AFC Conference Championship Preview

Colts vs. Patriots


The Colts enter this game after winning a rather underwhelming game, becoming the latest team to upset Peyton Manning in the postseason...it's a long list. The Patriots enter winning an absolute thriller over they're top postseason foe in Baltimore. Andrew Luck got his signature playoff victory and Tom Brady came back from TWO 14-point deficits to get here. End result is both teams are here.


The Colts enter with the NFL's top passing attack, and a versatile yet fumble prone run game headed by Daniel 'Boom' Herron. The Patriots bring the ninth ranked run defense, so if Herron is to be a factor, I'd look for  him to do so in the short passing game.


It's anyone's guess who'll get the bulk of the carries for the Pats on Sunday. Should it be Jonas Gray, Shane Vereen, LeGarrette Blount, or that guy you talked to at the bar last night, the fact is the Patriots run game has been almost non-existent since punishing the Colts for 246 yards in week 11. That week the Colts brought the pressure, blitzing Brady 16 times. He responded by throwing two touchdowns and was never sacked.


If the Colts decide to do the same on Sunday, they'll play right into Bill Belichick's hand. As proven last weekend against the Ravens, the Patriots thrive with a no-huddle pass heavy attack. I don't see the Colts 11th ranked defense slowing the Pats too much. Should they shore up that run defense, they still have no answer for Rob Gronkowski who caught four passes for 71 yards and a touchdown against them in week 11, he was targeted 13 times against the Ravens last week. Nobody stops Gronk.


On the flip side, the Colts have a passing attack that can strike deep at any given time. They have a chance to pull the upset should that happen....and it will. The Colts won't have their way with the Pats secondary, but they will have their success with the deep ball to keep it close. That being said, I see a few Luck interceptions coming out of that strategy.


Luck and the Colts will prove they belong in this game, they'll give the Patriots all they can handle and more, but it won't be enough to keep Brady from winning his sixth AFC title.


My Pick: Patriots 38-34

NFC Conference Championship Preview

Packers vs. Seahawks


It's said that defense and a running attack win postseason football games. Even in a time when passing stats reign supreme, last season Seattle proved this notion still holds true when they obliterated the highest octane offense the league has ever seen in Denver during the Super Bowl last year. But when Aaron Rodgers is your quarterback, you always have a chance.



The Seahawks enter with the top ranked defense once again, and face the NFL's top scoring offense in the Packers who put up 30.4 ppg. It's a dream matchup for NFL fans. The Packers strength is through the air where they average 266 yards a game. They face a Seahawks secondary giving up a measly 185 a game. Ok, well the Packers bring a nice balance with a ground attack that gains 119 yards a game....the Seahawks only give up 81 per game....hmm.



Offensively the Pack have their work cut out for them. But again, anytime you have Aaron Rodgers, you have a chance. Could it be though that Rodgers absolute dominance at Lambeau Field have skewed his overall production? The guy hasn't thrown a INT at home since 2012, are 9-0 there this year, and score 17.2 more points at home then on the road. Sunday's matchup is not at Lambeau Field. It's in the doghouse of the league's most tenacious defense, and a place where Russell Wilson is 25-2.



Seattle leans heavy on Marshawn Lynch and the run game, ranking tops in the NFL. Going against a Packer rush defense that ranked 23rd and surrendered 123 in the divisional round to Dallas, advantage Seahawks. The one advantage statistically for Green Bay is in their pass defense, which ranked 10th, going against the Seahawks who don't have a true number one wide receiver. That being said, Wilson does not take unnecessary chances when throwing, being more than ok punting and letting that defense go to work.



When it comes to the front lines, Rodgers and Wilson both have scrambling ability, Rodgers takes only 1.9 sacks a game to Wilson's 2.6. Rodgers is still battling a calf injury that clearly hampered him for three quarters last weekend. Wilson is healthy and has rushed for over 100 yards in a game three times this year.



