Vikings Week 6: A Win Is A Win

Bernard Berrian hit the nail on the head with his postgame comments on Sunday when he said, "This game should've been a blowout." The Vikings 12-10 anything-but-thrilling win over the anemic Detroit Lions on Sunday was possibly the most boring 3 hours of my entire week. When you have a 20 month old daughter that loves playing, dancing, and putting together puzzles with you - it isn't too hard to compartmentalize what boring is and what boring isn't. This game goes in the compartment of super boring as well as super frustrating. When you need a questionable pass interference call on a 2nd and 20 in your own territory - you clarly are not playing well offensively. Here are my postives and negatives from week 6.

Positives

1. A Win in the NFL is a Win - Often overlooked in a game like this is the fact that the Detroit Lions are professionals as well and came into Minnesota wanting and probably deserving a win on Sunday. They clawed and scratched anyway they could to put themselves in position to win. The Lions played hard (especially on D) - and in the NFL anytime you get a win like this and keep this positive in the locker room - I'll take it!

2. Berrian 2 stratight - Bernard had the first back-to-back 100 yd. receiving games for the Vikings since 2004.

3. Kevin Williams and J Kleinsasser - Keving Williams led the Vikings on D with 8 tackles and 4 sacks (a total for 6 on the year now). Also Jim Kleinsasser catching a pass and running 34 yards was exciting. Anytime you see a guy that big (272 lbs.) run that far and that fast it is a good thing

4. First Win w/out - I see it as a positive that the 2008 version of the Minnesota Vikings can win a game without a touchdown from CB Antoine Winfield. One of your best defensive players shouldn't be counted on week in and week out to score points.....that's what you pay offensive players for?

Negatives

1. Offense - The Lions defense has been giving up an average of 36.7 points per game coming into Sunday's game. The Vikings offense scored 10 (the D scored the other 2 pts.). If we are going to make any considerable playoff push - we have to put the ball in the end zone. We managed 392 total yds - and that should be enough to win. Turnovers hurt as AP fumbled twice and Gus threw a pick. Overall we need a better performance.

2. E.J. - E.J. Henderson being lost for the season is a huge loss. E.J. was playing at what one commentator called "a Pro Bowl level". Look for the Vikings rushing attack to suffer. We gave up 100 yds. on the ground overall. There were moments of concern as rookie Kevin Smith ran for a 50 yd. run and Rudi Johnson seemed to find some holes at times (but only managed 32 yds.). Look for better running teams to exploit this weekness. E.J.'s replacement David Herron also left the game and was off and on with injury so with limited depth at MLB the run defense could be exploited in the coming weeks.

3. Bobby Wade's Stache - Anyone that saw a close up of Bobby Wade on Sunday would probably agree that Bobby needs to shave that stache.....man that was not a good thing! It makes matters worse when you see the stache amidst a holding call by Wade.

Next week it is off to the Windy City to play the Bears. The Bears will be ready and will be a tough test on the road.....playing a division rival....who is coming off heartbreaking loss to the now rejuvanated Atlanta Falcons (I'm guessing no one cares about Michael Vick anymore). I think this will be a close game and I am leaning towards 3-4 instead of 4-3, but as we saw Sunday who can predict the NFL.