Sam Bradford tries to shake off a six-sack outing in the Vikings' first loss when Minnesota meets the returning Jay Cutler and the struggling Bears in Chicago tonight.
As the last team in the NFL to lose this season, the Minnesota Vikings had played well enough to keep their weaknesses mostly hidden. Their post-bye trip to Philadelphia was not only a performance failure, but an exposure of their flaws.
As welcomed as the bye week is in the NFL for the rare in-season opportunity for healing and rest, that hole in the schedule can be a momentum-halter too.
Mike Zimmer had been an also-ran for so many NFL head coaching positions that he almost declined a second interview in Minnesota, exasperated by being passed over for yet another top job.
Sam Bradford has started all of four games for Minnesota. The Vikings aren't yet one-third of the way through their schedule and are headed into their bye week.
The Minnesota Vikings have lost another starter and offensive lineman. Starting right tackle Andre Smith is scheduled to have surgery on his triceps muscle Tuesday.