Even Tarvaris Jackson knows he was fortunate to win by 24 points on a team that threw four interceptions, including one that was returned for a touchdown.
If Jackson is the future, give him chance to show it now
Brittle Brett Favre is all but done after 2010, so the Vikings should use season's final month for his understudy's audition.
December 6, 2010 at 6:44AM
"I didn't play great today," said Jackson, who relieved Brett Favre in the Vikings' 38-14 victory over the Bills at the Metrodome. "We got the win, but I'm not going to say I feel like I earned the start" next Sunday against the Giants at the Metrodome.
No, he didn't earn the start. Yes, he should start against the Giants. And, no, that won't happen.
"No quarterback controversy," interim coach Leslie Frazier said. "If [Favre] is healthy, he'll be our starting quarterback against the New York Giants."
Favre sprained his throwing shoulder on the third play of the game, an interception in which he held on to the ball too long and was clobbered from behind. He didn't return, giving way to Jackson, who completed 15 of 22 passes for 187 yards, two touchdowns and three interceptions, and ran twice for 22 yards.
Believe it or not, this is an injury that not even Favre has had before. So even he doesn't know what to expect today when he undergoes yet another magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test before beginning yet another week of rehab.
"If I could do it," said Favre, "I'd love to do it. I'd love to finish this out."
But there's no point to it. Favre isn't coming back next year, and the Vikings' playoff chances at 5-7 are infinitesimal, at best. The future is now, and right now, there is no future whatsoever at quarterback.
"I'm not concerned about next year, to be honest with you," Frazier said. "2011 is not even on my radar."
Frazier's position is understandable. This is his head coaching audition and the Vikings' playoff chances are technically still alive.
But given Favre's health, or lack thereof, and the strength of the Giants pass rush, a mobile Jackson just might give the Vikings the best chance to win the game, too. The Giants defense went into Week 13 ranked third in sacks per pass play and added four more in a 31-7 victory over the Redskins.
There's a distinct possibility -- or probability -- that Jackson won't be here next year. His contract is up and neither he nor the Vikings are all that attracted to each other now that Brad Childress has been fired.
However, league rules suggest the Vikings need a quarterback next year. And right now, the only one under contract beyond Jan. 2 is Joe Webb, a rookie who's greener than month-old bread.
Quarterbacks don't just appear out of thin air, so until someone better comes along, the Vikings need to be careful before closing the book on the 27-year-old Jackson, especially after a five-year investment in him. And the only way to know if he's worth trying to re-sign is to start him, even if that means ending Favre's streak of 297 consecutive starts.
Chances are Jackson would fail a four-game starting audition. But let's find out. He might even be better than an injured Favre, who's falling apart joint by painful joint.
Sunday was his first extensive action since the playoff loss to the Eagles two seasons ago, yet the pick-six interception he threw Sunday looked similar to the one he threw against the Eagles. But then, Sunday's game became a microcosm of Jackson's career.
Just when you're ready to set him out with the trash, he goes 8-for-8 for 104 yards and two touchdowns immediately following that first interception. Then, just as you're ready to praise him, he makes two more bad decisions, two more wild throws, two more interceptions.
No, Jackson didn't earn a start. But the only way to make a final and well-educated decision on him is to play him over the next four weeks.
"Obviously, you want to go out and play great and give yourself a chance next year," Jackson said.
"I want to play great for the Vikings, for coach Frazier, for this offense. ... Regardless of the situation, I'm going to be ready to go. Brett is going to push to play Sunday. He's played 15,000 games straight now. Probably 15,001 next week."
The Vikings need to use what's left of this dismal season to think about what happens after the streak heads home to Hattiesburg and doesn't come back.
Mark Craig • mcraig@startribune.com
