By Lyle Fitzsimmons, Contributing NFL Editor

(Sports Network) - Has it only been two seasons? Really?

Indeed, after winning 12 of 16 regular-season games in 2009 and rolling through
a home playoff date with Dallas, the Minnesota Vikings were on the verge of
their fifth Super Bowl appearance -- and first since the days of Bud Grant and
Fran Tarkenton more than three decades prior.

And while the run to a title ended with an overtime interception and subsequent
loss to eventual champion New Orleans in the NFC Championship, it's hard to
comprehend that less than two calendar years have passed to bring the Vikings
to their current state.

Ironically, it was a 42-20 loss to the Saints last week, in which Minnesota
allowed 573 total yards and 36 first downs, that dropped the Vikings to 2-12
for 2011 and in distinct jeopardy of finishing with the worst mark in the
franchise's 51-year history.

Minnesota visits the Washington Redskins Saturday at FedEx Field in an effort
to avoid ignominy.

The team's poorest 16-game record was 3-13 in 1984, while the 1961 Vikings were
2-11-1. This year's edition will end the 2011 season with a New Year's Day trip
to Soldier Field in Chicago.

"There's a lot at stake," Minnesota linebacker Erin Henderson said. "[The
coaches] are watching closely right now to see who's still fighting, who's
still coming out here trying to give their best and give it their all, and look
to see who they can build this team with next year and continue to move forward
with."

Head coach Leslie Frazier, who replaced Brad Childress 10 games into last
season, is just 5-15 since taking over but remains upbeat about the future --
assuming he remains in charge.

"I'm really optimistic about the future, as difficult and as crazy as that may
sound," he said. "I think I have a good idea of what we need to do to not be in
this situation in the future. So no, I'm not concerned about 2012 at this
point."

Among the questions he or the next coach will need answered is what to do about
the quarterback position, which has been in flux since the aforementioned Brett
Favre miscue two Januarys ago.

Favre returned for an injury-riddled 2010 and made 13 starts with various bumps
and bruises, stepping aside for three games started by Joe Webb (two) and
Tarvaris Jackson (one).

Veteran Donovan McNabb was brought in as the next resume-packing savior this
season, but that experiment ended when he was released after six largely
ineffective outings. The subsequent starts have been taken by Webb and 2011 No.
12 overall pick Christian Ponder, leaving some to opine the team would be wise
to pursue Stanford sensation Andrew Luck should their record end as the worst
in the league.

The Vikings "trail" 1-13 Indianapolis by a game in the chase for the No. 1 pick
in 2012.

"With Christian, like so many young quarterbacks, you don't want to base your
judgment on one or two games," Frazier said. "Give him a chance to have an
offseason to get with our coaches in [offseason training activities] that are
going to help him. I think it's a little bit too early to panic about
Christian."

Meanwhile in Washington, well-traveled gunslinger Rex Grossman is trying to
make a case he's worthy of maintaining incumbent status into 2012.

The University of Florida alum, a free agent after this season, completed 15-
of-24 passes for 185 yards, a touchdown and two interceptions in a surprising
23-10 defeat of the New York Giants last week.

Grossman has thrown 18 interceptions in 11 games and his 71.4 passer rating is
29th in the league, in the neighborhood of Ponder's pedestrian 72.3. He was
also benched for a three-game stretch in favor of John Beck at midseason.

Still, Grossman has continued to hold the support of his teammates.

"We've been feeling that rhythm again once Rex got back out there, giving us
that swag that he carried on the first part of the season," wide receiver
Santana Moss said. "That's leading us to go out there and do what we do. We
needed a guy like that to take advantage of those opportunities that we have."

SERIES HISTORY

Washington owns an 8-7 edge on the Vikings in regular-season play, but
Minnesota has won four of the last six meetings in the series and was a 17-13
victor at FedEx Field during Week 12 of the 2010 campaign, a game that happened
to be Frazier's debut as head coach. The Vikings are 3-1 in their last four
games as the visitor in this set, having also recorded a 19-16 triumph in
Landover in 2006 as well as a 14-9 decision in 1993. The Redskins last bested
Minnesota via a 33-21 result at the Metrodome late in the 2007 season, a win
that helped Washington edge out the Vikings for the NFC's final Wild Card berth
that year.

In addition to their regular-season advantage, the Redskins have a 3-2 lead in
their all-time postseason series with Minnesota. The Vikings knocked Washington
out of the NFC playoffs in 1973 and 1976, and the Redskins earned postseason
wins over Minnesota in 1982, 1987, and 1992. The most memorable matchup between
the teams is the 1987 NFC Championship, which Washington won by a 17-10 score
en route to a Super Bowl title.

Redskins head coach Mike Shanahan has a 2-3 lifetime record against Minnesota,
including a 2-2 mark while at the helm of the Denver Broncos from 1995-2008.
Frazier won his only prior encounter with Washington and Shanahan as a head
coach with last season's outcome.

