Border Battle

Yesterday was the last regular season game of the NFL.  The Minnesota Vikings hosted the Green Bay Packers. The original time of the game changed from noon to 3:25 CST since it was now going to be a nationally televised game.  There was a lot riding on this game and here's the trifecta that Vikings fans were looking for:

1. A Vikings win
2. Advancing to the playoffs
3. Adrian Peterson surpassing Eric Dickerson's all-time single season rushing record of 2,105 yards

So let's back up.  Before we talk about the game, we need to cover tailgating.  And cover, is what we did.  We wrapped ourselves in layers and layers to shield ourselves from the Minnesota cold as much as we could.  When leaving the house, it was 3 degrees.  It warmed up to 12 degrees on my last temperature check.

We parked in our usual tailgating area and the party was in full swing.  We brought the grill out there not only to warm up but also to warm up some of M's favorite food...White Castle.  

Based on Facebook posts and likes, lots of people like M's beard mask.  He bought it online in the off season last year.

Fox Sports was there capturing the party.

Terry and the Fred the Alien flew from Maryland the night before.  Good thing we brought Frank too!

This is the mess that our neighbors had.  I thought it made for a pretty good picture.

Rally Monkey loves White Castles with jalapeno cheese and bacon. 

Once in the dome, we had towels on our seats.  

This week's guest to blow the gjallarhorn was Nicholas David from The Voice. He also sang God Bless America at halftime. 

The energy in the dome is always electric for this game, even when there's not that much riding on it.  The Packers won the toss and deferred.  The Vikings started off with a 54 yard field goal and by the end of the 1st quarter, AP would have a touchdown making the score 10-0.  We started the 2nd quarter by being the first team to score with another field goal, making the score 13-0 before the Packers scored a touchdown.  Amazingly (I say that because he was one of my kickers in fantasy), Mason Crosby kicked a 51 yard field goal to go into halftime with a Vikings lead, 20-10.

The Packers came out strong with a touchdown in the beginning of the 3rd but Vikings were still on top at the end of the quarter at 27-24.  Going into the 4th quarter with the Packers trailing isn't very comforting for a Vikings fan.  They know how to come back and win these games.   Somehow, Christian Ponder threw a deep ball for Jerius Wright for a gain of 65 yards which we later scored on.  We'd be tied twice in the 4th at 27 and again at 34.  It wasn't until there were three seconds left that Blair Walsh kicked the winning field goal to end the game at 37-34.  

The Vikings haven't scored 37 points in any game this entire year until Sunday and they never gave up the lead in the entire game, only tying at times. 

As for Adrian Peterson...what an effort and amazing dude he is.  He did not break Eric Dickerson's record but came within 9 yards!  He finished the game with 199 yards and the season with 2,097 yards which is impressive and puts him as the second all-time single season rusher.  If it's any consolation to the Vikings fans, Adrian Peterson had 25 less carries than Eric Dickerson did.  I didn't even think he'd get this close. Going into the game with having to get 208 yards sounded unattainable, but when it comes to AP, anything is possible. 

So, the trifecta did not happen but in the words of Meatloaf, 

♪'Cause two out of three ain't bad ♫ 

Even AP would say that it was about the team winning and making the playoffs.  I can't believe the Vikings are in the playoffs!  I predicted the Vikings to be 5-11 when M and I make our predictions right when the schedule comes out in the April.  His prediction wasn't much better at 6-10.  But at 10-6, we're in.  So what's next?!  The Vikings will again play the Packers at the Frozen Tundra, Saturday, January 5th.  Going on the road with six days rest to Lambeau will prove to be a chore. We've already won at Lambeau in the playoffs before.  Maybe it's our time to do it again.  Being that the game is on M's birthday, I hope he gets the ultimate Vikings present but I'm very cautiously optimistic about that. Skol!

The video board said "2000" when AP hit that many yards

Excitement on the field after the win