CBSSports.com wire reports
Dec. 24, 2011

LANDOVER, Md. — Out for the game — and possibly much longer — with a knee injury that looked and felt serious, Adrian Peterson was on his way back from the X-ray room in the depths of the stadium when he looked at a television monitor.

“I see Toby break up the sideline,” Peterson said. “So, `Go, Toby, go.”‘

What else could happen to the Minnesota Vikings in one of the worst seasons in franchise history? How about losing Peterson to a direct hit on the left knee and Christian Ponder to a possible concussion on back-to-back plays to start the second half? It just didn’t seem fair.

But here’s a twist: They won the game. Toby Gerhart and Joe Webb answered the call, leading Saturday’s 33-26 victory over the Washington Redskins, breaking a six-game losing streak that helped make up for the fact that their best player was standing on crutches in the locker room.

“I can enjoy my Christmas now,” coach Leslie Frazier said.

Gerhart scampered for a 67-yard run — the play Peterson saw on TV — to start Minnesota’s next series after the Peterson-Ponder injuries and finished with 109 yards on 11 carries. Webb again made a case to be a starting quarterback by throwing for two touchdowns and running for another as the Vikings (3-12) kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in team history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

Asked if it’s time to give the option-running Webb a look at the No. 1 job, Frazier didn’t hesitate.

“Some of the things he does, and what it does to the rest of our team, you can’t ignore,” Frazier said. “So it’s something we’re going to have a real hard look at as we go forward. He definitely lifts our team.”

He might get the start next week, at least, because of Ponder’s injury, but Webb surely was an inspiring presence Saturday, completing 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards and rushing five times for 34 yards. His 9-yard touchdown run came on the option, and he put a perfect 17-yard scoring pass into the arms of rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph, a touchdown appropriate for Christmas Eve, to give the Vikings a 23-20 lead late in the third quarter.

“When they bring in a weapon like that,” Redskins linebacker Perry Riley said of Webb, “not a secret weapon – we’d seen him on tape and we had a feeling – but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short week for two quarterbacks. … It’s hard to change it mid-stream like that.”

Webb’s 8-yard pass to Percy Harvin broke a 23-all tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie Mistral Raymond’s first career interception set up Ryan Longwell’s 23-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on Graham Gano’s 47-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but Rex Grossman’s final long fling to the end zone fell incomplete to give Washington (5-10) a sixth straight home loss, its longest such skid since 1994.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit by safety DeJon Gomes at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first offensive play of the second half. The X-rays were negative, but Peterson was scheduled for an MRI late Saturday after the team returned to Minnesota.

“It’s such a special person that you want to be right before you prognosticate on what might be,” Frazier said.

A torn ACL, the worst case scenario, would likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it difficult for him to return for the start of next season.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the ACL, MCL,” Peterson said. “I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.”

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Ponder suffered a head injury when sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher. Ponder remained in the game for one more play – a third-down incomplete pass – before heading to the locker room.

Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next week’s season finale against the Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow the doctor’s lead.”

With the way Webb is playing, Ponder might get the week off anyway.

Notes

• Grossman had two more giveaways — a lost fumble and interception — to put his total at 24 for the season. He was already tied for the most turnovers in the NFL entering the game.
• Washington’s Evan Royster, getting the start with fellow rookie Roy Helu out with an injury, ran for 132 yards on 19 carries.
• Minnesota’s Jared Allen had one sack to raise his total to 18 1/2.
• The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard Steve Hutchinson inactive with a concussion and guard Anthony Herrera sidelined for part of the game with a lower back injury.

LANDOVER, Md. (AP)—Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson tore a
ligament in his left knee Saturday after taking a direct hit in a 33-26 win over
the Washington Redskins.

An MRI showed the anterior cruciate ligament tear after the team returned to
Minnesota.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit and
that he was in “severe pain” on he lay on the field. He was hurt when tackled
by Redskins safety DeJon Gomes at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first
offensive play of the second half.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the
ACL, MCL,” Peterson said as he stood on crutches in the locker room. “I’m
trying to stay as positive as I can.”

The torn ACL would likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it
difficult for him to return for the start of next season.

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Minnesota’s Christian Ponder suffered a
head injury when sacked by Adam Carriker and London Fletcher. Ponder remained in
the game for one more play—a third-down incomplete pass—before heading to
the locker room.

Coach Leslie Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach
said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next week’s season
finale against the Chicago Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow
the doctor’s lead.”

Peterson had 12 carries for 38 yards when he left. He also had a 1-yard
touchdown run in the second quarter.

Ponder completed 8 of 13 passes for 68 yards. He was replaced by Joe Webb,
who scored on a 9-yard run on the next series to give the Vikings the lead.

