Doomed by a magical season
Posted: Sun Dec 24, 2017 11:43 pm
Week 1..
We are all pleasantly surprised that "Wow, this offense looks like it can possibly do special things". Sam Bradford comes out, slings a couple TD's. Dalvin shows flashes of his elite potential. Our defense handles the Saints, and we're left with a beautiful 1-0 to start the season.
Then monday happened.. Sam Bradford is questionable with a knee bruise, and everyone's thinking the same thing.. Is this guy with 2 ACL's about to show us why he couldn't find a home as a number 1 overall pick? Sure enough, as each week progressed, our greatest fears were confirmed.. "F*ck, I guess we have Keenum".
Week 2..
We came crashing back to reality. Without our QB we traded a 1st-rounder for last season, we go into Pittsburg and just get out-classed (except Xav). We now have a look at Keenum, and its not good... Not good at all. Coming out of week 2 were 1-1 and the season's prospects are looking bleak.
Fast forward 2 weeks..
Dalvin Cook, out for the year with an ACL. Latavius, is looking like his feet are carrying cement blocks, coming off of his ankle injury. We beat the Bucs at home, but then lose to the Lions - a true gut-wrencher for any Vikings Fan, especially 14-9 at home. Were 2-2. We've now accepted that Sam probably is going to be dealing with this all year, and that magic from week 1 is all but lost. Without Dalvin to take the pressure off, it looks like our defense is going to have to be elite, just to break even on the year.
Fast forward 12 weeks. Case Keenum has led the Minnesota Vikings on a 10-1 run. Our defense has overtaken (the overrated) Jacksonville defense for #1 in scoring. We also happened to overtake the Denver D for #1 in yards allowed. But we all secretly expected a #1 Defense, after getting to know Zim. But perhaps the most surprising thing of all is how our offense-behind Case Keenum-has taken shape throughout the course of the season. Top-10 in scoring, Top-10 in yardage, Top-10 in explosive plays. This is foreign territory for us, since The ol' gunslinger took us all on his magical carpet ride in '09. We are 1 game away from clinching a bye, and as of Sunday, 24th of December- we're still alive for homefield advantage. 3-1 against the existing NFC playoff teams. It all seems a bit too good to be true...
Now.. I don't have the years that some of you old-timers have. I didn't have the pleasure (or misfortune) to have been around since the 60's. I have been a fan since 1997. But even in my 20 years of fandom, our Vikings have given me plenty of tastes as to what it really means to be a Vikings fan. Gary Anderson, 40 pts at the hands of the G-men, 12-men in the huddle, Blair Walsh from 27.... It seems as though no matter when you became a fan, the experience is the same.
This year is largely no different. This is the best complete team I ever remember seeing in a Viking's uniform. To think back during week 4, when were 2-2 - Sam gone, Dalvin gone. No one on earth would have put up the mortgage to herald us as a 13-3 team at season's end. But its happening. Even if Philly clinches homefield, I still believe that the road to the Superbowl runs through Minneapolis, and not just because we host the superbowl. I view Philly's (inevitable) clinching of homefield, as inconsequential. I see any and all of the wildcard teams beating a Nick Foles-Led Eagles team, which would mean we have the de-facto homefield advantage.... And I become a LOT LESS NERVOUS to play any playoff team at US BANK stadium.. But as Vikings fans, we all know- things are never as they seem... Now depending on the cruelty of the football gods, it is evident that we will either see a 1-and-done, another gut-wrenching NFC championship loss, or Ragnar forbid- a home superbowl loss..
Now I know this very well in my heart, as do most of you. And we should just be happy with the season in and of itself. Just taking a moment to appreciate the magic that has taken place right in front of our unsuspecting eyes. All of us know that this thing isn't going to pan out, because this is who the Vikings are. This is what it means to be a Viking. An amazing run that captures all of our hearts, and then JUST comes up short in the end..
But you know what? After 20 years, I still haven't learned my lesson.. and GOD DAMNIT- I STILL BELIEVE.
SKOL VIKINGS... WE'RE BRINGING THE TROPHY HOME!!!!!
