Week 13: The Vikings, the Seahawks, and the race to stay in first place!

Before I start the usual weekend Cavalcade post, I want to get one thing off my chest.

Regardless of how things went in that Green Bay-Detroit game, I want to ask the NFL one question: do you actually care about the safety of all of your players?  Or do you only care about protecting your sacred cow superstars?  I’m just saying, that facemask penalty on the Lions was the weakest I’ve ever seen.  Meanwhile, the Packers almost decapitated Teddy Bridgewater in Week 11…and nothing. 

Never mind…I think I just got my answer.

Anyway…let’s move on to more important things.  Are the Vikings feeling much pressure right now?  They are an up-and-coming team, whereas the Packers have been consistently good ever since the NFC North came into existence.  Everyone else has been up-and-down.  Thus, it’s always easy to say the Packers will win the division.  It’s clear the Packers are feeling pressure despite winning Thursday.

The Vikings are 8-3 coming into Sunday’s game.  It’s a huge one.  They’re all huge coming down the stretch, as the Vikes try to steal the division from the team that has owned it throughout its 13 year history.  Seattle appears to be finding its late-season form.  The defense ain’t what it used to be, but apparently the offense has hit its stride after shredding Pittsburgh.  On our side, we appear to be getting our hitman back, but Andrew Sendejo is still injured, which means we may get my personal wish of a Smith-Exum backfield.

Here’s a chance for the Vikings to make a major statement.  I’m not saying they have to win by 30 points…this offense isn’t built that way.  Just get a win to stay in first place.  I’m looking forward to an incredibly gritty game, because this Vikings defense has been consistently good this season.  As far as score…well, you know this blog never predicts scores; we leave that to everyone else.

I just know I do NOT want to hand first place back to the Packers after the “Phantom Facemask” incident, so the Vikings need to rise up and beat the Seahawks.  So let’s go, Vikings.  Show the league we are 8-3 for a reason and go to 9-3.  If the Vikings win Sunday, you’ve got to think only a major meltdown could keep them out of the postseason.  It’s simple…to be the best, you’ve got to beat the best, and the Hawks are pretty close to the best.  They should have been back-to-back champions.

Sunday is yet another chance for the Vikings (who have no doubt already pleased the fans just by winning enough games to start December relevant) to prove they are ready for bigger and better things.  

Let’s do it.  SKOL Vikings!