All Things 2024-25 Vikings Regular Season Thread

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golf said:
Let's say for some reason you are determined to place a large bet on who makes the super bowl out of the nfc. Which team would you place your money on?
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I’ll give my rationale, limited as it is, for my rolling with The Purple; lest anyone think I’ve developed Homeritis (better than becoming a Homer Simpson🤷‍♂️).

What do both GB & Detroit have in common? Monday games before facing The Purple! One less day for the players to recover and practice😃 . If lines up purrfectly.

We’re a team of destiny.

Last time I had this inkling was UCONN’s 2011 improbable Natty.

A reminder of that Husky magic, via Wikipedia -

The Huskies entered the year unranked and picked to finish tenth in the Big East. They finished the Big East regular season in a tie for ninth place at 9–9. They became the first school to win five conference tournament games in as many days in claiming their seventh Big East tournament title.

If they don’t win; no bid. After the third game, I knew they’d win the Big East Tourney and after that i knew they’d win the NCAA Tourney.

There are forces beyond rational human thought at work here. The way to heal all Viking scar tissue, would to beat the Bills and become the most improbable SB Champ ever.

Yes, I just did this -

IMG_5243.jpeg
 
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Gopher_In_NYC said:
I’ll give my rationale, limited as it is, for my rolling with The Purple; lest anyone think I’ve developed Homeritis (better than becoming a Homer Simpson🤷‍♂️).

What do both GB & Detroit have in common? Monday games before facing The Purple! One less day for the players to recover and practice😃 . If lines up purrfectly.

We’re a team of destiny.

Last time I had this inkling was UCONN’s 2011 improbable Natty.

A reminder of that Husky magic, via Wikipedia -

The Huskies entered the year unranked and picked to finish tenth in the Big East. They finished the Big East regular season in a tie for ninth place at 9–9. They became the first school to win five conference tournament games in as many days in claiming their seventh Big East tournament title.

If they don’t win; no bid. After the third game, I knew they’d win the Big East Tourney and after that i knew they’d win the NCAA Tourney.

There are forces beyond rational human thought at work here. The way to heal all Viking scare tissue, would to beat the Bills and become the most improbable SB Champ ever.

Yes, I just did this -

View attachment 35145
Click to expand...

Very good. Interesting how 4 teams (at least) have a legitimate shot. NFC playoffs going to be intriguing. Believe I would go with Philly at this point, but not at all confident about that choice.
Obviously would be so helpful for Vikes to get the bye if going to make a run to the super bowl.
 


GopherGrit said:
Just throwing this out for fun, I expect it to get ripped to shreds and I don't think the NFL would consider it:

should the league cap the length of FG attempts? For example, must be no more than say 55yards.
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What I don't like now is that with kickoff touchbacks being at the 30 and kickers being so good, getting into field goal range isn't that hard. Especially when the game is inside, you only need 30 yards to be in range.

I've said this before when discussing the extra point change (moving it back) but think kickers are too valuable. They're on the field for what maybe 10-15 plays a game yet can be argued they influence the outcome pretty significantly.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
I’ll give my rationale, limited as it is, for my rolling with The Purple; lest anyone think I’ve developed Homeritis (better than becoming a Homer Simpson🤷‍♂️).

What do both GB & Detroit have in common? Monday games before facing The Purple! One less day for the players to recover and practice😃 . If lines up purrfectly.

We’re a team of destiny.

Last time I had this inkling was UCONN’s 2011 improbable Natty.

A reminder of that Husky magic, via Wikipedia -

The Huskies entered the year unranked and picked to finish tenth in the Big East. They finished the Big East regular season in a tie for ninth place at 9–9. They became the first school to win five conference tournament games in as many days in claiming their seventh Big East tournament title.

If they don’t win; no bid. After the third game, I knew they’d win the Big East Tourney and after that i knew they’d win the NCAA Tourney.

There are forces beyond rational human thought at work here. The way to heal all Viking scare tissue, would to beat the Bills and become the most improbable SB Champ ever.

Yes, I just did this -

View attachment 35145
Click to expand...

I think the Babe was just pointing at some gal he had is eye on, or letting everyone know he was heading to Murphy's Tavern after the game for a brew and hot dog.
 
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golf said:
Very good. Interesting how 4 teams (at least) have a legitimate shot. NFC playoffs going to be intriguing. Believe I would go with Philly at this point, but not at all confident about that choice.
Obviously would be so helpful for Vikes to get the bye if going to make a run to the super bowl.
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My plane is to do the $5 intro bet with both Fan Duel and Draft Kings for the pack game and win, take the bonus bet $, and invest half with us to win NFC sand the other half to win the SB.

