America's Team

Over the past couple of years, national media has had a strong hatred towards Minnesota sports. I don't know why they hate Minnesota so much. I mean, what have we ever done to them? If you compare Minnesota to the major media markets, there aren't too many drawbacks to being in Minnesota except for the cold. I mean look at it...

Chicago - Arrogance, ignorance, and a persistent need to beat down unsuspecting first base coaches.

Los Angeles - Smog, and you have to deal with Kobe Bryant.

Dallas - They're so rude, they took our first hockey team.

Boston - You don't get sick of that accent huh?

New York - We don't scratch our balls like New Yorkers. We also have a sense of reality.

Anyways, when it comes to the national media, Minnesota hasn't gotten much pub. And the best part is, I don't really care. It's the old theory that some people don't like what you like. Well, yeah, but when the national media expects Minnesota to win, they fail horribly.

This is why this newfound love for the Minnesota Vikings is my worst nightmare. National commentators and everyone outside of Green Bay, Chicago, and New Orleans suddenly loves the Vikings.

The Vikings are the cool crowd right now. They have a cast of household names and lovable characters. They have the grizzled veteran going for one last championship (Brett Favre). They have a plethora of explosive talent with interesting personalities off the field (Percy Harvin, Adrian Peterson, Sidney Rice). They have "Outlaws" (The Vikings Defensive Line). THere are other reasons too that I can't even remember right now.

Even the NFL schedule makers are joining the act. Out of the remaining six games, only one may be played at the scheduled noon kickoff. (NOTE: The Vikings/Panthers game is scheduled to be played on Sunday Night Football the week before Christmas, but should be moved because the Panthers aren't very good right now.) By the end of the year, the Vikings may have two games on Sunday Night Football (The Cardinals/Vikings game has already been moved, and the regular season finale between the Vikings and Giants is a prime candidate to be moved in Week 17.)

Bottom line is this, everyone is loving the Vikings right now, but I just hope that the wheels on the bandwagon fall off due to exceeding the weight limit, like it did in Denver. Could the Vikings actually not screw up and make it to the Super Bowl for the first time in the 1970's? I'm willing to admit that they have a shot, but will this go to their heads? We'll find out starting Sunday when the Vikings play a team that they're clearly better than, the Chicago Bears.

Week 12 Breakdown

Once again, more good games on the schedule this week. Last week, many teams stumbled and they continue to make the standings into a WTF scenario. Here are your current standings:

NFC

1. New Orleans 10-0 (NFC South Leader)

2. Minnesota 9-1 (NFC North Leader)

3. Dallas 7-3 (NFC East Leader)

4. Arizona 7-3 (NFC West Leader)

5. Philadelphia 6-4

6. Green Bay 6-4

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7. New York 6-4

8. Atlanta 5-5

9. San Francisco 4-6

10. Carolina 4-6

11. Chicago 4-6

AFC

1. Indianapolis 10-0 (AFC South Leader)

2. Cincinnati 7-3 (AFC North Leader)

3. San Diego 7-3 (AFC West Leader)

4. New England 7-3 (AFC East Leader)

5. Jacksonville 6-4

6. Pittsburgh 6-4

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7. Denver 6-4

8. Baltimore 5-5

9. Houston 5-5

10. Miami 5-5

So, without further ado, here's what I think of this week's games.

FIVE STAR GAMES

New England (7-3) at New Orleans (10-0) 7:30 Monday ESPN

There's only one game that has a giant impact in week 12 and this is it. Football fans have been looking forward to this matchup since the Saints improved to 6-0 a month ago. The bottom line is that the Saints don't have an opponent the caliber of the Patriots left on their schedule. A win for the Saints would greatly improve their chances of going 16-0. However, even if they do win, it's not going to happen. The Saints are really starting to get banged up in the secondary. They signed Chris McAllister and Mike McKenzie to help cover a couple of injuries, most notably the knee injury to CB Tracy Porter. A suspect secondary is not what you want when the Patriots are coming to town. Mix in the fact that DT Sedrick Ellis missed last week vs. Tampa Bay and the Saints defense could be in trouble. Remember, that if Bill Belicheck didn't go for that 4th and 2 a couple weeks ago, we may have been looking at the 8-2 New England Patriots, and all Viking fans better bust out their Randy Moss throwbacks for this one because if the Vikings can beat the Bears and the Patriots can beat the Saints, the Vikings are in the drivers seat for home field advantage in the NFC.

PREDICTION: Patriots

FOUR STAR GAMES

New York Giants (6-4) at Denver (6-4) 7:20 Thursday NFL Network

Both teams need a win again. Denver started 6-0 and once everyone jumped on their bandwagon, the wheels came flying off due to the weight. The Denver defense was dominating in their first 6 games, but has really gone by the wayside since then. In the other corner, the Giants are winners of one of their last 5 games, as they broke a 4 game losing streak last week vs. Atlanta. The Giants seem like they may be starting to band together, but I think that last week they just beat another team that they're better than. The Giants so far have beaten Washington, Dallas, Tampa Bay, Kansas City, Oakland and Atlanta (Combined record 22-38). The Giants have lost to New Orleans, Philadelphia, Arizona, and San Diego (30-10). The question is are the Giants better than the Broncos? I think both teams are evenly matched and this will be the one game to watch on Turkey Day.

PREDICTION: Giants

Pittsburgh (6-4) at Baltimore (5-5) 7:20 NBC

For the second straight week, NBC is going to carry a "Oh @#$%!" Bowl. The Steelers don't seem as fearsome without Troy Polamalu and you have to ask yourself whether or not Polamalu will make a valuable contribution the rest of the season with that sprained knee. Pittsburgh is also hurting at QB as Ben Roethlisberger suffered his fourth concussion since 2006 (the first one coming in the motorcycle crash following the Super Bowl), but will still play Sunday. In the other side, Baltimore is looking to climb back into the AFC playoff picture. They've had a difficult schedule and a couple injuries of their own (Terrell Suggs). The Ravens will truly face an elimination game in this contest and if they can't beat the Steelers (who have won the past 6 matchups between the two teams), they'll be on life support.

PREDICTION: Ravens

THREE STAR GAMES

Indianapolis (10-0) at Houston (5-5) 12:00 CBS

Houston squandered a golden opportunity when they fell to the Titans last Monday night. The Texans have never been to the playoffs, and in order for them to get to that goal, they'll need to beat the Colts. The Texans actually played well last time these two teams met at Lucas Oil Field (a building in which they've never won). Actually, if it wasn't for Kris Brown missing that field goal, the Texans would have forced OT and maybe would have won the game. (Brown also missed a GW Monday, so the Texans could be 7-3 right now) Bottom line is that the Texans are finding ways to lose, and if they don't start finding ways to win soon, they might not only be looking at missing the playoffs, but they may be looking at a new head coach in 2010.

