VIKES @ TITANS

[Aggies7]

Levis would have almost 400 yards if not for penalties. This has been a terrible game for the Vikings. Can’t sugarcoat it 

[Mike Sixel]

1 minute ago, Aggies7 said:

Levis would have almost 400 yards if not for penalties. This has been a terrible game for the Vikings. Can’t sugarcoat it 

Ya. It's hard to believe in this team, even at 8-2. 

[Aggies7]

Just now, Mike Sixel said:

Ya. It's hard to believe in this team, even at 8-2. 

Not a believable 8-2. At all. The Texans game was the last good win. That’s not exaggeration. The opponents have simply been pitiful lately. 

[Mike Sixel]

Handed the game by the refs. That will be the story, or at least one of them. 

[Mike Sixel]

Why are they passing? Has KOC learned nothing?

[Parfigliano]

7 second half pts by this high powered offense.

[Aggies7]

Second half possessions:

Punt

Punt

Td

Punt

Punt

Punt

[Vanimal46]

Just now, Parfigliano said:

7 second half pts by this high powered offense.

Been a problem for more than a month 

[TheLeviathan]

In fairness, they dropped a TD that was a gimme.  The little things are holding this team back s bit.

[Aggies7]

Too bad we can’t play the AFC south in the playoffs
 

[Vanimal46]

Can’t say I feel great after this win. 

[Parfigliano]

Winner.  Somehow 8-2

[Mike Sixel]

Over on another site....I was reminded we weren't supposed to be good this year, so this is all gravy. And I'm going to enjoy the ride. 

[Aggies7]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

Can’t say I feel great after this win. 

You wonder what changed? Or were the first 3.5 games just SSS?

[Aggies7]

Ravens score, miss the two pointer…1:06 left with 3 timeouts. And they kick it deep. Why not just try the onsider???

[Cap'n Piranha]

2 hours ago, Mike Sixel said:

I'm beginning to question KOC as a great offensive mind. This offense is loaded. 

Careful saying things like that.  Nick, Gunnar, and Leviathan will all engage in personal attacks on you without refuting a single point you make for daring to challenge the genius of St. O’Connell.

[Vanimal46]

 

[Vanimal46]

1 hour ago, Aggies7 said:

You wonder what changed? Or were the first 3.5 games just SSS?

The struggles in the 2nd half continue on. The NFL is really strange this year. I can't recall a year where there are this many good not great teams with 6+ wins, and this many horrible teams with 3 wins or less. There's hardly any mediocre .500 teams. Detroit is the best team in the league and they are blowing out teams like it's rookie mode in Madden. 

[TheLeviathan]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

 

Clearly, KOC is awful and should be fired.  Or so I'm told.

[TheLeviathan]

If you just looked at the Titans record you'd assume a roll-away blow out but they have a very good defense.  Their two DTs are a menace to handle and their coach is an excellent schemer in his own right.  If you expected the offense to roll, this wasn't the game.

They moved the ball, their WR dropped an easy TD, and Darnold did a much better job not forcing the ball.  The running attack wasn't good, but (again) those two big boys up front are a lot to handle.

They won the game comfortably (had some ref help to be sure) and the defense continues to beat on inferior competition.  This team was never a Super Bowl contender this year, the fact that they look in line to have a sure-fire playoff bid is impressive as hell.  Right now we'd play whatever garbage teams wins the NFC South.  If you had told me that in July I'd have scoffed at you.

Kwesi and KOC aren't blameless or without room to be criticized, but 8-2 for this team is nothing short of stunning.  They deserve their flowers for it.

[Danchat]

11 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

KOC gets the red zone offense issues fixed today. 26-10 Vikes. 

Nice guess, you were close. I predicted 23-9 and nearly had it.

[Danchat]

5 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

You wonder what changed? Or were the first 3.5 games just SSS?

Big problem for the offense is no Darrisaw, they aren't run blocking the same without him. The run game hasn't been what it was since that early stretch, and they can only lean on the passing game so much.

