Seeing Red...Again?

It's December 28th, 2003, and the Vikings are on the road in Arizona playing the red-clad Cardinals. If the Vikings win, they are NFC North champions, are in the playoffs, and even host a playoff game at the dome. Meanwhile at Lambeau Field, the Packers need help. If the Vikings lose, they can make the playoffs with a victory. Leading the 31-3 over the Denver Broncos, the Packers can only watch and hope.

The Cardinals, with nothing to gain, fight and score on the last play of the game. The Vikings see red as the Cardinals dance and celebrate a come-from-behind victory in the desert sun. At Lambeau, the Packers dance, too.

It's 2004 and I can still hear Paul Allen's voice in the distance yelling "No!" (Paul Allen is the play-by-play voice of the Vikings. He does a great job and his calls are often featured on ESPN and the NFL Network). His call of the catch that ended the Vikings' season is part of history. I can't help but look at next week's game at the red-clad Washington Redskins and think...

Last year was confusing. The Vikings came out hot, went to 6-0, then struggled going 3-7 to end the year. The winning ended when the New York Giants flew into Minnesota and beat up the Vikings soundly (17-29) at home. The Vikings never regained their form and 2003 ended with a long flight home from Phoenix.

Publicly, the Vikings addressed last year as some kind of fluke and wouldn't happen again. But this year, Tice told us things are different. Suuuuuuure, they are.

Well, I guess this year is different, isn't it? We were comforted by Tice with a 'weak' schedule to end the year. The Vikings were not undefeated this year but also started hot. Six weeks in the Vikings rebounded from last year's debacle and were 5-1. Then the Giants came to town, shellacked the Vikings 13-34, and things have never been the same since.

So this Sunday, it looks like 2003 again. The early promise of having a playoff club again rests in the hands of a bad Washington team awaiting the Vikings in the nation's capital. Anyone care to guess how this story ends?

 

Congrats to Tice

No matter what happens Sunday, the Vikings were smart to renew Mike's contract. Anyone who wants Tice out has to also recognize that getting rid of Mike Tice means restarting, throwing away the last two years, and risking hiring a bad coach. The current Vikings are young and should have a young coach to build around them. This one-year extension is not solid vote of confidence for Tice but look for an extension midway through 2005 if Mike does well.

Fluke or Destiny?

In Arizona, the struggling Saint Louis Rams were playing the Arizona Cardinals. The Cardinals are driving down the field and Emmitt Smith fumbles. The score is within reach and if the Rams can recover the ball, they can attempt to score and make this a closer game.

Earlier in Detroit, the Minnesota Vikings seem to control the game but the Detroit Lions fight back to score and pull within one point. With a made extra point, the Lions will force the Vikings to overtime where anything can happen.

There are three Rams tackling Emmitt Smith when the ball breaks lose. The Lions snap the ball to kick the tying field goal.

The ball harmlessly goes out of bounds unrecovered. The Cardinals continue their drive, score, and crush the Rams. In Detroit, the snap was low, the Vikings tackle the ballcarrier, and seal a dramatic one-point victory.

Was this a fluke or destiny?

Vikings fans have to wonder what's next. With two games left, the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers can both win the division. The Packers own the tie-breaker and Minnesota can win the NFC North title with a victoy over Green Bay at home and a win on the road at Washington.

Because of losses by half the NFC, the Packers have already clinched a playoff spot. The Vikings meanwhile can still not make the playoffs. For me, this is very familiar territory. Didn't this happen last year? Weren't the Vikings a 'lock' before faultering?

It's odd because I have to wonder, when Emmitt fumbles out of bounds and when Detroit botches an extra point, is that a fluke? Is it destiny?

Is this the year the Cardinals under head coach Dennis Green make the playoffs? Remember they are still mathematically alive and it would take some help. On the other hand, is this the year the Vikings capture the NFC North to host a playoff game? Heck, maybe this is the year Minnesota can host Green Bay and end the Favre era?

We have to wait a couple of weeks to find out but I wonder, is this a fluke or some kind of destiny?