PREDICTION: Colts

Arizona (7-3) at Tennessee (4-6) 3:15 FOX

Arizona is in that 2nd tier of good teams in the NFL right now as they sit in 4th in the NFC. However, the Titans may be the hottest team in football right now. Remember, the Titans started 0-6 under Kerry Collins, then coach Jeff Fischer put on a Peyton Manning jersey saying that it "makes me feel like a winner." At the same time, owner Bud McAdams told Fischer to start Vince Young, who was the third overall pick in the 2006 NFL Draft. Since then, Young has done a masterful job of managing the game and the Titans are 4-0. The defense has also helped Young out, but they'll have a tough task in stopping the pass happy Cardinals.

PREDICTION: Titans

TWO STAR GAMES

Green Bay (6-4) at Detroit (2-8) 11:30 FOX Thursday

Actually, this game may wind up better than we think. I mean, look at last week's Browns/Lions game. I barely stopped myself short of saying that this game is evenly matched because of Aaron Rodgers (Who apparently has called himself "the most talked about person in the NFL to hotel employees in a recent trip to Minneapolis). The injuries of Al Harris and Aaron Kampman will hurt, but they won't this week as the Lions are going to be without Matthew Stafford and Calvin Johnson, who both probably would have played if this was a Sunday game.

PREDICTION: Packers

Carolina (4-6) at New York Jets (4-6) 12:00 CBS

The Jets are playing so bad that their own coach is crying about it. The Panthers refuse to run the ball and Jake Delhomme is continuing to show the front office why they should draft a quarterback in the first round next year. Both teams need a win, but this game could turn into the interception bowl.

PREDICTION: Jets

Chicago (4-6) at Minnesota (9-1) 3:15 FOX

This game should be the funeral for the Chicago Bears. If you like to see someone beaten within a bloody pulp, this is your game. Jay Cutler will either throw 10 interceptions or get sacked 10 times. My money is on both. However, this is a two star game simply for the importance for the Vikings. If the Vikings get a win, it puts the pressure on New Orleans for Monday night.

PREDICTION: Vikings

ONE STAR GAMES

Oakland (3-7) at Dallas (7-3) 3:15 Thursday FOX

This is a head scratcher. Why would you put a consistently bad team on national TV. Maybe they expect everyone to be in their post turkey coma by the time this game is on? Anyways, the Raiders did get a win last week against the Bengals and Dallas barely escaped the high octane Redskins offense. Witten is hurt, Romo is starting to go into his late season swoon. It's anyone's guess how this game will turn out.

PREDICTION: Raiders

Tampa Bay (1-9) at Atlanta (5-5) 12:00 FOX

Atlanta needs a win. They're better than Tampa Bay, so they'll get it.

PREDICTION: Falcons

Miami (5-5) at Buffalo (3-7) 12:00 CBS

Just like the Atlanta game, the Dolphins could use a win to get back into the playoff picture. However, the Bills seem a little more motivated than they were under Dick Jauron.

PREDICTION: Bills

Cleveland (1-9) at Cincinnati (7-3) 12:00 CBS

I really hope that Cincy learned about taking teams too lightly last week. The Browns offense showed a pulse last week, but was it a short burst or a smoldering ember?

PREDICTION: Bengals

Washington (3-7) at Philadelphia (6-4) 12:00 FOX

Philly got a much needed win last week, and they'll look to extend their lead in the wild card race Sunday. Washington biffed two field goals as they continue their nightmare season.

PREDICTION: Eagles

Seattle (3-7) at St. Louis (1-9) 12:00 FOX

Seattle got pounded last week. St. Louis has shown signs of life. I smell an upset.

PREDICTION: Rams

Kansas City (3-7) at San Diego (7-3) 3:15 CBS

I thought that the Chiefs might have had a chance the last time these two teams met. I don't feel the same way this time around.

PREDICTION: Chargers

Jacksonville (6-4) at San Francisco (4-6) 3:15 FOX

Like I said before, the Jaguars beat teams that they are better than, and they are better than San Francisco. (NOTE: SF started 3-1 without Michael Crabtree. Since they've signed him, they're 1-5.)

PREDICTION: Jaguars

Dear T.J.,

How have you been so far this season? My favorite team, the Minnesota Vikings, have been having a great season. We're 8-1 and it looks like at the very least we're going to win the division. Isn't that exciting!

Hey, remember in March when you came over to Minneapolis and you were a free agent? I remember going on a Vikings blog and refreshing repeatedly to see what you would do. I mean, they were following your limo like you were Brett Favre or something. Wasn't that fun?

Then after you wined and dined with the Wilfs, who probably took you to Manny's (home of the 50 dollar hashbrowns) Steakhouse, you decided to sleep on your decision. I would have to sleep on it too if two teams were offering me financial security for me and my family for the next 3-5 years. Well, actually, you didn't sleep at all. You flew to Seattle, where the Seahawks stole you away. I was pretty sad at the time, but now, I have something to say to you...

Thank you.

You see, many things have gone right since you decided not to come here. First of all, we now have receivers that are not only better than you, but better than you've ever dreamed of being. We drafted this Percy Harvin kid, who is 10 years younger than you are, and a lot of people thought he was a thug. Nope, instead Percy has been a model teammate and, unlike you, he can return kickoffs at an elite level. The guy you were going to replace is having a good year too. Sidney Rice is way better at moving the ball from 20 to 20 right now than your aging carcass.

I also heard that you didn't like our quarterbacks. I mean, I agree with you. Well, that is until we got this Brett Favre guy. Did you know he invented time travel? Awesome stuff!

I hope things are going well for you in Seattle, but I know that they aren't. Yup, life sucks in Seattle, go figure! It rains all the time, your quarterback is normally in a body cast, and your coach makes Eric Mangini look like Tony Dungy! It's all relative, I know.

But honestly, thank you. Sure, we might have still had Brett Favre had you not left, but we also would have had Michael Oher at right tackle and enough commercials for The Blind Side to make us puke. Thanks, and enjoy your ass kicking Sunday.

Sincerely,

Christopher Ryan Schad

P.S. Aren't the Bengals doing well right now! 7-2! Who knew???

Week 11 Breakdown

Week 10 gave football fans more good games than expected. The Green Bay Packers stunned the Dallas Cowboys at Lambeau Field 17-7. The Cincinnatti Bengals defeated the Pittsburgh Steelers at Heinz Field 18-12. Finally, the San Diego Chargers beat the Philadelphia Eagles 28-23. But there were also stunners in week 10. It sets up an incredibly tight playoff race. If you haven't been paying attention. Here's what it looks like...

