What’s a Viking fan supposed to think about the 2007 season? We had little hope going in and even less hope when they started the season in a tailspin. Then came a five-game winning streak that amazingly put the Vikes in control of their own destiny. Then, of course, they blew it and handed the final playoff spot to the Redskins.

Should we be disappointed? They weren’t supposed to be there in the first place. Should we be happy? The Vikes came close to the playoffs and won more games than expected.

Personally, I’m disappointed. I’m thankful for the exciting run _ at times they looked like the 1998 Vikes in dominating opponents and winning the game by halftime. But how can a football fan be happy with getting close? It’s like all the idiot radio broadcasters out there who keep harping on the Giants’ “moral victory” for “almost” beating the Patriots. Show me a professional athlete who is happy about playing well in a loss, and I’ll show you a big, fat loser.

The worst part about the season, in my opinion, is the play of Tarvaris Jackson and the receiving crew. Jackson alternately looked average and completely lost. He looked at times like he had absolutely no business being in the NFL, throwing off-balance ducks up for grabs. The receivers all season looked devastatingly average. No wonder opposing teams eventually just completely ignored the passing game and keyed on stopping Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor. The Vikings desperately need to address the pathetic passing game in the draft and/or free agency.

Sure, I’m glad Peterson and Taylor had good years, and that Peterson was named the AP Offensive Rookie of the Year, but it’s hard to be pleased about a season that ends after Week 17, especially when the team controlled its own destiny in Week 16. I hope they can keep both backs next year, but it’s unlikely they’ll both be wearing purple.

What about Jackson? Clearly he was thrust into the starting role too early. He showed signs of being a good quarterback, especially with his threat of running, but not really a great quarterback. If anything, the Vikes should get a solid veteran quarterback who can come in and start for a few years while Jackson holds a clipboard until 2010. Maybe even someone like Chad Pennington from the Jets. All the Vikings really needed was a quarterback who wouldn’t lose games, like Jackson did with his ridiculous interceptions. It doesn’t matter that Pennington can’t throw the ball downfield because the Viking receivers can’t get downfield anyway.

The defense looked good and special teams good enough. I’d like to see a little more pressure on the quarterback, so a top notch defensive end would be nice. A few (read: a lot) more blitzes would also help, but that’s up to the coaching staff.

Another thing that fries my ass about this year in the NFL is the resurgence of Randy Moss. He looks like he did early in his Viking career when anything thrown his way was a touchdown and it really pisses me off that he’s probably going to win a Super Bown in a uniform that’s not purple. As if 1998 wasn’t hard enough to get over, now it’s going to be rubbed in our faces in a few short weeks.

Yeah, the season had its moments, but now I’m watching 12 other teams in the playoffs. Bah Humbug!

Well, here we are after 12 games and the Vikings are right in the thick of the playoff chase. After that pathetic start to the season and the drubbing at the hands of the Packers, I thought the Vikes were finished. A combination of the NFC being very average and the Vikes playing like world beaters the last two weeks has Minnesota in a good position. Not only that, but most of the other NFC games are working out in the Vikes’ favor.

But the Vikings seem to be taking matters into their own hands. Two weeks ago they pounded the Giants into submission and then on Sunday looked even better in completely dominating the Lions. How fun was that Giants game? Three picks for TDs and a fourth set up another TD. A drubbing of the Giants, and without Adrian Peterson in the Giants’ house. Eli Manning was completely rattled by the Vikes. Every time they showed him on the sidelines you could just imagine him saying, Jan Brady like, “Peyton, Peyton, Peyton.”

By the time I tuned into the Lions’ game, the game was over and it wasn’t even close to halftime. The last two week reminded me of the Vikings of 1998 when they trounced everyone in their path (before the Falcons in the NFC title game, of course). The defense looks great, thanks to a commitment to pressuring the quarterback (what Viking blogger has been screaming for that all season?). The offense looks even better with Peterson and Taylor running into the record books and Tarvaris Jackson looking like he’s settled down a bit after his awful start. Just don’t screw it up, that’s all Jackson has to do _ although that bomb for a TD to start to Giants game was sweet. Even the special teams got into the action against Detroit with a 103-yard kickoff return for a TD (even though to me it looked more like 105 yards, but who am I to complain about that?)