Tark Takes a Road Trip

Hello, nation! Is everybody happy after yesterday's action? Tark sure is. Not only did Tark enjoy seeing a victory, but where the game was viewed was awesome. No, Tark did not go to Detroit. Tark went to a great Viking village named Center City, Minnesota. Tark is going to write some thoughts about the action yesterday, but Tark also has to let the loyal readers know about this great little town in Eastern Minnesota.

As the faithful know, Tark has two really special friends in "237", named Don and Bev. Tark has mentioned them quite often in his past articles. Well, Sunday Tark was invited to the Porter House bar In Center City, MN, to partake in the festivities and traditions that happen there on Sunday afternoons when the Purple are on. This town is a true Viking town. The three things that matter the most in this town are the Vikings, fishing, and hoping your car will start in the cold. On game days, Don revs up the Viking wagon, and drives around town yelling on the P.A. system that the Vikings are on and you better tune in. Don also reminds people what channel and when kick off is. Then the wagon turns in to the Porter House Bar and the party is on. Brett and Kelly are the hosts and put on a great spread. Brent Joe and Victor are in the front row ready to watch the Purple do their thing. Kelly makes sure the official Viking blanket is up, and the good luck bull dog is out. Then in the back taking it all in is Don's brother Dave. Dave also is the one to see if your car won't start, he will come and get you. Making sure the gang is loud enough is Viking Man Steve. Steve has a great first down dance, complete with a Viking horn. And what would a Minnesota bar be without it's trademark Packer fan. Fast Eddie takes care of this task. Eddie is a great guy and can take all the ribbing you can dish out. So with all the gang there, Tark was feeling very gracious to be a guest. The game was great and atmosphere was outstanding. Tark wishes he could sneak this whole gang in to the Dome, Friday, because they know how to cheer. Great times and a super town. If you need a great place to watch a game or see a great Minnesota town, swing in and tell them Tark sent you.

Now about yesterday. Tark is tired of hearing "oh, they got lucky" or "they should have lost that game". Well people, we won. Tark does not care how it happens, when the Purple get a victory it is a good day in Mudville. Let Tark mention this, If the mighty Packers won this way it would be another miracle, or we would here something about the football gods shining. Bull crap, a win is a win. Tark can't wait to walk out of the dome Friday with the division crown. Tark loved seeing Pepper and RaMo hooking up. That was a beautiful touchdown. It was good to see the Offense clicking again. It was also good to see Mr. Bennett back in the mix. Michael did some great running yesterday. It is no secret that Tark loves the screen pass. Tark believes nobody can run it better than Bennett. As far as the Defense, well, Mr. Winfield will be back for the Packers and that is about all Tark can say good about that. Although, the Defensive line did come to play yesterday. As always it is good to see some of that unit kicking butt.

Well, enough from Tark. Tark has to go out and shovel now. Thanks again to the folks in Center City, great time. Tark can't wait for the ultimate tailgate party Friday in the Wagon. Feel free to come to the wagon and see Tark and have some great grub. Or, stop by "237" and say "hi". Whatever you do, be ready to rock the Dome Friday and let's take the division!!!

Skol,
Tark

Not Done Yet

Greetings fellow purple maniacs, and welcome to another edition of Tark's words to live by. This is going to be wild column, Tark has a few things he wants to get off his chest after yesterday's loss to Seattle. It is not just the players that Tark lost faith in yesterday, a lot of the fans pissed off Tark also. So before old Tark loses his concentration, let's get the ball rolling.

Tark was upset about the play of some of the purple yesterday, but we will get to that next paragraph. Right now Tark wants to talk about some of the fans. What happened to the noisiest crowd in the NFL? After yesterday, Tark thinks the Cardinal fans were more excited at home. All 25,000 of them. Tark recalls a time in the game with about eight minutes left. Seattle had the ball and was driving. Tark was doing his old tricks, you know, walking around down front, picking a section to run up and hop a rail, you know - the things Tark is known for. Well it seems Tark was the only one in second level. People watched, laughed and took pictures of Tark, but nobody stood up. Tark was flapping his arms - doing whatever it took - but nobody got up. Come on, people! This was a critical time of the game. Our guys needed to hear us. We needed to throw off the Seahawks rhythm. Something, anything, but instead most of us just sat there puzzled and thought "Oh well, this team wasn't going anywhere anyway". Come on guys! This is what we live for! Nobody comes in to our house and pushes us around! We are not a pansy team, we are the Minnesota Vikings. We have a rich history, great players and super fans. This is the Thunderdome, Mike Ditka hated this place, Brett Farve still hates this place, all opposing coaches hate this place. Why? Because it is LOUD. So on Christmas Eve, show Tark something. When it is time to get up and be heard - let's go. If you don't know when that time comes, just get up and yell anyway, someone will join in. And when Tark asks you what you would rather be doing right now, don't say "ice fishing", say "CHEERING LOUDER".

