NFL players often compartmentalize their season into quarters, much like an actual game. It's a familiar concept that's easy to digest in a marathon 16-game season.
The Vikings begin their second quarter Monday when they return to work after their bye. Players would prefer a later bye — thus avoiding 12 consecutive games without a break — but their overseas trip to London necessitated an early vacation.
They probably appreciated a mental timeout after an eventful first quarter. The Vikings have played only one true home game and one "home" game 4,000 miles from Mall of America Field. Three of their four games have been decided in the final minute. And quarterback Christian Ponder could be on the cusp of losing his job permanently.
At 1-3 following a 34-27 victory against Pittsburgh, the Vikings expressed optimism that their season is salvageable after a dreary start. Here are four areas worth watching as they begin the second quarter:
1. Quarterback shuffle
It will be shocking if Matt Cassel is not the starter against Carolina next Sunday. Cassel gave the offense a spark in relief of Ponder against the Steelers, and it's hard to imagine Leslie Frazier not sticking with him, even if Ponder's fractured rib is healed enough for him to play.
Ponder's injury buys the team another game (or two, possibly) to see if Cassel can continue to direct the offense with efficiency and balance without having to announce publicly a quarterback change.
If Cassel plays well, he keeps the job. If he struggles and the offense sputters, Frazier can go back to Ponder without having undermined his status by announcing beforehand that Cassel was the starter. In that regard, Frazier has handled this situation perfectly.
2. Where's the defense?
The Vikings are 1-3 despite ranking fourth in the NFL in scoring at 28.8 points per game. That underscores how poorly their defense has played.
