We got home from the Vikings game hosting the Bears a short while ago, where the Vikings clearly won, and are now tied with the Lions for first place in the division, while just three games remain in the season, and the last game is the Vikings at the Lions!

I wouldn't call it a rout, but the Vikings handily outperformed the Bears, taking them 30-12. Held them to a couple field goals and a touchdown, after which they failed to achieve a 2-point conversion. There was a Bears touchdown taken back by an offensive penalty. There were a lot of odd penalties. Poor #74 on the Vikings had a handful of false start penalties; just nervous or eager, I guess. There was a Bears punt that turned into a Bears first down when a Vikings player "ran into" the kicker, in a pretty gentle contact, so good acting by the kicker on that one; I get it, but it wasn't as nearly bad as the missed roughing the passer that the Bears got away with! There was also an endzone interception by the Bears that was overturned because of a penalty, giving the Vikings one more chance. Frustrating penalties, missed and hit, all 'round.

Both the Vikings and Lions have clinched playoff spots, holding 12-2 records, so it's just whether they're the division champs or a wild card team. One of the two losses the Vikings have is to the Lions, so that'll likely tip any tie breakers. There are three games left, and the last one is Vikings at Lions, so there isn't much chance of a tie, unless both teams tie in one or more of the games. Ties are rare, and for both teams to have one or two or three ties (could happen, yeah?) is really unlikely.

Here's my "no kidding" list of outcomes for the teams:

If one team wins two and the other loses two, they'd meet 14-2 and 12-4, with a clear winner before they meet and no way to tie at the end of the season. They'll both play practice squads, I'm sure, so no one gets hurt for the playoffs.

If they win or lose or tie both games with the same count, their records will also be the same., they'll meet 13-3. Their game will determine the outcome of the division, and both teams will either play to take it all, or one or both will play with backups to again keep their marquee players healthy for the playoffs. I'm sure with the division on the line, it'll be a battle

The only way there's a chance of a tie in the season, is if they meet with the same record and there's a tie in their game. Then tie breakers, and that aforementioned Lions win over the Vikings earlier in the season would probably make the deal go the Lion's way.

And with one other NFC team holding a 12-2 record, the Eagles who the Vikings beat 26-3 in the preseason opener (which barely has meaning), and no others in a position to beat or tie, it'll be a race to see who might get a playoff bye in the first round.

The Vikings next play the Seahawks, currently 8-6. Then they host the Packers (who they beat at Lambeau this year), currently 10-4, to end the calendar year. Then to Detroit to take on the Lions, to possibly fight for the division!

I've been quiet about sports on here for a while, so it probably seems a bit bandwagon, but it's really just me being lazy. Good times to remember, though.