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Not so fast, Vikes fans
Purple’s fourth quarter collapse against Bears leaves unanswered questions
 Media Credit: KRT Campus Vikings wide receiver Randy Moss and his teammates have a long way to go until they return to their previous playoff form.
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After the Vikings 27-23 loss last Sunday, like the majority of Purple Pride hopefuls, I felt squeamish.
I began to wonder why I hadn’t prepared myself for this outcome. The Vikings have collapsed so many times in the past that they decided to rebuild what was once an annual playoff contender, to a minimal salary, no-name team (with the exceptions of Moss and Culpepper).
Last Sunday those minimal salary no-names looked as if they were in control for the first three quarters. The Vikings showed something in Chicago that I hadn’t seen in years- a solid running game.
Whether it was Michael Bennett, Moe Williams, or Doug Chapman, the team that used to have a one-dimensional air-born offense ate up the Chicago’s strong front line for 136 yards. Only one team rushed for more against Chicago’s second-rated run defense last season.
It wasn’t only how many yards the Vikings gained that were shocking; it was how they did it.
Offensive coordinator Scott Linehan made it obvious from the start that they were running the ball to the right side. Without any tricks the Vikings clearly showed that they were able to overpower Chicago’s front line.
The Vikings also used head coach Mike Tice’s favorite two tight end sets to perfection, putting more wide receivers, tight ends and running backs in motion in one game than most of last season.
Former UND tight end Jimmy Kliensasser not only flattened Chicago’s defensive linemen on numerous occasions,but he, along with his tight end counterpart Byron Chamberlain, drove Chicago’s secondary crazy by making big catches down field.
The newly rebuilt defense also showed some pop. Less than a week after joining the team, middle linebacker Greg Biekert proved to be the veteran leader that the young defense needed. Biekert and the defensive line kept Chicago’s running game in check throughout the whole game. Although the secondary showed the same weaknesses, they didn’t look as bad as last season.
The fact is that Daunte Culpepper had a terrible game costing Minnesota the victory. For anyone who watched the game this is obvious, but don’t make it a bigger deal than it really is.
Call me crazy, but I would much rather see a proven player like himself or Randy Moss, make mistakes early on than any other players on the team. I only say this because they have already proven they have the tools and talent to be at the top of the league.
There wasn’t a moment in that game that I thought the Vikings would lose until David Terrell caught the winning touchdown. I was fooled, and it definitely hasn’t been the first time. But I look at it this way; at least they brought my hopes both up and down in the first game of the season instead of not giving me hope at all.
I learned a valuable lesson last Sunday: I realized for the first time in a long time that this team has absolutely no expectations. So sit back and enjoy it. This young team can only get better...or so they say.
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