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You can't have an NFL draft without drama, and for weeks -- if not months -- there has been near certainty about the top two picks. We've also been pretty close for a while at No. 3, so it shouldn't be surprising that national discussion has swerved into whether the Minnesota Vikings might pick someone other than USC left tackle Matt Kalil with the third overall pick.

I think we all understand the Vikings have been working hard to create a trade market at No. 3, mostly in hopes that a quarterback-needy team would swap picks to ensure the acquisition of Texas A&M quarterback Ryan Tannehill. But general manager Rick Spielman said last week that the team has graded Kalil, LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne and Oklahoma State receiver Justin Blackmon as equal prospects and are trying to decide what position best fit their needs.

I find that awfully convenient and difficult to believe, frankly. I understand the Claiborne angle, mostly that he's the draft's best cornerback and the Vikings' pass defense was historically bad in 2011. But I can tell you from experience that Spielman is a meticulous draft grader. His system takes grades out to a half-dozen decimal points, guaranteeing that there are no ties. There is no doubt that as pure prospects, the Vikings have a vertical ranking for Kalil, Claiborne and Blackmon.

One explanation is that Spielman is making a final effort to generate a trade market for teams who really want Claiborne or Blackmon. If that were the case, however, you would think he would have included Alabama running back Trent Richardson in that group. Richardson is reportedly coveted by the Cleveland Browns at No. 4.

We could go around and around on what the Vikings need more: A left tackle or a cornerback. They need to put up a better fight against the NFC North's elite quarterbacks, which Claiborne would help with. But they also need to be in position to better match those quarterbacks with their own offense, something Kalil would presumably play a central role in.

But the Vikings also have the No. 3 pick of the second and third rounds. What position would they have a better chance at finding an elite player at the top of the second or third rounds: Left tackle or cornerback?

There has also been discussion about the difference between an elite left tackle and a functional one. Right now, however, the Vikings aren't guaranteed of either in 2012. What would you rather have: A team that has Kalil at left tackle, along with Chris Cook, Antoine Winfield and perhaps Montana's Trumaine Johnson at cornerback? Or Ohio State's Michael Adams at left tackle, along with Cook, Winfield and Claiborne at cornerback?

In the end, the Vikings need to draft the very best player on their board at No. 3. If that's Claiborne, then so be it. Some would argue that Kalil has gotten the benefit of the doubt because he plays left tackle, a position that is traditionally valued highly in the draft. If Kalil isn't the third-best player in this draft, I've written many times that I would be fine with the Vikings drafting the player they think is. Time will be the ultimate judge and jury on that decision.

But generally speaking, we haven't heard too many draft observers suggest Claiborne is a better prospect than Kalil. The Vikings would be setting themselves up for long-term failure by allowing positions -- and not talent -- to dictate draft decisions. Stay tuned.

When we last checked in on the Minnesota Vikings' defensive backfield, they had signed free agent cornerback Zack Bowman to a one-year contract and were continuing to fulfill the mantra of new general manager Rick Spielman: "Value" players from free agency and blue-chippers from the draft.

That's the way to view their latest move, a one-year deal with free agent Chris Carr that the Jason La Canfora of the NFL's web site first reported Wednesday. Carr was a full-time starter for the Baltimore Ravens in 2010 but appeared in only nine games, and 17.5 percent of the Ravens' defensive snaps, in 2011 because of a hamstring injury. He'll turn 29 later this month and will join a crowded if underwhelming group of contenders for the Vikings' 2012 cornerback rotation.

Carr and Bowman will compete for time with holdovers Antoine Winfield, Chris Cook and Asher Allen. If you were hoping for a more significant addition, then I would suggest looking toward the draft. That's where Spielman has said his best players will come from, and it's fair to hold him to that assertion.

PALM BEACH, Fla. -- By the looks of it, those of you who are disappointed about the Minnesota Vikings' offseason thus far can be categorized in two ways: Those who wanted to see the Vikings pursue a starting-caliber wide receiver and those who thought they needed to prioritize a depleted secondary that contributed to one of the worst pass defenses in NFL history last season.

I think the former is mitigated a bit by the addition of tight end John Carlson, who has been a slick pass-catcher when healthy in his NFL career. But I do think it's fair to question how the Vikings intend to improve their pass defense without a talent influx, and that was on the top of my mind Sunday when Vikings general manager Rick Spielman stopped to speak with reporters here at the NFL owners meetings.

Spielman defended his approach, saying: "I just really believe in doing the due diligence and being patient." He added "there's no hurry for anything" and pointed out that veteran cornerbacks Chris Cook and Antoine Winfield should form a decent foundation for the Vikings' 2012 secondary.

In the end, however, it seems clear that Spielman has targeted the draft for difference-makers in the secondary, whether they are cornerbacks or safeties.

"There's a pretty good crop of corners in this year's draft," he said, "and we know if we do go that route, the coaches will have to step in and do a great job developing them."

Speaking generally, Spielman said his approach to building the roster is that free agency is a time to "get a lot of value" from players, but the draft is "hopefully we're going to get our top of the line, blue-chip players."