Worst case I lose $10 and best case scenario 🤣 -

IMG_5244.jpeg
 
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Ope3 said:
I think the Babe was just point at some gal he had is eye on, or letting everyone know he was heading to Murphy's Tavern after the game for a brew and hot dog.
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Excellent narrative.

Reminds of the time when ARod, was hitting on a fan, while waiting in the On Deck ⭕️.
 

GophersInIowa said:
What I don't like now is that with kickoff touchbacks being at the 30 and kickers being so good, getting into field goal range isn't that hard. Especially when the game is inside, you only need 30 yards to be in range.

I've said this before when discussing the extra point change (moving it back) but think kickers are too valuable. They're on the field for what maybe 10-15 plays a game yet can be argued they influence the outcome pretty significantly.
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This is all true, but you still need a good one. Right now, as you could say about any other year in recent memory, there are NOT 32 great Kickers in the NFL. I remember when Rich Karlis was negotiating his contract with the Vikings, he said two things that were true then and are true now;

- There are not 28 (then 28 teams) good kickers in the NFL
- Teams don't realize how important a good kicker is until the DON'T have one

I haven't put that much thought into it but if you want to foster more returns while keeping safety, but scrap the 30-yd line start for touchbacks, they should move the KO back 5 yards, or even more, and not have the start line farther than the 25-yd line except for kicking the ball out of bounds.

I do agree wholeheartedly, I don't like the 30-yd line start for touchbacks. Way too generous
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
I’ll give my rationale, limited as it is, for my rolling with The Purple; lest anyone think I’ve developed Homeritis (better than becoming a Homer Simpson🤷‍♂️).

What do both GB & Detroit have in common? Monday games before facing The Purple! One less day for the players to recover and practice😃 . If lines up purrfectly.

We’re a team of destiny.

Last time I had this inkling was UCONN’s 2011 improbable Natty.

A reminder of that Husky magic, via Wikipedia -

The Huskies entered the year unranked and picked to finish tenth in the Big East. They finished the Big East regular season in a tie for ninth place at 9–9. They became the first school to win five conference tournament games in as many days in claiming their seventh Big East tournament title.

If they don’t win; no bid. After the third game, I knew they’d win the Big East Tourney and after that i knew they’d win the NCAA Tourney.

There are forces beyond rational human thought at work here. The way to heal all Viking scare tissue, would to beat the Bills and become the most improbable SB Champ ever.

Yes, I just did this -

View attachment 35145
Click to expand...
It's well known in baseball lore that The Babe was actually waving off Rocco who had sent out Margot to pinch hit for him.
 




Boone and Sirles podcast talking about how difficult are the Thursday games on players' bodies. They said the first thing they checked when schedules came out was if they had any December games on Thursday.

Was also funny listening to them talk about gifts for offensive linemen in light of Purdy buying 10 trucks for his.
Said Case Keenum bought his linemen grill tools. As in spatulas, etc. They went out and put his truck on blocks. 🙂
 


Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
This is all true, but you still need a good one. Right now, as you could say about any other year in recent memory, there are NOT 32 great Kickers in the NFL. I remember when Rich Karlis was negotiating his contract with the Vikings, he said two things that were true then and are true now;

- There are not 28 (then 28 teams) good kickers in the NFL
- Teams don't realize how important a good kicker is until the DON'T have one

I haven't put that much thought into it but if you want to foster more returns while keeping safety, but scrap the 30-yd line start for touchbacks, they should move the KO back 5 yards, or even more, and not have the start line farther than the 25-yd line except for kicking the ball out of bounds.

I do agree wholeheartedly, I don't like the 30-yd line start for touchbacks. Way too generous
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Yes you still need a good one. But if you have a good one, it's such a big advantage even though the guy hardly sees the field in a game.

Touchbacks should be no more than the 25 yard line. But then move the kickoff spot back 5 yards.
 



I'm not there yet, but starting to hear some national voices label the Vikings super bowl favorites. Who'd have ever thunk . . .
 

Since the playoff field expanded in 1990, no 6th seed has won more than 11 games. Going to happen this year with either Packers or Vikings.
Hopefully nfl doesn't overreact and stop giving byes to division champs.
 

Vikes have only trailed 22% of the time this season, which leads the league. Commies second at 38%.
 

golf said:
Since the playoff field expanded in 1990, no 6th seed has won more than 11 games. Going to happen this year with either Packers or Vikings.
Hopefully nfl doesn't overreact and stop giving byes to division champs.
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Byes?
 

Netflix didn't get off to a great start with the first game today, there were definitely some glitches, but overall I think the live game broadcast has been decent; Nate Burleson and JJ Watt have done a pretty decent job.