All right. Now on to yesterday's action. Tark had a great feeling when the purple were up 10-0. Then the roof kind of came in. Before Tark got back from the restroom, it was 14-10 Seahawks. Tark thought the Offense played good. Tark knows everyone is upset about the Moss Pass. Usually it works and if it worked yesterday we would be all good right now. It didn't work. Time to move on. Once again Tark believes our secondary is to blame. Tark saw Seahawks running open everywhere. They could't be stopped. Althought Tark liked the play of Russell, the interception was good to see again. Tark also thought the front four did great pressuring the quarterback. K. Williams is gonna be good, and he proves it every game. Good job, front four. Oh yeah, Tark even heard Hovan get called on the P.A. system, good to have you back too. Tark does not know what is going on with this team, but they have to pull it together, and become one unit if we are going to play in January.

Enough rambling, time for Tark to move on. We have one game left in the Dome, lets make it very memorable for the Pack. Get as crazy as you can. Tark believes all games are important right now. We can win three in a row, they are very simple games. It is time to get behind this team and help them get over the hump. Enjoy these games and the rewards will be high. We can do this Minnesota, it is time to Bleed Purple!

Skol,
Tark

Missed Opportunity

Hello faithfull followers of Tark, and others that are still nervous to come out. Webmaster Jim and Tark have made up, and Tark is back on the payroll writing purple thoughts. Tark has attempted to write a few scripts, but they are somewhere on the cyber highway. Tark hopes that they got on a Packer site by mistake.

Before Tark gets into the lesson plan, Tark would like to thank everyone that came by and congratulated Tark on 11-28-04, when Tark was featured in the Viking Playbook program, the you get at the games. This was a big honor, and Tark had a lot of fun with it. Thanks to the kids that asked Tark to sign it, and thanks to the parents that took Tark's picture. Once again Tark owes it to Mrs. Tark for entering the contest, and writing a great letter about Tark. Tark also owes a big thank you to the tailgate crew Don, Bev and Ben, and all the crazies in 237. Once again the only section in the Dome where it is encouraged to stand up and cheer as loud as you can.

Now on to Sunday's activites at Chicago. Tark isn't as mad about losing the game, Tark is mad about letting the opportunity of gaining a game on Atlanta slip by. This is for the first round bye, and the chance to host both play-off games at the dome. Mind you, Tark hates to see the purple lose, but Tark is more angry about missed opportunities. Speaking of that, Tark is also saddened about the fact that our defense can't stop third and seventeens anymore. Not once but maybe five times the Vikes had them stopped with third and over ten yards, but it didn't matter, the Bears picked it up anyway. Come on secondary, pick up the slack. Tark has nothing but praise for the front four. Five sacks, pretty good containment on the run, it was not their falt. The secondary has to pick it up if we are going to make a run.

Tark liked the offense for the most part.Tark hated to see some good drives end in turnovers. Tark loves RAMO a lot, but he needs to get his game back and start making more catches and touchdowns. Tark would love to see the old RAMO flying down the field Sunday against Seattle a few times. Come on fellas, don't let Tark down. Tark liked to see Pepper run in Chicago. Tark believes this is a big pert of our game, and wants to see Pepper take off more. Everyone knows he can run, do it more often. Tark also would like to see the Offense line come back to where they were eatrlier in the season. Seems like they are not making any holes for Smith to run through. Tark knows it is late in the season, but really the season is just beginning. This is where you show the rest of the league you got the mustard to make a run in the play-offs.Come on fellas get her going.

Tark has to sign off now, to winded. Tark hopes all had a great Thanksgiving, and your Christmas season is going good. Come on over to 237 and say hi to Tark Sunday. As always Tark will be the one on the rail. Take care.

Skol,
Tark