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We're Black and Blue All Over:

As NFL free agency approaches, we're getting an idea of the players teams do and do not want to retain. One that falls in the latter category is Chicago Bears nickelback D.J. Moore, who intercepted 10 passes in three seasons but has been informed the Bears will go in a different direction in 2013.

Moore lost his job midway through last season to veteran Kelvin Hayden, and the Bears' starting cornerback jobs -- even under a new coaching staff -- are locked down by 2012 Pro Bowl players Charles Tillman and Tim Jennings.

Relatively speaking, the Bears are in a position of strength and, naturally, you can't re-sign everyone.

Continuing around the NFC North on a snowy morning at NFC North blog headquarters:

• Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com reviews the Bears' salary-cap challenge.
• Restructuring the contract of defensive end Julius Peppers isn't an ideal answer to those challenges, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Safety should be the Detroit Lions' highest priority this offseason, writes Drew Sharp of the Detroit Free Press.
• The Lions are holding a workout for place-kickers, punters and long-snappers on Tuesday, according to Dave Birkett of the Free Press.
• Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com looks at free-agent receivers from the Lions' perspective.
• It wouldn't have made sense for the Green Bay Packers to use the franchise tag on receiver Greg Jennings, writes Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Jennings had made clear he wanted no part of the franchise tag last fall, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Former Packers center Jeff Saturday said on ESPN, via the Green Bay Press-Gazette, that Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers can expect a better contract than the one signed Monday by Baltimore Ravens quarterback Joe Flacco.
• The release of receiver Michael Jenkins has long been expected, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings made two minor coaching changes, notes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.
• The Minnesota budget chief will decide this summer whether to use backup methods for financing the Vikings' stadium, according to Brian Bakst of the Associated Press via the St. Paul Pioneer Press.

This ESPN Insider piece on the Minnesota Vikings' offseason crystallized a plan we've discussed in abstract terms. Former NFL scout Gary Horton figures the Vikings like only two of their returning receivers, and because Percy Harvin and Jarius Wright are both best-suited to play the slot position, there is probably an offseason need for "two quality edge receivers with some speed," Horton writes.

In that scenario, the Vikings could seek one of those receivers in free agency and another in the draft. To that end, Insider reporter Field Yates recommends pending free agent Mike Wallace, and not Greg Jennings, as the free agent the Vikings should target.

Yates: "Wallace possesses rare speed, and though his production tapered off in 2012 compared to his previous two seasons, he remains one of the most dangerous downfield threats in the league. For an offense that is centered around pounding the football with [Adrian] Peterson, adding an explosive edge receiver in Wallace would effectively take the top off of defenses and create further lanes for Peterson to run."

Wallace ran a 4.33 in the 40 during his combine test in 2009 and would be an obvious downfield upgrade over Michael Jenkins, who could be released, and Jerome Simpson, a pending free agent. The question is whether the Vikings will want to get involved in negotiations that probably will use as a benchmark the five-year, $55 million contract that Vincent Jackson received last spring from the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.

As for the draft, let me pass along Mel Kiper's top five receivers , a list he updated after last week's combine:

1. West Virginia's Tavon Austin
2. Tennessee's Cordarrelle Patterson
3. Cal's Keenan Allen
4. Tennessee's Justin Hunter
5. Louisiana Tech's Quinton Patton.

Austin has elite speed and playmaking ability, but at 5-foot-9 and 174 pounds, he projects at the same position as Harvin and Wright. Patterson (6-foot-3), Allen (6-3), Hunter (6-4) and Patton (6-2) are built more like edge receivers.

Patterson ran a 4.42 in the 40 at the combine, Hunter a 4.44 and Patton a 4.53. Allen did not run.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Antoine Winfield started down the road so many professional athletes take.

"I'm sure none of you guys thought we had a chance to do this," Winfield said to a group of reporters after the Vikings completed an improbable run to the 2012 playoffs. Their 37-34 victory over the Green Bay Packers was the Vikings' 10th win of the season, or about four more than any media prognosticator deemed possible when the season began.

What about you? I asked Winfield. Did you think this could be a playoff team?

Winfield smiled and held his thumb and forefinger about an inch apart.

"Small chance, really," he said. "This just shows you that you never know. You really never know. Coming from 3-13 last year, we really didn't make too many moves in the offseason and just brought in a bunch of young guys. You don't know what you're going to get there. You're playing in a tough division, and we knew we would have to capitalize on every opportunity we had. And guess what? We did. Who would have thought?"

