Congrats Antoine on the well-deserved honor!

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I was just thinking about where we are right now, and how dismal things seem, how low fan morale has become.  I was thinking how long the odds might be to dig ourselves out of this.  I was looking at the standings and schedule, thinking of scenarios for getting back into things.  I was thinking to myself, this is gonna require a long, hard,  mathematically daunting & improbable climb that would have to go late into December before we could even hope to be back in the picture.  In short, I got depressed.   And that's when it hit me:

If we win the next three weeks, yes we will only be 5-5, but ... the math says we would be no more than one game out of first place in the division, and on top of that, we would hold the tiebreaker on whoever might be ahead of us!

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Some very, very encouraging reports are coming out about Sidney's first day back with the team, courtesy Chip Scoggins.

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I bit my tongue yesterday, because I knew there is more to this.  And there is.  This just in: Randy Moss treated normal people like dirt, and acted like complete a-hole off the field (in addition to being a quitter on it), and in doing so, IMO earned his ticket out of Minnesota:

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Gonna put this one in a distinct thread to avoid it getting buried in the "TJack sucks!"  /  "No he doesn't" / "You hate Favre!" crap going on in the main related threads.

It sounds like both Favre & the team are doing exactly what they should be doing here.  Andrews is probably the best one to bring in, both for his talent & his knowledge of the patient's history.  And it sounds like the Vikings are thinking exactly the same thing that I started advocating here on Monday and then elaborated my thinking completely on Tuesday morning, that he should sit the Cards game as well, if he has to sit.  And it sounds like Favre is still committed to the team if he does sit, he is not thinking of an in-season retirement at all.  Suck on that, bashers who say Favre is selfish and Childress has no balls.  He may have more balls than your current coach, if you are a Pack fan.

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Hmmmm .... I find it hard to believe that things have not changed that much after 3 years, but who knows.

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Some found this useful when i posted them last year, so I though I'd remind everyone its out there.  Basically, the game this week is on most stations west of the Mississippi (except MO+NE+KS) and FL/Gulf Costs and in New England, Mississippi, AK and HI; other games everywhere else.

Maps for other networks, other time slots, and indeed other sports are also here.  The coverage map for the Detroit game is not up yet; in my experience it will probably be there sometime during the first half of next week.

link to the map at The506

I can't imagine what it's been like to be Sage Rosenfels the last 18 months.  While he was here the guy was the consummate professional, never saying a politically incorrect word as his future kept going in and out of focus.  Now that he's with the Giants he is still the consummate professional, but he did speak a little more freely what his 1+ year here was like.

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This may get me in trouble, but I must speak out.  There were two was one threads of discussion, one over 200 posts & the other at least ten, that have disappeared overnight, and I want to know who wiped them it out & what the justification was.

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There is an interesting interview out in (tomorrow's?) USA Today where Favre gives a more detailed account of what happened as the team flew out of New Orleans,. and an update on where his heart & ankle are at.  Excerpts fter the jump

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 Uh oh. 

It can't be trivial if it's still lingering six months later.

It does explain why he's not at Carter's camp, though (or, alternately, maybe the injury claim is an exaggeration to excuse why he's blowing Carter off)

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Apparently LT is looking old and broken down to some observers of Jets camp.  Not really a vikings concern now, but given that he was a source of such speculation here a couple months back, I know there are some that will be curious.

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Good news on that front.  link

Vikings cornerback Antoine Winfield met with a foot specialist Thursday and will not need surgery, good news for the Pro Bowler, according to a person with knowledge of the situation.

Dr. Robert Anderson in North Carolina recommended rest for Winfield, who missed six games in 2009 because of a fractured right foot. Winfield is expected to be healed and ready for training camp, according to the source.

Contrary to reports, Winfield did not suffer a setback in the NFC title game, the source said. Winfield did not participate in the Pro Bowl, looking to avoid the risk of further injury.

These were apparently obtained by Favre's agent, Bus Cook, who later shared them with Rick Cleveland of the Clarion, MS Ledger newspaper:

So, I was talking to Bus Cook, sports agent of the stars, today about one of his clients, Antonio Johnson, the starting defensive tackle for the Indianapolis Colts. And I asked Bus about the health of his most famous client Brett Favre.

"Beat up," Bus answered. "You should see the photos of his ankle and his hamstring the day after the game."

