Same old

There are two things that almost all poorly-coached teams have in common: Bad special teams play, and loads of penalties. Yes, that's you Brad Childress.

I never understood his challenges. Or his play-calling. Or his time-management. But these things seems minor after you watch the Vikings continue to give points to other teams. 14 free points from the Vikings special teams, gift-wrapped and handed to the Bears. Awful. Just awful. 

The Vikings offense somehow managed to score 41 points, without any help from great field position, and turn the ball over four times. Really? The Bears got 14 points on freak special teams plays, a last second field goal in the first half after a squib kick, and a scoring drive of six yards following an interception. That is the second six yard touchdown drive by a Vikings' opponent this year (Titans). That is frightening. 

This team is so difficult to watch. And it is something new every week. Sometimes it is excited, sometimes it is impressive; most of the time it is depressing. Childress cannot be the head coach of the Vikings next season. I understand that firing him right now is not going to do anything. This team is already doomed, whether they start over at Week 8 or let Childress stick it out. Unless you can get Bill Cowher to come in this week, it is a pointless move. 

For a team that (supposedly) has so much talent, they sure play ugly, and they sure play inconsistent. The only thing that can be said for this team is that they play hard. There is no quit and they hit the hell out of opposing players. Some were questioning all the money the Vikings put aside for free agents Bernard Berrian and Jared Allen. Well, they are both putting out now, and the Vikings still are finding ways to lose, and are still barely winning the games they do pull out. Adrian Peterson isn't breaking games open but you cant ask for anything else from him. The defense is stuffing the run. 

It is all about turnovers and terrible special teams. When Mike Tice coached the Vikings the special teams was perfectly boring. There were no blocked field goals, no touchdown returns. But they also contained opposing returners, punted well, made field goals. Special teams were not determining the outcome of games, either way. This year, Chilress' third with the Vikings? The Packers' punt return for a touchdown, for all intents and purposes, won them a Monday Night Football showdown with the Vikings in Week 1. Reggie Bush returned two punts for touchdowns in a game the Vikings barely won. And then this week against the Bears.

There's really nothing else to say. They'll probably go 8-8 and just miss the playoffs. I'll take that over being a Lions or Bengals fan, but it is going to sting.