2022 Vikings Regular Season Thread

[Aggies7]

On 11/25/2022 at 1:41 PM, LVTwinsfan said:

Yeah 9-2. 

I think that was a reference to something in game that happened, in fairness to me. 
 

But regardless, this is a team closer to .500 than 9-2. I’m sorry, the defense is just not very good and the numbers bear it out. We’re defying logic by giving up 400 yards of offense and continuing to win. It’s like giving up 8+ runs a game and still coming out on top.

We’ve played two top offenses in the NFC (Philly and Dallas) and gotten rolled. SF would be much of the same. Maybe if some guys get healthy it won’t be such a mismatch, but I don’t trust the defense against any competent offense at this point.

[Aggies7]

On 11/25/2022 at 5:41 PM, Danchat said:

This team just crushes it in the 4th quarter, consistently outplaying teams in one possession games. They simply don't implode like Vikings teams of the past, and O'Connell seems to have a firm grasp on the pulse of the team, turnovers that would usually submarine the offense don't and stupid penalties and bad clock management are mostly in the past. They're beating teams in the margins and kicking butt in the clutch... I thought the idea that Zimmer was the root of the problem was a fallacy, but dang they are way better without him, in a lot of subtle ways. The personnel is still questionable in a lot of spots and I don't see this team going on a deep playoff run, but it's been a fantastic first year for O'Connell.

That was one of the sloppiest games from a Belichick team, horribly coached on special teams, making simple mistakes, and really dumb penalties. I'm shocked he didn't blow a gasket on the sideline. How do you lose when you have a top 3 defense and Mac Jones dices the defense up for 382 yards?!

BTW, the Vikings have given up the 2nd most yards, 27th in yards per play. Offensively they're an underwhelming 22nd in yards per play... and yet they're winning games. I thought they'd be toast after a 4 day break from getting curbstomped, but here we are. 

They’re defying logic, in part because our offense is really good. The defensive numbers are really bad. We match up poorly against all the top offenses in the NFC. The best we can hope for is facing a team like the giants or even seattle in the first round. Philly, Dallas and SF would blow through the defense as is.

[nicksaviking]

Are they rope-a-doping teams? Are they intentionally playing super soft D for three quarters, then doing the opposite in the fourth? The first part of that equation is certain, I’m just not sure about the 4th Q. Are they playing different? Or are they just getting lucky?

Also, they need to stop with the screen passes on offense; they are always getting blow up. Not sure why exactly, but they seem to fail at an unbelievable rate this year.

[Parfigliano]

2 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Are they rope-a-doping teams? Are they intentionally playing super soft D for three quarters, then doing the opposite in the fourth? The first part of that equation is certain, I’m just not sure about the 4th Q. Are they playing different? Or are they just getting lucky?

Also, they need to stop with the screen passes on offense; they are always getting blow up. Not sure why exactly, but they seem to fail at an unbelievable rate this year.

Vikes run a screen just pencil in negative yardage and move on.  Been saying this for ever

[Aggies7]

3 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

Are they rope-a-doping teams? Are they intentionally playing super soft D for three quarters, then doing the opposite in the fourth? The first part of that equation is certain, I’m just not sure about the 4th Q. Are they playing different? Or are they just getting lucky?

Also, they need to stop with the screen passes on offense; they are always getting blow up. Not sure why exactly, but they seem to fail at an unbelievable rate this year.

The linemen seem too slow to run screens.

I think there’s been some serious good fortune going on this year. The double doinker FG against the saints. The penalty on the FG vs Washington, the dropped snap in the end zone against buffalo. Even against NE, the catch that wasn’t a catch in the end zone for the patriots. Every team has some level of fortune during the season, but we’re winning these one score games at a rate that is usually not seen. 8-0 in one score games is utter absurdity.

[Danchat]

In what has otherwise been a great season for a brand new regime, I think this is worth mentioning:

It's been about the worst possible rookie year for Booth - constantly injured, and when finally healthy he looked terrible. I liked him as a prospect but the injuries were a red flag that caused teams to take him off their boards in the first round. There is still potential for him to be a capable NFL starter with how well he played in Clemson, but I believe it's more likely than not that he's a bust at this point. Not good for the first player the new regime traded up for.

And hey, regarding the criticism towards Donatell's defense - it's not his fault this draft class has had zero impact this season. Next year's class is going to be a weaker crop with a likely late 1st and no 2nd...

[nicksaviking]

Booth was always injured in college and high school. I know a lot of people liked the pick, but just like the rest of the draft, he really was a terrible decision, especially considering the players they passed up to get him. DBs and WRs are the one position where the guy can rarely play through an injury. Run far, far away from the DBs who can't stay healthy in college.

[cHawk]

On 11/26/2022 at 9:09 PM, Aggies7 said:

They’re defying logic, in part because our offense is really good. The defensive numbers are really bad. We match up poorly against all the top offenses in the NFC. The best we can hope for is facing a team like the giants or even seattle in the first round. Philly, Dallas and SF would blow through the defense as is.

None of those three teams will be the 7-seed. The 49ers will win their division. One of the Cowboys or Eagles will win the East and the other will be the 5-seed.