Not me, not you and -- truth be told -- not even some of the smartest players in the Vikings' locker room. Winfield admitted he has "absolutely" never been more surprised about a season in his 14-year career. Defensive end Jared Allen, a nine-year veteran, echoed Winfield's sentiments.

"I really had no clue this was coming," Allen said. "But it was kind of cool at the same time. There were no expectations to live up to. Whatever we put on the field, that's what we were going to be. As we grew and the season went on, we kind of said, 'Hey, we've got something here.'"

Let us be clear: The Vikings earned this playoff bid without the slightest degree of doubt. They won their final four regular-season games, knowing that a loss in any of them would almost certainly scuttle their chances, and Sunday they took the best shot of an excellent Packers team that has lost only twice in 12 weeks and remains a strong Super Bowl contender.

Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers called the Vikings "a good team" and said there was "nothing to be ashamed of" in losing to them. The Packers tied the game twice on Sunday, once at 27 early in the fourth quarter and once at 34 with two minutes, 54 seconds remaining. On both occasions, the Vikings came back to regain the lead. They demonstrated the championship mettle against a team with similar aspirations.

"The truth is we've been playing one-game seasons for a month already," linebacker Chad Greenway said. "Basically we've been in a playoff mentality for a month."

At the same time, you won't find many people inside or outside the organization who envisioned the Vikings emerging as a late-season force.

Yes, it was healthy and honest to express surprise at where the Vikings found themselves Sunday. Did anyone besides Adrian Peterson think he would roar back from major knee surgery with a career year? Of course not. And as recently as a month ago, it was fair to suggest that quarterback Christian Ponder had flopped. On Sunday, Ponder threw his longest pass of the season -- a pretty 65-yarder to receiver Jarius Wright -- and tied a season-high by completing four (!!) passes that traveled at least 15 yards past the line of scrimmage. (Small moves, Ellie. Small moves.)

Afterwards, Ponder quoted Michael Jordan (!!!) to explain why he was calm during a game-winning drive that required a 25-yard pass to receiver Michael Jenkins on third down to extend.

"For me," Ponder said without a touch of irony, "one thing that has stuck in my mind throughout this whole season was something that Michael Jordan always said. When it came down to the last minutes of the game, when the pressure was on, someone asked him what he did differently. He said, 'I stay the same. It's everyone else that changed.'"

Raise your hand if you thought you thought you would hear Christian Ponder referencing Michael Jordan in Week 17 of the 2012 season.

Right. That's what I thought.

I don't mind admitting that I'm surprised to see the Vikings in the playoffs. What's interesting, however, is that they are right back where they started. Few outsiders expect the Vikings to go to Lambeau Field on Saturday and repeat Sunday's performance. But here's the difference: No one in the locker room would be surprised, not any longer.

"I'll tell you this," Greenway said, "We didn't get into the playoffs just to say we got to the playoffs. We want to go up there and fight and try to get into the next round."

The Vikings have been surprising us all season. Who is to doubt them now?

MINNEAPOLIS -- A few thoughts from one of the best NFC North football games we've seen in recent memory:

What it means: The Minnesota Vikings qualified for the playoffs by winning their fourth consecutive regular-season game. They beat the Green Bay Packers for the first time in six games, snapping the Packers' 12-game winning streak in division games. The Packers are the NFC's third seed and will host the Vikings next weekend in the wild-card round. The result eliminated the Chicago Bears from playoff contention.

PetersonWatch: Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson ran for 199 yards, giving him 2,097 on the season -- just eight yards shy of Eric Dickerson's NFL record for rushing yards in the season. His final carry was a 26-yard scamper that put place-kicker Blair Walsh in position for a 29-yard field goal to win it on the final play. Still, let's not take anything away from Peterson. Just 371 days from tearing two knee ligaments, he had the second-best season for a running back in NFL history.

PonderWatch: Vikings quarterback Christian Ponder stepped up in the biggest game of his career, tying a career high with three touchdown passes and also throwing a 25-yard pass to receiver Michael Jenkins to jump-start the Vikings' comeback drive.

RodgersWatch: The Packers offense came alive in the second half, no doubt aided by the absence of Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield. Quarterback Aaron Rodgers threw for 262 of his 365 yards and three of his four touchdowns after Winfield departed at halftime because of a broken hand. In the end, though, the Packers defense gave up 444 yards to a Vikings offense that hasn't been great this season.

