But, what does it mean? I'm actually split on this. While it brings the Saints off of cloud 9, what now? Could they come apart? Do they finish out at 15-1? Does that mean we are back in the hunt for home field in the playoffs? While the Saints may finally have been brought down, the thing that worries me now is the Saints doing similar to what we have done in our two losses.........learn and adjusted. I would still have the Saints finish the season 15-1, tho rather 16-0 thinking they were untouchable, much like what happened to us in 1998. But being this late in the season, how do they take this? I still think head to head, we have a more balanced team, but we know now, the Saints aren't "untouchable". Do they make the necessary adjustments going into the playoffs? Do they have the personnel to make adjustments?  Do they come apart and hand us home field? Do we even want home field or rather have the Vikes kept on their toes? What is everyone's take?

Ive updated this a few times to flow a little better as I slapped this post together as the game was ending. A few of you may have noticed the changes.

Associated Press - EDEN PRAIRIE, Minn. - Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Percy Harvin(notes) has returned to practice, and the rookie says he "should be" able to play in Sunday's game at Carolina.

Harvin missed all last week and practises Wednesday and Thursday because of problems with migraine headaches. But he was on the field participating in drills with his helmet on during Friday's light workout.

Harvin said afterward he had a good practice and hoped he'd play against the Panthers.

Harvin says he's trying different medicines and treatments to fight the problem he's had most of his life. He says the headaches are "scary," but his experience dealing with them has helped him cope with the effects and the uncertainty.

Guy's, head over to the Cincy Jungle and say a few words. Even though we don't know the full details, sad that this happened.

By MIKE CRANSTON, AP Sports Writer – 8 mins ago

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Charlotte-Mecklenburg police say Cincinnati Bengals receiver Chris Henry has died, one day after suffering serious injuries upon falling out of the back of a pickup truck in what authorities describe as a domestic dispute with his fiancee.

Police say Henry died at 6:36 a.m. Thursday. Henry was 26.

Away from the team because of a broken forearm, Henry was rushed to the hospital Wednesday after being found on a residential road. Police say a dispute began at a home about a half-mile away, and Henry jumped into the bed of the pickup truck as his fiancee was driving away from the residence.

Police said at some point when she was driving, Henry "came out of the back of the vehicle."

Just scoped this on the rumors page, so who knows it was true or not, but here is the article.

Vikings and Governor meet about new stadium?

By Mark J. Miller

Minnesota Vikings owner Zygi Wilf apparently met with Minnesota Governor Tim Pawlenty privately yesterday to talk about Wilf's desire for a new stadium for his team, according to the St. Paul Pioneer Press. And, oh yeah, could the state throw in some dough? The meeting was supposedly "very positive." One would guess that Wilf tried to sell Pawlenty on the idea that there needed to be some movement on this in 2010. It isn't clear whether Wilf went ahead and put out the threat of the Vikings moving to try and goose Pawlenty into doling out some of the state's dough to the Vikes.

Pawlenty's rep, though, is saying that the pair didn't discuss too many specifics about the proposals for a new stadium or when the cash-strapped state should actually deal with those. So one wonders what they talked about then. Brett Favre's(notes) retirement plans? Pawlenty's presidential hopes? Wilf's mustache styling?

Whatever they talked about, a design for a new $954 million stadium to replace the Metrodome will be unveiled tomorrow.

Source: St. Paul Pioneer Press

So, looks like the old Randy Moss has finally reared his ugly head in Boston. You know the one. The one who stops short on his routes, the one who turns to early or simply doesn't look like he really gives a crap. The infamous "I play when I want too" Randy Moss. The same one that after being shipped to Oakland got blasted for pretty much the same. Well, after that humbling experience, most thought, including myself, that he had been humbled enough and seemed to be past all those issue's. As late Waylon Jennings would sing.......WRONG........looks like the Randy of old has returned just like a bad case of acne. He got his butt sent back home this past week for being late and yesterdays game, was totally atrocious. The article will explain the rest. But in all honesty, I was one of those that was happy to see him go when the Vikings traded him. While talented, he just seemed mentally unfocused or had some deeper issue's that still seem to be there.

‘Fragile’ Moss threatens to set back Patriots

Childress on Peterson, McKinnie 'tips'

This just came down the pipeline via Kevin Seifert. Personally, I don't see this as an issue of any type otherwise we would be having our collective arses handed to us weekly. Being at 10-2 really throws out the arguement. But none the less, there are those in the world that will believe anything that comes off the internet, including forwarding e-mails to see "what happens", don't play with your seafood or the babies will come out of you and so on. Again, hopefully this will calm a few, but I dont see it.