I appreciate Spielman standing in on a number of questions on the subject. I understand where he's coming from but think it's only fair to point out a number of facts:

• Both of the cornerbacks he's counting on have had trouble staying on the field in recent years.
• Cook missed 10 games in 2010 because of knee injuries and another 10 in 2011 after he was arrested in a domestic incident that he was ultimately acquitted for.
• Winfield, meanwhile, missed 11 games last season, six in 2009 and will turn 35 in August.
• One of their 2011 starting safeties, Husain Abdullah, has a history of concussions and has yet to re-sign.
• Candidates under contract to start at safety include Mistral Raymond and Jamarca Sanford, both of whom got chances in 2011.

How many starting defensive backs can you get in a single draft? Maybe one if you do a good job and two or three if you have a great draft. Sitting out the opening days of free agency prevents paying elite money to above-average players, but it also leaves a team in the predicament the Vikings are in now: Hoping to recycle some players with question marks near their names.

It doesn't mean the Vikings can't fill all of their needs. It just means they won't do it all at once, or even in one year.

"It's funny," Spielman said. "People think you have this need and you have to fill it now. There's no order that you have to fill your needs in. Not the last time I looked."

INDIANAPOLIS -- There is little doubt that the Minnesota Vikings will overhaul their secondary after finishing 2011 with one of the worst pass defenses in NFL history. One aspect that we haven't discussed: How will that process impact veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield?

I posed that question Thursday to Vikings general manager Rick Spielman, specifically asking if he envisioned Winfield -- who turns 35 in June -- moving to safety. Winfield has always been a sure tackler and excellent run-supporter, making a safety transition seem logical at least on paper.

Spielman's answer was revealing and suggested the Vikings are at least planning for a time in the near future when Winfield isn't one of their starting cornerbacks.

"We've talked about [moving him to safety] a little bit," Spielman said during a break in the NFL combine. "But we still feel that he has the quickness and effective style of play to be an effective [nickel] as well. Antoine has been a very smart player, been a great player for us since he's come in, but also you have the age concerns a little bit and the durability concerns which is normal for a player of his age."

Where will Winfield play in 2012? All options seem to be on the table, especially at this time of year when the Vikings have neither signed a free agent nor drafted a single player. Shifting Winfield's position would be a lot easier if the Vikings acquire a few starting-quality cornerbacks this offseason. Winfield could be their nickelback, working primarily in the slot in three- or four-receiver sets. He could be a pure safety, or he could be a hybrid safety that slides into the nickel on passing downs.

Asked about those possibilities, Spielman said: "I think that's something more that the coaches have to determine. They have to figure out how to utilize everybody's skill set to get the best ability out of them."

Vikings coach Leslie Frazier is scheduled to speak with reporters Friday. Winfield has been one of the best cornerbacks in the NFL during his 13-year career, but it's only fair to note his age and the fact that two of his past three seasons have been shortened by injuries. This time comes for every player. For Winfield, it's just a matter of whether it happens in 2012 or later.

"I just think as guys get older his role changes," Spielman said. "And Antoine is still an excellent football player. What that role is yet to be determined. That's what the coaches do."

With the offseason in full swing, let's take a look at one major question facing each NFC North team as it begins preparations for the 2012 season:

CHICAGO BEARS

In last year's version of Leading Questions, we wondered when the Bears would address the depth behind their aging defensive stars. That issue is still on the table, but of greater 2012 importance is this: How will the Bears manage their transition to new offensive coordinator Mike Tice?

Tice will retain much of the terminology and some of the philosophy from former coordinator Mike Martz. But Tice has his own spin on the "three-digit offense," and the Bears will need to realign behind a power running game and a passing approach that emphasizes downfield throws.

Tight end and receiver are two positions the Bears need to focus on this offseason, either by developing their existing players like Kellen Davis and/or acquiring a legitimate downfield threat. New general manager Phil Emery should have more than $20 million in cap space to work with, and the free-agent market should be deep with receivers.

But to make Tice's offense work, Emery will also need to ensure the return of free-agent tailback Matt Forte and find him a reliable backup as well.

DETROIT LIONS

In a tight salary-cap situation, can the Lions keep their nucleus together and add where needed?

Years of high draft positioning made the Lions a talented team but also one facing a cap crunch in 2012. Preliminary cap reconciliation leaves the Lions with $122 million in cap commitments, about $2 million above the estimated $120 million cap. And that total doesn't include three defensive starters who are pending free agents: defensive end Cliff Avril, middle linebacker Stephen Tulloch and cornerback Eric Wright.

The Lions will need to find ways to shave from that total, whether it's borrowing from future caps -- a tool now available in the NFL's new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) -- or reducing the cap figures in existing contracts.

As we've discussed, receiver Calvin Johnson should be the first target for a cap-reducing contract extension. He's projected to account for about $22 million against the cap in the final year of his rookie deal. Johnson, quarterback Matthew Stafford, defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh and defensive end Kyle Vanden Bosch are estimated to account for nearly half of the Lions' total cap allotment.

