So yesterday was one of those Mondays when there were two games, instead of just one. Not sure why they do this, or if there is any particular rhyme or rhythm for it. But indeed, there were two games, and both had playoff ramifications. The first was when the 4-9 Chicago Bears visiting the red-hot 11-2 Minnesota Vikings. The second was when the 6-7 Atlanta Falcons visited the 2-11 Las Vegas Raiders.
In that first game, the Vikings were hoping to keep pace with the Detroit Lions, who lost this weekend for the first time since ethe first half of September. If the Vikings could win, as they were expected to do against Da Bears, they would then improve to 12-2, and be tied atop the NFC North with the Detroit Lions. So it was a big game for them.
For the most part, it went the way that most likely would have expected the game to go. Minnesota defeated Chicago soundly, 30-12. There was not really all that much suspense, since the Vikings played consistently with the way that they have so far this season, while the Bears also played the way we have come to expect them to this season. The end result was a convincing win for Minnesota, as they now not only are tied with the Lions for first in the NFC North, but also tied with both the Lions and the Philadelphia Eagles for the top seed in the NFC playoff race. There's just three weeks left in the NFL season, and three teams are tied atop the standings now in the NFC. That should make it an interesting few weeks to end the season.
In the other Monday Night game, the 6-7 Falcons were trying desperately to snap their four game skid, so that they could keep up with the surging Tampa Bay Bucs. Tampa seems on the verge of running away with the division title, and a Falcons loss would almost cement a division title for the Bucs.
Atlanta managed to win, and they did end that four game slide. However, they did so in a way that felt like it raised more questions than answers. After all, they were playing the Las Vegas Raiders, who along with my New York Giants, rank as the worst team in the league. The Raiders entered this game with a rather pathetic 2-11 record and were hoping to finally win and end a losing streak that had reached nine straight, and would reach ten with a loss to the Falcons.
The Raiders actually showed some resilience and kept the game competitive. In fact, they had the ball in the final minute of the game, and were driving down the field, trying to get the touchdown to pull of an upset.
So that much was impressive.
However, they also showed some of the reasons why they have such a dismal record during that drive, as well. If memory serves correctly, not once but twice, the Raiders received penalties for taking too long and allowing the clot to zero before getting a play off. That is just sloppy and unnecessary. It feels like that underscored just how the Raiders have arrived at this point this season.
By now, if you did not watch the game, you might have guessed how it went. The Raiders showed glimpses of awesome possibilities. Yet in the end, it was a no go. They failed to score a touchdown in this game, including in that final minute to win it.
That means that the Falcons preserved their 15-9 lead to earn a much needed win. It was hardly the most impressive victory in franchise history. After all, the Falcons showed signs of life early with a touchdown drive in their first quarter, then failed to score a touchdown for the rest of the game. The defense played well, but it was against the Raiders, one of the worst offenses in the entire NFL at the moment.
Yet, it keeps the NFC South race fairly interesting, especially since they will play the other worst team in the league, the New York Giants, in Atlanta next weekend. As poorly as the Falcons have been playing as of late, you have to figure that they have a good shot for a win in that one. Both games yesterday should help to make the rest of the season interesting, especially in the NFC, and particularly with the two divisional races in the North and the South.
Stay tuned.
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