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The team-by-team look at draft needs continues with consideration of a franchise that matched its all-time 16-game low-water mark in 2011, with three wins and 13 losses.

Left tackle:  The Vikings put up with a lot from Bryant McKinnie, because really good left tackles don’t fall out of the sky.  (Except when cut by the Vikings after they can no longer put up with him.)  With the team hoping 2011 first-rounder Christian Ponder can become a competent quarterback, the chances of Ponder maximizing his potential will be maximized if he isn’t running for his life.  USC tackle Matt Kalil would give the Vikings a blind-side Ponder protector, who could man the position for a decade or longer.  With the Vikings needing to win now, his ability to start right away is a significant bonus.

And while the Vikings would surely love to trade down and get more help, they need more help now — not in future drafts.  Also, they need to not move down so far that they won’t get Kalil.

Cornerback:  The Vikings need significant help when it comes to the men primarily assigned to covering receivers.  Especially with quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Jay Cutler in the division.  Antoine Winfield turns 35 in June, Cedric Griffin is gone, Chris Cook is on double-secret probation, Asher Allen has been underwhelming, recent arrival Chris Carr is rickety, and speedy newcomer Nicholas Taylor didn’t play college football.  If they hadn’t cut McKinnie, the Vikings surely would be targeting a game-ready cornerback with their first-round pick.  They may be planning to take the best guy left when they pick in round two; in fact, with coach Leslie Frazier and G.M. Rick Spielman on an apparent win-now mandate, don’t be surprised if next year’s first-round pick is dangled in order to move back into round one in 2012 and grab a possible difference maker.

Receiver:  Percy Harvin has special skills when used the right way.  But he’s not going to streak down the sideline or run fade routes or do the things that other receivers can do.  And that’s what the Vikings need, even as they appear intent on becoming the latest team to extensively use two tight ends at the same time, either or both of whom can run routes.

The problem is that it’s hard to find receivers who can make a dramatic impact in their first seasons.  The goal should be to take a flier on a mid-round guy who may have the ability to stretch the field and open up the underneath routes for Harvin and the tight ends, and perhaps to draw the strong safety out of the box if/when Adrian Peterson is bowling defenders over again.

Defensive tackle:  With Remi Ayodele gone and several mid-level members of the rotation back and Kevin Williams getting no younger (then again, who is?), the Vikings need a young, talented, and very large man to take advantage of the attention that will go to defensive end Jared Allen during the remaining years of his prime.  Weaknesses in the secondary often become less glaring when the defensive line is stopping the run and wreaking havoc.  The Vikings need to get back to that, or it will be a long decade in the shadows of the Packers, Lions, and Bears.

Safety:  The franchise that once had Paul Krause and Joey Browner and Robert Griffith and Darren Sharper now has, well, no one.  With so many balls in the air, the Vikings need someone with the nose to go get it.  Badly.

The Vikings have plenty of needs and, ideally, they’ll find a way to parlay the third overall pick into more chances to immediately infuse talent onto the team.  Even if they do, it will be difficult to compete in a division that, not long ago, they ruled.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Another night, another four-touchdown performance for Aaron Rodgers — just about what the Green Bay Packers have come to expect from their superstar quarterback.

The real surprise came on the other side of the ball: A defense that finally showed it can take charge of a game.

The Packers (9-0) remain the NFL’s lone undefeated team. And if they now can count on a defense to complement their high-octane offense, they just might be unstoppable.

Rodgers threw for four scores against a fierce Vikings pass rush, Randall Cobb returned a punt 80 yards for a touchdown and the Packers defense contained Adrian Peterson and the Minnesota Vikings in a 45-7 victory on Monday night.

“It’s (our) best game, because of the margin of victory,” Packers coach Mike McCarthy said. “And at the end of the day, it’s about points.”

Green Bay’s defense came into the game giving up nearly 300 yards passing per game, second-most in the NFL. Their last time out, the Packers nearly blew a big lead in the fourth quarter at San Diego, holding on for a 45-38 victory.

The Packers finally played to their potential against the division rival Vikings (2-7), holding rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to 190 yards passing with an interception and limiting Peterson to 51 yards and a touchdown.

“Our performance tonight was very disappointing,” Vikings coach Leslie Frazier said.

The Vikings’ defense did its best to rough up Rodgers, sacking him three times and hitting him hard virtually every time he took off running. Defensive end Jared Allen harassed Rodgers at every turn.

The pressure didn’t force any uncharacteristic mistakes from Rodgers, who was 23 of 30 for 250 yards without an interception. Rodgers threw a pair of touchdown passes to Jordy Nelson, and also found Greg Jennings and John Kuhn for scores.

Allen didn’t need anybody to recite Rodgers’ gaudy stats.

“I don’t even know what that means,” Allen said. “All I know is he crushed us tonight.”

McCarthy put backup quarterback Matt Flynn in the game with 10:30 left in the fourth quarter — and the Vikings couldn’t keep him out of the end zone, either, as he scrambled 3 yards for a touchdown with 4:27 left.

But it was Cobb, a second-round rookie out of Kentucky, who got it all started for the Packers.

After the Packers’ defense forced the Vikings to go three-and-out on their first possession, Cobb fielded a punt from Chris Kluwe and squeezed through a seam in the middle of the field.

Cobb accelerated down the left sideline and danced the final few steps into the end zone, tossing the ball in the air as if he was shooting a basketball before doing a “Lambeau leap” into the stands.

Cobb also had a 108-yard kickoff return for a touchdown in the Packers’ season opener against the New Orleans Saints.

Rodgers finally got the ball at the 9:55 mark in the first quarter and directed an 11-play, 70-yard drive that included conversions on third-and-8, to Donald Driver, and third-and-7, to running back James Starks. Rodgers then finished the drive with a perfect pass to Jennings in the middle of the field for a touchdown, and the Packers led 14-0.

With the Vikings driving near the end of the first quarter, Charles Woodson wrestled a ball away from Visanthe Shiancoe for what initially was ruled an interception. Frazier challenged the call and it was overturned, giving Ryan Longwell a shot at a 47-yard field goal.

But the Vikings committed a penalty, and Longwell came up just short on a 52-yard attempt.

Rodgers then put together another drive, and Rodgers hit tight end Jermichael Finley for 25 yards on a fourth-and-5 conversion attempt at the Vikings 34-yard line. Allen sacked Rodgers on first-and-goal, and the Packers ended up settling for a 25-yard field goal by Mason Crosby to take a 17-0 lead with 12:04 left before halftime.

Ponder then threw an interception to Packers cornerback Tramon Williams, misfiring on a deep ball after a flea-flicker toss back from Peterson.

Rodgers was sharp on the first possession of the second half, leading an eight-play, 69-yard drive that included a fourth-down conversion to Nelson.

Rodgers found Nelson on the right sideline two plays later, Nelson threw a stiff arm at Vikings cornerback Cedric Griffin and broke free for a touchdown, giving the Packers a commanding 24-0 lead with 10:45 left in the third quarter.

The Packers forced another punt but Cobb fumbled, and the Vikings recovered deep in Packers territory.

Ponder threw to Percy Harvin for 11 yards, then handed to Peterson for a 3-yard touchdown up the middle. The Vikings cut the Packers’ lead to 24-7 with 8:41 left in the third quarter.

Cobb then made up for his mistake with a long kickoff return to give the ball to the Packers at midfield. Rodgers led yet another precision drive, finishing it off with a 9-yard touchdown pass to Kuhn for a 31-7 lead.

GREEN BAY, Wis. — Going into tonight’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the feeling is becoming familiar for the Green Bay Packers: Another week, another win, another uneasy feeling about the state of the defense.

The reigning Super Bowl champions are the NFL’s only undefeated team at 8-0 and have won a franchise-record 14 straight games going back to last season, including playoffs. It has been so long since the Packers actually lost a game that defensive players now seem to be stewing about substandard performances in victories the same way they might after a loss.

That certainly was the case after the Packers’ Oct. 23 victory at Minnesota, where Green Bay allowed rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to play with poise in his first career start and gave up 175 yards to Adrian Peterson.

“Last time, we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have played in Minnesota,” defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said. “We feel like we could have put it away, and then we kind of let them back in the game. ‘AP’ rushed for 175 yards. We felt sick after we even won that game. So this is a good opportunity for us to right our wrongs.”   

Going into the second game between the two division rivals in less than a month, the Packers are giving up 299.6 yards passing per game this season, second-most in the NFL behind New England. They nearly coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win at San Diego.

The Packers remain dominant on offense behind Aaron Rodgers. And while their defense does lead the NFL with 16 interceptions and has been good enough to win all eight games so far, the porous nature of their pass defense means they can’t take anybody for granted.

“If you look at it, it’s kind of good,” Pickett said. “We’re feeling sick and we’re 8-0. We definitely know we’ve got a lot of room to grow, and we know we’re going to get there. Especially as a defensive unit, we have segments of great games, but we have yet to put a complete game, the way we want to play, out there. We know it’s coming, and we’re going to just keep fighting til we get there.”

Ponder helped Minnesota beat Carolina two weeks ago for his first career win — the Vikings had a bye last week — and he sees no reason why the Vikings can’t make it a game Monday night.

“That’s kind of what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. Obviously my two mistakes I had last game, you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given. I think as the offense if we do things right we can be pretty good.”

And Ponder says he can play better than he did in his first career start.

“The biggest thing is we kept it close, which should give us the confidence that we can hang in with those guys,” Ponder said. “Completion percent around 40 percent’s not good. Two turnovers isn’t good. So, there’s a lot to fix there. But still, with a 40 percent completion rating with two interceptions and we still had the ability to win the game, I think that’s a good sign.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has no concerns about Ponder’s poise going into a prime-time road game.

“To come out there in your first start against the defending Super Bowl champions and play as well as he played and to make some of the plays that he made in the fourth quarter, just gives you the idea that he can handle adverse situations, he can handle being on the road and playing well like he did against Carolina,” Frazier said. “I don’t foresee him being in a situation on Monday Night where you go, `Oh, this is not a good situation for Christian.’ I just don’t foresee that.”

The Packers still will be most worried about stopping Peterson, who says the Vikings are comfortable with Ponder at quarterback.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for him with what he has shown in the past two weeks before the bye,” Peterson said. “I feel like we can do some really good things. We just can’t keep doing things that hurt us. Offensively, defensively, make sure we’re eliminating some penalties and make sure we take advantage of the opportunities that present (themselves).”

Peterson is plenty impressed with Rodgers, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns with an 80 percent completion rate on Oct. 23.

“I feel like he’s the best quarterback in the league,” Peterson said. “I’ve always like Rodgers, even before he blew up. I could see the potential in him, just how he played, the attitude he played with. His passion shows. So it’s not really surprising to me.”   

The Vikings’ defense will welcome back cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games because of a neck injury. Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks and Rodgers was sacked four times by San Diego, some of which were the result of good downfield coverage.

Still, stopping Rodgers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Linebacker E.J. Henderson made it sound like he’d rather be facing Brett Favre.

“He’s pretty hot right now,” Henderson said of Rodgers. “Even Brett in his (heyday) when we used to play the Packers he was still good for a couple three interceptions here and there. I definitely think he’s playing at a high level, we all know that, we know what a challenge it’s going to be for us Monday to come out and slow him down but we’re looking forward to it.”

I seriously think the football gods set up this weekend to torture Minnesotans. As if a Gophers-Badgers game isn’t bad enough, the Minnesota Vikings have yet another face off against the Green Bay Packers. And this time, the Vikes won’t have the home field advantage.

The Packers are currently at 8-0, and many enthusiastic fans are predicting a 16-0 season and another Super Bowl victory. This week, the Vikings’ big job is to wipe that smug smile off the Packer Backers’ faces.

There are a few signs of hope for Sunday’s game. First, there’s Christian Ponder(notes). I really wish Leslie Frazier would have gotten Ponder in the game several weeks ago, because the Vikings might have had more than two wins by now. My Packer-loving friends like to point to the fact that Christian Ponder is nowhere near Aaron Rodgers(notes) in playing ability. Still, watching a Vikings game led by Ponder is far less embarrassing than watching one with Donovan McNabb(notes) as starting quarterback.