What does all this mean? We are all figuring out the NFL's new salary-cap rules together, but it's clear the Lions must make some difficult short-term decisions and weigh them against long-term prosperity.

GREEN BAY PACKERS

What can the Packers do to improve a pass defense that gave up more passing yards than any team in NFL history?

The easiest answer is to address the pass rush, which weakened in 2011 when the Packers couldn't find a suitable replacement for departed free agent Cullen Jenkins. The rush could come from the defensive end position, where the Packers have waited two years for the highly touted Mike Neal to make an impact, or through acquiring a pass-rushing outside linebacker.

General manager Ted Thompson has been reluctant in recent years to utilize veteran free agency, and the truth is that few teams allow a legitimate pass-rusher to depart without compensation. But the situation was serious enough in 2011 that Thompson will at least need to consider every avenue available for a substantial and fast-acting solution. The Packers had 29 sacks in 2011, tied for the third-worst total in the NFL.

Parallel to that issue, however, Thompson will also have to monitor a situation at safety that contributed to the Packers' defensive problems in 2011. Pro Bowl safety Nick Collins will find out in March whether he can continue his career or if he must retire because of a serious neck injury. The Packers missed his leadership and instincts in center field and would need to acquire a long-term replacement if he retires.

MINNESOTA VIKINGS

The development of quarterback Christian Ponder will dominate many of the Vikings' offseason headlines, but there is an equally important question hovering over the team: How fast can it upgrade its historically poor pass defense?

Vikings opponents finished the season with a 107.6 passer rating, the third-highest figure in NFL history. Their eight interceptions tied for the league's lowest total in 2011 and only one player among the back seven who started the majority of games in 2011 -- linebacker Chad Greenway -- is assured a starting job in 2012.

It's difficult to replace six starters in one offseason, but the Vikings have already begun their defensive overhaul by hiring new defensive coordinator Alan Williams, bringing back Brendan Daly as their defensive line coach and making former coordinator, Fred Pagac, their primary linebackers coach.

The personnel situation is most dire in the secondary, where two of the Vikings' primary safeties -- Husain Abdullah and Tyrell Johnson -- are free agents. Talented cornerback Chris Cook, suspended for the final 10 games of the season following a domestic-violence incident, remains in limbo. Cook's trial date is tentatively scheduled for March 5. The future of veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield must be addressed as well; Winfield turns 35 in June.

» NFC Wrap-ups: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Arrow indicates direction team is trending.

Final Power Ranking: 30
Preseason Power Ranking: 20

Biggest surprise: It has never been clear why anyone thought acquiring Donovan McNabb as a stopgap starting quarterback was a good idea. All indications were that McNabb had taken a significant step back since his heyday as an annual Pro Bowler, and in truth, he had no more familiarity with the Vikings' new offense than did rookie quarterback Christian Ponder. He threw for an embarrassing 39 yards in a Week 1 loss at the San Diego Chargers, was benched after six starts and waived with five games remaining. I'm not sure the Vikings would have won more games with Ponder or Joe Webb as their Week 1 starter, but the entire episode was a failure waiting to happen. Why wasn't that obvious to everyone?

Biggest disappointment: Tailback Adrian Peterson's shredded left knee will cast a shadow over the organization for months. The Vikings have said they hope to have Peterson back on the field when the season begins, but the truth is no one can know for sure how a running back will come back from two torn knee ligaments and other assorted damage. Newly-promoted general manager Rick Spielman will have a difficult decision to make: Can the team continue to build its offense around Peterson? Does it necessitate the acquisition of a replacement or a philosophical shift? Of all their positions, running back represented the least of the Vikings' concerns at midseason. Now it's among their first priorities.

Biggest need: On a roster full of holes, no positions are more needy than defensive back and offensive line. The Vikings finished the season with Week 1 backups playing both cornerback and one safety positions, and the only incumbent who should have a decent chance to start in 2012 is veteran cornerback Antoine Winfield. Although they led the NFL with 50 sacks, the Vikings' coverage was so poor that opposing quarterbacks still compiled a 107.1 passer rating, the second-highest mark in NFL history. Meanwhile, the Vikings must find a long-term replacement for deposed left tackle Bryant McKinnie and might have to find a new left guard if Steve Hutchinson retires. The future of right guard Anthony Herrera is also up for debate.

Team MVP: Defensive end Jared Allen finished a half-sack shy of tying Michael Strahan's record for sacks in a season (22.5), along the way setting an example of how to continue playing hard despite the weight of a lost season. Runner up goes to Percy Harvin, who shed his migraine issues to become the kind of all-purpose receiver/running back the Vikings envisioned when they drafted him in 2009. He caught a team-high 87 passes and also took 52 carries, combining for 1,312 total yards and eight touchdowns.

