The Minnesota Vikings continue to make Sunday afternoons seem like we are living the lyrics of a Starland Vocal Band song. And if you don't think so, I will fight you:

My fatalism and negativity meters continue to register at all-time lows. If the Vikes win next week at Arizona, a division championship AND 1st round bye are all but assured. The offense is explosive and the defense is beginning to look like the unit that we all thought we had. As of now, Monday morning of week 12, our Minnesota Vikings are the most complete team in football. They're making my "job" as a whiny blogger very difficult. Other than a rash of 3rd quarter penalties and some shaky kickoff coverage, the only negative was the play of Adrian Peterson.

A little more than 2 years ago, AD gained 360+ all purpose yards against a Bears team that had gone to the Super Bowl the previous year. A few weeks later, he set a NFL single game rushing record against a defense that was good enough to play for the AFC championship that same season. Teammates, opponents, and coaches were effusive in their praise. Was a 400-yard game a possibility? 500? Adrian Peterson made the absurd seem possible.

While not quite as electric in his 2nd year, 2008, Peterson continued to be a dominant force, securing his first NFL rushing title. He did so with TarvarGus at QB. Sensing that this team would go nowhere with such a one-dimensional offense, Brad Childress made a contract-extending move this summer by pursuing the services of one Brett Favre. Favre's unprecedented success has been well documented. And just 3 years removed from having Travis Taylor as a #1 wide receiver, this year's Vikings squad employs Bernard Berrian as a very highly paid 3rd-receiving (or 4th if you count Shiancoe) option. But despite all the weapons in the passing offense, Adrian Peterson is having, dare I say, a rather pedestrian year by his standards. No one can argue with his 2009 stats. He's on pace for about 1600 yards with 17-18 TDs. That's really good. It may be my own unrealistic expectations, but shouldn't he be better? Why so many negative, 0-, 1-, 2-yard runs? It seems with Adrian if he don't get 20, he don't get any. The view from section 236 suggests that it is not all on the offensive line. And the fumbles - yeesh. If you would have asked in 2007, I wouldn't have traded any running back in NFL HISTORY for AD. Now? If the Titans offered Chris Johnson, I would do it. And I wouldn't hang up on the Jags or Ravens if they offered Jones-Drew or Ray Rice, respectively.

I'm fully aware that if an All-Pro running back putting up All-Pro numbers is the most I have to complain about, it's been a pretty successful year. Honestly, I feel better about the Vikings' chances now than I did 4-5 weeks ago. I'm just saying that, as good as AD has been, I think he should be the best. Around. And nothing should ever keep him down!