There is a tendency to overdramatize in these situations, and perhaps that's the case in making this statement: Brad Childress is early in the biggest week of his three-season tenure as Vikings coach.
There was the week before Christmas a year ago, when the Vikings had the chance to reach the playoffs by beating Washington in the Metrodome. The Purple offered a clunker and lost 32-21.
The difference then was that Childress' job was in no danger, win or lose.
Ten months later, the Vikings return from the bye week at a disappointing 3-4, and owner Zygi Wilf has been silent for several weeks on his assessment of the situation.
When last seen in public by Star Tribune reporters, Wilf was described as leaving the visitors locker room in Soldier Field with his head glowing an angry red.
A victory over Houston on Sunday would bring that contented postgame smirk back to Zygi.
A loss punctuated by rollicking chants of "Fire Childress!" and this could turn into a downward spiral that does the following: 1) dooms the coach; 2) kills the tiny breaths of political life that remain in the Vikings' stadium effort; and 3) increases the disillusionment of the owner.
There would be sub-clauses to that disillusionment: 3a) Wilf wanted in the NFL so badly 3 1/2 years ago that he paid a new-stadium price and continues with no end in sight to play in a low-revenue stadium; 3b) he has allowed his football people to spend money like intoxicated Marines to reinforce the roster; 3c) he's been financing a losing operation (17-22 since firing Mike Tice in favor of Childress); and 3d) Wilf's post-Love Boat insistence that his athletes behave like Boy Scouts off the field has been only marginally successful.