NFC

1. New Orleans 9-0 (NFC South leader)

2. Minnesota 8-1 (NFC North leader)

3. Dallas 6-3 (NFC East leader)

4. Arizona 6-3 (NFC West leader)

5. Philadelphia 5-4

6. Atlanta 5-4

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7. Green Bay 5-4

8. New York Giants 5-4

9. San Francisco 4-5

10. Carolina 4-5

11. Chicago 4-5

AFC

1. Indianapolis 9-0 (AFC South Leader)

2. Cincinnati 7-2 (AFC North Leader)

3. Denver 6-3 (AFC West Leader)

4. New England 6-3 (AFC East Leader)

5. Pittsburgh 6-3

6. San Diego 6-3

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7. Jacksonville 5-4

8. Baltimore 5-4

9. Houston 5-4

10. Miami 4-5

11. New York Jets 4-5

The crazy thing is that this week, it could all change again and become even closer! Let's get started...

5 STAR GAMES

Atlanta (5-4) at New York Giants (5-4) 12:00 Sunday, FOX

This is a tale of two Jekyl and Hyde teams who don't know who they are. The Giants record is inflated because they've beaten some really bad teams, but Atlanta has lost games that they should have won. I usually don't buy into the whole "Uh, oh New York is in trouble" theme, but this game is important not only for the two teams involved, but the rest of the logjam in the NFC. The winner will have more control of their destiny, and the loser will have some explaining to do.

PREDICTION: Falcons

San Diego (6-3) at Denver (6-3) 3:15 Sunday, CBS

Last season, the Chargers sputtered out of the gate and the Broncos surged towards the top of the AFC West. With 4 games to go, the Chargers were 4-8 and the Broncos were 8-4. Well, we all know what happened. The Chargers won their next four while the Broncos lost their last four punching Jay Cutler's and Mike Shanahan's tickets out of Denver. Once again, the Broncos have surged out to an early lead and while the Chargers haven't struggled, they come into Sunday's game with the momentum. As a side note, I've heard that some people say that Denver always does this because of their high altitude training during training camp. Because of this, the Broncos get off to a hot start (especially at home). Then as the season wears on, they can't train as vigorously. Sounds like a pile of crap to me, but oh well.

PREDICTION: Chargers

4 STAR GMES

San Francisco (4-5) at Green Bay (5-4) 12:00 FOX

Well, both teams faced put-up-or-shut-up games last week, and they'll do the same this week. The 49ers needed a win against the Bears...Jay Cutler gave it to them. The Packers need a win vs. the Cowboys...Tony Romo gave it to them. Now, both teams need this win and it should be a good game as the 49ers have been competitive on the road this year, but I have to go with the Lambeau magic because of one Aaron Rodgers.

PREDICTION: Packers

Philadelphia (5-4) at Chicago (4-5) 7:15 NBC

Al Michaels refered to this game as the "Oh no" Bowl. I would use more profane terminology as in the "Oh, @#$%!" Bowl. Both of these teams seemed destined to compete for a playoff spot a couple weeks ago, now both are in serious trouble. The Eagles lost two games on the west coast and now need a win this week to stay in control of their own destiny. Thankfully, it'll come against the Chicago Bears. Jay Cutler may become a member of the 30/30 club by the time this season is over. 30 TD, 30 INT.

PREDICTION: Eagles

Indianapolis (9-0) at Baltimore (5-4) 12:00 CBS

Another crucial game for the Ravens. However, I don't think that they can pull this upset off. Judging off their MNF performance against the Browns, I don't believe that the Ravens have the killer instinct that they used to have. Sure, they still have one of the most vociferous defenses in the NFL, but that's almost been reduced to a whimper over the past couple of weeks. A 16-0 victory over the Cleveland Browns isn't something to write home about and the Colts will remain undefeated.

PREDICTION: Colts

3 STAR GAMES

Miami (4-5) at Carolina (4-5) Thursday 7:20 NFL Network

Another elimination game so to speak. The Dolphins might not have to rely on Ronnie Brown, but they turn to a revived Ricky Williams. However, the Panthers are rejuvenated as well, as they've done something they should have done from the beginning of the season: rely on their great running game. As long as Jake Delhomme doesn't start throwing around Christmas presents, the Panthers should continue their surge.

PREDICTION: Panthers

New York Jets (4-6) at New England (6-3) 12:00 CBS

Speaking of things that teams should have been doing the entire season, Tom Brady has been throwing to Randy Moss lately. Moss had 367 yards and a TD in the first four games this season. Since then he's gained 524 yards and 6 touchdowns. It's looking like 2007 all over again. However, the Pats could hit a snag as Moss will be paired up with Darrelle Revis, who held Moss to 24 yard in Week 3.

PREDICTION: Patriots

Tennessee (3-6) at Houston (5-4) Monday 7:30 ESPN

This for whatever reason is an intriguing matchup. I can't remember the last time the Texans were on national television outside of the preseason game with the Vikings, which doesn't count. Those rednecks in Houston LOVE football and they'll be jacked for a Monday night game with the former Houston Oilers. On the other side of the coin, the Titans have been playing much better football as of late and Chris Johnson has literally been running wild. I think this is a more important game for Houston though. If Houston wins, they'll be in the drivers seat and competing for their first playoff berth in franchise history. If Tennessee wins, Houston will have another disappointing season. I'll go with the latter.

PREDICTION: Titans

2 STAR GAMES

Buffalo (3-6) at Jacksonville (5-4) 12:00 CBS

Not even the city of Jacksonville wants to watch this matchup, but look out. If the Jaguars get the win, they'll be right in the thick of things in the AFC. COME OUT AND SUPPORT YOUR JAGUARS, JACKSONVILLE!!!

PREDICTION: Jaguars

Seattle (3-6) at Minnesota (8-1) 12:00 FOX

There's two reasons I didn't give this game one star, and that's because of the Viking pass defense against the Seattle passing offense and the Whosyourmamma Bowl (Houshmandezeh). The Seahawks still have some weapons through the air, and because the Vikings stop the run well, they'll try and use them. Good news for the Vikings is that Antoine Winfield is targeting Sunday to come back, but how effective will he be after a month long layoff?

PREDICTION: Vikings

New Orleans (9-0) at Tampa Bay (1-8) 12:00 FOX

I know what you're thinking. Why is this a two star game? Intrigue, my friend. The Vikings are chasing the Saints for home field in the NFC right now. The Saints didn't look to good when they faced the St. Louis Rams and were a couple of bad play calls away from losing that game. Also, the secondary for the Saints is banged up. Darren Sharper missed last week and Tracy Porter injured his knee against the Rams. Throw this game in with the fact that Tampa has played better football over the past two weeks since Josh Freeman was named the starter and this game becomes more interesting than it should be.

PREDICTION: Saints

1 STAR GAMES

Washington (3-6) at Dallas (6-3) 12:00 FOX

The Redskins are looking better as well, but so has Dallas' defense.

