All Things 2024-25 Vikings Regular Season Thread

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DrunkDons said:
Also, whats the injury report looking like for the game against the packers? Is Love back? Is Addison back? Crazy how we have done what we have without 2 of our best offensive weapons, can't wait for TJ to come back too.
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We sack Love 7 times...
 


Justin Fields is also showing what he can do on a good team.m - 73% completion rate.

Read many articles which talked about how some good QBs Beverly stand a chance because of the team(s) they’re on.
 
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3 games into the season and some people - not all, but some - are talking Super Bowl.

tell me who's going to be healthy - or injured - in week #10 or week #16 and I'll have a better idea of whether this team is a real contender.

MN fans - IMHO - want a winner so bad that they lose perspective and start seeing mirages.

I just think it's way too early in the season to get that excited. a lot can happen between now and the playoffs. Hey, maybe this does turn out to be that magical season where the Vikings get all the breaks - where they avoid any serious injuries - where they don't wind up being victimized by a bad call or a bad bounce. maybe - or maybe not.

or just ignore me and listen to Paul Allen. he'll tell you that everything is amazingly wonderful and shiny.
 


short ornery norwegian said:
3 games into the season and some people - not all, but some - are talking Super Bowl.

tell me who's going to be healthy - or injured - in week #10 or week #16 and I'll have a better idea of whether this team is a real contender.

MN fans - IMHO - want a winner so bad that they lose perspective and start seeing mirages.

I just think it's way too early in the season to get that excited. a lot can happen between now and the playoffs. Hey, maybe this does turn out to be that magical season where the Vikings get all the breaks - where they avoid any serious injuries - where they don't wind up being victimized by a bad call or a bad bounce. maybe - or maybe not.

or just ignore me and listen to Paul Allen. he'll tell you that everything is amazingly wonderful and shiny.
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Would the (3-0) Vikings have the Tiebreaker with the (3-0) Seattle Seahawks for the NFC #1 Seed and Home Field Advantage?

In all seriousness, I would say it's a few people are talking Super Bowl, which I guess by definition is "some" but it's a wide net.

Personally, I am just encouraged that in 2023 have spending 0 days being in 1st Place in the NFC North, the Vikings will have no fewer than 2 Weeks of being chased.

At 3-0, the Playoffs at least feel realistic, not just a pipe dream.
 
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short ornery norwegian said:
3 games into the season and some people - not all, but some - are talking Super Bowl.

tell me who's going to be healthy - or injured - in week #10 or week #16 and I'll have a better idea of whether this team is a real contender.

MN fans - IMHO - want a winner so bad that they lose perspective and start seeing mirages.

I just think it's way too early in the season to get that excited. a lot can happen between now and the playoffs. Hey, maybe this does turn out to be that magical season where the Vikings get all the breaks - where they avoid any serious injuries - where they don't wind up being victimized by a bad call or a bad bounce. maybe - or maybe not.

or just ignore me and listen to Paul Allen. he'll tell you that everything is amazingly wonderful and shiny.
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“Buy the ticket, enjoy the ride” - Hunter S. Thompson.
 





Gopher_In_NYC said:
Justin Fields is also showing what he can do on a good team.m - 73% completion rate.

Read many articles which talked about how some good QBs Beverly stand a chance because of the team(s) they’re on.
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Meh- I’ll give him credit he’s doing enough to not blow games with that elite defense, but completing a high percentage of short passes isn’t anything overly impressive.
 

short ornery norwegian said:
3 games into the season and some people - not all, but some - are talking Super Bowl.

tell me who's going to be healthy - or injured - in week #10 or week #16 and I'll have a better idea of whether this team is a real contender.

MN fans - IMHO - want a winner so bad that they lose perspective and start seeing mirages.

I just think it's way too early in the season to get that excited. a lot can happen between now and the playoffs. Hey, maybe this does turn out to be that magical season where the Vikings get all the breaks - where they avoid any serious injuries - where they don't wind up being victimized by a bad call or a bad bounce. maybe - or maybe not.

or just ignore me and listen to Paul Allen. he'll tell you that everything is amazingly wonderful and shiny.
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I like you SON, but I think you’re the one seeing mirages. I have yet to come across anyone who legitimately thinks this team is headed to the Super Bowl.
 