Another promising development: better use of running back Adrian Peterson. Everybody knows Peterson can rush, but he also makes a great receiver. Peterson’s abilities were not fully utilized during the first few weeks of the football season. He complained about this in a recent interview: ” Sometimes I don’t get the ball and I’m like grrr I was wide open.” But when the Minnesota Vikings played the Carolina Panthers, Peterson had five catches for 76 yards and a touchdown.

The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Green Bay Packers when they hosted at the Metrodome three weeks ago, but they did not lose by much. In fact, for a brief period, they were actually leading the Packers. If they can pull it together this week, there’s no reason why they shouldn’t hand the Pack their first loss of the season. Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe says it best: “[The Green Bay Packers] need a loss, don’t they? They need one. We’re going to see what we can do about that.”

Born and raised in Minnesota, S. Gustafson has remained faithful to the Vikings through their many ups and downs.

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GREEN BAY, Wis. – Going into Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the feeling is becoming familiar for the Green Bay Packers: Another week, another win, another uneasy feeling about the state of the defence.

The reigning Super Bowl champions are the NFL’s only undefeated team at 8-0 and have won a franchise-record 14 straight games going back to last season, including playoffs. It has been so long since the Packers actually lost a game that defensive players now seem to be stewing about substandard performances in victories the same way they might after a loss.

That certainly was the case after the Packers’ Oct. 23 victory at Minnesota, where Green Bay allowed rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to play with poise in his first career start and gave up 175 yards to Adrian Peterson.

“Last time, we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have played in Minnesota,” defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said. “We feel like we could have put it away, and then we kind of let them back in the game. ‘AP’ rushed for 175 yards. We felt sick after we even won that game. So this is a good opportunity for us to right our wrongs.”

Going into the second game between the two division rivals in less than a month, the Packers are giving up 299.6 yards passing per game this season, second-most in the NFL behind New England. They nearly coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win at San Diego.

The Packers remain dominant on offence behind Aaron Rodgers. And while their defence does lead the NFL with 16 interceptions and has been good enough to win all eight games so far, the porous nature of their pass defence means they can’t take anybody for granted.

“If you look at it, it’s kind of good,” Pickett said. “We’re feeling sick and we’re 8-0. We definitely know we’ve got a lot of room to grow, and we know we’re going to get there. Especially as a defensive unit, we have segments of great games, but we have yet to put a complete game, the way we want to play, out there. We know it’s coming, and we’re going to just keep fighting til we get there.”

Ponder helped Minnesota beat Carolina two weeks ago for his first career win — the Vikings had a bye last week — and he sees no reason why the Vikings can’t make it a game Monday night.

“That’s kind of what their defence is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. Obviously my two mistakes I had last game, you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given. I think as the offence if we do things right we can be pretty good.”

And Ponder says he can play better than he did in his first career start.

“The biggest thing is we kept it close, which should give us the confidence that we can hang in with those guys,” Ponder said. “Completion per cent around 40 per cent’s not good. Two turnovers isn’t good. So, there’s a lot to fix there. But still, with a 40 per cent completion rating with two interceptions and we still had the ability to win the game, I think that’s a good sign.”

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has no concerns about Ponder’s poise going into a prime-time road game.

“To come out there in your first start against the defending Super Bowl champions and play as well as he play and to make some of the plays that he made in the fourth quarter, just gives you the idea that he can handle adverse situations, he can handle being on the road and playing well like he did against Carolina,” Frazier said. “I don’t foresee him being in a situation on Monday Night where you go, ‘Oh, this is not a good situation for Christian.’ I just don’t foresee that.”

The Packers still will be most worried about stopping Peterson, who says the Vikings are comfortable with Ponder at quarterback.

“I really think the sky’s the limit for him with what he has shown in the past two weeks before the bye,” Peterson said. “I feel like we can do some really good things. We just can’t keep doing things that hurt us. Offensively, defensively, make sure we’re eliminating some penalties and make sure we take advantage of the opportunities that present (themselves).”

Peterson is plenty impressed with Rodgers, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns with an 80 per cent completion rate on Oct. 23.

“I feel like he’s the best quarterback in the league,” Peterson said. “I’ve always like Rodgers, even before he blew up. I could see the potential in him, just how he played, the attitude he played with. His passion shows. So it’s not really surprising to me.”

