Week 14

The Minnesota Vikings continued their generous ways in Detroit. The Lions had a 21-0 lead before the 1st quarter was half gone. Fumble recovered for a touchdown on the Vikings first offensive play. Interception led to a touchdown. Interception returned for a touchdown. Just to spread some more Lion cheer a fumble led to a field goal in the 2nd half. Nearly all of the Lions production was really produced by the Vikings. When Minnesota didn't give the ball away they actually moved it down the field. The Vikings never wilted. Quarterback Christian Ponder was benched in the second half. He was banged up so its difficult to know if it was due to health or performance. Joe Webb entered and rallied the team mostly with his feet. 65 yard touchdown run and several 3rd down conversions. The officials conveniently ignored an obvious facemask to end the game in the Lions favor. 34-28 Lions.

Detroit has way too much swagger for a team that has done basically nothing since the '50s. Having just seen the Oakland Raiders display a year's supply of stupidity, the Lions play the same game. Head coach Jim Schwartz does nothing, despite what he says, to stop it. Which only enhances it. He's a big part of the problem. He has either lost the team or just doesn't care. I feel bad for the decent folk on the Lions like Jahvid Best and Calvin Johnson.

One of the few positives in a shredded Vikings season is the effort each week. No one has quit. Those wishing for the firing of Leslie Frazier should consider that.

Kinda funny when Vikings-Lions announcer Brian Billick spoke of how the Lions running game has suffered since Jahvid Best's season ended with a concussion. The stats on the screen showed the opposite.

This is the third straight week that Billick has called the Vikings game. One would think that as a professional he'd get it right in the first. It is J-A-R-E-D Allen not Gerald Allen. Sheesh.

As a Vikings fan it is terrifying to see Marcus Sherels lined up opposite Calvin Johnson.

Congratulations to Vikings defensive end Jared Allen on 100 career sacks. Another 3 today for 17.5 on the season. Michael Strahan's season record of 22.5 is possible with three games remaining.

I hated seeing Christian Ponder benched but its fun to see Joe Webb play. Ponder's the future but the Vikings need to find ways to get Webb on the field. His skills are many.

Rushing, receiving, returns, Percy Harvin does it all and he does is it very well. Fantastic football player.

Congratulations Rob Gronkowski on breaking the season touchdown receptions record for tight ends. He was a very good tight end in college at Arizona. He's a great tight end for the New England Patriots.

The "youngry" Tampa bay Buccaneers were supposed to be great this year. Well, I thought that they'd be great this year. I thought that Tampa Bay would fight New Orleans and Atlanta in the NFC South. Didn't happen that way but they are still young.

Its a mystery when media whacks talk of the emergence of Green Bay Packers receiver Jordy Nelson. They talk of his becoming a very good receiver as if he wasn't a couple of years ago. Coming from nowhere to become a contributing member of a great team. Nelson is far more than a modestly skilled football player. He was a 2nd round pick and he was absolutely not a reach. Great hands, great routes, very good speed. He's an excellent football player and he has been for a while now. Many of the people with a national voice should do some homework.

Aaron Rodgers and the Packers sure make it look easy.
The Houston Texans just keep getting it done. Its amazing. Down to T.J. Yates at quarterback they sneak by a very good Cincinnati Bengals team to clinch the AFC South. Its difficult to imagine Yates leading the Texans deep into the playoffs but they've been getting it done all year. I wouldn't bet against them.

I have no issue with what Tim Tebow is doing in Denver. I just wish that someone would acknowledge that there are other players on the team. The defense has done far more than Tebow in this nice stretch of games. Give Von Miller credit. Champ Bailey too. Elvis Dumervil as well. Matt Prater's kicks today were incredible. 59 yards! Tebow didn't do Prater any favors. Today Marion Barber had as much an impact in the Denver win as Tebow. Just like Christian Ponder last week. Give credit where its due not all to Tebow. Its a team game. It always has been.

The San Francisco 49ers really need to start scoring touchdowns instead of field goals. I was still very surprised that the Arizona Cardinals grabbed the win.

Sleeping on it didn't help. I just don't understand how the officials can keep the flag tucked nicely in a pocket while Joe Webb gets his facemask jerked to the side. I've seen way too many officials call facemask penalties that weren't to accept them missing one that was. The officiating has been horrible for too long. The NFL strives to make the game better. They should do nothing else until the officiating improves. Hiring officials full time would be a start. None of these part officials that prove week after week that they can't do the job. A game can't end on a defensive penalty. Yesterday, one did.

Next week is bad news for the New Orleans Saints.