Gophers1992 said:
Meh- I’ll give him credit he’s doing enough to not blow games with that elite defense, but completing a high percentage of short passes isn’t anything overly impressive.
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How do you know they’re all short passes?

Do you have any data to support your premise? It is thst just your subjective opinion?
 






Gopher_In_NYC said:
Justin Fields is also showing what he can do on a good team.m - 73% completion rate.

Read many articles which talked about how some good QBs Beverly stand a chance because of the team(s) they’re on.
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Arthur Smith is doing an incredible job of not letting Fields lose the game for the Steelers. I would be shocked if Fields doesn't revert to doing Fields type things before too long. That, and the league will see before too long just what Smith is doing on offense and they'll adapt.

It probably won't end too soon though; the Steelers play some terrible defenses coming up; Colts next week have one of the worst defenses in the league, the Cowboys the week after don't look so hot either, and the Raiders the week after that. Look for the Steelers to be 5-1 at worst! Yikes!!
Gophers1992 said:
He is averaging less than 7 yards per attempt.
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This. Once Joey Bosa went out of the game for the Chargers, Fields was able to do some damage against a Chargers defense that is pretty shorthanded.
 

Gophers1992 said:
He is averaging less than 7 yards per attempt.
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Thanks and fair enough.

I can share the following -

If he is doing well with the offense they’re running/the plays being presently called, isn’t he accomplishing what’s being asked of him?

They are only averaging 3.6 yards per rush, after averaging 4.1 in both 2022 & 2023. I would think once their running game is more on track that should only further enable his competency.

As Fields gets more confident in his abilities and the new offense he’s working with, isn’t it possible thst his yards per attempt will go up, as he’s allowed to do more (open up the playbook)?

The point of my post, was illustrative of what being on a “good” team like the Steelers ( better players and coaching) can go do for a QB and his performance; see improvements from Sam Darnold and Geno Smith, once they got to “good” teams.
 
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Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Arthur Smith is doing an incredible job of not letting Fields lose the game for the Steelers.
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Thanks for illustrating one of my posts, how improved coaching can put players in the best position to maximize their abilities vs. asking them to do more than they should.

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
I would be shocked if Fields doesn't revert to doing Fields type things before too long.
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FWIW - his last two games, he was getting rid of the ball in under 3.0 seconds per NFL Live; IIRC, thus was one of his issues (Fields things, prior).

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
That, and the league will see before too long just what Smith is doing on offense and they'll adapt.
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Sort/quick padding game works for many teams.

As noted in my post above, they’re only averaging 3.6 yards per rush attempt, vs. 4.1 in 2022 & 2023 - if/once they get back to that level, that should only help him further.

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
It probably won't end too soon though; the Steelers play some terrible defenses coming up; Colts next week have one of the worst defenses in the league, the Cowboys the week after don't look so hot either, and the Raiders the week after that. Look for the Steelers to be 5-1 at worst! Yikes!!
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Remember Belicheck saying you have to look at the talent you have then figure out how to maximize it; when they had both Gronk & Hernandez on the field together and the matchup problems that created.

Steelers can win a lot if games playing elite D and having a competent QB and maximizing his talents.

Barring a catastrophic injury to Watt of Fields. I’d make them my betting favorite to win North; so fun to watch Tomlin cook.

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
This. Once Joey Bosa went out of the game for the Chargers, Fields was able to do some damage against a Chargers defense that is pretty shorthanded.
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Maybe Fields isn’t the second coming of Ryan Leaf, but rather Geno Smith?
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Thanks and fair enough.

I can share the following -

If he is doing well with the offense they’re running/the plays being presently called, isn’t he accomplishing what’s being asked of him?

They are only averaging 3.6 yards per rush, after averaging 4.1 in both 2022 & 2023. I would think once their running game is more on track that should only further enable his competency.

As Fields gets more confident in his abilities and the new offense he’s working with, isn’t it possible thst his yards per attempt will go up, as he’s allowed to do more (open up the playbook)?

The point of my post, was illustrative of what being on a “good” team like the Steelers ( better players and coaching) can go do for a QB and his performance; see improvements from Sam Darnold and Geno Smith, once they got to “good” teams.
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Yeah I get what you're saying. The guy was a really efficient passer at OSU and was a first round pick for a reason. By all means he could find himself in Pittsburgh, and the things you're saying are not unreasonable.

