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They had Baltimore for the second game, Pittsburgh in the third and Dallas to finish things up on Thursday.
The schedule has allowed the Vikings offensive line to hone itself against some of the best in the business, and the five-man unit has taken some lumps while trying to build on a strong season in 2007.
That ``Blitzburgh'' defense gave them plenty of fits in a 12-10 loss to the Steelers on Saturday night, when the league's No. 1 rushing offense from a year ago managed just 32 yards on the ground and 163 total yards in the game.
``That's good for us,'' left tackle Bryant McKinnie said. ``They were moving around during the snap count and things like that. So it gives us a good test for the future.''
In the last three years, the Vikings have poured money into their offensive line, hoping the investment will bring with it ample protection for their quarterbacks and big-time holes for their runners.
They made Steve Hutchinson the richest guard in league history in 2006 when they gave him a seven-year deal worth $49 million with $16 million guaranteed. Six months later, McKinnie signed a seven-year extension that brought him $17 million guaranteed and last year right guard Anthony Herrera got a five-year deal that could reach $15 million with $5 million in guaranteed money.
Those moves paid off last season when the Vikings had the top-ranked rushing offense in the NFL. Adrian Peterson led the NFC with 1,341 yards rushing and broke the single-game rushing record with 296 yards against San Diego.
In his first extensive action of the preseason, Peterson had a tough time finding room against one of the best defense's in the league on Saturday night. He rushed 12 times for 21 yards and a 1-yard touchdown.
More concerning for coach Brad Childress was an ugly opening series in which there were three false start penalties in the first five snaps.
``Without rhythm, you don't run the ball,'' Childress said. ``You don't do much.''
Backup quarterback Gus Frerotte, who started for an injured Tarvaris Jackson, was under constant pressure from everywhere on the field. The Steelers racked up four sacks on the night and defensive end Aaron Smith overwhelmed right tackle Ryan Cook early and often, including a bull rush that put Cook on his back and .
``Obviously I still have a long way to go being the youngest of the group right now,'' the 25-year-old Cook said. ``Still working every day to try to improve those things and depend on these other guys to help me get better.''
The unit is also engulfed in a cloud of uncertainty regarding the status of McKinnie, who could face a suspension from the league if he is found guilty of charges involving a night club fight in Miami in the offseason.
McKinnie has been able to work with the first unit throughout the preseason, but has a court date scheduled for Sept. 24 where he will face four charges, including a felony, for his alleged role in the fight. If he is suspended, veteran Artis Hicks will step in at left tackle.
Hicks has been highly reluctant to talk about getting playing time at left tackle, all in an attempt to avoid conversations about McKinnie's legal trouble. Hicks did get some action there with the rest of the starters on Saturday night, but danced around questions about it after the game.
``I didn't even know I played tackle. I don't even remember playing tackle,'' Hicks said with a sly grin. ``Guard, tackle, tight end, linebacker, free safety. It's all the same. It all runs together.''
All joking aside, and despite the sometimes shaky performance against the Steelers, the Vikings say they are making progress as the Sept. 8 opener at Lambeau Field approaches.
``I think we've jelled from the first day of camp, picked up where we left off last year,'' Herrera said. ``Obviously there are some things we have to work on and get better at as a unit, but I think we're jelling pretty good.''
Jon Krawczynski can be reached at jkrawczynski(at)ap.org.
