Week 14 Player Spotlight (2024)

It had been an outstanding slate of games on Sunday, especially if you were a Vikings fan – of which Todd was. While it would have been preferable for the Packers to lose, the fact that the Lions finally stumbled, for the first time in 10 weeks, gave the Vikings a chance. A chance for a tied division lead and the number one seed in the NFC.

And all the Vikings had to do was beat the Bears. A seemingly trivial task, given the Bear’s second half season implosion. Still, any given Sunday also applied to Monday. Todd was ready. He had a full spread of wings, chips and dip, and beer laid out before him. The guests would arrive in 30 minutes, the game in an hour. Picking up his phone, Todd shot out private contest links for Call It, and one by one his friend’s accepted the invite.

Despite being a newer product, Call It had become a weekly tradition for Todd and the boys. The winner each week got to select the venue and menu for the following week, and didn’t have to pay for it. While Todd had yet to win, he had come pretty close last week, and figured he had it this time.

One by one his friends arrived, the cracking of beer tabs and chatter gradually intensifying. Kickoff was near. Holding their phones outstretched, the guys each raised a single finger, watching the television intently. As the kicker’s foot hit the ball, each digit hit tapped their respective phones simultaneously, with a unified “Skol” chant for good measure. Building traditions was fun.

The Vikings got off to a 10-0 start, and Todd shot ahead of the gang by over 100 points. Both Todd and the Vikings would never look back. The clincher? a 25 point shot in the dark at a fumble prediction that paid off. The guys were too excited over the turnover to realize their now impossible situation- and Todd’s impending free lunch next Sunday.

When all was said and done, the Vikings trounced the Bears, 30-12, and Todd cleared the field by a good 350 points. The Vikings were tied for first, with just 3 games remaining. It was going to be a hell of a year.