Just about everything is going wrong for the Vikings right now. They've allowed 480 rushing yards the past three weeks while netting only 316 passing yards themselves. Quarterback Christian Ponder is suddenly the target of escalating fan outrage. And now, with a two-game losing skid, the Vikings head into the teeth of their schedule with four consecutive NFC North games. But wait, there's more. Here's a trio of other things you should know: 1. Ponder needs a bounce-back performance in the worst way this weekend against Detroit.
In recent weeks, the second-year quarterback has taken to posting Bible verses on Twitter as inspiration. Wednesday morning's tweet: "Mark 5:36 Overhearing what they said, Jesus told him, 'Don't be afraid; just believe.'"
Self-belief will be a big, big deal for Ponder on Sunday. The tension promises to be high with an agitated home crowd growing impatient with Ponder's growing pains and certain to give the young quarterback plenty to overhear.
Ponder realizes last weekend's 63-yard passing effort in Seattle was unacceptable. But when asked Wednesday to explain those woes, he also couldn't identify the particulars of what's going haywire.
"I don't know if there are any specific things that jump out at me," he said. "It just goes back to execution. And my execution has to pick up."
Ponder is clearly growing tired of all the outside speculation about his confidence, his banged-up right knee and his long-term potential. But there's only one way to wall off such criticism -- by playing well and winning.
2. Shaky quarterback play isn't the only reason for the recent passing struggles.
That's been Leslie Frazier's message, with the Vikings coach making a plea for better protection and sharper receiver play. On top of that, Frazier has made it clear the coaching staff and coordinator Bill Musgrave need to do their part helping the offense evolve so the Vikings don't become over-reliant on concepts that worked early in the season but have now become easier to sniff out.
Frazier hinted that adjustments need to be made to the Vikings' routes to better free receivers against the coverages they're seeing so often.
"You see things on tape where you know [defenses] are getting a good feel for our rhythm and how we do things," Frazier said. "And we've got to make a few adjustments."
The challenge will be made even more difficult if Percy Harvin's sprained left ankle doesn't heal enough for him to play. Without the NFL's receptions leader, Ponder will need other options, including tight end Kyle Rudolph, who has only two catches in the past three games.
The Vikings have tried but failed to loosen up defenses by connecting on deep passes outside. Now comes a call for Rudolph to step up.
"We've got to do some things between the numbers and near the hashes," Frazier said.
3. The Vikings aren't the only ones with their star receiver beat up.
Like Harvin, Detroit's Calvin Johnson also missed practice Wednesday and might not participate all week because of a sore left knee. He didn't practice at all last week, yet he returned to deliver seven catches for 129 yards in Sunday's victory over Jacksonville.
Johnson has had a peculiar season. He dealt with a finger injury during training camp and entered the regular season with a minor foot issue. He later suffered a concussion in Week 4 against the Vikings and is now battling that tender knee.
Johnson's stated goal of reaching 2,000 receiving yards might be slipping. But midway through the season, he still has 48 catches for 767 yards -- even as defenses build entire game plans around stopping him.
But now quarterback Matthew Stafford and Detroit's offense are also turning to a handful of younger players -- most notably running backs Mikel Leshoure and Joique Bell and receivers Titus Young and Ryan Broyles -- to become more dynamic.
Said coach Jim Schwartz: "I don't know that we're trying to take the attention away from [Calvin]. We're just trying to score. Whether it's rushing touchdowns, whether it's throwing to somebody else, whether it's throwing to him, we're trying to be efficient, move the ball and score."