Questionable call: Cornerback Chris Cook was arrested in October and eventually charged with strangulation and domestic abuse. In the end, the Vikings took the highly unusual path of dismissing him for the season while keeping him on the active roster and paying him game checks for the final eight games of the season. Coach Leslie Frazier said the organization wanted to give Cook a chance to get is life in order, but Frazier admitted this week that it's unclear what progress he has made. Unless he is incarcerated as a result of his upcoming trial, Cook seems likely to return to the team in training camp.

» NFC Stock Watch: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

FALLING

1. Secondary play in Chicago and Minnesota: Between the two of them, the Chicago Bears and Minnesota Vikings have maybe one or two defensive backs who should be considered 2012 starters heading into the offseason. Bears cornerback Charles Tillman qualifies, and perhaps Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield will as well if he returns healthy from a fractured collarbone. Otherwise, the Bears and Vikings need a serious overhaul to their defensive backfields. Both teams tried season-long rotations at safety, neither of which led to any personnel conclusions, and cornerback play outside of Tillman has been atrocious for both teams. It will probably be a multiyear process for these franchises to rebuild these positions. With Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford and Jay Cutler in this division, they better hurry.

2. Christian Ponder, Minnesota Vikings quarterback: We all remember ESPN analyst Trent Dilfer's harsh criticism of Ponder shortly after the draft. In brief, Dilfer said Ponder looks the part of an NFL quarterback but quickly falls from his comfort zone and loses accuracy under pressure. Dilfer softened some of that analysis after Ponder's relatively strong debut, but we should note that Ponder has been one of the NFL's worst quarterbacks against extra pass-rushers this season. According to ESPN Stats & Information, he is completing about 39 percent of his passes when opponents send five or more pass-rushers. The only player with less success against the blitz? Denver Broncos quarterback/running back Tim Tebow. It's not necessarily a warning sign if a rookie doesn't perform well under pressure, but to this point Ponder's performance hasn't veered much from Dilfer's original analysis.

3. Marion Barber, Bears running back: Barber's mental errors in a loss earlier this month to the Broncos, and his inability to keep his troublesome calf healthy, would seem to spell the end of his short tenure with the Bears. Kahlil Bell's hard-charging 123-yard performance Sunday night offers the Bears a much younger option for the role of backing up starter Matt Forte. It was a nice run, as they say.

RISING

1. Home-field advantage: The Packers have a quirky history when it comes to playing at home in the playoffs. In the big picture, the state of Wisconsin has provided one of the best home-field advantages in professional sports. The Packers are 15-3 all-time at home in the playoffs, including games played in Milwaukee. But those three losses have come in their past five playoff games at home: In 2003 to the Atlanta Falcons, in 2004 to the Vikings and 2007 to the New York Giants. One of the two victories, meanwhile, came in overtime to the Seattle Seahawks. Recently, at least, opponents haven't been intimidated by playing at Lambeau Field.

2. Brandon Pettigrew, Detroit Lions tight end: A significant debate erupted in 2009 when the Lions used the No. 20 overall pick to draft Pettigrew, passing up offensive lineman Michael Oher and receiver Percy Harvin, among others. But the Lions insisted that a multi-faceted tight end was critical to their offense, and they have followed through by utilizing Pettigrew as much as any team in the NFL. The Lions have used him as an extension of their running game, and although he is averaging a modest 8.7 yards per reception, his total of 76 catches ranks third among tight ends. By all accounts, Pettigrew is an excellent blocker as well. The Lions have gotten by this far with Jeff Backus and Gosder Cherilus as their tackles, minimizing the need for Oher. And while Harvin would have been a nice addition, the Lions have found value by signing veteran Nate Burleson and using a second-round pick to draft Titus Young.

3. T.J. Lang, Green Bay Packers offensive lineman: When the season began, how many people would have chosen Lang as the Packers' most valuable offensive lineman? Not me. Lang had been an inconsistent starter and player who couldn't find a position and was behind a rookie on the depth chart when the season began. But Lang outplayed first-round pick Derek Sherrod in camp to win the left guard job and has provided a seamless transition from departed starter Daryn Colledge. And when the Packers needed someone to jump over to right tackle after injuries to Bryan Bulaga and Sherrod, Lang successfully made the move. On Sunday night, at least, he held his own against Bears pass-rushers Julius Peppers and Israel Idonije. Center Scott Wells might be the Packers' best offensive lineman this season, but not many left guards could jump out to right tackle as well as Lang appeared to do Sunday night.

After taking permanent control of the Minnesota Vikings' coaching job, Leslie Frazier laid out a traditional and conventional vision for winning football games. His teams would run the ball and stop the run, a time-honored approach that sounds good in the locker room but is as outdated as the single wing.

If there were ever a season that could crush that theory, it's the one the Vikings are enduring in 2011. They rank among the NFL's top 10 in rushing yards and rush defense, but their punchless passing attack and tattered pass defense has driven the worst 13-game start in franchise history. At 2-11, the Vikings are obviously and glaringly swimming upstream in the pass-happy NFL.