CrosbyWatch: Packers place-kicker Mason Crosby had an encouraging game on the eve of the playoffs. He drilled kicks of 51 and 40 yards, giving the Packers perhaps a little less to worry about in the postseason.

Dirty laundry: Packers coach Mike McCarthy was fortunate that replay official Dale Hamer buzzed referee Mike Carey for a review before McCarthy threw his challenge flag in the third quarter after James Jones was ruled to have fumbled at the goal line. Had McCarthy challenged before the review was initiated, the Packers would have lost the opportunity to have it reviewed, according to NFL rules. Upon review, the play was reversed and Jones was given a touchdown. For those wondering, Detroit Lions coach Jim Schwartz squandered his team's chances at a review on Thanksgiving Day because he challenged an automatic review before the replay official initiated it.

What's next: Let's do this again next week at Lambeau Field!

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Everyone has their own method for judging young quarterbacks and projecting their futures. The standard for many NFL evaluators, however, holds that the quarterback will reveal his potential -- or lack thereof -- somewhere between his 20th and 25th start.

Sunday, Christian Ponder made his 22nd start for the Minnesota Vikings. He didn't look a whole lot different than he did in start No. 18 or No. 15 or No. 12, and it's now fair to wonder whether he can stabilize his game enough to merit the team's long-term confidence.

The Vikings dropped a winnable 23-14 game to the Green Bay Packers largely because Ponder threw two interceptions in the third quarter amid another brutal display by the entire passing offense. He didn't have a single completion for a stretch of 38 minutes, 46 seconds between early in the second quarter and late in the fourth, he completed only one pass to a wide receiver and only a meaningless late flurry prevented him from recording his third sub-100-yard game of the season.

At his best this season, Ponder has been efficient. At his worst, he has looked like a career backup. Most disturbing, there has been little evidence that Ponder is on his way to becoming the kind of dynamic starter who can win games on his own, the type that happen to be stationed in every other NFC North market.

Sunday was discouraging not just because of that performance, but also because many of his mistakes were repeats of what we've already seen. For that reason, I thought coach Leslie Frazier would have been justified in benching him at least for the fourth quarter of this game. Whether or not backup Joe Webb would have fared better, I wonder what message the rest of the team hears when an underperforming player routinely is held unaccountable for his play.

Committed as he is to establishing Ponder as his starter, of course, Frazier considered no such thing. He reiterated after the game that "Christian, he's our quarterback." Ponder's teammates remained supportive as well, and tailback Adrian Peterson -- whose 210-yard rushing effort was wasted -- pulled him aside afterwards to offer words of encouragement.

"The fight he showed," Peterson said, was indicative of future success.

So we established that Ponder is well-liked and well-supported throughout the organization. And it's only fair to note that he has been saddled with a sub-par group of pass catchers, especially with Percy Harvin continuing to be sidelined by an ankle injury. But even if Ponder isn't going to be a game-changer, it's fair to expect him to make most, if not all, of the plays he is given the opportunity to make.

Sunday, as with many of his games this season, Ponder missed on most of them.

Perhaps the most egregious was an underthrow of Peterson in the third quarter. Peterson had a step on Packers linebacker Brad Jones down the left sideline, and a better pass probably would have led Peterson into the end zone. That play came on top of two really poor interceptions, including one that squandered a red-zone possession early in the third quarter.

Ponder rolled right from the Packers' eight-yard line, looking for receiver Michael Jenkins the whole way. Jenkins was never open, and instead of throwing the ball away or running, Ponder threw a soft pass across his body that Packers safety Morgan Burnett easily intercepted.

"As a quarterback," Ponder said, "don't throw the ball across your body."

Ponder is absolutely right with that analysis, and perhaps most damning is that we've heard it before from him. He made a similar mistake in Week 7 against the Arizona Cardinals. You expect mistakes from young quarterbacks, but after 22 starts you would like for them to at least be different.

