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We're Black and Blue All Over:

The aggressive offseason of first-year general manager Phil Emery has caught the attention of Chicago Bears players. Speaking Wednesday to announce his contract extension, linebacker Lance Briggs said: "It feels like a miracle, what they've done this offseason."

Briggs continued: "They've gone out and gotten a bunch of guys that are going to help us win a championship. I know that … we are a contender. Even guys that have signed, they know they signed here instead of possibly other places because we're a contender."

Briggs said that "on paper," the Bears have their most talented roster in his tenure with the team.

"Would I call us the dream team?" Briggs said. "No, I would not. But I would say we're a championship-caliber team, potentially. … We have to go out and transition it to the field. We have to go out and turn the paper into reality."

With a pair of 2011 playoff teams in their division, the Bears needed to get better. They knew it and their players knew it, and Emery has made a good first impression on them.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Briggs had spoken with former Bears general manager Jerry Angelo about his contract the day before Angelo was fired, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Agent Drew Rosenhaus was glad to avoid "negativity" in the Briggs negotiations, according to Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Briggs was guaranteed $8.25 million in the new contract and could earn $12 million through 2013, writes Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears hosted free-agent offensive lineman Adam Goldberg on a visit, notes Biggs for the Tribune. Goldberg played for offensive coordinator Mike Tice in Minnesota.
• Green Bay Packers receiver Greg Jennings spoke to high school students in Green Bay about financial intelligence. Patti Zarling of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Defensive end tops the Packers' draft shopping list, according to Rob Reischel of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• Boise State linebacker Shea McClellin figures to be on the Packers' draft radar, according to Pete Dougherty of the Press-Gazette.
• Minnesota Vikings running back Toby Gerhart is in the final stages of knee rehabilitation, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Dan Wiederer of the Star Tribune looks at the Vikings' possibilities in the third round.
• The Detroit Lions have a goal of multiple championships, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News considers potential cornerbacks the Lions could add in the draft.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

The Oakland Raiders' apparent decision to hire Denver Broncos defensive coordinator Dennis Allen as their head coach will result in some stability among the Green Bay Packers' coaching staff.

Packers assistant head coach/inside linebackers Winston Moss and defensive coordinator Dom Capers were both candidates in the Raiders' job search, which was run by former Packers executive Reggie McKenzie, now the Raiders' general manager. Moss had been considered by many media members to be a favorite for the job, but McKenzie conducted a wide search.

