vikings/nfl
Dan Wiederer began covering the Vikings in 2011, enthusiastically delivering insight on the team across the Star Tribune's print and digital products. Prior to joining the Access Vikings team, he spent seven seasons covering ACC basketball at The Fayetteville (N.C.) Observer. He also covered the Chicago Bears in 2003 and 2004. Follow him on Twitter @StribDW.
Mark Craig has covered football and the NFL the past 20 years, including the Browns from 1991-95 and the Vikings and the NFL since 2003. Since 2008, Craig has served as one of the 44 Pro Football Hall of Fame selectors. He can be followed on Twitter at @markcraignfl.
Jared Allen says high-stakes Vikings-Packers showdown 'as stressful as it gets'
Posted by: Dan Wiederer under Vikings, Packers, Jared Allen Updated: December 27, 2012 - 1:17 PM
We’re now inside of 75 hours until kickoff of the biggest game of the season.
Vikings-Packers, 3:25 p.m. Sunday at Mall of America Field. After winning a combined nine games in 2010 and 2011, the Vikings’ 9-6 record is one of the bigger surprise stories of 2012. And with a 10th win, a playoff berth would be earned.
So, having such a high-stakes battle at home against the biggest rival has to be as good as it gets, right?
“I wouldn’t say as good as it gets,” defensive end Jared Allen said. “It’s as stressful as it gets. As good as it gets would be to have this thing locked up already and be chilling on the bench. But that’s not the case.”
Allen did at least acknowledge that Sunday’s showdown would be fun with the latest request for full fan participation inside the Metrodome.
“You don’t get much better from a fan’s standpoint than to have Green Bay-Minnesota at home here in the dome,” he said. “And both sides are playing for something. … I expect it to be a battle, to be fun, exciting, loud. We need our fans rocking in there. Don’t sell your tickets to Green Bay fans. Let them watch it on TV.”
Allen also stressed the need for the Vikings to acknowledge the magnitude of Sunday’s game without letting the hype and excitement build too much.
“Sometimes you have to dumb it down in this business and not over-think the situation,” he said. “Everybody knows what’s riding on it. But don’t put that extra pressure on it. Just play this game and say, hey, if we get this game, we’ll worry about the next one when it comes. We’re at that point.”
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