Seattle's defense gelled at the right time and again looks like an absolute force. Add that to the punishing running attack of Lynch and a quarterback who doesn't lose at home and those are just too many factors for even Aaron Rodgers to overcome.



My Pick: Seahawks 30-17

Bringing Back A Familiar Face Could Fill A Void For Twins

Photo Credit - Keith Allison

There are pros and cons to bringing Santana back

82. That’s how many wins Johan Santana accumulated compared to just 35 losses from 2003-2007 for the Minnesota Twins. During that stretch he racked up 1,152 strikeouts while issuing only 245 walks with a 2.93 ERA. He led the league in ERA twice, in 2006 became the first pitching Triple Crown winner since Dwight Gooden in 1985 when he led the league in ERA (2.77), strikeouts (245), and tied Chien-Ming Wang for wins (19).

Santana won two Cy Young awards and never finished lower than seventh in voting during that stretch to go along with two top ten MVP finishes.This is the guy the Twins should bring back to the twin cities and here’s why:

 

 

The Twins are in dire need of a lefty starter.

With Phil Hughes coming off a career year where he finished seventh in Cy Young voting, he'll be the number one starter, behind him offseason signee Ervin Santana. Beyond those two it's a big question mark for a franchise that has been tormented with bad pitching for the last four years. They have a pool of potential but unproven talent with Kyle Gibson, Alex Meyer, and Trevor May. Ricky Nolasco and Mike Pelfrey will be looking to get healthy and bounce back from a forgetful 2014 season. What the aforementioned all have in common is they're right-handed pitchers. Tommy Milone stands as the lone left-hander. Should he struggle as he did last season or get injured the Twins have no where else to go.

The Fans.

The Twins need to bring excitement back to a fan base that has dwindled in attendance each year since opening Target Field in 2010. Fans in Minnesota have been told to have patience for years. With a farm system loaded with young talent it's understandable. But when is the payoff? Four years of 92-plus losses will irritate even the most loyal fan, regardless of the young talent the front office boasts. We already saw the team bring back Twins great and fan favorite Torii Hunter. Bringing back a taste of past glory and dominance within the division could at least bring more fans out to have the chance to see a couple of Twins legends before they call it a career. Everyone loves a farewell tour.

Leadership.

Joe Mauer is undoubtedly the star of the team, his clubhouse leadership though has raised doubts. During his tenure with the Twins, Torii Hunter was a star and team leader. Hunter like Santana is well past his prime, and though Hunter's contributions on the field might not be what they once were, the knowledge and leadership he can provide to young hitters is endless. Santana could be that guy for the pitching staff.

Financial Situation.

The Twins are historically on the lower end of the payroll (24th in 2014). Ervin Santana was the big offseason signing. Twins General Manager Terry Ryan makes a couple low risk, high reward signings every year, already making one with Hunter this offseason. Some have paid off....others not so much. Pelfrey has been nothing short of a bust since donning a Twins uniform, and Nolasco never got on track last season while battling an elbow strain, but the verdict is still out on him.

What did pay off were the additions of Carl Pavano who became the ace for a short time, and most recently with Hughes. Santana won't put up Phil Hughes numbers, but the Twins wouldn't have to pay him Phil Hughes money either, as he'll likely be offered nothing more than a minor league deal.

The Verdict.

Santana's availability is due to his struggles with injuries. With the Mets Santana had surgery twice on his shoulder, then tore his achilles with Baltimore last spring. His body is breaking down and he’ll be 36 years-old come opening day.

Of course the Twins aren't the only team who might be interested in Santana's services. Gerry Farley of the Dallas Morning News noted the Rangers, Brewers, Mariners, Blue Jays, and Yankees are all keeping an eye on his progress. The progress began on Tuesday when he pitched two scoreless innings in the Venezuelan League.

