Vikes eke out win against Texans, 28-21

Every time you think the Vikings are going to tank, they win.

Every time you think they're going to make a run, they lose.

This Sunday was another do-or-die win, and the team managed a close win over Houston, making Sage Rosenfels look like Peyton Manning in the process.

Once again you can cite some really good things and some awful ones.

Adrian Peterson gained 139 yards, Gus Frerotte threw three touchdown passes and the defense got two interceptions, a fumble recovery and five sacks.

But the D also gave up more than 400 yards, almost giving up a two-touchdown lead to an inferior opponent.

Yes, Houston had a three-game winning streak, but the teams they beat were Miami, Detroit and Cincinnati, all at home.

So, with the win, the Vikings are 4-4, a game behind the Bears -- who barely beat the Lions -- and tied with the Packers, who lost to the Titans.

But it's still hard to tell which direction the Vikings will go. This game epitomized the season -- they could go either way.

You have to like what Frerotte has done so far. He's 4-2 as a starter, and no one wants to go back to the days when Tarvaris Jackson waited for the perfect play to unfold.

Peterson's been great -- except for the game when he fumbled twice.

But the defense has been Jekyll-and-Hyde-like. It's been far from dominant. Some days it gets interceptions and fumbles, some days it doesn't. It was awful last week against a banged-up Bears secondary.

This is two straight games when the Vikings defense has been shredded. It's made Kyle Horton and, today, Rosenfels look great.

And you have to worry about the likely loss of Kevin Williams and Pat Williams for taking a banned diuretic. Losing them for four games each would be very tough.

The team will soon find out about itself. The Vikings play Green Bay at home; Tampa Bay and Jacksonville on the road; and then at home against the Bears.

They might well in first place after those games. Or they could lose all the games and be 4-8. I just don't know what to think of this team.

One thing I'm pretty sure of is that if the team heads south, they'll fire Brad Childress. There's a hue and cry among bloggers in Minnesota to have Childress' head, and they may be right. We'll see.