I just don't know that I would point to these first three games and say "see I told you so".

Time will tell
 

Gophers1992 said:
Yeah I get what you're saying. The guy was a really efficient passer at OSU and was a first round pick for a reason. By all means he could find himself in Pittsburgh, and the things you're saying are not unreasonable.

I just don't know that I would point to these first three games and say "see I told you so".
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That wasn’t my intent.

I’m not related to him nor a fan, just an observation, as three of the QBs of undefeated teams were castaways.

I am a big fan of underdogs; both athletes and the cartoon.
Gophers1992 said:
Time will tell
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the beautiful thing is it always does.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
That wasn’t my intent.

I’m not related to him nor a fan, just an observation, as three of the QBs of undefeated teams were castaways.

I am a big fan of underdogs; both athletes and the cartoon.

the beautiful thing is it always does.
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Gotcha. I'm with you. By all accounts Fields seems like a good kid, it's a shame his play seemed to divide a lot of fans in a weird way.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
That wasn’t my intent.

I’m not related to him nor a fan, just an observation, as three of the QBs of undefeated teams were castaways.

I am a big fan of underdogs; both athletes and the cartoon.

the beautiful thing is it always does.
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"Speed of lightning, roar of thunder, fighting all who rob and plunder..."
 




short ornery norwegian said:
tell me who's going to be healthy - or injured - in week #10 or week #16 and I'll have a better idea of whether this team is a real contender.
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That's really what it will come down to.

If JJ, Jones, Darnold and our tackles stay healthy we have a shot.

Probably need Harrison Phillips also, but the rest of our defense is deep enough. Keep rotating those pass rushers and getting pressure on the QB.
 

Vikings currently a 2.5 point underdog at Lambeau on Sunday. I am having a hard time getting my head around that betting line. Obviously it's making an assumption that Love is going to play but I kinda doubt that Love plays. The Vikings had at least 5 sacks in each of the first 3 games; and they're going to throw Jordan Love out there less than 100%?

Bet the farm on the Purple!!
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
Vikings currently a 2.5 point underdog at Lambeau on Sunday. I am having a hard time getting my head around that betting line. Obviously it's making an assumption that Love is going to play but I kinda doubt that Love plays. The Vikings had at least 5 sacks in each of the first 3 games; and they're going to throw Jordan Love out there less than 100%?

Bet the farm on the Purple!!
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IIRC the Vikings are the first team in 20 years to have at least 5 sacks in three consecutive games to start the season; I’m not really worried about whether Love plays or not, Purdy and Stroud were handled by our D.
 

This may be a hot take but, I really hope that Jordan Love plays this sunday. I feel confident that we will win this game. I don't want packer fans to have an easy out if malik willis plays and saying, "Ohhh, we didn't have our starting QB". Nah, we want them at full strength so we can bask in the full pleasure of our victory. Also, Will Reichard is a dawg.
 

Viking Playoff Forecast Goodness via The Athletic (it’s one of their national NFL writer’s ranking
Of the six unbeaten teams) -


4. Minnesota Vikings​

Odds to make the playoffs: 77%
Odds to win division: 36%
Odds to clinch first-round bye: 19%

If these rankings were purely résumé-based, the Vikings might be atop of this list. Their wins over the 49ers and Texans were mighty impressive, so please don’t take their fourth-place ranking on this list as disrespect. My model sees the Vikings as a top-10 team. Coach Kevin O’Connell and defensive coordinator Brian Floreshave been in peak form, and another huge challenge/opportunity awaits each of them this week with a matchup against the Green Bay Packers. The Vikings are currently the slight favorite in the NFC North entering this week, but a road victory would solidify their lead.

How have we gotten here? It’s starts with Sam Darnold, who has been amazing in O’Connell’s offensive system. Darnold is currently 13th in EPA/dropback and 14th in dropback success rate, according to TruMedia. Maybe most impressive is that Darnold ranks fourth in EPA/dropback when not pressured.

But you can’t talk about the Vikings without mentioning the job Flores has done with their defensive unit. The Vikings are fifth in EPA/play and fourth in defensive success rate. Did I mention that they’ve played the 49ers and Texans? If the Vikings can keep Darnold clean and the defense can play anywhere near the current level of success, the Vikings will end up on top of the NFC North.
 

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