This is not meant to be sarcastic. But I need to thank the Washington Redskins for eliminating the Minnesota Vikings from playoff contention with Sunday’s victory over the Dallas Cowboys. (The Vikings lost to Denver anyway, but they were officially ousted minutes before by the Redskins’ win.)
With Minnesota’s season over before the playoffs even begin, I am saved from spending one day next weekend swearing at my television. I can watch the NFL playoffs without seeing Dwight Smith miss a tackle or Troy Williamson drop a pass. Instead, I can take the three-plus hours and use it to give back to the community by mentoring, or by putting the finishing touches on cleaning my basement.
Coach Brad Childress, you kept me interested throughout your 8-8 season that began with a 3-6 mark nine games in. ENJOY the offseason.

Photo of Vikings running back ADRIAN PETERSON by David Zalubowski / Associated Press

I swear this is just a coincidence: two straight entries involving the Green Bay Packers.

Green Bay cornerback Will Blackmon scored the first two touchdowns of his career in Sunday’s 38-7 victory over the Oakland Raiders, the first coming on a 57-yard punt return. It happened to be the first punt-return TD allowed in Raiders punter Shane Lechler’s eight-year career.

After the game, Raiders defensive tackle Warren Sapp (99) claimed Blackmon stepped out of bounds before reaching the end zone.

"I don’t think Shane has ever had a punt return for a TD, and the dude
[Blackmon] stepped out of bounds on that one," Sapp told the Associated Press. "Everybody was against us
today; that’s why we got 38 points put up on us."

You didn’t lose by 31 points because everybody was against you, Warren. You lost by that much because you play for the 4-9 Oakland Raiders, one of the worst teams in the NFL. And you would’ve lost by more if not for a stupid penalty taken by the Packers.

Photo by Jonathan Daniel / Getty Images