***PS.***
Please refrain from posting this after our playoff exit:
We are all pleasantly surprised that "Wow, this offense looks like it can possibly do special things". Sam Bradford comes out, slings a couple TD's. Dalvin shows flashes of his elite potential. Our defense handles the Saints, and we're left with a beautiful 1-0 to start the season.
Then monday happened.. Sam Bradford is questionable with a knee bruise, and everyone's thinking the same thing.. Is this guy with 2 ACL's about to show us why he couldn't find a home as a number 1 overall pick? Sure enough, as each week progressed, our greatest fears were confirmed.. "F*ck, I guess we have Keenum".
Week 2..
We came crashing back to reality. Without our QB we traded a 1st-rounder for last season, we go into Pittsburg and just get out-classed (except Xav). We now have a look at Keenum, and its not good... Not good at all. Coming out of week 2 were 1-1 and the season's prospects are looking bleak.
Fast forward 2 weeks..
Dalvin Cook, out for the year with an ACL. Latavius, is looking like his feet are carrying cement blocks, coming off of his ankle injury. We beat the Bucs at home, but then lose to the Lions - a true gut-wrencher for any Vikings Fan, especially 14-9 at home. Were 2-2. We've now accepted that Sam probably is going to be dealing with this all year, and that magic from week 1 is all but lost. Without Dalvin to take the pressure off, it looks like our defense is going to have to be elite, just to break even on the year.
Fast forward 12 weeks. Case Keenum has led the Minnesota Vikings on a 10-1 run. Our defense has overtaken (the overrated) Jacksonville defense for #1 in scoring. We also happened to overtake the Denver D for #1 in yards allowed. But we all secretly expected a #1 Defense, after getting to know Zim. But perhaps the most surprising thing of all is how our offense-behind Case Keenum-has taken shape throughout the course of the season. Top-10 in scoring, Top-10 in yardage, Top-10 in explosive plays. This is foreign territory for us, since The ol' gunslinger took us all on his magical carpet ride in '09. We are 1 game away from clinching a bye, and as of Sunday, 24th of December- we're still alive for homefield advantage. 3-1 against the existing NFC playoff teams. It all seems a bit too good to be true...
Now.. I don't have the years that some of you old-timers have. I didn't have the pleasure (or misfortune) to have been around since the 60's. I have been a fan since 1997. But even in my 20 years of fandom, our Vikings have given me plenty of tastes as to what it really means to be a Vikings fan. Gary Anderson, 40 pts at the hands of the G-men, 12-men in the huddle, Blair Walsh from 27.... It seems as though no matter when you became a fan, the experience is the same.
This year is largely no different. This is the best complete team I ever remember seeing in a Viking's uniform. To think back during week 4, when were 2-2 - Sam gone, Dalvin gone. No one on earth would have put up the mortgage to herald us as a 13-3 team at season's end. But its happening. Even if Philly clinches homefield, I still believe that the road to the Superbowl runs through Minneapolis, and not just because we host the superbowl. I view Philly's (inevitable) clinching of homefield, as inconsequential. I see any and all of the wildcard teams beating a Nick Foles-Led Eagles team, which would mean we have the de-facto homefield advantage.... And I become a LOT LESS NERVOUS to play any playoff team at US BANK stadium.. But as Vikings fans, we all know- things are never as they seem... Now depending on the cruelty of the football gods, it is evident that we will either see a 1-and-done, another gut-wrenching NFC championship loss, or Ragnar forbid- a home superbowl loss..
Now I know this very well in my heart, as do most of you. And we should just be happy with the season in and of itself. Just taking a moment to appreciate the magic that has taken place right in front of our unsuspecting eyes. All of us know that this thing isn't going to pan out, because this is who the Vikings are. This is what it means to be a Viking. An amazing run that captures all of our hearts, and then JUST comes up short in the end..
But you know what? After 20 years, I still haven't learned my lesson.. and GOD DAMNIT- I STILL BELIEVE.
SKOL VIKINGS... WE'RE BRINGING THE TROPHY HOME!!!!!
***PS.***
Please refrain from posting this after our playoff exit: