Vikes Win, One Win Away From Clinching Division

Wow! Boy did the Vikings respond today with a huge win after that embarrassment in Arizona last week with a 30-10 win over the Cincinnati Bengals at home.

This was a big game for the Vikings. Last week, in route to a 30-17 loss against the Arizona Cardinals, the Minnesota Vikings were manhandled. And, as I mentioned last week, they lost MLB E.J. Henderson for the year after a gruesome upper leg injury. But everything changed this week.

The Vikings dominated on both sides of the ball. Their defense was brilliant giving up just ten points, 210 total yards, and under 100 yards passing and rushing respectively. Their offense rebounded as well, scoring 30 points, even though Favre was held to under 200 yards passing and Peterson was held to under 100 yards rushing. What really mattered was the touchdowns they scored; Peterson ran for two and Favre threw for one.

A lot of people were starting to question the Vikings and just how good they were. How they hadn't beat any team above .500 besides the Packers this year, and how, when they finally play someone good, they get demolished. Well, man did they respond in a big way, beating a Cincinnati team that came in at 9-3 and have looked very sharp this year. The Vikings showed they are no joke this season, and that last week was just not a good week for them.

It was a good thing they got back on the winning side, because at their heels are the Green Bay Packers, who, with their win over the Bears today, have moved to 9-4. But all was for not as the Vikings moved to 11-2, and with either a win next week or a Packer loss the Vikings will clinch the NFC North, as they have the tiebreaker over the Packers because they beat them head-to-head both times this season.

It sure looks like the Vikings are well on their way to the playoffs, and boy I couldn't be much happier. But, just because it's the giving season, I ask the football gods to give New Orleans a couple losses please!