01-05-2018, 05:18 PM
The 12-team playoff field for the NFL’s 98th season was taking its final wacky form Sunday afternoon when a lull appeared in Vikings coach Mike Zimmer’s postgame news conference.
“Do you believe in the curse?” blurted Star Tribune reporter Rochelle Olson.
There are no records for such moments, but I believe the last time I saw something that direct, it was Moe Howard jabbing two fingers into Curly’s eyes on a Saturday morning in 1975.
“Who said that?” Zimmer asked.
“Me,” said Olson.
She could have said, “Everyone” because, well, let’s face it, Purple Nation has the covers pulled up to its eyes in fear of what the postseason bogeyman has lined up next.
The Road to Minneapolis and Super Bowl LII begins with this weekend’s wild-card games. The Vikings have a bye for the first time since 2009.
Still worried? Don’t be, growled the coach.
“There is no damn curse,” Zimmer said.
In a wide-open six-team NFC field, the Vikings are one of five teams that didn’t qualify last year. In the AFC, three teams are new. Even the Buffalo Bills, postseason outsiders since 1999, got a last-minute invite when Cincinnati’s Tyler Boyd turned fourth-and-12 into a 49-yard knockout of the Ravens.
The NFC-leading Eagles went worst to first in their division. Now, without injured quarterback Carson Wentz, they are racing the other way in their conference.
The Jaguars ended a 10-year playoff drought by going worst to first in the AFC South. The Rams ended a 13-year drought by going from 4-12 and last in scoring to 11-5 and first in scoring. And the Titans limped into the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
http://www.startribune.com/purple-reign-...468097923/
“Do you believe in the curse?” blurted Star Tribune reporter Rochelle Olson.
There are no records for such moments, but I believe the last time I saw something that direct, it was Moe Howard jabbing two fingers into Curly’s eyes on a Saturday morning in 1975.
“Who said that?” Zimmer asked.
“Me,” said Olson.
She could have said, “Everyone” because, well, let’s face it, Purple Nation has the covers pulled up to its eyes in fear of what the postseason bogeyman has lined up next.
The Road to Minneapolis and Super Bowl LII begins with this weekend’s wild-card games. The Vikings have a bye for the first time since 2009.
Still worried? Don’t be, growled the coach.
“There is no damn curse,” Zimmer said.
In a wide-open six-team NFC field, the Vikings are one of five teams that didn’t qualify last year. In the AFC, three teams are new. Even the Buffalo Bills, postseason outsiders since 1999, got a last-minute invite when Cincinnati’s Tyler Boyd turned fourth-and-12 into a 49-yard knockout of the Ravens.
The NFC-leading Eagles went worst to first in their division. Now, without injured quarterback Carson Wentz, they are racing the other way in their conference.
The Jaguars ended a 10-year playoff drought by going worst to first in the AFC South. The Rams ended a 13-year drought by going from 4-12 and last in scoring to 11-5 and first in scoring. And the Titans limped into the playoffs for the first time in nine years.
http://www.startribune.com/purple-reign-...468097923/