The positives

[Funkytown]

14 anxiety attacks later--I'm proud of the guys. Really, really proud.

We'll get 'em next week! You can bet on that!!!

[mondry]

14 anxiety attacks later--I'm proud of the guys. Really, really proud.

We'll get 'em next week! You can bet on that!!!

Definitely some things to be happy about despite the loss. The o-line really buckled down in the second half and Ponder took advantage of the extra protection. The defense scoring points and taking the ball away was also a nice change, too bad they couldn't have held up at the end. I'm hoping we see some Bishop / Mauti eventually to get some better games out of the LBs....

[Lash Man]

Definitely some things to be happy about despite the loss. The o-line really buckled down in the second half and Ponder took advantage of the extra protection. The defense scoring points and taking the ball away was also a nice change, too bad they couldn't have held up at the end. I'm hoping we see some Bishop / Mauti eventually to get some better games out of the LBs....

we need to get Bishop out there at the very least we are getting zilch out of the outside backer position and almost the same from Henderson in the middle I just dont understand what they see in him as the mike the only guy they get even mediocre play out of is Greenway and thats all he is this season is mediocre . I think we desperately need to either draft or trade for a fast playmaking backer with a mean streak we are way to soft .

[HornedMessiah]

Definitely some things to be happy about despite the loss. The o-line really buckled down in the second half and Ponder took advantage of the extra protection. The defense scoring points and taking the ball away was also a nice change

Yup, Ponder looked like a different QB in the second half. It was good to see him step up in the pocket and let the pressure flow around him, but he was still staring down his targets. He made a couple nice throws too, most notably that throw to Jennings where he dropped it right in the bucket. He had some good, gritty runs as well.

Peppers was a non-factor today. That's always a positive.

0-2 sucks big time but today's loss could have been much worse. The Vikings should have won, except for some key breakdowns late in the game. Those kind of mistakes should be correctable and otherwise they played tough on the road against a divisional opponent. The defense AND special teams putting points on the board, along with the defense forcing multiple turnovers, is a good sign.

[Purple bruise]

I just shake my head. Half of the cynics lambast every aspect of this team most all of the time. They gave the Vikes ZERO chance for winning this game, especially after last week and when the team comes in and barely loses by one frigging point they act suprised and angry.
There were some crucial errors made in this game and certainly Ponder's lone interception was on the top of the list. Not much seemed to be made of AD's untimely fumble but it sure had a bearing on the outcome. IF Wright makes that TD catch then the outcome also COULD have been different.
Man it is easy to sit back in a chair and second guess every call, except of course the plays that worked. With the clock winding down in the fourth and leading by 3 points the decision was made to safely hand the ball off to the best running back in football. The play did not work so worst case you kick the team to a 6 point lead and hope that the D can keep the opposition out of the end zone with only 3 minutes to play. Of course the cynics wanted the Vikes to throw on third down and risk an inteception, an incomplete pass (which would have stopped the game clock), a sack and maybe a fumble. I feel like they made the correct choice to try and give the ball to the best back in the NFL, then if that failed burn some clock and kick the team to a 6 point lead. Man if Ponder would have tossed an INT. then the cynics and bashers really would have had something to #### about. The Bears would only need to get a field goal to tie it but the field goal forced them to drive the field and score a TD (which of course they did). Sure is easy to second guess isn't it.This team faced, on the road, one of the better defenses in the league and certainly the best cornerbacks. They put up pretty good passing numbers when ever Ponder was given even a little time to throw. I can see a chemistry starting to develop with Ponder and Jennings even if this is only the second real game they have played together in. I would say that the O-line played a whole lot better than the week before but is still far and away from being good.
I see great potential in Patterson and Harrison Smith will be in the Pro Bowl for years to come. I agree that it is time to sit Henderson and Mitchell and see what Bishop and Mauti can do.
This team does need to improve in lots of aspects but this is their second year of a three year plan. No one was talking Super Bowl, Conference Championship but maybe a wild card. Two opening games have been played on division rival home fields against pretty good teams and the Vikes could have won both. I feel confident that the Vikes will beat the Bears and Lions on their home field. A whole lot of people gave up on the Vikes with four games left in the regular season last year and I feel like this team will make a run at the wild card.
For some of you nothing will ever be good enough but for the rest of us I think that we want to see this team get better each week and win more games than last year. For those who saw no improvement from Ponder from week one til now then I give up. I have said all along I will "give" him this year to vastly improve or champion the cause to have him replaced.
I am still optimistic about this team and it's future. "We shall see what we shall see."

[HardcoreVikesFan]

Positives: Kalil played better than last week.
- Harrison Smith is a man among boys on our defense.
- Cordarrelle Patterson looks as advertised - now put him on the damn field.
- Jared Allen looks poised for a great year - they better offer him an extension.
- We won the turnover battle - even though we had three turnovers ourselves.


