Well, anyone reading this blog likely watched Sunday's contest between the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions, so I'm not going to provide a summary. Suffice it to say, though, that the Vikings got away with playing another terrible game yet walking out with a victory.
Let's begin with the first half, where Gus Frerotte threw two interceptions, 70 yards, and led the Purple to a whopping three points. I know that I was one of the Purple fans calling for Gus after Tarvaris Jackson started off the season so poorly, but it is all too clear now that Gus is NOT the answer at QB for the Vikings. Sadly, he probably is the best option going forward, but don't confuse that with his talent level. He is completely immobile, takes too many huge hits, and throws just as many interceptions as Jackson ever did (if not more).
Thus, after Gus took a hit that knocked him out of the rest of the game right before the first half gun sound, Tarvaris took over the offense and looked competent, but really no more. He only attempted 10 passes (but did complete eight of them), with one of them being a nice TD strike to Visanthe Shiancoe. However, before we anoint Jackson as the newest old savior, consider the fact that he pretty much rode Adrian Peterson and Chester Taylor for the entire second half. Against the Lions that was acceptable, as the Vikes were not afraid in the least of Detroit's offense (in fact, Detroit having the ball played right into MN's hands). So, even hanging on to a slim lead, the Vikes were content to pound the line and not try anything too crazy.
The story will change this coming weekend, though, when the Vikes head to Arizona to take on the Cardinals. With Kurt Warner, Larry Fitzgerald, and Anquan Bolding leading the Cardinals offense, the Vikes will NOT be able to have too many 3-and-outs and offense and get away with it...the Cardinals are going to score points, especially at home in a place that the Vikes have never fared too well in the past.
So yes, a win was nice, but I honestly don't think the Vikes have the NFC North as sewn up as some people (especially the national media) give them credit for. Sure, we may hold all the tiebreakers, but that means we have to at least finish tied with the Bears or Packers (very unlikely now, but still possible). With games against Arizona, Atlanta, and the New York Giants, that could be a very difficult feat.
On Thanksgiving Day, the Tennessee Titans demolished the Lions with two star rushers (Chris Johnson and LenDale White) and one old-fart QB (Kerry Collins). The Vikes played the Lions with two star rushers (Peterson and Taylor) and one old-fart QB (Gus) and beat them by four points. With a poor showing like that, nothing is set in stone for this team.
