2021 Vikings Season Thread

[Mike Sixel]

47 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

I wonder if Cousins is a bit hurt? He got wacked in the head a few times in the last few weeks. Maybe he's dealing with a concussion? But he hasn't looked great for several weeks. Almost unrecognizable at some points. 

That thought also occurred to me. He looks off. 

[Danchat]

9 hours ago, gunnarthor said:

I wonder if Cousins is a bit hurt? He got wacked in the head a few times in the last few weeks. Maybe he's dealing with a concussion? But he hasn't looked great for several weeks. Almost unrecognizable at some points. 

Looks like you're right:

Quote

From PFT: Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins appeared on the practice report for the first time all season. He has an injury to his ribs.

 

[Vanimal46]

[gunnarthor]

Wow. That's really not good. 

[Mike Sixel]

Mattison and (maybe) Thielen are back.....

[TheLeviathan]

I am so sick of watching this run defense get gashed 7 yards at a time.  

[Mike Sixel]

Can't watch this week.... But it sure reads like the Vikings are, once again, throwing short of the line on third down over and over....

[Mike Sixel]

This seems unreal...

 

[cHawk]

17 minutes ago, Mike Sixel said:

This seems unreal...

 

There are many other reasons the Vikings won’t make the playoffs. Kubiak is a 1st year OC with a HC who’s gone through 6 OCs in his tenure.

[Mike Sixel]

10 minutes ago, cHawk said:

There are many other reasons the Vikings won’t make the playoffs. Kubiak is a 1st year OC with a HC who’s gone through 6 OCs in his tenure.

Which kind of misses the main point. The head coach is problem one, I agree. But kubiak is mediocre or worse.

[Mike Sixel]

You just can't kick chip shots. You have to go for it. Especially against a better team. 

[Vanimal46]

That should do it for any hopes of the playoffs. Philly is dominating NYG and will take over the 7 seed. Let’s be honest, the Vikings will get demolished in the playoffs anyway. 

[LVTwinsfan]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

That should do it for any hopes of the playoffs. Philly is dominating NYG and will take over the 7 seed. Let’s be honest, the Vikings will get demolished in the playoffs anyway. 

Hard to beat teams in your own division twice in a season, but the Bears  could be the exception.  Vikings 8-9 at best

[ashbury]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

That should do it for any hopes of the playoffs.

/obligatory

[TheLeviathan]

One step closer to a full rebuild.

[Vanimal46]

34 minutes ago, LVTwinsfan said:

Hard to beat teams in your own division twice in a season, but the Bears  could be the exception.  Vikings 8-9 at best

Judging by the team’s lack of urgency and excitement this game, we’re better off losing the last 2 games. 

There’s really nothing else to discuss with the 2021 team. We’re all just going through the motions until Zimmer and others are fired. 

[gunnarthor]

4 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

Judging by the team’s lack of urgency and excitement this game, we’re better off losing the last 2 games. 

There’s really nothing else to discuss with the 2021 team. We’re all just going through the motions until Zimmer and others are fired. 

Sadly, I agree. I really hate this team. Sometimes they look utterly amazing, especially on offense, and I think, "Finally, they got it figured out." And then they look like a they have no idea what the situation is. I think Zimmer really will regret not having a consistent OC, although a lot of that was his fault, as well.

[TheLeviathan]

22 minutes ago, gunnarthor said:

Sadly, I agree. I really hate this team. Sometimes they look utterly amazing, especially on offense, and I think, "Finally, they got it figured out." And then they look like a they have no idea what the situation is. I think Zimmer really will regret not having a consistent OC, although a lot of that was his fault, as well.

Or the defense is causing chaos, creating turnovers and playing stout.....then they are a complete sieve in critical moments.  The inconsistency is on coaching and that, far and away, is my biggest reason for wanting a change.

[Mike Sixel]

I watched the bills and patriots today. Both teams went for it on fourth down multiple times instead of kicking easy field goals.

Then we see the bears go for two and win.

No chance Zimmer does either.

I hope they lose the last two....

