Vikings click in all three phases

The Vikings have gotten some real challenges this season from opponents, but Seattle didn't put up much of a fight Sunday. Either that, or the Vikings just dominated the Seahawks in a 35-9 victory at the Metrodome.

Vikings coach Brad Childress, who got a contract extension through the 2013 season, was very happy with his team's performance.

"Team-wise, we put together three good phases -- offense, defense and special teams -- and that's gratifying," said Childress, who has won 18 of his past 23 games. "We want to close the difference and see how good we can be, and you've got to keep pushing that gap to try to get better."

Quarterback Brett Favre, at age 40, seems to get better with every game. On Sunday, I thought he was hitting the receivers in the quick rhythm passes better than any other game this season. Childress agreed.

"It's a familiarity thing, and nothing happens without the guys up front protecting," the Vikings coach said. "He's got a great command of this offense. It wasn't something where he had to start from Square 1. He got the basic principles of this offense, and he's taking it to a new level."

Improved line The offensive line added two new starters this season in rookie right tackle Phil Loadholt and center John Sullivan, who replaced a Pro Bowler in Matt Birk.

"They're getting better every week," Childress said about the offensive line. "It took us a minute [Sunday] to figure out what they were doing in terms of all their stunt games and slamming it around, but when we picked it up, we got busy with it."

"Those guys [on defense] did a great job -- they did a great job in the front, they did a great job disguising their looks and showing [Seattle] different things," Childress said. "I can think of one specific instance where [Seattle quarterback Matt Hasselbeck] was looking one way, and thought he was going to come back and see something, and [Vikings safety] Madieu Williams showed him something completely different before he turned his head. So Leslie and that defensive staff have done a nice job with that back end of disguising things."

A young standout Rookie receiver Percy Harvin is one tough player. He has added on yards after the catch despite some big hits, including one where he got sandwiched Sunday.

"He's a packed-up guy [in ice] now -- you can put him in a meat press," Childress said. "He takes a licking and keeps on ticking, and stays on his feet, too."

Tarvaris Jackson, who was the starting quarterback at the end of last season, played the whole fourth quarter Sunday and got some good work in.

"He did a great job," Childress said. "We didn't take a step back gameplan-wise, we didn't pull in the reins or pull in the horns. I thought he did a good job moving our team."

"Tarvaris stepped in and ran the team great," Favre said. "I couldn't see anything wrong that he did."

Staying sharp Jackson, who completed six of eight passes for 77 yards and a touchdown, said he does get repetitions with the scout team in practice.

"I try to use that to stay sharp," he said. "It felt good to get a little playing time. Just by watching [Favre] I learn a lot more, and so does Sage Rosenfels. He's helped me out a lot, too. I ask a couple questions but I mostly just watch, you know, and maybe ask a question every now and then."

Jackson, who could be a restricted free agent at season's end, still might be the team's quarterback of the future, but won't get much work this season unless Favre is injured.

"Right now, I'm enjoying this 9-1 season," Jackson said. "I'm just along for the ride and trying to stay ready in case my number's called. But, I guess we'll handle that free agent part after the season, but right now I'm just enjoying the season."

"They were hitting on all cylinders today," Bevell said. "The guys were doing a great job, the receivers were getting into position to make plays, and then when there's not a play -- like the one in the back of the end zone -- he throws it up there enough where Sidney Rice can get to it. So, I think they're playing at a high level right now."

One of the reasons Favre is playing better and better is because he and the receivers are getting familiar with each other.

"There's great communication, great dialogue going with those guys, and I think it's showing on the field," Bevell said after Favre passed for four touchdowns and had a sensational 141.7 quarterback rating. "It is a rhythm passing game, timing offense, and I think that's showing right now.

"It was hitting today. Of course there are some things we're going to go back and look at, and we want to improve and get better. Obviously running the ball we need to improve a little bit, but as far as the passing game's going, I think it's hitting on all cylinders right now.

"[Favre] is playing well. We've got a long way to go, we still need to make sure that we can come back, make our corrections, and play well again next week."

The Gophers have an outstanding freshman quarterback in Moses Alipate of Bloomington Jefferson, who is being redshirted. And they have a commitment from Tom Parish, a standout quarterback from Hartland (Wis.) Arrowhead High School.

Had quarterback John Nance not transferred to St. Thomas to play basketball, he might have played some this year.