At the first bump in his relationship with WR Randy Moss, coach Brad Childress reacted by releasing the enigmatic receiver just four games after acquiring him from New England for a third-round pick. It reaffirmed who’s the boss, but it also damages the team’s short-term hopes of making the playoffs and long-term planning by giving up a quality draft pick for someone who caught only 13 passes in 26 days with the team.

Childress was upset about Sunday’s postgame interview in which Moss criticized teammates and coaches and praised Patriots coach Bill Belichick and his former teammates. Moss, who put forth little effort while catching one pass for 8 yards against the Patriots, said Childress should have kicked a field goal instead of going for it on fourth-and-goal at the Patriots’ 1 just before halftime.

He also criticized the coaches for not heeding his advice on how to game plan for the Patriots.

Now, Moss is gone and the Vikings are again thin at receiver and without a third-round pick. WR Sidney Rice (hip) still is on the PUP list and hasn’t returned to practice. Bernard Berrian drops too many passes to be counted on. Percy Harvin is the team’s best receiver, with or without Moss, but he’ll see more double-coverage now. …

The Vikings’ short-yardage game is hit or miss. Before being stuffed for a 2-yard loss on that fourth-and-goal play at the 1, RB Adrian Peterson had converted 3-of-4 situations in which the team needed only 1 yard. He had gains of 8 and 7 yards and also scored on second-and-goal from the 1.

Part of the problem on the fourth-and-goal play was the Vikings bunched up so tight and didn’t have a viable receiving threat on the outside. What they should have done is put Moss out wide if for no other reason to attract some attention away from the middle of the field.

— Mark Craig