Ever since the 41-0 loss to the Giants in the 2000 NFL playoffs I have hated the Giants. I do not want to revisit that nightmare.
In 1997, the Vikings were one of four teams from the NFC Central to make the playoffs. Green Bay was to go on to lose the Super Bowl to John Elway and the Broncos, but the Detroit Lions and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers were also wild-cards that season. Minnesota, seeded sixth, traveled to New Jersey to play the Giants. At the half, the Vikings trailed 19-3 but rallied behind Randall Cunningham. The 23-22 upset of the Giants meant Minnesota would play the top-seeded 49ers and lose 38-22 to end the season. A memorable season in that we won on the road in the playoffs.
Last season's 44-7 destruction was also enjoyable, and might have played a part in the first round ease with which we thrashed the Cowboys. Yes, beating up on good Giants' teams is almost as exciting as beating the Cowboys. To pound them both back-to-back, well that nears sweeping the Packers, it does.
This season Minnesota is 5-7, and probably just hurting their draft position the rest of the way. The team is playing better (again), and now the playoff hopeful Giants arrive. Or do they?
Presently they are scheduled to come in tomorrow morning at 8 AM. They will be off their routine to say the least. But then, so is the whole of the Twin Cities and friends, as most of us has reveled in this blizzard with opportunity to stay home with our families, watch a good movie, and eat. The area has come to a near stand still. The brave and well equipped will travel, but we also call them the crazy. MnDOT has advised their be no travel. Latest talk has the two teams joining Monday Night Football. But if winds stay at 30 mph, then what?
The 8-4 Giants envision a playoff run behind Eli Manning and a good defense. Well, sometimes a good defense. They did surrender seventy-four points to a suspect Dallas team in a split of their annual series. But they have three times held an opponent to under ten, so the talent is there.
New York fans have to feel nervous given last year's result. Sure, they can rationalize that it was a shell of their team, but the sting is the same. And they are ripe for the picking in 2010. A team stranded in Kansas City that packed for Minneapolis. A diverted flight turned sour. How many of us can stay on our game when that happens?
So the weather outside is frightful. The Vikings are playing delightful. And since the Giants have no place to go. Let it snow, let is snow, let it snow.