Speaking generally last week, Frazier said he has reminded himself that this season is "a journey" and "part of what we have to go through to get to where we want eventually." He said he doesn't "foresee us forever being in this situation" and added: "I really believe that we will look back on it in time and say, 'OK, this is what happened in 2011 and this is why we are better in 2012, because of what happened in 2011.'"

Quite frankly, that will take some adjustment in vision.

Frazier built his hopes on offense around tailback Adrian Peterson, who averaged 94 yards and more than one touchdown per game before suffering an ankle injury in Week 11. Development from quarterback Christian Ponder would lead to a more balanced offense over time, but the Vikings' 2011 plan was either deeply flawed or a gross example of misplaced priorities. Both the quarterback (Donovan McNabb) and No. 1 receiver (Bernard Berrian) they opened the season with have already been waived. Neither has signed with a new team.

Their failures, and other reasons, have left Vikings quarterbacks with a combined 77.0 passer rating this season, ranking them in the bottom third of the NFL.

Peterson's presence, not to mention a $100 million contract extension, demands a strong commitment to the running game. So I don't think the Vikings need, say, the Packers' passing offense to be championship contenders. But there is no reasonable explanation to justify how the Vikings organized and executed a pass defense that is on pace to produce one of the worst seasons in NFL history.

Defensive end Jared Allen leads the NFL with 17.5 sacks, but even with his presence, the Vikings have allowed opponents to compile a 107.1 passer rating this season. As the first chart shows, that puts them on pace for one of the five-worst pass defenses -- based on opponent's passer rating -- since at least the 1970 merger. As the second chart shows, the Vikings have allowed more touchdown passes, intercepted the fewest passes and allowed the second-highest completion percentage in the NFL this season. Last Sunday, the Vikings did limit the yardage piled up by Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford. But even though he threw for a modest 229 yards, Stafford still completed 69 percent of his passes for two touchdowns and didn't have a turnover.

Their inability to slow down opposing pass offenses has all but negated a relatively strong run defense that ranks No. 9 overall in total yards allowed. And it's not as if teams aren't trying to run against the Vikings. Opponents have 352 rushing attempts against them, good for No. 17 in the NFL.

As with their pass offense, the Vikings didn't appear to make their pass defense a high priority entering the season. Their only starting-level addition was nose tackle Remi Ayodele, a run-stopper. And it's possible that none of the defensive backs considered starters in Week 1 will return in 2012.

Frazier has already admitted that cornerback Cedric Griffin wouldn't be playing if he had any better options. Fellow cornerback Antoine Winfield will be 35 in 2012, just had a playing-time clause reduce his salary by more than 50 percent and might not be a full-time player anymore. The careers of cornerback Chris Cook (off-field) and free safety Husain Abdullah (concussion) are in doubt, and a season-long rotation of strong safeties Jamarca Sanford and Tyrell Johnson revealed neither is up for the job.

Did the Vikings think they could cover themselves with their run defense? I hope not. These days, the best gauge for measuring the top teams is the differential between their passer rating (or QBR) and the passer rating (or QBR) allowed by their defenses.

Here are the teams with the top five QBR differentials through 13 games, according to ESPN Stats & Information:

1. Green Bay Packers (13-0)
2. New Orleans Saints (10-3)
3. Pittsburgh Steelers (10-3)
4. Baltimore Ravens (10-3)
5. Houston Texans (10-3)

And here are the teams with the five worst differentials:

1. Indianapolis Colts (0-13)
2. Jacksonville Jaguars (4-9)
3. St. Louis Rams (2-11)
4. Vikings (2-11)
5. Arizona Cardinals (6-7)

It would be fine if the Vikings continue running the ball well and can stop the run. But that can't be it. They won't compete in the NFC North, much less this league, until they rebuild their pass offense and reassemble a competent secondary. Until the NFL veers away from its love affair with the passing game, the Vikings have no choice but to shift their vision.

I've finally arrived back at NFC North blog headquarters, so let's catch up on what I missed this afternoon with an expanded NFC North at night post. We'll lead off with some thoughts on the division's only 13-0 team:

The Green Bay Packers got the best news imaginable on receiver Greg Jennings' sprained left knee: It's a mild-enough injury that he can resume playing in two or three weeks.

As far as I'm concerned, we shouldn't see Jennings back on the field before the Packers' first playoff game on the weekend of January 14-15. I'm fine with the Packers keeping their foot to the floor, but rushing back their best receiver when he'll have a bye week in between the regular season and the playoffs doesn't make any sense.

It's true that wide receiver is probably the deepest position on the Packers' roster, but I don't agree with those of you who suggest that Jennings' absence wouldn't impact the team. I don't know if it would be quantifiable, but there are some things that Jennings does in terms of route running and beating opponents' best defenders that aren't interchangeable skills. The Packers will get plenty or production from their receivers over the next few weeks, but let's not diminish the impact of one of the best players at his position in the game.

The Detroit Lions welcomed back defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh after a two-game suspension. Suh met with coach Jim Schwartz, and Schwartz said he doesn't expect any further problems moving forward.