WHEN THE VIKINGS HAVE THE BALL

Ponder has thrown seven touchdown passes in the past three games and aims for a
fourth contest in a row with two or more scoring strikes. Adrian Peterson, who
returned last week from a three-game absence caused by a high ankle sprain,
rushed for a touchdown in the teams' last meeting and since entering the NFL in
2007, leads all players with 6,714 rushing yards and 63 touchdowns on the
ground. Peterson has nine touchdowns (8 rushing, 1 receiving) in his past seven
games as well. Backfield mate Toby Gerhart had a pair of receiving touchdowns
last week and has three scores in the past two games. He rushed for 76 yards
and a touchdown in last year's win over Washington. Wide receiver Percy Harvin
has five receiving touchdowns in his past five games and a career-high 72
receptions on the year, and needs 213 yards for his first career 1,000-yard
season. Harvin is the only player in the NFL with a rushing, receiving and
return touchdown in each of the past two seasons.

For the Washington defense, outside linebacker Ryan Kerrigan is tied for second
among NFC rookies with 7 1/2 sacks and has added a nine-yard interception
return for a touchdown and four forced fumbles for the year. Cornerback
DeAngelo Hall has an interception in two of three career meetings with
Minnesota and linebacker Brian Orakpo had a sack in last year's loss to
Minnesota. Orakpo also had a sack last week and has seven or more in all three
of his NFL seasons. Cornerback Josh Wilson has an interception in two straight
games, but is questionable for Saturday's tilt after sustaining a concussion
against the Giants. Up front, fifth-year end Adam Carriker has 28 tackles and
five sacks in Washington's 14 games.

Statistically speaking, Minnesota's offense is 19th in scoring (21.0 ppg), 18th
in total yards (327.5 ypg), 28th in passing (184.8 ypg) and fourth in rushing
(142.7 ypg). On defense, the Redskins are 16th in points allowed (21.4 ppg),
12th in yards allowed (332.7 ypg), 14th against the pass (220.7 ypg) and 15th
against the run (112.0 ypg).

WHEN THE REDSKINS HAVE THE BALL

Grossman is 3-1 in his career against Minnesota and aims for a third win in a
row against the Vikings. Running back Roy Helu has rushed for 387 yards (96.8
per game) and two touchdowns in his past four games, posting three 100-yard
efforts over that span, and is the only rookie in franchise history to rush for
100-plus yards in three consecutive games. He leads NFC rookies with 47
receptions as well and is the only first-year player with 600-plus rushing
yards (635) and 300-plus receiving yards (331) this season. In his past four
games, Helu has compiled 505 yards from scrimmage (126.3 per game). Fullback
Darrel Young had his first career rushing touchdown last week, while Moss aims
for a third game in a row with a touchdown catch of 20 or more yards. He has
493 receiving yards and needs 207 to reach 700 for a ninth consecutive season.
Fellow wideout Anthony Armstrong has five career receiving scores, including
four of 30-plus yards, and had a 45-yard grab in the teams' last meeting. Wide
receiver Jabar Gaffney has a team-best 842 receiving yards and needs 158 for
his first career 1,000-yard season.

Minnesota's defense is led by end Jared Allen, who is second in the league with
17 1/2 sacks and needs 5 1/2 to break the NFL season record of 22 1/2 set by
Michael Strahan in 2001. Allen has 27 1/2 sacks in his past 23 games, including
16 in the last 12, and has amassed a league-best 100 1/2 sacks since entering
the NFL in 2004. In two career meetings with Washington, he has four sacks, two
forced fumbles and two fumble recoveries. Linebacker E.J. Henderson had a sack
and an interception in last year's win over Washington and aims for a third
game in a row against the Redskins with a sack. Tackle Kevin Williams has a
sack in three of his past five games, while end Brian Robison got to the
quarterback in last season's victory over Washington. Safety Jamarca Sanford
had a forced fumble last week, while sixth-year cornerback Cedric Griffin has
62 tackles and three forced fumbles in 14 games this season.

By the numbers, Washington's offense is 26th in scoring (18.0 ppg), 16th in
total yards (329.5 ypg), 14th in passing (233.6 ypg) and 29th in rushing (95.9
ypg). On defense, the Vikings are dead last in points allowed (29.0), 24th in
total yards allowed (366.1 ypg), 30th against the pass (260.4 ypg) and 10th
against the run (105.6 ypg).

KEYS TO THE GAME

Grossman. The Vikings' output when defending the pass has been something less
than stellar this season, which surely has to pique the interest of Shanahan
and Grossman, who've been successful when slinging the ball and limiting the
mistakes. Expect Washington to try to exploit the Minnesota secondary.

APB on AP. Always among the league's elite backs since arriving from the
University of Oklahoma four years ago, Peterson has been nearly anonymous while
slogging to another standout season for a subpar team. The Redskins are middle
of the road in stopping the run, which may provide a breakout possibility.

Ponder this. Though they used a first-round pick to draft their rookie
quarterback last April, the Vikings have to be considering the possibility of a
chance at Stanford's Luck this time around. If he wants to solidify his place
as the passer of the future, Ponder needs to end the year strong.

OVERALL ANALYSIS

If it feels like nearly two months since Minnesota has won a game, that's only
because it nearly has been. Whether by 45-7 blowout or 35-32 gut-wrencher, the
Vikings have dropped six in a row since their bye week. Meanwhile, though
they're just 2-5 over the same stretch, the Redskins have seemed pointed in a
better direction, especially with Helu emerging as a star. That trend should
continue in a shootout.

Sports Network Predicted Outcome: Redskins 31, Vikings 21