Friday football post – Nov. 13 edition

So this is what it must be like to blog about the Indianapolis Colts?

This is the third season I’ve been writing this Vikings blog. In the previous two there was always something seriously wrong with the team. Usually it was the quarterbacks. But there were always other bugaboos to examine – the wide receivers, Brad Childress’ playcalling, pass protection by the offensive line, special teams and Ryan Cook.

But this year with the Vikings sporting a 7-1 record, I’m finding it difficult to write about pressing team issues. There are some concerns – like the play of safeties Tyrell Johnson and Madieu Williams – but again, the Vikings are 7-1. They have already swept the Packers. The team is getting great quarterback play. The special teams have greatly improved. Complaining about some flaws on a team that’s won this much seems frivolous.

What’s that old saying – great art is born from great suffering? Perhaps blogging is the same. The Vikings are not making me suffer (yet) and I’m struggling to find inspiration. It takes some getting used to.

Vikings – Lions
Much like the Vikings-Rams matchup in October, I don’t think we need to overanalyze this one too much.

The Lions haven’t won a game in Minnesota since Bobby Layne was still playing – or at least it seems that way. They’ve scored 111 fewer points than the Vikings, while giving 237 (only the Titans have given up more.) All the team really has going for it is Matt Stafford throwing it to Calvin Johnson – but the team’s two marquee players were last seen arguing with each other on the sideline last Sunday after another Detroit loss.

If the Vikings are as good as we think they are and as good as they think they are, they should beat the Lions emphatically. By the fourth quarter, I expect to see Albert Young, Asher Allen and Jasper Brinkley playing a lot.

Vikings 48 - Detroit 13

The O-line
Do the Vikings have a good offensive line? In my last post I praised their improvement in pass protection. But if you look at these stats from Football Outsiders, it tells a tale of a below-average unit, both in pass protection and run blocking.

So now I don’t feel so good about the offensive line.

Jay Cutler
Last spring I was upset when my quarterback-challenged Vikings allowed a division rival to land a 26-year-old Pro Bowl quarterback when, allegedly, they could have had him if they had been willing to part with a few draft picks.

I still think this trade ends up working out well for the Chicago Bears. But after a game like this, geez, keeping those picks and drafting Percy Harvin and Phil Loadholt seems brilliant.

A warning for those who care
I started a new job on Monday and the new duties are taking up a lot of time. Work is creeping into my homelife.

I don’t know how long it will stay this way. But as of right now, I don’t have much time to fit in work, pay proper attention to my family and also blog about the Vikings in my free time. Something has to give and it’s probably going to be Grant’s Tomb.

I’m trying to resist the urge to stop blogging because it’s probably just a case of first week jitters for me at a new job. But for the four or five loyal readers of this site, I wanted to give you all a heads up that I’m considering taking a break of undetermined length from writing about the Vikings here.