Minnesota Vikings: Turn Out the Lights, the Party's Over and 10 Things To Watch
The Minnesota Vikings season is officially over.
With a 31-3 drubbing to the Green Bay Packers, it's time to turn our attention to other pursuits.
After coming within one step from the Super Bowl in 2009, the Vikings are closer to earning the top draft pick after another disappointing loss to division rival Green Bay.
Owner Zygi Wilf has got to come to his senses and realize changes need to be made, and they might as well be made now as opposed to waiting.
For Vikings fans the hope of a championship may be over, but there are still plenty of reasons to watch.
Here are 10 things to look for over the final six games.
No. 10: Play Brett Favre Interception Bingo
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OK, let's assume the madness that is Brett Favre as the quarterback of the Vikings continues.
Invite your buddies over to watch the game.
After reviewing the roster for the opposition, everyone creates a bingo card with the jersey numbers of the opposing defense.
Keep track of the interceptions and see who can complete their card first.
Who knows, you might be able to complete two games each week.
No. 9: The End of the Brad Childress Era.
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If we assume that Brett Favre is still under center, we might as well assume that Brad Childress is still at the helm.
Create a pool, much like that when your wife or girlfriend was expecting a baby.
For $1 per chance, have all your friends pick the day of Chilly's demise.
Whoever picks the date closest to his firing gets the pot.
Of course you might want to get it together real soon, and better include the time of day!
No. 8: Never Say Die Game
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In the game against Green Bay, it was obvious that the defense was fed up with the ineptitude of the Brett Favre offense and started to lay it down.
As the season progresses, have a draft with your buddies picking the next player to go AWOL. (Can anyone say "Bernard Berrian?")
You can award points based on how long each selection continues to give 100 percent.
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No. 7: Guess How Many Yards Adrian Peterson Will Finish the Season With
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With no team goals left to play for, there will be individuals looking to pad their stats.
Adrian Peterson has a goal of rushing for 2,000 yards. There could be a chance if the Vikings go ahead and bench Brett Favre. Whether it's Tarvaris Jackson or Joe Webb, neither will be throwing the pigskin nearly as often as the gunslinger. This means more carries for Peterson, and more yards.
With the leading interception-throwing quarterback on the bench, someone will have to cough up the ball.
No. 6: Guess the Total Number of Catches for Sidney Rice
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Sidney Rice finally made his 2010 debut against the Packers in the 10th game of the season.
As the only capable wide receiver* on the Vikings offense, he could still end up leading the team in receptions.
He has his next contract to play for, and he needs to prove to his suitors that he is fully recovered from hip surgery.
*Excluding all-world receiver-running back Percy Harvin.
No. 5: Start of the Joe Webb Watch
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At some point this season, Joe Webb has got to make an appearance as quarterback.
How else will the Vikings know if they need to use the No. 1 overall draft pick for a quarterback or not?
Set up a grid with each remaining game and quarter.
Again, charge $1 per selection for the game and quarter that Webb makes his first pass in a regular season NFL game.
No. 4: Play the Chris Kluwe Punting Game
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You can set this up in one of two ways—either guess the number of times Minnesota punter Chris Kluwe comes onto the field, or predict the total net punting yards he ends up with.
Kluwe should have plenty of opportunities.
Either the Vikings offense will continue to struggle—and there will be plenty of three and outs—or they will crank up the offense, and he will be holding for a lot of extra points.
Me? I'm setting up a matrix with punts on one axis and yards on the other and playing it like bingo.
No. 3: Play the Brett Favre Takes a Hit Game!
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We last saw guard Anthony Herrera on crutches after leaving the first half of the Packers game with a knee injury. This leaves a struggling offensive line in even more trouble.
Brett Favre has sustained more hits than any other quarterback in the NFL this season. With a patched up offensive line, the hits will just keep coming.
The Brett Favre takes a hit game is exactly like the popular Bob Newhart game. In case you're not of college age (and in that case shouldn't play!) here are the rules. Every time takes a hit, you and your buddies drink. You might want to use smaller cups in order to be able to play the whole game.
No. 2: Play Predict That Play!
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The Vikings offense has become almost so predictable that my six-year-old nephew has been able to call out "run" or "pass" before the ball is snapped.
When the Vikings have the ball, take turns among your buddies calling the next play. You earn a point for each time you nail it.
Of course every fourth turn will be a gimme!
For the player who is losing, allow for a double or nothing call. They can risk everything and state if the play will net positive or negative yardage.
You may want to keep the game to about 10 points, since the offense has not been running as many plays as their opponents.
No. 1: What's on Food Network?
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Of course, if you really cannot stomach to watch anymore Vikings football, then check out the Dirty Jobs marathon on the Discovery Channel.
Remember, hope springs eternal.
There's always a chance there will be no NFL next season!
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