Packers loss to Giants shows Vikings fans how far their team has to go towards respectability

I'm just as pleased as every other Viking fan that the Green Bay Packers were beaten quite soundly 37-20 by the New York Giants in the NFC Divisional playoff round. But even in defeat, the Packers showed why the distance separating themselves and the Vikes has grown from a foot-wide crack to an immense chasm since 2009.

Consider how the G-Men beat the mighty Pack on the road in this game. On offence, the Giants won not because they were able to run the ball well (they actually didn't get much going on the ground until their final touchdown drive). They won it because Eli Manning played like the elite quarterback he's been much of 2011. They won it because they have wide receivers – Hakeem Nicks and Victor Cruz – who can get open consistently and make big plays down field. And they won because their offensive line gave Manning plenty of time to find Nicks and Cruz and Mario Manningham and Travis Beckham.

On defence, they won it not because they got much pressure on Aaron Rodgers or because they stopped the run, although that helped. They won because they have linebackers and cornerbacks and safeties who can cover a talented group of receivers and tight ends in space, because those guys can make plays on the ball, tackle soundly and force turnovers.

In others words, they do all the things the Vikings have not been able to do for two seasons now.

As new general Rick Spielman develops his master plan for rebuilding the Vikings, he should be watching tape from this game closely. I know the Giants haven't had knockout records since their Super Bowl win in 2007, but they are the team the Vikings would do well to copy.

Pagac is out, but who's in?
The Vikings have removed Fred Pagac from the defensive coordinator role, and as Judd Zulgad notes, his replacement could be linebackers coach Mike Singletary.

If that happens, it will be an early sign to me that 2012 won't be a whole lot different than 2011 was for the Vikings. Singletary did not distinguish himself in his first season with the Vikings. But at this point the job might go to Singletary by default. No one else seems all that interested in the position.