Let's start with the Monday Meltdown (with Drew Magary) since it leads so nicely into a lot of points we want to make. Let it be known, too, that between e-mails, texts, Twitter, Facebook, phone calls and messages traveling by carrier pigeon, just keeping up with how people were reacting to the game was almost as exhausting as watching the game itself. And waiting for it? Well, we wrote about that for Page 2 today. But now, The Meltdown:

DM (3:16): KILL THEM!

RB (3:20): Yes, please. Also, nice they call forward progress on Grant but not on PJ last game.

DM (3:29): They're getting to Rodgers again.

RB (3:30): My [redacted] heart is beating like crazy.

DM (3:34): Oops. (botched snap).

DM (3:46): BOLD! (4th-and-goal conversion)

RB (4:03): Throwin' rocks tonight, Donnie!

DM (4:14): /Prays for no Ravens-style collapse.

RB (4:54): /Still prays for no Ravens-style collapse.

DM (5:28): NOOOOOOOOOO! (TD that made it 24-20)

RB (5:29): It'll be fine.

RB (5:30): Harvin becoming very good at big momentum returns.

DM (5:31): Thank God for him. He's bailed us out.

DM (5:43): Oh, I dunno that Dugan caught that ball.

RB (5:43): He had it for several steps.

DM (5:50): Time to start drinkin'. (Packers ball, down 31-26)

RB (6:06): This third down play better be a throw past the marker.

RB (7:02): That was all just so beautiful.

DM (7:05): It's annoying that they get so sloppy when they build up these big leagues, BUT those are two teams (BAL and GB) who are always gonna get theirs at some point, and I'm really impressed with the team's ability to fend off those big charges. It's very cool. This is the best Vikings team since '98.

RB (9:15): Favre makes me abnormally calm.

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The takeaways from that broken, barely coherent English?

*At the start of the game, we were unbearably keyed up, as were a number of fans with whom we communicated. Seriously, there was no sense of calm or being rational. One of our friends wanted a Xanax. We can't even imagine what Favre felt or how he was able to play another clean game to finish with 7 TDs and 0 picks in two tries against his former team. Maybe it's easier to be playing and to be in control in that situation?

*That said, at 24-20 we had to talk no fewer than four people back from the edge of reason. We told each of them the same thing: it'll be fine. And we believed it. The difference is No. 4 (who as we noted makes us abnormally calm in normally terrifying situations) and also the realization that, talent- and execution-wise, the Vikings are going to be better than just about every opponent they face. Why wouldn't they prevail? It doesn't mean they always will, but it does mean we don't always go into key situations expecting a collapse. As the RBBH said while we watched the postgame last night, "I can't believe they're talking about the Vikings as a team that won't quit. First time ever." It's a strange feeling. It's going to take some getting used to. But we're pretty sure we're going to like it.

*The pass rush disappeared for a while in the second half, but this cannot be overstated: two games vs. the Packers, two Vikings victories, 14 sacks delivered, 0 given up. Neither line is perfect, but take a bow, gentlemen. Also, we hpoe Aaron Rodgers spends the rest of his career holding the ball that extra split-second too long. Because that will be the difference between a Pro Bowl caliber QB and an above average QB who puts up great fantasy numbers.

*And finally, Rocket made a good point the other day and Drew's remark about "best team since 1998" reinforced it. Yes, that's true. But it is probably time for the 1998 talk, comparisons, etc., to cease. These are far different teams. They produce far different feelings. And we have a hunch they're going to produce different results.

*Smiles all around today. Chin up. It's a great day to be in Minnesota. Don't forget that.