Vikings defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL in sacks through five games. Allen, 29, might be having his best season in the pros. An outdoorsman, he has three dogs, Bonnie, Clyde and Rocco.
Vikings kicker Ryan Longwell has made 66 of his last 74 field goal attempts going back to the start of the 2009 season.
Tight end Kyle Rudolph, who looks like one of the NFL’s most promising rookies, is only 21 and doesn’t turn 22 until November 9.
After the Bears play the Vikings on Sunday night in Chicago, the team travels to London for a regular season game against Tampa Bay.
Chicago’s Devin Hester ranks with the elite NFL kickoff and punt returners past and present. Vikings special teams coach Mike Priefer was asked if kicker Chris Kluwe might punt toward the sideline on Sunday. “I will let you know that we are going to change our game plan a little bit from what we’ve been doing. We’re going to have to do that, he’s that good. …”
Pro football authority Bob Lurtsema thought the Vikings should draft former TCU quarterback Andy Dalton. Instead, the Cincinnati Bengals took Dalton on the first round and he is 20th in the NFL in passing yards and has a 78.7 passer rating.
Sign of the times: the Vikings are selling two-game ticket packages that include the Packers game here on Sunday, October 23. The Gophers are selling three-game ticket packages in both hockey and basketball.
Minneapolis native and Arizona Cardinals wide receiver Larry Fitzgerald tied Indianapolis Colts quarterback Peyton Manning as the third “nicest player in football” in a NFL players poll, according to the September 26 issue of Sports Illustrated. New Orleans Saints quarterback Drew Brees was No. 2 while Pittsburgh Steelers safety Troy Polamalu ─ Joe Mauer’s TV commercial shampoo buddy ─ was No. 1.