CHICAGO BEARS (7-8)	GAME #16	MINNESOTA VIKINGS (3-12)
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Earlier this week, the folks at Pro Football Talk drew the conclusion that there were only three meaningless games on this final weekend of the 2011 NFL season. . .and, by God, this is one of them! But, regardless of the "meaning" this game has, we're going to be here for it. . .after all, there's a (seemingly increasingly good) chance that this could be the last game in the history of the Minnesota Vikings, what with all the stadium garbage that's going on. Believe me, we'll have plenty of time to get into that in the coming weeks.

So, what do the Vikings have to do to avoid tying the worst mark in franchise history since the 16-game schedule came into play?

1) Protect Christian Ponder, Joe Webb, or whoever else winds up at quarterback - Only three teams in the NFL have allowed more sacks this season than the Vikings have, with their quarterbacks going down 47 times in the first 15 games of this season. If the Vikings want to have a shot at winning this one, they need to keep their quarterbacks upright, particularly Ponder as he's coming off of a concussion. Again.

2) Get to Josh McCown - The Vikings still owe that guy for the 2003 season finale in Arizona. With Jared Allen currently leading the National Football League in sacks and going against a suspect Bears' offensive line, the Vikings need to keep the pressure up on the Bears' third different quarterback of 2011.

3) Play hard - This team needs to put forth 100% effort in this one for a few reasons. The first is to avoid tying the 1984 Vikings for the worst record in team history. The second one is to send the great Jim Kleinsasser off with a victory. The third is that, quite frankly, there are a lot of players wearing purple today that could very well be playing for their jobs. There is going to be some serious turnover in Minnesota this off-season, and if guys don't want to be a part of that, they need to show it this afternoon.

The Minnesota Vikings have never gone 0-for-the NFC North/Central in a season before, but they run the risk of doing so this afternoon if they lose to the Bears. Yes, I know that if the Vikings lose they're guaranteed the third overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft, and if they win they'll likely drop to the sixth spot. Big deal. I'm tired of watching this team lose. . .you have just as good a chance of drafting a star at #6 as you do at #3, and you have just as much chance of drafting a bust at #3 as you do at #6.

Let's send big #40 out with a victory this afternoon, and try to put this whole miserable season behind us.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-12)	GAME #15	WASHINGTON REDSKINS (5-9)
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Happy Christmas Eve morning, ladies and gentlemen! If you're fortunate enough to be watching this one with us and not running around a mall or shopping center somewhere like a chicken that has recently had its head severed from its body, we welcome you to the second-to-last Game Thread of the 2011 NFL season, in which the Vikings will attempt to take a step towards not finishing with the worst record in the history of the franchise. As you can see, I don't think it's going to happen, but if it were to happen, how would the Vikings go about doing it?

1) Let's get physical. . .physical - The Redskins' run defense really hasn't been all that good this season, allowing 112 yards per game. After getting just ten carries in last week's loss, you have to believe that Adrian Peterson is going to be chomping at the bit to get some work in this afternoon's game. Toby Gerhart has proven to be an effective sledgehammer in Peterson's place over the past few weeks, and as long as we don't have any gutless dirtbags yanking people's ankles at the bottom of pile-ups, that tandem should get plenty of work this afternoon. Peterson is 106 yards away from setting the Vikings' franchise rushing record and, as great as it would be for him to get it at home, I'd rather he not have to wait that long.

2) Under pressure - We're playing Rex Grossman today, folks. Rex Grossman doesn't just like to throw interceptions. . .he wants to throw interceptions. With Jared Allen chasing both the Vikings' single-season sack record (currently 21, held by Chris Doleman) and the NFL single-season record (22.5* by Michael Strahan) and Washington without starting left tackle/performance enhancing drug enthusiast Trent Williams, there's a chance that #69 can make Grossman's life miserable. In addition to making some game changing sacks, there's a possibility. . .and I hope you're sitting down. . .that the pressure from the Vikings' front four could cause Grossman to throw passes that can potentially be caught by the opposing team. We haven't seen that since before Columbus Day in Minnesota, but if it's going to change, this is as good a chance as any.

3) Give a little bit of heart and soul - There's no doubt that the Vikings have heard all the "Suck for Luck" or "Fall Flat for Matt" talk, particularly with the Colts having won on Thursday night. When it comes down to it, everybody that takes the field in a white jersey with purple and gold on it is a professional. Yeah, there's going to be no post-season this year, and yeah, there's not a hell of a lot to play for. But if these guys like Leslie Frazier as much as it's being reported they do, then they need to go out there and play their asses off regardless of what's on the line or what's going on. There are a lot of guys on this roster that could potentially be playing for a job come 2011, and they need to go out there and play like it.

