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MONDAY NIGHT NOTES
CULPEPPER, MANNING & HIGH-FLYING OFFENSES Welcome to Indianapolis, home of the NFL’s Week 9 primetime air show. Led by the NFL’s top two quarterbacks in passing yards, touchdowns and passer rating, the Indianapolis Colts and Minnesota Vikings will aim to match each other’s aerial mettle this week on ABC’s NFL Monday Night Football. A quick look at how Monday night’s quarterbacks are setting the standard of excellence in 2004:
“Offensively, they are a special group,” says Colts head coach TONY DUNGY of the Vikings. “When RANDY MOSS is playing, they’re as good as anybody in the league, if not better. If you do anything to double-cover Moss, they can find the seams.” The Vikings have similar respect for Colts quarterback PEYTON MANNING. “It’s going to be a test to see how we can rattle him, if not sack him,” says Minnesota defensive tackle KEVIN WILLIAMS. “We’re not going to sack him every play. But we want to make him feel claustrophobic and make him rush things.” When Vikings quarterback DAUNTE CULPEPPER and Manning have rushed themselves, it usually occurs when running into the end zone to congratulate a teammate on a touchdown reception. They already have combined for five five-touchdown games this season, with Culpepper setting the NFL record in the category. Quarterbacks with two or more five-TD pass games in a season:
*Through 8 weeks A significant NFL trend this season is an increase in long pass plays, and at or near the top of that chart are the Colts and Vikings. Through eight weeks of play, NFL teams have completed 674 passes of 20 yards or more, compared to 619 at this point a year ago. This year’s total is higher than any season in the past 10 years through eight weeks. The NFL’s offenses with the most pass plays of 20 yards or more through Week 8:
* * * COLTS CONNECT: Indianapolis’ duo of Manning and wide receiver MARVIN HARRSION (660) are four completions shy of surpassing the former Buffalo Bills tandem of JIM KELLY and ANDRE REED (663) for most completions between teammates in NFL history. Manning and Harrison are in their seventh year together (1998-present) while Reed and Kelly were teammates for 11 seasons (1986-96).
MONDAY NIGHT MUSINGS – MINNESOTA VIKINGS AT INDIANAPOLIS COLTS MANNING FAMILY THERAPY
Athletics were a big part of family activities, but Archie made only one attempt at coaching his sons. He was at the helm of one of Peyton’s youth league football teams, and the results were not pretty. Father and son ended up in a heated argument as a competitive Peyton chewed out his dad for stocking the team with Peyton’s friends, rather than picking the best players.
“One of the main benefits of this kind of thing is that kids are not threatened when they come to the hospital,” says pediatric hematologist RANDY HOCK of St. Vincent Charity. “The fear element is eliminated.” -- MNF -- EDGERRIN’S EAGER TO GIVE BACK
-- MNF -- ONE WORLD
Thomas, who was nicknamed ‘Reindeer’ in high school for his speed, also has a playful side. When asked in a recent interview which NFL player he would most like to get a good hit on, he responded, “One of the Manning brothers, because you hear so much about them…and, of course, BRETT FAVRE.” --MNF -- G’DAY, MATES
Dixon, a native of New Zealand, was a member of an elite national junior rugby team. He was discovered by a traveling American football coach and became the first Kiwi to start in the NFL. Bennett is a native of Perth, Australia, where he spent 12 seasons playing Aussie Rules football. He discovered his passion for the NFL when he traveled to the Toronto Skydome to play in an exhibition Aussie Rules game. # # # |
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