THE VIKINGS MAY BE BEEN IN COASTING MODE
WHEN THEY TOOK THE FIELD IN CHARLOTTE SUNDAY NIGHT
THEY SURE DIDN'T LOOK READY FOR A CHALLENGE
FROM A PANTHERS TEAM SPOILING FOR A FIGHT

THE PANTHERS TO THEIR CREDIT WEREN'T INTIMIDATED
BY THE VIKINGS AND ALL THEIR BIG-TIME RANKINGS
THEY DUG RIGHT IN AND WENT AFTER MINNESOTA
AND WOUND UP GIVING THEM A SPANKING

PETERSON NEVER MANAGED TO GET LOOSE
WHILE FAVRE AND HIS BOYS COULDN'T CONNECT
THE DEFENSE SEEMINGLY FORGOT HOW TO TACKLE
AND ULTIMATELY WOUND UP GETTING DECKED

THIS WEEK THE VIKINGS ARE ON THE ROAD AGAIN
IN A GAME THAT SHOULD BE AN EASY WIN
BUT PLAYING THE BEARS IS TOUGHER THAN IT LOOKS
COULD DECEMBER'S CURSE STRIKE THE VIKES AGAIN?

THE BEARS CONTINUE TO GET WORSE
AS INJURIES AND APATHY TAKE THEIR TOLL
THIS IS A TEAM THAT CRASHED AND BURNED EARLY
WHILE THE SEASON SPIRALED OUT OF CONTROL

THE BEARS ARE A TEAM THAT CAN BE DANGEROUS
IF GIVEN JUST A SLIVER OF A CHANCE
THE VIKINGS WILL HAVE TO RECOVER FROM A BAD LOSS
IN ORDER TO REGAIN THEIR WINNER'S STANCE

THE PACKERS LOOKED LIKE THEY WERE ON A ROLL
WHILE THE STEELERS SEASON DANGLED FROM A THREAD
AND WHAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN A LOW-SCORING GAME
BECAME A HIGH-POWERED AIRSHOW INSTEAD

FROM THE OPENING MINUTES OF THE GAME
WHEN THE STEELERS LAUNCHED A LONG SCORING PASS
IT WAS CLEARLY NOT GOING TO BE WON ON THE GROUND
WHILE RECIEVERS WERE RUNNING FREE AND FAST

THE GREEN BAY DEFENSE DID ALL THEY COULD
AND COULD EVEN THROW BIG BEN TO THE GROUND
BUT WHEN PUSH CAME TO SHOVE THE STEELERS TEAM
TOASTED THE PACKERS UNTIL NICELY BROWNED

THIS WEEK THE PACKERS PLAY THE SEAHAWKS
A TEAM THAT WAS SUPPOSED TO BE A CONTENDER
BUT EFFORTS LIKE LAST WEEK'S LOSS TO TAMPA
ILLUSTRATE WHY THEY'VE BECOME PRETENDERS

ONCE A PACKERS BACKUP QUARTERBACK
MATT HASSELBECK WILL LEAD THE 'HAWKS ONTO THE FIELD
THIS HAS BEEN A TOUGH SEASON FOR HIM PHYSICALLY
EVEN NOW HE HAS INJURIES THAT AREN'T HEALED

BUT AS MUCH TROUBLE AS SEATTLE HAS HAD
THE PACK'S DEFENSIVE COLLAPSE IS AS BIG A DISASTER
AS POTENTIAL POSTSEASON OPPONENTS WILL STUDY THE FILM
AND GO FOR GREEN BAY'S WEAKNESSES THAT MUCH FASTER

THE VIKINGS' PLAYOFF APPEARANCE IS GUARANTEED
ALTHOUGH THEY'RE STUMBLING ON THE FINAL APPROACH
WHILE THE PACKERS HOPES REST ON WINNING OUT
AND SOME CLEVER GAMEPLANNING BY THEIR COACH