The Vikings have played better and probably saved their season in recent weeks. Improved coaching and performance has also met head on with mediocre opponents. The Vikings have won five straight games but four of the wins are against teams with losing records. Oakland, Detroit, San Francisco and Chicago are a combined 19-37.
The Vikings, 8-6, have defeated two teams with winning records this season, San Diego and the New York Giants. Minnesota has played a total of four teams with winning records, losing twice to Green Bay and once to Dallas, plus the wins against the Chargers and Giants. The collective record: 2-3.
One-quarter of the Vikings’ wins are against Chicago after Minnesota beat the Bears on Monday night for a second time this season. The Bears, 5-9, are one of eight teams in the 16-team NFC with a losing record.
With two games remaining in the regular season, the Vikings have seen a parade of quarterbacks who can be more scary bad than good. The list includes Kyle Orton of the Bears who hadn’t started a game for about two years until Monday night. Earlier in the month San Francisco started 35-year-old Trent Dilfer, now a journeyman quarterback who has thrown 12 interceptions and seven touchdown passes this season. Apparently up next is 36-year-old Todd Collins who comes to town with Washington for Sunday night’s game after last weekend receiving his first start since 1997.
Collins took over for injured Jason Campbell who has thrown 11 interceptions in 13 games. That hasn’t helped the Redskins score points and they rank 23rd in the NFL at 19.6 points per game. The Vikings are 19th at 23.2 points but rank 30th in third down efficiency.
The Vikings hope for a better night Sunday from quarterback Tarvaris Jackson than his performance against the Bears when he threw three interceptions. Coach Brad Childress was asked after the game how close his second year quarterback is to being ready to lead the Vikings into the playoffs. “I didn’t understand that last word,” Childress answered. “I wouldn’t know that. I just know that he’s close enough to lead us to a win over the Bears, and we have to worry about the Redskins.”
Jackson told Sports Headliners he expects the Redskins to bring “the heat” on Sunday night. “They blitz quite a bit,” he said. “They pretty much bring it a lot. …”
The Vikings’ offense has been helped considerably by a defense adept at turning turnovers into points. With another interception return for a score, the Vikings can break the team record of six for the most interception returns for touchdowns in a season. The 1992 team also had six.
With one rushing touchdown Adrian Peterson can tie a team record for the most rushing touchdowns in a season. Peterson has 12 and the record is shared by Chuck Foreman and Terry Allen.