It appears Ponder will get the rest of this season to prove himself. He said afterwards that "I can't let this get me down," and with the support he has from the organization, there is no reason for him to. But at some point, what you see is what you're going to get from a young quarterback. Ponder is getting close to that threshold.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 28-10 loss to the Chicago Bears, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. ESPN.com
   Tailback Adrian Peterson's late arrival to Soldier Field isn't the reason the Vikings lost Sunday. The Bears are a better team, and I think most people who watched the game would agree. But if the Vikings were going to pull off the upset, they needed to play a near-perfect and certainly mistake-free game. Peterson's pregame gaffe was indicative of a larger inattention to detail and sloppy play throughout the game. Peterson might have finished the game with 108 yards, his fifth consecutive game of at least 100 yards, but he had only 25 in the first half as the Vikings fell behind by 22 points. He fumbled twice, and receivers dropped a half-dozen passes. This was the Vikings' first game in three years that carried playoff implications, and they fell far short of the precision level required to win. Make it six consecutive losses for the Vikings to the Bears, their biggest NFC North failure of the past decade.
2. It was only one play in the first quarter, but I keep coming back to receiver Jerome Simpson's drop of a third-down pass that would have given the Vikings a first down in the red zone on their second possession. They had recovered a Matt Forte fumble on the Bears' opening play and had a chance to jump right away on the opportunity. Quarterback Christian Ponder delivered the ball right into the chest of Simpson, who had a step on cornerback Charles Tillman, and it bounced to the ground. Place-kicker Blair Walsh converted a 40-yard field goal on the next play to give the Vikings a briefly-held lead. But the drop seemed disproportionally deflating, and it's worth noting the Vikings didn't score again until Kyle Rudolph's touchdown reception in the third quarter. Those who expected Simpson to be a dynamic downfield threat this season were in dreamland, but it was fair to hope he could be a functional part of an otherwise conservative offense. Even in that context, his tenure with the team has been disappointing.
3. Here's a perfect illustration of the Vikings' downfield woes this season. Ponder threw eight passes that traveled more than 10 yards downfield. He overthrew three of them, according to ESPN Stats & Information, and four of them were batted down or tipped by the Bears' defense. That litany speaks to Ponder's more-than-occasional inaccuracy as well as the difficulty his receivers have getting separation. To be clear, the Bears are excellent in coverage and entered the game with the NFL's best defense on such throws based on opponent's Total Quarterback Rating. But to complete a downfield pass you typically need accuracy and either separation or superior ball skills from the receiver. The Vikings haven't had any of that on a consistent basis this season.

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

In retrospect it's easy to second-guess the decision to call consecutive pass plays on third and fourth down at the Bears' eight-yard line early in the fourth quarter. Peterson was heated up, with 36 yards on the drive, and had scored a touchdown in four consecutive games. Coach Leslie Frazier said: "You can second-guess them to death, but we thought we had some good plays called." Ponder's passes to receiver Jarius Wright and Michael Jenkins both fell incomplete. OK, fine. But what about kicking a field goal in that situation? It would have been a chip shot, and more importantly, made it a two-score game at 28-13. It would still be a two-score game if the Vikings had scored a touchdown to make it 28-17 or 28-18, and at that point in the game, possessions are as important as the number of points gained. Just a thought.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We could spend all day analyzing the various tentacles emerging from Thursday's wild game at Ford Field, but at least one of them figures to be a storyline for the next few days as the NFL investigates. As the NFL Network's Albert Breer noted, the league almost certainly will look into a play that ended with Detroit Lions defensive tackle Ndamukong Suh's left foot hitting the groin of Houston Texans quarterback Matt Schaub in the first quarter of the Texans' 34-31 overtime victory.

Schaub offered only a curt comment to reporters when asked several times about the incident and whether he thought it was intentional. "I really don't have anything to say about that play or that person," Schaub said.

As we discussed Thursday, there was a lot of gray area in the play. Suh was falling onto his right side as his left leg swung wildly. He never looked at Schaub, but his left leg extended toward him after initially falling away. As always, stay tuned.

Continuing around the NFC North on this fine Friday morning:

