The Vikings

Normally I'd like it that the Vikings are heavy favorites going into Green Bay, but not the way it is now.

It will be cold. It will be dark. And Green Bay (its fans and the team) will be out for blood because it was OUR guy who put THEIR guy out for the season and cost them THEIR season.

First, the cold.

Cold has always been the great equalizer, especially for a home team that is more used to playing in it. Minnesota might be the coldest state south of the arctic circle, but the team plays in the most advanced technological climate controlled stadium in the world. It's what we now call the new Minnesota nice as it's downright comfortable to play in Minnesota now.

Green Bay? What a dump. The only reason you can put 50,000 people in their stadium is because they have to sit on each other's laps. And they need to huddle up like that to stay warm. I make fun of the conditions but I certainly don't look forward to them.

Cold is cold.

The body does not respond properly in it. You throw the ball differently. You drop the ball more often because its harder and the fingers can't feel it right. The body moves and responds slower in cold. And you find yourself with more holding calls because of it.

AND, most importantly, your body simply does not want to be out in it. That's a survival response. You'd rather be sitting on the bench in a warm parka with space heaters.

And the kickers? Let's just say nobody's going to set any distance records in this game.

The night?

The Vikings historically play terribly under the lights. The only time in our entire history where we played well in primetime was when Randy Moss was there. Otherwise we stink with nothing but fake lighting in an outdoor stadium.

Revenge factor:

Green Bay will want to hurt Case Keenum. Somebody (maybe more than one somebody), before the night is over, will try their best to hit Keenum more than they are allowed. It doesn't matter that game footage of our guy hitting their guy was legit from every angle. Their guy whined "foul" and now everyone in Green Bay has sworn a secret blood oath to get back at the team that destroyed their season.

Because of all of these factors, I fully expect not to enjoy the game tonight.

At least their guy is done for the season.

snicker