Overtime win is just the start, Jared Allen says

For Jared Allen, the Vikings' overtime victory Sunday over Arizona was easy to describe: "Absolutely, this is huge."

"I think we're going to be able to draw off of this," the defensive end said. "It wasn't like one person doing it. We had to pull it together. I think you have to be able to get some confidence and move forward."

Allen is extremely confident about the future because of the way the game ended, with the Vikings coming back from a two-touchdown deficit. To him, the result will be very positive for the rest of the year.

For the past few weeks, Allen has been saying that he hopes that the fans "don't quit on us." He credited their noise Sunday.

"I know we've been less than what they've been looking for, I know that. But like I said, we have a lot of heart on this team, we have a lot of grit. At the end of the [Arizona] game ... it got loud, and that helps not only with talent, but they have a hard time hearing their plays, hearing checks, so the crowd was key in this whole thing. They're proud of this team, too; we win and lose it together."

But what about the entire Randy Moss situation and the negative media attitude?

"No ... that has nothing to do with me. I don't know, it's not a problem or something I'm going to worry over," he said.

Allen was impressed by the attitude of the Wilf family.

"When you see the owner still have the confidence in your team when you're 2-5 like that, to come in and not cuss anybody out but to be uplifting and enthusiastic, that translates over to the team."

Allen said that the Vikings have a tight locker room and that the losses haven't changed that.

"We have shot ourselves in the foot in the past," Allen said. "All we can do is focus on the next game. For the rest of the season, it's pretty much one-game seasons for us. We've got to win every game, so that's how we started this one and now we move onto Chicago."

The Cardinals also helped get the pass rush on track. Another question for Allen: How did the Vikings have so few sacks coming in but then tie their season mark in a very short time?

While Allen has only 3 1/2 sacks this year, compared with 10 1/2 after eight games last season, both defensive line coach Karl Dunbar and defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier say that Allen is playing as well as ever.

Chicago a Favre favorite Vikings quarterback Brett Favre was asked why the Vikings and other teams don't run the two-minute offense more since the Vikings has so much success with it on Sunday. Favre said that teams would get tired if they ran it all of the time.

The veteran QB is 12-4 in games played against the Bears at Soldiers Field.

"It's one of my favorite places to play," Favre said

But now in Chicago is Julius Peppers. The defensive end had only one sack with the Carolina Panthers a year ago in a 26-7 victory over the Vikings, but he wore out Bryant McKinnie with his aggressive play all day long.

"I'm doing what I'm asked to do," Peppers said after the victory in Toronto, where he had the wind knocked out of him. "Sure I like to get sacks. But if it ain't happening, it ain't happening. I'm content doing my job and helping the team win."

Peppers, who was coached by former Gopher coach Tim Brewster at North Carolina, will be a real test for the Vikings offensive line. They will have to block a lot better than they did a year ago.

Jottings Twins General Manager Billy Smith said that Justin Morneau, who has concussion problems, has been shut down and is not doing any rehabbing at this time. ... Speaking of concussions, former Gophers offensive guard Ben Hamilton, who as a Denver Bronco sat out a season because of a concussion, recently suffered another one with Seattle and was put on injured reserve.

Standout Gophers men's basketball guard Devoe Joseph is not playing because he has some academic problems that could be cleared up before the team leaves for Puerto Rico on Monday. "We need Joseph's ability to hit that three-point shot, and I look for him to be able to play soon," coach Tubby Smith said. ... The Gophers often will have four local products on the floor -- Al Nolen of Minneapolis Henry, Blake Hoffarber of Hopkins, Trevor Mbakwe of St. Bernard's and Rodney Williams of Robbinsdale Cooper.

Former Gophers goalie Jeff Frazee has been called up by the New Jersey Devils and will back up Johan Hedberg while Martin Brodeur nurses a elbow injury. Frazee had a 4-1 record with a 1.83 goals against and .932 saves percentage. ... Former Wild wing Mark Parrish has three goals and five assists in 12 games for Portland of the AHL. ... Former Gophers wing Tony Lucia has played in only two games for Worchester of the AHL, registering no points in either game. ... Former Gopher Jim O'Brien has three goals and two assists in nine games for Binghamton.

InterMat Wrestling ranks the 2010-11 Gophers wrestling team as sixth in the country, behind Cornell, Boise State, Oklahoma State, Wisconsin and Central Michigan. ... Brad Dolezal, a senior at Marshfield, Wis., High School, has committed to wrestle at the University of Minnesota. Dolezal has top high school, national and international credentials as a two-time Wisconsin state champion, five-time All American status, Cadet Greco-Roman champion and a 2010 Pan American Greco-Roman gold and a freestyle silver.

Also on the wrestling front, former Gopher C.P. Schlatter won the 66-kilogram (145-pound) title at 2010 New York Athletic Club Greco-Roman International as the U.S. swept all seven gold medals.