To this point, offensive coordinator Joe Philbin is the only assistant to depart the staff. Philbin is the Miami Dolphins' new head coach. Coach Mike McCarthy hasn't announced a replacement yet. Quarterbacks coach Tom Clements remains a candidate for the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' head-coaching job.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "It might be a little premature to declare Green Bay Packers coach Mike McCarthy out of the woods completely, but any predictions about his staff being ravaged by outsiders seem to be overblown."
• Former Packers coach Mike Holmgren doesn't wonder what might have happened if he had stayed with the team rather than bolt for the Seattle Seahawks. Mike Vandermause of the Green Bay Press-Gazette has more.
• Minnesota Gov. Mark Dayton will meet Wednesday with Vikings owners Zygi and Mark Wilf to discuss the Metrodome stadium site. Mike Kaszuba of the Star Tribune details the political infighting currently in play on that site.
• Vikings general manager Rick Spielman allowed four reporters to sit in on an interview with Auburn long-snapper Josh Harris at the Senior Bowl. Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press has more.
• The Vikings plan to find more work for running back Toby Gerhart, regardless of Adrian Peterson's health, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Detroit Lions vice chairman Bill Ford Jr. spoke positively in rare public comments about the team. Tom Walsh of the Detroit Free Press has more.
• Lions receiver Calvin Johnson is sitting out the Pro Bowl because of an Achilles injury, but he is still heading to Hawaii this week and is bringing the Lions' entire receiving corps, notes Dave Birkett of the Free Press.
• Two Lions assistant coaches, Tim Walton (secondary) and Shawn Jefferson (receivers) are close to signing new contracts to stay with the team, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• ESPNChicago.com has a rundown of Chicago Bears linebacker Brian Urlacher's comments on using the pain-killer Toradol.
• Urlacher expanded on those comments with Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Kansas City Chiefs general manager Scott Pioli endorsed his director of college scouting, Phil Emery, for the Bears' general manager job. Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times explains.
• The Bears' new general manager will have the flexibility to change as much of the scouting staff as he wants. According to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune, the team's six college scouts and three pro scouts all have expiring contracts.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 33-26 victory over the Washington Redskins, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Kevin SeifertFollowing their win against the Redskins, the Vikings take a seat in the examination room.
   I felt a pang of sympathy for this franchise, which is owned, operated and coached by competent people I respect. None of them could have enjoyed the end of a six-game losing streak, not after watching tailback Adrian Peterson suffer a knee injury that could change the course of his career and the direction of the franchise. Peterson is a special athlete, but there isn't a long list of running backs who have returned from multiple torn knee ligaments without losing some of their strength and explosion. The good news is that Peterson has always been a high-effort player, meaning he will be productive -- if not elite -- upon his return. But in the meantime, the Vikings will be forced to take a fundamental look at the makeup of their offense this winter and spring. Fair or otherwise, they can't count on Peterson to be the best player on their team anymore. Peterson finished the season with 970 yards, snapping a four-season streak of compiling at least 1,000 yards and 10 touchdowns. Only two players in NFL history have had a longer streak: LaDainian Tomlinson (eight) and Shaun Alexander (five).
2. Peterson's injury leaves receiver Percy Harvin as the Vikings' primary offensive playmaker entering the offseason. Harvin added two more big plays to what has been a career season Saturday, a 31-yard run on a reverse and a 36-yard catch on a jump ball from Webb. You might not realize it, but Harvin's 77 receptions this season is more than all but six wide receivers in the NFL. He's also rushed for 332 yards on 47 carries out of various formations. It's too bad the Vikings' poor record has overshadowed it, but Harvin has emerged as the multi-position threat the team envisioned for him three years ago and should be a cornerstone of the team's plans for 2012.
3. It's getting more difficult to find reasons why the Vikings shouldn't consider Joe Webb as a legitimate candidate for their starting job in 2012 and beyond. Obviously they have invested a high draft pick on Christian Ponder, and it's hardly time to render final judgment on a rookie after nine starts. But it would be underestimating Webb to say that he has just been a raw athlete making playground plays. His 17-yard touchdown pass to tight end Kyle Rudolph was thrown from the pocket with perfect touch to the back of the end zone. And consider this: Webb has accounted for five touchdowns on seven possessions in relief of Ponder this season, including three touchdown passes and two on the ground. It's hard to overlook that kind of production. Next season, coach Leslie Frazier will enter the second of a three-year contract. My expectation is that he will start the quarterback that gives him the best chance to see Year Three. At the very least, Webb should be in the conversation.

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

Can Toby Gerhart be an every down replacement for Peterson? The Vikings traded up in the second round of the 2010 draft to select him, but for the most part they haven't found a way to use him except when Peterson has been injured. Gerhart has 786 rushing yards over two seasons, and on Saturday he ripped off a career-long 67-yarder to set up a touchdown. He definitely doesn't have Peterson's breakaway ability, and like the rest of the NFL, Gerhart doesn't run with as much power. But unless the Vikings find a free agent gem or invest another high draft pick on a runner, Gerhart probably is going to get his chance at the start of next season. We'll find out then if he's up to it.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Monday, I joined the chorus of those who say the Minnesota Vikings must find a way to utilize the unique skill set of backup quarterback Joe Webb. The tricky question, of course, is how.

As Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune writes, there are no easy answers. The Vikings have a "Blazer" package for Webb that is similar to the Wildcat, but it's difficult to use that more than a few times a game. Spot use as a receiver, or even a kick returner, isn't effective unless Webb has time to practice and refine those skills. Writes Scoggins: "Webb is an enigma because his skill set doesn't fit into one box."