I said I'd like to do just that. Cook emailed them.  Brace yourself. For all those who have criticized Favre for throwing instead of running on that last play against the Saints, check out Brett's left ankle and his right hamstring.

That he even finished the game is testament to why he is football's all-time iron man, the toughest football player I've ever seen.

Pictures after jump

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Peter King at SI has this in his "Monday Morning QB mailbag - Tuesday edition" from yesterday afternoon:

Darren Sharper told me Sunday the Saints' mission against Favre was, "Cut off the head, and the body will die.'' In other words, beat the crap out of Favre and see how many plays he makes at the end of the game if you physically manhandle him. I can guarantee you that inside the Saints' facility this week, Williams will be telling his men, "See? It worked against Favre; he threw a terrible pass near the end of the fourth quarter because we beat him up all game. We can do the same thing to Manning if we abuse him.''

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Oh well, you gotta at least respect his consistency.  Tellingly, though, he has toned down the language, and has completely stopped saying that he wants to see the Vikings "fail" as long as they play Favre (gotta protect those book sales and memorabilia gravy train?)

link

Jan. 19 (Bloomberg) -- Brett Favre shouldn’t be playing for the Minnesota Vikings even though he has the team one win away from a Super Bowl berth, former Vikings quarterback Fran Tarkenton said.

Tarkenton, a Hall of Fame member who led Minnesota to three Super Bowl spots, said he stood by statements he made before the National Football League season that it was wrong for Favre to sign with the Vikings after playing quarterback for 16 seasons with the division-rival Green Bay Packers.

“I didn’t like it then -- he’s a Green Bay Packer -- and I don’t like it now,” Tarkenton said in an interview today at an Atlanta Press Club event. “I could never imagine me retiring from the Vikings and playing for the Packers. So, it didn’t sit well with me and it still doesn’t.”

Tarkenton, 69, played 13 seasons for the Vikings between 1961 and 1978. Minnesota lost Super Bowl appearances after the 1969, 1973 and 1974 seasons.

The quarterback, who also spent five seasons with the New York Giants, said he has nothing against Favre as a person or as a player. His issue revolves solely around Favre switching his allegiance to a rival team.

“It has nothing to do with him,” Tarkenton said. “That’s a great, great rivalry and a great tradition.”

While Tarkenton doesn’t like the sight of 40-year-old Favre wearing his former team’s purple and gold colors, his performance with Minnesota this season has been “remarkable,” Tarkenton said.

‘Best He’s Played’

“I’m just amazed,” he said. “This is the best he has ever played. He’s throwing like he’s 25 years old. He’s moving around like he’s 25 years old. It’s unheard of. No quarterback in the history of time -- we all break down over the age of 35 - - (Johnny) Unitas, (John) Elway, (Dan) Marino, (Joe) Montana, Tarkenton, (Roger) Staubach, we’ve never seen this happen ever, ever before, so it’s remarkable.”

As everyone here knows, the Vikings are a mere speedbump on the Cowboy Expressway to Miami.  Prognosticators are already measuring their strengths up against the Saints & Cardinals, and even the Colts and Bolts, and jewelry designers are already busy tabulating each players ring size.

I watched the NFL Network programming the last two days & every commentator on both "Playbook" and "Total Access" has picked the Cowboys.  Every one of them (I think there are six?).  They played loops of Cowboy tape, showing viewers all the things the Cowboys team has done (on offense, defense, and special teams alike) that the Vikings have little hope of stopping.  The only thing I heard them allow that the Vikings might have success at is Favre pulling off some plays by running bootlegs and play actions & hoping to catch Cowboys defense playing the run.  But even in that case, they point out that he will have limited options, because the Vikings supposedly will have to keep Shiancoe back to provide extra pass protection in order to slow down slightly (not stop) the Cowboy speed rushers on either side, Spencer and Ware.  Everything else is a non factor.  The ROY returning kickoffs will not matter (even with all those gobs of Cowboy scores!) because the kicker will kick it deep.  Peterson will not matter; the vaunted 4th ranked Cowboy defense will stop him dead (although, for reasons I'm not sure I ever heard, Felix jones is gonna run roughshod all over the Vikings #2 ranked rush defense).  And so on.