But before I get too excited, I have to keep in mind three weeks ago when the Packers dismantled the Vikes. Also, the Vikings dug such a deep hole at the beginning of the season, they left no room for error, or a letdown — especially since not a single of their remaining opponents currently has a winning record. You could almost say that the Vikes control their own destiny in terms of snatching that second wild card. Let’s hope it doesn’t slip away.

Where were we? Oh yeah, the Vikings sucked against the Packers, lost Adrian Peterson to injury and then kept us all hanging on to a thread of hope by beating the lowly Raiders.

That Packer was a disaster. I couldn’t even write a post after that one. You know it’s bad when FOX takes the game off before 3 p.m. because its noncompetitive. Fortunately we all didn’t have to watch Peterson get hurt, that just would have made the day even more special. In a game in which the Vikings were supposed to beat the Packers to show everybody that they at least belonged in the conversation, they did the exact opposite.

OK, enough about that game. Then came the Raiders with the return of Dante Culpepper, who had a nice game in defeat. Chester Taylor picked up the Peterson slack with 160-plus and three TDs. All the writers went nuts. Well, no shit. Taylor did rush for more than 1,200 yards last year as the featured back. It’s not as if he came out of nowhere.

OK, enough about the Raider game. It’s only the Raiders.

So where do the Vikes stand now? Believe it or not, right in the thick of the NFC playoff race, even at 4-6. The conference is that bad. The Giants will take the first wild card spot. The second is up for grabs and could easily go to a 9-7 or 8-8 team. It’s almost unfortunate that the Vikes are still the chase. If they were out of it, they could write off the season and rest Peterson for the rest of the year without worrying about it. Now that they are in the race (sort of) they have to think about bringing him back. In fact, as of this writing, he has a 50-50 chance of playing this Sunday. They could certainly use him, but I’d hate to rush him back too fast and have something really bad happen. Then again, these aren’t a bunch of sissy boys we’re talking about.

Now, about the Giants. As a long-time optimistic Viking fan I have to think the Vikes have a chance to win on Sunday. On the other hand, any team that records 12 sacks in one game is pretty scary, especially when you consider how pathetic the Vikings’ pass offense is. Hey, you never know. Remember not too long ago when the Vikings beat the Giants without an offensive TD, but got them via punt return, kick return and interception. That was great. Knock Eli around a little, maybe get another defense TD or two, and maybe we’re talking 5-6. Then the season would really be interesting again.

Well, the season just got interesting again. At 3-5 the Vikings may not be in a great position, but with the way the NFC is going this year, you never know. Even though it’s only one game, 3-5 is certainly a lot better than 2-5. Take into consideration how good the Vikes looked in dispatching and running all over the Chargers, and there’s even more cause for optimism.

Of course, the Vikings seemed to be on track a few weeks ago when they pistol-whipped the Bears, only to look terrible in a big loss to the Eagles. With a big game against the Pack next week, we’ll all be a little smarter next Sunday.

For a second, though, let’s set aside any “what-ifs” or negativity. Let’s dwell on that Charger game. Peterson even outdid himself. A record 296 rushing yards and another 20 in receiving, and three more TDs. He’s over 1,000 already for the year. Was there another star running back in the MetroDome on Sunday? Peterson sure stole the show from LT. That was a fun game to watch, from a Viking fan’s perspective.

Watching Peterson reminds me of watching Randy Moss in his first few years with the Vikings. The Vikes are a threat to score on any play from anywhere on the field. Give Peterson the ball and, who knows?, he could break it. Remember 1998? All Randall Cunningham had to do was throw the ball as far as he could and Moss just might come down with it. Of course, the Vikes also had a running threat in Robert Smith to keep defenses honest. Peterson doesn’t have the luxury of a passing attack, which makes his accomplishments that much more impressive.