For this to work, the Vikings are probably going to have to design a package that has never been run before in the NFL. Brad Smith has made a career out of similar circumstances over the past six years with the New York Jets and Buffalo Bills. It can be done.

I know it's easy to throw out a mandate without offering specific suggestions, but that's why Vikings coach Leslie Frazier and offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave make the big bucks. It's on them to figure it out.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Vikings running back Toby Gerhart gained 51 of his 90 yards after first contact Sunday, according to film study from Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• The Vikings need to sell 3,500 tickets this week to avoid a local television blackout of their game against the New Orleans Saints, according to Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• The Green Bay Packers could get guard Josh Sitton (knee) back to practice this week and have not lost hope for left tackle Chad Clifton, according to Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
• The Packers are preparing for a few weeks without receiver Greg Jennings, notes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Eric Baranczyk and Cliff Christl for the Green Bay Press-Gazette: "Jennings' value can't be measured simply with statistics. More than any other receiver, he makes it easier for the Packers to run the ball and throw short over the middle. He's why defenses don't spy [Aaron] Rodgers. He's why Jordy Nelson draws one-on-one coverage down the sidelines."
• The Detroit Lions didn't force the ball to receiver Calvin Johnson against the Vikings, writes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• The Lions' makeshift secondary got the job done against the Vikings, writes Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press: "It's pretty simple for the Lions. Beat Oakland this weekend. Beat San Diego at home on Christmas Eve. That should guarantee the Lions a playoff spot. ..."
• The Chicago Bears tried Monday to take the heat off tailback Marion Barber, according to Mark Potash of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• Barber's mistakes overshadowed a strong day running the ball, notes Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Bears moved to a Cover 2 defense at the end of their loss to the Broncos, but that made sense, writes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.

The visiting team came thiiiiiiiiiis close Sunday at Ford Field:

What it means: The Detroit Lions improved to 8-5, giving them their first non-losing season since 2000 and keeping them in the mix in the NFC playoff race. Although they were one play away from a dramatic comeback victory, the Vikings fell to 2-11 and are 0-5 in the NFC North this season.

Final play chaos: The Lions have gotten their fair share of questionable calls against them this season, but they certainly seemed to benefit from an uncalled face mask penalty on the final play of the game. As he moved in to sack and force a fumble on Vikings quarterback Joe Webb, linebacker DeAndre Levy got a piece of Webb's face mask. No call was made, preventing the Lions the embarrassment of losing a game they led 21-0 and 31-14.

What I thought was interesting: The Lions got nice contributions from all three of the players who drew fire for personal-foul penalties in Week 13 at the New Orleans Saints. Receiver Titus Young had a 57-yard touchdown reception in the first quarter. Tight end Brandon Pettigrew caught a team-high six passes, including a 12-yard touchdown. And returner Stefan Logan had a 42-yard kickoff return and a 28-yard punt return. None of the three received substantial playing time cuts Sunday after a week of speculation that they could be benched.

PonderWatch: Did the Vikings make a mistake by playing rookie quarterback Christian Ponder after a hip injury limited his practice time this week? Or did Ponder just have a horrendous game? How about both? Ponder committed four turnovers -- three interceptions and a fumble -- in 2.5 quarters before the Vikings replaced him with Webb. Two of the turnovers led to Lions defensive touchdowns, and the Vikings trailed 31-14 when he departed. It wasn't immediately clear if Ponder was benched or if the Vikings made a health-related decision. Regardless, he now has 13 turnovers in seven starts this season.

WebbWatch: Webb had the perfect skill set to come into a game fresh in the second half. The Lions' defense couldn't keep up with him, and he finished with 109 yards rushing -- including a 65-yard touchdown run. He also threw a 3-yard touchdown pass, the first of his career, to running back Toby Gerhart and later had the Vikings at the Lions' 1-yard line with less than 20 seconds remaining. Let the quarterback controversy begin!