Just saw this, read it, and laughed. I've heard them say this several times in the past, and yet, they can never seem to pass up a "deal". Mind you, I'm not screaming for a salary cap, not dissin or anything, but coming from their powers to be, I just can't help but to say.....(cough)bull$h&t(cough)blowj&b(cough)eat me(cough)..........Cue up your "Animal House" DVD

Yankees to reduce Payroll

Looking like perhaps another "Creative" moment in the highly respected (note sarcasim) Yahoo Sports newsroom. Could it be, they have telepathy and found out about the deadline before Mauer had thought of it? Inquierer Minds want to know!  From the Sporting News.

SportingNews staff reports Dec 1, 7:16 pm EST

American League MVP Joe Mauer on Tuesday denied a Yahoo! Sports report that said Mauer had set a deadline of opening day for contract negotiations with the Minnesota Twins. Mauer can become a free agent after next season.

Mauer texted the Twins’ Web site and the Minneapolis Star-Tribune to respond to the report. He told the Star-Tribune, "(T)hat’s news to me." He told the team’s Web site: "I’m not going to react to every story/rumor that comes out or comment on any negotiations. As far as that report, I don’t know where that came from."

Last week, at a press conference announcing his MVP award, Mauer said he didn’t need to get a deal done by a certain time. The Twins reportedly would like to complete a deal with Mauer by Christmas.

More from Sporting News: Joe Mauer reportedly sets deadline for extension agreement

This is something I thought of some years ago, worked on here and there and finally got enough time together to get a facebook, myspace page and now, as of tonight after working several hours to get a basic page up and running, The New Mexico Norseman fan club is now official including web page. Looking up New Mexico Norseman to check if it was available in Google searches is how I came across the Daily Norseman, not a bad stroke of luck eh? Still many more tweaks and revisions to the page will be coming up. Eventual plans include a picture page of locals here, their photos of games attended, posting and who knows what else. So if you get a few extra minutes, check it out, pass it on and shoot some ideas my way to make it a little better. Just nothing to complex, Im a bonifid rookie at this! lol

New Mexico Norseman

A few times a month during the NFL season, I buzz over to our friends at the BBC online to see what their thoughts of not only our team, but other's, is. Thing's I've noticed, is they pay attention, are getting into the sport more and more and they have a nice perspective on teams since they have to do a little more research tracking down players, teams and such. We get to have the luxury of finishing our 12 pack at the end of the day and getting everything from who had the most TD's to who let out the loudest fart and in which stadium put up on the TV for us.

I was reading this blog on the upcoming week done by a Neil Reynolds. Some of our D.N. member's who are oversea's may be familiar with the fellow, but he seem's to be pretty knowledgeable. If you read the whole article, he has done his research as he brings up some stuff from the old Cleveland Rams day's. But, what I will paste here is concerning the Vikings (of course) and his assessment of our season, playoffs and this weeks game. I'll also throw in the link at the bottom so you can read the whole article if you wish. Just thought it was a nice outside the NFL take on things. 

"The Colts and Saints are grabbing considerable attention as undefeated 10-0 teams but I think the best side in the NFL at the moment is one game back - the 9-1 Vikings.

Brett Favre is not just surviving the rigours of the season at the age of 40, he is playing the best football of his career and looks every bit as good as the three years when he won NFL Most Valuable Player honours. He has thrown for 2,482 yards, 21 touchdowns and just three interceptions and looks very much like the final piece in the Vikings' Super Bowl jigsaw.

But there is more to the Vikings than a star quarterback. They have the game's best running back in Adrian Peterson, a strong offensive line and receivers who can score from anywhere on the field in Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin and Bernard Berrian.

They're pretty dominant on defense as well. Jared Allen is a pass-rushing demon, Kevin and Pat Williams are virtually immovable at defensive tackle and behind them roam a pair of very active linebackers in E.J. Henderson and Chad Greenway.

With Favre not having to take his aching bones outside into the cold very often between now and the season's end, I'm backing the Vikings to lift the Vince Lombardi Trophy in Miami. They certainly look stronger than my preseason tip, the New York Giants.

Game of the Week

We have the Vikings taking on the Chicago Bears - who have lost five of their last six after a 3-1 start - on BBC Radio 5 live sports extra on Sunday from 2100 GMT.

The focus of fan dismay in Chicago is quarterback Jay Cutler. The Bears gave up first round picks in the 2009 and 2010 drafts, a third round pick in 2010 and sent Kyle Orton to Denver. They then rewarded Cutler with a $50 million (£30m) contract. He has paid them back with some wildly inaccurate throws, some poor decisions and an NFL-leading 18 interceptions.

Cutler is throwing too much off his back foot, his mechanics are poor and he looks like the weight of the world is on his shoulders. But he is not getting a great deal of help - his offensive line is shaky, the running game non-existent and his receivers are inexperienced and distinctly average.

There is only one winner in this contest.

Prediction: Chicago 13 Minnesota 38"

And here is the link to the whole article on the BBC webpage.