OK, back to the negatives. Since I wrote three weeks ago that the Vikings can’t afford to give up TDs on special teams, they’ve had two missed field goals returned for TDs. I wasn’t even considering that scenario when I wrote that and it’s happened twice. Yesterday’s 109-yard TD return was just plain pathetic. Antonio Cromartie was practically untouched going 109 yards, two feet and 10 inches for the TD. It almost looked funny to see a bunch of linemen, a punter and a kicker trying to tackle him. Oh well, at least the Vikings bounced back this time.

So the optimism is back in Viking land. Maybe not a tremendous amount of hope, looking at it realistically, but hope nonetheless.

I hate to say a game before the halfway point is a huge game, but for the Vikes on Sunday, it’s a huge game. It’s a crossroads game. At 2-4, they go to either 3-4 or 2-5. If they win and go to 3-4, they are still very much alive in the NFC, the way the NFC is these days. Lose and go 2-5 and they’re done. I hate to say it as a Viking fan, but a 2-5 start is not something they are bouncing back from. To add more intrigue to the game, the Eagles come into the game with the same record and facing the same crossroads. It’s do or die for both teams. Which team will take the correct fork in the road?

The Vikings are home. That’s a plus. Now they just have to put together a complete game. That’s not easy when your passing game sucks really badly and your coach is reluctant to give the ball to Adrian Peterson in the second half. He’s only the best rookie back since, well, since ever. Why would Brad Children want to give him the ball with the game on the line? Sure, he fumbled in a big spot last week against the Cowboys, but he needs to get the ball more, especially late in the game.

The Vikings got another defensive TD last week against the ‘Boys and looked to be in position to pull off an upset. Then, on the verge of going ahead by a field goal in the second half, they gave that touchdown right back on a blocked field goal. Didn’t someone who writes an awful lot like me say last week that the Vikings can’t afford to  give up TDs on special teams. Apparently the Vikings don’t visit Vikespeak.com often enough. They’d be 6-0 instead of 2-4 and not be facing this crossroads if they did.

Honestly and objectively, well forget that objective part, I think the Vikes will win Sunday over the Eagles and salvage their season. Or should I say, keep suckers like me hoping in vain for them to make a run at the playoffs. I think the ground game will do its thing and the passing game will surprise everyone. Maybe the quarterback and receivers watched game film and discovered that good things happen when receivers get open and the quarterback throws good passes and, finally, the receivers actually catch it. It sounds basic, but the Vikes have struggled with that concept over the past few years.

Go Vikes _ get your asses up to 3-4.

What’s next for the Vikes? A let down after a big win over the Bears last week, or back-to-back strong performances against NFL elite teams? Here’s hoping, of course, it’s another strong performance. Not just a “Oh, we played well” game, but a win against the Cowboys. I’m sick of hearing how great the Cowboys are and how they are going to be the NFC Super Bowl contestant. How about the Vikes take a win and put themselves back in the conversation. I think 3-3 in the NFC this year is worthy of consideration for playoff talk. 2-4, well, that’s clearly not good enough.

The keys for the Vikes? On offense, it will be interesting to see how the Cowboys perpared for the Vikes. Of course the ‘Boys have to be worried about Adrian Peterson. In that entire game last week against the Bears when Peterson went absolutely nuts, perhaps the most important play for the Vikings’ offense was the 60-yard TD pass from Jackson to Troy Williamson. Was is an aberation or do the Vikes really have a passing attack? Can a defense afford to take the chance that the passing game stinks? Then, or course, it’s up to the Vikes to deliver. My guess is that the Cowboys prepared all week to shut down Peterson and it will be up to the Vikings’ passing game to try a few deep passes early. Catch them or not, at least throw the ball down the field to give the Cowboys something to think about.

On defense, the Vikings will have their hands full. They’ll be able to stifle hard-running Julius Jones as no one has been able to run against the Vikes in two years. So what will Tony Romo do against the Vikes porous passing defense? Pressure, pressure, pressure. Please don’t give him all day or the Vikings will lose badly. Put Romo on his ass a few times early and the Vikes have a chance.

