The Minnesota Vikings have remained dedicated to Christian Ponder all season.
There have been times when perhaps that wasn't the prudent thing to do; Sundays when another option at quarterback might have yielded more desirable results.
But Ponder is an investment in Minnesota. The Vikings will advance to the playoffs with a win over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday. It's time for Ponder to prove he belongs.
"I think everyone judges me a lot every Sunday," he said, via The Star Tribune. "We'll see what happens on this Sunday, but obviously this is a big game for this organization and for my career."
Ponder understands the gravity of the situation. He also understands this is Adrian Peterson's team, and Ponder's job -- more than anything else -- is to not get in the way of Peterson's greatness. Ponder did just that the last time the Vikingsplayed the Packers, throwing two killer interceptions to waste a 210-yard rushing performance by A.D. in Week 13.
The Packers -- playing for a first-round bye -- will do everything in their power to put Ponder back in the same situations he failed in last time. If Ponder falls short again, coach Leslie Frazier will have a difficult task selling Ponder as the Vikings' future.
"I'm in charge of how people scrutinize me," Ponder said. "Obviously, if I play well, it's a good thing, and if I play bad, it's bad thing. I can control all that with how I play on the field."
Frazier called this final run for the Vikings a "defining moment" for Ponder. The Vikings could find out Sunday if their faith in their quarterback was justified ... or misplaced.
Follow Dan Hanzus on Twitter @DanHanzus.