AllenWatch: Defensive end Jared Allen had three sacks in the first half, giving him six against the Lions this season and bringing his season total to 17.5 through 13 games. He'll need 5.5 sacks over the Vikings' final three games to break Michael Strahan's single-season record of 22.5.

Injury report: The Lions finished the game without cornerback Aaron Berry (shoulder), linebacker Justin Durant (hamstring) and cornerback Eric Wright (hamstring). Cornerback Alphonso Smith helped mitigate the injuries with two interceptions, one of which he returned for a touchdown.

What's next: The Lions will travel to take on the Oakland Raiders next Sunday. The Vikings will host the New Orleans Saints.

It appears we're in for another week of waiting on the status of Minnesota Vikings tailback Adrian Peterson, whose high ankle sprain will prevent him from practicing Wednesday and could keep him out of Sunday's game against the Denver Broncos.

Coach Leslie Frazier told reporters Wednesday that he hopes to get Peterson back on the practice field by Friday to gauge his progress from an injury that occurred 10 days ago.

The Vikings had their second-worst offensive game of the season last Sunday with Peterson sidelined, netting 226 offensive yards and 12 first downs in a 24-14 loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Backup Toby Gerhart managed 44 yards on 17 carries, and the Vikings also handed off to receiver Percy Harvin five times.

Peterson has missed consecutive games only one other time in his career, in 2007 when he missed two games because of a sprained knee.

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.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

When he was first bent over backwards this past Sunday by the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, it was reasonable to think that Green Bay Packers tailback James Starks had suffered a significant leg injury. But tests proved otherwise, and the Packers are going to watch Starks test his sprained knee and sore ankle Tuesday in practice before deciding whether he will play Thursday against the Detroit Lions.

With a short week of practice, Starks doesn't have much time to recover. Veteran Ryan Grant will probably play more than usual Thursday regardless, with rookie Brandon Saine behind him. We could know whether Starks will be available even in a limited capacity by the end of Tuesday.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Packers tight end Jermichael Finley on how to stop Detroit Lions receiver Calvin Johnson, via Tyler Dunne of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "You have to do something. Rip his jersey off. Hold him. You have to take a couple penalties against him. You have to eat him up."
• The Lions' defensive line dominated the Packers' offensive line in the teams' matchup at Ford Field last year, writes Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette.
• Packers right tackle Bryan Bulaga on that performance, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "We did not play well. Didn't do anything well, really. It was just a poorly played game. That may be a nice way of putting it, too. If you go back and watch the game like we just did, you're looking going, 'Gosh, what are we doing there?' That wasn't us. We just did not do anything well. We obviously cleaned it up later on in the season, got hot and went on a run [to the Super Bowl XLV title], but that game, there wasn't much that went right."
• David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune on the loss of Chicago Bears quarterback Jay Cutler: "As much as losing Cutler for at least the next six weeks should stop Bears fans from wondering if they will drive or fly to Super Bowl XLVI in Indianapolis, their team still has no excuse to miss the playoffs. The Bears lost a quarterback, not an identity."
• The Bears are moving back to their underdog role, writes Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times.
• The Bears' pass rush was poor Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, notes Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears will sign long-snapper Jake Laptad to replace injured incumbent Patrick Mannelly (knee), according to Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune.
• Getting Cutler back before the end of the season is "a tad optimistic," writes Melissa Isaacson of ESPNChicago.com.
• The Lions are trying to treat Thursday as just another game, according to Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Carlos Monarrez of the Detroit Free Press examines the status of Lions safety Amari Spievey, who was benched in the second quarter Sunday after missing two tackles.
• The Lions have lost their last six Thanksgiving Day games by an average of more than 20 points, notes Chris McCosky of the Detroit News.
• Minnesota Vikings defensive tackle Kevin Williams was dominant Sunday against the Oakland Raiders, writes Jeremy Fowler of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com looks at the tape of the Vikings' loss to the Raiders.
• Chip Scoggins of the Star Tribune writes about the big opportunity facing Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 27-21 loss to the Oakland Raiders, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertThe Minnesota Vikings take their turn in the examination room after losing to Oakland.
1. Tailback Adrian Peterson is as tough as they come and will no doubt push hard to play Sunday at the Atlanta Falcons. But it's hard to imagine that happening after he was diagnosed with a high left ankle sprain along with some ligament damage. He'll be in a protective boot for at least a few days, coach Leslie Frazier said. Some would argue the Vikings should rest Peterson to avoid wear and tear in a lost season. I don't believe in that. Peterson should play if he can. But recovering from a high ankle sprain in six days is an awfully aggressive timetable. It isn't likely to happen.
2. If nothing else, the Vikings will get an extended window to watch backup Toby Gerhart play. The Vikings traded up to select him in the second round of the 2010 draft, presumably with a plan to use him in conjunction with Peterson in some way. But in the end, Peterson has gotten his regular playing time and the Vikings haven't found many opportunities for Gerhart. In 25 NFL games, he has 105 carries. I haven't seen Gerhart do much in his brief appearances that suggests he deserves more playing time, but some running backs need to work up a lather before making an impact on opposing defenses.
3. We noted that the NFL is back on the Detroit Lions' bandwagon. The same can't be true of the Vikings, who on Monday got their Week 13 game against the Denver Broncos moved back to 1 p.m. ET from 4 p.m. ET. The game was also moved from CBS to FOX because CBS already had too many early games that weekend, the first time in NFL history a game has been moved from one network to another, according to Judd Zulgad of 1500ESPN.com. Not even the lure of Broncos Tim Tebow was enough to prevent that game from being a network hot potato. The Vikings also announced they need to sell 5,800 tickets to the game to prevent a local television blackout.

