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A look at key players for each NFC North team who are coming back from injuries:

Chicago Bears: Place-kicker Robbie Gould needed offseason surgery after rupturing a semitendinosus tendon in Week 15 and still hadn't been cleared to kick 13 weeks after. All indications are that Gould will be ready for training camp and should once again be the Bears' place-kicker in 2013. Since he entered the NFL in 2005, Gould has the seventh-best percentage of conversions (85.6) among place-kickers with at least 100 attempts, an especially notable standing considering the typical kicking conditions at Soldier Field. With all of the other changes in the organization this offseason, the Bears need the reliability that Gould provides.

Detroit Lions: Safety Louis Delmas managed to play only 41.97 percent of the Lions' defensive snaps last season because of a knee injury that required surgery in training camp. Delmas' knees have been a bothersome issue for most of his career, and there has never been any doubt about the difference in the Lions' defense when he is in and out of the lineup. The team took a cautious approach to re-signing him in free agency, offering a modest deal that would pay him six-figure incentives for every game he plays if he manages to exceed his playing time from last season. The Lions signed free agent Glover Quin as well, but they need Delmas on the field.

Green Bay Packers: Two players who missed the 2012 season because of 2011 injuries could be in position to help the Packers in 2013. Offensive lineman Derek Sherrod had a second surgery this winter to finish repairing a leg he fractured in multiple places, and the Packers have hopes that he can compete for their open right tackle job. Tight end Andrew Quarless, meanwhile, is trying to get back on the field after blowing out his knee in December 2011. When healthy, Quarless might be the Packers' most balanced tight end in terms of receiving and blocking. Jermichael Finley is the team's top tight end, but Quarless could provide important versatility to the position.

Minnesota Vikings: Receiver Jerome Simpson's disappointing season in 2012 -- he caught 26 passes and no touchdowns in 12 games -- has been attributed in part to a mysterious back injury that decreased the explosiveness in his legs. The Vikings are hoping Simpson can regain the running and leaping abilities that helped him catch 50 passes for the Cincinnati Bengals in 2011. Although they signed Greg Jennings, the Vikings still have a need for a veteran receiver who can get downfield -- especially while rookie Cordarrelle Patterson is given time to develop. Simpson is the team's best option there.

PHOENIX -- We've spent a fair amount of time discussing the Minnesota Vikings' attempts to fortify their offense around quarterback Christian Ponder, beginning with last year's decision to draft left tackle Matt Kalil and continuing this spring as they re-make their receiving corps. So when Ponder turned up Monday at the NFL owners meetings, close to his offseason training site in Arizona, it seemed fair to ask what he thought of the still-forming group of pass-catchers at his disposal.

Greg Jenningsjoins tight end Kyle Rudolph as potential high-level producers, but the question marks begin after that. Veteran Jerome Simpson was re-signed in hopes he has overcome the nerve damage that limited his 2012 season, and there are hopes for second-year player Jarius Wright and almost certainly a few rookies as well.

"Having a guy like Kyle, everyone knows our chemistry together and his ability as a player," Ponder said. "He was the Pro Bowl MVP. Him and adding Greg, he's obviously a great player as well. Jerome, he's going to be so much better having another year under his belt. I'm sure we'll take a guy or two in the draft, guys that can step up and play early.

"But having Adrian Peterson in the backfield helps. So I think we're really coming together as an offense."

It's tough to make a judgment on the Vikings' efforts before next month's draft. As we discussed last month, their most likely scenario all along featured a combination of free-agent signings and at least one significant draft pick. I have no idea if that means the first round or not, but this remains very much a work in progress.

Receiver Greg Jennings agreed to a five-year contract Friday night with the Minnesota Vikings, and here is my highly controversial and thoroughly debatable takeaway:

The deal makes perfect sense for the Vikings. It elevated them from having zero legitimate NFL receivers on their roster to one. You have to start somewhere.

It made plenty of sense for Jennings' former team, the Green Bay Packers. They have three dynamic receivers on their roster and need every ounce of salary-cap space to re-sign key players at other positions -- most notably quarterback Aaron Rodgers and linebacker Clay Matthews.

