Minnesota Vikings: Save Your Strength for the Detroit Lions

Here's a thought—the Minnesota Vikings should rest their regulars against the Philadelphia Eagles tonight.

Perhaps Vikings' Interim Head Coach Leslie Frazier can reach an agreement with Eagles Head Coach Andy Reid to treat this game like the fourth preseason game. Let the starters go a series and sit them.

Even if the improbable were, by some strange chance, to occur and the Vikings were to defeat the Eagles, at least their stars would be well rested for the matchup with the Cowboys to end the regular season.

More likely the Eagles will be able to handle the Vikings at home. Over the past four seasons Minnesota has a 12-23 record away from home, including the playoffs and the two "home'" games away from the HHH Metrodome this season.

With the Giants losing to Green Bay on Sunday, and the fact that the Eagles swept the Giants this season they have a two-game Lead on New York. Even if they lose the final two games they would own the tie-breaker and still win the NFC East.

About the only thing the Eagles have to play for is a possible first round playoff bye, and that only happens with two wins and a Chicago loss to the Packers—something I don't see happening with the way the Bears are playing right now.

So, in all reality the Eagles have two meaningless games on their schedule to close out the season. They should rest their stars and get them healthy for the playoffs.

This would also allow the Vikings to focus on the meaningful game they have remaining on their schedule—the crucial match up against the Lions at Ford Field on January 2nd.

Detroit head coach Jim Schwartz and the Lions have won more games this season than the last two combined. 

Their five victories represent the third most in a season over the last 11 seasons. 

The Lions should be keyed up and ready for the Vikings. The last time the Lions did not finish in last place in the NFC North was in 2005.

The January 2nd match up will be between two 5-10 teams with last place on the line. 

Back in 1991 Minnesota fans celebrated the Twins going from last place in 1990 to World Series Champions—there will be a mass exodus from the Vikings' band wagon if they do just opposite and finish in last place with a loss to the Lions.

So, coach Frazier, tonight against the Eagles please give Adrian Peterson another day off.

Let Percy Harvin take it easy and not risk an injury.

Allow Sidney Rice to rest his surgically repaired hip and be completely healthy for the Lions game.

It might be a good chance to see what our second string linebacker crew looks like.

Give the ball to Joe Webb and let him play the whole game to really see what he can do. 

That way maybe, just maybe, the Vikings will be ready for the first meaningful game of 2011.