The Vikings’ defence will welcome back cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games because of a neck injury. Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks and Rodgers was sacked four times by San Diego, some of which were the result of good downfield coverage.

Still, stopping Rodgers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Linebacker E.J. Henderson made it sound like he’d rather be facing Brett Favre.

“He’s pretty hot right now,” Henderson said of Rodgers. “Even Brett in his (heyday) when we used to play the Packers he was still good for a couple three interceptions here and there. I definitely think he’s playing at a high level, we all know that, we know what a challenge it’s going to be for us Monday to come out and slow him down but we’re looking forward to it.”

Read More: Anthony Herrera (G – MIN), Joe Berger (C – MIN), Phil Loadholt (OT – MIN), Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

The Minnesota Vikings are gearing up for one of their biggest games of the season as they face the Green Bay Packers on Monday Night Football. The one thing they have going for them is an advantage on the injury report, though Friday’s version wasn’t quite as cheery as Thursday’s looked.

Phil Loadholt was added, but only due to illness — and apparently not a very serious one as he was a full participant — while offensive guard Anthony Herrera was definitely ruled out for the Packers game. Head coach Leslie Frazier explained why during Friday’s media availability.

“He’s still making progress, but not to the point where we could say, ‘OK, let’s go out and try to do something,’” coach Leslie Frazier said. “They haven’t cleared him to go out and try to participate even in practice, so we just have to wait.”

Joe Berger will start in his place.

The Vikings entire injury report is included below.

If the Minnesota Vikings have any hope of winning their upcoming Monday Night Football matchup with the Green Bay Packers, they’ll need to find a way to slow down the aerial assault that is Aaron Rodgers(notes). Luckily for the Vikings, they’ll have an extra bit of support in the defensive secondary that they’ve been missing for quite some time.

After fully participating in practice this week, cornerback Antoine Winfield(notes) will play when the Vikings head to Lambeau Field to take on the Packers. The Pro Bowl cover man has missed the last four games with a neck injury, but is finally healthy and will be ready to go on Monday.

“It’s big for us,” Vikings defensive coordinator Fred Pagac said. “He’s one of our best football players. He’s back to being healthy. It gives us depth in the back end and we’re excited about being back.”

With the enormous amount of struggles that the Vikings have had a cornerback as of late, Winfield’s return couldn’t have come at a better time. Fellow starter Cedric Griffin(notes) has struggled throughout the first eight games and doesn’t appear to be recovering from his slump anytime soon. Second-year man Chris Cook(notes) is facing domestic assault charges and won’t be participating in football activities until he gets his life back on track. Asher Allen(notes) has experience, but has never proven himself to be anything more than a subpackage cornerback. The remainder of the Vikings’ cornerback depth is too inexperienced or inept for covering the Packers’ talented hoard of receivers.

Although Winfield’s coverage skills are still among the best in the NFL despite his age (34), the rest of his game cannot be overlooked. Since he first entered the league, he has proven himself to be one of the best corners at playing the run. Whether the 5’9”, 180 pound defender is shutting down the passing attack or stepping up and making a big stop in the run game, Winfield utilizes his keen instincts to make impact plays and force turnovers.

“He’s one of the better football players that I’ve been around in my coaching career,” Pagac, a NFL coach of 34 years, said. “He has instincts, he has savvy, he has toughness, he has quickness, he has power. He might be little, but he’ll sting you.”

The love for Winfield’s play doesn’t stop in Minnesota, however. According to Packers’ head coach Mike McCarthy, the Vikings defensive backfield is a whole different beast when Winfield is playing.

“He’s a playmaker and a leader on that defense,” McCarthy said.

The Vikings secondary received a huge boost in both skill and morale with the return of Winfield. We’ll have to wait until Monday night to tell whether or not his presence is enough to elevate the Vikings past their rivals, the only undefeated team in the NFL.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter.