Where it gets complicated is the impact of this decision on Jennings himself. Whether he admits to it or not, Jennings had an extraordinarily difficult verdict to render -- assuming the Packers had at least made a cursory offer to bring him back for 2013.

And no, I'm not talking about the phantom offense of jumping from one NFC North team to another. I realize some of you will have a hard time understanding this, but Jennings had no obligation to be "loyal" to the Packers or the Packers' fans. This is a business, and as an unrestricted free agent, Jennings had a rare opportunity as a blue-chip player to make a decision based solely on what is best for him and his family. He had every right to capitalize on that.

But was signing with the Vikings best for Jennings? I'm a little hesitant to draw dramatic conclusions because we don't, as of this moment, know how much of a choice he had. We don't know if the Packers made a remotely competitive offer or if the Vikings were his only option.

Think about it for a moment, however. On many levels, Jennings is entering a much less stable environment than the one he left. The Vikings don't have a long-term commitment to either their coach or their quarterback; coach Leslie Frazier and quarterback Christian Ponder will have to excel in 2013 to ensure a return in 2014. The Vikings can't offer the same level of offensive skill players that at least played a role in Jennings' success with the Packers, and for the fun of it, let's also note they're going to make two stadium transitions in the next four years.

Perhaps the Packers made Jennings' decision easy by making only a cursory offer, or less. Maybe Jennings, who already has a Super Bowl ring, liked the idea of spearheading a renaissance in an offense much less formed than the Packers'. But I understand why it took him a few days to take this visit, much less agree to terms on a contract, and I give him credit for accepting a much bigger challenge. (And yes, I know, probably for much more money.)

The move leaves the Packers exactly where we figured they would be when the offseason began: With a receiving corps led by James Jones, Jordy Nelson and Randall Cobb. It probably increases the chances of high-priced tight end Jermichael Finley remaining with the team, and it leaves room for the Packers to draft and/or develop the next Greg Jennings. That's how they roll, like it or not.

For the Vikings, of course, it was almost mandatory to sign a player with the pedigree of a No. 1 receiver. The departure of Percy Harvin left them with Jerome Simpson and Jarius Wright as the "top" receivers on their roster. That duo would have offered minimal support for Ponder as he gears up for the most important season of his career, and as of now it means that Jennings can count on heavy attention from opposing defenses.

Some might argue that Jennings will rue the day he chose Ponder over Rodgers, if in fact he had a legitimate choice to make there. I would suggest that a first-class receiver, and Jennings certainly counts as one even if his absolute best days are behind him, can elevate a quarterback's play. The Vikings' offense needs more work -- I don't like the idea of Simpson or Wright starting alongside Jennings any more than you do -- but it was going nowhere without a receiver of Jennings' caliber.

As we move into the weekend, we can say with some confidence that the Vikings are better off with Jennings and that the Packers weren't weakened much, if at all, by his loss. Jennings? We'll soon see what lies behind the door he chose.

The pace is starting to accelerate as free agency draws closer, so let's touch on a few developments before heading off into our SportsNation chat.

The Minnesota Vikings re-signed receiver Jerome Simpson to a one-year contract, giving him a second chance after a disappointing season in 2011, according to ESPN's Adam Schefter. He caught 26 passes for a 10.3-yard average and no touchdowns in 12 games, all while battling a murky back injury of uncertain severity.

With that said, the Vikings have no choice but to be in receiver collection mode after trading Percy Harvin on Monday. By default, Simpson is the most established receiver on the Vikings' roster. I expect the team to continue in this mode throughout the offseason as it attempts to assemble a functional and reasonably deep group on the fly.

According to multiple reports, beginning I believe with Mike Garafolo of USA Today, Detroit Lions place-kicker Jason Hanson decided this week to return for another season. There have been no contract negotiations of yet, but the guess is the Lions want Hanson back as well.

The Green Bay Packers issued a second-round tender to cornerback Sam Shields and a low tender to center Evan Dietrich-Smith, as we noted earlier. But they won't make offers to three other restricted free agents: tight end Tom Crabtree and linebackers Robert Francois and Frank Zombo, according to the Green Bay Press-Gazette. It's possible all three players could re-sign for deals less than the lowest tender value, which is $1.323 million, but for now they'll be able to test the market.

