Why black & blue? Three reasons:
- Well, first the D is solid and punishing. This D is almost strong enough to carry this team. In the NFL, that's key. You can win with a solid defense. The offense may get all the credit but it will not win a title. Looking at NFL champions over the last 10 years, only Kurt Warner's and Marshall Faulk's Saint Louis Rams stand out as an offensive team that won it all. And that Super Bowl is most remembered for the Rams' defensive stop by Mike Jones on the last play of the game. D is key and the Vikes have the pieces in place to be that good.
- 28 can truly go all day. Adrian Peterson is a bruising back. Already at 1,000 yards for the season (1100 after Sunday's game), All-Day has shown that he can carry this team. Peterson leads the NFL in rushing and is averaging 110 yards a game! Wow!
- Frerotte-n QB is killing me. I really thought Gus Frerotte was a great off-season signing. I expected him to help like Kerry Collins in Tennessee and Kurt Warner in Arizona. Instead Gus is beating up his own team, making them black and blue. He's hurting Minnesota like Brad Johnson hurt Dallas. It's so amazing to see Gus continue to start. Was Tarvaris Jackson that bad? Is John Davis Booty paying attention?
I can't believe how the QB position has failed Minnesota. I really expected wide receiver to be the weakest link but that's not the case. The hard part is fixing that during the season. I feel for head coach Brad Childress. He's truly trying and being tried by his quarterbacks. He tried to address it this offseason with a veteran and a draft pick for the future. Instead, he's being killed now. Ouch!
5-5 is alive.
The bad news, the Vikings lost. The good news is that Chicago lost, too, and this division is wide open. Besides Detroit, a division title can be found in Green Bay's, Chicago's, or Minnesota's Christmas stocking. With the troubles thus far, being alive - heck FIRST place! - is wonderful.
Jack's Next!
Next Sunday, the Vikes return to Florida to face Jack Del Rio's Jacksonville Jaguars. The Jag's stumbled losing to Tennessee Sunday and fell to 4-6. Their playoff life is also in the balance. Sunday's game is huge to both squads. Sunday will be fun to watch.
Bleed on,
Don
