The Minnesota Vikings

Old saying in the NFL: It ain’t who you play, it’s when you play them.

Case in point: The Minnesota Vikings.

Despite a spate of injuries that cost them quarterback Teddy Bridgewater in the preseason, running back Adrian Peterson and left tackle Matt Kalil, the Vikings piled up a 5-0 record. Their defense provided the foundation for their victories and they appeared to finding answers to their many problems.

Then the Philadelphia Eagles exposed and exploited the holes in Minnesota’s offensive line and handed the Vikings their first defeat. And on Monday night, a mediocre (and we’re being kind) Chicago Bears team ground the Vikings into purple dust by a 20-10 count. If you’re a Vikings’ fan, consider this your Halloween scare and a gift that, sadly, might keep on giving.

The Vikings allowed five sacks and gained only 258 yards. That’s 11 sacks of Sam Bradford, who has not exactly been the NFL’s iron man, in the last two games. The Bears rode young running back Jordan Howard’s 153 yards to a basic, no-frills win.

The Bears (2-6), who stumbled through the early part of the season without Jay Cutler for five weeks, are still at the bottom of the NFC Central Division, but now may have the formula to pull it together. The Vikings (5-2) remain atop the division, but it’s really not clear how that can last. The NFL’s trading deadline is Tuesday, but where will the Vikings find an offensive tackle who can help?

It ain’t who you play. It’s when you play them.
 
 
Post By: Larry Weisman, a longtime sportswriter for USA TODAY, blogs for Twistity.com. Follow him on Twitter @MrLarryWeisman