PREDICTION: Cowboys

Cleveland (1-8) at Detroit (1-8) 12:00 FOX

I would say that this game will be big because they're competing for the #1 pick, but they're not even going for the same guy! If Cleveland gets #1, they'll take Washington QB Jake Locker. If Detroit gets #1, they would take Nebraska DT Nudmukong Suh.

PREDICTION: Lions

Arizona (6-3) at St. Louis (1-8) 12:00 FOX

The Cardinals passing attack thrashes another St. Louis effort. Unless, Steve Spagnolo has someone that can get to Kurt Warner, but he doesn't.

PREDICTION: Cardinals

Cincinnati (7-2) at Oakland (2-7) 3:15 CBS

There's no use in talking about the game, but the Bengals signed another troublemaker in Larry Johnson Tuesday morning. He'll be used as the backup...well, at least his coach knows football now!

PREDICTION: Bengals

Pittsburgh (6-3) at Kansas City (2-7) 12:00 CBS

This would have been the LJ Bowl. Well, because LJ wanted to be drafted by Pittsburgh instead of Kansas City. For the record, Pittsburgh took Troy Polamalu (Not bad...) at 16 and traded their second first round pick to KC so they could take Johnson. Regardless, KC doesn't have LJ or a prayer unless Polamalu is out because of his knee (and because of the competition this week, I don't see that happening).

PREDICTION: Steelers

Uni Watch: The Minnesota Twins

Over the past couple of years, Minnesota sports have been trying to get a new identity by changing their uniforms. I don't know the reason why everyone seems to be doing this. Maybe they want to get the stench of losing away from their look? Or maybe they just want to rake in millions of dollars by selling these new jerseys? (Yeah, that's probably it.) The Minnesota Twins were the latest team to do this and they unveiled their new jerseys on November 16th. Here are just a couple of looks at the new uniforms...

First, WE STILL HAVE THESE UGLY JERSEYS! WHY WHY WHY??? Nobody on the teams like these except for Francisco Liriano and Glen Perkins and I wouldn't mind if both were not on the team next season. (The starting pitchers decide which uniform to wear for a certain game, hence how I know that.)

The blue jerseys are essentially the same as previous seasons. Except the new Twins script, which is now featured in the old school logo. Also, the Twins will be wearing the patch shown in the lower left corner of the picture for the first season of Target Field.

The Twins will wear a throwback uniform for the second year in a row. Last year the Twins wore uniforms from 1982 on Saturdays to commemorate the first year in the Metrodome. This season will mark the 50th season of Twins baseball, so they'll wear uniforms from 1961, the team's first year in Minnesota. The Twins will also use the patch here, which I think is a very nice touch.

This is my favorite new addition to the Twins uniforms. The new Twins road jerseys got rid of the old pinstripes and added a cursive font on the front of the jersey that I wish that they would have put on the front of the home uniforms. The only gripe I have is that it looks like the Twins fused the Washington Nationals and Atlanta Braves uniforms together. (Check the Twins Twitter page to see what the uniforms look like on Denard Span and Scott Baker.) Overall thought, I like the change.

Well, if you have one of those old home jerseys, you're in luck. The new jerseys are just like the old uniforms. I wonder why they didn't change these like the road ones? We'll never know.

Also, the Twins have also said that their new TC hat will be the primary hat for both home and road games. However, the Twins still have the stupid M hat which will now be used as the alternate hat. I don't know a Twins fan that recognizes the M as the Minnesota Twins anymore. The TC just looks better too.

So there you have it...the Twins will wear these uniforms for 2010 and beyond, and they're pretty nice overall. I think that the '61 throwbacks and the road jerseys are going to sell like crazy and isn't that what the team wants? Straight cash homie!

The Belicheck Coaching Tree

In football, coaches grow on trees. Some trees are very good, as Bill Parcells coaching tree is very stellar with names such as Tom Coughlin and Sean Payton. However, if you look at one branch, you'll see a familiar name: Bill Belicheck. Belicheck served as defensive coordinator for the New York Giants, who was lead by Parcells, from 1985 to 1991. Belicheck would then get a head coaching job with the Cleveland Browns and was absolutely awful. However, Belicheck got his second chance and became one of the greatest head coaches in NFL history. He has a 144-89 coaching record and a 15-4 postseason record that has netted him 3 Super Bowls.

When a coach succeeds, teams will try and tap the coach's assistants to try and jump start his own teams. Belicheck is no exception. However, all Belicheck has seemed to produce is a whole bunch of bumbling idiots who seem to out think themselves. Here are some of the notables from Belicheck's tree.

Eric Mangini (Currently with Cleveland Browns, career record of 24-32)

This is the one most under fire for his poor decision making. I honestly think that Mangini, who was dubbed "Mangenius" in his first year coaching the New York Jets, truly out thinks himself on the football field and even off of it. On the field, Mangini tries to run complex schemes. The only problem is that he can't find the personnel to run his schemes. Vernon Gholston, the 6th overall pick by the Jets last season, has been an absolute bust as he tried to turn him into a linebacker rather than using his natural defensive end position. Off the field is where Mangini hurts himself though. Prior to the season opener against the Vikings, Mangini tried to hide his starter until opening day. I mean, hide it from everyone, including his own team. The result was an opening day ass kicking by the Vikings. Then, he has "special practice opportunities" for his players. James Davis took place in one of these, and it turned out to be a UFC fight against a linebacker. Davis is out for the season with a shoulder injury. Mangini should be on the street by the end of this year.

Charlie Weis (Notre Dame Head Coach; Career Record: 35-25; 1-2 in Bowl Games)

Who better to run Notre Dame football than an arrogant prick. It totally matches the program's personality, which mirrors the New York Yankees. Weiss has actually had some success at Notre Dame. The only problem is that it was with Ty Willingham's players who had the same record as Weiss did through three years, but lost his job there. The point is that since Weiss had to bring his own players into the fold at Notre Dame, success has been few and far between. Jimmy Claussen, who was supposed to be an all-world quarterback, has looked rather mediocre. Weiss has a solid record at Notre Dame, and should keep his job because ND jumped the gun by signing him to a 10 year contract after his first season in which the Irish went 11-2 and lost to Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Nick Saban (Alabama Head Coach; Career Record 120-50-1; 4-6 in Bowl Games)

Saban was an assistant for Belicheck when he was in Cleveland. Saban then went on to coach at Michigan State and LSU before bolting for the NFL for 2 unsuccessful seasons with the Miami Dolphins. Saban ditched the Dolphins after the 2006 season and went to Alabama, where the Crimson Tide has been revived after a lengthy hiatus from the national championship scene. They are currently #2 in the BS...I mean BCS standings and are looking towards a play-in game (not technically, but figuratively) against Florida in the SEC Championship in a couple weeks.

