A little too easy

So after two weeks off, the Vikings are finally back to playing NFL football. It's good to have them back, too, because Sunday just isn't the same without the boys in purple. Though it remains to be seen whether any remaining opponent will put up any fight. I don't feel like the Vikings have really been tested, except for their only loss of the season.

There's plenty to like about the details. Except for some big plays, the defense shut down the Seahawks, both through the air and the ground. Not a lot of sacks, but except for the mentioned plays, most of the completions were short, underneath, and harmless. Those big plays came during garbage time, but they ruined several things for the Vikes:
1. The shutout, which they haven't had all season.
2. Every improvement that their pass defense seemed to show against the Steelers
3. Their season-long redzone rushing shutout. To a guy weighing less than 200.

All of these, against an awful Seahawk O-line, pretty much spells out what's been true all season: the Vikings defense is not dominant. They'll show flashes of dominant play, but when the sacks aren't coming, receivers are going to get open. Wide open. For big gains. Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams don't do anything from their safety positions. Karl Paymah couldn't cover a guy in a wheelchair, and Cedric Griffin seems invisible. Have you heard of or seen Griffin making a play in the past month? Me neither. I'll give him a pass (ha), since teams haven't thrown one his way since Antoine Winfield went down. I don't think Winfield being out is the main problem though.

Even Darren Sharper, he of 7 interceptions this season, never made a large amount of plays for the Vikings under Leslie Frazier. Not that I completely blame Frazier's scheme or believe Sharper's derogatory comments towards it. It's a combination of poor play and a passive two-deep scheme. Ed Reed isn't the best safety in the league because he sits back in prevent mode. He takes risks, and thrives by being allowed to do so. The Vikings safeties don't take risks, whether it's their decision or Leslie Frazier's. Either way, the corners can't do it by themselves, because they just aren't that good. Asher Allen in the starting line-up would definitely be an upgrade though. The kid can play, let him.

The special teams didn't generate any touchdowns, but didn't allow any and forced a fumble. The offense shook off the rust from their bye weeks and started to cruise in the second quarter through some good short-passing before the Seahawks' weariness opened up the route-tree. The Vikings have three legitimate weapons for Favre to use, and that excludes Adrian Peterson. If defenses take away one or two, like they did to Sidney Rice and Peterson in the first quarter, then Percy Harvin, Visanthe Shiancoe, and even Bernard Berrian can make them pay.

Of course, it all depends on Favre, who has played nothing short of spectacularly. That's what I'm still getting used to: the dependency of my team's success on an elite quarterback, and the knowledge that a one-two year rental will get credit for every win. It won't be our championship, it will be Favre's, because he'll have earned it.