And, for the love of God, enough touchdowns against the Vikes’ special teams. Sure, the Cowboys don’t have Devon Hester, but those kick returns really hurt and the Vikes aren’t good enough to be giving up points like that.

The Cowboys. America’s Team. You either love them or hate them. Come on, Vikes, put them in their place.

Check the ER rooms around the country for people who have Adrian Peterson on their fantasy team and didn’t play him because the Vikes were playing against the mighty Bears D. You may want to keep an eye out for a few Bears’ fans, too.

Well over 200 yards rushing, three explosive and long TDs and a critical KO return with under two minutes left in the game to set up the winning field goal. Oh man, this guy is good. Holy crap. A wise football sage told me before the season that the Vikings lucked into the rookie of the year. I was skeptical because, well, this is the Vikings we’re talking about. After a day like this _ not to mention his first four games _ there’s no contest. You know it’s a great game when the final score is 34-31 and people will be talking about only one person.

On another note, it was nice to see the Vikings score on a long TD pass. It feels like years since we’ve seen that. And the last guy to do it (it seems) is now wearing a Patriots uniform. It was also nice to see the Vikings hang in there and win a game that could have slipped away. The Vikes lost three tough games already this year and it looked as if they may have blown this one, too. I almost turned the game off at 31-17 with about three minutes to go. But I knew better. Before you know it, it’s 31-31. I thought early in the game that having Peterson return kicks was a huge mistake. Sure, he’s incredible and can break a game open, but kickoffs are also brutal and I’d hate to see him hurt on special teams. Again, I was wrong. Thankfully.

 On another note, it was actually nice to see Tarvaris Jackson return to QB. He didn’t make big mistakes and actually had some key runs.

I knew the game was shaping up to be a Vikes’ win. Really, I did, and it’s not just the fan in me. It was the former gamgler in me. Minnesota was coming off a bye and the Bears were coming off an emotional win over the Packers. When I saw Hester sprinting to the end zone on that punt return, I thought my logic was off. I was ready to say … same old Vikings. They barely even tried to tackle him it seemed. The Vikings packed it in already, it seemed. But the Vikes, behind their rookie senstation, roared back.

 2-3 is not time to celebrate, but it’s a crapload better than 1-4. Bring on the ‘Boys!

Maybe it’s just the long-suffering, but eternally optimistic Viking fan in me, but the Vikes could easily be 4-0 right now. I’m not saying they outplayed all of four of their opponents, but the way the games unfolded, they could be 4-0. But NOOO, they’re 1-3 and already falling out of the playoff picture.
To point, the Vikes _ despite being 1-3 _ have outscored their opponents 67-59. They lost to the Lions by a FG in overtime, to the Chiefs on a late drive and now to the Pack by one touchdown. The Vikings were driving for the potential tying touchdown against the Pack, too. Not that they had any business getting the ball back with 1:15 or so left, but the point is, they did and they blew it _ again.
The offense shows signs of life, but also causes immense frustration among Viking fans. Adrian Peterson takes a kickoff late in the fourth quarter to midfield and the offense goes 1-2-3-kick. Peterson is just amazing to watch.
The passing game is awful. You can’t call it a letdown because little was expected from the passing game. It would be nice to get something from the passing game, though.
It’s also frustrating to watch Kelly Holcolm at the helm when other free agent quarterbacks are thriving elsewhere in the league — Garcia in Tampa, Culpepper in Oakland. Not that I want to see Culpepper in a Viking uniform again, but why did the Vikes put so much stock in Tarvaris Jackson that they basically ignored the importance of a back-up quarterback. Brooks Bollinger and Kelly Holcomb? I’ll be the first to admit that I had faith in Kelly Holcomb, but that’s slipping. Get us in the red zone and punch it in.
Defense? The defense is good. Not great, but good. Favre led all passers yesterday in yardage and his record-breaking TD was way too easy. And the defense hasn’t scored in two games. What’s up with that? With the Vikes’ offense, we need at least one TD from the defense each week. Come on, guys, step it up.
Oh well, it’s only four weeks into the season. A lot can still happen. Sure, I’d rather be 4-0 instead of 1-3, but the NFC has a way of keeping mediocre teams alive in the playoff race for a long time.
Now if the Vikes can just stay focused and off the party boats heading into this bye week, I think they’ll be OK.