Defensively, they're legit (average of 9 points per game being allowed over the past 3 games), they have some issues in the secondary but they can mostly cover that up with their ability to shut down the run and rush the passer. I don't see them beating the buzzsaw that is Detroit but they can play a close game against any of the other NFC contenders right now.

They are due for a letdown at some point as it's wild they are 8-2. My early guess is they lose next week to the Bears because they often slip up at Soldier Field and the Bears might be able to do something offensively now that they fired their OC. But nobody on the schedule really scares you, the Seahawks and Cardinals are decent teams and the Falcons are far more fraudulent than us. Packers run hot and cold.

[Vanimal46]

The crazy thing is they could be awful the rest of the season and stumble upon 10 wins. I think 12+ wins is pretty likely and that's better than what we've seen over the last 20 years. 

[TheLeviathan]

9 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

The crazy thing is they could be awful the rest of the season and stumble upon 10 wins. I think 12+ wins is pretty likely and that's better than what we've seen over the last 20 years. 

If they get to 12 wins, KOC would deserve coach of the year even if Dan Campbell is all but a lock at this point.

[Aggies7]

15 minutes ago, Danchat said:

Big problem for the offense is no Darrisaw, they aren't run blocking the same without him. The run game hasn't been what it was since that early stretch, and they can only lean on the passing game so much.

Defensively, they're legit (average of 9 points per game being allowed over the past 3 games), they have some issues in the secondary but they can mostly cover that up with their ability to shut down the run and rush the passer. I don't see them beating the buzzsaw that is Detroit but they can play a close game against any of the other NFC contenders right now.

They are due for a letdown at some point as it's wild they are 8-2. My early guess is they lose next week to the Bears because they often slip up at Soldier Field and the Bears might be able to do something offensively now that they fired their OC. But nobody on the schedule really scares you, the Seahawks and Cardinals are decent teams and the Falcons are far more fraudulent than us. Packers run hot and cold.

I would argue that struggling in each of these last 3 games against some really bad teams has been a letdown. I didn’t expect all 3 games to be such a struggle. Would be nice to see them put a solid full game together. It’s been a long time. 

[Aggies7]

If the bears aren’t totally demoralized after another brutal loss, you’d have to feel like they’re due for a win. Should be a good game.

[gunnarthor]

59 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

I would argue that struggling in each of these last 3 games against some really bad teams has been a letdown. I didn’t expect all 3 games to be such a struggle. Would be nice to see them put a solid full game together. It’s been a long time. 

Eh, it's the NFL. I'm not really overly concerned although I missed 6 of the quarters so maybe I'm not as scarred. I never thought we were losing to Indy, despite a bad first half and when I turned today's game off, I was pretty sure we were the far better team. Through 10 games, we're 4th in record and 4th in point deferential. I think that's generally a better indicator for the team (minus a major injury (Miami is clearly a better team with Tua)).

I think the big thing is a healthy Cashman but we'll have a better sense of how much that is him v. bad teams but the defense with him looks like it's just on another level. It's way early but looks like the Vikings will likely draft in the 20s somewhere and early draft boards have some solid DL and IOL in that range.

[TheLeviathan]

9 hours ago, Aggies7 said:

I would argue that struggling in each of these last 3 games against some really bad teams has been a letdown. I didn’t expect all 3 games to be such a struggle. Would be nice to see them put a solid full game together. It’s been a long time. 

The NFL is full of these kinds of losses.  The Baltimore Ravens are a better football team than the Vikings and have a great coach.  They go from looking like an unbeatable juggernaut to taking losses to the Browns and Raiders.  The Chiefs have at least two wins this year that were Ls if not for refs.  Steelers lost back to back weeks to the Cowboys and Colts.  The Eagles looked terrible to start the season.  

There is only one team that is going out and dominating teams on a weekly basis and even they have a loss on their docket.  Winning in the NFL ain't easy, just go ask Joe Burrow.

[gunnarthor]

I thought this was wild, although it will obviously change. Right now, the three wild card teams in the NFC - MN, GB, and Wash - have a better combined record than the NFC 2-4 seeds - Philly, AZ, and Falcons.  

[nicksaviking]

****Moderator Note****

Stay on topic please.