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Read More: Chad Clifton (OT – GBP), Clay Matthews (LB – GBP), Frank Zombo (LB – GBP), Chris Cook (CB – MIN), Minnesota Vikings, Green Bay Packers

Coming off of the bye week the Minnesota Vikings are one of the healthiest teams in the NFL as they prepare to face the Green bay Packers on Monday night. Only three players are listed on the team’s official injury report in preparation for the game, with one of them being Chris Cook, who is suspended indefinitely:

As for the Packers, they also have a very short injury list headed into this week. The Packers only had Frank Zombo and Chad Clifton listed as out on their official practice report. They both missed practice completely on Thursday, while Clay Matthews did not participate either. Matthews is a critical player in the Packers’ defense, as he is expected to create a pass rush on the young Christian Ponder Monday night.

November 11, 2011

GREEN BAY, Wis. (AP) — Going into Monday night’s game against the Minnesota Vikings, the feeling is becoming familiar for the Green Bay Packers: Another week, another win, another uneasy feeling about the state of the defense.
The reigning Super Bowl champions are the NFL’s only undefeated team at 8-0 and have won a franchise-record 14 straight games going back to last season, including playoffs. It has been so long since the Packers actually lost a game that defensive players now seem to be stewing about substandard performances in victories the same way they might after a loss.
That certainly was the case after the Packers’ Oct. 23 victory at Minnesota, where Green Bay allowed rookie quarterback Christian Ponder to play with poise in his first career start and gave up 175 yards to Adrian Peterson.
“Last time, we didn’t feel like we played as good as we could have played in Minnesota,” defensive lineman Ryan Pickett said. “We feel like we could have put it away, and then we kind of let them back in the game. ‘AP’ rushed for 175 yards. We felt sick after we even won that game. So this is a good opportunity for us to right our wrongs.”
Going into the second game between the two division rivals in less than a month, the Packers are giving up 299.6 yards passing per game this season, second-most in the NFL behind New England. They nearly coughed up a 21-point lead in the fourth quarter of last Sunday’s win at San Diego.
The Packers remain dominant on offense behind Aaron Rodgers. And while their defense does lead the NFL with 16 interceptions and has been good enough to win all eight games so far, the porous nature of their pass defense means they can’t take anybody for granted.
“If you look at it, it’s kind of good,” Pickett said. “We’re feeling sick and we’re 8-0. We definitely know we’ve got a lot of room to grow, and we know we’re going to get there. Especially as a defensive unit, we have segments of great games, but we have yet to put a complete game, the way we want to play, out there. We know it’s coming, and we’re going to just keep fighting til we get there.”
Ponder helped Minnesota beat Carolina two weeks ago for his first career win — the Vikings had a bye last week — and he sees no reason why the Vikings can’t make it a game Monday night.
“That’s kind of what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. Obviously my two mistakes I had last game, you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given. I think as the offense if we do things right we can be pretty good.”
And Ponder says he can play better than he did in his first career start.
“The biggest thing is we kept it close, which should give us the confidence that we can hang in with those guys,” Ponder said. “Completion percent around 40 percent’s not good. Two turnovers isn’t good. So, there’s a lot to fix there. But still, with a 40 percent completion rating with two interceptions and we still had the ability to win the game, I think that’s a good sign.”
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier has no concerns about Ponder’s poise going into a prime-time road game.
“To come out there in your first start against the defending Super Bowl champions and play as well as he play and to make some of the plays that he made in the fourth quarter, just gives you the idea that he can handle adverse situations, he can handle being on the road and playing well like he did against Carolina,” Frazier said. “I don’t foresee him being in a situation on Monday Night where you go, ‘Oh, this is not a good situation for Christian.’ I just don’t foresee that.”
The Packers still will be most worried about stopping Peterson, who says the Vikings are comfortable with Ponder at quarterback.
“I really think the sky’s the limit for him with what he has shown in the past two weeks before the bye,” Peterson said. “I feel like we can do some really good things. We just can’t keep doing things that hurt us. Offensively, defensively, make sure we’re eliminating some penalties and make sure we take advantage of the opportunities that present (themselves).”
Peterson is plenty impressed with Rodgers, who threw for 335 yards and three touchdowns with an 80 percent completion rate on Oct. 23.
“I feel like he’s the best quarterback in the league,” Peterson said. “I’ve always like Rodgers, even before he blew up. I could see the potential in him, just how he played, the attitude he played with. His passion shows. So it’s not really surprising to me.”
The Vikings’ defense will welcome back cornerback Antoine Winfield, who is set to return to the starting lineup after missing the last four games because of a neck injury. Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 12 1/2 sacks and Rodgers was sacked four times by San Diego, some of which were the result of good downfield coverage.
Still, stopping Rodgers will be a tough test for the Vikings. Linebacker E.J. Henderson made it sound like he’d rather be facing Brett Favre.
“He’s pretty hot right now,” Henderson said of Rodgers. “Even Brett in his (heyday) when we used to play the Packers he was still good for a couple three interceptions here and there. I definitely think he’s playing at a high level, we all know that, we know what a challenge it’s going to be for us Monday to come out and slow him down but we’re looking forward to it.”

