Who among us would take an artistic loss over an ugly win? I didn’t think so. Minnesota has won five out of the last six and dare I say, may be one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
That was just another pathetic showing... So many issues to pick on, but my biggest pet peeve is Zimmer's defense. Earth to Zimmer:
1. If you get zero pass rush on ANY NFL QB (even those as horribly bad as Mike Glennon), they are going to make some plays.
2. By flooding coverage like you always do agains crappy QBs, you simply allow them to elevate their game to what they might look like in a practice -- you know, with zero pass rush
3. Glennon, in particular, is not mobile and not good when he does run -- so why not pressure him to make him play off script? You know, like every team tries to do to KFC
The refusal of our coaching staff to vary game plans for opposing teams is unreal. When you play Mike freakin' Glennon, I think you don't need to worry about blitzing him.
And the punt inside your opponents' 40 was inexcusable. We had 3 yards to go against a horrible defense. And our upside ended up being 20 yards because we kicked it in the endzone--again. The decision was very poor, the execution even worse. Why shoot for the 1 yard line when a pooch punt to the 10 would have been better. I just don't get it at all.
This game proved we have no business being in the playoffs. If we make it, we have a 1-game limit and then we are out.
Having said all that, I like the progress our rookies are making by getting to play. Jefferson, Gladney, Cleveland, Dantzler, Dye all getting a lot of playing experience this year. That is great news for advancing in 2021.
That was the worst win I've seen in the past 10 years of Viking's football which required a herculean effort to pass the formerly near worst game last week. The play calling was absolutely pathetic. How many friggin times do our receivers or tight ends have to be wide open to get Kubiac to call a passing play? Bailey definitely had a bad day. Cousins just proves who he actually is which isn't helped by an O-line who decides to be a set of turn styles.
As noted previously, to me this is the 2021 preseason and we're playing like it. Jefferson could have had 150 years and Theilen another touchdown and 100 yards if they weren't hell-bent on killing Dalvin before his time. Courtney was right, its ridiculous what the are doing to Dalvin.
The abuse of Dalvin vs a team we could have torn to shreds by passing is just crazy. The other team was stacking the box like it was Brad Childress' KAO (Kick Ass Offense -- what a clown he was) and Adrian Peterson was running the ball. We faced 8-9 guys in the box regularly, and all we did was keep running into the box or throwing short passes that could be covered easily by defenders in the box. I mean, it was Brad KAO 2.0 today - and just as stupid as it was back then.
Honestly, it is almost like Zimmer and Spielman are living on different planets.
Sign a super expensive QB, we want to run the ball all the time.
Realizing that same QB cannot function when he faces interior pass rush, we practically go out of our way to gut the interior OGs of all talent and then keep signing free agents who somehow prove to be worse than the last guy.
Sign Kyle Rudolph to an expensive contract late in his career, we never throw him the ball.
Extend Dalvin Cook at top $ so we have him for years, we then run his like we were letting him play out his last year and we don't care about the future
Spielman has done a great job overall on talent, but some of these mismatches should cost him his job...
Agreed. If Zimmer wasn't so intent on running an 80s offense that keeps the other team in the game and then wasn't so terrible with clock management and decision-making the Vikings' might've even won by 9 or 10 points. But Zimmer's teams don't do that because he hasn't heard of this thing they call the forward pass, except on third and long. Against maybe the worst pass defense in the league.
It'd be worthless to draft one of the top four QBs in the draft unless Zimmer can turn Trey Lance into a RB.
If I read this article and did not watch the game, I would think that Matthew was overstating the Vikings ineptitude. But nope, spot on. The beauty is a win is a win. No one remembers how. #superbowlbound
I listened to it first and thought it was a terrible game full of miscues and bad offensive calls. Then later I watched the replay... I was glad we won but it was worse seeing it than listening to it and I didn't think that was possible.
Who among us would take an artistic loss over an ugly win? I didn’t think so. Minnesota has won five out of the last six and dare I say, may be one of the hottest teams in the NFL.
Comeback Kirk does it again.
We will ALL take the win!
Hottest team? NOT!!!
Comeback Kirk? Two games does not a nickname make.
Still glad they won, although my heart is feeling weaker by the week.