Finally, for now, I would suggest that perhaps the biggest slam dunk of free agency is the widespread notion that the Lions are the top candidate to sign running back Reggie Bush. There is every possibility that a team could jump out after the deadline and trump the Lions, but as of the moment I feel relatively confident that a deal will be worked out.

Before you ask, I'm not certain how the Lions will account for Bush from a salary-cap perspective. But the widespread speculation about the obvious connection between the sides is legitimate.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Thursday night provided 3 hours, 20 minutes of evidence for those who doubted the validity of the Minnesota Vikings' surprising start. Beat up and beat down by a 2-4 team that traveled halfway across the country on a short week, the Vikings looked much more like the rebuilding program that many anticipated.

Left up for debate: Can the Vikings squeeze out enough wins in the second half of the season to remain in playoff contention? Or was their 36-17 loss to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, combined with a brutal second-half schedule, the beginning of the end for this team?

Almost as a rule in the NFL, each week's results get magnified and blown out of proportion. One win should not make a season, and one loss shouldn't break it. Yet even with that caveat, we saw plenty Thursday night to leave us questioning this group's playoff viability.

Quarterback Christian Ponder played another underwhelming game, missing on five of his first six passes and experiencing intermittent accuracy problems throughout. The defense was gashed by a diminutive running back for the second consecutive week, giving up 214 all-purpose yards to Doug Martin a week after the Arizona Cardinals' LaRod Stephens-Howling gashed them for 149 all-purpose yards.

Cornerback Chris Cook broke his wrist, leaving his availability in question for the remainder of the season. And perhaps most important, the Vikings face a second-half schedule that starts Nov. 4 at the Seattle Seahawks and includes two games against the 5-1 Chicago Bears, two more against the 4-3 Green Bay Packers and one against the 6-1 Houston Texans.

"You can't just sit here and think this is the end of your season," Vikings linebacker Chad Greenway said. "Guys have to keep playing. This is the NFL. They're going to get you a few times. … We know the schedule coming ahead for us. It's tough. That's just the way it is. We have to play better than we did tonight. That's for sure."

Indeed, the Buccaneers took a 10-0 lead in the first quarter and the Vikings produced only brief glimpses of competitiveness thereafter. They made it 13-7 after Ponder hit receiver Percy Harvin on an 18-yard touchdown with 9 minutes, 39 seconds remaining in the second quarter, and it was 20-10 at halftime. But as defensive end Brian Robison put it: "The bottom line is they did a good job of pretty much beating our brains in."

Fellow defensive end Jared Allen said: "I don't know if we were flat, but we didn't seem to have a sense of urgency. You can't wait until you're down 15 or 20 points to start getting after it."

Allen spoke with a cut above the bridge of his nose, courtesy of a third-quarter fight with Bucs left tackle Donald Penn. That scuffle offered the Vikings another chance to gain momentum, but their offense went three-and-out late in the third quarter while trailing 27-10. In their best chance to get back into the game, in fact, center John Sullivan caught Ponder by surprise with a low shotgun snap on third-and-6. It was one of a series of ill-timed mistakes that also included first-half fumbles by tailback Adrian Peterson and receiver Jerome Simpson.

"We need to have a gut check right now," Robison said. "Luckily we have a three-day weekend to rest our bodies up. But … if we go to Seattle and play this way, they're going to whoop us up, too."

Can the Vikings play better against teams such as the Seahawks, Bears and Packers? Not with a passing offense that failed miserably in its attempt to capitalize on the Bucs' shaky pass defense. Ponder missed two simple swing passes to Harvin and, more ominously, threw two deep shots out of bounds when Simpson had single coverage.

Ponder finished with 251 passing yards, but 117 of them came during garbage time in the fourth quarter. He completed only three of the 10 attempts that traveled farther than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage -- against a defense, according to ESPN Stats & Information, that allowed 56 percent of such throws to be completed in its first six games.

"I have to play better and I think that's obvious to everyone," Ponder said.

Coach Leslie Frazier added: "Our passing game needs to improve. It's hard to just continue to try to pound it. There are going to be games when you've got to throw it. We've done a good job running on occasion. There are times when you have to get the ball down the field. There were times when we tried a couple times that we didn't connect. We need to connect on a few."