"I'd be very surprised if it showed up on his radar again," Schwartz said. "He is a very prideful person. He wants to do anything he can to do help the team so I would be surprised if something like that happened again."

In the end, I don't think Suh's absence impacted the Lions' won-loss record. It would have been tough to beat the New Orleans Saints at the Superdome even with him two weeks ago, and they beat the Minnesota Vikings without him Sunday.

Minnesota Vikings: Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reports that cornerback Antoine Winfield's season-ending injury triggered a clause in his contract that will lower his 2012 base salary from $7 million to $3 million. Winfield, who could earn back the difference through incentives, said he plans to return to the Vikings next season.

Chicago Bears: It's clear that Sunday's overtime loss to the Denver Broncos hit coach Lovie Smith hard. Here's what he told reporters Monday, via Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune: "One of the toughest ones I've had to deal with, we've had to deal with. I think to a man most of the guys in the locker room would say that. We normally celebrate when we have a game in control like that late in the game. We haven't been in this position very often, if at all, we don't like. Now, it's what we do. It's how we respond. And we will respond."

After the Minnesota Vikings' 35-32 loss to the Denver Broncos, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their loss against the Broncos, the Vikings take a seat in the examination room.
1. Coach Leslie Frazier has deserved some criticism this year, but let's cut him a break from demands that he should have allowed the Broncos to score once an interception gave them possession at the Vikings' 15-yard line. As the theory goes, the Vikings would have been better off giving the Broncos a 39-32 lead and then launching their own potential game-tying drive rather than letting the Broncos run off the rest of the clock and kick a short field goal to win. I checked with ESPN's analytics team to see if the Vikings would have increased their mathematical win probability with such an unorthodox move. The short answer from Alok Pattani was no, based on an ESPN model built off thousands of individual play results over the past decade. The Broncos had a 95.3 percent chance to win the game the moment they made the interception. Had the Vikings allowed an immediate touchdown, their chances of driving the field for a touchdown on their ensuing possession and ultimately winning the game in overtime was 2.5 percent. So statistically speaking, the Vikings had a better chance of stopping the Broncos' final possession, as they tried to do, than pulling off a non-traditional miracle.
2. Frazier made a starling admission Monday at his weekly news conference when asked about struggling cornerback Cedric Griffin. In essence, Frazier said Griffin wouldn't be playing if the Vikings had a better option. Griffin is trying to come back from the second of two career ACL tears and has looked hesitant and a step slow all season. Frazier: "He's not the Cedric we saw before the second ACL injury and he's tried to battle through some things. But his confidence level has not been where it needs to be to able to play at a high level in our league. I'm sure it has a lot to do with coming off a second ACL. We're just so depleted depth-wise that we have to have him out there. I know he'd like to play better. I know he's trying to play better. It's been a tough year for him." That said, I would imagine that Griffin won't open training camp in 2012 as a starter.
3. Quarterback Christian Ponder played most of Sunday's game with a hip pointer and is going to be limited, at best, in practice this week. Frazier said the team's medical staff is confident Ponder will be ready for Sunday's game against the Detroit Lions, but it's interesting to note that Frazier shot down the idea of newly-acquired backup Sage Rosenfels as a potential replacement if Ponder suffers a setback. Joe Webb would take whatever first-team snaps that Ponder doesn't this week. I'm fine with that. A 2-10 team might as well give young players every opportunity to gain experience provided they're equipped to give a credible performance.

And here is one issue that I still don't get:

Frazier told the truth Sunday when he expressed incredulity at how bad his defensive backs covered the Broncos' receivers. But given the situation, I'm not sure what anyone expects right now. The Vikings opened the game without a single defensive back who deserves to be part of their long-term plan. Antoine Winfield, Chris Cook, Husain Abdullah, Tyrell Johnson and Asher Allen -- five of their top seven Week 1 defensive backs -- were inactive for the game. Few teams have the depth to absorb that kind of attrition.

After Minnesota Vikings' 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their loss against the Falcons, the Vikings take a seat in the examination room.
1. Coach Leslie Frazier admitted he erred in deciding to seek a touchdown rather than a short field goal on fourth-and-goal in the fourth quarter. Frazier said his emotions got the best of him and said the "bad mistake" was "purely on me." Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave, meanwhile, said he regretted his play call, a handoff to tailback Toby Gehart. Musgrave told reporters he wished he had used a bootleg play to capitalize on quarterback Christian Ponder's mobility. Both men are to be commended for owning up and avoiding tortured justifications. But the admissions won't sit well with those who are concerned about Frazier's game management and/or Musgrave's lack of innovation. One of the primary attributes Frazier seemed to have as a head coaching candidate was his calm demeanor under pressure. But it hasn't always served him as well in his first season as an NFL head coach.
2. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com offered an interesting sidenote in his game column: Frazier has quietly taken some play-calling duties from defensive coordinator Fred Pagac and was calling at least "a chunk" of the defense himself in Atlanta. That doesn't bode well for the future of Pagac, who doesn't have a position to coach. You would think there is going to be some fallout from a season that, to this point, is one of the worst in franchise history. Frazier is coaching this season with a mix of new assistants and others inherited from the staff of former coach Brad Childress. A clean slate might be necessary. If Pagac is fired, you wonder if Frazier would be tempted to promote linebackers coach Mike Singletary, his long-time friend and confidant.
3. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Percy Harvin's 104-yard kickoff return was the longest play in NFL history that didn't end in a touchdown. I threw that note out Sunday night via on Twitter and was surprised at the level of sardonic humor Vikings fans have descended into. My favorite response came from @reverik: "No one almost scores like us." In all seriousness, we should note that Harvin has now accumulated 200-plus yards in seven of his 40 career games. Remember, Harvin is still only 23. He has played the entire season without any reported migraine episodes and is one of the brightest spots of the Vikings' future.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