For what it's worth, look at what Santana did when healthy post-Twins era. Third in Cy Young voting in 2008, an all-star in 2009, and posted a 2.98 ERA in 2010 before missing all of 2011. Then he threw the first ever no-hitter in Mets history before injuries took away the rest of 2012, 2013, and 2014.

Injuries and father time are working against Johan Santana, but it might be time for the Twins to bring back a familiar face so both can restore their past glory.

Twins Take Similar Route In Hiring New Manager

The Minnesota Twins don't like change. Since the hiring of Tom Kelly in 1986, they've only had only three managers, with all three having noticeable similarities. Kelly, Ron Gardenhire, and Paul Molitor each landed their first managerial job with the Twins, replacing the man that they worked under while polishing their craft. All three have major league playing experience, albeit Molitor’s career certainly dwarfs the other two. Finally, Molitor like his predecessors, will be taking over a club banking on its young talent.

Offensively in the American League the Twins ranked 7th in team BA and TB, 5th in OPS, and drew the 2nd most walks. Many of the guys credit their offensive development to the tutelage of Molitor. Their struggles offensively came in timely hitting where they were 2nd in runners left on base and finished under the league average in sac flies and bunts. Under Molitor I fully expect the offense to continue to improve those numbers.

Molitor's biggest challenge comes in the pitching department. From 2011-2013 the team ERA was second to last in the AL until last season when they finally broke through and finished dead last. In all four of those seasons they ranked last in strikeouts, though the fact that they also were near the top in fewest walks issued tells me that the problem wasn't with guys not throwing strikes as much just not having guys who were capable of getting strikeouts.

Molitor has already done away with pitching coach Rick Anderson, who held that position since 2002. From '02-2010 Anderson's pitching staff had the third lowest ERA in the league and issued the fewest walks. But, in recent years the wheels had fallen off. Replacing him will be Neil Allen who was the Triple-A pitching coach for the Rays from 2007-2014, during which time Tampa Bay’s young pitching and overall player development keyed a long string of success despite low payrolls.

Perhaps the biggest question surrounding Molitor will be how he handles player injuries. During the Gardenhire run, in Minnesota you often heard the argument that he 'coddled' his players too much, namely star Joe Mauer. The fact is you could make a strong argument that the Twins weren't coddling their players, but didn't allow them to fully heal or do enough to treat their injuries.

How else do you explain why players who are seemingly past their prime, see a resurgence when they go elsewhere? The short list for those guys include the likes of J.J. Hardy, Francisco Liriano, and Justin Morneau.

Molitor's playing career early on was often marred by injuries, once he was allowed enough time to fully heal up (aided by his subsequent move to DH), he had some of the most productive seasons of his career. He knows how important health is to a player in a grueling 162 game season.

What I would like to see in the Molitor era, is a more consistent everyday lineup. Do away with the constant day or two rest periods that so many players received under Gardy, and give them extended time off to fully heal, and come back ready to make an impact.

Kelly and Gardy both experienced success early on. Kelly was hired in September of 1986, 14 months later he was a world champion. In his first six full seasons on the job, the Twins finished first or second in the division four times, winning two World Series titles. We saw a similar trend during the Gardy era, winning six division crowns and finishing first or second in seven of his first nine seasons.

The fallout for both men was similar too. In eight of Kelly's final nine seasons, the team finished no higher than fourth in the division. Gardy finished no better than fourth in his last four seasons at the helm, losing 92-plus games in all four. While both men experienced plenty of success, be it Kelly's postseason magic or Gardy's divisional dominance, by the end it was obvious that a change had to be made.

No the Minnesota Twins don't like change, but a change is exactly what they need.

 

NFC Playoffs: Divisional Round

By Brett Miller


Panthers vs. Seahawks

 The Seahawks begin their quest to become the first repeat Super Bowl champ since the ‘05 Patriots by facing a team that failed to win half of their games this year. That being said, has there ever been a more daunting sub .500 team then the Carolina Panthers? They possess a defense that ranked 10^th in the league. They have a quarterback in Cam Newton that struggles at times, yet makes plays at crucial moments with both his legs the cannon he call an arm. This is not your typical 12-4 team vs. a subpar 7-8-1 squad.

