#-1: United FC (Last Week: -2). Overall, a very highly successful screening week for all local teams (even though, once again, I have to point out that it's very quiet around these parts; normally the Wild and Timberwolves would be in full swing, as well as Gopher volleyball. I noticed that last night there was nobody locally playing when you get the feeling there should have been on a mid-November weeknight, you know?). And yet, for this week, I am giving the top spot to the team that, if you want to stretch the definition of a Draw out, was the only Twin Cities club to lose.
Yep, MNUFC tied the Chicago Fire at 2 last Wednesday. But that, along with a decisive 3-0 victory over FC Dallas on Decision Day (which was Sunday) sewed up a First Round playoff Match at home (albeit in a pandemic-induced expanded playoff field) for the second Year in a row. One thing I need to note that augurs well for the Loons: The squad has now scored in the 79th Minute or later in each of their last four Games (even though one, the deciding Goal in the team's 2-1 win over Colorado on the 28th, was an Own Goal).
Unfortunately, there are two big things that could end this team's run, especially in a one-off format which begins versus the same Rapids Sunday the 22nd. The more immediate one are call-ups. The First Round will take place as Romain Metanire, Jan Gregus, Robin Lod and Kei Kamara are playing for their country. By contrast, the Rapids will only lose one player, Chile's Diego Rubio. The depth of this team could be a lot worse, but that will be tested, and the young players are going to have to step up. Meanwhile, you have to worry about injuries, too. Ike Opara is out for the year, even though the team has not officially said anything close to that. Ozzie Alonso probably is good for this Match -- he'll have to be, otherwise the Loons are screwed -- but United FC needs him for the whole run. And Kevin Molino has proven to be a difference-maker so long as he's healthy. But will he be for the whole run? If not, it'll be another one-and-done ... and another playoff upset at home.
#-2: Vikings (Last Week: -1). Have to note that this team should be 5-3 instead of 3-5. But yes, with the help of a seventh team in each Conference making the playoffs from now on, the Vikings still have a shot at making the postseason after they took care of business and took care of the Detroit Lions Sunday in a fashion that will be as close to "dominating" as this club will get. I had as good of a seat as one can get watching the Game, and it was funny to not feel as though the Vikes were going to give away the lead. Well, I kind of felt it when the Lions scored to cut the deficit to three late in the Second Quarter. But Matthew Stafford threw two Interceptions, the second of which was in the End Zone, and then he was taking out of the Game to enter the concussion protocol, and then substitute Chase Daniel threw an INT, and when the opponent is sabotaging itself, winning a contest gets infinitely easier.
Not to take away from what Dalvin Cook did Sunday. Jesus fucking Christ, he's good. Adding 206 Yards rushing, another 46 Receiving and two Touchdowns to what he did last week ... frankly, I think he is approaching Adrian Peterson territory. All Day (who, ironically, was playing with the Lions on the other side of the field) was a beast for longer, but Cook seems to have matched Peterson's best days on several occasions, you think? And we no longer think the Offensive Line sucks! Yay!
Again, they still have a hole to climb out of. And next week's Game at Chicago (on a Monday night), even with a Bears squad way out of form, will be a tough one because this franchise has always been shitty in Chicago. But with three straight home Games vs. mediocre teams after that, they could complete that climb with a 4-0 run to gain momentum into December.
#-3: Gopher football (Last Week: -3). I don't want to say too little, too late. I didn't have illusions these young men would make the College Football Playoff or anything. But the 41-14 trouncing at Illinois Saturday was more in line with what I thought this club was capable of. And the running attack, led by Mohamed Ibrahim and an imposing Offensive Line, may be as good in top-flight college football as the Vikings', led by Cook and a now-passable O-Line, might be in the NFL right now.
Believe it or not, this week is a Rivalry Week. It's against Iowa, who is also 1-2 in this strange Year, but they're playing for Floyd of Rosedale once again. It'll be at Das Bank v.1.0. (even though no one is allowed to watch, unlike Notre Dame ... idiots), and it's a Friday the 13th tilt.
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