Josh McDaniels (Denver Broncos Head Coach; Career Record 6-3)

McDaniels was the offensive coordinator for the Patriots in 2007 and 2008. In 2007, after replacing Charlie Wiess, McDaniels led an offense that set the NFL record for points in a season, which also broke records for passing TDs in a single season (Tom Brady, 50) and receiving TDs in a single season (Randy Moss, 23 [NOTE: The old record was held by Jerry Rice, who recorded 22 TD in 12 games in a strike shortened 1987 season]). In 2008, after Brady went down with a knee injury, he turned Matt Cassel into a household name and then got him paid by the Kansas City Chiefs. Alas, McDaniels wanted to bring Cassel to Denver with him, but the current franchise quarterback in Denver, Jay Cutler, found out about it. Cutler cried cause his feelings were hurt and the Broncos traded Cutler and his warm bottle of milk to Chicago. McDaniels used Kyle Orton to replace him, and it started well with a 6-0 start. After that, the Broncos have lost their last three games including their last game to the woeful Washington Redskins.

Jim Schwartz (Detroit Lions Head Coach; Career Record 1-8)

Well, he ended the Lions losing streak. There's a way to go in Detroit and it'll take a couple years for Detroit to be prominent, but he's bringing a winning culture to Detroit. He changed the locker room and everything else in Ford Field to help the players forget about the 0-16 season the Lions suffered in 2008. Anyways, I wouldn't say that he's in this tree, but he was an assistant with Belicheck before becoming the defensive coordinator with Jeff Fischer in Tennessee/Houston. I would say he's more like Fischer, the longest tenured coach in the NFL, than Belicheck.

Well, why am I talking about this tree? Last night, the Patriots were leading the Indianapolis Colts 34-28. Belicheck had the ball on a 4th and 2 with about 1:30 left. The logical choice is to punt the football so that Peyton Manning doesn't have to only drive 30 yards. Nope, Billy is gonna send a message. They didn't get it. Colts score...Colts win. Another example that the apple simply doesn't fall far from the tree!

Week 10 Breakdown

So remember the "What We Learned" segment I tried to do? It doesn't work well when you aren't watching football every other Sunday. So I'm going to try something that I can keep track of every Sunday. Every week from here on out, I'm going to rank each game by a rating of stars. I'm sure you know the drill but a 5 star game is going to be really good, and it goes downhill from there.

When it comes to week 10, it looks like it'll be a week where the weak get pounded by the strong. However, you can judge by yourself. So here we go...

5 Star Games

New England (6-2) at Indianapolis (8-0) 7:30 pm NBC

This will be the best game of the week by far. They're already calling it the rivalry of the decade, and that's a true statement. In the blue corner, we have one of the greatest quarterbacks of all-time in Peyton Manning, who is leading a group full of misfit toys to a 8-0 record. This is not your brother's Colts. Names like Pierre Garcon and Austin Collie are starting to look like legitimate NFL receivers. In the white corner, you have the other greatest QB of all-time in Tom Brady, who is starting to find a rhythm after missing all of last season. Brady started slow, but he's starting to sync up with his receivers. The difference in this game will be the Colts secondary. 3 of the 4 starting defensive backs for Indy will be injured come Sunday and the replacements get the task of covering Randy Moss and Wes Welker.

PREDICTION: Patriots

Cincinnati (6-2) at Pittsburgh (6-2) 12:00 pm CBS

The other big game this week pits the Cardiac Cats against the Steel Curtain. These two teams hooked up in week 3 and Cincy scored a surprising upset. Since then, Cincy has been a bit up and down, but they added Cedric Benson last season, and he's now the 2nd leading rusher in the NFL. On the other side, Pittsburgh has been playing better than they did at the beginning of the year. The return of Troy Polamalu, who didn't play in the first meeting, should help the Steeler defense against Carson Palmer and Chad Ochocinco. The Steelers have also evolved into a pass happy team, but Rashard Mendenhall is still something for a still suspect Bengals defense to be careful of. On top of all this, the Steelers are very tough to beat at Heinz Field.

PREDICTION: Steelers

4 Star Games

Philadelphia (5-3) at San Diego (5-3) 3:15 FOX

These are two teams that I can't get a read on. One week, they look like a team that could make a deep run in the playoffs. (For SD, vs. the Giants, and PHI vs. 2 AFC West teams) The next week, they look like hell (SD vs. BAL and PHI vs. OAK). So which team will show up? On both sides! Judging by the last time Philly took the west coast (vs. the lowly Raiders), I think that jetlag will set in once again.

PREDICTION: Chargers

Dallas (6-2) at Green Bay (4-4) 3:15 FOX

I was really struggling trying to rate this game, but I gave it 4 stars. Here's why: I think that this game will make or break the Packers season. The Packers lose this game and they could wind up going 7-9. If the Packers can pull of a win, they could contend for a wild card spot. Do I think they'll win? Nope. The Packers offensive line is still invincible and Dallas has this DeMarcus Ware guy who's pretty good. I think that Ware could get 4-5 sacks by himself again this game and the Packers start to go down the toilet for good.

PREDICTION: Cowboys

3 Star Games

Chicago (4-4) at San Francisco (3-5) 7:20 (Thursday) NFL Network

On an unrelated note, people who have NFL Network will get to listen to the monotone, boring drones of New York Giants announcer Bob Papas for another season along with the moronic takes of Matt Millen! This should be a pretty good game. Both teams are evenly matched and you could say that this is a NFC elimination game. The 49ers are just two games back of the Cardinals and currently have a game in hand on them. The Bears need a victory to stay in the wild card race. The one difference in the game would be Jay Cutler. Cutler's interception total so far this season is 12. The 49ers pass defense is good and I'm sure that when Patrick Willis is breathing down Cutler's neck, he'll heave one up. The only question is the 49ers offense. Alex Smith is turnover prone, but the Bears defense has regressed from being one of the best defenses in the league to one of the worst.

PREDICTION: 49ers

Atlanta (5-3) at Carolina (3-5) 12:00 FOX

Another do-or-die game in the NFC. Except this one is just one team: the Carolina Panthers. The Panthers finished 11-5 last season, but now they already have 5 losses. The good news for Carolina is that they've gotten their running game going. The bad news is that the Falcons are still angry after Matt Ryan got hit out of bounds. I think the Falcons start to band together here and make a serious push to catch the Saints, who are 3 games up on the Falcons right now.

PREDICTION: Falcons

Jacksonville (4-4) at New York Jets (4-4) 12:00 CBS

It's not an elimination game, but a loss would probably hurt a little bit. Also, don't look now but the Jags are 4-4 and in the thick of the AFC Wild Card Race. However, the Jets just look like the better team and they'll start to make their push this week.

PREDICTION: Jets

2 Star Games

Seattle (3-5) at Arizona (5-3) 3:15 FOX

Not an entertaining one here. Seattle has a couple wins under it's belt and that justifies a 2 star rating. However, Arizona is at home, and the better team.