Frazier termed the performance "uncharacteristic," but that remains to be seen. The Vikings are very much at a crossroads. I wouldn't be surprised if you told me they would finish the season 9-7, nor would it be a stunner if they are 6-10 when 2012 is complete.

Ponder, for one, noted that "our goals are still achievable." Allen said that, before the season began, he would have been thrilled to know the Vikings would be 5-3 at the midpoint. "I'll take 5-3 in the second half, too," he said. "At 10-6, that most likely puts you in the playoffs."

Allen paused and noted: "But that's a long way away."

Yes, a rational view of this team makes the postseason seem a distant goal. Let's face it. A 3-5 record from this point would give the Vikings an 8-8 record that seemed the high-water mark for the group before the season. There is plenty of time to prove otherwise, of course, but usually the cream rises to the top. And the rest? You're smart. You can figure that one out.

MINNEAPOLIS -- A few thoughts after Thursday night's 36-17 Tampa Bay victory at the Metrodome:

What it means: The Vikings are 5-3 at their season's midpoint. It's better than what many thought they would do, but their second-half schedule is far more difficult. That's what made Thursday night's presumably winnable game so crucial. Entering this game, home teams had won 13 of the past 16 Thursday-night games. Since 1990, 5-3 teams have made the playoffs 66.4 percent of the time.

Offensive struggles: Quarterback Christian Ponder got off to a slow start on the heels of his 58-yard performance on Sunday against the Arizona Cardinals, completing just one of six passes for four yards in the fourth quarter. He played a really substandard game for the second consecutive week. But Ponder wasn't solely to blame for the Vikings falling behind 10-0 in the first quarter and 20-10 at halftime. Two fumbles near midfield, one from receiver Jerome Simpson and one from tailback Adrian Peterson, led to 10 Tampa Bay points in the first half. But two things seem clear. The Vikings don't have an offense capable of playing from behind. And Ponder doesn't look to be playing with a lot of confidence. He is guiding his throws instead of driving them.

Martin factor: The Vikings had a hard time tackling an opposing running back for the second game in a row. Last week, it was the Cardinals' LaRod Stephens-Howling. Thursday night, it was rookie running back Doug Martin, who finished with 135 rushing yards and 79 receiving. Most notably, Martin ran through four arm tackles on his 64-yard touchdown reception on the opening drive of the third quarter.

Seeing blood: Tensions rose late in the third quarter when Bucs left tackle Donald Penn, a former Vikings practice-squad player, pushed off defensive end Jared Allen's helmet after the play and landed several punches. Allen was left with a cut on the bridge of his nose and was livid when referee Ron Winter's crew assessed offsetting fouls. As he and Penn continued to gesture to one another, Allen followed up with a sack on the ensuing third down, setting the crowd into a frenzy.

Missed opportunity: Trailing 30-17 at the time, the Vikings couldn't capitalize on the ensuing emotional wave. They went three-and-out on their next series, which included two plays that lost yardage, and their defense looked winded as the Bucs answered with a 16-play, 87-yard drive that took nearly nine minutes off the clock and ultimately made it a three-score game.

Injury report: Cornerback Chris Cook didn't return after leaving the game in the third quarter with an arm injury. He was replaced by rookie Josh Robinson in base defense and veteran A.J. Jefferson in the nickel.

What's next: The Vikings have 10 days to get ready for their next game, Nov. 4 at the Seattle Seahawks.

Three nuggets of knowledge about an early installment of Week 8:

Home advantage: These Thursday night turnarounds are tough for both teams, but recent history suggests the Minnesota Vikings will get a big boost by playing this game at the Metrodome. Already, the Vikings are 4-0 at home this season. And over the past two seasons, the home team is 13-3 in Thursday games. The Tampa Bay Buccaneers are making a long trip after a physical and disappointing loss last Sunday to the New Orleans Saints. That's probably why the Vikings are a 6.5-point favorite and have been picked to win by 13 of ESPN's 14 football experts. Frankly, the Vikings really need to win this game. Even with the 2-4 Bucs on the list, the Vikings have the NFL's third-toughest schedule (.593 opposing winning percentage) for the rest of the season. They still must play the Chicago Bears (5-1) and Green Bay Packers (4-3) twice, as well as the Houston Texans (6-1).

