>The Vikings will be the first team to play a Super Bowl
at home.Case Keenum
Isaiah Oliver
Falcons Jersey , who became the starter when Sam Bradford was
injured and still has to answer questions about possibly losing his job to Teddy
Bridgewater, is poised to do what Daunte Culpepper and Randall Cunningham
couldn’t do.Keenum had another solid performance and the defense shut down a
high-powered offense in an impressive 14-9 victory at Atlanta. Then Minnesota
(10-2) jumped into the top spot in the NFC when Seattle beat Philadelphia
(10-2).The Vikings are close to securing the NFC North. Getting home-field
advantage throughout the playoffs only enhances their chances of hosting the
Super Bowl.But they still have to get through tough teams with better
quarterbacks. Minnesota’s defense is outstanding and Keenum has been
excellent.In a big game, though, Keenum or Drew Brees? Keenum or Russell Wilson?
Keenum or Carson Wentz?The Vikings could end up with the No.1 seed and lose a
home game in the playoffs. Their fans have seen that before so slow down on
those Super Bowl plans.Here are more overreactions following Week
13:OVERREACTION: Josh Gordon will save the Browns (0-12) from going
winless.REALISTIC REACTION: Four catches for 84 yards in his first NFL game
since 2014 doesn’t suggest he’ll make enough impact to prevent Cleveland from
losing out.OVERREACTION: Andy Reid has lost control of the team. Too many costly
penalties cost the Chiefs (6-6) in a loss to the Jets (5-7).REALISTIC REACTION:
Lost control is too harsh, but the team lacks discipline.OVERREACTION: The
Patriots (10-2) don’t need Tom Brady to win. Brady had no TDs and one
interception and New England still routed Buffalo 23-3.REALISTIC REACTION: Brady
completed 21 of 30 for 258 yards. He wasn’t great
Tremaine
Edmunds Jersey , but effective.OVERREACTION: Jimmy Garoppolo is the
answer for San Francisco. He led the 49ers (2-10) to a comeback win in his first
start.REALISTIC REACTION: Garoppolo could become a franchise QB, but beating the
Bears isn’t too impressive.OVERREACTION: Look out for the Ravens (7-5) because
their offense is hitting its stride.REALISTIC REACTION: Losing cornerback Jimmy
Smith is a big blow to the defense, and one solid performance by the offense
isn’t convincing.OVERREACTION: Alvin Kamara locked up Rookie of the Year honors
with an excellent game against the Panthers.REALISTIC REACTION: He’s the
front-runner but Kareem Hunt and Leonard Fournette are still in the
race.OVERREACTION: Losing Aaron Rodgers was a blessing for the Packers (6-6)
because it allowed them to work on their run game.REALISTIC REACTION: Rodgers is
a future Hall of Famer. Enough said.OVERREACTION: The Chargers (6-6) will win
the AFC West.REALISTIC REACTION: They’re on a roll but it’s a three-team with
the Raiders (6-6) and Chiefs and no real favorite.OVERREACTION: All the Giants
needed to be competitive was to bench Eli Manning.REALISTIC REACTION: No one
other than Ben McAdoo would’ve started Geno Smith over Manning and now McAdoo is
gone.OVERREACTION: Beast Mode is back. Marshawn Lynch had a 51-yard touchdown
run and his first 100-yard rushing game since coming out of retirement.REALISTIC
REACTION: The Raiders need to keep giving him the ball.OVERREACTION: The Legion
of Boom is back. The Seahawks held the highest-scoring offense to only 10 points
in a 24-10 victory over Philadelphia.REALISTIC REACTION: Seattle’s defense was
ferocious, but penalties and sloppy play by Wentz cost the Eagles. Plus, no one
can replace Richard Sherman and Kam Chancellor.
RALEIGH Cheap
Marcus Davenport Jersey , N.C. — Two teams that are not in line to
make the playoffs will see if they can gain some good vibes nonetheless with the
end of the regular season just about a week away.
The New York Rangers visit the Carolina Hurricanes for Saturday night’s game
at PNC Arena.
These teams were contending for a playoff spot, but they have mostly fallen
by the wayside.
Now it’s a matter of trying to put on strong performances the rest of the
way.
“We want to play the right way,” Carolina coach Bill Peters said.
The teams are in similar spots in the Eastern Conference standings below the
wild-card playoff line.
The Hurricanes avoided official elimination with Friday night’s 4-1 victory
at Washington, but their situation had become dire during the past couple of
weeks.
The Hurricanes must win their remaining games along with the New Jersey
Devils losing in regulation for the rest of the regular season to make the
postseason.
Carolina has four games remaining, though Saturday night’s game marks the
second-to-last home game.
“We’re not going to go out there and just throw our sticks on the
ice DJ Moore
Jersey ,” Hurricanes goaltender Scott Darling said. “We want to
finish strong.?
Rangers coach Alain Vigneault also said it’s an important time to conclude
the schedule the right way.
“We’ve talked to our group about being professionals,” Vigneault said.
“Having them to understand to come in every day whether it’s a practice or a
game and give your best. (I’ve) given them very precise instructions on what we
want them to do and how they can get better.”
The Rangers are 1-4-2 in their last seven games after allowing five goals in
the third period of a 7-3 loss to Tampa Bay in its final home game.
Vigneault said he’s impressed with the positive reinforcements that have been
provided from veterans such as defenseman Marc Staal and right winger Mats
Zuccarello
“I’m very proud of how those two have conducted themselves,” Vigneault,
noting the positive examples that have been on display.”
For Staal, this will be another chance to play against his brother Terrell
Edmunds Jersey , Carolina center Jordan Staal.
The Hurricanes have called upon several younger players during the past
couple of weeks.
Still, since the last home game they reassigned forward Warren Foegele and
defenseman Roland McKeown to Charlotte of the American Hockey League.
Foegele, 21, scored his first NHL goal and earned his first assist in his NHL
debut against Ottawa on Monday and then added another goal the next night in New
Jersey.
Carolina has had some recent shortcomings with special teams.
“Let’s not go to the box unnecessarily,” Peters said. “Let’s not take the
penalties that are because of a lack of moving your feet.”
Hurricanes defenseman Justin Faulk returned to action Friday night after
missing about a week with an upper-body injury. Peters said it was undetermined
if Faulk would be used in both games on back-to-back nights.
The Rangers are 3-0-0 against Carolina this season Jaire
Alexander Jersey , outscoring the Hurricanes by a combined 17-5
score. That includes a 6-3 win on March 12 when Jimmy Vesey recorded a hat trick
and the Rangers blocked a season-high 30 shots.
New York is 14-3 in the last 17 meetings since April 8, 2014.
.
The Wall