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

What prompted what was easily the best game of defensive tackle Kevin Williams' season? Did he break out of a mental funk? Is the plantar fasciitis in his foot subsiding? Did the Raiders pay inordinate attention to defensive end Jared Allen? Williams was unofficially credited with eight tackles and a sack. Believe it or not, it was Williams' first sack since Week 2 of the 2010 season. The last time he had at least eight tackles? Week 6 of 2008. Williams turned 31 in August, and you don't know how many more dominant games he has left. But Sunday reminded us of the kind of player he once was on a weekly basis.

A few thoughts on Sunday's festivities at the Metrodome:

What it means: The Minnesota Vikings dropped to 2-8, tied for the second-worst record in the NFL, amid a gloomy first-half performance and a second-half surge that fell short as they lost 27-21 to the Oakland Raiders. Soon it will be time to start projecting the Vikings' draft position. As of this moment, it would be no worse than No. 4 overall.

PetersonWatch: Tailback Adrian Peterson didn't return after a scary injury to his left ankle, but X-rays showed no fracture, according to coach Leslie Frazier. Peterson is expected to undergo an MRI on Monday. It's impossible to overstate what the loss of their best player, even for a game, would mean to the Vikings. For now, their backup running backs are Toby Gerhart (24 carries this season) and Lorenzo Booker (four).

Mistakeball: Left tackle Charlie Johnson jumped offsides on the first play from scrimmage. Rookie quarterback Christian Ponder threw three interceptions, including one in the end zone and one near the goal line. The field-goal team botched placement of a 49-yard attempt. Booker lost a fumble on a kickoff return. That litany of mistakes, among others, dug a hole far too deep. That extended an embarrassing stretch of getting outscored 72-14 between the start of their Week 10 loss at the Green Bay Packers and the fourth quarter of Sunday's game.

Pass protection: Ponder had a shaky performance but faced a heavy rush for the second consecutive week. He scrambled for 71 yards on five carries, a good way to limit opposing blitzes, but at some point you need to have time to make plays in the pocket. The Raiders had five sacks. Offensive line has already emerged as one of the Vikings' top priorities for this offseason.

