Week 14 NFL

[TheLeviathan]

Well....JJ will be back.  We have a three game stretch here against some of the absolute dregs of the NFL in terms of pass defense.  If he's going to build any future momentum, this is the time.

Helps that KOC was a bit more self-reflective in his pressers, so maybe we can generate some hope?  (Even though I personally hope they just lose out at this point.  Draft position is the only "win" we can get from here)

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

Well....JJ will be back.  We have a three game stretch here against some of the absolute dregs of the NFL in terms of pass defense.  If he's going to build any future momentum, this is the time.

Helps that KOC was a bit more self-reflective in his pressers, so maybe we can generate some hope?  (Even though I personally hope they just lose out at this point.  Draft position is the only "win" we can get from here)

And is there anything McCarthy can do at this point that would make us all say, OK, he should be starting next year? I don't want to cheer against him, but at this point, ambiguity is the most disastrous outcome for this team. So I think this team is better off if it continues to be obvious that he's going to need to take a backseat and hope to revive his career in another location.

[gunnarthor]

13 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

And is there anything McCarthy can do at this point that would make us all say, OK, he should be starting next year? I don't want to cheer against him, but at this point, ambiguity is the most disastrous outcome for this team. So I think this team is better off if it continues to be obvious that he's going to need to take a backseat and hope to revive his career in another location.

Well the obvious answer is that he goes off. If he completes something like 67% of his passes, averages over 300+/game, throws 15 TD to, say, 2 int. 

[Vanimal46]

42 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

And is there anything McCarthy can do at this point that would make us all say, OK, he should be starting next year? I don't want to cheer against him, but at this point, ambiguity is the most disastrous outcome for this team. So I think this team is better off if it continues to be obvious that he's going to need to take a backseat and hope to revive his career in another location.

No matter what happens, I'm still giving McCarthy a fair shot at competing for the starting spot next year... The next 5 games determines what caliber of veteran QB we acquire to compete with him. If we see some actual improvement, like processing faster and god forbid mixing in some touch passes, then maybe we can get away with signing a Flacco type in FA. If it's more or less the same, then we probably have to trade a late round pick for a guy like Davis Mills, Jacoby Brissett, or Anthony Richardson. If McCarthy continues to regress, then we probably have to trade a 3rd round or higher pick for Mac Jones or Kyler Murray. 

[gunnarthor]

I don't usually root for Dallas but I hope one of their offensive linemen score a TD tomorrow against Detroit.

[TheLeviathan]

4 hours ago, nicksaviking said:

And is there anything McCarthy can do at this point that would make us all say, OK, he should be starting next year? I don't want to cheer against him, but at this point, ambiguity is the most disastrous outcome for this team. So I think this team is better off if it continues to be obvious that he's going to need to take a backseat and hope to revive his career in another location.

Honestly?  No idea.  I know that we have these three cake defenses - if he can't at least look competent against them then I'm ready to go the Brissett or even Mac Jones route.  

But maybe he builds some momentum and looks good against GB and Detroit and then we have a new conversation about having hope.  Sometimes a young QB just needs to start feeling success to show growth.  

I do have one thing that would just completely break my trust in whether to invest in him: if he can't finish out this short stretch of games.  The injuries are not necessarily his fault (the concussion was an awkward AF play though) but if we're constantly dealing with injuries it might be time to move on anyway.

[nicksaviking]

1 hour ago, TheLeviathan said:

Honestly?  No idea.  I know that we have these three cake defenses - if he can't at least look competent against them then I'm ready to go the Brissett or even Mac Jones route.  

But maybe he builds some momentum and looks good against GB and Detroit and then we have a new conversation about having hope.  Sometimes a young QB just needs to start feeling success to show growth.  

I do have one thing that would just completely break my trust in whether to invest in him: if he can't finish out this short stretch of games.  The injuries are not necessarily his fault (the concussion was an awkward AF play though) but if we're constantly dealing with injuries it might be time to move on anyway.

A conversation about having hope is what I most fear. If there isn't either near consensus conviction or accepted resignation, we as Viking fans are once again looking at an unclear path forward.

A third year of playing 'Is he or Isn't he?' is the worst case scenario.

[TheLeviathan]

5 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

A conversation about having hope is what I most fear. If there isn't either near consensus conviction or accepted resignation, we as Viking fans are once again looking at an unclear path forward.

A third year of playing 'Is he or Isn't he?' is the worst case scenario.

I totally sympathize with that fear.  I don't begrudge anyone who wants out on him, he's been bad enough to warrant that.

