The Vikings rode running back Adrian Peterson and an opportunistic defense to a 21-14 win over the Bears on Sunday, improving their record to 7-6 and strengthening their shot at a playoff berth in the process.
It also seems to have played a role in convincing the team’s ownership to bring coach Leslie Frazier back as the team’s head coach in 2013. Sid Hartman of the Minneapolis Star-Tribune spoke to owner Zygi Wilf and team president Mark Wilf after Sunday’s win and they both commended the job done by the coaching staff with a young team. Mark Wilf said he saw no reason Frazier wouldn’t return and Zygi Wilf made things even clearer when asked about who would be the coach next season.
“He is our coach,” the owner said.
Many of the young players came up with strong performances in Sunday’s win, including key interceptions by rookie defensive backs Josh Robinson and Harrison Smith that led to 14 points. One young player who didn’t was quarterback Christian Ponder, who was 11-of-17 for 91 yards and an interception. That makes three poor performances in a row for the quarterback and it makes the biggest question mark about the Vikings pretty obvious.
Frazier would be coaching in the final year of his contract if he doesn’t get an extension before next season, a topic the Wilfs weren’t as ready to discuss as Frazier’s implied return for another year as coach. His chances of getting one would improve quite a bit if he can figure out a way to get Ponder pointed in the right direction before ownership makes a decision on that front.