2009 looking a bit like 1998 ....

And I mean that both in good and bad ways.

I was not able to watch Sunday's 33-31 win over Baltimore as I'm still in Australia. But I was horrified to find out the Vikings blew a 27-10 lead at home after reading various game recaps.

Anyway, 6-0 is great, and this Vikings team is resembling the great Vikings team of 1998, which is mostly good, except for one thing.

First the good. Just as we are seeing this season, the '98 Vikings had a great offence. It could run and throw the ball and score gobs of points. And its defence had a knack for creating turnovers and making big plays. But ....

.... it also giving up gobs of yardage and a fair bit of points against good offensive teams. It wasn't a dominant unit. And against Atlanta - a very good offensive team in 1998 - it couldn't stop them when it mattered late in the game.

The thing is though, the Vikings defence in 1998 was an average unit, both stats-wise and talent-wise. John Randle, Ed McDaniel and Robert Griffith were fine players, but that was about it for top-shelf talent. The 2009 Vikings defence has All-Pro talent up to its ears, but it doesn't seem to be playing up to that talent all the time. And once again, that could cost the Vikings dearly when they face a very good offensive team (think New Orleans) when it matters most.

But maybe I'm wrong. Maybe it's Brad Childress' play-calling or a lack of a killer instinct. I don't know.

What I do know is giving up 200-plus passing yards to the likes of Kyle Boller and 380 passing yards to the likes of Joe Flacco is cause for concern - much concern.