Though the Vikings haven’t had anything to play for after being eliminated from the playoffs earlier this month, Sunday at the Metrodome will be different.
Some Vikings may be playing, and coaching, their last games in Purple. Others are looking to send the Dome off in the right way, while some fans may be hoping for a loss in order to secure a higher draft pick.
Here’s a round up of what’s on the line Sunday in downtown Minneapolis.
END OF THE ROAD FOR FRAZIER, WILLIAMS, ALLEN, CASSEL? The tumultuous journey head coach Leslie Frazier has taken this year leads him into a game where he likely has no chance of saving his job. All the rumors swirling around Bill O’Brien,Vikings ownership, and Frazier discussing the situation with players isn’t good news for his future in Minnesota. As for Kevin Williams and Jared Allen, they made a combined $18.4 million last year and are a combined 64 years old, and with the struggles of the Vikings this year, you’d think bringing back guys on the wrong side of 30 that make that much wouldn’t be likely. Allen though, is not ruling out a return to Minnesota. As for quarterback Matt Cassel, he has said he’ll use this game as an audition, most likely for another team.
Here is a full list of the Vikings 2014 unrestricted free agents.
SENDING THE DOME OUT THE RIGHT WAY: Though this season hasn’t gone the way of the Purple, the Metrodome has seen plenty of great moments in its time, and has been host to big local and national events of all shapes, sizes, and kinds. That isn’t lost on Allen and other Vikings, including Adrian Peterson, who says the Purple want to close out the Dome “the right way.”
THEN THERE’S THESE PEOPLE: Of course, not everyone wants the Vikings to win Sunday. Many fans are haunted by Minnesota winning their last game in Washington two years ago to get their third victory of the season, a win that ultimately dropped the Purple from a top-two draft pick to third. The No. 1 pick that year was Andrew Luck, No. 2 Robert Griffin, two men believed to be franchise quarterbacks for their respective teams. This year, Minnesota currently sits at eight, but can climb as high as three with a loss and a few things falling their way.
Just a few things to think about as you prepare to witness the final game in the Teflon delight we know as the Dome.