Offensive matchup: In starting 2-4, the Buccaneers defense has been really good against the run and had some terrible games against the pass. We haven't yet seen a game where the Vikings couldn't or didn't run the ball, and tailback Adrian Peterson has looked better each week. Will this be the week the Vikings need quarterback Christian Ponder to carry the offense? Opponents are averaging an NFL-low 3.1 yards per carry against the Bucs this season, mostly because defensive tackles Gerald McCoy and Roy Miller are plugging up the middle. On the other hand, the Bucs have given up four 300-yard passing games this season, including 510 yards to the New York Giants' Eli Manning. My guess is the Vikings will do their best to get Peterson rolling before getting too pass-happy.

Veteran threat: Two alternate views of team-building will be on display this evening. Both the Vikings and Bucs entered the offseason needing a veteran downfield threat at receiver. The Bucs signed the NFL's top free agent at the position, Vincent Jackson, to a five-year contract worth $55 million. The Vikings took a flyer on veteran Jerome Simpson. Jackson is averaging 21.7 yards on 27 receptions and has caught five touchdowns. Simpson has five receptions for 58 yards in three games. But are the Bucs better off for having spent that kind of money? It hasn't translated into victories -- at least not yet.

MINNEAPOLIS -- Good morning from the Metrodome, where I'm set up and settled in for Sunday's game between the Minnesota Vikings and Arizona Cardinals. Of course, you would know that if you followed me on Instagram at kevinseifert_espn, but that should go without saying.

Only two of our teams are in action today as we await Monday night's game at Soldier Field. So here are a few notes on Sunday morning's roster maneuvering for the Vikings and Green Bay Packers, who are set to play at the St. Louis Rams:

• There were no surprises on the Vikings' list of inactive players. Receiver Jerome Simpson (back) is active and expected to start after missing one game.
• Rookie Casey Hayward will get his first career start at cornerback for the Packers in place of Sam Shields (shin). Hayward had two interceptions after replacing Shields last Sunday against the Houston Texans.
• The rest of the Packers' injury replacements are unsurprising. Ryan Pickett will again start at nose tackle in place of B.J. Raji, with rookie Jerel Worthy starting at defensive end. Erik Walden will start at outside linebacker in place of Nick Perry.
• Let's keep an eye on how the Packers distribute their playing time among receivers after taking a look at Rob Demovsky's story on the phase-out of receiver Donald Driver in the Green Bay Press-Gazette. You wonder if rookie Jarrett Boykin will start to get a look at some point.

A few thoughts on Sunday's events at FedEx Field:

What it means: The Minnesota Vikings saw their three-game winning streak end after a comeback fell short at FedEx Field. They're 4-2, officially a half-game behind the NFC North-leading Chicago Bears (4-1).

What I liked: Overcoming a series of defensive breakdowns and a sluggish offensive performance, the Vikings closed a 19-point deficit to as close as 31-26 with three minutes, 42 seconds remaining. They had the Redskins in a third-and-six situation on the ensuing possession, but a rare blitz gave Washington Redskins quarterback Robert Griffin III an opening for a game-clinching 76-yard touchdown run. The Vikings had played poorly enough to earn that 19-point deficit, but to their credit, they kept fighting. Quarterback Christian Ponder threw two interceptions and lost a fumble, but he was still pushing late in the fourth quarter.

What I didn't like: The game showed how slim the Vikings' margin for error is. Field goals on three first-quarter trips to the red zone came back to hurt them. That 9-0 lead turned to a 17-9 halftime deficit once Griffin got warmed up against a defense that looked uncomfortable against him. Ponder was inaccurate over too long of a stretch in this game, culminating with a fourth-quarter interception returned for a touchdown by Redskins safety Madieu Williams. This team doesn't have the firepower to overcome big deficits or multiple mistakes.

HarvinWatch: Receiver Percy Harvin caught 11 of the 14 passes thrown his way for 133 yards, four of which went for at least 15 yards. But this was the type of game the Vikings missed receiver Jerome Simpson, or at least the potential of what he can bring. Simpson was inactive because of a back injury, and it's hard to mount a big comeback without a true downfield threat.

