Positive Numbers: Vikings (Last Week: -2). Going into the Bye Week, I had these guys pegged, at best, at 2-3. I don't think any of us were expecting anything from this club this season. But look at them now, look at them now; by hanging on to defeat The New York Jets in London, 23-17, they are one of only two undefeated teams right now -- and if somehow New Orleans were to upset The Bastard Dallas Texans tonight on Monday Night Football, they will stand alone as perfect. Giving the Vikes the top spot and Positive Numbers is a no-brainer, no?
For the second Game in a row the squad had to hold on, but also for the second Game in a row, the Defense stepped up to hold back the opposing Offense. At Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, that took the form of picking off Aaron Rodgers thrice, the last from Stephon Gilmore in the last Minute that salted the Win away. I may have said it before, but if so, I'll say it again: Brian Flores is a fucking Defense whisperer, and he should get another Head Coaching job even if he is suing the NFL.
A huge one in two Weeks: Hosting Detroit.
After starting off gangbusters and tailing off big-time in the middle of the season, the side are unbeaten in their last four Matches, and heading into the postseason with a head of steam is the best way to go into the playoffs. Eric Ramsay apparently wants his players to be flexible but Defense-minded, and many writers believe he finally is getting the type of XI he wants to field. And while Joaquin Pereyra has overwhelmed so far, Kelvin Yeboah has almost poured in as many Goals as Games he's played in. And apparently (again, I can't see this myself), Carlos Harvey has been a revelation at Right Back, a position which is not his natural one. He did yeoman's work filling in for Michael Boxall, who served a suspension for Yellow Card Accumulation after getting booked in the Real Salt Lake contest.
I wish these guys were good enough at least get home-pitch advantage for the First Round, but like I said, positive momentum is also a very good thing. And they have one final tilt, home to St. Louis, on the 19th, to stay hot.
#-1: Gopher women's hockey (Last Week: -1). I just assumed Boston University would have a good women's team because BU usually has a good men's team, but it looks as though they're unranked, so maybe sweeping them at Ridder Arena (1-0 Friday and 5-2 yesterday/Sunday afternoon) ain't such a huge accomplishment. Still, the team is perfect through four Games. Now comes the heart of the schedule already: The U. begins WCHA play with a two-Game series in Columbus vs. Ohio St.
#-2: Gopher football (Last Week: -5). Look, I'm going to tell you all this now: Beating my alma mater isn't impressive. I guess you all stormed the field; I didn't look because I was too fucking depressed that my team lost to you mediocre motherfuckers. Because, and I'm not trolling, your team didn't win; our team lost. My team didn't respect you guys. My team didn't take the Golden Gophers seriously. Add to that subpar Offensive Line play, a Quarterback who has been quite shaky the past three tilts, some questionable Penalties and a bullshit Referee reversal from short to Touchdown even though you had no goddamn irrefutable proof on replay Max Brosmer crossed the Goal Line, and my worst fears came true.
But go ahead and take selfies of yourself in the middle of Huntington Bank Stadium. You beat a name brand, not necessarily a decent team. Because knowing this team and this program, they're going to head into The Rose Bowl on Saturday and lose to UCLA. I can almost guarantee it.
#-3: Gopher volleyball (Last Week: -3). Went out to Los Angeles. Beat UCLA in five thrilling Sets Friday (was able to see the end on my B1G+ app, which is free for alumni of the four schools that came over from the Pac-12, and I need to thank my friend for the tip), then lost to my alma mater in four Saturday. Hey, at least my alma mater beat the Gophers in something! While I think these players sport a good resume, at 2-2 so far in-conference and 9-5 overall, I don't know how high of a seed they'll get come tournament time. This weekend they host Indiana and Pur Maryland.
#-4: Lynx (Last Week: -6). OK, so I was a bit negative after they lost at home in Game 1 of their Semifinal series versus Connecticut. They won Game 2. And then they went to that casino they play in and won Game 3. But yesterday/Sunday afternoon the Sun won Game 4, setting up a winner-take-all Game 5 at Target Center Tuesday night. This would be the type of Game that would sell out. But are team and arena officials even pulling off the tarp to the upper level for this Game after keeping them on for the WNBA Playoffs up till now? (I just checked the team's website; apparently none of the upper bowl is being sold. Damn, folks, bad look for a league taking advantage of a massive infusion of popularity.) The team either faces a quick turnaround to face New York in Game 1 of the WNBA Finals Thursday ... or their season ends ignominiously in a half-filled arena.
#-5: Gopher soccer (Last Week: -4). This was a very successful screening Week for local teams. The only one not win at least one Game this Week were the Gopher soccer club, and they didn't lose, they just tied Northwest on Friday at 1. Their 8-3-2 (Win-Draw-Loss) Record appears to be good enough, at least for now, to put them at the heart of the tournament conversation, at least according to The Only Website I Can Find That Is Doing Women's Soccer Bracketology (which is different from previous websites that have tried bracketology for this sport). But they have a tall task ahead of them this Week: On the road to face seventh-ranked Ohio St. Thursday and 15th-ranked Penn St. Sunday.
No comments:
Post a Comment