The 2014 Vikings are starting to remind us an awful lot of the 2006 Vikings, which is not a terrible thing in some regards but is not a compliment in other ways. Here is a look at those two squads:

First-year coach:
2006: Brad Childress, a law-and-order type and former coordinator to whom many fans took an instant disliking.
2014: Mike Zimmer, a law-and-order type and former coordinator to whom many fans took an instant liking.
Season narrative
2006: Early optimism over a 4-2 start was diminished by a 31-7 home loss to New England, and despite a couple other bright spots the team went 6-10.
2014: Early optimism after an opening-week win over St. Louis was diminished after a 30-7 home loss to New England, and despite a couple of other bright spots the team is 4-6.
Points scored per game
2006: 17.6 (26th in the NFL)
2014: 18.1 (28th in the NFL)
Passing statistics
2006: 195 yards per game, 0.8 TD passes per game, 1.3 INTs per game, 5.4 yards per attempt
2014: 192.1 yards per game, 0.7 TD passes per game, 1.2 INTs per game, 5.2 yards per attempt
Times the team failed to score more than 21 points
2006: 12 out of 16 (2-10 record in those games)
2014: 7 out of 10 (1-6 record in those games)
Points allowed per game
2006: 20.4 (14th in the NFL)
2014: 22.0 (14th in the NFL)
Without AP
2006: In the season before Adrian Peterson was drafted, the Vikings averaged 114 yards rushing per game and 4.1 yards per carry
2014: With Peterson sidelined for nine of the first 10 games, the Vikings are averaging 117 yards rushing per game and 4.6 yards per carry
QB situation
2006: The season started with a veteran at the helm (Brad Johnson) before giving way eventually to a rookie the team hoped would become the franchise quarterback (Tarvaris Jackson).
2014: The season started with a veteran at the helm (Matt Cassel) before an injury thrust into that role a rookie the team hoped would be the eventual franchise quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater).
Progress?
2006: Vikings improved to 8-8 the next season, 10-6 and the playoffs in 2008 and 12-4 and within an eyelash of the Super Bowl in 2009.
2014: The Vikings are hoping a young nucleus built around seven first-round picks from 2012-14 will lead to better days ahead.
MICHAEL RAND