Thank you for answering and it's great because if I see it I can always say they aren't even the worst 9-2 Vikings team and being 9-2 when folks thought they couldn't win more than 6 games is an achievement in and of itself
This is legitimately a good team (unlike '22). It would have been more pleasant if, e.g., at Soldier Field they had held on for a two score win, but being up 11 with 2 minutes left is a really good indicator. People believe all sorts of things, and if someone thinks this team is bad, that tells you far more about them than the 2024 Vikings.
The hard part of fandom is that Detroit and Philly are also legitimately good teams, and while it's unpleasant to say it, the Packers probably* are, too. However, we know that the playoffs are single-elimination and at least three of those teams won't make the SB. That's the NFL, and fans should want to be in contention regularly and then hope things pan out in the playoffs, while enjoying the ride.
*one would reasonably expect that a QB who got $80MM this year would be more careful with the football than Love, but 9 wins and +78 points is what it is
Yep, also remember where the Packers were in the playoffs last year with a worse defense. The Vikings worked them for one half this year but they’re legit.
I really wonder what the record would’ve been if cousins had stayed. Especially since they’d be paying him four times Darnold’s salary. I bet they’d be closer to that Vegas 6.5 win line. Defense would be mid, at best, as two of the three they signed in free agency wouldn’t be on the team. I’m happy they moved on. I just wish it would’ve been a couple years earlier.
Your point ( they’d be paying him four times Darnold’s salary. ) is the whole point. Even if Cousins was playing a bit better than Darnold (he is not) Darnold would be the better choice because $35 million buys a lot of stud players. And while we can complain about Kwesi drafting, he has picked great FAs.
Thank you for answering and it's great because if I see it I can always say they aren't even the worst 9-2 Vikings team and being 9-2 when folks thought they couldn't win more than 6 games is an achievement in and of itself
This is legitimately a good team (unlike '22). It would have been more pleasant if, e.g., at Soldier Field they had held on for a two score win, but being up 11 with 2 minutes left is a really good indicator. People believe all sorts of things, and if someone thinks this team is bad, that tells you far more about them than the 2024 Vikings.
The hard part of fandom is that Detroit and Philly are also legitimately good teams, and while it's unpleasant to say it, the Packers probably* are, too. However, we know that the playoffs are single-elimination and at least three of those teams won't make the SB. That's the NFL, and fans should want to be in contention regularly and then hope things pan out in the playoffs, while enjoying the ride.
*one would reasonably expect that a QB who got $80MM this year would be more careful with the football than Love, but 9 wins and +78 points is what it is
Yep, also remember where the Packers were in the playoffs last year with a worse defense. The Vikings worked them for one half this year but they’re legit.
Darnold has really pretty good scrambling ability... Which is something you could never accused Cousins of
Cousins scrambles like a baby deer on a frozen pond
I really wonder what the record would’ve been if cousins had stayed. Especially since they’d be paying him four times Darnold’s salary. I bet they’d be closer to that Vegas 6.5 win line. Defense would be mid, at best, as two of the three they signed in free agency wouldn’t be on the team. I’m happy they moved on. I just wish it would’ve been a couple years earlier.
Your point ( they’d be paying him four times Darnold’s salary. ) is the whole point. Even if Cousins was playing a bit better than Darnold (he is not) Darnold would be the better choice because $35 million buys a lot of stud players. And while we can complain about Kwesi drafting, he has picked great FAs.
Matthew
Comments are disabled again on your most recent Substack post about Bradbury and pass protection