• Lions coach Jim Schwartz said "I knew the rule" about not challenging touchdowns but "I was so mad that I overreacted." Bob Wojnowksi of the Detroit News writes the Lions are "not as good, not as smart, not as composed as they thought they were. They can't beat the good teams, they can't hold leads, they can't escape the relentless creep of frustration."
• Lions place-kicker Jason Hanson blamed himself for the loss after missing a 47-yard field goal in overtime, writes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press. Hanson: "When you're kicking a field goal to win it, it doesn't matter what happened before that: all the controversy or the ups and downs in plays. It doesn't matter then. So it's the same. It's the game-winner, no matter how you got there. It's the same. So, we don't miss those."
• The Lions' offense was exceptional in the week after they benched and deactivated receiver Titus Young, notes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Bears right tackle Gabe Carimi on being benched, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com: "I've got a positive attitude about it. I'll come back from this. I'm just inconsistent right now. So be it the knee or be it aggression, who knows what it is sometimes? I know I'll come back from this. I'll be good."
• Bears quarterback Jay Cutler was limited in Thursday's practice, notes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• During the portion of practice open to reporters Thursday, Jonathan Scott was at right tackle and Chris Spencer was at left guard, notes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings participated in a padded practice Thursday, but Pete Dougherty of the Green Bay Press-Gazette suggests Jennings could still miss Sunday night's game against the New York Giants.
• Packers cornerback Charles Woodson "feels good" but said his return from a broken collarbone will take a little while longer. Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com has more.
• Packers rookie Casey Hayward has proved well-suited to playing the slot position, writes Lori Nickel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Minnesota Vikings receiver Michael Jenkins is one of the last relics of last season's roster philosophy, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings receiver Percy Harvin didn't practice Thursday and seems highly unlikely to play Sunday against the Bears, notes Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune.

The Minnesota Vikings resumed practice Monday following their bye. Receiver Percy Harvin did not, raising significant doubt about whether he'll be available for the start of a critical three-game stretch against NFC North opponents.

Harvin's left ankle, originally sprained Nov. 4, is still "sore and pretty tender," coach Leslie Frazier told reporters Monday. Frazier said Harvin hasn't suffered a setback but "just hasn't made enough progress to put him out there yet."

It's possible that Harvin could be on the field Wednesday, but obviously he hasn't healed as fast as the Vikings hoped. Frazier originally suggested Harvin would return after the bye.

Receiver Michael Jenkins also missed practice because of a foot injury, leaving the Vikings with four healthy receivers: Jerome Simpson, Devin Aromashodu, Stephen Burton and rookie Jarius Wright.

The Vikings are in NFC playoff contention with a 6-4 record, but the most difficult portion of their schedule is about to begin. Their next thee games will be at the Chicago Bears, at the Green Bay Packers and then at home against the Bears again.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 38-26 loss to the Washington Redskins, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. ESPN.com
   Quarterback Christian Ponder called the interception he threw to Madieu Williams in the fourth quarter "a fluke play," saying the ball slipped out of his hand on what was supposed to be a 7-yard checkdown play. It was reminiscent of an errant pass he threw during an organized team activity (OTA) in May, one that suggested he was still in need of some polish. I think we can all agree Ponder has made significant progress since his rookie season, and perhaps we were all lulled to sleep by the remarkably efficient start to his season. But Sunday's wobbly and wild overthrow of receiver Michael Jenkins served as a reminder that he remains very much a work in progress. The way the Vikings are structured, Ponder needs to make the easy throws look easy.
2. A quick Monday morning review of the first quarter confirms the Vikings missed a chance to put the Redskins in a serious early hole. Three trips to the red zone yielded three field goal attempts, and a 9-0 lead quickly turned into a 17-9 halftime deficit. Several of you tweeted complaints my way about a lack of potential scoring shots, and here are the numbers: In nine plays after establishing a first down in the red zone, the Vikings threw one pass into the end zone. It fell incomplete in the general vicinity of receiver Devin Aromashodu. The Vikings' top three receivers in that situation -- tight end Kyle Rudolph, receiver Percy Harvin and Jenkins -- did not see a pass thrown their way. For the most part, the Vikings have done a nice job utilizing the strengths of their personnel, but those early red-zone plays fell short Sunday.
3. The Vikings' defense hasn't fared well against quarterbacks who can break the pocket. The Indianapolis Colts' Andrew Luck gained 21 key yards on four scrambles against them in Week 2, and the Redskins' Robert Griffin III ran roughshod over them Sunday. According to ESPN Stats & Information, 113 of Griffin's 138 rushing yards came on six unplanned scrambles. (He gained 27 yards on five designed runs.) Review of the video revealed that a Vikings defender didn't lay a hand on Griffin on five of the six scrambles. I don't blame them for being wary about blitzing him Sunday, and you saw what happened when they did: No one on the Vikings defense could chase him down after he broke through a six-man line on the way to a 76-yard touchdown run.

