Desperation move

A month ago when I decided to stop blogging for the rest of the season, the Vikings had won 10 of its first 11 games and in the one game they lost, the Vikings were arguably the better team, yet blew it on two turnovers improbably returned for touchdowns by 250-pound Pittsburgh defenders.

And since I started my blogging hiatus, the Vikings have lost two of its three games and shit the bed in both losses, creating a tsunami of panic among the Vikings fan base.

So obviously the problem with the Vikings is not that the defence can no longer tackle, that its secondary can no longer defend the pass, that the offensive line can no longer open a hole for Adrian Peterson, and that its 40-year-old quarterback can no longer stop throwing interceptions – it's that I'm no longer blogging about them.

Well, I'm back in the Vikings time of need. When they go on their improbable Super Bowl run, I expect to receive a ring and a Super Bowl bonus.

Seriously though, I've got a two week break during the Christmas season, so that gives me enough time to get back to blogging a little bit about the Vikings.

Anyway ....

One thing that always bugs me when the Vikings are having a strong season and then lose a game is how much stock Viking fans put in those losses. (I guess we do the same thing when they win, but back to my point ....) So naturally on a night when the Vikings got stomped by a 5-8 team, everyone is going beserk.

However, the Vikings are guaranteed to finish no worse than 11-5 and have already won the NFC North. They will host a playoff game and they will win that game.

But this year isn't about winning a playoff game, not when you've brought back Brett Favre and played so well for three quarters of the season and raises Viking fans' expectations. The 2009 season is about getting to the Super Bowl.

Which is why next week's Monday night game against Chicago is critical for the Vikings. If they win at night, on grass, in the cold and in a venue where they tend to struggle even when the Bears aren't very good, then I think we can still feel good about the Vikings Super Bowl chances.

But if they struggle and don't win, then this season probably isn't going to turn out much differently for the Vikings than any other season the team's had. I really, really hope that isn't the case.