We're nearing Christmas and somehow fans in the Twin Cities and St. Louis still are talking more about games than they are about the draft. This is new. And pretty refreshing as the Vikings and Rams prepare to meet Sunday. But wait, there's more. Here's a trio of other things you should know.1. It's bowl season. So why not label Sunday's game "The Near-the-Arch Turnaround Bowl" (presented by Bud Ice).
Last year at this time, the Vikings and Rams had a combined 4-22 record. The Vikings were preparing for a Week 15 game with New Orleans in which they were mauled 42-20. The Rams were in the middle of a seven-game losing skid.
A year later, the teams are a combined 13-12-1 and playing a December contest with plenty of intrigue.
Vikings coach Leslie Frazier remembers exactly when he sensed a 2012 turnaround coming: April 23, the date players were allowed to return to Winter Park for offseason conditioning. With "off the charts" attendance, Frazier saw an eager and united squad willing to invest in rebuilding process.
In St. Louis, Jeff Fisher had a different chore when he took the reins in January. The Rams not only needed direction, they needed a serious infusion of talent.
As Fisher noted Wednesday, "I've been told 24 players on last year's opening-day roster are out of the NFL."
Another astounding stat: In the five seasons prior to Fisher's arrival, the Rams went 15-65.
With Fisher holding a big say in personnel decisions, St. Louis quickly added key parts through free agency, most notably cornerback Cortland Finnegan and center Jeff Wells. Then the Rams secured a promising 10-player draft class, including defensive tackle Michael Brockers, cornerbacks Janoris Jenkins and Trumaine Johnson, receiver Chris Givens and kicker Greg Zuerlein, all of whom have been significant contributors.