———

Joseph White can be reached at http://twitter.com/JGWhiteAP

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Out for the game – and now much longer – with a serious knee injury,
Adrian Peterson
was on his way back from the X-ray room in the depths of the stadium when he looked at a television monitor.

“I see Toby break up the sideline,” Peterson said. “So, `Go, Toby, go.”‘

What else could happen to the
Minnesota Vikings
in one of the worst seasons in franchise history? How about losing Peterson to a direct hit on the left knee and
Christian Ponder
to a possible concussion on back-to-back plays to start the second half? It just didn’t seem fair.

And the news only got worse as Saturday went on. The Vikings said an MRI showed that Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee, and coach Leslie Frazier will provide a further update at his news conference Monday.

But here’s a twist: They won the game.
Toby Gerhart
and
Joe Webb
answered the call, leading Saturday’s 33-26 victory over the
Washington Redskins
that snapped a six-game losing streak and helped make up for the fact that their best player was standing on crutches in the
locker room.

“I can enjoy my Christmas now,” Frazier said.

Gerhart scampered for a 67-yard run – the play Peterson saw on TV – to start Minnesota’s next series after the Peterson-Ponder
injuries and finished with 109 yards on 11 carries. Webb again made a case to be a starting quarterback by throwing for two
touchdowns and running for another as the Vikings (3-12) kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in team
history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

Asked if it’s time to give the option-running Webb a look at the No. 1 job, Frazier didn’t hesitate.

“Some of the things he does, and what it does to the rest of our team, you can’t ignore,” Frazier said. “So it’s something
we’re going to have a real hard look at as we go forward. He definitely lifts our team.”

He might get the start next week, at least, because of Ponder’s injury, but Webb surely was an inspiring presence Saturday,
completing 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards and rushing five times for 34 yards. His 9-yard touchdown run came on the option, and
he put a perfect 17-yard scoring pass into the arms of rookie tight end
Kyle Rudolph
, a touchdown appropriate for Christmas Eve, to give the Vikings a 23-20 lead late in the third quarter.

“When they bring in a weapon like that,” Redskins linebacker
Perry Riley
said of Webb, “not a secret weapon – we’d seen him on tape and we had a feeling – but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short
week for two quarterbacks. … It’s hard to change it mid-stream like that.”

Webb’s 8-yard pass to
Percy Harvin
broke a 23-all tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie
Mistral Raymond
‘s first career interception set up
Ryan Longwell
‘s 23-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick
before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on
Graham Gano
‘s 47-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but
Rex Grossman
‘s final long fling to the end zone fell incomplete to give Washington (5-10) a sixth straight home loss, its longest such
skid since 1994.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit by safety
DeJon Gomes
at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first offensive play of the second half. The X-rays were negative, but Peterson had an
MRI late Saturday after the team returned to Minnesota.

“It’s such a special person that you want to be right before you prognosticate on what might be,” Frazier said before the
exam.

The torn ACL, the worst-case scenario, will likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it difficult for him to
return for the start of next season.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the ACL, MCL,” Peterson said before the diagnosis.
“I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.”

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Ponder suffered a head injury when sacked by
Adam Carriker
and
London Fletcher
. Ponder remained in the game for one more play – a third-down incomplete pass – before heading to the locker room.

Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next
week’s season finale against the Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow the doctor’s lead.”

With the way Webb is playing, Ponder might get the week off anyway.

Notes: Grossman had two more giveaways – a lost fumble and interception – to put his total at 24 for the season. He was already
tied for the most turnovers in the NFL entering the game. … Washington’s
Evan Royster
, getting the start with fellow rookie
Roy Helu
out with an injury, ran for 132 yards on 19 carries. … Minnesota’s
Jared Allen
had one sack to raise his total to 18 1/2. … The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard
Steve Hutchinson
inactive with a concussion and guard
Anthony Herrera
sidelined for part of the game with a lower back injury.

—

© 2011 STATS LLC

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Out for the game – and now much longer – with a serious knee injury,
Adrian Peterson
was on his way back from the X-ray room in the depths of the stadium when he looked at a television monitor.

“I see Toby break up the sideline,” Peterson said. “So, `Go, Toby, go.”‘

What else could happen to the
Minnesota Vikings
in one of the worst seasons in franchise history? How about losing Peterson to a direct hit on the left knee and
Christian Ponder
to a possible concussion on back-to-back plays to start the second half? It just didn’t seem fair.

And the news only got worse as Saturday went on. The Vikings said an MRI showed that Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee, and coach Leslie Frazier will provide a further update at his news conference Monday.

But here’s a twist: They won the game.
Toby Gerhart
and
Joe Webb
answered the call, leading Saturday’s 33-26 victory over the
Washington Redskins
that snapped a six-game losing streak and helped make up for the fact that their best player was standing on crutches in the
locker room.

