Chargers’ next opponent

Minnesota Vikings (6-10 in 2010)

1:15 p.m. Sunday at Qualcomm Stadium

Less than 20 months ago, there was purple in the NFC Championship Game, the Minnesota Vikings falling four points short of the Super Bowl. And then, ahem, the roof caved in.

OK, so it’s a bad line. But the Vikings became such a bad story in such short order, the only good news is that they weren’t on the field when the Mall of America Field dome collapsed and the snow came crashing down last December. So many of the personnel problems are gone — Brett Favre, Randy Moss, Brad Childress — but the damage has been done and it’s going to take a long while for the Vikes to shovel out from the mess.

Of all quarterbacks, the Vikings traded for Donovan McNabb, coming off his own nightmare season in Washington. Speaking of bad lines, too, he’s working behind one of the NFL’s worst blocking units. Which makes it all the more amazing how Adrian Peterson has remained one of the NFL’s pre-eminent running backs, ranking sixth in rushing last year.

Having taken over for the deposed Childress after 10 games last year, new head coach Leslie Frazier got three wins out of Minnesota over the last six games, including an upset of the Philadelphia Eagles. Since then, the Vikes lost one of their best offensive threats (Sidney Rice) and defensive stalwarts (Ray Edwards) to free agency, not to mention team leader Pat Williams.

At the same time, Minnesota has a new offensive coordinator for the first time in five years, and Bill Musgrave’s had to implement his system without benefit of minicamps and OTA’s and all the other things missed due to lockout.

Three players to watch

Donovan McNabb, QB: The Vikings would like McNabb to be kind of like Favre, but without actually being Favre. Meaning, they’re hoping he can be rejuvenated like the Favre who donned the horns in 2009 and played like a kid again, because McNabb’s pretty much getting written off now as old news around the NFL. His arm may still be sore from his last visit to Qualcomm, a 31-23 win by the Chargers over the Eagles in which McNabb threw 55 passes, completing 35 for 450 yards while Michael Vick mostly watched from the sideline.

Adrian Peterson, RB: Musgrave is a highly respected coach, smart enough to not overlook the obvious, which is that any team with Peterson should not be thinking pass-first. As well as he played last year, Peterson indeed should play an even more prominent role this year, and his arrival should be the perfect opening test for a Chargers team that’s going to get run on plenty in AFC West play.

Jared Allen, DE: At some point, Allen may look around the defensive huddle Sunday and wonder where everyone went. Allen was almost his usual dervish self last year with 11 sacks, but he’ll have neither half of the so-called “Williams Wall” in the trenches with him, since Pat Williams is gone and Kevin Williams is sitting out the opener due to a two-game suspension. A Chargers nemesis dating back to his days with the Kansas City Chiefs, Allen has four career sacks in eight games against the Chargers.

Familiar faces

Cam Turner, assistant to the head coach, is the nephew of Chargers head coach Norv Turner. Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer’s father, Chuck, coached special teams for the Chargers from 1992-96. And receiver Greg Camarillo spent 2005 on the Chargers’ practice squad and was with the Bolts in 2006, although he never played in a game.

Injury report

None of the players on the Vikings’ 53-man roster was withheld from Minnesota’s opening practice for the Chargers game. The player of the most concern is tight end Visanthe Shiancoe, sidelined much of the preseason with a hamstring issue.

Series history

With each team winning every other game between them, the Chargers and Vikes have split their 10 contests, and it would appear to be San Diego’s turn. Minnesota won the last one, 35-17, a memorable affair of historic significance for both teams. Then a rookie, Peterson ran amok on the Chargers for 296 of the 378 rushing yards amassed by the Vikings, who were in turn embarrassed when Antonio Cromartie caught a missed field goal beneath the goalpost and returned it for a 109-yard TD. This is only the second time since 1982 that the Vikings have played in San Diego.

Did you know?

Minnesota placekicker Ryan Longwell, entering his 15th season, has missed a total of just three of his 46 field-goal attempts over the past two seasons.

Quote:

“We kind of like that we’re under the radar now.” – wide receiver Percy Harvin on the Vikings, who are being widely dismissed as last-place pick, but no longer living the Brett Favre circus.

MINNEAPOLIS — Looking more like a guy gunning for Adrian
Peterson’s job than Donovan McNabb’s, Christian Ponder ran for
three first downs and 30 yards before getting off the first pass
attempt in his Mall of America Field starting debut on Thursday
night.

The rookie quarterback left Houston Texans tacklers whiffing and
strewn about the fake grass as he made like a modern-day Fran
Tarkenton in the Vikings’ 28-0 victory in their preseason finale.
Caleb King had two second-half rushing touchdowns for the
Vikings.