Well, I was just about to go along with the previously posted proposal that we just get it over with and forfeit the game, since we obviously have no chance.  But then, imagine my surprise to discover that one of the writers at SI actually things we might barely pull off a win here!  

No, not King or Banks -- banks ranks us 7th in the power rankings of the 8 playoff teams, and the Cowboys #1 or #2 -- supposedly the only team we are better than are the Saints; even in a Vikings-Jets Superbowl, we are doomed).  The writer is Tim Layden, who writes:

THE PICK

The Cowboys are the trendy pick to rise from wild-card round winner to Super Bowl champion. There's that pass rush, there's Tony Romo looking like he's matured into a first-rate NFL quarterback not just before Thanksgiving, but afterward as well. Miles Austin and Felix Jones are game-breakers. But there's something about Favre and the Vikings and playing at home in the very noisy Metrodome. You can make the argument that the bye week often hurts teams by letting them get rusty; I think it will work the other way for the Vikings. Watch Favre work the short passing game and give the ball to Adrian Peterson on a lot of first downs to slow the pass rush. And watch Jared Allen get to Romo. Vikings 31, Cowboys 29

The #2 NFC seed is ranked #4 in NFC power rankings.  Oh yeah, and the Cowboys too, as well as the Saints.  But at least you can say that those rankings are defensible, since we have yet to play them.

I literally do not know what to say to this.  

Maybe there are others here who can find a suitably ... eloquent  ... way to refute it ;)

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Trying not to think or talk too much about this possibility -- let's enjoy living in the NOW when things are good! -- but this is good enough news that it's worth bringing up.  Vikings are not completely off their radar though -- they are just saying they won't try to interfere as long as there are active initiatives to build a new stadium.  But if that doesn't come to pass ... look out, the Lakers and Vikings are reunited?

Associated Press

LOS ANGELES -- The company behind a plan to lure the NFL back to Los Angeles said Tuesday that the Jacksonville Jaguars and Buffalo Bills are the first teams it will try to relocate to Southern California.

Majestic Realty Co. managing partner John Semcken said the company is still considering at least seven franchises for a new stadium in the city of Industry, some 25 miles east of Los Angeles. They also include the San Francisco 49ers, San Diego Chargers, Minnesota Vikings, St. Louis Rams and Oakland Raiders.

 

However, Semcken said the Jaguars and the Bills are at the top of the list because they play in small markets that tamp down their earning potential and because they have little hope of building larger venues in their home regions.

"Jacksonville and Buffalo are two teams in very, very small markets," Semcken said. "They are teams that have either outdated stadiums or are having trouble filling their stadiums or both."

The Jaguars have struggled for years to fill Jacksonville Municipal Stadium and had seven of their eight regular-season games blacked out on local television this season. The Bills have played some home games in Toronto in an effort to expand their market.

Messages were left seeking comment from the Jaguars and Bills.

Jaguars majority owner Wayne Weaver and Bills owner Ralph Wilson have steadfastly dismissed any suggestion that they will sell or move their teams.

Semcken said Majestic will not approach the 49ers, Chargers or Vikings as long as those teams are seeking stadium plans of their own. He said it wouldn't be fair to interfere with their efforts to remain in their home markets.

Semcken also said Majestic chief executive Ed Roski's preference is to find owners willing to sell their franchise to a consortium of investors that he would lead, rather than buying a minority stake in a team that would move with its existing majority owner at the helm.

First, a quick review: there are only three possible opponents that the Vikings will face in two weeks: Cowboys, Cardinals, Packers.  If the Eagles win, as the 6th seed they will go to New Orleans no matter what happens in Arizona, so in that scenario we face the Cardinals or Packers.  Otherwise if Eagles lose again, we get Cowboys.

____________________________

I thought I'd make a quick poll to see how people feel about facing each of these possible opponents.  Note the question is who we want to play, not who you think we will play.  I grouped the poll questions such that you can add two sets of votes together to see what % of people want to face a particular team -- e.g. to see how many people want to play the Cowboys, add up results for first two responses.  However the ranking of all three possibilities lets us tease out more info.  Make comments if you'd like to elaborate on your preference.

