quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

It's an 8-8 team with a 12-4 record. Exactly what I've been saying all season. The defense is horrific. The quarterback is, at-best, one of the 15-20 best quarterbacks in the league (no higher).

It's been a fun season with the close wins and all, but it's not a great football team. Right now they may be the third best team in their own division.

Yesterday was a classic case of the major difference between a great quarterback and "just a guy". The great quarterback made Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard look good. The guy with Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn made a mess of the game.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

The Vikings are giving up nearly 397 yards-per-game on defense. You can't win anything important with that.

Definitely agree with you. I'm just disappointed with the complete disappearance of offense in the bigger spots. We know the defense stinks.

The Vikings often forget they have a decent running game to rely on. They have the second least amount of attempts in the league for the year.

IMO, Cook and the running game had a chance to be great yesterday but the play-calling never allowed it to happen. Once the Packers got out front they were daring the Vikings to run and they wouldn't do it.

The Vikings had 17 attempts from running backs in the game, four of which came in the first five minutes of the game. If you are going to try and control the tempo of the game, you have to be smarter than that.

Or smart enough to call the game(s) situationally. You’re not there yet.

Zimmer ran the ball regardless of the score / situation. What a hoot that was.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

What would an elevator pitch about the team sound like?

So they are 12-4 BUT... and there are a lot of them. The pass defense is horrid, and QBs have career days against them. The offense is wildly inconsistent, often going 3 and out on consecutive possessions when just a semi-sustained drive is needed. They usually win aided by some crazy turnover, sudden great play, a tilt towards home games, and playing teams that are without their starting QB. Uncanny luck in close games, certainly against the odds. They get blown out by good teams. But really, the expectations were not that high and it's sort of a "the rest is gravy" kind of season.

This team has bobbed and weaved and rope-a-doped in every game, the wins have come from feistiness and last-minute out-of-breath punch-drunk haymakers thrown at more out-of-breath wobbly opponets …

not by playing well with any consistency.

Meanwhile, Det and GB started horribly but feel like teams that improved and self-corrected and picked up steam at the right time. I dont think they are good teams but they are certainly playing well at the right time.

Yes winning in the playoffs will indeed be extra gravy for this vastly over-achieving team, I just wish it felt more like a building process into the future.
Not just flukiness.

Good points. At this rate is doesn't feel like we're building upon anything.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

It's an 8-8 team with a 12-4 record. Exactly what I've been saying all season. The defense is horrific. The quarterback is, at-best, one of the 15-20 best quarterbacks in the league (no higher).

It's been a fun season with the close wins and all, but it's not a great football team. Right now they may be the third best team in their own division.

Yesterday was a classic case of the major difference between a great quarterback and "just a guy". The great quarterback made Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard look good. The guy with Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn made a mess of the game.

The great QB had a clean pocket and a running game. Cousins wasn't very good yesterday but has overall played better than Rodgers this season.

That's why one team has 12 wins and the other 8.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Ricky J

Vikes at home v. NYG in round 1, then ...

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

What would an elevator pitch about the team sound like?

So they are 12-4 BUT... and there are a lot of them. The pass defense is horrid, and QBs have career days against them. The offense is wildly inconsistent, often going 3 and out on consecutive possessions when just a semi-sustained drive is needed. They usually win aided by some crazy turnover, sudden great play, a tilt towards home games, and playing teams that are without their starting QB. Uncanny luck in close games, certainly against the odds. They get blown out by good teams. But really, the expectations were not that high and it's sort of a "the rest is gravy" kind of season.

This team has bobbed and weaved and rope-a-doped in every game, the wins have come from feistiness and last-minute out-of-breath punch-drunk haymakers thrown at more out-of-breath wobbly opponets …

not by playing well with any consistency.

Meanwhile, Det and GB started horribly but feel like teams that improved and self-corrected and picked up steam at the right time. I dont think they are good teams but they are certainly playing well at the right time.

Yes winning in the playoffs will indeed be extra gravy for this vastly over-achieving team, I just wish it felt more like a building process into the future.
Not just flukiness.

Good points. At this rate is doesn't feel like we're building upon anything.

We're not, personnel wise. Project out two years and even with keeping any valuable players up for free agency, there isn't much:

- The two OTs
- Jefferson
- Hock
- Maybe a couple of decent CBs

Role players:
- Osborn
- Phillips
- Maybe a couple of young players like Asomo

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

The Vikings are giving up nearly 397 yards-per-game on defense. You can't win anything important with that.

Definitely agree with you. I'm just disappointed with the complete disappearance of offense in the bigger spots. We know the defense stinks.

The Vikings often forget they have a decent running game to rely on. They have the second least amount of attempts in the league for the year.

IMO, Cook and the running game had a chance to be great yesterday but the play-calling never allowed it to happen. Once the Packers got out front they were daring the Vikings to run and they wouldn't do it.

The Vikings had 17 attempts from running backs in the game, four of which came in the first five minutes of the game. If you are going to try and control the tempo of the game, you have to be smarter than that.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

It's an 8-8 team with a 12-4 record. Exactly what I've been saying all season. The defense is horrific. The quarterback is, at-best, one of the 15-20 best quarterbacks in the league (no higher).

It's been a fun season with the close wins and all, but it's not a great football team. Right now they may be the third best team in their own division.

Yesterday was a classic case of the major difference between a great quarterback and "just a guy". The great quarterback made Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard look good. The guy with Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn made a mess of the game.

The great QB had a clean pocket and a running game. Cousins wasn't very good yesterday but has overall played better than Rodgers this season.

That's why one team has 12 wins and the other 8.

Rodgers started the season with one returning wide receiver (Lazard), who was the No. 3 guy last season (and not very good). His best offensive linemen has barely played since week five.

