Wow

[PurpleKoolaid]

Last season was a fluke. The Vikings won 5 more games than they were supposed too.

I'd rather let Ponder play all year and suck and be in position to draft like Bridgewater or someone next year than go to Cassel and go 8-8.

Wow and I thought I was depressed about the first loss of the year.

[VikingLord]

Last season was a fluke. The Vikings won 5 more games than they were supposed too.

I'd rather let Ponder play all year and suck and be in position to draft like Bridgewater or someone next year than go to Cassel and go 8-8.

I don't know if it was a fluke per se. They outperformed expectations on many fronts, though, but there were some impressive wins there and hard-fought battles. I think they earned what they got and ended up with a record that reflected that.

With that said, basing expectations for this season on that might be unrealistic. A lot of things went right last year and history suggests the same level of production and lack of key injuries is probably not going to repeat itself.

But I do agree that Frazier and Spielman have to own this thing with Ponder. They played Ponder like an established vet this preseason despite many concerns about his level of development. They have committed to him to a degree I think is unwarranted by his performance thus far. I think if they back away from him now, they are going to look worse than if they stick with him and try to weather the storm that will inevitably result if the losses start to pile up. But they really don't have a choice. If Ponder doesn't take this team to the promised land directly by his play, perhaps, as you point out, he can do that indirectly by putting them in position to land a guy with true franchise potential in what is shaping up to be a very promising draft for QBs. As much as I hate to write it, this is Ponder's year, even if that year ends up with 1-3 wins. Cassel isn't going to save this season should it go south. At best, he'll keep the final win-loss respectable, but the goal is not to be average. If they're going to go out, may as well go out with a bang.

[Demi]

I'm upset and angry, but last season a fluke? Come on... the team had a great season when very few, if any, people thought they were any better than an 8-win team. At least let me have my good memories!

I was going to say the same and be positive...but honestly, staying as healthy as they did, the play of AD, the schedule....maybe it was more of a fluke then I thought...