 The Seahawks rank 3^rd against the rush giving up 81 yards a game while the Panthers average 127 yards on the ground, good for 7^th offensively. This is the Panthers hope. The dual threat of a revitalized James Stewart paired with the scrambling of Cam Newton could cause some problems for Seattle. Seattle’s strong run defense is certainly set up by their lock down secondary which ranks tops in the league. Newton has the physical tools to offset that, but his mechanics and decision making come into question often. If Carolina can get into third and short situations, they have the weapons to extend drives, and wear down that vaunted Seattle defense come the fourth quarter. Through the air, I don’t see Newton having much success, which makes it that much more important the run game finds a way to move the ball.

It's up to Kuechly to stop Wilson from taking over

 Offensively the Seahawks want to feed the beast that is Marshawn Lynch. He has the toughness to battle the Panthers defense for four quarters. If the Panthers are on their game, they can slow Lynch, but not completely stop him. The Panthers defense will be looking for mistakes in the turnover game. Russell Wilson won’t have the stats that turn heads, but he makes the crucial pass or scramble when you can least afford it as a defense. Sure the Panthers are coming off a game where they gave up an NFL record 78 total yards of offense, but that was against a team with third stringers at the two most vital positions.

 Seattle will be their own worst enemy in this match up. If they avoid turnovers, and don’t enter the game with the mindset that they’re far and away the better club, they should win handily. If it goes the other way, the Panthers have a fighting chance.

 My Pick: Seahawks 27-10

 

Cowboys vs. Packers

 This game will have some fireworks. Two offenses that can hurt you ground or air. The Packers have arguably the game’s best quarterback with a solid running attack. The Cowboys bring arguably the game’s best running back (in a season where Adrian Peterson wasn‘t a factor) and a solid passing attack.

Murray is the Cowboys key to success Sunday

 Tony Romo no longer has the pressure of Texas bearing upon him. The arrival of DeMarco Murray and Dez Bryant has Cowboys fans remembering the 3-star offensive days of Aikman-Smith-Irvin. The Cowboys as a team benefit if Murray runs wild, if they lean to heavy on the passing game it’s a coin flip. The Packers ranked 23^rd against the run compared to the ‘Boys 2^nd ranked rushing attack. Through the air it’s a toss-up, (15^th ranked Pass defense for GB, 16^th ranked Pass offense for Dal). If it comes down to crunch time and that’s the difference, I’ll take the Packers against the unpredictable Tony Romo.

 For the Pack, the team’s success rides on Aaron Rodgers. A 100% healthy Rodgers wins this game….he is not 100%. The offsetting factor to that is the Cowboys 26^th ranked pass defense. That being said, they slowed the pass happy Lions last week. We all agree Matthew Stafford is no Aaron Rodgers, but Jordy Nelson is no Calvin Johnson either. Eddie Lacy is “fresh” according to Coach Mike McCarthy, going up against a Cowboys defense that ranked 8^th against the run. As much as the Cowboys are relying on Murray, the Packers are relying on Rodgers.

 While the Packers have been consistently solid throughout the year, the Cowboys have been a roller coaster of extreme highs and lows. Their come from behind win last week against Detroit has them riding a high. In a game that is so tightly contested, they’ll ride that high to another victory.

My Pick: Cowboys 27-24

AFC Playoffs: Divisonal Round

By Brett Miller


Ravens vs. Patriots

How will Brady perform in the face of pressure?

 The Ravens have given the Bill Belichick-Tom Brady Patriots led teams more postseason problems than any other AFC franchise. With a 2-1 record against them the playoffs, they’re a popular upset pick this weekend. The biggest question going into this game will be how the Patriots offensive line holds up against the Ravens d-line pressure. Where the Ravens excel in quarterback pressure, they lack in overall secondary coverage. Tom Brady is one of the game’s best when it comes to performing under pressure. He’ll take his knocks, but it won’t shake him and he’ll stand tall and make plenty of plays in face of that Raven pressure.

