NFL SUNDAY: DAMN VIKINGS SPOIL THE FUN OF A BEARS LOSS

The Chicago Bears lost yesterday, and lost badly, to a bad Miami Dolphins quarterbacked by Joey Harrington -- Joey Harrington!! -- and I can't enjoy revel in it.

The Bears, of course, are co-blogger Neil Acharya's favourite team, and they lost to Miami after he predicted a very lopsided score in our NFL picks. Did we mention Joey Harrington was playing quarterback?

And no, considering that the Vikings made it two weeks in a row without an offensive touchdown in a 9-3 loss to the San Francisco 49ers, whose defence isn't exactly going to make forget the 1985 Chicago Bears. (Thanks but no thanks: I've heard all I need to hear about the '85 Bears, the NFL's only one-year dynasty.)

The Vikes were missing a key guy on each side of the ball. Linebacker Napoleon Harris was scratched, but since San Fran had only 138 yards, it's hard to see how they missed him. Marcus Robinson at wide receiver might have helped, seeing it was that group -- Troy Williamson (pictured) couldn't hang on to the damn ball again and Travis Taylor was flagged for a penalty that negated a 65-yard gain by Chester Taylor -- that had a rough day.

By the way, it seems odd Mewelde Moore isn't getting more touches when he has two of the Vikings' three longest plays on the year -- six weeks ago it was suggested he needed more activity. Of course, I added, "and find someone else to field punts," and he's clearly the best man to do that, seeing as unlike Williamson, you can be fairly sure he'll catch the ball before he starts running.

Ah, can't cry over spilled milk... it was known here all along the Vikings are a second-rate team, but in NFL 2006, second-rate can get you 10 wins and a playoff spot. There's a six-team logjam of potential wild cards. It's wide open, and the Vikes have a fairly favourable scheduled over the second half.

Nov. 12, Green Bay
Nov. 19, @ Miami
Nov. 26 Arizona
Dec. 3, @ Chicago
Dec. 10, @ Detroit
Dec. 17, N.Y. Jets
Dec. 21, @ Green Bay
Dec. 31, St. Louis

There's only two games in there -- the trip to Chicago and either one from that short week with the Jets and Packers -- that don't look winnable.

So forget about the Bears. Unless Rex Grossman completely falls apart and Chicago continues to believe he can win for them, there's no way the Vikes should make up a three-game deficit.

Here's who Vikes fans have to focus on:

Atlanta Falcons (5-3): Mike Vick and co. get their three toughest games of the second half -- New Orleans (Nov. 26), Dallas (Dec. 16) and Carolina (Dec. 24) -- all at home down under the dome in the Dirty South.

Carolina Panthers (4-4): Have played poorly, and have three conference losses already. But they get a bye week before playing Tampa Bay, St. Louis and Washington over the following three weeks. That should get them back on track.

Terrell Owens' team (4-4): Seriously, TSN, stop trying to copy everything ESPN does. Yesterday, the first six clips shown from the Dallas-Washington game were of T-Emo. Nothing about Washington, who, you know, won the friggin' game.

The Cowboys will likely be 6-5 heading into December -- but then it's all gonna go to hell (hopefully) when they play the Giants, Saints, Falcons and Eagles over a four-week stretch.

Philadelphia Eagles (4-4): Under Andy Reid, the Eagles have always been a good second-half team, except for last season's debacle.

St. Louis Rams (4-4): They've dropped three straight and play the next two outdoors (Seattle and Carolina).

Oh, yes, the Brett Favre and the Green Bay Packers are 3-5. Ooh, they lost to the Bills.

That's all for now. Send your thoughts to neatesager@yahoo.ca.