Viking kicker Blair Walsh was named the NFC special teams player of the week this week. He was 5-5 on field goals including 3 field goals of 50 yards or more. He had 18 points in the Viking 36-22 win at St. Louis Sunday. Walsh is 8-8 on field goals of 50 yards or more this season.
The Vikings nearly gave away a game that appeared to be theirs with just seconds left when Blaine Gabbert threw a 39-yard touchdown pass to Cecil Shorts with :20 left. Viking quarterback Christian Ponder completed a pair of passes setting up kicker Blair Walsh for a 55-yard field goal. Walsh made the kick and made a 38-yard field goal in overtime that turned out to be the game-winner. Jacksonville got the ball once in overtime with the new overtime rule but were unable to score.
The Vikings released kicker Ryan Longwell Monday after 3 seasons with the Vikings and 16 NFL seasons mostly with the Green Bay Packers. Longwell made 22 of 28 field goals for the Vikings in 2011. He was given a 3-year $1.75 Million extension last summer. Longwell said good bye to fans on twitter and head coach Leslie Frazier thanked Longwell for his work and wished him well.