My mother purchased a Nissan Maxima wagon when I was first eligible to drive in the early 1980s. It had fuel injection, and that was new. While it was far from cool to drive your mother's wagon, it was at least fast. And it had a feature of a woman's voice pointing out when the car door was open while the keys were in the ignition. It would state loudly, "The door is ajar."

My friends and I used this frequently to point out when doors were open, or the fact that a door can be a jar. I kept the saying over the years and use it still to point out open paths for students. For example, they could be failing but have the opportunity to pass if they complete missing work, and I will tell them that the 'door is ajar'. It works.

The Vikings have an open door. It is not very wide. They must beat the Rams today, and then somehow sweep both the Packers and the Texans, and then hope the Bears, Seahawks, or another front-runner, struggle. In addition, they need to finish ahead of the Cowboys and the Redskins, both have a similar 7-6 record. The Rams, 6-6-1, also carry minimized hope of a rare playoff possibility. They will be amped up for the game.

The combined record of Minnesota the last two seasons (2010-11) is 6-26. This year they are 7-6. The times are changing. Already Minnesota has moved above the Detroit Lions, early season darlings for the playoffs, and are eyeing the Bears in the division standings. Sadly, Minnesota could only split with Chicago this year, and that may end up being the cause for a playoff miss. Or the lack of ability to win on the road. Or both.

The list of teams to beat Minnesota is not laughable. The Colts, Redskins, Bucs, Seahawks, Bears, and Packers. The Tampa Bay loss being the toughest to swallow. Many of these teams will make the playoffs. Some will win in the playoffs. But as comforting as that is supposed to be, it is not. Minnesotans want more. They want the playoffs. They want good quarterbacking. They want wins.

The game vs. the Rams will be hard fought. Adrian Peterson, with a chance to set the all-time single season rushing record less than a year removed from a major injury, is the catalyst for the Purple's playoff hopes. St. Louis fans will be saying good-bye to Steven Jackson. He will get many carries on his way out the door. It is not often Rams' fans can be excited about December football games. And with Seattle and San Francisco in their division, it may still be a while longer. A game between the Vikings and the Rams that matters... and in Week 15.

No one saw that coming.

So the door is ajar. And the Vikings have a chance to open it a little wider with a win. Certainly a loss will shut the door in 2012. There will still be Green Bay to beat. And Houston, who may or may not care about the outcome of the game by that time.

Hopefully by the end of the noon games we can declare with one voice that our door is still ajar..

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