PREDICTION: Cardinals

1 Star Games

Tampa Bay (1-7) at Miami (3-5) 12:00 FOX

Tampa Bay won't be wearing the creamcicle uniforms this weekend when they travel to Miami. That's enough to pick against them.

PREDICTION: Dolphins

Detroit (1-7) at Minnesota (7-1) 12:00 FOX

The Vikings may be feeling fat and happy after their bye week, but if they suffer a let down, it won't be against the Detroit Lions.

PREDICTION: Vikings

Buffalo (3-5) at Tennessee (2-6) 12:00 FOX

The Titans are playing better and Buffalo still has no offense. T.O. might want to catch some of the balls that are being thrown his direction instead of whining about them.

PREDICTION: Titans

Denver (6-2) at Washington (1-7) 12:00 CBS

Denver has started to fall back to reality the past two weeks, so it may be close, but I can't see Washington winning this game. Not with THEIR offense.

PREDICTION: Broncos

New Orleans (8-0) at St. Louis (1-7) 12:00 FOX

An old school NFC West Showdown. Well, if you count showdowns as the Saints dropping 60 on the Rams.

PREDICTION: Saints

Kansas City (1-7) at Oakland (2-6) 3:15 CBS

The race for the #1 pick heats up! Which is being known as the "Ndmakong Suh Sweepstakes". I think the Raiders will get to move up a spot and jump ahead of KC.

Prediction: Chiefs

Baltimore (4-4) at Cleveland (1-7) 7:30 ESPN

HOW THE HELL DID THIS GAME EVEN GET ON NATIONAL TV??? WHAT THE HELL IS ESPN THINKING? I MEAN I WOULD UNDERSTAND IF PEOPLE PREDICTED THE BROWNS TO BE OK THIS YEAR BUT REALLY??? Browns fans are planning a protest against owner Randy Lerner where the fans won't be in their seats at the opening kickoff. This might be the most exciting part of the game.

PREDICTION: Baltimore

2009 Idiot Of The Year Candidate: Seth MacFarlane

Who said I had to limit idiots of the year to just sports. The honest and cruel reality is that idiots are everywhere, not just in sports. You can see an idiot in the street. Maybe your boyfriend/girlfriend/friend with benefits is an absolute moron. Yup, they can qualify too. Nobody is safe. That's why this week, we're going to take a look at the creator of one of my favorite TV shows and nominate him for idiot of the year. His name is Seth MacFarlane.

Yup, this guy has made more money than I could ever dream of in my lifetime. He has followed in the footsteps of other famous adult cartoonists such as Matt Groening and Trey Parker/Matt Stone. His flagship show, Family Guy, was pretty good over the first three seasons. MacFarlane used the same formula that the other cartoonists used to start out their show: Take an everyday example of what a family would do and blow it out of proportion.

For example, in the first three seasons, there were great episodes. "Lethal Weapons" remains my favorite Family Guy episode ever where Lois takes karate lessons and becomes an ass-kicking machine and eventually tries to overtake Peter as the man in the family. As you can see, it's an everyday situation that goes absolutely out of control.

However, then came the money. Some people can handle money. Money has never went to Joe Mauer's head (or so we think, let's wait until next offseason for that one). However, it went to Manny Ramierez's head pretty quick (Manny being Manny as an example). MacFarlane is more like Manny Ramierez than Joe Mauer at this point.

He got away from the formula that made him so successful. As a result, his shows have greatly declined in quality, but now we have quality. In addition to Family Guy, we now have American Dad. A lot of people like this show, but I've never liked it for whatever reason. He's also given us the Cleveland Show, which is like a carbon copy of Family Guy...only worse. However, MacFarlane earns about 50 million a year for writing these shows, so we're not going to see anything change.

Because MacFarlane is spreading himself so thin, he's started to write random stories such as Peter buying a challenged horse, then the US Army comes in to take it away, but then Peter builds his own terminator to help keep the horse.

Also, the character development doesn't make sense anymore. Remember when Stewie was smart and wanted to take over the world. Now he's a homosexual baby? When did this happen? More importantly why did this happen? Sure, maybe I'm looking into it too deep, but I think the show would be better if they stuck to Stewie's world domination bit.

I have the space to get into MacFarlane's "Live but not live but live why the hell did I just waste 30 minutes of my life watching this piece of @#$% special." But I'm not going to because instead of making him entertaining, he just looks like an arrogant asshole.

Sadly, this won't change as the audience that watches Family Guy has one common trait: ADHD. I am included (but I don't have that disorder...let's go steal a car!) in the people who still watches it because sometimes there is a good one (such as last week when Stewie tried to get Hannah Montana tickets and found out that Miley Cyrus was a cyborg) but that is happening less and less.

McFarlane may be getting paid 50 million a year and he may have a gigantic cartoon army that he could sick on me, but there is one truth that MacFarlane may never know. No matter how big Family Guy gets, it will NEVER be as good as the Simpsons was and in some ways still is. So Seth MacFarlane, you are now in the running for the 2009 Idiot of The Year Award.

Yeah the Stadium is Nice, But What About The Team?

I attended my first game at the brand new TCF Bank Stadium on Saturday when the Minnesota Golden Gophers hosted the Illinois Fighting Illini. Before we get to the actual game, I'd like to be positive for one second and talk about the stadium itself.

They didn't screw this thing up. When attending a game at the Metrodome (my last Gopher game was September 2003), you didn't feel like you were at a college football game. It felt like the Vikings moronic cousin was playing on their field. The band played at halftime, but really who cared?

Now the Gophers have a home of their own. We've heard that before and it sounds cliche, but it's true. The experience as a fan is even better. I sat 7 rows from the field at the corner of the endzone with the scoreboard. Even sitting 7 rows back felt like you were right on top of the field, as I was about 30 feet from the actual corner. The place is intimate and a sea of maroon and gold filled the stadium, although it was about midway through the 2nd quarter before it was full.

Of course, there are some structural flaws. The concourse is the concourse for the entire stadium. So when halftime hits, even though the concourse is bigger and wider overall than the Metrodome, it doesn't matter because 50,000 people want their hot dog and pop at the same time. They also don't use cash registers at the concession stands who were about to run out of bratwurst right before halftime. Good luck with that one.

Overall, the experience for the fan is great...except for the team on the field. The Gophers are in trouble once again. When Tim Brewster was hired by the Gophers following the 2006 season, he was supposed to take the Gophers to the next level. What "Gopher Nation" has gotten is more Insight Bowls rather than Rose Bowls.

It all starts with Brewster on this one. I still don't think he knows what type of team he wants, a dangerous thing when it comes to coaching. Especially when you've been coaching for three years at the school. He's had 2 offensive coordinators and 3 defensive coordinators at the U of M. This has really screwed with recruiting on the offensive end.

