Week 7 Player Spotlight

It hadn’t been a great start to the season for the Vikings, Phillip knew this. Staring a likely 2-5 start in the face didn’t feel so great. The Niners had come off a close loss, but their first of the season. Everyone in the football world was expecting a bounce back, Phillip among them. The only solace he had going into Monday night was that other than the Lions, the other teams in the division were crumbling along with his Vikings.

Usually he would go to a bar, but tonight his buddy had invited him- something about a new app he wanted to try, “in the comfort of his own home”- ok, sounds fun. 30 minutes before the game, Phillip arrived.

“Hey Phil! Come on in I’ve already set up everyone else!”

*everyone else?*

Entering the house, Phillip’s nose was greeted with the spicy smell of nachos, mingled with the musk of craft beer. On the couch and in several chairs sat several of his friends, all of them with phones in hand. Within minutes Phillip had downloaded the app, Call It, and was enrolled in the Vikings vs 49ers contest. To be honest, he wasn’t particularly interested in the app, as his mind was very focused on what would almost certainly be a nearly impossible game for the Vikings to win. But a few of the other guys in the room seemed to be into it, so he preset his prediction-

Vikings. Defensive Stop. 20 points *I mean we suck right?*

Several plays later, Cousins threw the game’s first interception. A cacophony of groans filled the room, followed by swigs of beers. Phillip looked at the app, as the leaderboard scrolled across the top of the page, he saw his name first- guess the others had bet more optimistically- he savored his little victory, lessening the pain, at least somewhat.

However, as the game progressed it became increasingly apparent to all in the room that the Vikings were holding their own against this world beater. Slowly, optimism filled the room, drinks were flowing and more and more attention was being shown to the new app-no doubt to help divert from the rising tensions of anticipation in a close game.

After a missed field goal with 1 minute left in the game, the 49ers got the ball back on their own 40 down 17-22. This was it, make the stop and the Vikings win, allow a TD and, well…

Phillip set his prediction in the app

San Francisco. Defensive Stop. 40 points.

9 yard completion

11 yard completion

Silence filling the room, everyone on the edge of their seats.

35 seconds left. Purdy spikes the ball. They line up, snap, the throw is deep. the throw is-

“INTERCEPTED!!!!!!!”

As quickly as the silence had filled the room, it left in an instant. Everyone was hugging, drinking, walloping, screaming “Skol” like there was no tomorrow. Then suddenly a scream broke through it all-

“I WON”

Drunken heads swiveled around in momentary confusion, then all eyes fell on the app. Phillip’s friend had done an all in wager on a game ending interception, blowing the competition out of the water on the final drive. There was an almost comical pause, before the room erupted in cheers for their week one champion of what was sure to be the start of a wonderful tradition.

Sure the hangovers were going to be violent.

But hangovers? Those are tomorrow’s problem.