Ponder still looked unsure in the pocket and shaky with his
accuracy, but he did settle down nicely in the second quarter.

 Directing an eight-play, 86-yard drive, he ran once for 15
yards and completed four of four passes for 33 yards to four
different targets, including an 11-yarder to Jaymar Johnson on
third-and-9 and a 5-yarder over the middle for the first touchdown
to his friend and fellow rookie, Kyle Rudolph.

That gave the Vikings a 7-0 lead at the 6:02 mark of the second
quarter. Ponder would tack on another touchdown drive in the third
quarter — going 2-for-3, including an 18-yard pass on third-and-6 —
before being relieved by Joe Webb at the 8:02 mark of the third
quarter.

The Vikings (2-2) went on to win easily against a previously
undefeated Texans team that rested their starters. The Vikings
played only three starters. Right guard Anthony Herrera started his
second game after coming off major knee surgery nine months ago.
Nose tackle Remi Ayodele started, presumably because his
conditioning isn’t where it should be heading into the Sept. 11
season opener at San Diego. And in the final competition for the
starting strong safety position, Tyrell Johnson started and Jamarca
Sanford relieved him.

Sanford appeared to be ahead of Johnson heading into the game,
although defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said it was too close to
call. Johnson didn’t help himself when he had an overthrown pass by
Matt Leinart bounce off his hands for an incompletion in the first
quarter.

Rookie defensive lineman Christian Ballard, whose stock
continues to rise weekly, got his first start at left defensive end
after playing backup three-technique tackle in the base defense and
nose tackle in the No. 1 nickel defense earlier this preseason.

Everson Griffen, who was switched to weak-side linebacker on
Monday, started at right defensive end before moving to linebacker
later in the first half.

And in one of the other main competitions — punt returner —
Johnson didn’t help himself. He returned Houston’s first three
punts and was tentative, gaining 2, 6 and 3 yards. Marcus Sherels
was second in the punt return rotation.

Meanwhile, Ponder and Webb went into the game still competing
for the No. 2 quarterback job behind McNabb. Offensive coordinator
Bill Musgrave said the game wouldn’t be make or break for either
player, but clearly the team has some thinking to do. The players
will be off until Monday, when the team begins preparing for the
season opener.

Ponder definitely helped his chances to win the No. 2 job. But
if he’s going to play the way he did on Thursday night, the Vikings
have to be concerned about his health if he gets into a game.

Ponder is faster, quicker and more elusive than most people
probably realized. He’s also fearless when it comes to tucking the
ball and taking off.

Ponder ran eight times for 61 yards while completing 10 of 17
passes for 89 yards. Every time the Texans thought they had him
sacked or corralled, Ponder escaped and took off.

He ran for 10 yards on second-and-6, 11 yards on second-and-9,
11 yards on first-and-10 and 9 yards on third-and-3. He ran 15
yards to the Houston 9-yard line to set up his touchdown pass to
Rudolph.

With Ponder on the field, the Vikings were 3-for-7 on third
down. Ponder converted one of the third downs with his legs and two
with his arm. The last conversion via the pass set up Alexander
Robinson’s 4-yard touchdown run in the third quarter.

The Vikings added another touchdown when Webb directed an
11-play, 59-yard touchdown drive that was capped by a 7-yard
touchdown run by King.

King added a 2-yard scoring run in the final minute.

Webb was 5-for-6 passing for 43 yards and had one run for 12
yards. On this night, even the normally electric Webb wasn’t as
entertaining as the unbridled Ponder was romping through the Texans
defense.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) – The Minnesota Vikings have a roof over their helmets once again.

Seven months after the Metrodome’s Teflon-coated fiberglass ceiling collapsed in a snowstorm, forcing the Vikings to play their final two home games last season elsewhere, the new roof has been raised in plenty of time for the first preseason game.

Stadium officials and construction workers inflated the roof Wednesday morning as a test. No problems popped up, so the roof of the 29-year-old stadium will stay up while the finishing touches are put on a rebuilding project that began in March.

“There doesn’t seem to be any issues whatsoever,” said Ted Mondale, the chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the agency that operates the facility officially known as Mall of America Field.

The new roof sits a little lower than before, to better withstand strong winds and help prevent snow from piling up in drifts. But it still sports the puffy, muffin-top look that frames the east side of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The 10-acre surface, just one-16th of an inch thick, is held up by several 100-horsepower fans.