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

What's going on with receiver Jerome Simpson? There appears to be some disconnect here. Last week, team officials didn't know until the morning of their game against the Tennessee Titans that he was experiencing back trouble that made his leg numb. Even so, medical officials cleared him to play against the Titans. More tests on Monday revealed no serious injury, and Simpson was allowed to practice Thursday and Friday. But coach Leslie Frazier told reporters that "I just didn't feel comfortable with what I was seeing in practice [from Simpson] in a couple different areas," and decided to deactivate him for the game. Simpson told reporters he was stunned by the decision. Is this a disagreement on physical condition? A motivational message? An expectation for a higher practice standard? It's difficult to tell at the moment.

Getting inside an uneventful Friday injury report:

Chicago Bears: Tight end Evan Rodriguez (knee) has been ruled out for the second consecutive week. Receiver Earl Bennett (hand) is questionable, but all other players will be available for Sunday's game at the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Green Bay Packers: Receiver Greg Jennings (groin) had already been ruled out for Sunday's game against the Indianapolis Colts. Safety Sean Richardson (hamstring) is also out. Cornerback Davon House (shoulder) is questionable. All other players on the 53-man roster should be available. Coach Mike McCarthy told reporters he has not decided whether to activate defensive end Mike Neal, who has a one-week roster exemption following his four-game NFL suspension.

Minnesota Vikings: Safeties Mistral Raymond (ankle) and Andrew Sendejo (ankle) are out and won't play Sunday against the Tennessee Titans. Linebacker Marvin Mitchell (calf) is doubtful, but Erin Henderson (concussion) is questionable and likely to be available to resume his starting role, coach Leslie Frazier told reporters. Receiver Michael Jenkins (rib) is questionable, but he had full participation in Friday's practice.

We spent so much time this offseason discussing Percy Harvin's playing time as the Minnesota Vikings' erstwhile No. 1 receiver that I feel compelled to bring you a relatively important development from Sunday's season-opening victory against the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Harvin played nearly 80 percent of the Vikings' snaps (47 of 59), according to tracking at Pro Football Focus (PFF). That's a significant uptick from his 2011 deployment, when he played 58.4 percent of their snaps even while producing a career season in a newly versatile role as a receiver/running back.

Admittedly, the Vikings are depleted from a personnel sense given Jerome Simpson's three-game NFL suspension and the loss of rookie Greg Childs (knees). Fellow rookie Jarius Wright was deactivated for the game because of an ankle injury, so the Vikings essentially used only three receivers with second-year player Stephen Burton mixed in occasionally.

According to PFF, here's how the Vikings dispersed playing time among their top pass catchers during their 59 offensive plays:

Tight end Kyle Rudolph: 59
Harvin: 47
Receiver Michael Jenkins: 47
Receiver Devin Aromashodu: 25
Tight end John Carlson: 18

Harvin, for one, responded with 192 combined net yards (84 receiving, 20 rushing and 88 on three kickoff returns). That qualified as a franchise record for a season opener, according to the team.

"We're always trying to find ways to get him the ball, and we'll continue to do that and give it to him in different ways," coach Leslie Frazier said. "He's such a factor with the ball in his hands, even if you have to do it on those smoke screens that we ran in this game. Whatever you have to do to get the ball in his hands to give him a chance to make plays, we've all seen the results of it."

I suppose there could be some concern about wearing Harvin down over the long term. But as we discussed in the offseason, Harvin is too young in football terms to be on a pitch count. He turned 24 in May and should be in his athletic and conditioning prime. The Vikings simply aren't deep enough to compete with one of their best players resting on two out of every five plays, as Harvin did last season. I'm sure he wouldn't want it any other way.

Most significant move: Following the lead of other teams around the NFL, the Vikings decided to go young at quarterback. The plan all along was to have Christian Ponder as the starter, but the surprise was letting veteran backup Sage Rosenfels go, leaving Joe Webb and McLeod Bethel-Thompson on the roster. Webb is making the transition from wide receiver to quarterback. Thompson is only 23 and hasn’t thrown a pass in the regular season. Webb has three starts and 152 pass attempts during his NFL career. The Bears and Colts found out last year it can be tough to go young at quarterback. The Bears lost Jay Cutler and their season was over. The Colts were without Peyton Manning and the season was lost with Curtis Painter.

