Week 8 Judgements: Vikings aren't afraid to take plunge

1. The Minnesota Vikings get credit for taking chances others would not, and I'm not talking about their play-calling. I'm talking about their drafting. They chose Adrian Peterson in 2007 after six other clubs were scared off because of injuries, and they took Percy Harvin with the 22nd pick this year after others passed because of character concerns. Peterson isn't hurt, and Harvin isn't in trouble. Instead, they're both in the end zone. Yeah, I'd say the Vikings aced the exam.

2. Don't tell me Eli Manning's sore foot isn't affecting his passing. He looks like a different quarterback, and while he insists the plantar fasciitis isn't interfering with his play ("It feels great") he seems to have trouble stepping into his throws. Manning doesn't agree, and that's OK. I wouldn't expect him to. But his coach at least admits it's possible. "I've seen that a couple of times on the practice field," Tom Coughlin said. All I know is the guy who was bulletproof the first five weeks has gone in the jar the last three -- completing 49.6 percent of his passes, with six interceptions and no passer rating above 61.0. In his first five starts, he hit on 64.4 percent of his passes, with two interceptions and four passer ratings of 104.1 or better -- including one perfect score of 158.3. Something is wrong, and Eli needs to get it fixed.

3. Does this mean that Bud Adams gets to call the plays, too?

4. Cleveland's Jamal Lewis said he's retiring after the season ... or one year after the rest of the Browns' offense.

5. Two weeks ago, Baltimore's John Harbaugh promised to shore up his pass defense. He did, with Denver's biggest play being 23 yards. But buckle your seatbelts, Baltimore, because here's what is next for your Ravens: At Cincinnati (5-2); at Cleveland (1-7); Indianapolis (7-0); Pittsburgh (5-2); at Green Bay (4-3).

6. The results are in, and the runaway winner for worst division in the NFL is ... the NFC West. After watching Arizona drop its third of four home games I wouldn't be surprised if 8-8 wins the division.

7. I thought following Tony Dungy in Indianapolis was supposed to be harder than following Brett Favre in Green Bay. Apparently, Jim Caldwell missed the memo. For the record, this is the fourth time in the last five years the Colts started 7-0, but Caldwell may soon discover what Dungy did. There is no tougher opponent than New England. The Patriots ruined the Colts' perfect season two years ago, and they're on the schedule for Nov. 15.

8. It's been nothing but good for San Diego's pass defense the last couple of weeks. Opponents' yards are down, and the Chargers' sacks are up. But settle down, Bolts fans, and remember how they got there -- at the expense of Kansas City and Oakland, two of the worst offenses ... and football teams ... in the business.

9. Ah, yes, now it's Eli vs. Philip Rivers for the first time since Manning talked his way out of San Diego.

10. For those of you asking, no, the Kansas City Chiefs have not ruled out Larry Johnson for the future. The club wants to see how he responds to his suspension before making its next move ... if, in fact, it does make one.

11. I guess this means Ted Ginn Jr. is out of the fish tank.

12. I'm sorry, I don't know why the Eagles hired Michael Vick. He was in for two plays two weeks ago, and he was in for one meaningful snap on Sunday. Never has so much been made of someone who's done so little.

13. Good move by Philadelphia to sit down Brian Westbrook. With commissioner Roger Goodell in Washington testifying about NFL players with dementia, it wouldn't have looked good to suit up Westbrook less than a week after he suffered a concussion.

14. Welcome back, Matt Forte. His two touchdowns doubled his season total and proved that maybe, just maybe, someone in Chicago took smart pills. Of course, it also may be what happens when you play somebody as atrocious as Cleveland.

15. Just a suggestion, Maurice Jones-Drew: You might want to amend that comment about the Jags being the best team in the league.

Sez them ... or Rapid Reporters' Rewind

From Craig Morgan in Arizona ... The Cardinals must find a way to get the ball deep ... or the deep ball, take your pick ... to Larry Fitzgerald. His per-catch average of 10.8 yards is one of the lowest among the league's top 25 receivers. Arizona's biggest gain Sunday was 19 yards, and without a consistent rushing attack the Cards must rely on big plays.

