MINNEAPOLIS | It’s impossible to avoid the larger-than-life persona of Minnesota Vikings defensive end Jared Allen in the Twin Cities.
Step off the plane, and there’s Allen’s purple Vikings jersey hanging on the wall at the security checkpoint. Walk past Mall of America Field, and a poster of Allen’s menacing visage stares from the stadium walls.
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Tune in Thursday nights and listen to his weekly radio show, or turn on the television and watch him pop on as a guest on the Vikings’ weekly television program.
Jared Allen owns this town.
“That’s Jared,” said fellow defensive end Ray Edwards. “He’s a lovable guy.”
Allen added to his popularity as the Vikings reached this week’s NFC championship game at New Orleans with their 34-3 pulverizing of the Dallas Cowboys on Sunday.
Allen helped spark the win with his sack and strip of Dallas quarterback Tony Romo — one of six sacks by the Vikings — as he enjoyed the first playoff win of his NFL career.
“It took a while to get one,” said Allen, who was part of playoff losses with the Chiefs at Indianapolis in 2006 and with the Vikings against Philadelphia last season. “But we finally did and got it in a big way.
“It’s all perspective. This is just one. The only way to go out on a winning streak is to win the Super Bowl. So if you lose the next one, it doesn’t really matter, does it?”
Allen, for the second consecutive season, finished the regular season with 14 1/2 sacks, second in the NFL. But 7 1/2 of those sacks came in two games against Green Bay, and he had just two sacks in the final five games.
Still, the Vikings led the NFL with 48 sacks for the season, and the ability to get to Romo so often was critical in the win over the Cowboys — and will be equally as important against New Orleans’ Drew Brees this week.
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Tuesday, January 19, 2010
Parity worked in the NFL...now, let's see if the NFL likes it
Let's face it: The NFL playoffs this year haven't exactly been as exciting as, say, eating a rice cake or painting the bathroom.
There have been eight games played so far, and a grand total of two of them have been competitive.
Take away the Cardinals-Packers game in the wild-card round and the Jets-Chargers game in the Divisional round on Sunday, and the other six games were decided by an average of a shade more than 21 points per game. That's three touchdowns and three point after tries (assuming Nate Kaeding isn't kicking them).
Take away the Jets' two upsets, and the favorites have won five of six.
The Patriots are gone. The Cowboys are gone. The Eagles are gone. The Packers are gone. And tradition is gone, too. What we're left with are four teams who, combined, have won one Super Bowl in the last 39 years.
The entire West Divisions in both leagues are gone, which leaves CBS and FOX with no media markets west of Minneapolis with a dog in the fight the rest of the way.
But, of course, this is what the NFL wanted.
This is parity.
Now, none of this is to say that there aren't some pretty good football teams moving on to the conference championship games Sunday. There are. There's probably no argument that the Saints and Vikings were the two most consistent, most polished teams in the NFC from September until now. And the Colts had a great chance to be unbeaten right now had they not taken their foot off the proverbial gas pedal after week 15. So, you can argue that the three best teams the NFL had to offer this season are still playing, along with the Jets, who run the ball and play defense better than any of them.
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So this isn't a column about how the best teams aren't going to be competing for a spot in Super Bowl XLIV.
They're just, well, different teams.
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There have been eight games played so far, and a grand total of two of them have been competitive.
Take away the Cardinals-Packers game in the wild-card round and the Jets-Chargers game in the Divisional round on Sunday, and the other six games were decided by an average of a shade more than 21 points per game. That's three touchdowns and three point after tries (assuming Nate Kaeding isn't kicking them).
Take away the Jets' two upsets, and the favorites have won five of six.
The Patriots are gone. The Cowboys are gone. The Eagles are gone. The Packers are gone. And tradition is gone, too. What we're left with are four teams who, combined, have won one Super Bowl in the last 39 years.
The entire West Divisions in both leagues are gone, which leaves CBS and FOX with no media markets west of Minneapolis with a dog in the fight the rest of the way.
But, of course, this is what the NFL wanted.
This is parity.
Now, none of this is to say that there aren't some pretty good football teams moving on to the conference championship games Sunday. There are. There's probably no argument that the Saints and Vikings were the two most consistent, most polished teams in the NFC from September until now. And the Colts had a great chance to be unbeaten right now had they not taken their foot off the proverbial gas pedal after week 15. So, you can argue that the three best teams the NFL had to offer this season are still playing, along with the Jets, who run the ball and play defense better than any of them.
Check out our NFL Football Betting Section in Sports Betting Sportsbook
So this isn't a column about how the best teams aren't going to be competing for a spot in Super Bowl XLIV.
They're just, well, different teams.
Check out our NFL Football Betting Section in Sports Betting Sportsbook
NFL's final four
t's down to four in the National Football League, with storylines aplenty.
Ageless wonder Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings meet Drew Brees and the mighty New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship, while another grizzled veteran in Peyton Manning leads his Indianapolis Colts into the AFC championship against the upstart New York Jets, led by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.
There is a little something for everyone in this Sunday doubleheader.
You've got a meeting of powerhouses between the Vikings and Saints.
Minnesota was 12-4 on the season, having lost its final four games, while New Orleans, which flirted with perfection nearly all season, finished the campaign at 13-3.
In this matchup, it's hard to determine the sentimental favourite.
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Neither team has won a Super Bowl. In fact, the Saints have never even played in the big game.
For Minnesota, there's the Favre factor. It's hard not to root for the man many have been writing off as well past his prime for years.
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Ageless wonder Brett Favre and his Minnesota Vikings meet Drew Brees and the mighty New Orleans Saints in the NFC championship, while another grizzled veteran in Peyton Manning leads his Indianapolis Colts into the AFC championship against the upstart New York Jets, led by rookie quarterback Mark Sanchez.
