Benny Sapp owes a few people a steak dinner or something.  The Vikes had apparently forced the Bears to punt when Sapp, in the bonehead play of the year, was hit with a fifteen yard personal foul for a blow to the head after the play was over.  The Bears proceeded to get the ball down to the one and were going in for a touchdown to take a 14-3 lead.  Then the defense rose up, huge, and stuffed them four straight plays.  The offense took over on their own 1 – and that was when Gus Frerotte and Bernard [...]

…how an entire crew of officials misses a defensive player pummeling a quarterback from behind a good second after he’s released the ball and is in an utterly helpless position, not even aware that the man is coming?  Worst non-call I think I’ve ever seen.  Brad Childress is madder than I’ve ever seen him and he has a right to be.  Meanwhile…Darren Sharper should be benched for falling down on that Hester touchdown.  Thank goodness we have Antoine Winfield, Jared Allen and Adrian Peterson – they are playmakers.  Who else on this team is?

There haven’t been a lot of big games for the Vikings in the Brad Childress era, but tonight’s is one for sure.  They face they Bears, at Metrodome, with first place in the division on the line.  The teams’ first ‘08 meeting was expected to be a defensive battle but turned instead into a shootout.  Gus Frerotte threw for 298 yards and 2 TDs but was picked 4 times; meanwhile, Adrian Peterson ran for 121 yards and 2 TDs of his own.  The Bears were hardly overwhelming offensively – the Vikes outgained them 439-327 – but they limited their mistakes, [...]

John Madden is in Minneapolis to call tonight’s Bears-Vikings game for NBC.  Cue the local media types who all want to grill John on what he thinks of the Vikings.  Here’s a sampling from the Pioneer-Press’s Q&A with the football broadcasting legend and noted Brett Favre supporter.  First up, Adrian Peterson:
Q: You’ve seen a lot of great running backs in your time in the NFL. Where do you put Adrian Peterson?
A: I’ve always been one that kind of separates the position of running back from runner. I think as far as a runner, he’s one of the best I think [...]

Everybody’s dogging Gus Frerotte lately.  Brad Childress.  The fans.  Pam Oliver.  Gus’s own wife.  Yes, Gus is getting it from his old lady too.  All that trying to roll out like Jeff Garcia and being splattered instead of throwing the ball away is apparently taking its toll Mrs. Frerotte’s nerves.  As Gus told reporters:
My wife said, “Why don’t you throw it away?  I don’t like seeing that.”
Well, if Gus knows what’s good for him, he’ll listen to his wife.  And the fans.  And Brad Childress.  Everyone but Pam Oliver who we know is a pathological liar who’s only out for [...]

Former Vikings Chris Doleman, Cris Carter, Randall McDaniel and John Randle have all been named as semi-finalists for the Hall of Fame.  Carter and McDaniel were finalists last year but both got stiffed (obviously, otherwise they would not be in the running again this year).  Maybe I’m biased, but I think all four guys deserve to get in.  All were at or near the top of the league at their positions for considerable stretches and all had periods of genuine dominance.  McDaniel, perhaps we forget, was All-Pro 9 times – and yes, I grant that offensive linemen often make it [...]

The Bears v. Vikings showdown this weekend at Metrodome was already a big deal, but after last night’s perplexing Packer meltdown against the Saints, it became a huge deal.  Now the winner of Sunday’s Chicago-Minnesota tilt will have first place in the division all by themselves.  They will be the head man.  The top dog.  The big cheese.  Commentators from coast-to-coast will describe the victor as controlling their own destiny even though destiny is, by definition, something pre-determined and therefore beyond control.  Let’s hope the Vikings can overcome their general tendency to shit their pants in big games.  And let’s [...]