Here come the Vikings

"Ask Vic" will publish on M-W-F through the football season.

Here are my all-important Week 11 power rankings:
1. Chiefs -- Re-match with Raiders.
2. Steelers -- Fourth on the road in last five.
3. Saints -- Yeah, but what about Brees?
4. Bills -- Lazy defensive scheme on Hail Mary.
5. Seahawks -- Play has been declining.
6. Ravens -- Jackson struggling.
7. Bucs -- Tester vs. Rams.
8. Rams -- Donald gives them toughness.
9. Packers -- Time to turn it on.
10. Raiders -- These guys are hot.
11. Cardinals -- This year's Cinderella?
12. Colts -- Rivers vs. Rodgers.
13. Titans -- Fading.
14. Dolphins -- Surging.
15. Browns -- Beginning to look like a team.
16. Vikings -- Not too late.
17. Patriots -- They're a contender.
18. Bears -- No offense.
19. Panthers -- They've run out of gas.
20. Eagles -- Not Pederson's best job.
21. 49ers -- Shanahan must rally them.
22. Lions -- The epitome of average.
23. Broncos -- The wheels have fallen off.
24. Giants -- They could win the NFC East.
25. Chargers -- Will they quit?
26. Bengals -- Welcome to the AFC North, Joe.
27. Falcons -- I almost forgot about them.
28. Washington -- It's time to play name that team.
29. Cowboys -- Maybe Matt Flynn can still play.
30. Texans -- Watson deserves some blame, too.
31. Jaguars -- Steelers week like old times.
32. Jets -- At Chargers is chance to win.

Dave from Jacksonville, FL
Vic, was the official who made the block on Rodgers' TD pass to Valdes-Scantling the same guy who called the phantom holding penalty on Jaguars guard Cann on RB James Robinson’s second called back TD run?
Does it really matter, Eddie, I mean Dave?

Chad from Kansas City, MO
How would you feel if all infractions became just a five-yard penalty? I get kind of tired of watching good drives stalled by a 10-yarder, and defense not able to be much more than warm bodies out there.
Once upon a time offensive holding was a 15-yard penalty. You want to make it even easier to play quarterback?

Matt from Houston, TX
As a Packers fan, I was quite happy to see the Vikings start 1-5 mainly because I thought the wolves would run Mike Zimmer out of town. That doesn't look likely now. I've always had tremendous respect for him as a coach, as evidenced by their current win streak and having beaten each team in the division. What's your opinion of him, both when he took over and now?
Coach Zimmer came to the Vikings with the reputation for being a hard-nosed defensive coordinator of attack-style defense in the rugged AFC North. He quickly put his stamp on the Vikings. I liked the hire and he's slowly shaping this year's team in the style of football he prefers: run the ball and win on defense. I commend him for the comeback. My only criticism is I don't think he had his team ready to play when this season began.

Justin from Waukesha, WI
Can you tell us about your opinion of and relationship with Cliff Christl?
We're the same guy. We each live in the past and like it there. We spent a lot of time talking about Lombardi and Noll. Cliff makes the past news.

Tim from Denver, CO
I don't think as a Packers fan we are tired of winning. We are tired of being a second-tier team with a top QB. When you started with the Packers, even you showed great optimism the Packers would get at least one more title with Rodgers. With little to no return from the draft in the past several years and the defense still under-performing, even after free agents and top draft picks spent, I don't think we will be winning a title in the near future.
How many Super Bowl titles would be enough? One more? Two more? What would it take to make your pain go away?

Jake from Chippewa Falls, WI
I’ve been watching Za’Darius very carefully this season and it's disappointing on run plays for sure. Even on some pass plays he doesn’t seem to go all out. Who are some solid pass-rushers that also stop the run I can watch for this season?
T.J. Watt.

Steve from Phoenix, AZ
You know we all Googled "Bradshaw Turkey Jones." I'm a physician. I could only watch it once.
When they brought Bradshaw up the back steps of the plane after the game, he was wearing a neck brace, his eyes were closed and his face was ashen. A defensive back named J.T. Thomas said in a low voice, "Damn, Brad looks like he's dead."