Even though they didn’t clang a last-second field goal off the upright, this loss to the Chiefs was worse than the one to the Lions. The Vikes, with five turnovers and looking lousy in nearly aspect of the game, had no business even being in the game against the Lions. The Chiefs game? Well, they just gave it away. They played better and should be 2-1 heading into this Sunday’s big game against the Pack (3-0).
Why did the Vikes lose to the Chiefs? I mean besides the fact that they apparently feel the need to torture their fans every freakin’ year. Hey defense, how about making a critical stop on third down? I hate to pin any of the loss on the defense because the Chiefs scored only 13 points and the great Larry Johnson had about two yards total offense, but how frustrating was that fourth-quarter drive by KC. Run, stop. Run, stop. 13-yard pass. Run, stop. Run, stop. 15-yard pass. Over and over again until they’re in the end zone. Give me one stop, please! On the other hand, what the heck took the Chiefs’ coaching staff so long to figure out that passing the ball against the Vikings is the baseball equivalent of batting practice.
Another reason for the loss — the most glaring reason — is the offense. Jeez, they just stink on offense. They actually move the ball fairly well at times, but it’s like they’re afraid of the end zone. “OK guys, we’re at the 30. That’s good enough. Let’s move back a few yards from here. Whatever you do, don’t go near the end zone.”
Sadly enough, I still think Kelly Holcomb is their best option at quarterback. If Tarvaris Jackson is ready, I guess he should get the nod. He is the future, right? May as well see what he’s made of _ although leaving a game in overtime while you’re still conscious is not a good way to endear yourself to fans.
Peterson is great. The rest of the offense is, let’s just say, unreliable. The defense is awesome against the run and, let’s just say, porous against the pass. I know it’s early, but it’s looking a lot like last year. And that’s not a good thing.

On the surface (grass), it looks as if the cards are stacked against the Vikings this week as they travel to play the Kansas City Chiefs. The Vikings on grass? Why bother making the trip? In fact, why not just forfeit every game that’s not played in a dome?
Well, here’s one fan that hopes this “dome sweet dome” mentallity is a thing of the past. Heck, the personnel on NFL teams changes so quickly from year to year, why should we think long-term trends will continue. A major part of the reason why I became a Viking fan in the first is because the Vikes were the ultimate outdoor team. Remember Bud Grant? I can still see his breath through the snow flakes.
Another reason I’m optimistic this week _ besides the fact that the Chiefs (0-2) aren’t very good _ is that Kelly Holcomb will likely start at quarterback. I’ve always liked Holcomb and, at this point, have more faith with him at quarterback than I do Brooks Bollinger or even Tarvaris Jackson (see? I’m finally spelling his first name right).
Jackson was workman-like enough in Week 1, but was completely awful and useless in Week 2. Not only did he stink on the field, but he quit on the Vikings in overtime. Sure, he pulled a groin _ an injury that kept him out of practice all week and will likely sideline him on Sunday _ but finish the game, please. Limping or not, in pain or not, finish the game. At least try to. He took one snap in overtime before handing the ball over to Bollinger, who cost the Vikings the game with a ridiculus fumble. Maybe Jackson lost his confidence after throwing four interceptions in the game, or maybe he was really hurting, but in any event, have the guts to finish the game. Imagine Brett Favre telling his coach he can’t finish a game in overtime because of a slight groin pull. Favre’s head would have to be detached from his body for him to come out, especially in overtime.
Bring on Kelly Holcomb as far as I’m concerned. Bring on the grass as far as I’m concerned. Do I smell 2-1 for the Vikes? Or is that just the fresh-cut grass of Arrowhead?