What's next: The Vikings travel to the Georgia Dome next Sunday to play the Atlanta Falcons.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

Chicago Bears nickelback D.J. Moore got an early exit from last Sunday's victory over the Detroit Lions. This week, he might not play at all.

Moore suffered an ankle injury in Wednesday's practice that, according to Jeff Dickerson of ESPNChicago.com, "raises serious concerns about his availability" for this Sunday's game against the San Diego Chargers. Moore didn't practice Thursday and isn't expected to be on the field Friday, either.

Moore is not technicaly a starter, but he plays a lot. He has three interceptions and is tied for fifth on the team with 44 tackles. Special-teams ace Corey Graham, a long-ago starter at cornerback, is expected to fill in at nickel for him against the Chargers.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Bears cornerback Charles Tillman is playing at a Pro Bowl level, writes Vaughn McClure of the Chicago Tribune.
• Sean Jensen of the Chicago Sun-Times polls Pro Football Hall of Fame voters on the candidacy of Bears returner/receiver Devin Hester.
• Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press thinks the Detroit Lions can make the playoffs even if they can't run the ball.
• Chris McCosky of the Detroit News: "Jahvid Best has been back at the Lions practice facility the last couple days. He even put on his jersey for a bit Thursday. But as good as it is to see him smiling and walking around, it doesn't appear he's any closer to putting on the pads and returning to action."
• The Carolina Panthers are modeling their rebuilding project after the Lions', writes Anwar S. Richardson of Mlive.com.
• Green Bay Packers rookie Randall Cobb is planning to slow himself down after a series of haste-induced fumbles, writes Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com.
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel notes that former Packers quarterback Brett Favre played as well in the mid-1990's as current quarterback Aaron Rodgers is playing now.
• Kareem Copeland of the Green Bay Press-Gazette examines the Packers' running back rotation.
• The Minnesota Vikings should consider switching this offseason to a 3-4 defense, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Vikings backup running back Toby Gerhart has been a non-factor, writes Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.
• Vikings rookie tight end Kyle Rudolph has impressed of late, according to the Pioneer Press.

After the Minnesota Vikings' 26-23 loss Sunday to the Detroit Lions, here are three issues that merit further examination:

Kevin SeifertFollowing their loss to the Detroit Lions, the Vikings take a seat in the examination room.
1. Leslie Frazier mostly played it by the game-management book as the Vikings' interim coach last season, but this season there have been a number of instances in which his decisions and explanations don't add up. In Week 2, he didn't use a timeout during the Tampa Bay Buccaneers' final possession, saying afterwards that he was confident his defense would make a stop or generate a turnover. Sunday, Frazier tried to put the game away with a fourth-down play at the Lions' 17-yard line in the fourth quarter. But he approved a run to backup Toby Gerhart, who was lined up at fullback, instead of involving Adrian Peterson. Most running backs would have struggled in that spot given the way the Lions' defensive line pushed back, but Peterson would have had the best chance. Frazier said he thought the play would work, but ultimately he allowed offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave to get too cute. Frazier did acknowledge the Vikings erred in giving Peterson only five carries in the second half, which might have been the more egregious game-management error. How could you forget about Adrian Peterson?
2. I realize cornerback Chris Cook was the defender on Calvin Johnson's 32-yard touchdown reception, but from what I saw, Cook had quite an encouraging day overall. Most notably, he knocked down a late pass that could have gone for a touchdown. Cook looked aggressive and confident, and it was reminiscent of his rookie training camp in 2010. There's no shame in getting beat by Johnson, and Cook had a few victorious moments of his own.
3. The Vikings had free agent left tackle Max Starks in for a visit Monday, according to Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com. It's not uncommon for teams to take a look at available veterans in the event an emergency replacement is needed, and there is no indication that a signing is imminent. But the decision also reminds us that the Vikings are playing with a left tackle (Charlie Johnson) who is best suited to be a utility backup. I know we have a long way to go, but I feel relatively confident that the Vikings will enter the offseason with left tackle as perhaps their top personnel need.

