Like them or hate them, you have to give it up to the Minnesota Vikings this year. Few would have predicted the spot they're currently in.
They've already locked up the NFC North Division title. Three games ahead of the Detroit Lions with only two left to play will do it every time.
At 11-3, and likely to win their last two regular season games, who would have believed a 13-3 season was possible out of these guys?
Let's not forget when the season started the Vikes were already (still) without the services of their "starting" quarterback, Teddy Bridgewater. After just one game, down went #2, Sam Bradford. Poor Same has always seemed to be an injury waiting to happen.
So the QB duties went to, uh-oh, Case Keenum. Yep, the same CK that many had written off as a bust for his previous play elsewhere.
And then something strange happened. Keenum started lighting it up in Brady fashion. Who is THIS guy and what have you done with the REAL Case Keenum?
After just a couple more games, down went their feature running back Dalvin Cook. Surely that would spell their doom -- right?
But it didn't. The Vikes not only kept rolling along, but seemed to get better every week. Hats off to head coach Mike Zimmer and his crew. Whatever it is they're doing sure is working out well.
As this is written, the Vikings are in Green Bay, playing the Packers (already eliminated from the playoffs) who have decided to sit QB Aaron Rodgers for the rest of the season to let his broken collar bone fully mend. Probably a pretty good idea. The chances of the purple gang leaving Cheeserland with a win would appear to be very good.
Hang on, let me check. Yep, they're ahead 10-0 after the first quarter.
Next week they go back home to host the hapless Chicago Bears. Nothing's a lock in the NFL, but who in their right mind would bet on Da Bears knocking off the Vikings on the road?
Though they don't really have any "super-stars", Minnesota is definitely getting it done with a team effort. You won't see a running back gaining over 100 yards very often, or a receiver doing the same. But their defense is most definitely top notch, and they play smart in all phases of the game.
If the "probable" happens, and the Vikes indeed finish the regular season at 13-3, they would not only have home field advantage through the NFC playoffs, but guess where the Super Bowl will be held in February? Yep, the Vikings could become the first team to play a Super Bowl in their home stadium. You'd think after over 50 of them, it would have happened before -- but it hasn't.
Not to jinx them, but what other team do you think can go into Minnesota and knock these guys off? That's a mighty tall order.
Sure, the LA Rams are killing it with new head coach Sean McVay, but the Vikes already blistered them earlier in the year.
The Eagles? A definite maybe. They're much better than most foresaw they would be as well, but the loss of QB Carson Wentz has got to come back and bite them.
One of the southern teams like Carolina or New Orleans? Ya never know. Upsets happen.
But right now, the Minnesota Vikings appear to be in the proverbial catbird seat.
Old timers can vaguely remember when the likes of head coach Bud Grant and QB Fran Tarkenton made it to four Super Bowls, but lost them all.
How cool would it be for the Vikings to finally win one -- in their own stadium, no less?
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