MSFC director of facilities and engineering Steve Maki sat in the football press box as the roof was quietly and steadily lifted to full height in about 45 minutes. Workers with poles watched from the upper deck to make sure the inner lining didn’t snag on the way up. Five others kept watch on top, casting silhouettes in the morning sun as they walked back and forth.

Most of the construction work should be done by Aug. 1, which will trigger a $500,000 bonus for Amherst, N.Y.-based contractor Birdair Inc., the company that also designed and installed the original roof. The project cost $22.7 million, including $18 million for the roof itself, and it’s covered by the MSFC’s insurance.

The artificial turf was also damaged when the roof broke open and snow poured in, and that might have to be replaced, too, but Maki said that work, if necessary, would be done by Aug. 18. The surface, installed just last summer, has been covered in plywood during the project. Bids are in, and Maki said a decision on whether new turf is needed will be made by the end of next week.

The Vikings are scheduled to play their first home preseason game on Aug. 27, assuming the NFL lockout is over. Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said the team is appreciative of the work.

“We’re going to get our home-field advantage back,” Bagley said.

The roof collapsed after a storm that brought 17 inches of snow in a 24-hour span and high winds that prevented stadium workers from clearing the roof. No one was hurt, but the Vikings were forced to shift home games to Detroit’s Ford Field and then to the University of Minnesota, losing both times.

It was the fourth roof collapse at the facility, but the first since 1983.

Enough damage was done that the entire roof needed to be replaced, rather than just the damaged diamond-shaped panels. Under the new roof, some of the dinginess is gone and the inner lining is smaller, allowing more sunlight. New acoustical panels were also hung from the roof to improve the stadium’s sound quality.

Mondale credited Maki for his leadership of the project. Workers, who endured 100-degree-plus heat on the roof plus plenty of rain and wind over the last four months, appeared to enjoy themselves. A paper airplane was even spotted flying through one of the vent holes.

The Vikings don’t plan to play under their new roof for long, though.

They’re in the final year of their lease at the Metrodome, actively seeking a new stadium in Arden Hills, a suburb north of downtown. That effort has been stymied in part by the state’s budget deficit and government shutdown, an impasse between Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and the Republican-majority Legislature.

“We’re going to need to raise revenue to do this, and there really hasn’t been a lot of synergy on how that would happen at this point,” Mondale said. “So we’re waiting. But we’re working. We’re being creative, and we’re being solution-focused. I think there’s still a pretty good shot that we’ll have a good proposal ready for the elected leaders to take a look at – and hopefully in the right timeframe. I know the governor wants to get this done. He wants to get this done this year.”

The Vikings have been waiting for a budget deal to be struck first.

“Once that comes together, we’re confident that we’ll be ready and be in position to have a good discussion about a stadium solution,” Bagley said.

___

Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP

Copyright 2011 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have a roof over their helmets once again.

Seven months after the Metrodome’s Teflon-coated fiberglass ceiling collapsed in a snowstorm, forcing the Vikings to play their final two home games last season elsewhere, the new roof has been raised in plenty of time for the first preseason game.

Stadium officials and construction workers inflated the roof Wednesday morning as a test. No problems popped up, so the roof of the 29-year-old stadium will stay up while the finishing touches are put on a rebuilding project that began in March.

“There doesn’t seem to be any issues whatsoever,” said Ted Mondale, the chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the agency that operates the facility officially known as Mall of America Field.

The new roof sits a little lower than before, to better withstand strong winds and help prevent snow from piling up in drifts. But it still sports the puffy, muffin-top look that frames the east side of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The 10-acre surface, just one-16th of an inch thick, is held up by several 100-horsepower fans.

MSFC director of facilities and engineering Steve Maki sat in the football press box as the roof was quietly and steadily lifted to full height in about 45 minutes. Workers with poles watched from the upper deck to make sure the inner lining didn’t snag on the way up. Five others kept watch on top, casting silhouettes in the morning sun as they walked back and forth.

Most of the construction work should be done by Aug. 1, which will trigger a $500,000 bonus for Amherst, N.Y.-based contractor Birdair Inc., the company that also designed and installed the original roof. The project cost $22.7 million, including $18 million for the roof itself, and it’s covered by the MSFC’s insurance.

The artificial turf was also damaged when the roof broke open and snow poured in, and that might have to be replaced, too, but Maki said that work, if necessary, would be done by Aug. 18. The surface, installed just last summer, has been covered in plywood during the project. Bids are in, and Maki said a decision on whether new turf is needed will be made by the end of next week.

The Vikings are scheduled to play their first home preseason game on Aug. 27, assuming the NFL lockout is over. Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said the team is appreciative of the work.

“We’re going to get our home-field advantage back,” Bagley said.

