‘Tis the season everybody!

With Christmas being two days away, it’s time to look at what’s on my wish list this holiday season.

1. Minnesota clinches a playoff berth

The 2021 season for the Minnesota Vikings has been a rollercoaster. Every win and loss has my heart rate above a healthy level.

After the loss to Detroit, I thought the season was a lost cause. In no world should a .500 team make the playoffs after losing to the then 0-10-1 Lions.

However, Minnesota has won their last two games against the Pittsburg Steelers and Chicago Bears. The Vikings are 7-7 and would be the final team to make the playoffs if the season ended today. To almost guarantee a playoff berth, they have to win at least two more games. That won’t be an easy task, as they’ll be taking on the Los Angeles Rams, Green Bay Packers and Bears.

As hard as it is to say, the Packers might be the best team in the NFL right now.

Nonetheless, if the Vikings make the playoffs, they have a real shot at making some noise. With the way it’s shaping up, they’d be taking on the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. No one, and I mean no one, wants to face Tom Brady in the first round.

Is it too much to ask for a Vikings playoff run?

2. The Vikings fire Mike Zimmer

Even if the Vikings were to make the playoffs, I’d prefer Mike Zimmer be fired. This has gone on far too long, and moving on from him would benefit the organization long-term. It’s been eight years, and he’s yet to really make an impact on this team. Sure, he made the NFC Championship game once, but other than that there hasn’t been a major playoff run.

Zimmer is supposed to be a defensive guru head coach, but we haven’t really seen an elite defense in quite some time. Minnesota is too inconsistent with him at the helm. Since being hired, the Vikings have made the playoffs every other season.

On a positive note, that would mean they should make it this year.

The NFL is trending in the direction of elite offenses and Minnesota has too many weapons to not lean into this. Say what you want about Kirk Cousins, but he’s a top-10-to-15 quarterback. You also have one of the best running backs and wide receivers in Dalvin Cook and Justin Jefferson.

Minnesota needs to find a new head coach that can take the offense to the next level.

3. The defense turns things around

Minnesota’s defense was supposed to improve this season with all the players returning from injury. Don’t get me wrong, the defense has their moments, but there’s still something missing.

Opposing teams have too much success marching down the field. Though, Minnesota has done pretty good at getting stops when they need it.

Here’s where Minnesota’s defense ranks:

• Points Per Game Allowed: 24.4 (23rd)
• Rushing Yards Allowed: 128.5 (27th)
• Passing Yards Allowed: 252.1 (29th)

These three stats are the most crucial to a defense’s success. If you can’t stop the pass, run or stop your opponent from scoring, you’re kind of SOL.

If Zimmer can’t conduct a competent defense, then what is he doing here?

I still have a lot of hope for this team, but Minnesota needs to get their defense in order and win at least two more games.

Let us know what’s on your Christmas wish list.