Coaches amazed by Allen's will to play

In describing Jared Allen, who played Sunday despite a serious shoulder injury suffered the previous week, Vikings coach Brad Childress said of his star defensive end: "He's a rare bird and a high motor. The one thing he likes is, he likes to play the game. He was not going to be denied, no way."

Allen was listed as doubtful after not practicing two days last week, but not only did he play in the 28-27 victory over the Packers at the Metrodome, he also made a big impact, with a sack of Aaron Rodgers for a safety.

Childress said the decision for Allen to play was made Sunday morning. "I walked in the [Metrodome] with him at about 9:30 and we talked a little bit then," the Vikings coach said. "He got some treatment and tried to limber the thing up, and then he went out there and did his thing. We didn't make a decision until the end."

When Allen went to work, he and the Vikings defense wound up putting more pressure on an opposing quarterback than I have ever seen, even including the days of the Purple People Eaters.

Childress had nothing but good things to say about the entire defense.

"You go back and look at that tape and to hold somebody to 1-for-11 on third downs, and to do the things they did to hit that quarterback like that, I think it just bodes well particularly," he said.

Frazier, too Defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier joined Childress in saying good words about Allen, who last Monday was having big trouble moving his shoulder.

"Man, I'll tell you, I'm so proud of him and so impressed by his toughness," Frazier said. "A lot of guys probably wouldn't have played in this game, and for him to go out there and not only to play but to play as well as he played, he's a special, special guy.

"When you have Jared or Kevin [Williams] or Ray [Edwards] and even Pat [Williams] in certain situations, just being relentless, it just makes our secondary better. But Jared, he's just unbelievable. To play today, after what he had gone through this week, I take my hat off to him. Just a special, special guy."

The defense recorded four sacks and two safeties, the first time an NFL team has scored on two safeties in a game since Buffalo did it in a 12-10 loss to Houston on Nov. 16, 2003. The Vikings did it a month earlier that season, achieving the feat in a 39-26 victory over Atlanta on Oct. 5 on two Falcons penalties in the end zone.

"How about that? That's a rarity; we've had three [safeties] this season," Frazier said. "I've been around some good defenses both playing and coaching, but to get two safeties ... it's so hard to just get one in a year."

Frazier was a cornerback on the great 1985 Chicago Bears, a Super Bowl champion team that had a great defense. Asked to compare this Vikings defense to that one, he said: "We've got a ways to go before we can talk about that one. We got a nice effort today, though.

"... We've had some pretty good moments, but this is the Green Bay Packers, and it's a special meaning when you can play well against the Green Bay Packers. It's great for our team and great for our defense."

Still in pain Allen said after the game that his shoulder still hurts.

"I mean, it's OK," Allen said. "We'll obviously keep treating it and keep getting it better. But I'll have to talk to the doctors and see exactly what's up with it."

Allen praised the training staff. "The biggest thing was trying to get the swelling out, and when I got up this morning, it felt pretty good and I asked Coach if I could give it a shot. ... Our training staff did a great job."

Regarding his status about playing on Sunday at Tampa Bay, Allen said: "I hope so. Like I said, it will be up to the training staff, and we'll obviously just keep treating it and assure that it keeps getting better."

Said Childress: "If he was sore coming in, he's going to be a little sorer when he tees it up against Tampa next week."

Hails Peterson, D Troy Aikman, the three-time Super Bowl champion quarterback with the Dallas Cowboys who is now the commentator on Fox's No. 1 NFL broadcast team with Joe Buck, credited the Vikings defense and running back Adrian Peterson. He also sang the praises of quarterback Gus Frerotte, even though Frerotte threw three interceptions that Green Bay turned into 17 points.

"You look at Minnesota, and their defense really impressed me, with the job that they did, and stepping up in a big game, and playing exceptional," he said. "Had they not have played the way that they did, they probably don't walk out of here with a win. And Adrian Peterson, I don't know that you can ever say enough good things about him; he's terrific. I played with a pretty good one myself in Emmitt Smith, and this is as special a runner as I've ever seen."

Aikman ended his college career at UCLA but began it at Oklahoma, Peterson's school. Aikman played a game against the Gophers at the Metrodome in 1985, won by the third-ranked Sooners 13-7.

As for Frerotte, Aikman said, "Those days happen, and it's not always real pretty. ... You find out a lot about guys when the chips are down and you've thrown a few interceptions and you're behind, and you need to come back and win. Even though Adrian Peterson had a lot to do with that, I thought he showed a lot of poise, Gus Frerotte did. That's why they brought him here; that's why he's a 15-year vet and helping this team win games."

Of Allen, Aikman said: "Jared Allen is exceptional. I like his personality almost as much as I like his play."

Put team on spot Frerotte was upset at his play but added that his teammates picked him up. "I feel like I put our team in a bad spot," he said. "But you look at our defense, they played an outstanding game, and then just to see the way our [offensive] line played and Adrian and our backs. I mean, they're just playing outstanding football right now. And to be able to go out and throw three interceptions and have our team rally and still win the game, that speaks volumes for us."

Describing Peterson's winning 29-yard touchdown run, Frerotte said: "It was just a zone to the right, and the guy made a great cut. You've got to give our line credit -- they had been blocking great all day -- and it was just one of those days: they were doing their job; he's doing his job, and making fantastic plays."

Yes, with games at Tampa Bay and Jacksonville coming up the next two weeks, the Vikings needed this game. But they will have to play a lot better and eliminate some of their mistakes if they want to continue being in the race for the division title.

Sid Hartman can be heard weekdays on WCCO AM-830 at 6:40, 7:40 and 8:40 a.m. and on his Podcast once a week at www.startribune.com/sidcast. shartman@startribune.com