quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

I sometimes think what a player or coach says before a game can be quite meaningful in predicting an outcome in part based on expectation.

Now, this may not have been his intention, but when Adrian Peterson said THIS: 

"We have to get off to a fast start (Sunday)," he said. "It'll be hard playing catch-up at Heinz Field."
 
I couldn't but think that had he said "It WOULD be hard playing catch-up at Heinz Field", that would have meant he expected that the Vikes would NOT be behind, but because he said "It'll be hard playing catch-up at Heinz Field", it makes me think that he believes the Vikes WILL be playing catch-up.

And that is NOT a good sign.  I think the Vikes will lose this one, even if Favre plays well.

Pittsburgh 27 
Minnesota 17 
 
I have faith in the Vikings winning at home, but they haven't beat a good team on the road --- yet.  I MIGHT even change my mind on this one later in the morning, because Favre is playing so well, and this team learned from last week that hard work CAN pay off, if you are fortunate to get a little luck with it. 

It also true that this win puts the Vikes in the drivers' seat, so if it's close I think there is actually a good chance the Vikes WIN.  I'm sure Pittsburgh sees every win as important, but it might not feel that a win is of such importance as it is to the Vikes.  We'll see. 

quote:

ORIGINAL: Thomas O. Eliason

quote:

ORIGINAL: jim

Vikings 24 Steelers 30

Favre 23/36 225 2 TDs 1 Int

AD 109 yds 1 TD

Rice 75 yds 1 TD

Shiancoe 52 yds 1 TD

Berrian 55 yds

Def 3 Sacks 2 TOs

Damnit jim !  Those look like stats from a win !

quote:

ORIGINAL: Tim Cady

quote:

ORIGINAL: Dave Odle

After further observation, Phillips seems to have some freeze face going on as well. Even so, that 22-year-old chick looks like a roadie from an Aerosmith road tour. (shivers).

No way, Aerosmith likes hotties, she has Head East written all over her. You ever see those guys, they still play once in a while and they didn't look good 30 years ago.

quote:

ORIGINAL: jim

Vikings 24 Steelers 30    Vikes  17    Steelers  27

Favre 23/36 225 2 TDs 1 Int       34/51      334     0 TD  1  INT

AD 109 yds 1 TD      129  yds     1  TD

Rice 75 yds 1 TD     136  0  TD

Shiancoe 52 yds 1 TD      27  yds   0  TD

Berrian 55 yds       18   yds 

Def 3 Sacks 2 TOs   3  sacks    1  TO

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

ME

Green Bay at Cleveland     - Packers     
San Diego at Kansas City - Chargers
Indianapolis at St. Louis - Colts
Minnesota at Pittsburgh - Steelers
New England at Tampa Bay - Pats
San Francisco at Houston - Texans
Buffalo at Carolina     - Panthers
NY Jets at Oakland - Jets
Atlanta at Dallas     - Cowboys
Chicago at Cincinnati     - Bengals
New Orleans at Miami     - Saints
Arizona at NY Giants     - giants

Philadelphia at Washington - Eagles

Lil John

Green Bay at Cleveland     - Packers     
San Diego at Kansas City - Chargers
Indianapolis at St. Louis - Colts
Minnesota at Pittsburgh - Vikings
New England at Tampa Bay - Pats
San Francisco at Houston - 49ers
Buffalo at Carolina     - Panthers
NY Jets at Oakland - Jets
Atlanta at Dallas     - Falcons
Chicago at Cincinnati     - Bengals
New Orleans at Miami     - Saints
Arizona at NY Giants     - Cardinals

Philadelphia at Washington - Eagles

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

I'm having a bi-polar week.

Yesterday, I was ready to surprise you guys, and I was going to post prediction of a Vikings' win, with THE EXACT SCORE, MAKING IT TWO WEEKS IN A ROW.  I was going to go with a close score, I know some of you are predicting blowouts.  I REALLY want to nail the score, and couldn't hammer out an exact score.

Then along comes today, and doubt of a Vikings' victory started creeping in.  Why, many reasons.  The team with the better DEFENSE usually wins, and right now, without Winfield the Packers have the better defense.

I wanted to go with those that believe Peterson will control this game, and will the team to victory, but I'm just not sure.  This game would be hard to win, even if it were in Minnesota.   The Vikings can afford to lose this one, while it's almost do or die for the Packers.

I expect big games for a couple of players ready to explode: GREG JENNINGS and Adrian Peterson.  Will the Vikes cover Jennings without Winfield ?  I don't know.  IF both Winfield and Berrian don't play, I would lean towards the PUKERS winning.  
 
The Packers will do a better job of bottling up Rice than the 3 previous opponents.  They will key on Rice and that will REALLY slow down the Vikings' offense, unless Harvin has a big day.  The Vikes need BERRIAN in there for balance.

I expect the Packers will use the same gameplan of NOT letting AP get outside, but at the same time they will blitz A LOT more, and have Kampmann on the line more.  I do NOT think Chili will hammer Peterson up the gut enough, he uses variety instead of hammering an opponents' weakness.

The Packers will focus on getting the ball in JENNING'S hands and that will be trouble.  I think Rodgers will play like a maniac, even BETTER than he did the last time around.  Which will is stronger - Favre to beat Ted Thompson or Rodgers to get out of Favre's shadow ?  I think this time it will be Rodgers because Favre had SOME of that satisfied with the 1st outing, and because Rodgers will be playing in a place where getting out of the shadow and all the talk of Favre will be to the forefront.

I'm NOT set on picking the Packers yet, and might change my mind later in the week.  I want to SHOCK THE WORLD and nail 2 games in row with EXACTLY the correct score and the correct team winning. 
 