 On the flip side, Joe Flacco has established himself as a force to be reckon with in the playoffs throwing for 13 touchdowns and no interceptions in his last five postseason games. His recent play in the postseason is reminiscent of Brady’s earlier years. With the Patriots secondary being the strength of the defense, the Ravens will rely heavily on the running attack with Justin Forsett who averaged over five yards a carry this season. Flacco loves throwing deep and has had great success in doing so. If the Ravens can catch the Patriots filling the box to slow the ground game, they have the ability to hurt them deep.

 I think the Patriots will neutralize the Ravens pressure with a 1-2 punch of Shane Vereen and LeGarrette Blount on the ground, and a heavy dose of Rob Gronkowski through short to medium pass plays. Brady doesn’t need much time to make that style of passing attack be very efficient, which is why they’ll sneak out of Foxborough with the hard fought victory.

 My Pick: Patriots 23-20

 

Colts vs. Broncos

The Colts past and present lock up on Sunday

 The headline match up in this game is no surprise, the quarterbacks. Peyton Manning will be facing the franchise he experienced so much success with, and the guy who made him expendable, in Andrew Luck. Though the Broncos enter with a balanced attack, it’s no secret what the Colts game plan is, throw the ball, and throw it often. They ranked 5^th in the league in pass to run ratio, opting to pass on over 61% of their offensive plays.

 Dan ‘Boom’ Herron leads a ground game that ranked 22^nd in rushing, going up against a Broncos rush defense that ranked 2^nd in the league. Safe to say advantage Broncos in this aspect. But, as previously mentioned the Colts are all about the aerial assault, as they were the top ranked passing team in 2014. Luck’s favorite target is T.Y. Hilton, who he’ll hit on short, medium, or deep passes. Hilton was targeted 31 times this year on passes of 20+ yards, catching 15 of them and scoring on 5. Hilton’s ability to take whatever the defense gives him and use that to the max is crucial to the Colts success. He has his work cut out for him facing a Broncos defense that ranked 9^th against the pass.

 When the Broncos have the ball they bring the league’s 4^th ranked passing attack and 15^th ranked run game against a Colts defense that ranked in the middle in both categories. Peyton’s favorite target is Demaryius Thomas who will have his hands full with Colts cornerback Vontae Davis. Davis statistically had the best season of any cornerback in the league, allowing just a 38.8 QBR in passes thrown his way, giving up no touchdowns with 4 interceptions. If Davis can shutdown Thomas, the Colts still need to figure out how to stop Emmanuel Sanders who has 15 catches for 3 touchdowns on passes of 20+ yards this year. CJ Anderson will handle the workload on the ground averaging just under 96 yards a game since week 10, facing a defense that gives up 119 a game.

 Statistics say the Broncos are primed for a win. The eyeball test says otherwise, is it just me or have the Broncos lately just been….off. Peyton doesn’t look like classic Peyton physically, he’s smart enough to make the passing offense effective, but the arm strength doesn’t seem to be there. Andrew Luck on the other hand is one of those quarterbacks looking for that signature playoff win to catapult him into the elite conversation. This is that game.

 

My Pick: Colts 38-31

Vikings Head Into The Offseason: Young Defense Ready To Make It's Mark In 2015

By Brett Miller


All the talk of the about the Vikings this offseason will be about Adrian Peterson and Teddy Bridgewater. Shocker, a quarterback and a running back get the headlines, but what Vikings fans should be excited about is the direction of the defense. The Vikings went from having the 32^nd ranked defense in 2013, to 11^th in 2014. How could this be you ask. Was it a young defensive line that constantly pressured opposing quarterbacks all season long, was it a secondary that went from 31^st in 2013, to 7^th in 2014, or was it a linebacking core that got a shot in the arm with a young versatile playmaker wreaking havoc? Yes, it was all of these things, but to sum it up with one name, it was Mike Zimmer.

