The Vikings were gifted with a nearly perfect day on Sunday.
• They faced an opponent, the Bengals, that had no interest in competing, helping the Vikings to a 34-7 victory, the NFC North title and an 11-3 record. Bengals coach Marvin Lewis reportedly has decided to retire at the end of the season, presumably to avoid being fired, and his players showed little interest in the game.
• The Vikings stayed relatively healthy and won easily even while holding out left tackle Riley Reiff.
• They were able to finally get Teddy Bridgewater into a game and, luckily for the team's brain trust, he threw an interception on the first pass, quashing any possible quarterback controversy.
• And they remained alive in the race for the first seed in the NFC, which would guarantee that any and all of their postseason games would be played at U.S. Bank Stadium.
JIM SOUHAN