I've suggested that the offensive line should be the Vikings' top priority this offseason, but I'm now wondering if their secondary is in need of more attention. It's injury-ravaged at this point, but even if you assume the full recovery of everyone involved, it's hard to identify a reliable starting combination in 2012. Would you count on any of their safeties to be long-term starters? I'm not sure I would. And the futures of the top two cornerbacks in the program, Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook, are uncertain at best.

A few thoughts on another loss for the NFC North's last-place team:

What it means: Down 17-0 at halftime, the Minnesota Vikings made it interesting but ultimately absorbed their ninth loss of the season. It's the franchise's first 2-9 start since 1962.

Harvin Watch: With tailback Adrian Peterson sidelined by a high ankle sprain, receiver/running back Percy Harvin was the team's lone remaining offensive playmaker. And Harvin made two huge plays to give the Vikings a chance in this game, hauling in a 39-yard touchdown pass on fourth-and-13 in the fourth quarter and also returning a kickoff 104 yards to the Atlanta Falcons' 3-yard line with six minutes, 28 seconds remaining. Harvin caught eight passes for 95 yards and, including special teams, accounted for 200 all-purpose yards.

Late-game questions here: The final seven minutes in this game will be hotly debated among Vikings fans. Here are the primary questions: Even without Peterson, were the Vikings justified in using Harvin on two consecutive inside running plays on the goal line after his kickoff return? Should coach Leslie Frazier have challenged Harvin's second run, in which he appeared to have crossed the plane on second effort? Down by 10 points, should the Vikings have taken an easy field goal rather than go for a touchdown on fourth down? And should they have given the ball to tailback Toby Gerhart, who hasn't been much of an effective short-yardage runner in his career?

Opinion here: My quick reaction to those questions goes as following. I'm fine with using Harvin. He was the Vikings' best player Sunday. Frazier would have had nothing to lose by challenging the ruling on third down. I would have taken a field goal, but either way you need a field goal and a touchdown to force overtime. But handing the ball to Gerhart on fourth down, especially with a quarterback in Christian Ponder who excels at plays that give him a pass-run option on the outside, was the least defensible of the decisions we saw from Frazier and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave.

Injury report: Already playing without safety Husain Abdullah and cornerbacks Antoine Winfield and Chris Cook, the Vikings lost safety Tyrell Johnson (hamstring) and cornerback Asher Allen (shoulder) during the game. I thought their defense played well considering they had Benny Sapp, on the street two weeks ago, playing at one cornerback spot and rookie Mistral Raymond at safety. The Vikings also lost long snapper Cullen Loeffler to a back injury. Defensive end Jared Allen did a flawless job as Loefller's replacement and even made a special teams tackle after his first snap.

What's next: The Vikings will host the Denver Broncos next Sunday at the Metrodome. Remember, the game has been moved from CBS to FOX. As of last week, the team had more than 5,000 tickets to sell to avoid a local television blackout.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 45-7 loss to the Green Bay Packers, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertFollowing their loss to the Packers, the Vikings take a seat in the examination room.
   The Vikings talked big last week about ending the Packers' run at an undefeated season. Instead, they produced their most lethargic performance of the year. Defensive end Jared Allen called it "disgusting" and fellow defensive end Brian Robison felt compelled to say via Twitter: "We have not quit." When a team lays that kind of egg on national television, public discussion naturally turns to the effectiveness of the head coach. I'm not ready to go there yet with Leslie Frazier. He took over a complicated situation and is trying to navigate a roster transition while still prodding the remaining veterans. As an organization, the Vikings are approaching their situation as a remodel rather than a rebuild. They might have underestimated the work ahead of them.
2. There is a line of thought in the NFL that you don't play rookies and/or backups just to play them, or in the blind hope that they will provide an upgrade over the status quo. But the Vikings have enough low-functioning players to justify it at several positions. I see no reason why rookie defensive tackle Christian Ballard shouldn't continue to start ahead of Remi Ayodele. It's worth seeing whether rookie safety Mistral Raymond is any better than Tyrell Johnson, Jamarca Sanford or Husain Abdullah. In basketball terms, at 2-7 and after displaying the kind of lethargy we saw Monday night, the Vikings need to empty the bench. If nothing else, it's a method for holding players accountable. No one has tenure in the NFL.
3. Amid it all, we should note that Allen continues to bring it hard on every play this season. He was in the face of Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers all game, finishing with seven tackles, including three for a loss, and one sack to bring his season total to 13.5. I would imagine his NFL Defensive Player of the Year candidacy will be negatively impacted by the Vikings' poor team performance, but that's too bad. One of this generation's best pass-rushers is having the best season of his career. Allen's production and energy level have never been higher. He's setting an example that, quite frankly, isn't being noticed by enough of his teammates.

