Vikings-Cowboys: Minnesota Will Win Sunday, Despite the Hype

Nothing is worse than when your team is labeled as the underdog, but you believe they aren't.

I'm a Minnesota Vikings fan, through and through. There is no doubt about it.

You mention the Bears, Lions, or Packers, and I reply with, "They suck." The Vikings have been my obsession since I knew the names Robert Smith, Randy Moss, Daunte Culpepper, Cris Carter, and John Randle back in 1999.

Nothing gets me more heated than hearing the Vikings are not the favorite when they host the Cowboys at 1 p.m. EST Sunday afternoon.

What necessarily makes the Vikings the underdog? Is it the fact that they haven't won a playoff game this year?

I literally heard somebody at my school say, "The Vikings haven't even won a playoff game yet. Dallas has!"

Luckily, I'm not a violent person. Otherwise, I would have slapped sense into his brain.

Minnesota locked up a first-round bye after the Cowboys defeated the Eagles 24-0 in the final game of the season.

Don't get me wrong; Dallas is a tremendous team.

Am I worried about the game?

Of course.

Do I think the Cowboys have a great chance of winning?

Yes.

Do I think they will win?

Absolutely and positively, no.

Dallas has shown time and time again in the last decade that they are a team that starts off hot and fizzles in the winter months (December-January).

What will make this year any different for Dallas?

They are going to be on the road against the Minnesota Vikings—a team that has had an extra week to rest and prepare.

Minnesota went 8-0 at home. Seven were at noon.

They defeated the following:

1. San Francisco, 27-24
2. St. Louis, 38-10
3. Baltimore, 33-31
4. Detroit, 27-10
5. Seattle, 35-9
6. Cincinnati, 30-10
7. New York, 44-7

In all, Minnesota outscored their opponents 234 to 101. Unless you're bad with numbers, you know that this is utter domination.

No matter how you slice it, the Vikings were and are a great home team.

Dallas will feel pressure. There is a lot riding on this game for them.

Minnesota also has a lot of overbearing pressure on them.

Brett Favre didn't come back to improve his career stats. He is not that selfish of a person and player.

Brett came back to win his second Super Bowl. He knows this team has what it takes to win the title this year.


Why Minnesota Will Win on Sunday

1. Home Games Are Key

Like I mentioned earlier, Minnesota is great at home.

Dallas went 5-3 on the road. Not too bad. It's actually good when you consider it.

The Vikings fans are some of the best fans in the entire league.

The Vikings' opponents have said that the stadium literally shakes from all the audible noise and ruckus the crowd makes.

2. Adrian Peterson Is Due for a Big Game

Minnesota will not allow Adrian Peterson to go to waste.

I can see where they might be trying to limit his carries in order to keep his longevity intact, but eventually he will need 25-30 touches per game.

Dallas ranked fourth in the league against the run.

Does this mean they will stuff Adrian in the box every single time?

No.

Brett Favre will be the focus for the Cowboys. This will allow Adrian to receive some unexpected hand-offs.

3. Brett Favre Has Always, and Will Always, Thrive under Pressure

Brett Favre's record of zero wins and three losses against the Cowboys in the playoffs is completely irrelevant.

That was the past. This is the present.

Favre doesn't always make the best decisions in the clutch.

I can remember a lot of times watching Packers games when I thought Favre was intentionally trying to lose the game for them.

Judging by the miraculous throw he made vs. the 49ers in Week Three to Greg Lewis, I can safely say I can trust Favre with two minutes and the ball in his hands.

I will not make any guarantees. I will not make stat predictions.

I can say one thing, though: Minnesota is ready, prepared, and ready to win.

If they stick to the routine, they will pull it off.