Matthew from Olathe, KS
Statistically, the Packers defense was No. 10 as of Monday afternoon based on yards allowed per game. Do you see a top 10 defense? I'm not sure my eyeball test tells me it is.
You saw a defense get snowplowed by the Vikings. At that point, stats didn't matter. Week 16 vs. Tennessee will be the next big stop-the-run test.

Eric from Los Angeles, CA
In his Monday meeting with Packers media, Kenny Clark was asked his thoughts on Colts RB Jonathan Taylor. Clark said Taylor "runs behind his pads." What does that mean, and what other types of running backs are there?
It means Taylor initiates contact; he's a physical runner who lowers his shoulder. There are pounders, slashers, cutback runners, upright runners, one-cut-and-go backs, stop-and-start types, straight-line guys, etc. Ahman Green is one of the few straight-liners who've been successful and LeVeon Bell is one of the few stop-and-start types. Eric Dickerson was an upright runner, which was against the grain back then. We're seeing more upright types these days because the game is being played higher. Mike Davis at Carolina is a classic one-cut-and-go guy; I love to watch him play. Aaron Jones marries a few different styles; I see him mostly as a slasher. I like pounders with light feet.

Marty from Ponte Vedra Beach, FL
Vic, I was watching an old WVU vs. Penn State game back from 1988 the other day. The WVU quarterback was a guy named Major Harris from Pittsburgh. What an athlete he was. Could he have played in today’s NFL?
He led West Virginia to the national championship game and he is one of the most dynamic players I've ever seen. He's famous for having run the wrong way on a play but nobody could tackle him. Harris was Michael Vick before Vick was Vick. I don't think the game was ready for that type of player when Harris came out of college. He played in Canada for awhile. Would Harris fit in today's game? Lamar Jackson is a star.

Jason from Honolulu, HI
The Jaguars are now 1-8. In trying to be objective, my eyes are telling me most of the young players are improving as the season goes on. The team continues to play hard. They still need more or better talent at some key positions, namely quarterback, defensive tackle, safety and, perhaps, corner. With all the picks they have next year, it seems to me they have the potential to turn their record around quickly. Are my eyes deceiving me? Do you think it's best for the team to reset and bring in a new coaching staff and/or general manager for next season?
Yes to both questions. I commend the Jaguars, Coach Marrone and his staff for a truly valiant effort on a cold day at Lambeau Field, and I have no doubt they will give the same gritty effort against the Steelers, but there's no carryover to the next season and the Jaguars are headed for a reset and a makeover. They have a player here and a player there, but they are deficient at most positions and would be best served by losing out and hiring an administration that knows how to mine the gold that goes with having the first pick of the draft.

Jon from Green Bay, WI
I lost my father on Sunday night. While reminiscing about him, your stories of Marsh Wheelings and leaving to beat the traffic came to mind. Any other stories you can share?
I've told this story previously, so I apologize to those who already know it; I think it might be good for you right now. When I was a kid, I was a sports fanatic. My father would walk into the living room, see me watching sports on TV, stare at the TV for a moment and then turn to me and say, "That making you any money?" His point was I was wasting my time; go do something constructive. The last time I visited him, I walked into the living room and he was watching a Super Bowl re-run on his big-screen TV. I stared at the TV for a moment and then I turned to him and said, "That making you any money?" He smiled without looking at me, and then I said, "Hey, dad, that made me a whole lot of money." What's the moral of the story? Memories make us rich. It's time for memories, Jon.

Paul from Cumming, GA
How did you enjoy the Masters?
It shouldn't have been played. The Masters is above bad ratings and boring golf. The shadows were hard on the eyes. The course was soft and slow. The Masters is the rite of spring, not the death of summer. It's dogwoods and azaleas, not turkey and pumpkin pie. A stuffy, old tournament that banned the great Jack Whitaker for referring to the fans as a mob sold its soul to TV for something on a level with the Tri-Cities Open. The whiney music never sounded sadder.