And here is one issue I still don't get:

What does the future hold for cornerback Antoine Winfield, whose season is probably over after fracturing his collarbone Monday night? He will be 35 when the 2012 season begins and has been limited by injuries in two of the past three seasons. The Vikings have uncertainty across the board at cornerback, from fellow starter Cedric Griffin to second-year player Chris Cook, who is inactive because of legal issues. And it's worth nothing that the Vikings negotiated a de-escalator into Winfield's most recent contract, one that would pay him $7 million if he is a starter but about $3 million if he is a nickelback. Winfield is part of an old guard of Vikings defenders who eventually will be phased out. Will it be this offseason?

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- The Minnesota Vikings absorbed a 45-7 whipping at the hands of their top rival Monday night and then suffered an equally brutal blow after the game.

Cornerback Antoine Winfield was diagnosed with a fractured clavicle and could miss the remainder of the season. Winfield, who had just returned from a neck strain that cost him four games, had five solo tackles and a sack before leaving the game at Lambeau Field.

The injury returns the Vikings to their state of emergency in the secondary; second-year cornerback Chris Cook hasn't played since his arrest on charges of felony strangulation last month.

More to come in a bit.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

CHICAGO -- Detroit Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford was not the only NFC North player revealed Sunday to have a significant injury. Chicago Bears left guard Chris Williams suffered a dislocated wrist that required immediate surgery and will cost him the rest of the season, according to Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.

Williams appeared to have been making a successful transition from left tackle, but the injury represents another in a series of season-impacting injuries he's suffered since the Bears made him their top draft pick in 2008. If he doesn't play again this season, Williams will have missed 26 of a possible 64 starts because of back, groin and wrist injuries.

Edwin Williams replaced Chris Williams on Sunday afternoon. He seems to be the first option to play left guard moving forward.

We'll spend Monday morning wrapping up Sunday's action before shifting gears to Monday night's game at Lambeau Field. First, let's take our morning tour around the division:

• Michael Wilbon of ESPNChicago.com: "When the Chicago Bears are really good, which is to say a serious contender, there's a specific formula that works for this franchise. Punishing defense plus electrifying special teams and a dash of offense equals a potentially special season. The Bears are on the verge of that now, right at the edge of something promising."
• The Bears were "Baaaad Men" on Sunday, writes Jon Greenberg of ESPNChicago.com.
• Bears cornerback Charles Tillman played a great game against Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune: "In a matchup with playoff implications, the team trying desperately to project a bad-boy image was just plain bad, while the real postseason contender stood up. The Lions came hoping to intimidate, but instead everybody left raving about the Bears' intimidating defense that created six turnovers. The Lions picked the fight. The Bears finished it."
• The Lions' six turnovers Sunday came after they led the NFL in turnover margin for their first eight games of the season, notes Philip Zaroo of Mlive.com.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press on Stafford's game: "The Lions can say it was the wind. They can believe it. But as a fan, you have to hope they are lying. Stafford needs to play well even when it is windy. After all, the Lions finish the season in Green Bay, and if they make the playoffs, they might have to play in Green Bay, Chicago or San Francisco, three of the windiest locales in the NFL. Finger injuries go away. In the NFC North, the wind will be around for a while."
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: "For the first time all season, the Lions regressed and retreated, not only shaken badly by the Bears, but shaken badly by the moment."
• John Niyo of the News: "The Lions play hard. They play on the edge. And sometimes they cross the line, as they probably did again a time or two Sunday. "
• The Bears might be a more formidable divisional opponent for the Green Bay Packers than the Lions, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette suggests it's time for the Packers to give rookie linebacker Vic So'oto a chance to rush the passer. Here's what Packers defensive coordinator Dom Capers said: "The best thing I can say there is he's still very young at the position, still very green learning the techniques, all those things. You don't want to experiment on the field. You guys hear me say this all the time, and I tell the team, if we're going to call something on Sunday I want to see it work on the practice field. I don't want to just throw it out there and see if it works."
• The Packers think left tackle Marshall Newhouse is more prepared to block Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen than he was in the teams' first meeting. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• The return of Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield should provide a boost, notes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune looks into why the Vikings seem so committed to cornerback Chris Cook.
• Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press profiles rookie Vikings safety Mistral Raymond. An excerpt: "As Raymond prepares to become a bigger part of the Vikings' plans, with the team taking a hard look at its rookie safety as early as Monday night at Green Bay, the sixth-round draft choice is relishing the opportunity, but not just for him. Football is not his most important job."