Week 1 – HHH Metrodome, Minneapolis – September 21, 2008
Minnesota 20, Carolina 10 Vikings 1-2, (0-1 NFC North)

Let's hope the gray around the temples means he's "experienced."

In the first of perhaps many “must” win games of this young 2008 season, the Minnesota Vikings defense put the hurt into the Carolina Panthers and points on the board in a 20-10 victory yesterday at the metrodome.

Gus Frerotte, starting in place of the benched Tarvaris Jackson, didn’t have a hall-of-fame game. But then, he didn’t have to. He did what he had to. He was patient. He threw to his second, third, or even his fourth option. He was aggressive. He completed a 48 yard pass and a 34 yard pass for a touchdown. In effect, he wasn’t Tarvaris Jackson. This is not to say he’s our quarterback of the future. The guy is 37 years old. He’s not very mobile. And in 1997, he sprained his neck head-butting the goal post celebrating a touchdown scramble against the Giants.

So maybe he’s not that smart.

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Week 2 – HHH Metrodome – September 14, 2008

Minnesota 15, Indianapolis 18 Vikings 0-2, (0-1 NFC North)

The atmosphere outside the metrodome before the game was everything one would expect before the first home contest of the season. The weather was pleasant, the fanatics were both contributing to and enjoying the positive and optimistic vibes felt by all of those gathered to take in the game, tailgate, or perhaps just drink light beer until they couldn’t feel feelings any more. These hard drinking folks are way smarter than they look.

Everything was perfect. And then the NFL had to ruin it with a game.

The defense played up to everyone’s expectations. Only 25 yards were yielded to Indy’s run game. Peyton Manning was hurried, knocked down, sacked and picked off twice. The defensive line was impressive, Jared Allen, who in his second game as a Viking, performed well. His #69 jersey was consistently in Manning’s face. The linebacking core kept the action in front of them. Even the much-maligned secondary played well enough to win this game.

Defense wins games, right? Well…

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It should be a great time to be a Vikings fan. The team's season opener on the not so frozen tundra of Lambeau Field was far from disastrous. They lost, but didn't play dreadfully. The season looks to be a pretty good one for the Vikes, with several pigskin pundits saying they could even reach the Super Bowl for the first time since 1977. Owner Zygi Wilf finally starting throwing some of his real estate fortune around to attract top players. By all accounts the Vikings should be riding high. Don't get to excited, the accountants are here to rain on the Purple parade. Forbes magazine this week came out with its new rankings of NFL team's worth, and the Vikings are in the cellar for the second year in row.More »

Week 1 – Lambeau Field, Green Bay, WI – September 8, 2008

Minnesota 19, Green Bay 24 Vikings 0-1, (0-1 NFC North)

It’s the most visible position in football and undoubtedly the focus in this game for a variety of reasons. Yes, every one of the 37 guys who brought us the pregame, play by play, and the color for last night’s ballgame would not let us forget that Brett Favre isn’t in fact playing for Green Bay any longer. Gasp!

I’m not interested in going on about Brett Favre and what his absence meant to this game. He’s not playing for the Packers now. It’s different.

What I am concerned about right now is how the 2008 version of the Minnesota Vikings looked on the field against an NFC finalist and last year’s divisional champ.

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“To the most beautiful moment in life... better than the deed, better than the memory; the moment of anticipation!”
-Jacques, Episode 9 Season 1, “The Simpsons”

The preseason is meaningless. Thankfully it’s finally over. Every one of the season ticket holders can lick their wounds and look forward to the more attractive portion of their ticket package. The roster is set and the schedule has been dissected. The Vikings’ opponents 2007 winning percentage was .551, the toughest in the NFC, so the team has its work cut out for it this year beginning next Monday in Green Bay. With a few key moves during the offseason the Wilfs have made the 2008 squad more competitive in a few key areas. The team was criticized for a weak pass rush. Enter defensive end Jared Allen. To those who pointed to the passing attack, see Bernard Berrian. One thing can be agreed upon, the Minnesota Vikings have fewer excuses this season if the team performs poorly.

With one of the greatest weekends in America close at hand, lets take a quick look ahead at Minnesota's upcoming season through a political lens.

Politics so hot right now, politics.

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Ah, the preseason… that special time of year when fan expectations balloon to Mike Holmgren-size levels and on-the-bubble players lay it all out for a spot on the team. Speaking of Mike Holgrem, his Seattle Seahawks (10-6 last year) were in town last night. Some 62,545 fans trickled into the Metrodome to watch them trounce the Vikings in both teams’ preseason openers.

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Here's what I'm thinking: The Vikings land Favre. After a shaky preseason for Tarvaris, Childress gives the Grizzled One the nod in the Monday Night opener in Green Bay. Favre completes 10-32 with no touchdowns and four interceptions as the team gets hammered, say by 27-3.

Favre gets a second chance in week 2 against the Colts. He completes 12-37, connecting on a shovel-pass to Adrian Peterson for a TD. He throws five INTs, loses two fumbles, and staggers off the field late in the fourth quarter with a mild concussion after holding onto the ball for too long as his receivers fail to get open downfield. I'm envisioning a final tally of something like 38-10.

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This year, the Vikings must choose, yet again, who will lead them into battle. Arm strength and durability are important issues. But this being an election year, we go ahead and place the QBs through a combine to find their American ranking. The test is a highly subjective form of judgment with little to no foundation in logic. So think of it like an album review on pitchfork.More »

Former Vikings defensive end and 2006 team sack leader Darrion Scott was sentenced yesterday for putting a plastic bag over his son's head. It's the same old story for Vikings sack machines. For the past five seasons, the Vikings' best sacker has been found to be, at some point in his career, in violation of NFL steroid or substance rules or the law. Here's a year-by-year sack leader misdeed round up.

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Holy Shit! There is a very small possibility that the pill-popping, non-committal, totally legendary hero-warrior will be the Vikings' starting quarterback when the season gets underway.

The good sports journalists of either AP or ESPN or some combination thereof have shaken the bushes, and coach Brad Childress has made some enigmatic comments:

"You can make an argument for one side and an argument for another," Childress said of the prospect of Favre in purple and gold. "But I can't waste a lot of energy. All I can do is take a look at the waivers every day and see if there's somebody that's better than somebody on the roster. That's really all you can evaluate."

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