What's next: The Vikings have an opportunity to rebound with two home games over the next 11 days, starting with the Arizona Cardinals next Sunday.

MINNEAPOLIS -- One of the smartest moves we've seen in the NFL this season is arguably the simplest. It can be accounted for with six syllables.

Let Percy do his thing.

There are a number of reasons why the Minnesota Vikings are 4-1 after Sunday's 30-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans. We've noted the progress of quarterback Christian Ponder as well as the emergence of a youthful energy on defense. After five games, however, I think it's fair to say the Vikings are an efficient team with the exception of one player who is performing at the highest level imaginable.

Coaches are getting the ball to Percy Harvin in the most obvious ways possible, and for the most part opponents have been helpless in their attempts to stop him. In the process of scoring two touchdowns Sunday, one via a dive play and one on a bubble screen, Harvin eluded or ran over seven would-be tacklers who had been unblocked and had direct access to him. He finished with 116 all-purpose yards on 10 touches, bringing his season total to an NFL-high 814 yards.

It all came on a day when tailback Adrian Peterson (ankle) and receiver Jerome Simpson (leg) were both limited for portions of the game, and against an opponent that appeared schematically well-prepared for the ways the Vikings get Harvin the ball. Sunday, five of his eight receptions came on throws at or behind the line of scrimmage.

"Show me a better player in the NFL right now that's doing more for his team," linebacker Chad Greenway. "You just can't find one."

(Related: Last week's post on Harvin's MVP candidacy.)

Indeed, Harvin has contributed at least 84 receiving yards to four of the Vikings' five games this season. In the fifth, against the Detroit Lions, he returned a kickoff for a touchdown.

Most of his offensive yardage has come in hard-earned and relatively small chunks, the kind that make any one highlight an unfair representative of his cumulative effect. But after he embarrassed the Titans on plays the Vikings have run "a million times" this season, Ponder said half-jokingly, rare accolades were flowing from the locker room.

"He is the best football player I've ever played with," Peterson said.

"For his size," said cornerback Antoine Winfield, "it's unbelievable the way he plays. Very physical. The best run after-the-catch-receiver I've ever seen. He runs like a running back."

Consider this sequence of plays Sunday:

1. From the Vikings' 39-yard line in the first quarter, Harvin provided a reminder of his sprinter's speed. He lined up as a traditional outside receiver, ran past cornerback Alterraun Verner -- the Titans' best cover man -- and caught a 45-yard pass in stride.
2. Four plays later, Harvin lined up as a halfback at the Titans' 4-yard line and barreled over right guard for a touchdown. Linebacker Colin McCarthy missed him after an inside cut, and Harvin ran over cornerback Ryan Mouton and safety Robert Johnson, who converted near the goal line, and then Verner.
3. In the third quarter, Harvin lined up in the right slot on a third-down play from the Titans' 10-yard line. At the snap, he drifted backward about 6 yards before catching a bubble screen pass. He juked past two defenders, safety Jordan Babineaux and McCarthy, just to get back to the line of scrimmage. He then accelerated past linebacker Akeem Ayers and into the end zone.

As best as I can tell, none of those seven players were blocked. Vikings left tackle Matt Kalil said there were "a lot of plays when we're not near him." And the Titans didn't appear surprised by the way the Vikings got the ball to Harvin. In a league where obvious athletic mismatches are rare, Harvin was just operating at a higher plane.

"Defenses are doing a good job of trying to be there," Ponder said, "but Percy is making plays."

According to Harvin, multiple opponents have told him they can't believe how strong and/or fast he is.

"I just laugh," he said, "and say, that's my job."

But imagine where the Vikings would be without a player who could perform this particular job. This season, according to ESPN's Stats & Information, more than half of his receptions -- 22 of 39 -- have come on passes at or behind the line of scrimmage. He's averaged 8.14 yards on those receptions.

Consider those numbers for a moment. An offense with a young quarterback and relatively few big-time playmakers has a unique talent who can turn the safest, most efficient passes into consistently big gains. Harvin is doing it with rare strength, speed and football instincts, recognizing that this offense needs every yard it can get.

