Minnesota travels back to Florida to face Jacksonville

Vikes face a must win to stay alive in payoff hunt

For Week 12, the Vikings will make their second consecutive trip to Florida to face the Jacksonville Jaguars. The Vikings are in three-way tie for the NFC North lead at 5-5, while the Jaguars have stumbled to a 4-6 record to this point in the season.

This is a virtual must-win game for the Vikings if they want to remain a playoff contender. After this weekend, Minnesota’s remaining schedule includes a home game against Chicago, a trip to NFC West leader Arizona (7-3) and home games against Atlanta (6-4) and the New York Giants (9-1).

The three Vikings’ defensive lineman scheduled to make an appearance in the commissioner’s offices this week appear to have avoided suspensions for this weekend’s game. DE Jared Allen was fined $25,000 for a helmet-to-helmet hit on Green Bay QB Aaron Rodgers a couple weeks ago. DTs Pat and Kevin Williams are scheduled to meet with the commissioner Roger Goodell on Thursday, with a decision on their possible four game suspensions due to use of a banned diuretic possible to come early next week.

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Offensively, the Vikings need to feature RB Adrian Peterson. Jacksonville has struggled stopping the run at times this season, but QB Gus Frerotte needs to play better than he has over the last couple games to prevent the Jaguars from stacking the line to stop Peterson and fellow RB Chester Taylor. WR Bernard Berrian and TE Visanthe Shiancoe need to re-emerge in the passing game after a couple games when they have not been big difference makers.

The Vikings may need to win this weekend just to keep pace with their NFC North co-leaders. Chicago plays the struggling Rams in St. Louis, which seems to be a likely win, while Green Bay travels to New Orleans on Monday night in what should be a high-scoring contest.

Brad Berreman

ProFootball-fans Vikings corespondent