The studio halftime group leaves a shitload to be desired, comprised of former NFL Network (GMFB) Kay Adams, and three crazy persons in RG III, Manti Teo, and nutjob Mina Kimes. Granted, most people on a holiday game tune out at halftime but it literally couldn't get much worse than that congregation.

Netflix With A Few Glitches To Start Steelers-Chiefs Game
 

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Viking injury report ⬆️. Pace was activated on Tuesday. Perfect timing to face the Pack and 😺 as he makes our D so much better, per a couple of stats via The Athletic -

When Minnesota has linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. on the field, their explosive play rate allowed (7.7 percent) is the best in the NFL.

Here are the Vikings’ metrics versus the run with Pace on and off the field:

PLAYER
ON FIELD?
YARDS PER CARRY
▲		SUCCESS RATE
Ivan Pace Jr.No3.957.2%
Ivan Pace Jr.Yes3.971.9%
The key number there is success rate, which accounts for the effectiveness of the play in each down and distance. When Pace plays, the Vikings rank first against the run by a wide margin. When he doesn’t, Minnesota’s run defense ranks among the worst in the league.

Makes up for a Cine and a Booth😃
 
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Gopher_In_NYC said:

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Viking injury report ⬆️. Pace was activated on Tuesday. Perfect timing to face the Pack and 😺 as he makes our D so much better, per a couple of stats via The Athletic -

When Minnesota has linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. on the field, their explosive play rate allowed (7.7 percent) is the best in the NFL.

Here are the Vikings’ metrics versus the run with Pace on and off the field:

PLAYERON FIELD?YARDS PER CARRY
▲		SUCCESS RATE
Ivan Pace Jr.No3.957.2%
Ivan Pace Jr.Yes3.971.9%
The key number there is success rate, which accounts for the effectiveness of the play in each down and distance. When Pace plays, the Vikings rank first against the run by a wide margin. When he doesn’t, Minnesota’s run defense ranks among the worst in the league.

Makes up for a Cine and a Booth😃
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So it’s time for the D to -

 

Gopher_In_NYC said:

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Viking injury report ⬆️. Pace was activated on Tuesday. Perfect timing to face the Pack and 😺 as he makes our D so much better, per a couple of stats via The Athletic -

When Minnesota has linebackers Blake Cashman and Ivan Pace Jr. on the field, their explosive play rate allowed (7.7 percent) is the best in the NFL.

Here are the Vikings’ metrics versus the run with Pace on and off the field:

PLAYER
ON FIELD?
YARDS PER CARRY
▲		SUCCESS RATE
Ivan Pace Jr.No3.957.2%
Ivan Pace Jr.Yes3.971.9%
The key number there is success rate, which accounts for the effectiveness of the play in each down and distance. When Pace plays, the Vikings rank first against the run by a wide margin. When he doesn’t, Minnesota’s run defense ranks among the worst in the league.

Makes up for a Cine and a Booth😃
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Yes, as well the Vikes lost 2 of the 3 games Cashman missed. We seem to be a totally different defense if we don't have both of those guys.

Jacobs has been on a real heater. Great to get Pace back.

My two biggest concerns are Jacobs and our offensive line. Packers pass rush has been real lately as well.
 

golf said:
Yes, as well the Vikes lost 2 of the 3 games Cashman missed. We seem to be a totally different defense if we don't have both of those guys.

Jacobs has been on a real heater. Great to get Pace back.

My two biggest concerns are Jacobs and our offensive line. Packers pass rush has been real lately as well.
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From the same article, which fairly addressed our shortcomings, including our IOL -

NFL teams are paying an average of about $20 million a year for their interior offensive lines, according to Over The Cap. Between left guard Blake Brandel, center Garrett Bradbury and right guard Dalton Risner, the Vikings are paying about $9.5 million. To sum up, Minnesota is paying about half the average cost of an interior offensive line and generating play that is, at the very least, serviceable.

The interior of the Minnesota offensive line has allowed 99 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The Vikings are averaging only the 17th-most yards before contact when running the football.

One positive does lie in Darnold’s ability when pressured. He ranks sixth in EPA per dropback when pressured, according to Next Gen Stats, and his 94.5 passer rating when pressured is the highest in the NFL, right ahead of Baltimore Ravens quarterback and MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.

—————

Darnold has only one INT since week 10 and Jones’ fumbleitis appears cured - I think he balls out Sunday - hopefully a couple of Viking Vaults😃

I’d we win the turnover battle, another W - if we don’t probably a brutal L.
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
From the same article, which fairly addressed our shortcomings, including our IOL -

NFL teams are paying an average of about $20 million a year for their interior offensive lines, according to Over The Cap. Between left guard Blake Brandel, center Garrett Bradbury and right guard Dalton Risner, the Vikings are paying about $9.5 million. To sum up, Minnesota is paying about half the average cost of an interior offensive line and generating play that is, at the very least, serviceable.

