Vikings 2012: Much to Ponder

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - OCTOBER 23: Christian Ponder #7 of the Minnesota Vikings passes the ball against the Green Bay Packers in the fourth quarter on October 23, 2011 at Hubert H. Humphrey Metrodome in Minneapolis, Minnesota. The Packers defeated the Vikings 33-27. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The Minnesota Vikings headed into their midseason bye week Sunday with a 34-24 win over the Detroit Lions at the soon-to-be-demolished Metrodome.  They have a 6-4 record in the NFC North, good for third place behind the Chicago Bears and Green Bay Packers.  Not bad for a team that's supposed to be in a rebuilding year.

Coach Leslie Frazier's team has done some odd things on their way to their surprising record.  The Vikings could claim a "signature" victory over the San Francisco 49ers, yet flop against two of the NFL's leading rookie quarterbacks--Andrew Luck of the Indianapolis Colts and Robert Griffin III of the Washington Redskins.  One game the defense comes up with big plays, the next they take too many stupid penalties that results in points for their opponents.

The biggest question mark the Vikings have is what to do with quarterback Christian Ponder, whose performance Sunday against the Lions should quiet the critics at least temporarily.  The team's coaching staff is committed to keeping Ponder as a starter for the remainder of the season, as this is the man they drafted to be their quarterback of the future.  This week notwithstanding, how much longer can the Vikings (or their fans) tolerate Ponder's uneven play when he (A) throws interceptions and (B) waits too long to throw the ball, enabling the other team's defense to knock him down?

No such problems with Adrian Peterson, who came back from a debilitating injury last season to lead the NFL in rushing this season.  Percy Harvin had been doing a good job on his own, until he suffered a sprained left ankle during a game at Seattle against the Seahawks.  But those two can't be the whole offense, and this is where Ponder is having problems.  Or maybe it's just the fault of the offensive coordinator?

After the bye week, the Vikings face a rough stretch down the rest of the schedule.  They're done with Detroit, so now they have to face the Packers and Bears twice.  Both of those teams have their vulnerabilities, but are still considered playoff material.  If the Vikings want to join them in the post season, they need to prove that they can stay on the same field with Chicago and Green Bay.  Let's see if Christian Ponder is up to the challenge.