Vikings more interesting off the field than on it

Vikings – Broncos

What a week. The Vikings placed four guys on the injured reserve, including starters Michael Jenkins and Husain Abdullah. Then they released Donovan McNabb. Then they put in a waiver claim on ex-Viking quarterback Sage Rosenfels and got him. And now the Vikings offence (i.e. Percy Harvin) is questionable for Sunday's game.

With all of this going on, the Vikings still have to play the Denver Broncos at home on Sunday. The Broncos are 5-1 since Tim Tebow took over as the starting QB. He's only completing 45.5 per cent of his passes, but he's also thrown just one interception compared to eight touchdown passes and he's averaging 5.8 yards a carry.

But I'm not worried about Tebow and the Broncos old-school offensive system as much as how the Vikings are going to move the ball against a Denver defence that's given up no more than 13 points in the last three games.

With Toby Gerhart starting for an injured Adrian Peterson at running back, Harvin questionable and the Vikings forced to run out Stephen Burton and Greg Camarillo at wide receiver, the Vikings don't have many offensive weapons. Maybe Minnesota should run the option on Sunday. I bet rookie quarterback Christian Ponder would be good at it.

Broncos 20 – Vikings 7

News and Notes

* It's early, but I'm a bit concerned about the accuracy of Ponder. Coming out of Florida State I had read he was a smart, accurate passer with decent arm strength. So far, it looks like his arm is stronger than advertised, but he's only completed 54.4 per cent of his passes. Part of the blame can be laid at the feet of a brutal offensive line and a pedestrian group of wideouts, but how much of it is on Ponder – a little, some, a lot? He needs to have a breakout game against Denver to erase some doubts for me.

* The Vikings could end up with the worst record in franchise history, but they won't be the lousiest team ever, writes Pioneer Press columnist Bob Sansevere.

* ESPN 1500's Judd Zulgad doesn't have kind words for the recently released McNabb.

* How well have the Broncos been playing lately? Read this scouting report by Sam Monson to find out.