Cousins started the season with a full compliment of guys returning and then his organization went out and got him one of the better tight ends in the league (mid stream) when it mattered.

Which guy has team clicking at the right time?

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

The Packers could go on a deep playoff run, unless the Vikings can stop them in the NFC Championship. Or Detroit knocks them out next week, lol.

The Packers gradually improved the last 5 years by changing DCs: Capers < Pettine < Barry.

They also improved significantly on special teams, getting the Raiders special teams coach last off-season.

So they have fine tuned a few things. The Vikings could see early, and even mid-season the Donatell defense is horrible, and could have upgraded slightly mid-season switching to Pettine, or significantly with getting Vic Fangio, but chose not to.

Maybe it was better to not switch, and keep the chemistry the same ? They do pull out close games, it's the other games that have me concerned.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

It's an 8-8 team with a 12-4 record. Exactly what I've been saying all season. The defense is horrific. The quarterback is, at-best, one of the 15-20 best quarterbacks in the league (no higher).

It's been a fun season with the close wins and all, but it's not a great football team. Right now they may be the third best team in their own division.

Yesterday was a classic case of the major difference between a great quarterback and "just a guy". The great quarterback made Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard look good. The guy with Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn made a mess of the game.

The great QB had a clean pocket and a running game. Cousins wasn't very good yesterday but has overall played better than Rodgers this season.

That's why one team has 12 wins and the other 8.

Rodgers started the season with one returning wide receiver (Lazard), who was the No. 3 guy last season (and not very good). His best offensive linemen has barely played since week five.

Cousins started the season with a full compliment of guys returning and then his organization went out and got him one of the better tight ends in the league (mid stream) when it mattered.

Which guy has team clicking at the right time?

One game. Plus, Watson should have had 2 more TDs yesterday. Underthrow and a throw 3 yards out of bounds.

One has a guaranteed home game in playoffs and the other has to sweat a hot DET team.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

It's an 8-8 team with a 12-4 record. Exactly what I've been saying all season. The defense is horrific. The quarterback is, at-best, one of the 15-20 best quarterbacks in the league (no higher).

It's been a fun season with the close wins and all, but it's not a great football team. Right now they may be the third best team in their own division.

Yesterday was a classic case of the major difference between a great quarterback and "just a guy". The great quarterback made Romeo Doubs, Christian Watson, Robert Tonyan and Allen Lazard look good. The guy with Justin Jefferson, TJ Hockenson, Adam Thielen and KJ Osborn made a mess of the game.

The great QB had a clean pocket and a running game. Cousins wasn't very good yesterday but has overall played better than Rodgers this season.

That's why one team has 12 wins and the other 8.

Rodgers started the season with one returning wide receiver (Lazard), who was the No. 3 guy last season (and not very good). His best offensive linemen has barely played since week five.

Cousins started the season with a full compliment of guys returning and then his organization went out and got him one of the better tight ends in the league (mid stream) when it mattered.

Which guy has team clicking at the right time?

One game. Plus, Watson should have had 2 more TDs yesterday. Underthrow and a throw 3 yards out of bounds.

One has a guaranteed home game in playoffs and the other has to sweat a hot DET team.

Lets say these two teams somehow get matched against one-another in the opening round of the playoffs. Who do you take?

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

Ricky, I think Green Bay and Seattle will have the same record if they both win, the same divisional record, but the Packers have a better conference record.

Correct me if I am wrong on this.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Mark Anderson

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

quote:

ORIGINAL: Richard Neussendorfer

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tom Sykes

quote:

ORIGINAL: Bill Johanesen

What would an elevator pitch about the team sound like?

So they are 12-4 BUT... and there are a lot of them. The pass defense is horrid, and QBs have career days against them. The offense is wildly inconsistent, often going 3 and out on consecutive possessions when just a semi-sustained drive is needed. They usually win aided by some crazy turnover, sudden great play, a tilt towards home games, and playing teams that are without their starting QB. Uncanny luck in close games, certainly against the odds. They get blown out by good teams. But really, the expectations were not that high and it's sort of a "the rest is gravy" kind of season.

This team has bobbed and weaved and rope-a-doped in every game, the wins have come from feistiness and last-minute out-of-breath punch-drunk haymakers thrown at more out-of-breath wobbly opponets …

not by playing well with any consistency.

Meanwhile, Det and GB started horribly but feel like teams that improved and self-corrected and picked up steam at the right time. I dont think they are good teams but they are certainly playing well at the right time.

Yes winning in the playoffs will indeed be extra gravy for this vastly over-achieving team, I just wish it felt more like a building process into the future.
Not just flukiness.

Good points. At this rate is doesn't feel like we're building upon anything.

We're not, personnel wise. Project out two years and even with keeping any valuable players up for free agency, there isn't much:

- The two OTs
- Jefferson
- Hock
- Maybe a couple of decent CBs

Role players:
- Osborn
- Phillips
- Maybe a couple of young players like Asomo

Hopefully KAM doesn't get sentimental with players like Kendricks, Smith, Thielen, Cook.

There is cap space to be had. Just need to cut bait.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

Brad, I seriously doubt Minnesota and Green Bay get matched up in the first round. I don't think we'll have a combination of SF losing at home to Arizona, and Minnesota winning on the road at Chicago.

If they meet in the NFC Championship, I think the Vikings have a good chance at home.

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

Ricky, I think Green Bay and Seattle will have the same record if they both win, the same divisional record, but the Packers have a better conference record.

Correct me if I am wrong on this.

quote:

ORIGINAL: Brad H

My prediction: The Vikings have a Chernobyl meltdown for a quarter in their opening playoff game and the season is over. I don't care if it's New York, Seattle, Detroit, you name it.