“I can enjoy my Christmas now,” Frazier said.

Gerhart scampered for a 67-yard run – the play Peterson saw on TV – to start Minnesota’s next series after the Peterson-Ponder
injuries and finished with 109 yards on 11 carries. Webb again made a case to be a starting quarterback by throwing for two
touchdowns and running for another as the Vikings (3-12) kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in team
history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

Asked if it’s time to give the option-running Webb a look at the No. 1 job, Frazier didn’t hesitate.

“Some of the things he does, and what it does to the rest of our team, you can’t ignore,” Frazier said. “So it’s something
we’re going to have a real hard look at as we go forward. He definitely lifts our team.”

He might get the start next week, at least, because of Ponder’s injury, but Webb surely was an inspiring presence Saturday,
completing 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards and rushing five times for 34 yards. His 9-yard touchdown run came on the option, and
he put a perfect 17-yard scoring pass into the arms of rookie tight end
Kyle Rudolph
, a touchdown appropriate for Christmas Eve, to give the Vikings a 23-20 lead late in the third quarter.

“When they bring in a weapon like that,” Redskins linebacker
Perry Riley
said of Webb, “not a secret weapon – we’d seen him on tape and we had a feeling – but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short
week for two quarterbacks. … It’s hard to change it mid-stream like that.”

Webb’s 8-yard pass to
Percy Harvin
broke a 23-all tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie
Mistral Raymond
‘s first career interception set up
Ryan Longwell
‘s 23-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick
before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on
Graham Gano
‘s 47-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but
Rex Grossman
‘s final long fling to the end zone fell incomplete to give Washington (5-10) a sixth straight home loss, its longest such
skid since 1994.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit by safety
DeJon Gomes
at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first offensive play of the second half. The X-rays were negative, but Peterson had an
MRI late Saturday after the team returned to Minnesota.

“It’s such a special person that you want to be right before you prognosticate on what might be,” Frazier said before the
exam.

The torn ACL, the worst-case scenario, will likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it difficult for him to
return for the start of next season.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the ACL, MCL,” Peterson said before the diagnosis.
“I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.”

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Ponder suffered a head injury when sacked by
Adam Carriker
and
London Fletcher
. Ponder remained in the game for one more play – a third-down incomplete pass – before heading to the locker room.

Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next
week’s season finale against the Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow the doctor’s lead.”

With the way Webb is playing, Ponder might get the week off anyway.

Notes: Grossman had two more giveaways – a lost fumble and interception – to put his total at 24 for the season. He was already
tied for the most turnovers in the NFL entering the game. … Washington’s
Evan Royster
, getting the start with fellow rookie
Roy Helu
out with an injury, ran for 132 yards on 19 carries. … Minnesota’s
Jared Allen
had one sack to raise his total to 18 1/2. … The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard
Steve Hutchinson
inactive with a concussion and guard
Anthony Herrera
sidelined for part of the game with a lower back injury.

—

© 2011 STATS LLC

LANDOVER, Md. (AP) — Out for the game – and now much longer – with a serious knee injury,
Adrian Peterson
was on his way back from the X-ray room in the depths of the stadium when he looked at a television monitor.

“I see Toby break up the sideline,” Peterson said. “So, `Go, Toby, go.”‘

What else could happen to the
Minnesota Vikings
in one of the worst seasons in franchise history? How about losing Peterson to a direct hit on the left knee and
Christian Ponder
to a possible concussion on back-to-back plays to start the second half? It just didn’t seem fair.

And the news only got worse as Saturday went on. The Vikings said an MRI showed that Peterson tore the anterior cruciate ligament
in his left knee, and coach Leslie Frazier will provide a further update at his news conference Monday.

But here’s a twist: They won the game.
Toby Gerhart
and
Joe Webb
answered the call, leading Saturday’s 33-26 victory over the
Washington Redskins
that snapped a six-game losing streak and helped make up for the fact that their best player was standing on crutches in the
locker room.

“I can enjoy my Christmas now,” Frazier said.

Gerhart scampered for a 67-yard run – the play Peterson saw on TV – to start Minnesota’s next series after the Peterson-Ponder
injuries and finished with 109 yards on 11 carries. Webb again made a case to be a starting quarterback by throwing for two
touchdowns and running for another as the Vikings (3-12) kept alive their hopes to not finish with the worst record in team
history. A win next week against Chicago would put them ahead of the dubious 1984 Minnesota team that went 3-13.

Asked if it’s time to give the option-running Webb a look at the No. 1 job, Frazier didn’t hesitate.

