On September 11, 2011, the Minnesota Vikings opened their season in San Diego. The Vikings led the Chargers 17-7 at halftime. The Chargers won the game 24-17.

On September 18, 2011, the Vikings played their home opener against Tampa Bay. The Vikings led the Buccaneers 17-0 at halftime. The Buccaneers won the game 24-20.

On September 25, 2011, the Vikings hosted Detroit. The Vikings led the Lions 20-0 at halftime. The Lions won the game 26-23.

Two weeks later on October 9, 2011, the Vikings were again at home this time to face Arizona. The Vikings led the Cardinals 28-3 at halftime. Lo and behold the Vikings won that game 34-10!

Two weeks later on October 23, 2011, the Vikings entertained Green Bay. The Vikings led at halftime 17-13. The Packers won the game 33-27.

This past Sunday, December 4, 2011, the Vikings were back in their dome against Denver. The Vikings led at halftime 15-7. The Broncos won the game 35-32.

Vikings Receiver Percy Harvin, having just produced his best day as a pro against the Broncos, what with eight receptions for a career-high 156 yards and two touchdowns, commented after the loss, "There's been too many times this year we've had leads and then had let-downs or missed assignments. It's another game we feel we had control of and to somehow let it slip away, that's disgusting."

Those comments sum up the Vikings season in a nutshell. Lead after lead, and control of games slipping away time and time again. On Sunday the Vikings dominated the Broncos in the first half. Unfortunately a Christian Ponder "pick six" prevented the halftime score from accurately measuring the lopsidedness of play. Through 30 minutes of football the Broncos produced a measly 48 yards of total offense, and a single first down.

As soon as the third quarter rolled around, it took the Broncos exactly 3:42 to waltz right down the field generating 78 yards, four first downs and their first offensive touchdown. In yet another game, Viking fans had to watch the all-too-familiar sight of a Vikings opponent - obviously having made halftime adjustments - erase a Viking lead and control of a game due to the Vikings having no adequate solutions.

For the entire second half the Vikings offensive production continued - even without Adrian Peterson - producing a season-high 27 first downs, and a season-high 489 total yards for the game, while the Viking defense watched the Bronco offense race effortlessly up and down the field doing whatever they wanted to do.

Many will point to the fact that the Vikings were without Peterson, and were playing the game with a depleted secondary that was missing several regular defensive backs. While those disadvantages did exist, the players who shut down the Broncos in the first half, were the same players on the field in the second half too.

The very disturbing trend of a halftime lead giving way to an eventual loss has existed since week one, not just on Sunday. The bottom line is, the coaching staff is not preparing the team to win football games.

Period.

When a team is 1-5 when leading at halftime, there is a serious coaching deficit. A team that is good enough to be leading halfway through a game, should be able to win most of the time, not just once in a blue moon.

The Vikings did go into halftime tied in Carolina, and eventually went on to defeat the Panthers 24-21. In Kansas City, the Vikings narrowly trailed the Chiefs 9-7 at halftime and were unable to pull out a victory there, losing 22-17.

Therefore, the Vikings have not rallied to defeat anyone in the five games they have trailed at halftime and are 2-5 in the games in which they are tied or leading at halftime. A well coached team should have been able to preserve a win in most of the games when ahead at halftime, and been able to rally a team from behind at least once or twice.

Even with the injuries and deficiencies the Vikings have had to go into battle with this year, the cupboard has not been bare. This team should have a minimum of at least six victories at this point and should be jockeying for a possible wild-card spot in the playoffs. A 2-10 record is shocking, and should be uncomfortable for anyone associated with the organization.

In his post-game remarks, Harvin continued, "Talent is not enough to win in this game, otherwise we'd be undefeated with the talent we got here."

Hmmmm. Translation: the Vikings have enough good players, but that is not enough to win if they do not have a good...