[nicksaviking]

5 hours ago, TheLeviathan said:

I totally sympathize with that fear.  I don't begrudge anyone who wants out on him, he's been bad enough to warrant that.

Honestly, I'm probably less convinced than many that he'll completely bust. But two years is all I'm giving him or any rookie QB. I know, he was hurt, but it's not fair to the fans or the rest of the organization to wait on JJ any further than that. This team just has to try again, otherwise they are aimless and acting out of desperation. 

And I won't be butt hurt when he turns his career around with another team a few years down the road; that's been the trend lately and it's part of what you need to accept when drafting a young QB.

[TheLeviathan]

20 minutes ago, nicksaviking said:

Honestly, I'm probably less convinced than many that he'll completely bust. But two years is all I'm giving him or any rookie QB. I know, he was hurt, but it's not fair to the fans or the rest of the organization to wait on JJ any further than that. This team just has to try again, otherwise they are aimless and acting out of desperation. 

And I won't be butt hurt when he turns his career around with another team a few years down the road; that's been the trend lately and it's part of what you need to accept when drafting a young QB.

The only thing keeping me in the "well, maybe I could roll with him longer" is that there is really slim pickings in the draft.  Like you....I'm in this for the HR swing.

I guess I'm pretty much open to anything at this point.

[Parfigliano]

I think it would be a nice development if JJMc could play a tick above average and finish the season without another injury.

[Vanimal46]

Can anyone explain this recent trend of wearing ski masks playing inside a domed stadium? With their mouth guard dangling on their helmet?

[The Great Hambino]

2 hours ago, Vanimal46 said:

Can anyone explain this recent trend of wearing ski masks playing inside a domed stadium? With their mouth guard dangling on their helmet?

Sub-Zero was really intimidating?  I dunno, I don't get the fashion of the youths.  See also: zipped-up hoods on NBA warm-ups.  I never understood any form of cloth under the helmet - it's just uncomfortable and slides around.  I don't get it.  But I had negative swag

The mouthguards are surprisingly easy to forget about.  I saw a CB last week playing with it stuck in one of those new-age slits in the crown of the helmet

[gunnarthor]

Allen might be enough to finally get Buffalo into the super bowl but, man, they make things ugly. 

[Aggies7]

Baltimore really got screwed against the Steelers. 

[Aggies7]

Damn browns. Incompetent goofs couldn’t beat the titans 

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

That was a Cam Ward / Shedeur Sanders matchup. Just looking at the stat sheet, Sanders had the better individual game by far. 

[Aggies7]

Just now, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

That was a Cam Ward / Shedeur Sanders matchup. Just looking at the stat sheet, Sanders had the better individual game by far. 

Browns will still be drafting a quarterback I’d bet 

[Aggies7]

What a bomb thrown by Love for the TD

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

14 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Browns will still be drafting a quarterback I’d bet 

Well, right, I agree. It’s just a thing to notice for today. 

Actually maybe not because I just saw Deshaun Watson is on pace to return next year lol 

[Aggies7]

Bears hanging around, playing tough. Might not be an easy out in January 

[Aggies7]

1 hour ago, Hosken Bombo Disco said:

Well, right, I agree. It’s just a thing to notice for today. 

Actually maybe not because I just saw Deshaun Watson is on pace to return next year lol 

You’re right he did have a great stat line 

[Vanimal46]

3 minutes ago, Aggies7 said:

Bears hanging around, playing tough. Might not be an easy out in January 

The Rams feel like the top dog in the NFC. They’re separating themselves from the pack 

[Aggies7]

1 minute ago, Vanimal46 said:

The Rams feel like the top dog in the NFC. They’re separating themselves from the pack 

Yeah they’re back on track. Arizona is pathetic though. Probably drafting a guy 

[Vanimal46]

That was a terrible pass from Caleb with the game on the line 

[gunnarthor]

GB won. Sigh

[Hosken Bombo Disco]

It was, terrible. Williams obviously didn’t see a green jersey anywhere. I expected a wide open Bear, but nope. 

I thought Williams was going to scramble to the sideline for a first down. 

Great game by the Bears and their running game especially. 

[Aggies7]

10 minutes ago, Vanimal46 said:

That was a terrible pass from Caleb with the game on the line 

Bears can win with him though. Thought he had a good second half til that poor throw 

[Vanimal46]

The Bears could easily miss the playoffs. The NFC West is loaded and likely sending 3 to the playoffs. Bears schedule:

Home Browns, home Packers, At 49ers, home Lions 

[Vanimal46]

Skol Texans. Knock the Chiefs out of the playoffs for good