“Some of the things he does, and what it does to the rest of our team, you can’t ignore,” Frazier said. “So it’s something
we’re going to have a real hard look at as we go forward. He definitely lifts our team.”

He might get the start next week, at least, because of Ponder’s injury, but Webb surely was an inspiring presence Saturday,
completing 4 of 5 passes for 84 yards and rushing five times for 34 yards. His 9-yard touchdown run came on the option, and
he put a perfect 17-yard scoring pass into the arms of rookie tight end
Kyle Rudolph
, a touchdown appropriate for Christmas Eve, to give the Vikings a 23-20 lead late in the third quarter.

“When they bring in a weapon like that,” Redskins linebacker
Perry Riley
said of Webb, “not a secret weapon – we’d seen him on tape and we had a feeling – but it’s hard to prepare fully on a short
week for two quarterbacks. … It’s hard to change it mid-stream like that.”

Webb’s 8-yard pass to
Percy Harvin
broke a 23-all tie early in the fourth quarter, and rookie
Mistral Raymond
‘s first career interception set up
Ryan Longwell
‘s 23-yard field goal to give the Vikings a 10-point lead with 4:05 to play. Minnesota had gone nine games without a pick
before Raymond’s big play.

The Redskins pulled within a touchdown on
Graham Gano
‘s 47-yard field goal with 1:25 remaining. They got the ball back after a punt, but
Rex Grossman
‘s final long fling to the end zone fell incomplete to give Washington (5-10) a sixth straight home loss, its longest such
skid since 1994.

Peterson said he knew “it was something bad” the moment he was hit by safety
DeJon Gomes
at the end of a 3-yard gain on the first offensive play of the second half. The X-rays were negative, but Peterson had an
MRI late Saturday after the team returned to Minnesota.

“It’s such a special person that you want to be right before you prognosticate on what might be,” Frazier said before the
exam.

The torn ACL, the worst-case scenario, will likely sideline Peterson for some nine months and make it difficult for him to
return for the start of next season.

“Anytime you take a blow to the knee like that, you’re concerned about the ACL, MCL,” Peterson said before the diagnosis.
“I’m trying to stay as positive as I can.”

On the play after Peterson was hurt, Ponder suffered a head injury when sacked by
Adam Carriker
and
London Fletcher
. Ponder remained in the game for one more play – a third-down incomplete pass – before heading to the locker room.

Frazier said Ponder had “concussion-like symptoms.” The coach said he’s uncertain whether the quarterback will play in next
week’s season finale against the Bears.

“We’ll have to weigh it when we get back,” Frazier said, “and I’ll follow the doctor’s lead.”

With the way Webb is playing, Ponder might get the week off anyway.

Notes: Grossman had two more giveaways – a lost fumble and interception – to put his total at 24 for the season. He was already
tied for the most turnovers in the NFL entering the game. … Washington’s
Evan Royster
, getting the start with fellow rookie
Roy Helu
out with an injury, ran for 132 yards on 19 carries. … Minnesota’s
Jared Allen
had one sack to raise his total to 18 1/2. … The Vikings were also short-handed along the offensive line, with guard
Steve Hutchinson
inactive with a concussion and guard
Anthony Herrera
sidelined for part of the game with a lower back injury.

—

© 2011 STATS LLC

Here’s the situation; the Minnesota Vikings, Indianapolis Colts and St. Louis Rams are all currently tied at two wins apiece. If both the Vikings and Rams lose this upcoming Saturday, all three will have identical records of 2-13. At that point, the Colts will still be in possession of the No. 1 overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft.

However, if the Colts win their third game next weekend and the Vikings/Rams remain at two wins apiece through the final week of the regular season, the Vikings would then take over control of the No. 1 pick.

In case you’ve been oblivious to the headlines, there’s a certain player that has already declared himself eligible for the 2012 NFL Draft that makes this No. 1 overall pick extremely valuable. That player is Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck.

Considered by many NFL scouts to be the greatest quarterback prospect since Payton Manning, Luck has proven throughout his three years as Stanford’s starting signal-caller that he’s more than worthy of the hype. Combining elite passing skills and intelligence with outstanding athleticism, Luck is a nightmare for defenses. He is one of the few quarterbacks to come out of college in the last few years who can read coverages with ease and makes quick decisions based on his reads. There’s plenty more, but you get the point.

Despite how tantalizing of a talent Luck is, a certain dilemma would arise for the Vikings if the No. 1 pick happened to fall into their laps.

Seeing as Luck is a quarterback, what would the Vikings do with their current starting quarterback, Christian Ponder, who they already spent their 2011 first-round pick on?