The roof collapsed after a storm that brought 17 inches of snow in a 24-hour span and high winds that prevented stadium workers from clearing the roof. No one was hurt, but the Vikings were forced to shift home games to Detroit’s Ford Field and then to the University of Minnesota, losing both times.

It was the fourth roof collapse at the facility, but the first since 1983.

Enough damage was done that the entire roof needed to be replaced, rather than just the damaged diamond-shaped panels. Under the new roof, some of the dinginess is gone and the inner lining is smaller, allowing more sunlight. New acoustical panels were also hung from the roof to improve the stadium’s sound quality.

Mondale credited Maki for his leadership of the project. Workers, who endured 100-degree-plus heat on the roof plus plenty of rain and wind over the last four months, appeared to enjoy themselves. A paper airplane was even spotted flying through one of the vent holes.

The Vikings don’t plan to play under their new roof for long, though.

They’re in the final year of their lease at the Metrodome, actively seeking a new stadium in Arden Hills, a suburb north of downtown. That effort has been stymied in part by the state’s budget deficit and government shutdown, an impasse between Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and the Republican-majority Legislature.

“We’re going to need to raise revenue to do this, and there really hasn’t been a lot of synergy on how that would happen at this point,” Mondale said. “So we’re waiting. But we’re working. We’re being creative, and we’re being solution-focused. I think there’s still a pretty good shot that we’ll have a good proposal ready for the elected leaders to take a look at – and hopefully in the right timeframe. I know the governor wants to get this done. He wants to get this done this year.”

The Vikings have been waiting for a budget deal to be struck first.

“Once that comes together, we’re confident that we’ll be ready and be in position to have a good discussion about a stadium solution,” Bagley said.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have a roof over their helmets once again.

Seven months after the Metrodome’s Teflon-coated fiberglass ceiling collapsed in a snowstorm, forcing the Vikings to play their final two home games last season elsewhere, the new roof has been raised in plenty of time for the first preseason game.

Stadium officials and construction workers inflated the roof Wednesday morning as a test. No problems popped up, so the roof of the 29-year-old stadium will stay up while the finishing touches are put on a rebuilding project that began in March.

“There doesn’t seem to be any issues whatsoever,” said Ted Mondale, the chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the agency that operates the facility officially known as Mall of America Field.

The new roof sits a little lower than before, to better withstand strong winds and help prevent snow from piling up in drifts. But it still sports the puffy, muffin-top look that frames the east side of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The 10-acre surface, just one-16th of an inch thick, is held up by several 100-horsepower fans.

MSFC director of facilities and engineering Steve Maki sat in the football press box as the roof was quietly and steadily lifted to full height in about 45 minutes. Workers with poles watched from the upper deck to make sure the inner lining didn’t snag on the way up. Five others kept watch on top, casting silhouettes in the morning sun as they walked back and forth.

Most of the construction work should be done by Aug. 1, which will trigger a $500,000 bonus for Amherst, N.Y.-based contractor Birdair Inc., the company that also designed and installed the original roof. The project cost $22.7 million, including $18 million for the roof itself, and it’s covered by the MSFC’s insurance.

The artificial turf was also damaged when the roof broke open and snow poured in, and that might have to be replaced, too, but Maki said that work, if necessary, would be done by Aug. 18. The surface, installed just last summer, has been covered in plywood during the project. Bids are in, and Maki said a decision on whether new turf is needed will be made by the end of next week.

The Vikings are scheduled to play their first home preseason game on Aug. 27, assuming the NFL lockout is over. Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said the team is appreciative of the work.

“We’re going to get our home-field advantage back,” Bagley said.

The roof collapsed after a storm that brought 17 inches of snow in a 24-hour span and high winds that prevented stadium workers from clearing the roof. No one was hurt, but the Vikings were forced to shift home games to Detroit’s Ford Field and then to the University of Minnesota, losing both times.

It was the fourth roof collapse at the facility, but the first since 1983.

Enough damage was done that the entire roof needed to be replaced, rather than just the damaged diamond-shaped panels. Under the new roof, some of the dinginess is gone and the inner lining is smaller, allowing more sunlight. New acoustical panels were also hung from the roof to improve the stadium’s sound quality.

Mondale credited Maki for his leadership of the project. Workers, who endured 100-degree-plus heat on the roof plus plenty of rain and wind over the last four months, appeared to enjoy themselves. A paper airplane was even spotted flying through one of the vent holes.

The Vikings don’t plan to play under their new roof for long, though.

