Moore will start again this week in place of veteran Jake Delhomme(notes), who has thrown 18 interceptions to eight touchdowns and has a broken finger.
The Panthers are looking for something to ignite a lackluster offense that was held to fewer than 20 points in the last four games. The passing attack has been a big part of the problem, as Carolina ranks 28th in the league with 169.8 yards per game.
“It’s not been one thing, it’s been a combination,” coach John Fox said. “I don’t think it’s just the quarterback. That’s easy to sit and be critical of. Sometimes I think it’s been protection; sometimes I think it’s been routes; sometimes I think it’s been the throw. … All we can do it try to improve it.”
The ground game has been a different story, with the Panthers ranking fourth at 149.9 rushing yards per contest.
DeAngelo Williams(notes) returned last week after missing the previous game with an ankle injury and ran for 82 yards, giving him 1,104 and seven touchdowns on the season.
Carolina’s potent run game will be tested by Minnesota’s fourth-ranked rush defense. The Vikings have allowed an average of 86.9 yards on the ground.
Minnesota won its last two games against the Panthers but lost 38-13 in its only trip to Charlotte in 2005.
The Vikings will be missing some depth at linebacker after backup Erin Henderson(notes) was suspended four games for violating the NFL’s policy on performance-enhancing substances.
Henderson has appeared in two games, including the win over the Bengals. He has been used primarily on special teams.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