The first option would be to stick with Ponder and draft a different player with that No. 1 overall pick. Although that seems logical after the Vikings already committed to the former No. 12 overall pick this season, but how does a struggling team like Minnesota pass up on one of the most intriguing quarterbacks to come out of college in the last decade? Ponder has displayed some flaws this season, whereas Luck has the potential to be as elite of a quarterback as you can realistically ask for. The decision would be favorable in the locker room, but could the Vikings front office really deal with the constant “what if we had Luck” thoughts going through their heads?

The second option would be drafting Luck and getting something out of Ponder via trade. In this scenario, the Vikings not only get the best player to enter the pro ranks in years, but they also have the opportunity to get some value out of Ponder through a trade. This move might not sit well in the locker room after much of the Vikings squad built their confidence around Ponder’s promotion to the starting quarterback role, but Luck would be able to persuade them to believe that the Vikings made the right choice.

For those of you wondering why the Vikings couldn’t pick Luck and keep Ponder around as a second option: it wouldn’t work. Luck is too intriguing to let him sit on the bench behind an unproven player. Ponder is a talented young quarterback who is too valuable to let him hold a clipboard when other teams could give you something in return for him.

The third and final option for the Vikings would be to trade away the pick and hope that missing out on Luck doesn’t come back to bite them. The one positive aspect to this option would be the king’s ransom that they could expect in return for the No. 1 overall pick. Who knows what some team desperate to land Luck would be willing to give? Not only would they most likely receive a handful of draft picks, but veteran talent could also be thrown into the equation in an attempt to sweeten the deal. The negative aspect: the Vikings would still have Ponder and no Luck.

Don’t get me wrong; I like Ponder and what brings to the Vikings’ offense. But the possibility of Luck donning the horns is too exciting to pass up just because they already have Ponder on the roster.

If the Vikings did decide to draft Luck, the next logical step for them would be bolstering their horrendously depleted offensive line. Arguably their weakest position, the offensive line would need massive upgrades if the Vikings planned on getting the most out of Luck’s talents. There’s no way Luck can work his magic with the porous blocking that the Vikings currently have enlisted. Whether it’s through the draft or via free agency, that front five needs to improve in a big hurry even if they stay with Ponder.

Of course, this is all hypothetical. The Colts still have to win their last game and the Vikings still have to lose their last two for any of these options to come into play. A little speculation never hurt anyone, though.

Would the Vikings pick Luck? I’m not sure even they know. Will the Vikings get the No. 1 pick? We can’t know until next weekend. Will this be one of the biggest topics flying through the Vikings’ blogosphere? Undoubtedly!

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 or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings need to win their final two games to avoid the worst record in the franchise’s 51-year history.

Whatever happens, coaches and players know many jobs are on the line as the Vikings (2-12) limp toward the end of the season.

There is turnover every year in the NFL, but the rate increases exponentially on a team that is going through the kind of season the Vikings are experiencing right now. They have lost six games in a row, each one seemingly more painful than the next, including last weekend’s 42-20 embarrassment at home against New Orleans.

After fighting so admirably for most of the season despite having little to show for it, Minnesota finally appeared to hit a wall.

“At some point you just have to say, ‘What the heck’ we’re 2-12, what do we have to lose?’ ” defensive end Jared Allen said after the game. “Try to make every play. A lot of people are probably going to get fired at this point anyways.”

Coach Leslie Frazier is widely believed to be safe after a long first season on the job. The Wilf family has a lot of respect for Frazier and likely wouldn’t be too pleased with paying three head coaches next year since Brad Childress is still on the payroll for another two years.

But if the Vikings are completely outclassed in the final two games — at Washington and home against Chicago — all bets are off.

Frazier said the team can’t afford to think about what’s going to happen after the season. They clearly need to put all their attention on this weekend’s game to have a chance of winning.

“I’m really optimistic about the future, as difficult and as crazy as that may sound,” Frazier said. “I think I have a good idea of what we need to do to not be in this situation in the future. So no, I’m not concerned about 2012 at this point.”

The coaches aren’t the only people under the gun as the season draws to a close. Roster spots are on the line as well.

“There’s a lot at stake,” linebacker Erin Henderson said. “They’re watching closely right now to see who’s still fighting, who’s still coming out here trying to give their best and give it their all, and look to see who they can build this team with next year and continue to move forward with.”

That includes quarterback.

The Vikings drafted Christian Ponder with the 12th pick in the first round and he had a promising start when he took over for Donovan McNabb in Week 7. But Ponder has regressed the last three weeks, and with the Vikings likely picking very high next April, a strong finish would help Ponder solidify his spot as the team’s quarterback heading into next year.

“With Christian, like so many young quarterbacks, you don’t want to base your judgment on one or two games,” Frazier said. “Give him a chance to have an off-season to get with our coaches in OTAs that are going to help him. I think it’s a little bit too early to panic about Christian.”