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Three weeks ago, Minnesota Vikings rookie quarterback Christian Ponder(notes) was baptized by fire when he got his first NFL start against the defending Super Bowl champion Green Bay Packers.

The Packers, who were then and still are undefeated, came at him with everything they had and gave him a sample of what elite NFL football tastes like. Despite forcing him into throwing two interceptions (and potentially more that were dropped by Packers defenders), Ponder managed to keep the Vikings in the game. Although they ended up falling short by a score of 27-33, it was an impressive NFL debut by a quarterback that many thought the Vikings overdrafted at No. 12 overall.

His numbers might not have been Newton-esque, but his poise and unrelenting drive to give his team every possible opportunity to win the game were remarkable for a rookie. Ponder took responsibility for his mistakes, but didn’t dwell on them and went out with confidence on the next drive as if the previous one never happened. He showed an unwillingness to lay down when the Vikings fell behind by a couple touchdowns and didn’t stop until the final whistle blew.

“He’s been so unflappable in the two starts he’s had that I have a feeling whatever we tell him, he’s still going to be able to handle the situation,” Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said.

Now, with a 1-1 record as an NFL starter under his belt, Ponder will face off against the Packers again after a bye week that should have the Vikings well rested and ready to play. Although the Green Bay secondary will again pose a daunting challenge to the young gunslinger, he’s ready to prove that he’s matured since their previous meeting.

“That’s what their defense is, bend but don’t break,” Ponder said. “They’ve given up some yards but not a lot of scoring. My two mistakes last game – you’ve got to be careful with the ball but capitalize with the opportunities we’re given.”

Although there’s nothing wrong with a little confident, too much can be a bad thing, especially for a rookie NFL quarterback. A big part of Ponder’s struggles last game stemmed from his overconfidence and lack of discipline when making throws into coverage. If he can cut down on this bad decisions and pick and choose his targets with more care, the Vikings could stand a chance at winning Monday’s game.

If Ponder can start his career as the Vikings starter with a 2-1 record, including a win against the Green Bay Packers, the team might have discovered its new franchise quarterback. The Vikings haven’t had an upper-level passer since Daunte Culpepper(notes) in the mid-2000s, so a new quarterback who can lead them to victory consistently is long overdue. For now, Ponder is just enjoying the opportunities he’s getting.

“Growing up as a kid you’re always watching Monday Night Football,” Ponder said. “It’s always a dream to get out and play. You hear nothing but good things about playing at Lambeau Field and how awesome an experience it’s going to be.”

Enjoy the mystique of it while you can, Christian. When it’s Monday night and you have the entire Packers defense and a sea of green and yellow bearing down on you, it’ll be more like a nightmare than a dream.

All we can do for now is hope that you come out of there unscathed with a victory in hand.

Gil Alcaraz IV is a life-long follower of the Minnesota Vikings and is the founder of TheVikingDen.com. For more Vikings/NFL coverage, follow him on Twitter.

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To say the Minnesota Vikings have had a disappointing start to the 2011 season would be a massive understatement. After Donovan McNabb(notes) was brought in to run an offense powered largely by Adrian Peterson the last four seasons, many fans thought that the final piece had been put in place. The giant puzzle that is the Minnesota Vikings franchise had been solved with the addition of a quarterback with years of experience in a winning franchise.

