By JOSEPH WHITE
AP Sports Writer
WASHINGTON (AP) – Don’t touch that dial. There are oh-so-many suspense-filled reasons to tune in when the Minnesota Vikings and Washington Redskins go at it on Christmas Eve.
Can Rex Grossman get through an entire game without committing a turnover? Can Christian Ponder get through a game without getting sacked several times? Does an undrafted rookie have any chance whatsoever against Jared Allen?
Can the Vikings avoid their worst in-season losing streak since 1961, when they were an expansion franchise coached by Norm Van Brocklin? Can the Redskins avoid their worst home losing streak since 1994? How much more misery awaits the two clubs that swung and missed with an aging Donovan McNabb?
How many people will actually bother to show up for a Saturday holiday weekend game between two teams that have a combined five wins since the start of October?
“I don’t want to be part of that, the worst team in Vikings’ history,” Minnesota linebacker E.J Henderson said. “I’m sure it’s on some people’s minds, some guys’ minds. Whatever it takes to motivate you.”
See! There’s actual history on the line!
In all seriousness, motivation is a big deal when the Vikings (2-12) have lost six straight and are in danger of matching or sinking below the all-time worst Minnesota team that went 3-13 in 1984. And it’s a big deal when the Redskins (5-9), even though they’ve played better lately, are perilously close to extending a dubious franchise record by finishing last in their division for the fourth straight year.
“The season didn’t go the way we thought it would, and everyone knows that,” said Washington fullback, tight end and all-around veteran voice Mike Sellers. “But no one’s going to give up. And no one’s going to sit there and let no team embarrass them. Just got to fight through it.”
Full credit goes to the Redskins for salvaging some pride after their own six-game losing streak. They’ve won two of their last four and put up a good fight in a seven-point loss to the New England Patriots. That said, Washington’s locker room had a definite last-day-of-school feel about it Thursday, with players collecting autographs from each other and talking about offseason plans.
“There’s a lot of distractions that go on this week with Christmas and the holidays,” coach Mike Shanahan said. “And you’ve really got to work with those distractions during a week like this. So hopefully our team’s focused and ready to go.”
The Vikings’ ship is less steady. The star players on both sides of the ball were publicly questioning their roles after last week’s 42-20 loss to the New Orleans Saints.
Allen, who needs 5