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

Frazier has made clear he has no plans to replace quarterback Donovan McNabb, but curiously acknowledged Monday that coaches will look for mechanical issues that might be causing McNabb to short-hop passes to receivers. Said Frazier: "Whether it be his drop or whether it be his footwork, whatever we need to do to help him improve some of those balls that aren't quite on target. But that's not the only reason we are falling short. That's one of the reasons, but there are some other things we need to work on as a team." A 34-year-old quarterback isn't supposed to need mechanical adjustments midway through the season. It's yet another reason to question what the Vikings are accomplishing by committing to McNabb while rookie Christian Ponder sits on the bench.

After the Detroit Lions' 26-23 victory Sunday against the Minnesota Vikings, here are three issues that merit further examination:

1. Coach Jim Schwartz did his best to temper excitement Monday about both the nature of the Lions' comeback victory and their first 3-0 start in 31 years. "We don't need to have ticker-tape parade over regular-season wins," he said. Schwartz also said: "Our biggest win hasn't come yet." But statistical analyst Alok Pattani used ESPN's win probability tool to research how unlikely the Lions' victory actually was. The tool uses 10 years of NFL play-by-play data to estimate the likelihood that a team will win at a given point in the game. Early in the third quarter of Sunday's game, the Lions had a two percent chance of winning based on the composite of how similar NFL games have proceeded over the past decade. Put another way: An NFL team trailing by 20 points early in the third quarter loses 98 out of 100 times. That should give you some perspective on what the Lions accomplished Sunday.
Kevin SeifertThe Lions take their three-game winning streak with them into the examination room.
2. This week, the NFL world will be lauding receiver Calvin Johnson now that he is the first player in league history to score two touchdowns in each of his team's first three games. And his best catch of the season, the 40-yard "Willie Mays" catch in overtime, didn't even go for a score. But I hope you know that the play worked only because tailback Jahvid Best got himself between Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway and quarterback Matthew Stafford. Best is kindly listed at 199 pounds, but I'm guessing Greenway outweighs him by at least 50. Greenway broke through the line on a blitz and steamrolled Best, but the collision allowed Stafford enough time to get the throw off. The Lions might not have won had Best not made that block.
3. Left tackle Jeff Backus had one really, really bad series Sunday, but I don’t know that I’m ready to join the chorus of nervous nellies about his overall play. Backus had his hands full with Vikings defensive end Jared Allen, and on that one series he committed consecutive false starts and gave up one of the two sacks Allen beat him for in the game. It’s fair to wonder whether Backus’ offseason pectoral injury has or will impact his ability to extend his arms and pass-block, but if I’m the Lions, I’m more concerned about right tackle Gosder Cherilus. At least Backus got beat by one of the NFL’s top pass rushers. Cherilus was benched after a far less accomplished player, Brian Robison, beat him for a sack. Schwartz wasn’t ready to discuss Monday whether Cherilus will be benched permanently, but his play hasn’t been encouraging this season.

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

Immediately after Jason Hanson's overtime field goal, referee Ron Winter blew his whistle and indicated the game was not yet over. With Winter's microphone live, Schwartz angrily blurted: "What the [bleep]? Learn the [bleeping] rules!" Monday, Schwartz implied Winter's crew had momentarily transposed the NFL rule that requires a kickoff after a first-possession overtime field goal during a playoff game. I really, really hope that's not what happened. Surely neither Winter nor his crew got that confused, even if it was for a moment. Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com reported that booth officials were reviewing Hanson's field goal to ensure it sailed through the uprights. I just can't accept that an NFL referee would have confused this rule.

We're Black and Blue All Over:

We spent Sunday evening discussing the NFC North's new world order and the craziest trick play no one saw. That leaves plenty of fodder for the coming days, and we'll start with what the Minnesota Vikings insist is the absence of a quarterback controversy.

