Minnesota Vikings

GRADE
Date	Current	Previous
12/29/11	C-	A-
The Vikings built an early lead, scoring off of two Bears turnovers, but they gave a TD right back on a QB Christian Ponder pick-six and could never regain the lead. While DE Jared Allen battled for the NFL single-season sack record (ending just one half short), the Bears went for the win and mercifully ended this long, disappointing Vikings season. -- Joe Oberle, Rapid Reports Correspondent
12/22/11	A-	F
Losing your top RB and starting QB should be enough to stop a team. But it appeared to inspire the Vikings. Both RB Toby Gerhart and QB Joe Webb played crucial roles in leading Minnesota's offense to 33 points. Gerhart broke tackles and Webb's option runs hurt Washington. The defense forced two turnovers. Give the Vikings credit for playing well in a Christmas Eve game on the road. -- John Keim, RapidReports Correspondent
12/15/11	F	C
The 2-12 Vikings played like a beaten team against the Saints. With a hobbled RB Adrian Peterson unable to provide a spark and QB Christian Ponder (although protecting the ball) misfiring often to open receivers, the offense accomplished little that wasn’t gifted to them by Saints turnovers or grabbed in garbage time. The Vikings defense could do nothing against the Saints No. 1 offense. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
12/08/11	C	C
Joe Webb's poise in relief of Christian Ponder was the perfect elixir for Ponder's four turnovers. The Vikings' second-half defense was outstanding. Had it not been for several dropped passes, Minnesota could've engineered the most improbable comeback win of the 2011 NFL season. In the end, Detroit's early 21-point lead proved too difficult to overcome. -- John Kreger, RapidReports Correspondent
12/01/11	C	C
The depleted and beaten up Vikings battled the Broncos all afternoon in search of their third win, but two early QB Christian Ponder turnovers (plus a big one late) and the inability to stop RB Willis MaGahee were too much to overcome. Ponder's first 300-yard game (381 yards) was not enough to slow the red-hot Broncos. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
11/24/11	C	D+
With no Adrian Peterson and an injury-weakened secondary that sustained additional injuries during the game, this 10-point loss doesn't seem out of whack. But the Vikings had a chance to take this game from the Falcons and showed heart against huge adversity. Christian Ponder should be commended for his play in the second half, as should his teammates. -- Knox Bardeen, RapidReports Correspondent
11/17/11	D+	C-
Adrian Peterson left the game in the first quarter with an ankle sprain, but it would not have made a difference. The Vikings could not tackle the Raiders' bruising RBs, and the depleted secondary was over-matched against Oakland's speedy receivers and a precise Carson Palmer. Christian Ponder made a valiant comeback, but two early INTs helped Oakland build an insurmountable lead. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
11/10/11	C-	C+
Any grade lower would just feel cruel. The only way to look at the Vikings' 45-7 loss Monday night is to accept they were starting a rookie QB on the road against the defending Super Bowl champions who were favored by nearly two TDs and playing their best game of the season. There was nothing coach Leslie Frazier, QB Christian Ponder or even DE Jared Allen could do. -- James Carlton, RapidReports Correspondent
11/03/11
10/27/11	C+	C
There is one element of their game the Vikings could always depend on -- the rushing of Adrian Peterson. But the NFL's leading rusher was held to 14 first-half yards. Playing with veteran second-half poise, QB Christian Ponder looks like another element the Vikings will be able to depend on in the future. -- Jeff Hawkins, RapidReports Correspondent
10/20/11	C	D-
Despite starting a new C, QB, FS and CB due to injuries, the Vikings hung in against the undefeated defending Super Bowl champion Packers -- for a half. In the third quarter, the offense turned the ball over and the defense gave up big plays. A late rally fell short but offers hope in rookie QB Christian Ponder. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
10/13/11	D-	B+
Getting beat deep is bad, but giving Jay Cutler time to throw deep is even worse considering the Bears' makeshift offensive line. The special teams drubbing was just typical against Chicago. Adrian Peterson had only 12 carries. Although they were behind early, he should have had more -- a handoff to Peterson is more likely to break one than one of Donovan McNabb's weak-armed throws. -- Gene Chamberlain, RapidReports Correspondent
10/06/11	B+	D
The Vikings put together their most productive quarter of the season, scoring 28 points in the first stanza. Lead by a defense that forced two turnovers in the quarter and gave the offense excellent field position often, the Vikings built a big enough lead to outlast the struggling Cardinals in the second half and hold on for their first win. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
09/29/11	D	F
This time the Vikings didn't blow a halftime lead and lose the game like they did their first three. They played poorly in all four quarters, as the offense never developed any rhythm and RB Adrian Peterson was contained by the Kansas City defense. The Vikings defense kept the Chiefs bottled up for most of the game, but allowed one big play -- a 52-yard TD pass -- and that kept them working from behind most of the fourth quarter. -- Bob Gretz, RapidReports Correspondent
09/22/11	F	D
Lack of red zone execution in the first half that resulted in two field goals, second-half defensive failures and an offense that can't execute late in the game should be all-too-familiar to Vikings fans. Following a script that played to form for three straight weeks, the Vikings blew a 20-point halftime lead and lost to Detroit 26-23 in OT. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
09/15/11	D	C-
The Vikings busted out at Mall of America Field against the Bucs, dominating the game in the 1st-half with 284 yards and a 17-0 lead. But like last week, the Vikings were slow out of halftime, were dominated by the Bucs and scored only 3 points in the second half, losing 24-20 at home. -- Joe Oberle, RapidReports Correspondent
09/08/11	C-	-
A poor second-half performance prevented the Vikings from pulling off the upset. Donovan McNabb extended a few drives with his legs by scrambling for first downs, but failed to get it done through the air. Peterson had a solid first half, but made no impact after that. Meanwhile, the defense had no answers for QB Philip Rivers. -- Dan McLellan, RapidReports Correspondent

GPA Key
A = 4.0	A- = 3.7	B+ = 3.3
B = 3.0	B- = 2.7	C+ = 2.3
C = 2.0	C- = 1.7	D+ = 1.3
D = 1.0	D- = 0.7