Will Vikings Miss Moss?

No Moss? Panic amongst the Purple faithful? End of the football world as we know it? Nah!

For the first time in his seven-year career, Randy Moss suffered an in-game injury that caused him to miss playing time. But arguably for the first time since 1998, the Vikings have a supporting cast with enough juice to permit the team to not miss a beat without the centerpiece of their offense.

Then again, perhaps the real centerpiece of the Minnesota offense isn't Moss, but quarterback Daunte Culpepper.

Culpepper threw for a career-high 425 yards, with five touchdown passes for the third time this season. Previously, no one had thrown five touchdown passes in three games in any season. Culpepper has done it in only five games. “Pepper” is serving up some hot sauce right now.

I wonder if the typical East coast bias will prevent Culpepper from receiving the accolades he deserves. Should he keep up this torrid pace, he is deserving of being names NFC Pro Bowl starter at quarterback along with MVP honors for the NFL. But one man alone can’t win games.

Coupled with the steady running of rookie Mewelde Moore and veteran Moe Williams, the Vikes rolled up 605 yards of offense, the second highest total in team history and the most since 1969. For the Saints, the 600-plus-yard gashing was the most yardage the franchise ever has allowed.

Back to Moss, he pulled a hamstring in the second quarter of the 38-31 win, and he's listed as questionable for next Sunday's game against the Titans. If he misses the game, it'll break his streak of 101 straight starts.

But with Culpepper on track to register the most completions (on pace for 432), most yards (on pace for 5,651), and most touchdowns (on pace for 58) in NFL history, it's not as dire as it would have been in past years. Though the Vikes don't have another guy who can duplicate Randy's full complement of skills, Marcus Robinson has his height and jump-ball ability, Kelly Campbell can stretch the field, and Nate Burleson can make tough catches in traffic and along the sidelines. And let’s not forget pass catching specialist in tight-end Jermaine Wiggins.

There's still a lot of football to be played, but as of now it looks like the Vikings and the Eagles are on a collision course for a late January rematch of their Week Two Monday nighter. Home field advantage will be important but not crucial as the Eagles have proven the last three seasons.

Trade Bait?

I'd like to see the Vikings package Chris Hovan and Michael Bennett together and try and get some immediate defensive help. If the Vikings defense could just improve from "awful" to "OK", this team could be unbeatable.

Hovan would not be missed. Steve Martin has done a fine job this season. And with the plethora of running backs in the Vikings stable, Bennett could be spared for the greater benefit of the team.

The trading deadline is Tuesday. Let's see if the Vikes decide to work the phones over the next few days.