Onward and upward: Starting wide receiver Jerome Simpson went on the three-game suspension list, so Leslie Frazier has to make sure he doesn’t have to look for receiver help during his absence. Veteran possession receiver Michael Jenkins was retained after a contract reduction and should fill the void. Keeping Devin Aromashodu gives Ponder a solid option in the slot. Percy Harvin is the team’s No. 1 receiver, but is sure to draw double coverage. The concern is what happens if there is an injury. Jarius Wright, the team’s fourth-round pick, is raw. Stephen Burton, a seventh-round pick from last year, is the fifth option.

What's next: Protecting Ponder is the key to the season. Right guard Geoff Schwartz has fought off a lot of injuries during camp. The backup corps of Brandon Fusco, Joe Berger and Patrick Brown isn’t the most distinguished. The significant improvement is having rookie Matt Kalil at left tackle and moving Charlie Johnson from left tackle to left guard. John Sullivan, a journeyman, needs to have a career year to make it all work. The Vikings also need a big year from right tackle Phil Loadholt.

In which we look ahead to the remainder of Week 3 in the NFC North's preseason schedule:

Chicago Bears
Opponent: New York Giants
Location: MetLife Stadium
Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: After an intense week of discussion about linebacker Brian Urlacher's future, there is more reason than ever to scrutinize Nick Roach's play at middle linebacker. Whereas we once considered it a lock that Urlacher will be ready to start the season, there now seems at least a chance that Roach will open the year at middle linebacker. It's not his best position. … Punter Adam Podlesh has a hip flexor, so rookie Ryan Quigley will handle all of the punting duties Friday night. His performance will determine whether the Bears need to consider other options if Podlesh isn't ready to start the season. … The game will be televised nationally on CBS.
Focal point: What else, if not for the Bears' offensive line? The Giants aren't expected to play All-Pro defensive end Jason Pierre-Paul because of back spasms, but they should still give the Bears' line its best test yet. The Bears would like to make a final decision on their starting left tackle, where J'Marcus Webb is trying to hold off Chris Williams, as well as at left guard. Chris Spencer and Chilo Rachal are competing for that job.

Minnesota Vikings
Opponent: San Diego Chargers
Location: Metrodome
Day/Time: Friday/8 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Tailback Adrian Peterson won't play but will participate fully in pregame warmups, according to ESPN's Chris Mortensen. … Cornerback Chris Cook (concussion) and nose tackle Letroy Guion (knee) aren't expected to play. … The Vikings will continue to search for possibilities to replace receiver Jerome Simpson during his three-game suspension. Look for second-year player Stephen Burton, along with veterans Michael Jenkins and Devin Aromashodu, to all get long looks. … Rookie cornerback Josh Robinson has impressed the Vikings in training camp and could get a chance to work with the first team Friday night. … Quarterback Charlie Whitehurst will start for the Chargers, who don't want to risk starter Philip Rivers behind an injury-riddled offensive line. Tight end Antonio Gates will also sit out.
Focal point: This might be middle linebacker Jasper Brinkley's final chance to secure the starting job. The Vikings haven't been thrilled with his tentative preseason performances, coming after a hip injury cost him the 2011 season. Another poor outing could put the team on a search for replacements.

Detroit Lions
Opponent: Oakland Raiders
Location: Oakland-Alameda County Coliseum
Day/Time: Saturday/7 p.m. ET
Personnel notes: Tailback Mikel Leshoure is expected to make his NFL debut, nearly 17 months after he was drafted and nearly 20 months from his last live game. Leshoure last played for Illinois on Dec. 29, 2010. He missed last season because of a ruptured Achilles and a portion of training camp this summer because of a hamstring strain. The Lions want to get him some preseason work because he'll has been suspended for the first two weeks of the regular season. ... New special teams ace Kassim Osgood isn't expected to play. ... Rookie Kellen Moore's chances of making the team increased with the release of R.J. Archer, but he still must earn a roster spot even though he is one of only three quarterbacks on the roster. The Lions could keep only two on their final 53-man roster.
Focal point: It would be nice to see defensive tackle Nick Fairley have a signature, breakout game to reinforce projections that he will be a significant factor this season. But in reality, a game with impact would suffice.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Running back Kahlil Bell's departure Thursday from the Chicago Bears wasn't completely unexpected. Bell was playing behind two well-paid veterans, Matt Forte and Michael Bush, and backups Armando Allen and Lorenzo Booker have been impressive in training camp. The timing, however, was unusual and in the end reflects the bad blood that can be a part of the NFL's restricted free-agent (RFA) system.