They’re in the final year of their lease at the Metrodome, actively seeking a new stadium in Arden Hills, a suburb north of downtown. That effort has been stymied in part by the state’s budget deficit and government shutdown, an impasse between Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and the Republican-majority Legislature.

“We’re going to need to raise revenue to do this, and there really hasn’t been a lot of synergy on how that would happen at this point,” Mondale said. “So we’re waiting. But we’re working. We’re being creative, and we’re being solution-focused. I think there’s still a pretty good shot that we’ll have a good proposal ready for the elected leaders to take a look at – and hopefully in the right timeframe. I know the governor wants to get this done. He wants to get this done this year.”

The Vikings have been waiting for a budget deal to be struck first.

“Once that comes together, we’re confident that we’ll be ready and be in position to have a good discussion about a stadium solution,” Bagley said.

Copyright 2011 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — The Minnesota Vikings have a roof over their helmets once again.

Seven months after the Metrodome‘s Teflon-coated fiberglass ceiling collapsed in a snowstorm, forcing the Vikings to play their final two home games last season elsewhere, the new roof has been raised in plenty of time for the first preseason game.

Stadium officials and construction workers inflated the roof Wednesday morning as a test. No problems popped up, so the roof of the 29-year-old stadium will stay up while the finishing touches are put on a rebuilding project that began in March.

“There doesn’t seem to be any issues whatsoever,” said Ted Mondale, the chairman of the Metropolitan Sports Facilities Commission, the agency that operates the facility officially known as Mall of America Field.

The new roof sits a little lower than before, to better withstand strong winds and help prevent snow from piling up in drifts. But it still sports the puffy, muffin-top look that frames the east side of the downtown Minneapolis skyline. The 10-acre surface, just one-16th of an inch thick, is held up by several 100-horsepower fans.

MSFC director of facilities and engineering Steve Maki sat in the football press box as the roof was quietly and steadily lifted to full height in about 45 minutes. Workers with poles watched from the upper deck to make sure the inner lining didn’t snag on the way up. Five others kept watch on top, casting silhouettes in the morning sun as they walked back and forth.

Most of the construction work should be done by Aug. 1, which will trigger a $500,000 bonus for Amherst, N.Y.-based contractor Birdair Inc., the company that also designed and installed the original roof. The project cost $22.7 million, including $18 million for the roof itself, and it’s covered by the MSFC’s insurance.

The artificial turf was also damaged when the roof broke open and snow poured in, and that might have to be replaced, too, but Maki said that work, if necessary, would be done by Aug. 18. The surface, installed just last summer, has been covered in plywood during the project. Bids are in, and Maki said a decision on whether new turf is needed will be made by the end of next week.

The Vikings are scheduled to play their first home preseason game on Aug. 27, assuming the NFL lockout is over. Vikings vice president for public affairs and stadium development Lester Bagley said the team is appreciative of the work.

“We’re going to get our home-field advantage back,” Bagley said.

The roof collapsed after a storm that brought 17 inches of snow in a 24-hour span and high winds that prevented stadium workers from clearing the roof. No one was hurt, but the Vikings were forced to shift home games to Detroit’s Ford Field and then to the University of Minnesota, losing both times.

It was the fourth roof collapse at the facility, but the first since 1983.

Enough damage was done that the entire roof needed to be replaced, rather than just the damaged diamond-shaped panels. Under the new roof, some of the dinginess is gone and the inner lining is smaller, allowing more sunlight. New acoustical panels were also hung from the roof to improve the stadium’s sound quality.

Mondale credited Maki for his leadership of the project. Workers, who endured 100-degree-plus heat on the roof plus plenty of rain and wind over the last four months, appeared to enjoy themselves. A paper airplane was even spotted flying through one of the vent holes.

The Vikings don’t plan to play under their new roof for long, though.

They’re in the final year of their lease at the Metrodome, actively seeking a new stadium in Arden Hills, a suburb north of downtown. That effort has been stymied in part by the state’s budget deficit and government shutdown, an impasse between Gov. Mark Dayton, a Democrat, and the Republican-majority Legislature.

“We’re going to need to raise revenue to do this, and there really hasn’t been a lot of synergy on how that would happen at this point,” Mondale said. “So we’re waiting. But we’re working. We’re being creative, and we’re being solution-focused. I think there’s still a pretty good shot that we’ll have a good proposal ready for the elected leaders to take a look at — and hopefully in the right timeframe. I know the governor wants to get this done. He wants to get this done this year.”

The Vikings have been waiting for a budget deal to be struck first.

“Once that comes together, we’re confident that we’ll be ready and be in position to have a good discussion about a stadium solution,” Bagley said.

___

Follow Dave Campbell on Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/DaveCampbellAP