ESPN : Vikings in Superbowl???

[Lurker64]

ESPN really has no idea when it comes to picking out all but the obviously good teams. If you write a "Patriots/Packers/Colts/Cowboys in the Superbowl?" article nobody will care since nobody should be surprised if any of those teams are in the superbowl.

The modus operandi seems to be "pick one of the non-top four teams that seems to have the best chance in the playoffs." Minnesota's hot having beaten five straight teams, though the teams they beat range between unspectacular and bad and the Vikes haven't exactly looked phenomenal.

Personally, if I had to pick a wildcard team to go to the superbowl, I'd pick Jacksonville. They're mean and physical and can go to Foxboro in bad weather and beat up the Pats who are most effective when they can be a finesse passing team. Their kryptonite is the Colts, but they always play the Colts tough.

[OS PA]

The Monday night game proved that the way to beat Minnesota is to shut down AP. Tavaris was terrible, a few well-timed blitzes should create the same erratic play the Bears caused with their pressure. AP is still the heart of the Vikings offense.

ESPN's boards are a joke by the way. They give new meaning to the phrase "lunatic fringe."

I love my new avatar, BTW. I'm gonna see if I can edit it to swith the blue to green.

Can we shut down AP for a third game is the true question? If I were a betting man, I'd say AP runs hog wild on us if we play them again this year. Although he has looked pretty human the past two weeks, so I guess I'm glad I'm not a betting man.

[MJZiggy]

Jackson ran hog wild on us and we still beat the Rams.

[FritzDontBlitz]

The Monday night game proved that the way to beat Minnesota is to shut down AP. Tavaris was terrible, a few well-timed blitzes should create the same erratic play the Bears caused with their pressure. AP is still the heart of the Vikings offense.

ESPN's boards are a joke by the way. They give new meaning to the phrase "lunatic fringe."

I love my new avatar, BTW. I'm gonna see if I can edit it to swith the blue to green.

Can we shut down AP for a third game is the true question? If I were a betting man, I'd say AP runs hog wild on us if we play them again this year. Although he has looked pretty human the past two weeks, so I guess I'm glad I'm not a betting man.

I'd say yes we can. Crowd the line and force Tavaris to be an NFL quarterback. I'll gladly take my chances with him after Monday's night's performance. AP will probably get his yards and I'm doubtful we'd shut them out again. If the Packers use a ball control offense to eat up the clock, it will force Minnesota to utilize a quick scoring offense to keep pace with ours. If we contain AP - "contain" him meaning preventing him from scoring on long runs by limiting him to smaller gains - I don't think the Vikes will be able to stay with our offense with just the running game. Unless Tavaris is in rare form, the game will go to the Pack.

Of course, if the Minnesota defense shuts us down or forces a few turnovers its a totally different ball game.

[Lurker64]

Can we shut down AP for a third game is the true question? If I were a betting man, I'd say AP runs hog wild on us if we play them again this year. Although he has looked pretty human the past two weeks, so I guess I'm glad I'm not a betting man.

We really only shut down AP the last time we played them. The first time, he ran for over a hundred yards in the first half and Childress shut him down in the second half.

[HarveyWallbangers]

Can we shut down AP for a third game is the true question? If I were a betting man, I'd say AP runs hog wild on us if we play them again this year. Although he has looked pretty human the past two weeks, so I guess I'm glad I'm not a betting man.

We really only shut down AP the last time we played them. The first time, he ran for over a hundred yards in the first half and Childress shut him down in the second half.

Actually, the reason he didn't run much had more to do with us completely controlling the game. Peterson only had like 7 touches in the second half (with returns, carries, and receptions), but they only ran something like 22 plays in the second half of that game.

[4and12to12and4]

Yeah, i love how ESPN "experts" always ride the hot hand, and it's so ridiculous. It's so easy to see. I have always wanted the Skins and Eagles out because those defenses have good enough offenses to beat anyone, the Bears use to be in that category, they probably still could be, on a given day, the Giants are the worst team in the East IMO overall. They scare me not. All the other East teams have better defenses - in order - Eagles, Skins, Boys, Giants. And Eli is not very good, and when he is, his receivers aren't, and their run game is way too one dimensional without Tiki. I was saying all week I wanted the Bears to win because the Vikes scare me because you can't run against them, and they CAN run against you, after watching Jackson have his way Sunday, OMG, keep 'em away, after last night, I'm more confident we would beat them, but the Bears defense really came out with MAJOR energy and showed up, and AP still managed to get in the endzone twice and had over 70 yards, which is impressive. I think Grant would've had about 38 last night and gotten injured. I was hoping the Giants and Cardinals, but the Cards aren't gonna make it. So, who do you root for in the Vikes/Skins game next week? The skins win and they have the same record and have beaten them, so they slide into the sixth spot, right? Nobody mentioned that on ESPN, they just acted like the Vikes had the inside advantage while slobbering all over AP. I think I'd rather play the skins than the Vikes, although if the Skins go to Dallas, which they would, they could EASILY upset them, and we with a win over the giants or whichever division winner is left, would have home field against the Skins at Lambeau. Is Campbell gonna be back for the post season? That's how I'm looking at all this, also, I do NOT want to play Tampa, with Garcia, they can beat anyone also, the only good thing is them coming up North.