I get the feeling the Packer defense will be creating more turnovers, the Vikings' heart and soul is out with injury, and turnovers will be the difference. 

I think it is WRONG to think because the Vikes played the Steelers close, they are BETTER than the Packers, and will go and BEAT the Packers on the road because the Packers aren't as good as the Steelers.  It is quite possible the Packers go win at Pittsburgh later in the season.  Sometimes I think it's WHEN you play a team.  Had the Vikes played the Steelers earlier in the year they might have beaten them.  After suffering 2 home losses in close games at the end, the Steelers were hungry to pull this one out at the end. 

The spread: GB by 3

This spread is bothersome to me, should there be any meddling or 'sway' by the officials.  The 'SAFE' bet is to take the Vikes and 3 points as they are a 6-1 team that just about beat the Steelers in Pittsburgh and many think Favre will will the team to victory to get back at Thompson.

To take GB and give up 3 when they alreadly lost to the Vikings, have OL problems, just beat some really poor teams and have lost both times they played a good team, is RISKY.  So if any 'sway' is involved, it MIGHT go towards the Pack, as the money is likely to be on the 'SAFE' bet. 

I think the game should be a pick em or GB by 1.  IF the line was Minnesota favored by 4, I would bet on MINNESOTA because so many of the games between these 2 teams have been close, so if there IS any 'sway' involved, then it would probably be officiating that helped MINNESOTA, which would probably lead to them covering the 4.    

quote:

ORIGINAL: marty

It's easier to switch when the game is a home game.

Looking over this weeks' matchups, I think it's possible that ALL THREE undefeated teams LOSE. 
 
You guys saw what Flacco could play like in a close game, and that was ON THE ROAD against the Vikes, he put them in a position to WIN.  Although I don't think the Baltimore 2ndary is as good as last year, and they miss their DC, I think if Orton has to make a play late in the game, ED REED will come up big.  If it's on offense, I think the Ravens will be more agressive then they were against Minnesota and NOT let it boil down to a kick.  They will surprise the Broncos and get a TD.

quote:

IF Indys' power runner is out (Donald Brown), I think SF could contain Addai and knock them off.  There is not a lot of film of Alex Smith playing with the current 49ers roster, and maybe Crabtree has a breakout game.  Smith had 3 TDs in one half on the road against Houston.  Remember the 49ers gave the Vikes a game while the niners were on the road, and that was with the marginal Shaun Hill.  Also, Wayne and Freeney are nicked up.  This is the LEAST likely of the 3 to me, but if Indy over-looks the 49ers, they might be in trouble.    

quote:

The Saints COULD lose to Atlanta.  It always seems like when a team is rolling and looks unbeatable, THAT is when they LOSE in the NFL.  Atlanta is a good team to pull it off because they have the ground game to control the clock, they are probably being over-looked by the Saints, and they have an agressive defense that could slow the Saints down.  They also have a QB that might manage the game well, and NOT throw picks into the ballhawking Saints' 2ndary.  

quote:

Right now in my newspaper pool, I'm picking ALL THREE dogs, but that could change, I don't feel all that confident in the 49ers, but the other 2 have a pretty good chance.             

quote:

ORIGINAL: kwheats

Game time weather forcast is for 43 degrees with partly cloudy skies and light winds

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

I can easily see the Saints losing this week.  Atlanta has to win this game or the division is all but over.

I also don't think the Saints are going 16-0

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

I can easily see the Saints losing this week.  Atlanta has to win this game or the division is all but over.

I also don't think the Saints are going 16-0

You using the same logic with the Vikings game?

Packers have to win this game or the division is all but over.

I don't think the Saints are going to go 16-0 either...but I don't think they overlook the Falcons...which was my point.

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

I can easily see the Saints losing this week.  Atlanta has to win this game or the division is all but over.

I also don't think the Saints are going 16-0

You using the same logic with the Vikings game?

Packers have to win this game or the division is all but over.

I don't think the Saints are going to go 16-0 either...but I don't think they overlook the Falcons...which was my point.

Yes, I am.

Both the Packers and Falcons will have their "A" game going because they can't afford to lose.

But in both cases it doesn't mean that they will win.

quote:

ORIGINAL: kwheats

Game time weather forcast is for 43 degrees with partly cloudy skies and light winds

quote:

ORIGINAL: drviking

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

quote:

ORIGINAL: Trekgeekscott

quote:

ORIGINAL: John Childress

I can easily see the Saints losing this week.  Atlanta has to win this game or the division is all but over.

I also don't think the Saints are going 16-0

You using the same logic with the Vikings game?

Packers have to win this game or the division is all but over.

I don't think the Saints are going to go 16-0 either...but I don't think they overlook the Falcons...which was my point.

Yes, I am.

Both the Packers and Falcons will have their "A" game going because they can't afford to lose.

But in both cases it doesn't mean that they will win.

this game is WAY more important for the pukers

if we win, its a HUGE win, if we lose its an annoying loss

quote:

ORIGINAL: jim

Favre seems to perform well during emotional games. After his father passed away, last game vs. Packers, so I would not be surprised if he plays very well this week. He should know the tendencies of the defensive secondary players pretty well and should exploit them. I don't think Capers is all that and I don't think he will dial up anything special against us. If anything, he applies more pressure with blitzing. Hopefully, we have learned how to execute a screen pass this week as I think this would be very effective against GB.

This will be a good game but I don't think GB has an answer for our front four and if our secondary can play as well as last week, we should win. We need a healthy dose of AD in both halves.