Vikings Return To Work

It will begin a bit of an odd week because the Vikings do not play again until Monday night, Oct. 11 when they will face the New York Jets at the New Meadowlands Stadium. It's likely the Vikings will have a light workout Tuesday and then take Wednesday off before getting back into the full swing of things on Thursday.



Vikings executives, coaches and players should be in a very good mood when we see them next. The reason is simple: If this bye week did anything for them it should have made them feel good about their chances despite a 1-2 start.



The NFL likes to paint itself as a league that is all about parity but the word it should be using is mediocrity. Right now, the NFC North might be the best example of this, although the NFC East and NFC West also are in the running.



Chicago and Green Bay are off to 3-1 starts, but the success that appears to indicate will be temporary unless those clubs start to play much better football.



Last Monday night, the Bears beat the Packers, 20-17, thanks in large part to the fact Green Bay was assessed a franchise-record 18 penalties. It also didn't hurt Chicago that without Ryan Grant the Packers didn't have any real threat of a run game.



On Sunday, the Packers held on to beat the Lions, 28-26, at Lambeau Field, extending Detroit's winless streak on the road to 23 games. Even Packers coach Mike McCarthy admitted afterward it didn't feel like his team was 3-1 and had just won a game.



Imagine then how the Bears felt later Sunday when they lost, 17-3, to the Giants at the New Meadowlands. The Bears gave up nine first-half sacks, lost starting quarterback Jay Cutler to a concussion and were limited to 110 total yards. The Giants finished with 10 sacks and also chased veteran backup quarterback Todd Collins (stinger) from the game in the fourth quarter.



None of this was very pleasing to watch, but the Vikings have to know if they can get their vertical passing game going they have an excellent chance of getting right back in this thing.