Third down the difference between Ponder, McNabb

If I were a Vikings fan, here's a stat I would embrace heading forward in a season that was already long lost before the Packers left town Sunday night:

5 of 7.

That's the Vikings' third-down conversion performance in the fourth quarter of a surprisingly competitive 33-27 loss to the Packers.

That also gives rookie quarterback Christian Ponder one more third-down conversion in the fourth quarter than Donovan McNabb had in the first five weeks of the season. Combined.

With McNabb at quarterback, the Vikings converted 4 of 15 third downs in the fourth quarter of Games 1-5.

Ponder played the fourth quarter in Chicago and helped the team convert 2 of 4 third downs. So he's 7 for 11 in helping the Vikings convert fourth quarter third downs.

McNabb was 4 of 10 passing for 27 yards, one touchdown and two sacks on third downs in the fourth quarter. Two of his completions came up short of the first down. He also had a 20-yard pass on fourth-and-14.

Also impressive is Ponder converted 5 of 7 third downs in Sunday's fourth quarter after throwing two interceptions in the third quarter. He passed for 22 yards on third-and-6, 16 yards on third-and-13, 12 yards on third-and-7 and 19 yards on third-and-10. He also had the 12-yard run as well.