Aug 17, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Audie Cole (57) returns an interception for a touchdown during the fourth quarter against the Buffalo Bills at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Bills 36-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

The Vikings had a good night all around, showing improvement in the offense and defense, avoiding injury and as a bonus even winning the game. Here are the five guys I think helped themselves the most:

1. Mistral Raymond

Raymond had something to prove after a well-publicized missed tackle in game 1. Leslie Frazier gave him the chance by letting him start, and Raymond responded with several big plays, including a stuff in the run game and a pass break-up. Frazier challenged the young man and the young man came up big. That’s a good sign for his continuing development.

2. Harrison Smith

He got his first chance to start and he didn’t disappoint. His highlight was a bat-down where he sold coverage then came on a late blitz into Ryan Fitzpatrick’s face, leaping to knock the ball away. Later he showed his physicality by clobbering a Bills receiver while helping in deep coverage. Overall, Smith just seems like he gets it. As a rookie he’ll surely have his struggles but for now he’s living up to his 1st round status.

3. Jasper Brinkley

It wasn’t a great night for Jasper but it was a solid night. He made some tackles and didn’t commit any glaring mistakes. I don’t think anyone expects him to become a great playmaker all of a sudden. We’re hoping he can develop into a serviceable two-down middle linebacker and right now he appears to be heading in that direction.

4. Manny Arceneaux

In preseason sometimes you only get one chance to make a big impression, especially if you’re a receiver. Manny Arceneaux got his one chance last night and made the most of it. Mid-fourth, he got deep on the Bills’ secondary and Sage Rosenfels delivered the ball to him over the top for a 48-yard gain. Arceneaux showed good concentration and body control on the play, and may well have nudged ahead of Devin Aromashodu for the final receiver spot. It didn’t help Aromashodu that he and Joe Webb couldn’t connect at all during their time together on the field. Maybe Aromashodu should lobby to play with Rosenfels next game.

5. Audie Cole

Audie Cole didn’t just become a player last night, he became a folk hero. Late in the fourth when everyone was pretty much tuned out, including the fans who had long-since begun filing out of the Dome, Cole gave us all an unexpected thill by picking off a pair of Buffalo passes and returning them for touchdowns. Cole showed great recognition on both plays, but recognition doesn’t matter if you can’t finish the play. Cole did finish both plays, in spectacular fashion, and had his teammates so pumped they all ran down to the end zone to celebrate with him. Cole may be somewhat limited physically, but he’s obviously got some native football instincts working for him. He’s clearly made this squad as a special teams guy and who knows, we may see him playing linebacker in a real game before too long.

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Aug 17, 2012; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson (81) jumps over Buffalo Bills cornerback Jairus Byrd (31) for a first down in the first quarter at the Metrodome. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-US PRESSWIRE

It was a very interesting and, dare I say, entertaining half of football between the Vikings and Bills. The offense produced 16 points on two Blair Walsh field goals and one touchdown pass from Christian Ponder to Jerome Felton. The TD capped a neat opening drive that saw several big plays, none bigger than Jerome Simpson’s 34-yard reception which ended with an acrobatic hurdle by the exuberant receiver. That drive unfortunately also featured two sacks on Ponder, one charged to John Sullivan, the other to Matt Kalil. The next Viking drive stalled when Ponder failed to connect on a pair of end zone passes.

Ponder did overall have a nice night, going 10-of-13 for 136 yards and 1 TD. Jerome Simpson caught 3 balls for 33 yards and Michael Jenkins added one big 35-yard reception. Kyle Rudolph had one catch but unfortunately was forced to leave after suffering a cut behind the ear. All indications are that Rudolph will be fine. The only other injury for the Vikings was an apparent blow to the head for Chris Cook who underwent concussion tests on the sideline.

As for the defense, it too played much better than last Friday. With starters Jared Allen, Antoine Winfield and Kevin Williams back in, and rookie Harrison Smith getting his first start, the D mostly overwhelmed Buffalo, getting great penetration and stuffing the run, and making good plays against the pass. Smith made one big play, blitzing into Ryan Fitzpatrick’s face and batting down a pass. Mistral Raymond also had several big plays, stuffing a run, coming up for a big tackle after a middle screen and later knocking down a pass.

The defensive stand-outs were Smith, Raymond and Jasper Brinkley. On the flipside, Chris Carr had his second glaring gaffe of the preseason, badly whiffing on a tackle in the open field. Jamarca Sanford didn’t help his own cause by dropping an interception. Rookie Josh Robinson showed up well, displaying good coverage technique on one pass and great recovery speed after being burned by a double move. Joe Webb came in as second team QB and played better than last week, showing his big play running ability a couple of times. He still struggled with his passing though, failing to connect with Devin Aromashodu on a pair of fades when Aromashodu had his man one-on-one down the sideline.

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Oct 17, 2010; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings linebacker Jasper Brinkley (54) during the third quarter against the Dallas Cowboys at the Metrodome. The Vikings defeated the Cowboys 24-21. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-US PRESSWIRE

Preseason action against the Bills kicks off Friday night from the Dome at 7 PM. Here are five Vikings I think need a good showing tonight to help themselves win a job or at least keep the guys below them from creeping up.

1. Erin Henderson

Somehow it became a dogfight between Erin Henderson and Marvin Mitchell. Reports suggest the coaching staff wasn’t impressed with Erin’s performance in the preseason opener, but are very impressed with Mitchell who is being described with words like “aggressive” and “nasty.” I don’t know for sure but I suspect Alan Williams thinks Mitchell is a better fit for the defense he’s trying to install. Henderson needs to make a few big plays and remind the Vikings why so many people became enamored with him last season.

2. Mistral Raymond

The only thing anyone remembers about Raymond’s performance in the preseason opener is the bad angle he took on Brandon Jacobs. Raymond is still probably the favorite to start opposite Harrison Smith when the season opens but that could change if he keeps struggling. He’s lucky his only competition is Jamarca Sanford and the rookie Robert Blanton otherwise he’d be out of a job already.

3. Jasper Brinkley

The Vikings handed him the starting middle linebacker job but that doesn’t mean it’s his to keep. Tyrone McKenzie has some potential, even if he’s not vastly experienced, and could still give Brinkley a hard run for the position. Audie Cole is lurking back there too though I still don’t see him as a viable starting MLB.

4. D’Aundre Reed

The Vikings have a bunch of defensive linemen to choose from and right now it’s a jumble. Reed has a slight leg up but that could easily change. Reed could do himself a big favor by having a good showing tonight. He needs to create some separation between himself and the people behind him.

5. Joe Webb

Joe became a cult hero for his scrambling heroics but there’s a new cult hero in the Vikings’ QB group and his name is McLeod Bethel-Thompson. MBT doesn’t make plays with his legs, he makes them with his arm, and that makes him a more attractive option as a developmental QB than Webb who actually seems to be regressing at this point. If Joe wants to beat back the MBT challenge and keep his hold on the #2 QB job, he should probably complete a couple easy passes tonight and not look like he’s totally lost.

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