Week 14 Thoughts

Minnesota Vikings 21
chicago bears 14

Now at 7-6, the Vikings likely need to win all three remaining games for the playoffs. Even then they'll need some help. All that they can worry about is their side of things. Those three games are at St. Louis, at Houston and closing with Green Bay at home. Pretty tough task but that's what it's going to take to get to the playoffs.

Adrian Peterson and the defense won this game. Until quarterback Christian Ponder can start making teams pay for all the attention paid to stopping Peterson that's how it's going to be. Peterson was awesome. So was the defense. They finally made stops on third down. They also got some big plays from rookies.

Peterson had 104 yards rushing and two touchdowns by the end of the first quarter. He finished with 154. Ponder didn't hit 100 yards passing  in four quarters. Losing receiver Percy Harvin to injury has to be overcome in the remaining games.

Ponder made some clutch throws. He converted some third downs. It's a stretch to say that he played poorly despite the meager yardage. His one interception was on a deep throw at the end of the first half. It didn't amount to much since there were only seconds left. It was still a throw that he shouldn't have made as he wasn't able to set his feet to get the distance that he needed. Rookie Jarius Wright was open on the play but the pass was way short. Making off balance throws is perhaps Ponder's biggest problem. He keeps doing it and he keeps paying for it. He's got to stop doing it.

4 of Ponder's 11 completions went to Michael Jenkins. Each converted a third down. Each was big.

Tight end Kyle Rudolph should never end a game without a reception. He's too big of a target and too much of a weapon. He did catch the Bears onside kick attempt so he did make an impact.

The Vikings liked corner A.J. Jefferson's size (6'1") when they acquired him from the Arizona Cardinals just prior to the start of the season. It paid off when starter Chris Cook broke his arm during the season. Jefferson has provided nice coverage but for a player of his height he should make more plays on the ball. He's right there but receivers repeatedly catch balls over him. That shouldn't happen. He did make a nice play to break up a pass to Brandon Marshall on third down in the second half.

Despite that one play by Jefferson, the Vikings can't find an answer for Marshall. He had about a dozen drive extending receptions two weeks ago. He had 160 yards yesterday. Quarterback Jay Cutler and Marshall have been a deadly combination.

The Vikings have to find a receiver like Marshall of their own. A receiver that can just go up and make a play. They had one with Sidney Rice but he got away. They might have drafted one last spring in Greg Childs but he tore the patella tendon in both knees in training camp. Hopefully he can come back but he has a tough road ahead of him. If the Vikings pursue a big receiver in free agency, Danario Alexander is doing for the San Diego Chargers exactly what the Vikings need in Minnesota.

Vikings rookie safety Harrison Smith bagged his second pick-6 of the season. I've said it before and I'll say it for as long as Smith plays Vikings football, it is so great to finally have a playmaker at the back of the Vikings defense.

Smith received some recruiting attention as a running back in high school. His two interception returns for touchdowns this season showed those running back skills.

Fellow rookie, corner Josh Robinson nearly got his own pick-6. His return early in the game was ruled a touchdown on the field but replay showed that he had stepped out at the 5-yard line.

The Vikings 2012 Draft class continues to excel. Tackle Matt Kalil is already one of the top players in the league at his position. Safety Harrison Smith has been outstanding. Josh Robinson looks to be a starter at corner for a long time. Tight end Rhett Ellison does pretty much everything on offense and special teams. Receiver Jarius Wright has made some plays since he had to step up with the loss of Harvin. Kicker Blair Walsh has been nearly perfect. This class will be Vikings mainstays for a decade, maybe more.

Defensive end Brian Robison had a sack and a forced fumble. The loose, bouncing ball headed upfield and a Bears lineman fell upon it for an 8-yard gain. I hate when the bad guys benefit from a great play by the good guys.

The players around the league are wearing patches commemorating the Pro Football Hall of Fame's 50th Anniversary. Punter Chris Kluwe took the opportunity to stand up for a Hall of Fame injustice. He had a note attached over the patch calling for the induction of former Raiders punter Ray Guy. I see a fine coming.

Seeing the snow fall outside the Metrodome kinda brought back really fine memories of old Metropolitan Stadium and the days when the Vikings played in the snow. It's easy to say from the comfort of a couch but I miss those days.

Jerry Angelo made the personnel decisions for the Bears for over a decade until he was fired last offseason. For whatever reason, he never saw the need to even try to add anything close to a playmaking a receiver. It was a mystery that I thoroughly enjoyed. After kicking Angelo out the door, the Bears traded for Marshall and drafted Alshon Jeffery. Marshall has proven to be a difference maker for a while now. Jeffery should provide an excellent option opposite Marshall. He was outstanding at South Carolina. He has the size and hands to do the same in the NFL.

When Mike Martz was running the Bears offense they traded tight end Greg Olson to the Carolina Panthers. The extremely talented Olson was wasted in a silly offense that didn't use tight ends. The Bears probably regret that trade now.

It's good to see Panthers quarterback Cam Newton turning things around in his last few games. The expectations for him after an outstanding rookie season were way too high. He's a terrific football player.

Philadelphia Eagles quarterback Nick Foles should never run with the football. There's not enough time in a game. He ran for a touchdown yesterday but it looked as if he was running in mud. Most linemen run faster than Foles. He's a very slow football player. I'm faster and that's just sad.

New York Giants back David Wilson was a kick returning beast yesterday. He took one 97 yards for a touchdown. When the Saints finally kicked away from Wilson, Jerrell Jernigan took it back about 60 yards. Counting interceptions, punts and kicks, the Gaints had over 400 yards of return yardage. The Giants had their offense moving but those returns were brutal for the Saints. Nearly 300 of those yards were on kick returns. Big returns immediately following a score just suck away momentum.

Wilson added another 100 yards on the ground with 2 TDs. The Giants might have found another weapon for their playoff chase.

Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III left the game against the Baltimore Ravens with a knee injury. It looked like a significant hyperextension at best. It was promising to see him standing on the sideline as his team won in overtime behind fellow rookie quarterback Kirk Cousins. Griffin is a brilliant, fun football player. The league is better with him on the field. I'm hoping for the best.

Playing the Arizona Cardinals can sure make a team feel good about themselves. This time it was the Seattle Seahawks taking apart the Cardinals. 58-0.

I'm really looking forward to tonight's Houston Texans-New England Patriots game.

Next week is bad news for the Rams.