The interior of the Minnesota offensive line has allowed 99 pressures this season, according to Pro Football Focus. The Vikings are averaging only the 17th-most yards before contact when running the football.

One positive does lie in Darnold’s ability when pressured. He ranks sixth in EPA per dropback when pressured, according to Next Gen Stats, and his 94.5 passer rating when pressured is the highest in the NFL, right ahead of Baltimore Ravens quarterback and MVP candidate Lamar Jackson.

—————

Darnold has only one INT since week 10 and Jones’ fumbleitis appears cured - I think he balls out Sunday - hopefully a couple of Viking Vaults😃

I’d we win the turnover battle, another W - if we don’t probably a brutal L.
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Yes, Darnold's ability to pass under pressure has been a lifesaver. That will need to continue Sunday.
Vikings have to upgrade the interior oline next season. This can't continue.

Our whole defensive backfield is basically free agents after this season.
We also need a defensive lineman or two and interior olinemen. Aaron Jones a free agent as well.
We have $76 million cap space but plenty of needs. It is such an advantage if QB is on his rookie scale contract.
 
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golf said:
Yes, Darnold's ability to pass under pressure has been a lifesaver. That will need to continue Sunday.
Vikings have to upgrade the interior oline next season. This can't continue.

Our whole defensive backfield is basically free agents after this season.
We also need a defensive lineman or two and interior olinemen. Aaron Jones a free agent as well.
We have $76 million cap space but plenty of needs. It is such an advantage if QB is on his rookie scale contract.
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Thankfully we don’t have to worry about any of the above until after the SB Parade 😃
 

I have to admit, I'm worried about the Packers' explosive play capability, along with what seems to be another year of the Flores defense withering down the stretch. This is a big game for Flores to prove that he can come up with a game plan against a team he should know very, very well.

The Vikings should put up points; this game comes down to Flores versus LaFleur. I wish I had confidence in the Vikings side but I'm not sure. I definitely like the Over on points, sitting at 48.5 right now
 

Gopher_In_NYC said:
Thankfully we don’t have to worry about any of the above until after the SB Parade 😃
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Massive game Sunday. No doubt about it. Packers are playing so well at end of season just like last year. We take care of business Sunday and a lot of doubters, myself included, will be feeling much better.
 
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A Packer loss and Washington win Sunday drops Green Bay into a tie for the 6th seed. Washington owns the tiebreaker over GB, which means GB dropping to the 7th seed and traveling to Philly on WCW. Obviously a big deal.
 
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I went into the season with fairly low expectations for the Vikings. to be honest, when McCarthy went down, I expected Darnold to be a stop-gap at best, resulting in a record of 8-9 or 9-8.

from that perspective, this whole season has been gravy. So I'm not going to sweat what happens next. After sitting through 4 Super Bowl losses, I'm not going to even entertain that notion. If they get to the Super Bowl, great - but if they don't, I'm not going to jump off a bridge.

------ --------

On Babe Ruth - most baseball historians believe that the Babe was pointing at the Chicago Cubs dugout. that 1932 World Series was notorious for the amount of taunting going on between the two teams. the Cubs players reportedly shouted all variety of insults at Ruth, including accusing him of having Negro blood. Chicago fans allegedly spit at Ruth and his wife when they arrived at the park before one game. it was ugly.

So the belief is that Ruth pointed at the Chicago dugout before the at-bat in question.
 

As a Vikings fan, I continue to be more and more enthusiastic with what I see from Caleb Williams.

He holds the ball forever, he looks confused every time he drops back, he can't read the defense past one read, and he can't process the game at the NFL level. No doubt, it's still pretty early but I just don't see this player scaring the NFC North for the next decade with any level of proficiency; and playing behind the team that the wonder duo of Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles puts out on the field, it's destined to be an unmitigated grease fire.
 

Ogee Ogilthorpe said:
As a Vikings fan, I continue to be more and more enthusiastic with what I see from Caleb Williams.

He holds the ball forever, he looks confused every time he drops back, he can't read the defense past one read, and he can't process the game at the NFL level. No doubt, it's still pretty early but I just don't see this player scaring the NFC North for the next decade with any level of proficiency; and playing behind the team that the wonder duo of Kevin Warren and Ryan Poles puts out on the field, it's destined to be an unmitigated grease fire.
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Completely agree. Perhaps it is there but I haven’t seen it yet.
 

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