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!!!!