That was just another pathetic showing... So many issues to pick on, but my biggest pet peeve is Zimmer's defense. Earth to Zimmer:
1. If you get zero pass rush on ANY NFL QB (even those as horribly bad as Mike Glennon), they are going to make some plays.
2. By flooding coverage like you always do agains crappy QBs, you simply allow them to elevate their game to what they might look like in a practice -- you know, with zero pass rush
3. Glennon, in particular, is not mobile and not good when he does run -- so why not pressure him to make him play off script? You know, like every team tries to do to KFC
The refusal of our coaching staff to vary game plans for opposing teams is unreal. When you play Mike freakin' Glennon, I think you don't need to worry about blitzing him.
And the punt inside your opponents' 40 was inexcusable. We had 3 yards to go against a horrible defense. And our upside ended up being 20 yards because we kicked it in the endzone--again. The decision was very poor, the execution even worse. Why shoot for the 1 yard line when a pooch punt to the 10 would have been better. I just don't get it at all.
This game proved we have no business being in the playoffs. If we make it, we have a 1-game limit and then we are out.
Having said all that, I like the progress our rookies are making by getting to play. Jefferson, Gladney, Cleveland, Dantzler, Dye all getting a lot of playing experience this year. That is great news for advancing in 2021.
Commentators missed a few things today, including when Bailey’s first XP attempt was blocked.
Yes it was and I was surprised they missed the call. It was pretty obvious.
Can someone please get some data on how often this team runs on 2nd and 8+?! It has to be 90%+!
That was the worst win I've seen in the past 10 years of Viking's football which required a herculean effort to pass the formerly near worst game last week. The play calling was absolutely pathetic. How many friggin times do our receivers or tight ends have to be wide open to get Kubiac to call a passing play? Bailey definitely had a bad day. Cousins just proves who he actually is which isn't helped by an O-line who decides to be a set of turn styles.
As noted previously, to me this is the 2021 preseason and we're playing like it. Jefferson could have had 150 years and Theilen another touchdown and 100 yards if they weren't hell-bent on killing Dalvin before his time. Courtney was right, its ridiculous what the are doing to Dalvin.
The abuse of Dalvin vs a team we could have torn to shreds by passing is just crazy. The other team was stacking the box like it was Brad Childress' KAO (Kick Ass Offense -- what a clown he was) and Adrian Peterson was running the ball. We faced 8-9 guys in the box regularly, and all we did was keep running into the box or throwing short passes that could be covered easily by defenders in the box. I mean, it was Brad KAO 2.0 today - and just as stupid as it was back then.
Honestly, it is almost like Zimmer and Spielman are living on different planets.
Sign a super expensive QB, we want to run the ball all the time.
Realizing that same QB cannot function when he faces interior pass rush, we practically go out of our way to gut the interior OGs of all talent and then keep signing free agents who somehow prove to be worse than the last guy.
Sign Kyle Rudolph to an expensive contract late in his career, we never throw him the ball.
Extend Dalvin Cook at top $ so we have him for years, we then run his like we were letting him play out his last year and we don't care about the future
Spielman has done a great job overall on talent, but some of these mismatches should cost him his job...
Who are the QBs who do well when facing an interior pass rush? Eli Manning has two rings thanks to Brady's inability to deal with one. . .
Jefferson should have had 150+! That PI call was terrible!
Agreed. If Zimmer wasn't so intent on running an 80s offense that keeps the other team in the game and then wasn't so terrible with clock management and decision-making the Vikings' might've even won by 9 or 10 points. But Zimmer's teams don't do that because he hasn't heard of this thing they call the forward pass, except on third and long. Against maybe the worst pass defense in the league.
It'd be worthless to draft one of the top four QBs in the draft unless Zimmer can turn Trey Lance into a RB.
Great article Mathew this mess was just brutal
If I read this article and did not watch the game, I would think that Matthew was overstating the Vikings ineptitude. But nope, spot on. The beauty is a win is a win. No one remembers how. #superbowlbound
I listened to it first and thought it was a terrible game full of miscues and bad offensive calls. Then later I watched the replay... I was glad we won but it was worse seeing it than listening to it and I didn't think that was possible.
Ugly? You’re being kind, Matthew! These guys need to get their feces coagulated...