[Vanimal46]

14 hours ago, Danchat said:

In what has otherwise been a great season for a brand new regime, I think this is worth mentioning:

Yeah, Kwesi got too cute with the trades in his first draft. I was on board with trading down from 12 overall before the draft, but not down to 32 and for the package we ended up receiving from Detroit. He had some learning lessons and hopefully he’ll be better the next draft. 

[Aggies7]

5 hours ago, cHawk said:

None of those three teams will be the 7-seed. The 49ers will win their division. One of the Cowboys or Eagles will win the East and the other will be the 5-seed.

Yeah that’s great if your goal is to win one playoff game. You aren’t avoiding Dallas, SF or Philly if you want to get to the Super Bowl, which should be everyone’s goal. I’ve seen enough first round/divisional round exits in my 30 years following this team to last a lifetime 

[Mike Sixel]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Yeah, Kwesi got too cute with the trades in his first draft. I was on board with trading down from 12 overall before the draft, but not down to 32 and for the package we ended up receiving from Detroit. He had some learning lessons and hopefully he’ll be better the next draft. 

I didn't hate the trades, I didn't love the picks.....I would have stayed put and gone DL or DB, but that's just my bias.

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Aggies7 said:

Yeah that’s great if your goal is to win one playoff game. You aren’t avoiding Dallas, SF or Philly if you want to get to the Super Bowl, which should be everyone’s goal. I’ve seen enough first round/divisional round exits in my 30 years following this team to last a lifetime 

I’m not sure why we should be frightened over these teams. Dak Prescott has shown over the years he’s more than capable of having a dud game. San Francisco wants to win games 17-10. Philly hasn’t been battle tested at all. The one time they got punched in the mouth by Washington they didn’t counter back and lost. 

[Aggies7]

21 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

I’m not sure why we should be frightened over these teams. Dak Prescott has shown over the years he’s more than capable of having a dud game. San Francisco wants to win games 17-10. Philly hasn’t been battle tested at all. The one time they got punched in the mouth by Washington they didn’t counter back and lost. 

Defense wins championships and we have a bad one. I fully expect SF to be in the NFCCG despite their mediocre quarterback. Dallas has a better defense. Philly has a better defense when healthy. If you finish as the 3 seed, you pretty much guarantee you’ll have to win two road games to make the Super Bowl. 

[Aggies7]

Patriots offense looks quite a bit different tonight against buffalo. 7 points and 104 yards in the first half.

[Mike Sixel]

16 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Patriots offense looks quite a bit different tonight against buffalo. 7 points and 104 yards in the first half.

Understatement....

[Parfigliano]

17 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

Patriots offense looks quite a bit different tonight against buffalo. 7 points and 104 yards in the first half.

Seems Mac Jones is not up to the task.  Looks like alot of media hype and little results.

[Vanimal46]

Kevin O’Connell is the perfect hire for us. 

[Vanimal46]

4 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Seems Mac Jones is not up to the task.  Looks like alot of media hype and little results.

Before I write him off, I’m gonna need to see him throw the ball to someone better than Jakobi Meyers and cast off DeVonta Parker. 

[nicksaviking]

5 hours ago, Parfigliano said:

Seems Mac Jones is not up to the task.  Looks like alot of media hype and little results.

His ceiling was always Flacco/Dalton. 

Obviously a team with Flacco can win a championship, but not because of Flacco. It just seems like the most likely scenario with such a player is that he’s good enough to keep you average, but not good enough to put you over the top. Which is basically NFL purgatory.

And to be clear, he’s playing nowhere near his Flacco/Dalton ceiling. He’s looking way more Christian Ponder.

[cHawk]

49 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

His ceiling was always Flacco/Dalton. 

Obviously a team with Flacco can win a championship, but not because of Flacco. It just seems like the most likely scenario with such a player is that he’s good enough to keep you average, but not good enough to put you over the top. Which is basically NFL purgatory.

And to be clear, he’s playing nowhere near his Flacco/Dalton ceiling. He’s looking way more Christian Ponder.

I watched the Bills-Patriots game last night. The Pats’ offense looked embarrassingly bad.

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

4 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Kevin O’Connell is the perfect hire for us. 

And to think: the head coach was gonna be Jim Harbaugh for about 4 hours! 

[wabene]

13 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Kevin O’Connell is the perfect hire for us. 

That is one clean cut Abe, lol. 

[ashbury]

2 hours ago, wabene said:

That is one clean cut Abe, lol. 

"Other than that, Mrs Lincoln, how did you enjoy the Superbowl?"

[Danchat]

13 hours ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

And to think: the head coach was gonna be Jim Harbaugh for about 4 hours! 

I still would have enjoyed that, and Harbaugh is certainly doing a great job right now at Michigan. I think he would be similarly doing well like O'Connell is with the Vikings, but he'd probably have a shorter shelf life. O'Connell is the better long-term option.

[Vanimal46]

Excellent opening drive for the defense. Let’s go! 

[Aggies7]

Finally a turnover, been a few games 

[Aggies7]

And a prompt 3 and out. Greg Joseph from 50. Great.

[Aggies7]

Wow no way. Well done 

[Parfigliano]

4 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Wow no way. Well done 

Shocked me too

[Aggies7]

Short passing us to death