 From the first snap of preseason football you could see a difference in the Vikings defensive style of play. For the past decade, Vikings fans have watched a franchise that once prided itself on its defensive aggressiveness, become one of two things. Either a mediocre bend but don’t break defense, playing a Tampa 2 coverage that many saw as being too soft at critical moments. Or, simply put, a bad overall defense. Zimmer changed that in just one season at the helm.

 Our biggest problem most would agree was in the secondary. It’s a pass happy league these days, and the NFC North represents that to the fullest with quarterbacks like Aaron Rodgers, Matthew Stafford, and Jay Cutler. Zimmer’s way of attacking that problem was by loading up on the defensive line. We let fan favorite and Vikings’ legend Jared Allen walk in free agency. To replace him we signed 26 year-old Everson Griffen to a 5-year 42.5 million dollar contract. A guy who showed glimpses of being a special player, but would also disappear for games at a time. He repaid us in season one of that deal by recording 12 sacks and returned a blocked punt for a touchdown against Carolina. Add the offseason signing of Linval Joseph, the continued growth of Sharrif Floyd, the rock in Brian Robison, and perhaps the biggest surprise to the line, one Tom Johnson, and the Vikings D-Line became the strength of the defense.

 The defensive line may be our strength, but we made our biggest improvement in 2014 in the secondary. Xavier Rhodes has established himself as one of the best shutdown cornerbacks in the game in just his second season. He finished 4^th in the NFL in passes defended (18), and in a league where he’s matched up with the likes of Calvin Johnson, Jordy Nelson, and Alshon Jeffrey TWICE a year, he locked them down as good as anybody. He is the main reason why in a division with arguably the best wide receiver talent, the Vikings ranked 7^th in pass defense. It culminated in the season finale when he held Jeffrey to just 2 receptions for a measly 5 yards.

The Vikings still need another cornerback though. Captain Munnerlyn was a nice addition, but at times reminded me of Chris Cook, where his tackling was atrocious, and his coverage while solid, didn’t make the play. The Vikings face a similar issue at safety. They are in need of a strong safety. It’s been a constant rotating door, this year’s participants were Robert Blanton and Antone Exume Jr. The free safety spot on the other hand is securely held by one of the leagues up and comers in Harrison Smith. Smith has the ability of two former Viking safeties mixed into one. He hits like Robert Griffith, but has a knack for the ball like the late Orlando Thomas. Smith in my mind was a pro bowl snub this past season with 93 tackles and 5 interceptions, compared to Seattle’s Earl Thomas who got the nod with 97 tackles, but just a lone interception.

Barr will be asked to fill Greenway's shoes

 Finally we get to the linebacker spot. Chad Greenway is going down as one of the greats to ever wear the purple and gold. But his injuries have caught up to him and we might have seen him wear those colors for the last time. Enter Anthony Barr. This guy IS the future of this defense. He has the ability to become a DeMarcus Ware style pass rusher in Zimmer’s defense. In my previous blog I mentioned Teddy Bridgewater’s “arrival” moment. Barr’s was when he forced a fumble against Tampa Bay and scooped up the ball rumbling to the end zone for an overtime victory in week 8. He has all the tools to become a player opposing coaches structure their game plan around.

 Of coarse, all these improvements can be attributed to the defensive genius of Mike Zimmer. He took the league’s worst defense, and made it not only respectable, but a strength and key component to the team’s overall success. His no nonsense attitude combined with an in-your-face style defense has Vikings fans of old remembering the glory days of the Purple People Eaters, and a younger generation dreaming of success beyond what they’ve ever witnessed before.