After not getting an off-season to prepare because of the lockout, Ponder said this one will give him a chance to catch his breath, examine his game and get on the same page with his coaches and receivers.

“Last summer I had the playbook but didn’t really know how things are run,” Ponder said. “Now being through a full season, there will be a lot of time to spend on the small details and working all the time at getting better at the things I need to get better at.”

Ponder said he played too conservatively last week, trying “to play not to lose” rather than going for the win.

Allen thinks the rookie wasn’t alone.

“What are you going to lose? Go out, make plays and try to put your best effort out there and win games,” Allen said. “Sometimes we get in a back-pedal mode and just try to maintain so we don’t get beat too bad.”

Notes: Cornerback Asher Allen and guard Steve Hutchinson did not practise Wednesday after getting concussions in the game against the Saints. Frazier said both would be evaluated throughout the week before determining if they will be available against the Redskins. … Frazier said he talked with cornerback Cedric Griffin, who was benched last week, and anticipated that he would be back on the field this week.

The Minnesota Vikings need to win their final two games to avoid the worst record in the franchise’s 51-year history.

Whatever happens, coaches and players know that many jobs are on the line as the Vikings (2-12) limp toward the end of the season.

There is turnover every year in the NFL, but the rate increases exponentially on a team that is going through the kind of season the Vikings are experiencing right now. They have lost six games in a row, each one seemingly more painful than the next, including last weekend’s 42-20 embarrassment at home against New Orleans.

After fighting so admirably for most of the season despite having little to show for it, Minnesota finally appeared to hit a wall.

“At some point you just have to say, ‘what the heck’ we’re 2-12, what do we have to lose?’” defensive end Jared Allen said after the game. “Try to make every play. A lot of people are probably going to get fired at this point anyways.”

Coach Leslie Frazier is widely believed to be safe after a long first season on the job. The Wilf family has a lot of respect for Frazier and likely wouldn’t be too pleased with paying three head coaches next year since Brad Childress is still on the payroll for another two years.

But if the Vikings are completely outclassed in the final two games — at Washington and home against Chicago — all bets are off.

Frazier said the team can’t afford to think about what’s going to happen after the season. They clearly need to put all their attention on this weekend’s game to have a chance of winning.

“I’m really optimistic about the future, as difficult and as crazy as that may sound,” Frazier said. “I think I have a good idea of what we need to do to not be in this situation in the future. So no, I’m not concerned about 2012 at this point.”

The coaches aren’t the only people under the gun as the season draws to a close. Roster spots are on the line as well.

“There’s a lot at stake,” linebacker Erin Henderson said. “They’re watching closely right now to see who’s still fighting, who’s still coming out here trying to give their best and give it their all, and look to see who they can build this team with next year and continue to move forward with.”

That includes quarterback.

The Vikings drafted Christian Ponder with the 12th pick in the first round and he had a promising start when he took over for Donovan McNabb in Week 7. But Ponder has regressed the last three weeks, and with the Vikings likely picking very high next April, a strong finish would help Ponder solidify his spot as the team’s quarterback heading into next year.

“With Christian, like so many young quarterbacks, you don’t want to base your judgment on one or two games,” Frazier said. “Give him a chance to have an offseason to get with our coaches in OTAs that are going to help him. I think it’s a little bit too early to panic about Christian.”

After not getting an offseason to prepare because of the lockout, Ponder said this one will give him a chance to catch his breath, examine his game and get on the same page with his coaches and receivers.

“Last summer I had the playbook but didn’t really know how things are run,” Ponder said. “Now being through a full season, there will be a lot of time to spend on the small details and working all the time at getting better at the things I need to get better at.”

Ponder said he played too conservatively last week, trying “to play not to lose” rather than going for the win.

Allen thinks the rookie wasn’t alone.

“What are you going to lose? Go out, make plays and try to put your best effort out there and win games,” Allen said. “Sometimes we get in a back-pedal mode and just try to maintain so we don’t get beat too bad.”

Notes: CB Asher Allen and LG Steve Hutchinson did not practice on Wednesday after getting concussions in the game against the Saints. Frazier said both would be evaluated throughout the week before determining if they will be available against the Redskins. … Frazier said he talked with CB Cedric Griffin, who was benched last week, and anticipated that he would be back on the field this week.

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Video from the St. Paul Pioneer Press | TwinCities.com.

The Minnesota Vikings faced a quarterback they simply couldn’t
stop. Christian Ponder saw a future role model.

Drew Brees threw for 412 yards in a little more than three
quarters for New Orleans and got his fifth touchdown pass before
Ponder’s fifth completion, leading the surging Saints to their
sixth straight victory, 42-20 over the Vikings on Sunday.

