Yet, in recent years, a Vikings collapse has been expected.

Under Mike Tice and Brad Childress, the Vikings are a combined 12-15 in December games from 2002 to 2007, with collapses that cost division titles and playoff spots.

There was 2003, when the Vikings lost to the 3-12 Arizona Cardinals 18-17.

There was 2005, when the Vikings lost to the 5-9 Baltimore Ravens 30-23.

And there was 2007, when, after stringing together five consecutive victories, the Vikings lost their final two games.

This season, though, the Vikings have rebounded from a 1-3 start and rattled off four consecutive victories, the longest active streak in the NFC. The Vikings are 9-5 with two games -- both at home -- left in the regular season.

"You want to be playing your best Football in December," safety Darren Sharper said. "We've done that, but we've got to continue with it.

"You saw that last year with the (New York) Giants. They hit their stride, and it took them all the way to the Super Bowl. We can't assume that's where we're headed, but we've got to keep going, and we'll hopefully get there."

The Vikings thrived in the midst of arguably their toughest stretch of the season; four of their past five games were on the road.

Remarkably, defensive end Jared Allen said the game against the winless Detroit Lions was the one that made him nervous.

"Our biggest concern was getting through Detroit, to be honest with you," Allen said. "I thought if there was one game we were going to slip up on, it was going to be Detroit.

"But now, we finished up a good road trip, and we can go home and continue to play for our division. What more motivation do you need?"

The Vikings' 35-14 victory at Arizona on Sunday was huge, giving them a potential playoff seeding edge over the NFC West champions and maintaining their one-game lead over the Chicago Bears (8-6) in the NFC North.

The Vikings, though, haven't clinched anything just yet.

"We don't want to speak too soon, but it's right there. It's like the pink elephant in the room," tight end Visanthe Shiancoe said. "But the playoffs are right there, as far as taking (it). At least it's in our control."

Win on Sunday against the playoff-contending Atlanta Falcons, and the Vikings are in. Lose, and they open the door for the Bears. The Vikings would clinch their first NFC North title since 2000 if the Bears lose to the reeling Green Bay Packers (5-9) on Monday night at Soldier Field.

A Bears victory and a Vikings loss would put the pressure right back on the purple. The Bears close the regular season in Houston against the Texans (7-7), while the Vikings play host to the Giants (11-3), a team that, because of a two-game losing streak, could be playing for the top seed in the season finale.

The Vikings embrace the challenge.

"We definitely want to be peaking now," Sharper said. "It's close to the end and headed toward the playoffs. The next two teams are playoff teams, too. It's a good test for us to see where we are as a team."

Although the Vikings played their most complete game of the season in Arizona, Childress and several players insisted there is room for improvement.

"It's a good dynamic," Childress said of his roster. "They all push each other and they understand they all have roles, and some of their roles change week to week but they all want to improve and get better."

After Sunday's victory, Pro Bowl center Matt Birk, who has endured all of the recent late-season collapses, focused more on the positive than the negative.

"We still have a ways to go," he said. "That's the good part. We realize that we made a lot of mistakes and left some opportunities out there, so our mind-set is to get better."

Added Shiancoe, "I'm going to say something kind of outlandish, but if we play our 'A' game, I don't see any team in the NFL beating us, to be honest."