Vikings fans be thankful — we’re well ahead of last year

Vikings and Packers are now tied for first in the NFC North at 7-3 after Green Bay came in and beat the Vikings 30-13 at sold-out TCF Bank Stadium. Packers have beaten the Vikings 10 of the last 12 meetings. The Vikings will have to wait for another chance until January 3, 2016, when they play the Packers in the regular-season finale.

Aaron Rogers and the Packers did a double check with balance, and the Packers sacked Vikings quarter back Teddy Bridgewater six times in ending their three-game losing streak. Rogers threw two touchdown passes; running back Eddie Lacy ran for 100 yards.

Adrian Peterson went over 1,000 yards rushing for the season but was held to 45 yards on 13 carries. He had a critical fumble in the fourth quarter.

The Vikings had been the NFL’s best team with the fewest penalties. Not Sunday — they had eight penalties for 110 yards. Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer is now 0-3 against the Packers as coach.

The Vikings travel to Atlanta next Sunday while the Packers play Thanksgiving night against the Chicago Bears. The Vikings let a golden opportunity to push the Packers into a deep hole get away.

Viking fans, don’t lose hope — you have a lot to be thankful for. The team won only seven games all last year, and with six games remaining they are in a great position to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2012. They have to keep winning, however, because teams like 6-4 Atlanta, 5-5 Seattle, 5-5 Tampa Bay, 4-6 New Orleans, and 4-6 St. Louis are lurking in the wings just hoping for a Vikings slide.

Quarterback Cam Newton is playing like an MVP for 10-0 Carolina, and so is Carson Palmer for 8-2 Arizona. They are the only teams ahead of the Vikings in the NFC.

The Vikings are one of the talks of the NFL, a good young team. Commissioner Roger Goodell was in attendance at Sunday’s game. He held a fans’ town meeting before viewing the new Vikings U.S Bank Stadium.

He was asked about Adrian Peterson and how he’s doing. “I have not seen him yet this year,” Goodell said, “but he is an extraordinary player and a wonderful young man. I was very impressed in all my meetings with Adrian. He is an individual who took it seriously and said, ‘I want to be better.’ I think he is taking great advantage of that opportunity.”

Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday-Friday at 12:17 pm and 4:17 pm, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.