Given the turn of events involving Adrian Peterson and the Viking organization, it is easy to lose hope for today's game vs. the (0-2) New Orleans Saints. Last Sunday, Matt Cassel had a poor performance, and his four turnovers were impossible to overcome.,Matt Asiata was not AP-like. The defense took a step back from their opening solid performance against the Rams. Special teams folded.

Heading into today's noon start we feel like a death row inmate in "dead man walking" motif.

It is now we have to remind ourselves that teams win football games. Not players.

As hopeless as it feels minutes from kick-off, we are content that Minnesota finally got it right by sitting Adrian Peterson until legal matters are resolved. We wonder why the rest of society is not held to the same standard. Hollywood. Congress. But rather than defend AP, we should focus on moving forward. Will the community ostracize Peterson? Or will it employ restorative justice, and help him?

We know which one is more effective. Different from the model we adhere toward.

This week my 7th grade football team had minor misconduct issues.The team was punished. We wanted a message that we are all in this together. People make mistakes. There are consequences. But we do not kick kids out of our community. We embrace them. Work with them.

We demand better. And we teach better.

The Vikings may not have enough 'team;' to pull out a win today. The odds are against them. But it is time for fans to rally around the Purple. We watch football to escape our lives for a moment. To let go the things that stress us, and work ourselves up to a fever with loyalty. We have been maybe the most snake-bit franchise in the entire NFL. We are not as weak as the Browns or Lions since the merger. We are more consistent than the Bills. We win often.

Just never the big one.

Or the behaviors of a few impact the team to the point it is handicapped. Like today.Disappointment is often our closest friend. That is the 'cross' that we Purple fans wear.

But we wear it together. And we should wear it proudly.

This game is much bigger than any one player.

It is all of us.

Skol.