"Around here," Harvin said, "we account for every yard. ... Yards are hard to come by. I want all of them."

So far this season, no NFL player has maximized his opportunities more than Harvin.

How simple it is.

Let Percy do his thing.

A few thoughts on Minnesota's 20-13 victory over the Detroit Lions on Sunday at Ford Field:

What it means: The Minnesota Vikings are 3-1 and in sole possession of first place in the NFC North, pending the Chicago Bears' outcome Monday night at the Dallas Cowboys. The victory was coach Leslie Frazier's first in the NFC North (in eight attempts), and overall it snapped the Vikings' streak of 11 consecutive losses in division games. Meanwhile, the Lions' mostly listless performance dropped them to a stunning 1-3 on the season.

Brutal teams: According to STATS Inc., the Lions are the first team since at least 1940 to allow a punt and kickoff to be returned for touchdowns in consecutive weeks. Sunday, it was the Vikings' Percy Harvin (105-yard kickoff return) and Marcus Sherels (77-yard punt return). Harvin wasn't touched on his game-opening return, setting a tone of Lions malaise for the rest of the game. Harvin now has five touchdown returns in his first four NFL seasons. And Sunday was Sherels' birthday. So there's that.

Disjointed offense: We should give some credit to the Vikings for carrying over their hard-hitting defensive play from last week's victory over the San Francisco 49ers. Safeties Jamarca Sanford and Harrison Smith were especially impressive. But the Lions' offense continued to look out of whack. They committed anywhere from three to six drops, depending on how tough of a grader you are. One came from tight end Brandon Pettigrew in the end zone (again), while Smith dislodged the ball from Calvin Johnson in the end zone as well. The Lions left Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen unblocked on a fourth-down play in the red zone, and they didn't score a touchdown until Matthew Stafford nudged the ball over the goal line with 2 minutes, 58 seconds remaining.

PetersonWatch: The two special teams touchdowns overshadowed a relatively punchless day for the Vikings' offense. Tailback Adrian Peterson had his first 100-yard game of the season (he finished with 102), but the Lions were well-prepared for the manufactured touches the Vikings usually get to Harvin. As a result, the Vikings couldn't move the ball through the air at all. Quarterback Christian Ponder completed 16 of 26 passes for 112 yards. But the Vikings did make one downfield play -- a 27-yard pass to receiver Jerome Simpson -- that forced the Lions to use their timeouts on defense in the fourth quarter. Simpson also drew two pass interference penalties on deep throws.

What's next: The Vikings return to the Metrodome to host the Tennessee Titans. The Lions have their bye week and will return Oct. 14 at the Philadelphia Eagles.

GREEN BAY, Wis. -- Soon I'll be headed to Lambeau Field to position myself in front of the television in time for the start of Sunday's NFC North battle between the Detroit Lions and Minnesota Vikings. Until then, be advised there was one surprise in the Sunday morning roster maneuvering.

The Lions will start safety Ricardo Silva one day after promoting him from the practice squad. He'll replace Amari Spievey, who apparently had earned his starting job back but is inactive Sunday because of a groin injury. The Lions' other question of Sunday morning, running back Mikel Leshoure, is active and will start.

The Vikings, meanwhile, made room on their game-day roster for receiver Jerome Simpson by deactivating receiver Stephen Burton, who had appeared in the Vikings' first three games. Jamarca Sanford will start for injured safety Mistral Raymond, as expected.

» NFC Final Word: East | West | North | South » AFC: East | West | North | South

Five nuggets of knowledge on Week 4:

The Goodell Bowl: That's what I'm referring to Sunday's game at Lambeau Field, which pits two teams who have felt aggrieved by the policies of NFL commissioner Roger Goodell. The New Orleans Saints are 0-3 after Goodell suspended coach Sean Payton for the season and interim coach Joe Vitt for six games because of their roles in his investigation of an alleged bounty program. The Packers, meanwhile, were the team most impacted by the NFL's attempt to use low-level replacement officials in its first three weeks. How much were the Packers impacted by last Monday's loss to the Seattle Seahawks? Even if they win Sunday to even their record at 2-2, they face this fact: Under the current playoff format, only 35.3 percent of 2-2 teams advanced to the playoffs. If they fall to 1-3? History suggests they have a 14.7 percent of playing in the postseason.