After Sunday's 26-23 overtime loss to the Detroit Lions, coach Leslie Frazier said: "I don't think the quarterback position is our problem right now. No. We're not thinking about anything at the quarterback position." (Via Brian Murphy of the St. Paul Pioneer Press.)

It's true that Donovan McNabb isn't really at the top of the list of underperforming Vikings. But does it make sense for an 0-3 team to play a 34-year-old quarterback in what will be an exceedingly difficult push for a playoff spot, all while your quarterback of the future (Christian Ponder) stands on the sideline? The quarterback might not be an acute Vikings problem at the moment, but the looming transition from McNabb to Ponder -- whenever it happens -- might be the most important event remaining for this franchise in 2011.

Continuing around the NFC North:

• Jim Souhan of the Star Tribune is advocating change: "McNabb is not solely responsible for the Vikings' woes, but he is the only member of the organization whose demotion could prove beneficial. You can't fire a head coach or coordinator three games into their tenures, and changing left tackles has never inspired a team or changed the direction of a franchise."
• Frazier just isn't ready to throw in the towel on the 2011 season, writes Tom Pelissero of 1500ESPN.com.
• Frazier on the decision to give the ball to backup running back Toby Gerhart on a key fourth down in the fourth quarter: "We were confident that we had a good play that would get us the first down." Kent Youngblood of the Star Tribune has more.
• The Chicago Bears "don't appear to know who they are or, worse, what they want to be," writes David Haugh of the Chicago Tribune.
• The Bears' offensive performance Sunday was "pathetic," according to Dan Pompei of the Chicago Tribune.
• Michael Wilbon of ESPNChicago.com: "Last week GM Jerry Angelo said no team did more to improve its offensive line play than the Bears, which is very funny ... except Angelo appeared to be dead serious. Angelo backed that argument by pointing to the fact he brought in someone with NFL experience, but former Seahawks center Chris Spencer -- who was brought in to replace Olin Kreutz -- is starting at right guard because of Lance Louis' injury. The left tackle, J'Marcus Webb, played much of last year at right tackle. The center, Roberto Garza, is really a right guard. The right tackle, Gabe Carimi, is a rookie. This is not an upgrade from last season, which is what the Bears needed to stay in the hunt with the likes of the Patriots and Packers."
• The Bears' running game has taken "a major step back," tailback Matt Forte said, via Michael C. Wright of ESPNChicago.com.
• Quarterback Jay Cutler on Forte's lack of touches, via Rick Morrissey of the Chicago Sun-Times: "We've just got to find ways to get him the ball, get him rushes, get him touches, get him going because he's an explosive, explosive player. I feel bad for him right now. He wants the ball. He wants to help out, and we're not giving him a lot of opportunities."
• Lions coach Jim Schwartz's postgame fist pump will go down "like the iconic fist pump the late Payne Stewart made after winning the U.S. Open golf tournament in 1999," writes Mike O'Hara for the Detroit News.
• Bob Wojnowski of the Detroit News: Sometimes you stamp a mark that lasts for a while, and this was one of those biggies."
• Lions left tackle Jeff Backus, via Michael Rosenberg of the Detroit Free Press: "Big-picture-wise, it feels great. But we've gotta play better. I've gotta play better. Offensive line's gotta play better. It's great to be 3-0, but we have a lot of stuff to clean up."
• Tight end Brandon Pettigrew stepped up nicely Sunday for the Lions, according to Justin Rogers of Mlive.com.
• Rob Demovsky of the Green Bay Press-Gazette on the three-touchdown game of Green Bay Packers tight end Jermichael Finley: "Many around the NFL knew the Green Bay Packers had a budding star in their fourth-year tight end. Everyone knows now."
• Tom Silverstein of the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: "The Packers finally played defense worthy of a champion."
• Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers on the victory over the Bears, via Jason Wilde of ESPNMilwaukee.com: "I think there's a feeling of, 'We could have played a little bit better.' It's fun to be 3-0, it's exciting coming to work with these guys. And we've got, I think, our best football is still in front of us."