Despite the fact that the Vikings lost once again last week (this time to the Denver Tebow's...err, Broncos), I again took more positives out of the game then negatives. For instance...

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I'm really starting to take a liking to this Kyle Rudolph feller. Once Shank is gone after this season (I'm just assuming, of course, but probably a pretty safe bet), I can see Mr. Rudolph filling that void. He's most definitely already got the "hands" part of his game down.

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Christian Ponder, this time playing through a hip-pointer because the O-Line decided to sit out for the first half, was impressive again in terms of putting points on the board. Did he make a few rookie mistakes that happened to come at crucial junctures? By all means. BUT, that is why they call them "rookie mistakes".

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I have nothing explicitly positive to say about our secondary, as usual, but suffice it to say that we've hit rock bottom and can only go up from here. A below-average (as opposed to pathetic) set of cover-men would have given us a "W" in the Denver contest.

So, although far too many games so far this season have ended with a smile on the opposing bench...

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...I still continue to look for that light at the end of the tunnel. I believe that 2010 was truly the "mess year" and that things are on the upswing (how long the overall process takes, of course, is TBD). The way I see it is this: had Ponder started the season as QB, I believe he would have won two more games than McNabb. Plus, a secondary with even decent healthy bodies would probably have netted us another win or two. Those things combining (next year?!) would give us a solid chance at a .500 season as early as 2012 as we continue to accumulate talent and building for bigger and better things.

Take hope, Vikings fans...the ship may finally be back on course!