This next game is a big one for Minnesota Vikings quarterback Donovan McNabb.

After 10 mostly great seasons with the Philadelphia Eagles, the quarterback had an off year with the Washington Redskins. “Off year” is putting is mildly. He was downright bad.

Still, enough NFL teams including the Vikings felt he had some gas left in his tank. Off years happen.

So before this season, McNabb talked about how excited he is to be leading a new team and how he felt he could get the Adrian Peterson-powered Vikings offense moving. But in the second half of the opening game last Sunday against the San Diego Chargers, he dropped a dud. The Vikes had no offense to speak of and lost the game, thanks to scoring no points in the second half. Offensive coordinator Bill Musgrave’s play calling didn’t help.

This Sunday is the day for no more excuses. For McNabb, there can’t be dismissals of bad years or bad days or bad games forever. It’s time to show talent and skill. In this game Sunday against the Tampa Bay Buccaners, McNabb has to show his greatness or the Vikings will discover they made a bad off-season decision in signing him.

The Vikings might discover this Sunday that it is just a matter of weeks, not months or years, before rookie quarterback Christian Ponder gets to start.