Always, there are questions about the Vikings

As the Vikings head into Sunday's game against the Cardinals at Mall of America Field, here are four questions we're trying to answer.

1 What's up on the injury front?

Punter Chris Kluwe practiced in full Friday but is still listed as questionable on the injury report. Cornerback Antoine Winfield did not practice and is listed as doubtful.

Both developments are significant for a team desperate for its first win of 2011. Winfield is still dealing with neck stiffness stemming from a tackle he made last week in Kansas City. And while head coach Leslie Frazier said Winfield's neck is "headed in the right direction," it hasn't progressed enough to get him back on the field.

"We're holding out hope that there's a chance between now and what happens Sunday at noon," Frazier said. "We'll see how he feels [Saturday] when he wakes up."

Frazier was far more optimistic about Kluwe playing, though the team was still exploring backup plans Friday afternoon.

"Checking our list," Frazier said. "Got to cross the T's and dot the I's just in case."

That's what several Vikings players were wondering after practice until they learned Loeffler had signed a three-year contract extension that will keep him with the organization through 2014.

Loeffler joined the Vikings in 2004 as an undrafted free agent and has played in 117 consecutive regular-season games since. Since 2006, the Vikings have had great continuity with a special teams trio of Loeffler, kicker Ryan Longwell and Kluwe, a punter and holder. Such special teams unity frequently goes unnoticed, but the security had Frazier ecstatic Friday.

"We secure one of the guys we think is very important to our special teams and our football team," he said. "Cullen is one of those guys where if you're not careful, you'll take him for granted because of the position he plays. But as soon as you don't have someone operating in the fashion he does, you're searching."

3 Will this be the week the Vikings' passing game finally hits stride?

Put it this way: If it isn't, the Vikings' offensive problems are bigger than they seem. The Cardinals have allowed an average of 282.8 passing yards per game (seventh worst in the NFL) and have a pair of young and error-prone starting cornerbacks in rookie Patrick Peterson and second-year man A.J. Jefferson.

"We definitely have a plan to throw on those guys," Musgrave said. "We want to get some balls airborne in their direction. Both those guys are young and talented. But we feel confident with our receivers matching up with them."

The Vikings will dial up plays that allow Donovan McNabb to stretch the field. Musgrave can only hope this is the week Bernard Berrian finally produces to prove he's open and that big-play threat Devin Aromashodu can fluster Arizona's secondary with his size and speed. At the same time, Musgrave can't forget his two biggest weapons are still Adrian Peterson and Percy Harvin.

4 With a win Sunday, can the Vikings get on a roll?

The Vikings are three-point favorites and have home-field advantage. This should be the week they get their first win. But projecting a hot streak that puts them back in the playoff picture would be like forecasting these 80-degree temperatures to last into December.