Hi everybody! Long time reader, first time blogger, lifelong Vikes fan. This Vikings season is probably the most anticipated that I can remember. The boom/bust potential is off the charts. No matter what happens, I think it's going to be a blast. My goal is for this blog to be a lot of fun, too.
It's no secret that Minnesota sports teams have been, um, less than successful in recent years. Out of all the cities with teams in the 4 major sports (MLB, NHL, NBA, and NFL - sorry MLS fans), Minnesota has gone the longest without a champion after the Phillies World Series title in '08. Could that change in 2009-10 with this Vikings team? Here are my best and worst case scenarios, followed by my prediction:
Best case:
Adrian Peterson breaks 2000 yards with his first carry in Week 14, then heads to the bench with the rest of the starters. Brett Favre proves to be the missing piece to the Super Bowl puzzle, with the highlights being a last-second come-from-behind victory over the defending champion Steelers, followed by a 5 touchdown game over the Packers and their "revamped" defense at Lambeau. Percy Harvin gets his first Sports Illustrated cover, titled "Triple Threat - Percy Harvin does it all as Vikings remain perfect". The team goes 15-1 with the only defeat coming as the Vikings rest all their starters in the 2nd half and lose to the Giants on a last second FG in a game the Giants need to win. The Vikes make good on 15-1 this time, breezing through the NFC playoffs and beating Denver, who fleeced the Chicago Bears in obtaining Pro Bowl QB Kyle Orton for noted bust Jay Cutler, in Super Bowl XLIV.
Worst case:
Brett Favre flops. After losing to Green Bay on Monday night to go 0-4, the scene in the Vikes locker room resembles this:
Percy Harvin, pictured with 3 different types of paraphernalia, gets his first High Times cover, titled "Triple Threat". I can't write about worst case with regards to AD because I just threw up in my mouth a bit thinking about it. The team is 2-13 and tied with Detroit for worst record heading into the final week. Interim Vikings coach Marty Morningweig (fired after the failed Vick-McNabb experiment in Philly) sends out Sage Rosenfels and Nafahu Tahi to run the option in the most blatant tank job since "the Mark Madsen game" to end the Timberwolves 2005-06 season.
My actual prediction - 12-4, beat the Packers 3 times, including the NFC championship game, and take home the big prize, beating San Diego and LaDanian "not-even-close-to-as-good-as-AD" Tomlinson in Miami as I risk unemployment by taking Super Bowl week and 3 "recovery" days off.
