A snapshot look at the Vikings as they prepare for Sunday afternoon's game against Green Bay at Mall of America Field.
Veteran cornerback Cedric Griffin has been on the wrong end off too many highlights this season.
And the latest came early Sunday in Chicago. That's when Bears receiver Devin Hester delivered a small juke, then beat Griffin badly on a post route to haul in a 48-yard touchdown grab from Jay Cutler. That a mediocre Bears receiving corps torched the Vikings for 11 catches, 195 yards and two touchdowns is of major concern. So too is the confidence of Griffin, who tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his left knee during the 2009 NFC Championship game and the ACL in his right knee last October.
Griffin has been solid at times this season, seemingly on his way back to top form. Then he'll get beaten badly on a game-deciding play -- see also: Dwayne Bowe's 52-yard TD grab in Week 4 -- and the questions return.
"We really thought that he had turned a corner, physically," said coach Leslie Frazier. "But he's had some up-and-down moments over the course of this season, so we have to continue to look at where he is and what he's doing and see how we can help him."
Keep an eye on ...
Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer will need plenty of Pepto-Bismol as he continues to review tape from Sunday's 39-10 loss. Ryan Long- well yanked a 38-yard field goal left in the second quarter and also saw his kickoff coverage team victimized by a 98-yard return touchdown by Hester. Punter Chris Kluwe had one biffed punt of 18 yards and had his best kick of the night, a 55-yarder, returned 27 yards by Hester.
Finally, punt returner Marcus Sherels fielded two punts inside his own 10. Sherels' first-quarter fair catch at his own 5 proved particularly costly. Two plays later, quarterback Donovan McNabb was sacked for a safety, a big play that may not have happened had Sherels gotten away from that punt.
Said Frazier: "We're really coached to let that ball go over our heads and take a chance that it might go out of the end zone and become a touchback. Marcus will get better as time goes on."
Here's all you need to know: Green Bay quarterback Aaron Rodgers is mastering the position, completing 70.2 percent of his passes this season and on pace right now to throw for 5,400 yards and 45 touchdowns. If he maintains his current quarterback rating of 122.5, he will break Peyton Manning's single-season record (121.1) set in 2004.
Rodgers also has a very real chance to threaten the NFL's single-season marks for completion percentage (70.6 set by Drew Brees in 2009) and passing yards (5,084 by Dan Marino in 1984).
What's even scarier for the Vikings is the wide array of targets Rodgers has to choose from. Receiver Greg Jennings and tight end Jermichael Finley are the headliners. But Jordy Nelson and James Jones have also combined for 35 catches, 667 yards and seven touchdowns.
The Vikings have no chance to upset Green Bay this week? False.
Embarrassed in prime time and returning home to face a division rival whose confidence is sky-high after a blowout victory? That's the scenario the Chicago Bears faced a week ago.
The Bears were beaten badly in Week 5 on the brightly lit Monday Night Football stage, then spent the next five days hearing sharp criticism about all their deficiencies. Then they responded with their best performance of the season, delivering a 39-10 blowout of the Vikings at Soldier Field.
Perhaps the Vikings can rely on a similar formula. Yes, it's a long shot -- especially with rookie quarterback Christian Ponder preparing to make his first start. But such craziness is what gives the NFL its charm.
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