First there was Mike Dunbar who wanted to run the spread offense. Brewster went and got team speed. He had Adam Weber, who thrived in his freshman season in the new offense. He acquired MarQuies Gray who was known for his running as well. Then Dunbar left, and he brought Jedd Fisch in. With the new change, Brewster decided he wanted to add a power running game to his spread offense. Power running and spread offense go together like peanut butter and mustard. Not healthy or delicious. Throw in the fact that the running backs they have aren't very good, and the offense sucks.

Suddenly, the quarterbacks have turned to garbage. Confusion reigns supreme on both sides of the ball. One has to ask themselves whether or not Brewster is the right guy to lead this team to the next level. The question is, can the Gophers get anyone better?

The answer was yes. The two candidates the Gophers passed over were Lane Kiffin (who got a NFL job after being rejected by the Gophers and then going to Tennessee) and Charlie Strong (who is in the process of competing for a 3rd national championship at Florida). Strong is still available, and the Gophers could avenge their mistake, but they need to get the right guy. A big name might help (look at the Gopher basketball program), but is it the right big name.

The bottom line with this is that Brewster has to turn things around quickly. I had to buy my tickets for the game from a season ticket holder. If the Gophers keep this up, I may be able to employ my Timberwolves strategy in which I buy a 40 dollar ticket for 5 bucks on StubHub and then walk down to the lower level. The Gophers haven't been to the Rose Bowl in 50 years. Now is the time for a change.

Border Swap

How bad was the Johan Santana trade? Honestly? Have you looked at that thing lately? We pretty much gave up the best pitcher in the game for a bag of peanuts, a day old ham sandwich, a bag of frito lays, some diet coke, and a lap dance from a fat stripper named Candy. Yup, it's not good. Bill Smith had some juicy offers on the table at the Winter Meetings when he shopped Johan. The Red Sox would have given us Jon Lester. The Yankees would have given us Phil Hughes. We got Carlos Gomez.

Sure, the Twins got other players, but Gomez was the centerpiece of the deal. A five tool prospect, Gomez was supposed to solidify center field for the Twins for years to come. He was supposed to do what Denard Span, a first round pick from 2002, couldn't do. But a funny thing happened with that plan. Span became fantastic, and Carlos Gomez, our future, became expendable.

That's what happened last Friday, when the Minnesota Twins shipped Gomez across the border to the Milwaukee Brewers for shortstop J.J. Hardy. Both teams received players that needed a fresh start and a change of scenery. However, did both teams get a fair deal out of this.

Since I'm a Minnesotan, let's talk about the Twins side of the deal first. The Twins, who are not re-signing Orlando Cabrera at this point, got a shortstop that will not only fill a hole for the upcoming season, but hopefully a couple of years. Hardy is only 27 years old. Three years ago, he hit .277 with 26 bombs and 80 runs batted in. He followed that up with a .283-24-74 season. However, last year was Hardy's downfall as he hit .229-11-47. He would be shipped to the minors in August, never to be seen in a Brewer uniform again.

If the Twins get the Hardy of 2007 and 2008, the Twins will benefit greatly from the deal. He'll lock down the 2 spot in the lineup and add even more power to a lineup that ran based off the home run. If Hardy plays like he did last year, they're screwed.

Perhaps the biggest player in the trade isn't one involved, however. This trade is screaming at Delmon Young that this is his last shot. Delmon has started for the past 3 years in the majors. However, he's just 24 years old. He showed signs of figuring things out towards the end of the year when he wasn't sitting on the bench for two week stretches. I'm sure he'll have a short leash because he's not one of Ron Gardenhire's favorites, but if he hits well, the trade could be a huge success while validating another.

As for the other side of the trade, the Brewers can now let Mike Cameron walk without losing anything defensively. Carlos Gomez has ridiculous range, and I'm sure the Brewers fans will love the effort that he'll give night in and night out. Sure, he'll drive them crazy with his baserunning mistakes and overzealousness, but he'll bust his ass every night and that will draw the appreciation of Brewers fans. Also, at 23, Gomez still has great potential and if he ever figures things out and slows things down, he could be an All-Star caliber outfielder for the Brewers.

They also free up some money in the process. The Brewers will have control of Gomez, 23, for 4 more seasons before he's arbitration eligible. They also save a crap load over signing Mike Cameron. With the money they saved here, they can go after a pitcher or two. John Lackey could be a priority for the Brewers in the offseason, and that would give the Brewers a much needed ace.

So not only do the players involved have a lot of weight on their shoulders for this trade, players who were on the team prior to the trade (or in the future) will also have pressure put on them. Only time will tell who won the trade, and that's what's great about baseball and that's why they play the games.

Hot Stove Report

The New York Yankees won their 27th championship last night. And those douchebags couldn't be happier. Alex Rodriguez finally got his elusive World Series Championship. Derek Jeter got his fifth championship ring, as did others...blah blah blah. All of this makes me want to hurl, but congratulations to the 2009 New York Yankees. Now that I've said that while gritting my teeth, let's get to the exciting part of the baseball season known as the Hot Stove.

Yes, the hot stove is where the true action is at. What other sport do you follow a whole bunch of fat people gathering at a random hotel? This year, this will happen in Las Vegas. Maybe Steve Phillips can go home with a fat hooker. Oh wait, he did that two months early...damn. Anyways, what will happen this offseason.

Of course, for the sake of this blog, we have to talk about the Minnesota Twins. Will the Twins spend more money with the opening of Target Field on the horizon? Will the Twins re-sign their veterans Carl Pavano and Orlando Cabrera? Will the Twins go into the new season with Danny Valencia at 3rd base? We do know that the Twins need to fill some voids. The Twins need to get a solid starter. Does that mean the Twins go after Jarrod Washburn, who has previously mentioned that he would love being a Twin? Does it mean that the Twins will throw some cash out and go after a top of the line starter such as John Lackey? Or will they try and rely on Kevin Slowey who's coming off wrist surgery.

Will the Twins bullpen be better next season? Will Brian Duensing be part of the bullpen or rotation? Most importantly, how will Pat Neshek rebound from Tommy John surgery? (We still have him, by the way.)

The Brewers could also be active players. Will the Brewers deal J.J. Hardy after the flop of a season he had last year? Also, can the Brewers get a starting pitcher to help out their weak rotation. Can they find someone to give the ball to Trevor Hoffman late in the game? How many pieces do the Brewers need to become a perennial contender? (They're close, trust me.)

Then of course there are the big spenders. The Yankees, the Red Sox, the Mets all come to mind. Will the Red Sox land the 21 year old prized lefty Adrolis Chapman? Who will the Yankees go after following their 27th world championship? Will the Mets try to spend to fill their holes or will they try and rebuild (finally)?