Kickoff is in about an hour and a half, ladies and gentlemen. The inactive lists should be out just about any moment now.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

NEW ORLEANS SAINTS (10-3)	GAME #14	MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-11)
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Yeah. . .I've got no catchy title this morning. Sorry about that.

So, what do the Vikings need to do to have even a ghost of a chance of avoiding 2-12 this afternoon?

1) Get to Drew Brees - As we stated earlier, the Saints give up more sacks on the road than they do at home, and gave up six in their bad road loss a few weeks ago to the St. Louis Rams. Jared Allen is chasing the single-season sack record, and he's probably going to get a lot of extra attention from the New Orleans offensive line today. If that's the case, then other players are going to have to step up and get to the quarterback, or else what already looks to be a long day for the Vikings' secondary is going to get even longer.

2) Hammer the run game - Of course, the Saints won't score many points if Brees is standing on the sidelines, and the way for the Vikings' to do that is to pound away with the run game. That Adrian Peterson fellow is back after missing three games, but even with him being out the last three weeks, the Vikings still have the fourth-ranked rushing offense in the NFL, averaging 145.6 yards/game, and are only one of two teams in the NFL (along with the Philadelphia Eagles) that average more than 5 yards/carry. Whether it's Peterson, Toby Gerhart, or Percy Harvin, the Vikings are going to have to try to shorten the game and pound away on the ground to have a chance in this one. (And please, for the love of everything good, stop handing the ball to Lorenzo Booker.)

3) Look for the tight ends - As a unit, the New Orleans' linebackers have been awful this season (as the Saints fans that have come over this week have attested to), and safety Roman Harper is no great shakes, either. If the Vikings are paying attention and have noticed that sort of thing, this could be the sort of game where Visanthe Shiancoe and, particularly, Kyle Rudolph could play a big role. It's puzzling to a lot of us that Rudolph isn't getting way, way more looks than he is, because he catches pretty much everything thrown his way, but this has the potential to be a breakout game for him.

Ladies and gentlemen, I'm not expecting a miracle today or anything like that. At best, I'm hoping for this team to continue playing their tails off and not rolling over as we've seen teams do in the past. This team is working towards 2012 already, and hopefully today can give us some positive steps in that direction. I'm not cheering for a loss. . .I can't bring myself to do it, regardless of draft position and all that. . .but I won't be surprised by it when it happens, either.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-10)	GAME 13	DETROIT LIONS (7-5)
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Date:	11 December 2011	Location:	Detroit, MI
Time:	12:00 PM Central	Stadium:	Ford Field
TV:	FOX DirecTV Ch. 709	Know Thy Enemy:	Pride of Detroit
Chris' Prediction:	Vikings 27, Lions 24
Final Score:	Lions 34, Vikings 28

ROCK CITY!

Too early for a KISS reference? Wrong. . .it is NEVER too early for a KISS reference.

So, what are a few of the keys to the Vikings sneaking out of Detroit with a victory this afternoon?

1) Check yourselves, and let Detroit wreck themselves - As I mentioned in my post earlier this morning, the pressure of being in a playoff race, and the implosion they've been going through since getting off to a 2-5 start, is clearly starting to get to this Lions' team. They've become increasingly undisciplined, and Matthew Stafford seems to be unable to discern which color uniforms his teammates are wearing from the ones the opponent is wearing as of late. If the Vikings can get a stop or two early and get out to a quick lead, it could cause the Lions to press, and that's when bad things tend to happen for them.

2) Shorten the game - Whether it's Adrian Peterson, Toby Gerhart, Percy Harvin, or any combination of those guys, the best way to keep Stafford, Calvin Johnson, and company off of the field is to pound the football. The Lions are likely going to be without both their starting defensive tackles today, as Ndamukong Suh is still suspended and Nick Fairley is nursing a foot injury. John Sullivan has really shown some improvement this season, and he needs to team up with Steve Hutchinson and Anthony Herrera or Joe Berger to push the Lions' backup defensive tackles around on the inside and let the Vikings' running game do some damage. Detroit gives up nearly five yards a carry on the ground as it is, and the absence of Suh and Fairley might make that sledding a little bit easier.

3) Put the quarterback in a position to succeed - Whether the Vikings are going with Christian Ponder or Joe Webb behind center this afternoon, the Vikings need to put their quarterback in a position to be successful. More crossing routes for guys like Harvin underneath, to let him use his incredible open field abilities, more screens, and maybe even some more max protection looks. Despite the absences on the defensive line, the Lions can still bring the pressure with guys like Kyle Vanden Bosch and Cliff Avril, and with Ponder already injured, he's going to need that extra protection. Even if Webb plays, he'll only be getting his third NFL start, but since he brings a different skill set to the table than Ponder does, things will have to be changed slightly for him, too.

