Christian Ponder credits ESPN girlfriend Samantha Steele for Vikings win over Lions

If Christian Ponder's relationship with ESPN host Samantha Steele had a negative effect on his play, as had been whispered during the Minnesota Vikings recent slump, then it stands to reason that Ponder's success in Sunday's game was the result of Steele's presence too, right?

That's the strong logic being taken by the second-year Vikings quarterback after he threw for 221 yards and two touchdowns in a 34-24 win over the Detroit Lions.

"I want to thank my girlfriend," a joking Ponder told reporters after the game. "Because she obviously has such a big impact on how I play. Which allowed me to win. So thank you."

Days before the game, Ponder had to defend his relationship during the team's current 1-3 stretch.

"She has nothing to do with it," he said. "We've been dating since the beginning of the season, so she had also to do with the five wins. So it has really nothing to do with anything on the football field."

This is a tremendous opportunity for coaches and other players on the Vikings. Not that people on a 6-3 team needs to worry about job security, but if things start to go south, just whisper to the media that it's all Steele's fault. BOOM! Instant scapegoat.