Defeat might be unbearable for Vikings

The fact that Childress' team reported to training camp more than four months ago or that 130 days have passed since that time holds little meaning. All that matters to the Vikings (6-5), Bears (6-5) and Green Bay Packers (5-6) is the now. What do the Vikings think of a possible playoff berth? Don't bother asking. That word isn't being mentioned around Winter Park these days.

Actually, the three teams fighting for the NFC North title already have entered a postseason of sorts. Given the way the conference is shaping up, it's likely that the only playoff team from this division is going to be the one that wins it. That means with five games and one month to go in the regular season focus and attention to detail are of utmost importance.

"Every play is important," quarterback Gus Frerotte said. "Every situation is important. Every single thing we do is extremely important, from walkthrough before practice to practice. Coach talked about being in the present. This is the part of the season where we know where we are. We know our situation. Now we're battling for first place, and this is our point where we have to start. We won our big game last week, and now it's the next game. Everything that goes on up to that is important."

Frerotte took over as the starting quarterback after the Vikings started 0-2 under Tarvaris Jackson. That second loss came when the Vikings failed to hold a 15-0 third-quarter lead against Indianapolis at the Metrodome. It would be easy for the Vikings to look at that defeat and wonder what would have happened if they could have held on.

It also could be tempting to look ahead to a week from Sunday and realize what appears to be a gimme victory at Detroit would result in a three-game winning streak if the Vikings can get past the Bears.

"There are five games to go," Childress said. "That doesn't reframe it as a new season, but [the Vikings and Bears are] both in the same spot. I don't know how many divisional games they have left [two], but we have a couple. The 'fierce urgency of now,' I think I said it last week, you better have an urgency right now, today, tomorrow and obviously when you play Sunday."

Childress has good reason for wanting to keep his team so focused. Taking a long-range view could be downright depressing. The Vikings' final five opponents are a cumulative 30-27 (.526), and only one has a losing record. The Vikings' last three games will be played against Arizona, Atlanta and the Giants, who are a combined 24-10 (.705). The 10-1 Giants, though, could have little reason to play their starters in the regular-season finale Dec. 28 at the Metrodome.

The Bears face a five-game run against a collection of teams that are 25-30 (.455), and the Packers' foes are a combined 22-34 (.393). Given those numbers, it would be a major mistake to assume the Packers won't end up being a key part of this race, despite their 51-29 loss on Monday night in New Orleans.

The importance of Sunday night's game for the Vikings can't be understated. A 48-41 loss at Chicago on Oct. 19 puts the Bears in a position to sweep the season series for the second time in three years. The first tiebreaker if two teams end up tied for the division lead is head-to-head. That means a Bears victory Sunday would, in essence, give them a two-game lead in the NFC North.

"I think we're in a great position as a long as we've got a chance to fight for the top position of our division," Vikings running back Chester Taylor said. "We have to get the lead so that we're ahead of everybody. We can't [lose both games to Bears] because it's going to hurt us in the end. We need this game real bad."

Hence, Childress' message about the "fierce urgency of now" holds true for another week.

"This game is huge right now," Bears linebacker Lance Briggs said. "I know that every player over there and every fan and everyone in Minnesota knows what this game means. Just as well as everybody here in Chicago. I think it is going to be a great dogfight. They got the right time, I know that much. It's a 'Sunday Night Football' game, and I think they definitely got that part right."