Yes, the prediction might be a bit of wishful thinking on my part, but the Vikings have a shot in this one. That and I'm tired of the doom and gloom and the prediction of losses. Draft position is nice and everything, but let's hope for the best in this one. We're an hour and a half from game time, which means the inactive lists should be along any moment now.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-8)	GAME #11	ATLANTA FALCONS (6-4)
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Yep, still hate predicting Viking losses, but in this case, I don't see a hell of a lot of other options. So, how can the Vikings potentially go about avoiding dropping to 2-9 this afternoon?

1) Win on special teams - Let's face it. . .with Adrian Peterson on the shelf, the Vikings don't have a hell of a lot of advantages in this one. But whether it's Percy Harvin in the return game or Chris Kluwe pinning the Falcons deep or the coverage units getting on Atlanta returners immediately, the Vikings can't afford mistakes in the one area that they may have a slight edge. Screw-ups on special teams this afternoon are going to lead to bad things for the Vikings.

2) Get Christian Ponder on the move - Our pass blocking this year has managed to defy most known laws of physics, somehow managing to suck and blow simultaneously. Our new quarterback has some decent mobility, and getting him out on the edge can help take some of the heat off of our offensive line. I'm not suggesting that rollouts and sprintouts are something you can do on every pass play, but they need to be mixed in to allow Ponder to get out on the edge, be able to see what's happening downfield, and avoid getting himself killed by the Falcons' pass rush.

3) Slow down the Atlanta ground game - Much like the Vikings, the Falcons' philosophy is to open up the passing game with a strong running game. People might not talk about Michael Turner as much as they used to, but he's still a very good running back and capable of taking over a game on the ground. If the Vikings can keep Turner and company contained, it would do a lot to keep the Falcons out of a rhythm and allow the Vikings' pass rush to get after Matt Ryan on passing downs. Jared Allen had his streak of consecutive games with a sack snapped last week at 11. . .if the Vikings want to have any chance in this one, he's going to have to get a new streak started today. Stopping the Atlanta rushing attack will give him more opportunities to do just that.

I'll be honest with you, folks. . .I'm just hoping for this one not to turn ugly at this point.

Kickoff is an hour and a half away. Hopefully we'll cram as many folks in here as possible.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

OAKLAND RAIDERS (5-4)	GAME 10	MINNESOTA VIKINGS (2-7)
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Date:	20 November 2011	Location:	Minneapolis, MN
Time:	12:00 PM Central	Stadium:	HHH Metrodome
TV:	CBS DirecTV Ch. 704	Know Thy Enemy:	Silver and Black Pride
Gonzo's Prediction:	Vikings 24, Raiders 21
Final Score:	Raiders 27, Vikings 21

Yes, ladies and gentlemen, another Sunday of football is upon us. At this point, while knowing that the Vikings probably don't have a heck of a lot more wins coming this season, we can hope every week that they can screw things up for the teams that do, starting this week against a very worthy opponent in the Oakland Raiders. The Raiders are part of an AFC West race that, by the end of the day on Monday, could see all four teams with 5-5 records. The Vikings, on the other hand, are in the best division in the NFL and are already looking at playing for draft position, looking at having to blow up basically their entire operation and start over from scratch.

So, what do the Vikings have to do to pull off what would be a considerable upset in this one?

1) Peterson, Peterson, Peterson - Yes, Adrian Peterson is really good. We know that. Everybody knows that. Knowing that and doing something about it, however, are two different animals. The Raiders are 25th in the National Football League against the run this year, allowing 132.4 yards/game and an average of 5.2 yards/carry. That latter ties them for worst in the NFL in that department. With the Vikings' defense in the state it's currently in, their best bet is to shorten the game with Peterson. This will be the first time that Adrian Peterson has ever faced the Raiders. . .the last time these teams played in 2007, he was nursing a knee injury. . .so we'll see what he's got for the Silver and Black.

2) Keep taking care of the football - You know which team has committed the fewest turnovers in the National Football League thus far in 2011? Why, the answer is none other than your Minnesota Vikings, who have just eight turnovers this season through their first nine games (five interceptions thrown, three fumbles lost), and have an overall takeaway/giveaway ratio of +4 on the season. In fact, there are fourteen teams in the NFL this year with positive take/give ratios. . .13 of them have winning records. Minnesota does not. In any case, the Raiders are currently at -5 in the take/give figures, having given the ball away eighteen times this season, with fourteen of those coming via the interception. If the Vikings can take care of the football while forcing a turnover or two in this one, it will go a long ways towards an upset victory.

