Mistake-prone Vikings still rip Titans

MINNEAPOLIS -- There were more than a few stalled drives, ill-advised penalties and mistakes. But for the Minnesota Vikings, it didn't matter one bit. Quarterback Christian Ponder threw interceptions on consecutive passes. So what? The Vikings, relatively penalty-free for much of the season, got whistled five times for 60 yards and had safety Harrison Smith ejected in the second quarter for making contact with an official. It will cost Smith, but it didn't cost the Vikings. Minnesota's 30-7 victory over the Tennessee Titans on Sunday moved the Vikings to 4-1, and they remained tied with the Chicago Bears atop the NFC North thanks to defense -- swarming defense, opportunistic defense, smothering defense. "It's what we've said from the beginning," said defensive end Brian Robison, who picked up his first sack. "If we play our fundamental ball, and pay attention to execution, the sky is the limit for our defense." Ponder, whose intercepti...