RFAs are rarely pursued on the free-agent market because of compensation that would be due to the original team. Usually, they are left with no choice but to sign a one-year tender offer. As an undrafted player with three years of experience, the Bears tendered him at $1.26 million.

That's a nice salary for a third-string running back in exchange for losing the chance to sign elsewhere. Recently, however, the Bears made the perfectly legal request that he take a pay cut to $700,000, according to Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune. The value was slightly more than the veteran's minimum for a fourth-year player, but it essentially robbed him of his rights as a RFA. Against what was probably his better judgment, Bell denied the request and asked for his release, according to the Tribune.

In the end, this episode won't impact the Bears' fortunes in 2012. But I would imagine the NFL Players Association would seek ways to stop teams from in essence preventing a player's movement in the offseason, in exchange for a higher salary, and then cutting back that salary a few months later.

Let's continue around the NFC North, noting that we addressed the Green Bay Packers earlier Friday morning:

• Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com profiles Bears rookie receiver Alshon Jeffery.
• At least at the beginning of the season, the Bears plan to use rookie defensive end Shea McClellin when opponents are in obvious passing downs, writes Joe Cowley of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Rookie Kellen Moore is now one of three quarterbacks on the Detroit Lions' roster after the release of R.J. Archer and appears to be on his way to a roster spot, writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Hopes are high for the NFL debut of Lions running back Mikel Leshoure, who hasn't played in a game since Dec. 29, 2010, notes Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press.
• Lions receiver Titus Young on offensive coordinator Scott Linehan, via Josh Katzenstein of the Detroit News: "He's about one thing, and that's ballin'. You always want a coach to be about ballin', not all that other stuff. By coming to meetings and stuff, I know one thing's on his mind, and that's getting his playmakers the football and winning."
• Receiver Michael Jenkins is hoping to be a starter for the Minnesota Vikings in the absence of Jerome Simpson, writes Bob Sansevere of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings defensive coordinator Alan Williams, via Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune: "We can be a top-10 defense. We just have to make sure as a coaching staff, we're in tune to making sure guys are detailed about carrying out their assignments."
• It appears pretty likely that Vikings tight end John Carlson is going to miss the entire preseason after spraining his knee July 31, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.

 

Reviewing Friday's action at the Metrodome:

Minnesota Vikings 36, Buffalo Bills 14

Preseason record: 1-1

Of interest: The first-team offense played into the second quarter, scoring 10 points. Quarterback Christian Ponder had an efficient game, completing 10 of 13 passes for 136 yards and a touchdown while also converting a key first down via scramble. To this point, the preseason has confirmed our initial thought on Ponder: much improved from last season but still some work to do. … Receiver Jerome Simpson gave Vikings fans a new highlight to remember, hurdling the Bills' Jairus Byrd to extend a 33-yard reception. … It's confirmed: Receiver Michael Jenkins is on the Vikings' preseason roster: His play on the ball at the end of a 35-yard reception from Ponder was pretty skillful. … Place-kicker Blair Walsh had a memorable debut at the Metrodome, converting five field goals, including from 45 and 47 yards, and booting four touchbacks on kickoffs. … Backup quarterback Joe Webb rebounded with some nice throws as well as two scrambles that totaled 61 yards. … I don't know if rookie linebacker Audie Cole, a seventh-round draft pick, will make the team. But he gave coaches something to ponder by returning two interceptions for touchdowns in the fourth quarter. … Apparently the Metrodome crowd wasn't feeling the preseason drama and spent nearly a half hour throwing free game programs and other debris into the air and on the field.

Local coverage: The Vikings' lineup is sorting itself out, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. Safeties Mistral Raymond and Harrison Smith, along with guard Brandon Fusco, appear well on their way to being starters. ... Smith made a timely play on a blitz, knocking down a pass, and overall, Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune writes: "His performance was encouraging in that he made a few plays and didn't look confused or out of place, precisely what he's shown throughout training camp." … Ponder said he has been coached to slide headfirst on some occasions so as not to expose his body to injury, according to Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune. Ponder: "People were tweeting at me [tonight] like, 'Dude, slide feet first. What are you doing?' But it’s a planned deal." … Tom Powers of the St. Paul Pioneer Press: "[T]he Vikings were very presentable in their 2012 home debut." … Cole, via Bruce Brothers of the Pioneer Press: "You sit the night before and you think about doing something like that. I'm just trying to make the team, and I hope that helps the cause."

Up next: Friday against the San Diego Chargers.