At least Childress didn't try to play his usual secret agent card - keeping it a secret until game time. Surprise only works if you have TWO GOOD options. When you are trying to fool another team into time spent preparing for this crappy quarterback or that crappy QB - it doesn't work.

They need to microwave the game balls on the sideline so Holcomb will not hold onto it for so long and take another dozen sacks. Speaking of which - Aaron Kampman versus Ryan Cook.....sheesh! Last December Kampman had 3 sacks against us. Will probably have to have Kleinsasser help him out - thus removing a potential receiver downfield.

Chester Taylor is expected to play. The vikes need some long drives - 14,15 plays that eat up the clock and keep Farve on the sidelines. This will throw off his rythym so when he gets in the game, he's in a big hurry and throws 3 interceptions which will tie him George Blanda at 277 for the most ever in history.

C'mon Vikes....you can do it. Line is Green Bay by 1 to 1 1/2.

I predict Minnesota 20, Green Bay 16.

Good for Zygi, he is a very quiet owner and I have wondered what his opinion was. I have to confess to watching "Dancing with the Stars" and enjoyed watched Mark Cuban give a 100% effort.

He's worth 1.8 billion and just coming off of hip-replacement surgery - whatever motivated him to do something like this with a huge risk of embarrassment versus meaningless reward to someone with 1.8 b? I admire the guy, he took it seriously and practiced with determination, even writing down steps and thoughts. You can see how he became such a success - he sets his mind on a goal and makes it happen. Whatever it takes that he has an ability to effect.

I would like someone like him to own the Vikings. Do whatever it took to make the team a champion - hold the coach accountable, get the best available players. If Mark Cuban owned the Vikings he would know the playbook as well has Childress.

The metrodome used to be a House of Horrors for Brett Favre until the last three seasons. Last year the Packers beat us at home easily - the long TD to Driver in front of Sharper just before halftime was a back-breaker. The Packers are better this year and have 3 quality wins. Looking at the schedule a month ago I expected this to be a game of two 3-0 teams.

Now I look at the rest of the season and it looks bleak. We have a real chance to go 0-8 on the road and finish 4-4 at home. What can Childress do to change course?

When you compare the Vikes offense to Philadelphia's, they aren't very similar. The Eagles run a lot of crossing routes 15-20 yards deep and McNabb frequently throws to wide open receivers. Against the Lions the Eagles went up top with huge results - Kevin Curtis had 204 yards receiving in the first half alone. McNabb finished with his first ever perfect passer rating of 158.3. Why does our offense look so conservative in comparison?

Maybe Childress and Bevel are just naturally more conservative than Andy Reid. They also don't have Donovan McNabb. I think the problem is they don't have the players to do what they want and instead of adjusting their system to fit the players they are running their system in a trimmed-down version hoping the players can make it work.

The immediate problem is the right side of the offensive line. Artis Hicks and Ryan Cook are average at best. The QB doesn't have time for deeper routs and Tarvaris can't handle blitzes so defenses are going to come hard. Bryant McKinnie has been disappointing too, since signing his huge contract last year. The Chiefs Jared Allen ate him up - although Allen is pretty good. Except for Hutchinson, our line don't look comfortable zone blocking but more suited to trap blocking.

With our personnel they need to move the pocket more - get away from some of the rush and allow time for receivers to run their patterns (similar to how Denver does). The way defenses are stacking against the run - a flea flicker might go. Even a flanker screen. I'd send Mewelde in motion to the slot then hit him with a screen. Any play that involved getting the ball to Adrian in open space - such as a pitch - is a good thing.

Just my two-cents.