It was all downhill from game one. Our beloved Vikings are now 1-6, with the lone win coming against the lowly Arizona Cardinals. There might not be much left to look forward to this year, but here are a few reasons why the Minnesota Vikings should have a decent 2012:

1) Adrian Peterson is locked down for quite a while, and doesn’t look like he’s slowing down. Despite being in his fifth NFL season, Peterson is still leading the NFL in yards gained at the running back position.

It is rare for a running back to maintain this type of edge for this long, but Peterson is truly a different type of athlete. As long as he is a Viking, fans have something to be excited for.

2) Christian Ponder(notes) looks like a better pick than we could have first imagined. That is a very good sign. Ponder is 0-1 this year, but his start against the Packers provided fans with a look at his long-range capabilities, his running skills, and his game management. Overall, I think most Vikings fans were impressed. Next year should be a breakout season for the young quarterback.

3) The Packers and Lions can’t stay this hot. Alright, Aaron Rodgers(notes) is a great quarterback, and Matthew Stafford(notes) is pretty tough too. However, both of them are having stellar years. Rodgers has proven himself the last two years, but Stafford is still young and unproven. The Packers have an aging defense that is struggling against the pass this year, and shouldn’t be much better next year barring any major pickups. The Lions are still a relatively young team, but I see their offense hitting struggles without a stronger running game.

The fact is, Vikings fans cannot let this season get them down. While the chances of making the playoffs this year are near nothing, there is always next year. And with players like Christian Ponder, Adrian Peterson, Jared Allen(notes), and Percy Harvin(notes) on the roster, we should be in for some Purple Pride once again.

Viking fans: Keep your heads up.

Jack Grunpe is a Minnesota Vikings fan who has resided in the state his entire life. Read more of Jack’s articles about the Vikings for insight into games, players, and the season!

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With Donovan McNabb(notes) officially sidelined for the season, the Minnesota Vikings are busy training Christian Ponder(notes) into his new role as starting quarterback. But Ponder isn’t the only rookie QB starting for an NFL team. This weekend, when Ponder starts for the second time, he’ll be going against Cam Newton(notes), the new quarterback of the Carolina Panthers. The big question going into the weekend’s game is, who will win the battle of the rookies?

I hate to say it, but I don’t thing the victor will be Christian Ponder. I think Ponder is a big improvement over McNabb, but he just isn’t in the same league as Cam Newton. Starting against the Packers on Sunday, Ponder proved promising as the new Vikings quarterback. He ended the game having thrown 13 for 32 for 219 yards and two touchdowns. One of those touchdowns followed an impressive 93-yard drive.

These stats are certainly not bad for a rookie quarterback, but they just don’t compare to Cam Newton’s early performances. In the NFL season opener, Newton completed 24 out of 37 passes for an impressive 422 yards, breaking a record formerly held by Peyton Manning(notes). And then, as if 422 yards simply wasn’t enough for a single game, Newton went on to pass for 432 yards the following week. During week 7 of the NFL season, Cam Newton proved that his talent wasn’t limited to passing when he tied Vince Young’s(notes) record for the most rushing touchdowns for a rookie.

The Minnesota Vikings might have a shot at the Carolina Panthers, but it won’t have anything to do with Christian Ponder’s superiority over Cam Newton. It is pretty obvious that Newton is the better player. If the Vikings are going to win, they will need to show the same focus and energy that fans glimpsed last Sunday. As the starting quarterback, Christian Ponder will certainly play into that equation, but it will take a lot of effort from the entire team to snag a second win for the Minnesota Vikings.

Born and raised in Minnesota, S. Gustafson has remained faithful to the Vikings through their many ups and downs.

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EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – Minnesota Vikings defensive end Brian Robison has been fined $20,000 by the NFL for kicking Packers offensive lineman T.J. Lang in their game Sunday.

Robison received word of the fine Wednesday. He apologized to Lang, the league and the Vikings via Twitter on Sunday evening after he kicked Lang in the groin during a field goal try in the second quarter of a 33-27 loss to the Packers.

Lang replied on Twitter that he accepted Robison’s apology and did not consider him a dirty player.

Robison says he got caught up in the heat of the moment when he kicked Lang, who had dumped him on to his back during Mason Crosby’s field goal attempt. Robison says he regrets it and will make sure it doesn’t happen again.

(Copyright 2011 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)