Then there are the Angels, who came close to the World Series. It's said that they will part ways with Vladamir Guerrero and that they have a man crush on Matt Holliday. Will Holliday go there or will some other team throw some cash at him?

I'm not including the trades that may happen. Remember that Roy Halladay is entering his final year of his contract. Will this be another Johan Santana situation?

So enjoy the ride, because before we know it, we'll be soaking in the sun (or freezing our asses off) at Target Field in April!

2009 Idiot Of The Year Candidate: Daniel Snyder

As previously mentioned, I will have a couple of candidates for the first annual idiot of the year award. Earlier, I nominated Steve Phillips for thinking with his "instincts" rather than his brain by marrying one elephant and cheating on her with another elephant. This time, we're not going after sports analysts, we're going to go higher up on the food chain: into the owner's box.

The owners box contains some brilliant people. There are guys like Robert Kraft, who single handedly restored interest into the New England Patriots and kept them from becoming the Hartford Patriots. However, there are some horrible owners, such as Al Davis, who think that Marcus Allen is still their halfback. But, surprisingly, we aren't talking about Mr. Davis. We go to the east coast, where we have Mr. Daniel Snyder.

Mr. Snyder is challenging Randy Lerner and Davis as the worst owner in the NFL. Snyder has no idea how to run a football team. Watching him do this is like giving control of the Giants to Joey Yankee fan outside Yankee Stadium and watching him run an NFL team. Snyder is a rich boy using his vault of money to try and improve the team, but he doesn't understand the team concept.

Snyder tries to get success by getting a fantasy team. He hires high priced coaches such as Marty Schottenheimer, Steve Spurrier, and Joe Gibbs. After a couple of seasons with these coached, Snyder dumps them because he expects to go 16-0 with a Super Bowl victory. However, not even Bill Belichek could help these teams win, why?

Well, it goes back to the fantasy football technique. Snyder hits the free agent market and spends wild amounts of money on free agents. He tries to put a team of all stars together without realizing that the best teams need role players to win. Even the New York Giants, who have an incredibly big cash flow, have role players on their team such as David Tyree (now with the Ravens). These are reasons why the Redskins can't win.

Snyder also thinks that his team can always win right now. He doesn't know the meaning of the word rebuilding, he'll just trade draft picks to try and get the superstar that will get his team to the super bowl. Problem is that the Redskins are never close to said Super Bowl. They have always been a mediocre team under Snyder and that's not going to change.

You can't fire an owner, he's going to keep the team as long as he's making money (See: McCombs, Red). So the only hope for the Skins to improve is for Snyder to pull his head out of his ass and realize that spending money left and right will only give him a headache. Just like the one he's enduring right now with the Redskins floundering.

(As a matter of fact, the Redskins have gone as far as banning signs at FedEx Field because a small percentage of them are telling Snyder to B-I-N-GO @#$% yourself)

So there you have it. I hope to have 3 more candidates before the end of the year. By the way did anyone hear about the woman who would have sex for World Series tickets in Philadelphia? Let's just call that an dishonorable mention.

Mid Term Evaluation

As a college student, this has to be one of my least favorite times of the year. Professors probably get together to plan this and wonder how they can destroy college students lives for a couple weeks. I would assume that the same can be said for NFL players. Think about it. Their bodies are just starting to get sore (if they aren't already) and the late season push begins. The Minnesota Vikings are at the midway point of their season, and there are several things that we can look at to determine how the Vikings have gotten to where they are.

The Vikings are currently 7-1 and leading the NFC North by 2 1/2 games. (Technically, this is a 3 1/2 game lead as the Vikings have now won the season series against the Green Bay Packers.)

NFC North

Minnesota 7-1

Chicago 4-3

Green Bay 4-3

Detroit 1-6

Another good thing about the Vikings fast start is that they are in position to avoid cold weather games, something that shut down Brett Favre with the Jets at the end of last season. Interestingly enough, the New Orleans Saints have helped the Vikings out. Of course, there's a lot of season left to play.

NFC Standings

New Orleans 6-0 (plays Atlanta tomorrow)

Minnesota 7-1

Philadelphia 5-2

Arizona 4-3*

Dallas 5-2

Atlanta 4-2 (plays New Orleans tomorrow)

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New York Giants 5-3

Green Bay 4-3

Chicago 4-3

As it looks promising that the Vikings are on their way to the playoffs and possibly a first round bye, there have been several things that have gone right for the Vikings. The most obvious one has been the Brett Favre experiment. I don't know how this has happened, but Brett Favre is on fire. The craziest part about Favre is that he has progressed into a MVP candidate. If you thought that Brett Favre would be the Vikings MVP instead of Adrian Peterson, I would have asked you to have your head examined. Think about this.

Favre's current stats through 8 games:

102.2 QB rating (thru 7), 1925 yards, 16 TD, 2 INT, 68.9 % completion rate

Now remember how the Vikings played last season? Gus Frerrote proved that the Vikings just need a halfway decent quarterback to run the offense. I admit I was skeptical about Favre joining the Vikings at first, but he's given the Vikings their most effective quarterback since Daunte Culpepper in 2004. (39 TD and 4,500 yards don't lie.) Plus, Favre may be the one most important player in the Vikings offense. A counterpoint may say that Peterson is the most important player, but there's more to this.

Peterson is struggling right now (I use the term struggling loosely). Despite the presence of Favre, teams have still tried to stuff the box to stop Adrian Peterson. What if Peterson gets going in the second half? How good will this offense be?

You also have to take into effect the relationship that Favre has had with his wide receivers. Sidney Rice and Percy Harvin have become better with the arrival of Favre. (Harvin is a rookie, but I don't think that he would be as effective as he has been if Sage Rosenfels was the starter.) The receivers are spending time and learning things from him and getting a feel for his passes.

On the defensive side of the ball, the only concern is the secondary. Madieu Williams has fallen off a bit in his second year with the Vikings. Antoine Winfield is out for at least 2 more weeks. The bye week will help, but his presence still will be missed and it's a possibility that he could be out until mid-December.

So far, all is well for the Vikings. I'm not going to run around and start screaming Super Bowl yet, because I'll believe that when I see it. But take a look at the second half schedule after the bye next week.

11/15 vs. Detroit (1-7)

11/22 vs. Seattle (2-5)

11/29 vs. Chicago (4-3)*

12/6 @ Arizona (4-3)

12/13 vs. Cincinatti (5-2)

12/20 @ Carolina (3-4)

12/28 @ Chicago (4-3)*

1/3 vs. New York (5-3)

There is a distinct possibility that the Vikings at the absolute worst could finish 11-5. However, I think the chance is greater that they can finish better than that and the ceiling could be a 14-2 or 15-1 finish with the sub par competition the Vikings will face with the exception of Cinci and New York.