One Win To Go

Vikings 27
Lions 9

A twisty, turny, at times maddening season will all come down to week 17 at home against the Bears. There are many ways this could have gone easier, but this is not an easy season. It probably always had to be this way.

But first we had to get through Detroit, the team that has thrown a monkey wrench into many a recent season.

And of course it wasn't easy at first. The whole 1st half was just weird. The Vikings couldn't even get started. We got pinned at our 2 to start and didn't really try to do anything but survive without a safety of big turnover. Then our 2nd drive died cause a ball went through Stefon's hands. The Lions moved the ball, but even as they were the Vikings defense was getting a lot of TFLs. And the Lions were only getting field goals despite controlling the game, which is usually a bad sign. And they only led 9-0 despite the refs doing everything possible to fuck us over. It was like playing at Lambeau.

It was 9-0 but I wasn't panicking just yet. Then the switch flipped. Cousins hit Thielen deep, then a few plays later hit Diggs for a TD. We got the ball back pretty quick, with enough time to at least try something. And we actually tried something! It still looked like a long FG try was our best chance, but instead of rolling the dice on about a 63 yard field goal, which let's face it would have been missed if not blocked, we rolled the dice on a hail mary.

And it turned into my favorite play since the Minneapolis Miracle. First the line actually blocked for Kirk, to at least give him the chance to move into position for a good throw. He heaved it. And in an early Christmas miracle Kyle Rudolph came down with the ball! I can't even remember the last time the Vikings completed a true hail mary. And for all the incessant whining about Cousins, it is a stone cold fact that Keenum does not make that throw.

The Vikings had just played one of their worst halves all season and LED. The second half was mostly just total domination. The run game got going(Cook ran with POWER). We put up a couple more scores. And once again this defense just put its collective boot on the throat of an opponent. We didn't get the sacks we got either last week or that 1st Detroit game, but we got a few and Stafford again just had no chance. At 17-9 I felt the game was secure and at 24-9 it was all over.

So all eyes turned to the Eagles v Texans game. I didn't even see the last few minutes of the Vikings game cause I was glued to the Texans comeback. It looked like it was going to happen, that Houston was actually going to get it done and put us in the playoffs with a week to spare. But then the Eagles, benefitted by an absurd roughing the passer call, are able to drive down and get the winning field goal at the buzzer. Oh, this also handed a bye to the fucking Patriots again too. Just fucking great.

So we moved closer still to the playoffs, but we got one more step. Next week the Bears come here for what is not specifically a win or go home game, but might as well be. I suppose the Redskins could play spoiler, but the Eagles just beat 2 playoff teams and are starting to look like a team of destiny. You know who else looked like a team of destiny? Us last year, until we went to Philly and got humiliated. I for one like the idea of winning next week and ending the season for a team that feels like they are preordained to play January football again.

Of course denying those shitheads in Philly is just a nice bonus. Making the playoffs period is what matters. And I sure like our chances. The Vikings at home are just a different level of team. The Bears on the road are just not anywhere near as imposing. Hell, they needed Nick Mullens to make one of the stupidest decisions I have ever seen a QB make in order to win today.

The NFC playoff race has been so volatile this year. We have seen teams collapse(Carolina, Washington, Green Bay, Atlanta), teams surge(Dallas, Seattle, suddenly Philly). The Vikings meanwhile have kind of just bobbed along most of the way. The Vikings season has been volatile. They have had adversity that would sink past Vikings teams. But they're still here, with 1 game to play in their home stadium to get back to the playoffs.

And they will do it.

They WILL beat the Bears.

PERIOD.