The ever-cool Brees completed 32 of 40 passes to help the Saints
(11-3) overcome two first-half turnovers and stay two games ahead
of the Atlanta Falcons in the NFC South. Ponder was 4 for 13 for 18
yards with 12 1/2 minutes remaining in the game until padding his
statistics with the game long out of reach.

But the rookie, despite looking as rattled as he has all season,
said his confidence wasn’t shaken.

“You live for the ups, obviously. You learn from the downs, and
that’s what I’m trying to do,” Ponder said. “I know here in the
future we’re going to have a lot more ups than downs.”

Brees set an NFL season record with his 11th game of 300-plus
yards passing against a struggling secondary that was further
depleted with the loss of starting cornerback Asher Allen to a
concussion.

“For me it’s motivation,” Ponder said. “I always want to be the
best guy on the field, and obviously Drew is a heck of a
quarterback and one of the better quarterbacks in the league, and I
want to be better than him one day. I use that as motivation to get
better and prove that one day I’ll be in his spot, winning a lot of
games and going to the playoffs.”

The Saints allowed the third-most yards passing in the league
coming into the game, but they flustered Ponder and the Vikings all
afternoon. He had little time to throw, taking four sacks, and his
receivers couldn’t get any separation. Ponder finished 14 for 31
for 120 yards and two touchdown passes to Toby Gerhart, plus an
interception. But even with Adrian Peterson back in the lineup
after missing three games to a sprained left ankle, the Vikings
(2-12) were as impotent on offense as they’ve been all season.
Given two early gifts when the Saints lost fumbles in their own
territory, they managed only two field goals.

“I don’t think I did a good job of getting my guys prepared for
what they were going to face today,” coach Leslie Frazier said.

Frazier hesitated to express disappointment in Ponder’s
performance, insisting he consider the final two games before
gauging whether this was a regression for the first-round draft
pick who started strong when he took over for Donovan McNabb eight
games ago.

“I still think in this case you have to be able to look at the
long view,” Frazier said. “Today was a tough day, no questions
about it, but there were some other factors involved that created a
long day for him as well as our team and offense.”

Peterson rushed for 60 yards on 10 carries.

“I don’t know how to explain 10 carries. I was ready to roll. I
just do my job,” Peterson said. “When I’m called upon, I just try
to go out there and execute. We got behind so we kind of had to
turn more into a passing team. That didn’t work either.”

He also said he was displeased by the team’s effort.

“A lot of missed tackles defensively, a lot of missed
opportunities offensively,” Peterson said.

With Cedric Griffin benched, and Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield
already out, Benny Sapp, Marcus Sherels and Brandon Burton were
left to cover the Saints wide array of talented receivers. And even
when they had tight coverage on the outside, the Vikings couldn’t
get any pressure on Brees, who simply stepped up in the pocket
while his tackles pushed Jared Allen and Brian Robison up the
field.

Brees completed seven passes to tight end Jimmy Graham and five
to running back Darren Sproles, several of them simple but
well-timed screen passes that gained big chunks of yards.

“Guys have to play with no fear, including myself,” Sapp said.
“We’ve got to go out there and make plays.”

The defensive backs weren’t the only ones who weren’t doing
that.

“It’s frustrating, it’s embarrassing and it’s a terrible
feeling,” Allen said. “I know other guys feel the same way.”

Notes: LG Steve Hutchinson left the game with a cut on his lip
that needed stitches and didn’t return. … Sapp was held out of
the first two plays for an unspecified disciplinary reason. …
Percy Harvin was held to 8 yards on three receptions and lost 1
yard on his only carry.

EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. — The Minnesota Vikings are bracing for the possibility that they will be missing both quarterback Christian Ponder and running back Adrian Peterson against the Detroit Lions on Sunday.

Both are listed as questionable for the game, with Ponder bothered by a hip pointer and Peterson still recuperating from a high ankle sprain. Ponder missed the first two practices of the week before returning to work on Friday and Peterson practiced on a limited basis with that injured left ankle.

Coach Leslie Frazier said both would be evaluated on Saturday to see if they make improvement.

“I think I’ll be pushing for it no matter what,” Peterson said. “But I feel like coach Frazier has my best interests at hand, so we’ll see how things go. Hopefully I wake up feeling great and I’ll be able to kind of distinguish tomorrow when I run on it and things like that, see how I feel if I’ll be able to play.”

The Vikings’ leading rusher with 872 yards and 12 total touchdowns has missed two straight games.

Ponder suffered a hip pointer last weekend against Denver that noticeably limited his mobility in the game.

“It’s OK, definitely better,” Ponder said. “It was really sore on Monday and Tuesday. I felt like I was moving around not too badly out there today. It’s really gotten better the past 36 hours. So, we’ll see how it feels tomorrow and Sunday.”