[stringer bell]

Without a real rooting interest, but having a fantasy team, it seems to me that talent is really even throughout the league, hence upsets almost every week. Good coaches and good QBs separate teams from the pack, but on any given Sunday……….

Zimmer and Cousins don’t separate the Vikings and they don’t have substantially more talent than anyone. They should let Zim go and move on from Cousins. 

[TheLeviathan]

19 hours ago, stringer bell said:

Without a real rooting interest, but having a fantasy team, it seems to me that talent is really even throughout the league, hence upsets almost every week. Good coaches and good QBs separate teams from the pack, but on any given Sunday……….

Zimmer and Cousins don’t separate the Vikings and they don’t have substantially more talent than anyone. They should let Zim go and move on from Cousins. 

A couple years ago I said that by far the two most important decisions for any FO are on their QB and their coach.  It's 1A and 1B.  I got some flack for that but I still believe it.  These are the two individuals that create separation on a week-in, week-out basis.  You can win with a shoddy O-line if these two foundations are in place.  You can win with shoddy playmakers.  You can win a less talented/experienced defense.  All of those things can be schemed or overcome if you have those two pieces locked down.

Cousins is a good QB, but not great.  And he needs his FO and coach to understand his strengths.  Zimmer quite clearly does not.  Worse, Zimmer relies too much on everything having to go perfectly for his schemes to work.  He can't seem to get young players to produce early, he's far too passive, and boxes himself in to the thinking of "this is how I do things to win" rather than "this is how we win this week".   

I'm game to keep Cousins and Spielman, but Zimmer has to go.

[stringer bell]

After looking at the playoff scenarios, I think at least one 9-8 team will make the playoffs in the NFC. The Vikings apparently have the tiebreaker over both New Orleans and Philly and I believe they’re in with a three- way tie involving SF and either the Eagles or Saints. I don’t see New Orleans winning these last three games or Philadelphia winning out. 
 

The Vikings are listed as having an 11% chance to make the playoffs, but that is mostly because they’re big underdogs at Green Bay. If they win at Green Bay, I think they still get the #7 seed. 

[Vanimal46]

On 12/27/2021 at 4:26 PM, stringer bell said:

After looking at the playoff scenarios, I think at least one 9-8 team will make the playoffs in the NFC. 

This is going to happen every single year now that they’ve expanded to 7 teams. I really don’t like the additional playoff team or the addition of the 17th regular season game. The 17th game during covid is incredibly tone deaf… As we’re seeing it now with teams starting 4th string QBs and players off other team’s practice squad. 

[Mike Sixel]

So, it is likely Cook can play, given the misreading of the new CDC guidelines (feel free to go back to work after five days, if you wear a mask and socially distance being ignored, clearly, by the NFL).

[stringer bell]

1 hour ago, Vanimal46 said:

This is going to happen every single year now that they’ve expanded to 7 teams. I really don’t like the additional playoff team or the addition of the 17th regular season game. The 17th game during covid is incredibly tone deaf… As we’re seeing it now with teams starting 4th string QBs and players off other team’s practice squad. 

The pandemic and expanded schedule has led to bad football and so many injuries. Who really wants to see guys signed off the street (Washington and Baltimore) or young QBs who are obviously not ready (Book and Fromm) try to win games in December? To see the long injury lists for every team is truly sad.

[Musk21]

Thielen is out the rest of the regular season after having surgery on the injured ankle.

[RpR]

I hope Cousins goes out early the next game and the one game newbie performs magnificently.

That may show Cousins he has to change, or leave.

[Mike Sixel]

48 minutes ago, RpR said:

I hope Cousins goes out early the next game and the one game newbie performs magnificently.

That may show Cousins he has to change, or leave.

I literally have no idea how another QB playing would change him. Also, it isn't up to him if he stays or goes. 

[Mike Sixel]

1 hour ago, Musk21 said:

Thielen is out the rest of the regular season after having surgery on the injured ankle.

Sucks. I hate it when humans get hurt.

[nicksaviking]

I don't want the Vikings to win another game.

But they are the only thing standing between Green Bay and a 1st round bye, so I'm obligated to cheer for just that.