Handing out superlatives for the Vikings' first half

After two months of turmoil and a relatively quiet October, the Vikings have reached their bye week here in early November. Given all they have endured, their 4-5 record is actually kind of impressive, and head coach Mike Zimmer has the Vikings in position to potentially make a run at the playoffs.

But instead of focusing on the uphill climb that remains for the Vikings to get there, let's take a few minutes and gaze back at the first half — well, technically the first 9/16ths — of the 2014 season.

We will do it superlative style, handing out 11 digital honors to the players, moments and moves that have defined the season to date. As always, feel free to use the comments section to chime in.

BIGGEST STORY: Five days after an impressive win in the season opener, news broke that star running back Adrian Peterson had been charged with abusing his 4-year-old son. The Vikings deactivated him. Then they re-activated him. Then they deactivated him again. His case was resolved this week, but his short-term and long-term future with the Vikings remains in doubt. So the Peterson saga could turn out to be the story of the second half, too.

MOST THRILLING PLAY: The Vikings, after blowing another fourth-quarter lead, headed into overtime against the Buccaneers in Week 8. The Bucs got the ball to start overtime, but they didn't hold onto it for long, as rookie outside linebacker Anthony Barr ripped the ball away from Buccaneers rookie tight end Austin Seferian-Jenkins, scooped it off the ground and returned it for a game-winning score. Barr's big play has turned the season around.

BIGGEST STOMACH PUNCH: The week before the overtime win in Tampa, the Vikings lost a game they should have won in Buffalo. The Bills scored with a second left to win, 17-16, but the most painful play was the 4th-and-20 conversion the Vikings allowed earlier in the drive.

TOP ROOKIE: The Vikings have gotten significant contributions from their rookie class. Teddy Bridgewater and Jerick McKinnon play big roles on offense and late picks such as Jabari Price and Shamar Stephen have found their way on the field. But it's Barr, and it's not even close.

TOUGHEST LOSS: The last-second loss in Buffalo gets the nod, but that blowout Thursday night loss in Green Bay — the one that America watched for maybe an hour — sure was embarrassing.

MOST SURPRISING STAT: After ranking 31st in pass defense a season ago, the Vikings are fourth in Zimmer's first season in Minnesota. The pass rush, which leads the league with 30 sacks, has been a big factor in the Vikings allowing 71 fewer passing yards per game than in 2013.

MOST IMPROVED PLAYER: Josh Robinson graded out as one of Pro Football Focus' worst cornerbacks a season ago and Zimmer didn't seem thrilled with Robinson's injuries during training camp. But here we are three months later, and Robinson has arguably been the team's top cornerback. He has thrived under Zimmer, and it helps that he plays only one the outside. Heck, even Pro Football Focus has plenty of good things to stay about him now.

BEST OFFSEASON ADDITION: The Vikings overhauled their defensive line in the offseason and added cornerback Captain Munnerlyn and brought back linebacker Jasper Brinkley in free agency, too. But no one seemed to think much — good or bad — about the Vikings signing journeyman defensive tackle Tom Johnson. Through nine games, Johnson has contributed 5.5 sacks in a situational pass-rushing role. That's more than he had in three seasons with the Saints.

BIGGEST DISAPPOINTMENT: Many expected left tackle Matt Kalil to return to Pro Bowl form after an injury-riddled 2013 season. But Kalil has struggled mightily, allowing the most sacks in the league, according to Pro Football Focus. General Manager Rick Spielman scoffed at PFF's grading methods, which is fair, but even a novice eye notices Kalil getting beat more often than he should.