Backup Joe Webb would start if Ponder isn’t ready.

Receiver Percy Harvin was limited again Friday after tearing a ligament in his finger during Wednesday’s practice. Harvin is probable for Sunday.

Peterson signed the richest contract for a running back in league history in the offseason, and at 2-10 the Vikings have little to play for. So it would make sense that the team would be extra cautious with their prized player, but Frazier said if Peterson is healthy enough to play, he’ll be in the lineup.

“He would have liked to have played the last two weeks if it were just purely his decision,” Frazier said. “But it would not have been a good thing to put him out there the last couple of weeks.”

The Vikings have more of an interest in getting Ponder back onto the field right away. The rookie, who took over the starting job in Week 7, needs all the seasoning and experience he can get to make him better prepared for next year.

“I’m confident that I’ll be able to go,” he said. “I think it’s a matter of my effectiveness. I don’t know how effective I’ll be. I would like to think that I’d be playing at 100 percent, but I don’t know if that’s 100 percent true. We’ll see.”

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

The Minnesota Vikings’ pride wasn’t the only thing that was hurting after their 35-32 loss to the Denver Broncos this past Sunday.

Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder(notes) suffered a hip pointer early during the game, but managed to battle through the pain, breaking the Vikings’ rookie record for most passing yards in a game (381) in the process. Unfortunately, his performance was marred by two interceptions and a fumble that eventually culminated into another notch in the loss column.

Although he isn’t expected to miss next Sunday’s matchup with the Detroit Lions, Ponder’s hip pointer (a bruise caused by a direct shot to the hip bone) will be monitored closely throughout the week.

“The trainers are telling me he should be fine,” Vikings head coach Leslie Frazier said when asked about Ponder’s status. “It’s going to take a few days, but he should be fine by the time we line up on Sunday.”

According to Frazier, the Vikings expect Ponder to see limited action during practice throughout the week as the Vikings prepare to take on their NFC North foes.

If Ponder for some unforeseen reason can’t go on Sunday, the Vikings will have to resort to second-year quarterback Joe Webb(notes) to take his place. In the instance that Webb starts, recently-claimed veteran Sage Rosenfels(notes) will be forced into the backup role.

The diagnosis isn’t pretty, but Ponder’s toughness and grit should help him overcome the injury in time to suit up for Sunday’s showdown with the Lions.

As for running back Adrian Peterson, the chances of him seeing the field continue to improve with each passing day. According to Frazier, the All-Pro runner is “very close” to returning to the lineup for the Vikings. Peterson suffered a high-ankle sprain two weeks ago and has been rapidly trying to recover from the injury. If all goes as planned, the Vikings might have their biggest offensive weapon back in their arsenal as soon as this weekend.

The Vikings also announced today that three other starters were injured during yesterday’s loss to the Broncos.

Defensive end Brian Robison(notes) suffered a concussion and is currently undergoing an evaluation to see if he’ll be able to play against the Lions. As of right now, he is considered day-to-day.

Linebacker Chad Greenway(notes) fell victim to a hyperextended elbow, but eventually returned to the field to finish out the game. The Vikings’ defensive leader is expected to be at full strength this upcoming weekend.

Tight end Visanthe Shiancoe(notes) showed up at team facilities today with a swollen hand. After undergoing X-rays, the Vikings have determined that there is no fracture. The Vikings will keep a close eye on their starting tight end as the week progresses.

It’s been a rough, injury-laden season for the Vikings as they head into an intimidating Week 14 matchup with the Lions. At this point, the only thing they can hope for is that no other starters go down with season-ending injuries.

Stay tuned throughout the week as more injury updates become available.

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 or “like” The Viking Den on Facebook.

Note: This article was written by a Yahoo! contributor. Sign up here to start publishing your own sports content.

MINNEAPOLIS — Call it the continuing learning process of Christian Ponder.

The rookie quarterback of the Minnesota Vikings had a rough start and a tough finish on Sunday against the Denver Broncos. In between he had a career passing day. But three turnovers were the downfall as the Broncos rallied past the hapless 2-10 Vikings 35-32.

“I’m very disappointed,” Ponder said. A quick look at the stats seem all positive. Ponder was 29-for-47 for a Vikings rookie-record 381 yards passing and three touchdowns.

But Ponder threw an interception early in the first quarter that was returned for a touchdown and a 7-2 Denver lead. He fumbled the ball away in the red zone when sacked later in the quarter. Then with the game tied 32-32, Ponder threw an interception to Andre Goodman with 1:25 to play. The Broncos took over at the Vikings 15 and  kicked a field goal on the game’s final play to win.

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.”