Vikings Head Into The Offseason: Optimism Reigns For The Offense In 2015

by Brett Miller


If somebody would’ve told me the Vikings would have an injury ravaged offensive line, lose the game’s best running back to unforeseen circumstances after just one game, lose their starting quarterback in week three, watch our most anticipated player take a step back (Looking at you Cordarrelle), and finish 7-9, I would’ve said you’ve watched too many heroic underdog sports movies. Nonetheless that’s what the purple and gold did this year under first year Head Coach Mike Zimmer.


We’ll start with the offensive line where former first round pick Matt Kalil struggled mightily at times for the second straight year after a very impressive rookie campaign. After signing right guard Brandon Fusco to a 5-year, $24.25 million dollar contract, he was lost for the year after tearing a pectoral muscle in week 3 at New Orleans. Right tackle Phil Loadholt was lost for the season on the final drive of the game in week 12 against Green Bay, also with a torn pectoral. Right guard Charlie Johnson and replacement Vlad Ducasse were in and out with injuries of their own. Those injuries were only magnified when you consider the Vikings had a rookie behind center for all but three games this past year.

Segue to the most important position in sports, the quarterback. Matt Cassel was never thought to be our savior, just a hold over until Teddy Bridgewater was ready to take over…maybe late in a lost season, or even next year. Either way the thought of a young franchise quarterback with the help of AP in the backfield was exciting to all Vikings fans. Well that isn’t how it went down, Cassel broke his foot in week 3, and the Teddy era began whether we were ready or not….without Peterson, and with a depleted line protecting him.

 

AP's Return Remains Big Offseason Question

Then we have the Adrian Peterson story line. The game’s best running back played in the season opener before being shut down for the year due to the off the field issues that I don’t need to detail as any SPORTS fan, let alone a football fan knows all too well. Having a guy like AP in the backfield could alleviate some of those O-Line issues, but replace him with a rookie (McKinnon) and a goal line back (Asiata) and it becomes more apparent that there are problems up front. This is compounded even more when you consider our exciting return man/deep threat Cordarrelle Patterson had what we can only hope was the dreaded sophmore slump. Looking at the glass being half full, Patterson’s struggles have led to the emergence of wide receiver Charles Johnson, who has become Teddy’s favorite target.

It was rough at the beginning, but from week 4-17 we saw amazing strides out of Teddy…a guy who was once thought to be the number one overall pick in the 2014 draft. He looked uncomfortable at times and couldn't complete a deep ball to save his life. Then it started to click, his “arrival” moment came week 14 against the Jets. It was Teddy’s overtime audible on a quick hitter to speedy Jarius Wright who took it 87-yards to the house that won the game. From there on Teddy looked calm, collected, and confident. He didn't blow teams away, but he stood tall in the pocket and made key throws at key times. If I could put it in a nutshell, his 44-yard touchdown toss to Adam Thielen in the season finale against Chicago came at a time when both defenses were dominating a low scoring affair. It was enough for the Vikes to ride the defense the rest of the way and give Coach Mike Zimmer his first divisional win.

Expectations are usually higher than the team can deliver for most fan bases, same can be said for the Vikings. Struggles come from all over the field, but for the Vikings there has never been a position so perplexing as the Quarterback spot. We seemingly have FINALLY found a young QB who can bring us to new heights. The Adrian Peterson situation is yet to be resolved and there are a lot of angles to it. Nobody agrees with how he conducted himself, but most also don’t agree that the punishment he received was fair either. In Roger Goodell’s backwards way of policing the situation, Peterson may oddly enough end up looking like a victim of an unfair process.

If Peterson is back in purple and gold next year, he’ll be fresh and hungry as ever, which is a scary thought for opposing defenses. That along with the revitalization of a healthy offensive line could help Teddy avoid a sophmore slump, and in turn help Patterson get back on track alongside the continued growth of Charles Johnson. Once again our expectations will be high, who shoulders the brunt of those expectations is yet to be seen, Teddy? AP? Why not both.