Other than those things, there wasn't too much to be pleased with today.

[Purple bruise]

Positives: Kalil played better than last week.
- Harrison Smith is a man among boys on our defense.
- Cordarrelle Patterson looks as advertised - now put him on the damn field.
- Jared Allen looks poised for a great year - they better offer him an extension.
- We won the turnover battle - even though we had three turnovers ourselves.


Other than those things, there wasn't too much to be pleased with today.

The punting was much improved

[Eli]

- Jared Allen looks poised for a great year - they better offer him an extension.

Robison had a good game too. I'd take him over Allen next year if given the choice between the two and considering the expected cost.

The punting was much improved

Yes, Locke got some good rolls today.

[Reignman]

My favorite play of Ponders today was late in the 3rd quarter, the Bears showed blitz, Ponder called an audible and then threw a dart to Simpson that went for 37 yards. It was a fake blitz, but it was nice to see him audible and make a nice strong toss to his new favorite target. We saw a half of Mr. Hyde and then finally a half of Dr. Jekyll today.

[Texas Vike]

My favorite play of Ponders today was late in the 3rd quarter, the Bears showed blitz, Ponder called an audible and then threw a dart to Simpson that went for 37 yards. It was a fake blitz, but it was nice to see him audible and make a nice strong toss to his new favorite target. We saw a half of Mr. Hyde and then finally a half of Dr. Jekyll today.

Good post. I'd forgotten about that play. I remember thinking in the moment that it was a nice sign of Ponder recognizing something and audibling to a better option. He looked confident.

[thatguy]

I saw a lot of things to like this week, and I feel like the stigma surrounding 0-2 is a lot worse than actually being 0-2. I might be the only one, but I feel like we got shafted (yet again) by scheduling by putting us on the road against two tough divisional opponents to start the season. Those games are toss-ups (even the 0-16 Lions played the Vikings tough that season) and are tough to play right off the bat...but hey, that's football I guess.

[mondry]

My favorite play of Ponders today was late in the 3rd quarter, the Bears showed blitz, Ponder called an audible and then threw a dart to Simpson that went for 37 yards. It was a fake blitz, but it was nice to see him audible and make a nice strong toss to his new favorite target. We saw a half of Mr. Hyde and then finally a half of Dr. Jekyll today.

Yeah that was big, I feel like even just "reading" the defense and thinking he called the right audible helped his confidence to wing it out there. Speaking of which, it seems like he plays too tight at times, like they really got in his head about "don't make the mistake, don't turn it over" which is all well in good but if limiting the turn overs means avoiding certain windows for throws all together it doesn't really seem worth it.

If Ponder's under pressure, he might be one of the worst QB's in the league. If he gets the time he needs he's serviceable so I'm not really sure what to make of that. Clearly whoever is at QB could benefit from better protection since ours has been terrible lately but great QB's don't crumble under it either. That makes me think if everything was going well (playcalling, rhythm, protection, etc) he could be our joe flacco but he'll never be a peyton or brady.

If he wants to keep his job he better be good Ponder the rest of the way out...

I saw a lot of things to like this week, and I feel like the stigma surrounding 0-2 is a lot worse than actually being 0-2. I might be the only one, but I feel like we got shafted (yet again) by scheduling by putting us on the road against two tough divisional opponents to start the season. Those games are toss-ups (even the 0-16 Lions played the Vikings tough that season) and are tough to play right off the bat...but hey, that's football I guess.

It sucks but what can you do but finish strong I guess! If we were 0-2 with the two losses at home I'd be worried but we lost in soldier field last year as well so the only real difference is the loss to the lions. (we won there last year) We can fix that with a win at green bay!

[LA Viking]

Yeah, I think there are a lot of overreactions today, but in reality, I think we end up 7-9 or 8-8 (split all of our divisional games and take the Browns plus a couple others), which pretty much is the worst case. You don't get a good draft pick and you don't make the playoffs.

[The Breeze]

I look at this Bears team as being noticeably better than last season. Their offense is much more settled and has an identity that fits it's talent. To go into their place where we haven't won and have it come down to a game winning drive is a positive IMO.
There were less mistakes TO-wise and penalty-wise.
We got a better sense of what works and what doesn't and, hopefully, who needs more snaps.

[Raptorman]

I saw a lot of things to like this week, and I feel like the stigma surrounding 0-2 is a lot worse than actually being 0-2. I might be the only one, but I feel like we got shafted (yet again) by scheduling by putting us on the road against two tough divisional opponents to start the season. Those games are toss-ups (even the 0-16 Lions played the Vikings tough that season) and are tough to play right off the bat...but hey, that's football I guess.

Vikings are the only NFC team to start with two on the road and the only team to start with two divisional games.