Vikings Defeat Redskins
It was a last-moment clincher, but the Vikings won 16-13 when the Redskins' kicker missed the last-chance field goal.
This puts the Vikings in first place, tied with the Bears after week one. The Packers lost with an embarrassing shut-out, and the Lions lost in a game with a field goal victory.
Currently, the NFC North looks like this:
| Team | Wins | Loss | Trend |
| Vikings | 1 | 1W | |
| Bears | 1 | 1W | |
| Lions | 1 | 1L | |
| Packers | 1 | 1L |
The Vikings host the Panthers on Sunday. A loss by the Vikings would prove troublesome, because the entire division could end up 1-1. The Panthers' own website notes this is an uphill battle for them, so I'm putting a little mojo towards a Viking victory. Vikings victory means 2-0 going into the next week's game, hosting the Bears. Vikings loss means 1-1, and possible tie for second-place.
Next week the Lions play at the Bears, which will probably mean another Bears victory. Of course, if Detroit manages to beat Chicago, and the Vikings pull off a victory against the Panthers, then the Vikings would be alone in first place! Bears victory pushes them to 2-0, which would either mean they'd be tied with the Vikings, or alone in first place. Lions victory means the teams tie at 1-1. If the Lions win and Vikings loose...it's at least a three-way tie for first place!
The Packers play at home against the Saints. If they win, they'll be at best in second place. If they loose...well, we don't like the Packers, so that's OK. In the event of a Packers win, they vault to 1-1. This, as mentioned, pushes them to second place, alone or tied. If they loose, they'll be 0-2, alone or tied with the Lions if the Bears win.
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The best possible outcome for the Vikings would be this:
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The most likely outcome for the Vikings would be this:
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The most even outcome for the Vikings would be this:
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The worst-case outcome for the Vikings would be this:
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As I ramble through these early season scenarios, I'm glad the NFL reorganized the divisions so we have a four-team battle. Tampa Bay never really belonged in the NFC North, anyway, since it's in the southeast-est corner of the country. Thankfully they didn't reorganize another team in our area to be in our division. The Rams would have been a geographically sound addition, but then the Vikings probably wouldn't be consistently in the top-two of the division...it's easy when there's four...
