This game coming Sunday really does not need me to tell you how important it is. A win and we are in. The trouble is it will not be easy. The advantage Minnesota has and it is a major advantage is home in the dome.
A win and ends the year with an incredible 7-1 mark. It would match 1988 and 2000 that each saw the team do the same. The one loss this season is the only real disappointment for the season for me. Tampa Bay came in on Thursday night football and laid a pretty good beating on the Vikings. A 6-2 record would have been huge instead of 5-3. This year not matter what happens Sunday has been a true pleasure to support this team and gives me major hope for the future.
The 9 wins have already tied a franchise high for biggest jump in wins from one season to the next. The 1997 to 1998 went from 9 wins to 15 and now 2011 of 3 wins to now 9 wins. A 10th win sets a new record with a seven game increase.
The game will be called by Troy Aikman and Joe Buck.
The craziness of the season with win totals and individual records just keeps piling. Adrian Peterson is tied for 2nd in the NFL with 11 touchdowns.
He is tied with Barry Sanders with 7 runs of 50 yards in one season. One more run of 50 plus gives Adrian a new NFL record.
The team itself is close to breaking a team record with 2417 rushing yards. It is the 3rd highest in franchise history and is 217 yards away from 2634 which was set in 2007.
I love following the history of NFL. The 2012-2013 season has been historical as records all throughout the season have fallen. This last week is going to be awesome to watch with games determining teams that make the playoffs and individual going for NFL records.
Rookie safety, Harrison Smith set a new team record against Houston as he started his 15th straight game. His 2 interception returns for a touchdown during the season has tied a team record. His 92 tackles are 5th amongst safeties in team history.
Smith and fellow 1st round pick Matt Kalil when making the start in week 17 will be the first 2 rookies to start all 16. It is the first time since 1994 when DeWayne Washington and Todd Steussie made all 16 starts as rookies.
Blair Walsh is now first in NFL history with 9 field goals of 50 yards or more. The fact that he has made 9 is impressive but the fact that he is 9 for 9 is even more impressive.
Walsh has made 32 field goals for the season which is 3 short of the team record in one season held by Gary Anderson in 1998.
Walsh is also 4th in the NFL with 49 touchbacks with every week seemingly keeps on going. This has been such an advantage for special teams because of the kicks may not make a touchback but the height of the kicks helps the defenders get down.
Vikings tight end, Kyle Rudolph now has 9 touchdowns which is 2 behind the franchise record of 11 held by Visanthe Shiancoe in 2009.
Chad Greenway comes into the Green Bay with a career high 141 tackles making him 2nd in the league in tackles.
Jared Allen now has 10 plus sacks which makes 6 years in a row and 7 of the 9 seasons he has played in the NFL.
Since 2008 season Green Bay or Minnesota has won the last 4 out of 5 NFC North crowns.
The college of USC puts out tremendous players who make it big in the NFL. The Vikings and Packers have between them Clay Mathews, Matt Kalil, Everson Griffen and Rhett Ellison. Just think these were teammates in college at one time.
Let’s look at a few numbers of the team’s starting with average points per game. The Vikings are at 22.8 and the Packers are at 26.6.
The Vikings offensive line who may have played the best game of the season against Houston has given up 31 sacks for the season while Green Bay has given up 46.
The turnover ratio favors the Packers who are a plus 8 and Minnesota is negative 2.
This game is going to be a war with the Packers needing a win to get a high seed in the playoffs while the Vikings need a win to get in. A Minnesota loss does not end the season but will then need help to get in.
I cannot wait as I feel comfortable in saying Minnesota 28 Green Bay 17
Thanks for reading
Happy Holidays
Purplestick
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