____________________________

My vote goes for the first option: Cowboys, Cardinals, Packers.  Although none of the three teams are choices to feel complacent about,.  The "experts" are saying the Cowboys are the hottest team in NFC right now, but I still think we're better off facing them over the other two. We match up pretty well, our D can stop the run (which they rely on more than anyone else, even us), and force them to pass, where I think we can really mess with Romo.  If we have to stop an offense, I feel much more confident doing it on the ground than with our secondary, even though our run D has had some unexpected issues.  Though statistically a prolific offense, they seems to have problems putting the ball in the end zone; they are barely ranked in top half of NFL on that measure.  Vikings should keep them below their average, and if  we can score on them, it will make it hard for them to keep up.

As far as ranking the other two ... although we do not match up well against Cardinals (something we know painfully well), and beat Packers soundly twice, I still think a hot Packers team right now is more dangerous.  Our secondary makes me nervous, and I think Rodgers + Driver/Jennings is more dangerous (and consistent) than Warner+Fitzgerald/Boldin.

In that vein, here is what I think the ideal scenario would be for playoffs for us: we play (and beat) Cowboys, Packers beat Cardinals and beat Saints, then we get homefield game against Packers for NFC Championship.  Favre Bowl III baby!  Even though Packers are last team I'd want to face, getting homefield if they can knock off Saints would make up for it.  Then on to Colts in Superbowl; if it's not Colts, then I think it will be Bolts, who every year seem to just own the Colts (this is not a statement of preference, moreso a prediction).  Ravens are the darkhorse coming out of AFC ... like I said back when we beat them, I think they are a lot more dangerous than many give them credit for.  And with the hits the Patriots took yesterday on Welker & Brady, I think they at least get to divisional and end up in AFC final four with Colts and Bolts.

In a USA today interview piece published today (link at bottom).  Not exactly surprising this is coming up this time of year, if you've been following the man as I have.  I urge people to not read too much into this, and not get too worked up about.  It's just what he does ... that's why some have called him the Hamlet of Mississippi. 

Since it's all off the football field that these doubts and hesitation comes up, may I suggest doing as I do: just shrug, accept it, and keep enjoying watching him play. What he says at this time of year, historically speaking, has had almost no correlation to what he actually ends up doing the following spring:

1. after 2006 he was strongly hinting he would quit (he broke down crying about "what a great run its been and I'll miss the guys if I don't come back" in the postgame interview after week 17), and he decided relatively quickly he would not; in fact he hired a personal trainer and worked out the entire offseason
   
2. after 2007 he didn't talk much at all about quitting, and then of course he (in)famously did; surprising everyone,
3. after 2008, well ...everyone here is intimately familiar with that, he said he was done, then he wasn't.  And that was just February; he did it all over again in August!
   

This is just what comes with Favre.  Like I said, I counsel just shrugging and moving on.  In any case, if you read the interview, what USA Today says he is thinking about retiring is not really supported too much by direct quotes.  They may just be taking a small "Sure, I could retire I suppose" and blowing it up to something more than it is.

He also talks about his addiction to painkillers back in the day -- and how he's now taking 2400mg of ibuporofen a day (!) instead -- and how his relationship with his dad was complex (the anniversary of his death is coming up, I imagine this is why he's thinking about him).  So if the Hamlet parallels were not complete already, this "ghost of his dad" stuff just about ices it :).  And lots of stuff about wanting a son, doing in-vitro and having three miscairages trying to do it ... lots of personal stuff which I doubt he's ever said before.

MY TAKE: This introspection does make me a little nervous where Brett is at right now. Compounded a bit by the description of all the pain he is in. If he gets too wrapped up in it, it might affect his play. But on the other hand, I think this talk of retirement may be blown out of proportion, in the context of the pain he is in, excerpted in the last quote below, can you blame a 40yo guy for sometimes wondering "do I really need -- do I really want -- to keep doing this to myself?"  It isn't that unnatural.  I really am starting to hope that we lock down the #2 seed this weekend, and then the next three weeks he gets a lot of opportunity to recuperate.

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NOTE: This was written before Zona lost to 49ers Monday night.  Now there is a good chance #3 and #4 will flip.  This means, for most part, possibly swap "Eagles" for "Cardinals" in the following post.

---

Although there are still three weeks to go, now that we got past Bengals I feel fairly confident to predict the following NFC seeding:

1. Saints
2. Vikings
3. Cards
4. Eagles
5. Packers (WC top seed)
6. Giants (WC 2nd seed; though they are trailing 'Boys right now, I'm predicting Romo & Co lose to both Saints and Philly, and Giants already have tiebreaker)

I don't want to jinx Vikings, so I won't predict past divisional round (for now).  But here's what I can come up with for results of WC weekend:

1. Giants at Cards (or Cowboys, if it does turn out to be them): Cards win
2. Packers at Eagles: Toss up, since each team has proven themselves capable of winning -- or losing -- any game. 
   

This means the divisional round will be:

1. Cards at Vikings
2. Packers or Eagles at Saints

Note if Cards are #3 and win, and we are #2, it does not matter what happens in other WC game, we play Cards at home.  If Cards lose, we play Eagles if they win, and if they lose along with Cards (both home teams lose), we play Packers.

First of all, let's get this out of the way: the sky is NOT falling.

OK, done.  But, having said that, let's be sober about where we are. In particular, where we are relative to all that matters right now, seeding for the postseason.  I am taking it as a given that we are in the playoffs.  With ten wins, that seems pretty safe.  I'm also not going to dwell too long on remote mathematical possibilities, and just assume we will win the division too.

So the overriding focus -- beyond the nuts and bolts of playing good football & getting banged up players healed -- is playoff seeding: #1, #2, #3, or #4?

Although the Saints do look very beatable (they should have lost too yesterday, and to a much, much worse red-clad team than we played, the Redskins), it's not very productive to obsess too much on the #1 seed.  That will only happen if the Saints collapse in the final four games, and even if it does happen, we will have no say in it, so let's just not even focus on it.

Right now we are positioned for #2 seed, still a very nice seeding, it gives us the all-important wild card weekend bye.  With luck, that "beatable" probable #1 seed mentioned above, will be beaten in the divisional round, and the difference between #1 vs. #2 would be moot.  But the #2 seed is very, very important to hang onto, and that should be our primary focus from here on out.

Right now our primary competition for the #2 seeding is ... unfortunately ... the team that just beat us.  At 8-4, although the Cardinals are two games behind us, because they just gained the head-to-head tiebreaker, it's really only a one game lead for seeding purposes.   We can drop one more game without any damage done, but after that, look out.  Looking at the Cards' next three games, they have the 49ers, then the Lions, then the Rams.  Let's just cut to the chase & give them three wins all the way through December.  That means we cannot afford more than one loss in the next three games ... if we lose more than one of the next three games, we probably lose control of the #2 seed.

To underline how important that #2 seed is, consider this:  Assuming Saints stay number one, and Cards overtake us for #2, and we are #3 (hard to see how we could fall all the way to #4 at this point), then that means:

1. No bye, a game during the wildcard weekend
2. Assuming we win, a road game in the divisional round to ... yes, Glendale AZ to face the Cardinals at home again, this time a rested Cardinals team (ugh)

I'm not sure how much higher the stakes for holding on to #2 could be.

So, what will it take?  If the Cards do win out the next three as I expect, and we lose one (or, god forbid, two) of the next three (with Bengals at home then two road games against Bears and Panthers, a very real possibility) ... then week 17, Jan 3, 2010,  becomes very interesting. .

We will be playing the Giants week 17.  It will be at home, but if the Giants keep their act together between now & then, they will probably be very motivated in that game, perhaps even needing to win to take their division and/or get into the playoffs.  Hopefully we win the next three and we don't have to worry about that game, but if we do lose one in between, that will be a dogfight we'll have to duke it out for.

What if we lose that dogfight, or we win it, but lose two of the other three remaining games?  Then, assuming the AZ Cards take down the 49ers Lions & Rams as I expect ... then, right after the Giants game, we wait to watch AZ play in a late game that day, and hope they lose.  So ... who's hands will our fate be in, in these likely scenarios?  Which team will Jared Allen, Adrian Peterson, Brad Childress, and Brett Favre -- and all of us -- be cheering on in that game?  Even though it may means this team may get into the playoffs where they might otherwise not?

The Green Bay Packers.

Oh, what an interesting day that will be, if this comes to pass ;)  So, how many here think they can make themselves cheer the Packers in week 17, if it means keeping #2 seed & playoff bye for Vikings? 

Also, please comment on what shape do you think we are in overall to hang onto the #2 seed, and how critical doing that is.   How seriously are you worried about the Cardinals overtaking us & deposing us to the #3 seed,and how scared are you of the likely consequences (see above)?

If two years ago, as Favre & Packers were battling the Cowboys for #1 seed in the NFC, Doc stopped by your place in his DeLorean to throw some new banana peels in his Mr. Fusion, and told you he'd just come from today and read this in today's sports pages ... would you have decided it was finally time for him to be committed?

Brett Favre did not throw an interception in November. If he doesn't throw an interception Sunday against Arizona, Favre will tie the Vikings' franchise record of five consecutive games without a pick set by Hall of Famer Fran Tarkenton in 1973.

Two years ago this would have been unbelievable on SO MANY levels! 

Favre setting a record for most games without throwing a pick? 

Favre still playing???

Favre a Viking?!?!?!

Interesting take here.  I'll refrain from providing my opinion, as there are certain people's feathers that I go out of my way not to ruffle here, and I want the discussion to be about Aaron, not me.  The only thing I will say is that I chuckled at the Peyton-Eli and Nobel Peace Prioze references ;)  But I guess the fact that I repost this here does give away that I think there may something to it.

link

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Great video/audio of Favre against Lions.  Besides stuff I mentioned in subject, we get him complimenting Stafford, and lots of butt slapping by the old man.  I saw this earlier this week, I kept figuring someone else would post it, but it looks like no even ever did, so ... enjoy.  Definitely 6 1/2 minutes well spent to get insight into team chemistry right now on offense.

vikings.com link to video

Post your favorite line.  Mine is from him talking to first Tarvaris, then Bevell as they're looking at playshots on the sideline: To Tarvaris:

We don't need to keep making it so d--- complicated, just ... keep it simple!

To Bevell, Tarvaris, and Sage:

H---, just run and go.  They don' wanna ... they can't cover Sidney.  How you wanna cover him {holding his arms up in the air, palms up]  Off?  Bump?  Who cares! It's gonna be ... stealing.

Then the next clip shows the play where Favre throughs it up for grabs for Sidney deep on the free play they got with the Detroit offsides.  Then it shows Favre and Sidney on the sidelines, I can't figure out hte first two sentences Favre says to Rice, but then it's:

I just let you make a play.  That's what you do.  That's what you do.

Then Favre talking to Childress, geturing towards Rice:  "They can't cover him."  Childress: "Well, you've always said that."  Favre: "Right.  Now you startin' to believe me."

How ironic it would have been if his streak had ended with his first trip back to Lambeau?!

Favre revealed he had a groin injury that flared up before the game at Lambeau and for a few moments made him think he might not be able to play.

"I told T-Jack (backup QB Tarvaris Jackson) and (O-coordinator) Darrell Bevell I may not be able to do it,'' Favre told SI.com. "I didn't know if I'd be able to drop back very well. After I aggravated it, there was no way I was going to be able to move around in the pocket very much. We never called one bootleg the whole game. But we made it through OK.''

I actually noticed that during the game, hardly any bootlegs (I didn't realize it was none at all though).  I just figured it was due to better pass blocking making them less necessary.  Good thing the Packers were not aware though.  Although one wonders if there will be an injury report fine becasue of this, giventhe precedent with Favre & the Jets ...

This also clarifies the comment in the after game PC from Favre that the Bye Weekk came at a great time.  I thought he might have been referring to Winfield & harvin's shoulder & AD, but now I think he was including himself.

Favre has always been very lucky in when his byes have fallen relative to his injuries.

Take a look at the Fox game broadcast distribution for the early game this weekend, It is pretty much as monocolored as it's been all year:

Fox NFL boracast week 7 early game 


If you notice, pretty much the only places the other games will be shown is in a (very core) version of their home market.  Every, and I mean EVERY, other market will carry th Vikings - Steelers.

Sadly, being in WIsconsin, I will be one of the few having to go out to watch it :(

I have to agree with him: although I fear the Saints, and am not sure right now we are up to beating them (especially if it has to be done with anyone injured on the D side of ball), so one part of me wants no part of them ... still, it would make for an incredibly exciting game, and ultimately that's why we all watch, right?

In general, King has (IMO) something actually worth reading this week -- there are some good quotes from AP in there, and puts down the silly idea that he is "frustrated" and/or not playing well.  Finally, King criticizes the playcalling (as many have here already) that left us gong for three at end & giving the ball back to Flacco with two minutes left and only needed a FG to win:

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