3) Stay focused - Yes, the Vikings took a butt-whipping last week, and they've had a short week to get back on the horse and try to prepare for the Raiders. Oakland, on the other hand, hasn't played since November 10, when they beat the Chargers on Thursday night football. These are the sorts of times that your veteran leadership. . .guys like Jared Allen, Steve Hutchinson, and so forth. . .needs to step up and tell everyone else to keep their heads up and to fight until the final whistle. The Vikings might not win a lot going forward in 2011, but they can sure as heck be competitive and not mail it in like we've seen teams do in the past.

For this one, we obviously get the pleasure of keeping an eye on Peterson and Allen as they pursue personal marks. Allen is still on pace to set the single-season sack record, and he's going to have his work cut out for him against a Raider offensive line that has only allowed 11 sacks so far this season. Peterson, on the other hand, is still chasing the Vikings' career rushing record. He is currently 190 yards behind Robert Smith, which means that he's going to get that record this year (barring injury), it's just a matter of when. While I wouldn't expect him to get it today, by any stretch, he could take a step towards it against what has been a soft Raider run defense. The funny thing about Peterson getting the record is that it took Smith eight seasons and 98 career games to amass those stats. Peterson is going to break his record before he concludes his fifth full season in the league.

We've heard all the "Suck for Luck" or "Fall Flat for Matt (Kalil)" stuff over the past few weeks. While high draft picks are nice and everything, screw that. I'm hoping for as many wins as possible from here on out. The draft picks will sort themselves out later on.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-6)	GAME #8	CAROLINA PANTHERS (2-5)
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It's Minnesota's last game before we go into that most evil of evils known as the bye week. The Vikings could use a victory here to give themselves something positive to go on during their week off. How do they do that, exactly? Well, here are the keys.

1) Harass Cam Newton - The Panthers' new quarterback has exceeded everybody's expectations this season, there's no doubt about it. That means that the Vikings are going to have to try to get pressure on him and knock him around a bit. Granted, for a guy Newton's size, that's easier said than done, but if the Vikings don't get Newton's uniform dirty, this afternoon is going to turn out to be a pretty long one for the Beloved Purple. Jared Allen faces a stiff test today in Panthers' tackle Jordan Gross, but Brian Robison, Kevin Williams, Everson Griffen and company are going to have to come up big in this one, too.

2) Run the football - The Panthers are 29th in the NFL against the run so far this season, and according to this article from Pro Football Focus, while their defensive ends have been solid this year, the interior of their defensive line has been pretty dreadful. Anthony Herrera is going to miss this one, with Joe Berger stepping into his spot. It will be up to Berger, the returning John Sullivan, and Steve Hutchinson to open things up inside for Adrian Peterson so that he can. . .well, continue being Adrian Peterson. After all, Newton and company can't score points while they're standing on the sidelines.

3) Keep winning the turnover battle - Despite their 1-6 record, the Vikings are actually +3 in the takeaway/giveaway department, while the Panthers are currently -5 for the year (although they were +3 in their win over the Washington Redskins last week). A team like the Vikings can't expect to be successful if they turn the ball over, and hopefully we will see rookie quarterback Christian Ponder improve on this aspect of his game from his performance last week. If the Vikings can keep the Panthers from getting extra possessions in this one, it will increase their chances of sneaking out of Charlotte with a victory.

Here's to another Vikings victory, continued development from our brand new quarterback, and a game that's fun for us Viking fans to watch. We haven't had a lot of those thus far.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!

Ladies and gentlemen, it's once again time to get your purple and gold on, grab your favorite chair, your favorite beverage, and kick back for another Sunday of Minnesota Vikings football.

I'm not going to lie to you, folks. . .today is likely going to end badly for our team. We've got guys injured, guys in jail, and who knows what else (after all, there's still an hour and a half before kickoff. . .anything can happen), and we're going to have a lot of young gentlemen stepping onto an NFL field for the first time.

While that's reason for trepidation, it's also reason for excitement. I'm very much looking forward to the start of the Christian Ponder era. As I'm sure you've heard mentioned numerous times, he's only the third quarterback selected in the first round of the NFL Draft by the Minnesota Vikings in their history (along with Tommy Kramer and Daunte Culpepper). Those two were both very good, but in my (admittedly biased) opinion, Ponder has the ability and the smarts to be better than both of those guys. If the Vikings can keep him upright today, he should have some opportunities to make plays offensively.

I expect there to be plenty of participation in the Game Threads this week, because there always is. It's a true testament to the quality of fans that this team has and the kind of community that this site has grown into that, no matter how this team is performing, we're here to cheer and complain regardless.

It's 90 minutes to kickoff, ladies and gentlemen. Let's finish watching the early games and get ready for the game that matters.

Oh, and we're going to go back to attempting to keep the swearing in the Game Threads to a minimum. The occasional slip-up is one thing. . .don't be constantly cursing and stuff. It's off putting to some people, and that's not what we want around here.

SKOLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL VIKINGS!!!!