More from Morgan ... Bad enough that the Cardinals lost to Carolina. Worse, the league's top-ranked run defense surrendered 270 yards rushing.

From Tom Krasovic in San Diego ... Chargers coach Norv Turner listened to his players, who urged him to allow LaDainian Tomlinson to run the Wildcat formation. Turner agreed, and L.T. scored on the confused Raiders. The Chargers had practiced the formation as far back as mini-camp, with Tomlinson saying, "It's kind of like a quarterback draw."

More from Krasovic ... Linebackers Shawne Merriman and Shaun Phillips have six sacks in the last two games -- or six more than they had the first five.

From Mark Ludwiczak in Buffalo ... Houston's victory may have come at a great expense: Injured tight end Owen Daniels may be lost for the season.

More from Ludwiczak ... If there's not a running-back controversy in Houston, maybe there should be. Ryan Moats looked great after replacing the fumble-prone Steve Slaton and led the Texans to a franchise-high three rushing TDs.

From Jon Gallo in Baltimore ... The improvement of Joe Flacco is directly related to the appearance of Ray Rice in the starting lineup. Rice entered this weekend averaging a league-best 127.7 yards from scrimmage and forces opposing defenses from sagging into the secondary. That, in turn, has helped Flacco, who has 12 touchdowns after seven games. A year ago he had three.

More from Gallo ... The Ravens continue to have issues with their secondary. So Kyle Orton only threw for 152 yards. The Ravens committed three pass-interference penalties, including one in the end zone.

Five things I like

1. Kansas City's tough stand on Larry Johnson. So his suspension was cut in half. The guy is on double-secret probation, which he should be for acting like a jerk. Plus, he's still out roughly $280,000.

Buffalo's Jairus Byrd keeps racking up the interceptions. (Getty Images)

Buffalo's Jairus Byrd keeps racking up the interceptions. (Getty Images)

2. The versatility of Donovan McNabb. He can run. He throw. He can catch. Yes, he can catch. He cradled a Justin Tuck deflection in the first quarter and ran one yard with it. With one reception, McNabb is four behind Oakland's Darrius Heyward-Bey.

3. The versatility of Cleveland wide receiver Mike Furrey. He's the new Troy Brown, with Cleveland using him as a nickel back -- much as New England used Brown. I'm not sure if that says more about Furrey or the quality of Cleveland's pass defense.

4. Buffalo rookie Jairus Byrd. He was a takeaway machine at the University of Oregon, with 17 interceptions in four years, and he hasn't changed since joining the Bills. With two more interceptions, he upped his season total to seven and became the second player in NFL history to have three consecutive multi-interception games.

5. Aaron Rodgers' chances of making a guest appearance in the emergency ward of a December episode of House. If the Packers don't shore up their pass blocking ... and soon ... there is no way Rodgers makes it through the season.

Five things I don't

1. Chicago's offensive line. The Bears tinker with their lineup, and it still has more holes than the Dan Ryan Expressway. This time Jay Cutler is sacked a season-high four times ... against Cleveland, no less.

2. Aqib Talib reportedly cursing out his head coach in London after blowing curfew. This is a challenge to the authority of Raheem Morris, and he better respond in a quick and decisive manner.

3. The Giants defense without Steve Spagnuolo. I don't know what's wrong with these guys, but maybe it's time to start wondering about the scheme.

4. Derek Anderson. Enough already. Even Eric Mangini had enough of the guy, pulling him in the last three minutes. Hey, Vince Young was worth a try. Why not Brady Quinn again? Or maybe Brett Ratliff? Something, anything.

5. Coaches opting for two-point conversions too soon, and, yes, Rex Ryan and Mike McCarthy, I'm talking about you. For the last time, guys, listen up: Never try for two points before the fourth quarter, and then do it only deep ... and I mean really deep ... into the period. Going for two with three minutes left in the third period was not a good idea, Rex.

Just asking but ...

• Was that a Terrell Owens sighting?
• Brett Favre -- hero or turncoat?
• Will that cool the speculation about Jeff Fisher's future?
• Why was Tony Romo in there in the fourth quarter?
• What do you think about Denver now?