Minnesota
Vikings

The Vikings will have an outstanding opportunity to create even more separation with home games against Detroit, Seattle and Chicago to complete the month.

That means it would not be unrealistic for the Vikings to be 10-1 when they play at Arizona on Dec. 6. Of course, coach Brad Childress will continue to take a "one game at a time" approach.

"It's always good to get home and get in front of these fans here," Childress said when asked about the three-game home stand. "I don't know anything about three in a row. I know we've got one in a row here against an NFC North opponent and really a nameless, faceless opponent. We just need to worry about what we need to do to get ready for those guys in those different jersey numbers."

Linebacker Chad Greenway doesn't expect his teammates will have any problem with their focus.

"I don't foresee it's going to be an issue with this group," he said. "We just want to get back to work. We want to get to work in the fact that you get back in, you get the meetings going again, just kind of get back in the grind and you get back in the swing of things as far as the monotony of the week of work. I think that grind that we get on really maintains the level of consistency in a group. So we're not going to look too far ahead."

--WR Vinny Perretta, a member of the Vikings' practice squad, was the only player not at practice Monday as the team returned from its bye. Perretta was dealing with a family issue, according to coach Brad Childress.

--WR Darius Reynaud hasn't played since Week 3 because of a hamstring injury but he appears ready to return. However, wide receiver Jaymar Johnson has taken over as the Vikings' primary punt returner.

--FB Naufahu Tahi missed the Vikings' victory over the Packers on Nov. 1 because of an eye injury but appears ready to return. He was back practicing on Monday.

--CB Asher Allen has seen playing time in the nickel package with Winfield out but it's not clear if he will remain among the game-day actives once the veteran returns.

REPORT CARD AFTER EIGHT GAMES

PASSING OFFENSE: B-plus -- Brett Favre's addition has turned out better than anyone, including Favre, could have expected. The quarterback, who joined the Vikings after the team had broken training camp in Mankato and already played one preseason game, has shown no ill effects from offseason surgery to repair a partially torn biceps tendon in his throwing arm. He also has been finding his timing with his new receivers. This is especially true in the case of Sidney Rice (37 receptions, 585 yards and two touchdowns) and Percy Harvin (28-369-3). Favre has not only provided the Vikings with the type of leadership they needed from the quarterback position but he has been able to make several big plays while limiting his mistakes. Favre has thrown only three interceptions but is near the top of the league with 16 touchdown passes.

RUSHING OFFENSE: B -- Favre's addition means Adrian Peterson no longer is responsible for shouldering as much of the offensive load, but nonetheless he continues to be one of if not the best running back in the NFL. Peterson, who led the league in rushing last season, entered the bye week tied for second with 784 yards on 163 carries and nine touchdowns. He also has 19 catches for 189 yards and continues to become a more polished all-around player. There is no question Peterson's pass protection skills have improved, something that is vitally important considering regular third-down back Chester Taylor is set to become a free agent after this season. No matter what type of output Peterson provides -- he has only two games with 100 rushing yards or more this season -- his value lies in the potential damage he can do to opponents. Defenses can't sleep on him and always begin their game plan by focusing on stopping him. Favre knows this and can take advantage.

PASS DEFENSE: C -- The Vikings are 23rd in the NFL, giving up an average of 237.9 yards per game through the air. Coordinator Leslie Frazier cautions reporters not to put too much stock in this statistic, pointing out that if those yards don't result in points then it's still a victory for the defense. However, the issue here is that too often in the first half of the season Vikings opponents were able to have success in the second half through the air and that meant on a few occasions what should have been comfortable victories turned into nail biters. A narrow 33-31 victory over Baltimore in Week 6 and a 38-26 victory over Green Bay in Week 8 come to mind. The Packers rallied from a 17-3 halftime deficit to make it close before the Vikings pulled away. Perhaps the most troubling aspect of the pass defense has been missed tackles by front-line players who either find themselves in poor position or are flat-out missing the ball carrier. The Vikings are going to need to get this turned around in the second half because poor tackling technique in the playoffs could prove deadly.

RUSH DEFENSE: B -- The Vikings have led the NFL in run defense the past three seasons but this year find themselves seventh in that category, surrendering 94.8 yards per game. That still isn't too shabby and it has now been 31 games since Minnesota had a running back run for 100 yards. Success in this area still starts up front with Pro Bowl defensive tackles Kevin and Pat Williams. The latter might have played his best games before the bye week. The Vikings coaches have done a good job of getting Pat Williams, 37, regular breathers and bringing in either Fred Evans or Jimmy Kennedy, who can play nose tackle or the 3-technique. Kennedy, who was signed late last season, has proven to be a valuable addition and has three sacks. Kevin Williams has gotten to the quarterback five times. The run defense should get a boost when left cornerback Antoine Winfield returns from a foot injury that caused him to sit out two-plus games. Winfield is an extremely physical corner and thus is very good in run support.

SPECIAL TEAMS: B-plus -- A year ago the Vikings' return and coverage units caused nothing but headaches. Minnesota surrendered an NFL record seven returns for touchdowns and its own return games were, for the most part, lifeless. Harvin has been the biggest difference maker, providing an explosive presence on kickoff returns. He is near the top of the NFL, averaging 30.7 yards per return, and has taken two kickoffs for touchdowns. Punt returns also have improved with Darius Reynaud handling the chores early in the season and Jaymar Johnson taking over after Reynaud was hurt. Minnesota had four punt returns of 20-plus yards last season and already has matched that total this year. The coverage units have shown big improvement with opponents starting 12 drives inside their own 20-yard line. The additions of Karl Paymah and Kenny Onatolu and the return of Heath Farwell from injury have been extremely important. Veteran kicker Ryan Longwell and punt Chris Kluwe continue to be reliable; Kluwe has been adjusting to a punting technique where first-year coordinator Brian Murphy wants the ball kicked high in order to give the coverage unit more time to get down field. Kluwe had averaged 43.4 yards gross and 38.2 net. Longwell, meanwhile, has made 13 of 14 field-goal attempts.

COACHING: B -- Everything Brad Childress has done of late seems to be working. His decision to make a last-ditch attempt to sign Favre -- if you truly believe an agreement wasn't worked out before that -- looks like a stroke of genius. Childress also had plenty to say about the decision to draft Harvin, who dropped to the 22nd pick in the first round because several teams considered him a risk. When the season began, many wondered how Favre, a noted gunslinger, and Childress, a stickler for detail, would co-exist but so far, so good. Favre doesn't appear to have any handcuffs on him and has been working well with Childress and offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell. Childress appears to have this team positioned to make a run deep into the playoffs and possibly challenge (the Saints?) for the NFC championship.