[woodbuck27]

I'll make this comment:.

Adrian Peterson is something else.

He's a difference maker and any team has to pay him respect and corresponding concern.

http://www.nfl.com/gamecenter?season=2007&week=REG15&game_id=29418

Game ball

Running back Adrian Peterson was corralled by the Bears for most of the game but carried the Vikings in the second half with a pair of touchdown runs. Peterson followed Robert Ferguson's 71-yard reception with a 1-yard TD plunge in the third quarter.

In the fourth quarter, the Vikings appeared content to settle for a field goal with the play call on third-and-goal from the 8, but Peterson -- who nearly fumbled the exchange -- burst into the end zone for the winning touchdown.

woodbuck27:

It apeared to me as if he was shot out of a cannon.

He was all stud on that play.

[run pMc]

silly talk from kool-aid drinking fanatics. you hear these people on the call-in shows. I'm sure there were a few good posts among the trash.

MIN has a good run O & D, and confidence. That's it. Bobby Wade and Fergy aren't fearsome WRs. MIN got swept by GB, plus have losses to DET, KC, PHI...teams GB beat. You play who you're scheduled, that's it. It's like other posts have pointed out: at the end of the day, the W-L record is what really counts.

D.Smith was allegedly busted for smoking pot, and Winfield got hurt again. I'm not sure MIN can win multiple games on the road in January, especially with a banged up secondary.

Let's assume they make the playoffs. If they play SEA, you think Holmgren and the SEA crowd will be ready for that game? Teams really prepare and find ways to exploit a weakness...Holmgren gets the edge over Chilly. SEA passing O should carve up MIN's secondary. Don't know how SEA's run D will do against MIN...they have the edge there. Special teams? Don't know much about SEA's ST...probably a wash.
Same deal with TB...for coaching, I'd take Gruden over Chilly, and he'll find ways to get Galloway the ball against that secondary. E.Graham has surprised at RB, and they have a revitalized, swarming D. Monte Kiffin should have that D ready to contain AD and stump Tavaris.
If by some miracle they win, they play either DAL or GB on the road. They lost to both teams already; DAL & GB will be rested and ready. DAL stopped AD pretty good. I don't know if AD has even played in GB-like weather in Jan. Home field give a big boost in playoffs IMO -- I don't think many teams want to fly into GB to play in January.

I will say they are a dangerous team and they are peaking at a good time, but I'm not gonna crown them champs. They've played pretty spotty at times, and you could almost argue they will make the playoffs because the rest of the NFC is so mediocre.

[Rastak]

OKay, I must respond with my take. First off it isn't kool aid drinking fanatics, it's Denny Green's kid making these statements.

My take, the Vikings are not a huge threat in the playoffs. Look, they aren't even in yet. Washington is going to be a tough game and if they lose, they can still make the playoffs but it would be difficult. Actually, if the win next weekend I'll have to give them their proper due, but I'll still, be concerned. They're wildly inconsistent offense is making me somewhat pessimistic about the post season, should it happen. Their defense is respectible at times and dominating at others. Earlier in the year they were getting torched.

With Winfield out, and who knows what is up with Dwight Smith...it's hard to say how they'd fare. It's easier to scheme to stop the run than the pass in my opinion. The last two weeks teams just loaded up the line and the Vikings didn;t have a consistent answer. If they find one, then shit changes but they haven't so the point is moot right now.

[Packers4Glory]

teams like the rams aren't one dimensional. They have a pro bowl type Qb and good WR's...their line is the problem. too inconsistent.

the vikes are a run only team. stuff 8 in the box and make jackson beat you.

[RashanGary]

I thought 34-0 was a fluke. Everything went right for the Packers that day. It reminds me of the Dallas game with GB. Everything just bounced the wrong way includiing the schedule, injuries and the refs. I'm not about making excuses, but I know the Packers can do better than they did that day and I know the Vikings are a hell of a lot better than the game they played in Lambeau.

[b bulldog]

Like all of TO's drops and his give away pic to harris in the endzone?

[b bulldog]

Winfield ia an awesome corner. I'd take him 1 overall in the north.

[esoxx]

I want a Purple Free January in Lambeau.