Minnesota Vikings Look Super in Lambeau

The sun is shining bright in Minnesota these days (figuratively speaking, not literally) as the Vikings proved their mettle Sunday in Green Bay, and put themselves firmly on the short list of Super Bowl contenders in the process.  

The Vikings continued to demonstrate that they can beat any team, any Sunday, on any field, with any number of players and weapons: The Brett Favre-led passing game methodically matriculating the ball down the field and into the end zone, or the defense holding the opposition to 47 total yards in a half, or another big play from Percy Harvin, just as the opposition is gaining momentum.

And Adrian Peterson is still there, who—despite the inconsistent run blocking he is receiving—remains the most sensational and feared player in football with the ball in his hands.  

Give Brad Childress credit for giving Peterson the ball four times inside the 10-yard line, allowing Adrian to will the ball into the end zone towards the end of the first quarter. It was also the right call to go for it on another fourth-and-one attempt, despite the fact they were stuffed due to that inconsistent run blocking.

Even though the run blocking has been a tad lackluster, and everyone wants a higher yards-per-carry average (which seems greedy since Peterson is averaging 4.8 ypc), their pass protection has been first-rate. Favre has been sacked only 10 times in the past six games, including a big fat zero times against Green Bay.  

The added time in the pocket has allowed Favre to find the talented foursome of Harvin, Sidney Rice, Bernard Berrian, and Visanthe Shiancoe down the field. These developments have made it seem like the passing game improves with every drive.

Meanwhile, the Vikings defense got six sacks—all from their front four. Minnesota currently leads the NFL in sacks and Jared Allen is the NFL leader with 10.5.

They should probably send a gift basket to the Green Bay offensive line for those stats. 

The re-emergence of Pat Williams has been crucial to the defense's recent success. The big man might've needed a couple of games to get into game shape, but he has had consecutive superb outings against Pittsburgh and Green Bay. He looked like a tidal wave during his sack Sunday, easily brushing past a weak attempted block from Ryan Grant, before engulfing Aaron Rodgers.

Throw in the fact that Ray Edwards had his best game of the season and that Kevin Williams is the lineman who gets doubled the most on this team these days, and the Vikings front four might be more intimidating than ever.

The secondary is still prone to taking drives, quarters, and halves off, though.

They deserve plenty of credit for their dominant game against Pittsburgh, and their impressive first halves against Green Bay and Baltimore; but they still deserve plenty of scrutiny for their lifeless play whenever the Vikings have a big lead.  

Maybe defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier should reconsider his play-calling in those situations.

Or maybe Benny Sapp could figure out how to take an angle; or Karl Paymah and Madieu Williams could work on wrapping up; or Asher Allen could find a happy medium between his cagey-veteran performance in Pittsburgh and his sloppy-rookie performance in Green Bay.  

Or Antoine Winfield can come back healthy and solve everything.

But, while the score might've been close at times and the Vikings might've made some irritating mistakes in the second half (looking at you, Brian Robison), Minnesota responded to every Green Bay score and comeback attempt with definitive statements.

And it was those responses, those statements, those touchdown drives in such a hostile environment, during a division game, that have the Vikings looking so super today.  

That and the fact the Vikings have the second-highest points-per-game in the NFL halfway through the season.

Yes, there are still questions and another half-season to play before the playoffs begin; and yes, the Vikings are a missed field goal and a miracle away from being 6-3. 

But their record isn't 6-3; it is 7-1 as they head into the bye week, which will be followed by home games against Detroit and Seattle.

Anyone could look at this team before the season and see that the ingredients were there for an outstanding season, or disappointment.

So far, the Vikings haven't disappointed.