For the past several weeks, I've actually written several blogs about the Vikings - all in my head, as a matter of respect for the team. I've thought of many clever and discouraging things to say about the way the team was playing ... but I've followed the old maxim about "if you can't say anything nice ...".
Sunday, however, I saw the Vikings I had been waiting for all season. Penalties held to a minimum, no bone-head plays (although the defensive touchdown on our second possession left me with a sense of deja vu), and we really looked like we were in control most of the game.
What has been sad to see the past Sundays was all the effort and improvement by individuals that just wasn't translating to the team. Great plays on the offense and defense were being negated by stupid penalties; so many great plays countered by bone-head moves the next play (and the next, etc). Now, it's finally looking like it's starting to gel.
The only thing to watch out for now is hubris. I think that's what got us at the beginning of the second half yesterday - luckily, we got back to the game and held on the rest of the half.
As far as Childress as a coach ... earlier this year, I was on the "he's got to go" side, but now I am reconsidering. Penalties have consistently been declining - something that has plagued the Vikings as long as I have watched them. Perhaps discipline is setting in in the locker room & on the field (a far cry from Tice's Vikings). As far as the QB position, Childress stuck firmly with his choice, until it was obviously the wrong one. I think that he stood by his decision (and QB) as long as he did speaks a lot to his determination and commitment. It's good to have a coach who worries more about the game than his popularity rating with the fans.
It's not too late to take the NFC North!