Run to Daylight: The Packers balanced their offense midway through the Seahawks game, giving tailback Cedric Benson 15 of his 17 carries after halftime. It was no coincidence that all three scoring drives came after that point. Will the Packers bring that approach Sunday? The Saints defense has really struggled this season but has been particularly vulnerable to the run, giving up a stunning average of 215 rushing yards per game. The Packers' initial game plan hasn't worked well in any of their first three games, and they've gone scoreless in the first quarter each time. That hasn't happened in the first three Packers games of a season since 1991.

Tables turned: For so long, a trip to Detroit was an automatic victory for the Minnesota Vikings, who won 16 of 17 in this series before the Detroit Lions broke through in the 2010 season finale. The Lions have now won three consecutive games over the Vikings, and it is the Vikings who own a dubious distinction: They've lost their past 11 NFC North games. The Lions haven't had the start they would have liked this season and are a fourth-quarter comeback in Week 1 away from an 0-3 record. Meanwhile, the Vikings surprised everyone with a convincing victory last Sunday over the San Francisco 49ers, and they'll get downfield receiver Jerome Simpson back from suspension. But it doesn't appear many people consider them legitimate contenders quite yet. The Lions are healthy six-point favorites, and 11 of 14 ESPN experts picked them to win.

The Allen factor: Vikings defensive end Jared Allen terrorized the Lions last season with six sacks, three in each game, and a forced fumble. Allen has been limited by neck spasms that started in last week's game against the 49ers, and his only sack this season came on the 49ers' final offensive play last week. But one way or the other, Allen will be a key part of this game. Lions quarterback Matthew Stafford is nursing a strained leg/hamstring/hip, and you can count on Allen testing right away whether Stafford is moving any slower in the pocket.

Another MNF affair: An NFC North team will participate in Monday Night Football for the second consecutive week, and the Chicago Bears' matchup at the Dallas Cowboys comes during a streak of six prime-time NFC North games in six weeks. We're popular. We get it. I'll have plenty more to say about this game over the weekend and on Monday, but for now let's bring you up to date on Bears quarterback Jay Cutler's tough record in prime-time road games. Cutler is 3-6 in those games as a Bears starter and 5-10 overall in his career.

The best thing that could have happened to Minnesota Vikings receiver Jerome Simpson took place last Sunday at the Metrodome, the final day of his three-game NFL suspension. The Vikings' offense scored 24 points against one of the league's best defenses, demonstrating for at least one week how a power running game and short-range, high-efficiency passing game can succeed in 2012.

Otherwise, could you imagine the anticipation of and pressure on Simpson's return this Sunday against the Detroit Lions? Simpson is the best of an otherwise middling group of downfield receivers, but he is not an All-Pro. He will make the Vikings a better offense, but to expect him to alter any fundamental dynamics would have been unrealistic and unfair.

The chart shows how rarely quarterback Christian Ponder has thrown the ball downfield in the Vikings' first three games. More than three-quarters of his passes have traveled less than 10 yards past the line of scrimmage, and he has thrown only four passes (and completed one) that traveled more than 20 yards beyond. (The median number of such attempts for qualified NFL starters is 12.)

Finally, Ponder is one of two qualified NFL starters who hasn't thrown a single pass longer than 31 yards. All figures from ESPN Stats & Information.

Simpson will provide a better target for deep throws than Ponder has had to this point, but I don't think anyone is expecting the Vikings to veer significantly from their current approach upon his return.

"We're going to use Jerome to get down field," Ponder told reporters. "Obviously he has the speed to do it. We'll try to do some things to get the ball down field. But again, we want to make big plays, but we're not going to force them."

The Lions allowed a pair of long touchdown passes last Sunday against the Tennessee Titans, and overall their defense is giving up an average of 8.2 yards per attempt, tied for the eighth-most in the NFL. But with or without Simpson, the Vikings' offense is built around their running game and high-percentage passes to receiver Percy Harvin. It's hard to imagine that changing in a fundamental 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.