(Just a note: This is the final WMNSS for 2012. This will be posted on a new day of the week starting in the New Year.)
#-1: Vikings (Last Week: -1). Unbelievable. Un-fucking-believable. This team, a year after a 3-13 record, a squad I thought would not win more than five games this year, not only is 9-6, not only is in the hunt for a playoff berth, but controls their own fucking destiny in getting there. How the fuck did that happen? Only in the National Football League. That must be why it's the most popular league in the nation.
I don't know if it's motivation or the perfect game plan, but somehow the Vikes did exactly what it needed to do and beat the Texans in Houston. It was won on the lines; the defense harassed Matt Schaub to a pick-six and a fumble, and Adrian Peterson ran for enough (less than 100 yards, however, ending his streak of reaching the century mark on the ground at ... eight?) to loosen the Texans' defense for Christian Ponder to -- get this -- complete passes accurately. Ponder may have turned the corner with that bad pick in the end zone in their loss in Green Bay, but it looks like Offensive Coordinator Bill Musgrave has stopped forcing Ponder to say in the pocket under pressure and just let him roll out, bootleg and improvise. And that's meant that he runs to surprise defenses, not just to escape. He could be a game manager yet!
And club has this playoff spot right where they need it. They are at home. They are playing Green Bay, who can gain a bye with a win, but think about this: They were the top seed in the NFC last year, but they looked rusty in not only getting beat but humbled by the New York Giants. They're already in the playoffs, and if they lose today (Sunday), who will they face? The Vikes, this time in Lambeau. Why try now when they could get Minnesota where they want them, in the postseason? I don't think they'll lay down, but if the Vikes get up in the second half by, say, 10 or 14 points, I think they'll dial it back. I'm telling you, the only way Minnesota doesn't win is if they completely get fooled by the Packers' offense. Could happen, but the defense is playing too well nowadays to make me think that could happen.
One other thing to think about: Adrian Peterson needs 208 yards to break Eric Dickerson's single-season rushing record. I say he has a, oh, 20% chance of getting it. If the Vikings win, I think their attack will be more balanced. But Green Bay can't stop players on the ground, so I wouldn't put it past Peterson. I will be at the Dome for the game, and if he does it, damn, we all should step back for a second and recognize that we're watching history.
#-2: Gopher men's hockey (Re-Entry!). Went to the first night of the Mariucci Classic last (Saturday) night. Paid a scalper $40 for two games, both blowouts. Still can't believe I blew $40 and I didn't even try to bargain him down. I suck as a bargainer. The guy probably paid $5 for it. Man, I go through money like no one's business come the holidays. You know when hockey fans chant "Sieve! Sieve! Sieve!" to the visiting goaltender? They should shout that at me whenever I take out my wallet.
So the U. male icers, ranked fourth in the nation, whipped Air Force last (Saturday) night, 4-0. Their other game in this tournament is the tourney's main event, tonight (Sunday night) against Boston College, current #1 team in the country, defending national champions, and the team that ushered the Gophers out of last season's tournament in the national semifinal. They played in the first game, a 5-1 ass-kicking of Alabama-Huntsville. We are talking about a Southern independent school, so the result might show more about the loser than the winner. But the Eagles were bigger, faster and stronger, and they looked awfully scary. I don't think the game against the Gophs is going to be a walkover, but I can see BC repeating as champs. Let's see if they can cap a busy day in Dinkytown (and in Minnesota) with a victory over the best team in the land.
#-3: Timberwolves (Last Week: -4). The chemistry issues continue, and what's happening to Kevin Love? Only a four-point win at home over Phoenix last (Saturday) night prevented a winless screening week. The defeats, in New York and at the Bullseye against Houston, were only by three points. But wouldn't they be victories if Love was locked in? The nadir of his really shitty 2012 might have come when he failed to score in double figures in Wednesday's loss to the Rockets, and all of those points came in the first quarter. You know, maybe David Kahn was right in not giving him a max contract.
God, I really do think these guys can get a playoff spot and compete in the playoffs. But they've slipped to eighth in the Western Conference, and if Love and Ricky Rubio still can't co-exist, what then? Three games this week: In Utah, at Denver, and home to Portland.
#-4: Twins (Re-Entry!). There are only three other teams in the survey this week, so I think I have enough time to blurb a little bit about the Twinks' penchant this offseason of signing up pitchers coming off injuries. Um ... what the fuck??? Why is this team opening themselves up to being a refuge for reclamation projects like Mike Pelfrey, Kevin Correia, Vance Worley, and Rich Harden? And I know that last year's starting rotation was so awful they should've just blown up the whole goddamn thing, but this is better? Good fucking God, Ron Gardenhire might have less to work with than last season. You might as well ask the last year of Steve Carlton for a tryout. Ninety-loss season, we shall meet again. Happy Fucking New Year.
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