There is a little something for everyone in this Sunday doubleheader.
You've got a meeting of powerhouses between the Vikings and Saints.
Minnesota was 12-4 on the season, having lost its final four games, while New Orleans, which flirted with perfection nearly all season, finished the campaign at 13-3.
In this matchup, it's hard to determine the sentimental favourite.
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Neither team has won a Super Bowl. In fact, the Saints have never even played in the big game.
For Minnesota, there's the Favre factor. It's hard not to root for the man many have been writing off as well past his prime for years.
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Vikes-Saints battle it out for NFL NFC Title Odds 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule
Vikes-Saints battle it out for NFL NFC Title Odds 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule - Current NFL Playoffs The Saints are coming off of a win over the Cardinals where they scored 45 and gave up 14 . The Vikings are coming off of a win over the Cowboys where they scored 34 and gave up 3 . Vikings are 4-0 ATS in their last 4 meetings. Over is 4-0 in the last 4 meetings.
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NFL Playoff Predictions The Saints will have no answer for a balanced offensive team like the Vikings. In the end, the Vikings will win by a td. The line has opened for the NFC championship between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings and the Saints are NFL Odds 4.5-point home faves — the Total is set at 52.5 NFL Playoff Odds.
Seeded No. 1 overall in the NFC, New Orleans was able to capitalize on home-field advantage on Saturday, defeating the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals by a final of 45-14, more than adequately covering the 7-point spread.
The Vikings were the second-best team in the conference and they also won at home, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-3. Minnesota was favored by a field goal and easily covered. Also NFL Point Spread Odds AFC Championship Indianapolis -7.5 favorites. 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule Sunday, January 24, 2010 Minnesota at New Orleans 6:40 PM ET.
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Check out our NFL Football Betting Section in Sports Betting Sportsbook
NFL Playoff Predictions The Saints will have no answer for a balanced offensive team like the Vikings. In the end, the Vikings will win by a td. The line has opened for the NFC championship between the New Orleans Saints and the Minnesota Vikings and the Saints are NFL Odds 4.5-point home faves — the Total is set at 52.5 NFL Playoff Odds.
Seeded No. 1 overall in the NFC, New Orleans was able to capitalize on home-field advantage on Saturday, defeating the NFC West champion Arizona Cardinals by a final of 45-14, more than adequately covering the 7-point spread.
The Vikings were the second-best team in the conference and they also won at home, defeating the Dallas Cowboys 34-3. Minnesota was favored by a field goal and easily covered. Also NFL Point Spread Odds AFC Championship Indianapolis -7.5 favorites. 2010 NFL Playoff Schedule Sunday, January 24, 2010 Minnesota at New Orleans 6:40 PM ET.
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NFL: San Diego extends Norv Turner's contract
The San Diego Chargers gave coach Norv Turner a three-year contract extension through 2013 last night.
No financial details were announced for the deal that came one day after the Chargers were shocked, 17-14, by the New York Jets in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Turner's regular-season record with the Chargers is 32-16, but he is 3-3 in the playoffs. His overall record as an NFL head coach is 90-98-1.
Vikes' Edwards ailing. Minnesota coach Brad Childress declined to elaborate on the extent of an injury to Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who appeared to hurt his right knee in the third quarter Sunday's against Dallas. He returned for a few plays, then was done for the day.
Childress said Edwards is "a tough guy," and if he is able, he'll play against New Orleans this Sunday.
Edwards said after the game that he should be fine.
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No financial details were announced for the deal that came one day after the Chargers were shocked, 17-14, by the New York Jets in the AFC divisional playoffs.
Turner's regular-season record with the Chargers is 32-16, but he is 3-3 in the playoffs. His overall record as an NFL head coach is 90-98-1.
Vikes' Edwards ailing. Minnesota coach Brad Childress declined to elaborate on the extent of an injury to Vikings defensive end Ray Edwards, who appeared to hurt his right knee in the third quarter Sunday's against Dallas. He returned for a few plays, then was done for the day.
Childress said Edwards is "a tough guy," and if he is able, he'll play against New Orleans this Sunday.
Edwards said after the game that he should be fine.
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Main Favre gets better with age
I did not believe Favre would be the final piece in the Minnesota Vikings' jigsaw. I had no doubt the future Hall of Famer could still throw a pretty pass and lead a team with some devastating strikes downfield. I just could not see a 40-year-old quarterback - who had admitted he got tired throwing to college kids over the summer - being in peak physical condition at the business end of the season.
I did not particularly like the way the former Green Bay star engineered his release from the New York Jets before conveniently signing with the Vikings once most of the preseason training was out of the way, but that was not my primary concern. I just felt a guy who had physically broken down at the back end of the previous season was not going to be in the right kind of form to lead a Super Bowl run in January.
To say I was a little bit off the mark would be an understatement.
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I did not particularly like the way the former Green Bay star engineered his release from the New York Jets before conveniently signing with the Vikings once most of the preseason training was out of the way, but that was not my primary concern. I just felt a guy who had physically broken down at the back end of the previous season was not going to be in the right kind of form to lead a Super Bowl run in January.
To say I was a little bit off the mark would be an understatement.
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NFL Betting : New York Jets vs Indianapolis Colts
It will be a David vs. Goliath-like battle when the Final 2 from the American Football Conference battle for the Lamar Hunt Trophy on Sunday.
The Indianapolis Colts, who are “supposed to be in the AFC title game,” will host the New York Jets, who “weren’t even supposed to make the playoffs” and on top of that, it will see the tried, tested and true QB Peyton Manning dueling with the rookie signal-caller Mark Sanchez.
Sports Betting Sportsbook opened Indy as a 7.5 point favorite, which quickly went to -8. The total is set at 40.5.
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