2022 Minnesota Vikings

Kirk looks like a totally different player this year, and is providing Exhibit A of why FF/Analytics are irrelevant to winning football. His stats have been underwhelming compared to his history except in the 8-1 record. Turns out being in close ball games and having leads isn’t conducive to crazy stat lines, shocker I know. This year Kirk is taking ownership of the offense, audibling way more frequently when needed, and throwing WAY more 50/50 balls. It’s been awesome to watch him play empowered by the coaching staff and with a little moxie.

He definitely is playing with more aggressiveness this year. He seems to throw the “best pass of his career” nearly each week. Some of those passes are just ridiculous that he pulls off. The one he threw right to the DB was not a highlight though LOL. He commented later that he thought it was a wide open Jefferson forgetting what color jerseys they were wearing LOL

The 20-yard completion to Jefferson on the sideline across his body throwing off his back foot was unbelievable. I believe it came in overtime but maybe it was the end of the game I can’t remember. Yes, one of the picks was terrible but I could honestly care less about the stat line if he keeps coming through clutch in the 4th quarter.

Aboxy17 wrote:

I could honestly care less about the stat line if he keeps coming through clutch in the 4th quarter.

This! Statistically he is having an off year, but man is he coming in clutch when it matters.

Vegas has the Cowboys as a 2 point fav.
What up with that???

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Vegas has the Cowboys as a 2 point fav.
What up with that???

I posted about this in the NFL Discussion thread. Its a head scratcher for sure but BigWerm commented on why that may be.

I personally think its a slap in the face. If a road win at Buffalo isn’t enough to convince people that the Vikings are a legit team, I”m not sure any game or win will.

The lines Vegas sets are not what people think because the odds makers aren’t impartial, they’re doing it to benefit their for-profit industry. Surprised we haven’t come up with a more objective method for official lines.

I’ll actually be in Vegas and if that line stays at Dallas -2 or -2.5 I’d be tempted to make my first sports bet.

just watching this recap again, some of the throws Kirk made at the end should end all conversation of him not being a big moment player…

lol, the last 2 minutes and OT make up a 43 minute video – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QW6R-ITG04s

I posted about this in the NFL Discussion thread. Its a head scratcher for sure but BigWerm commented on why that may be.

I personally think its a slap in the face. If a road win at Buffalo isn’t enough to convince people that the Vikings are a legit team, I”m not sure any game or win will.
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It is odd but I think the team likes the feeling of wanting to go out and prove themselves as one of the NFL’s best teams. And quite honestly now I think you can make an argument for the Vikings to be the best team in the NFL. KC lost to the Bills at home and we beat the Bills on the road KC also lost to the Raiders. The Eagles lost to Washington last night right after we beat them. Yes, the Eagles beat us week 2 but we have come a long way since then. And I think MN as a team has more potential and upside than the eagles.

Eelpoutguy wrote:

Vegas has the Cowboys as a 2 point fav.
What up with that???

I’ll reiterate it here, basically lines are only partially indicative of what they think will happen. Lines are set, and adjusted based off of how much money comes in, and they (Vegas/The Book) want even money coming in on either side of the line.

They’ve gotta give people a reason to think about it, then make a tough call and bet. I swear they have better plugged in insiders than Schefter and Rappaport.

I think I favor Dallas in this game. The Cowboys have to be pissed off that they lost to Green Bay, blowing an opportunity to keep pace with the Giants and gain ground on the Eagles. They cannot afford to lose this game. The Vikes coming off two emotional huge wins on the road are in solid command of the Division. A letdown in intensity would be natural. Under the circumstances, a win would be as impressive as last week’s victory. The veterans know how hard it is to get into this position. It will be interesting to see how the team handles success and if they play hungry to be the top dog in the NFC. Home-field hasn’t meant a darn thing vs. the Cowboys the previous two seasons.

just seen where the Vikings are #1 in the power rankings in some arenas!!!

now they’ll lose for sure!!!!!

Micah Parsons is an absolute beast and Ceedee is a problem too. Other than that Dem Boys don’t scare me much. US Bank will be rocking, and I think the Vikes win. I’d say easily but nothing has been easy thus far, expect a nail biter again

I think they are going to have to have a commanding win over someone this year where everything goes their way for the national media to give them that crown. I was honestly surprised to see Buffalo below them in the power rankings on NFL.com even after we beat them.

I was at the Vikings-Cowboys playoff game in 2010 (2009 Season). The crowd noise was absolutely insane.

The Vikings crushed the Cowboys and to this day you can feel the hatred that Romo has for the Vikings in the booth.

I think we beat the boys and the let down comes the following week when we host the Pats on Turkey day on a short week. Which would not be that alarming considering the circumstances.

Bass Pundit wrote:

Home-field hasn’t meant a darn thing vs. the Cowboys the previous two seasons.

The loss on Halloween night last year was terrible but you have to consider the 2020 game we did not really have any home field advantage because there was no crowd. I am guessing losing two home games in a row to the cowboys plays into them being favored.

Hope Darrisaw is OK and can play. He’s the biggest graded lineman this year according to Pro Football Focus.

If I remember right that draft had a lot of o-line prospects taken in the first round. Spielman traded back and got Darrisaw because they really wanted him.

Between Darrisaw and JJ likely getting a new contract this off-season, this team is about to get real expensive.

JJ sent his sleeve and gloves to the HOF to be put on display for that catch. Ive seen some amazing grabs and not being biased, that was the best of all time. OBJ had a nice one but even that one was bested by JJ. the helmet catch by Tyree and the one by Santonio were more meaningful but not better.

Ripjiggen wrote:

I think we beat the boys and the let down comes the following week when we host the Pats on Turkey day on a short week. Which would not be that alarming considering the circumstances.

Dallas is a flawed football team and so is Belicheats squad. I’m wondering if the Jets are the real deal? They must have an amazing D if they keep winning with that trash QB!

We’ll see how good KOC is at getting his team prepared next week with the Thursday night trap game against the Pats…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

We’ll see how good KOC is at getting his team prepared next week with the Thursday night trap game against the Pats…

Regardless of this season it’s hard for lifelong Viking fans to not see any “easier” games as a trap game. But KOC played for Belichick for a bit as a back-up to Brady. He’s probably more familiar with his thought process than most and I think he’ll have the squad motivated. Whether they execute will be a whole other story. Dallas is going to be tough and I hope our guys come out of it healthy on a short week.

Dan wrote:

Hope Darrisaw is OK and can play. He’s the biggest graded lineman this year according to Pro Football Focus.

Yesterday they said on KFAN that Bradbury was ranked as the 9th best center in the league so far this season according to Pro Football Focus Advanced Gen Stats. Additionally, his pass block grade is actually listed higher than his run blocking grade this season too, which is a little strange given how undersized he is. He was initially brought in to be a mobile lineman in the zone run scheme under the Kubiaks. Just even in this thread and during training camp, fans were calling for him to be cut because he would get railroaded in pass blocking. So he’s definitely been a nice improvement this season.

Not sure how they’re going to handle Parsons, especially if Darrisaw is out. Cousins might be under heavy assault if that’s the case.

gimruis wrote:

Not sure how they’re going to handle Parsons, especially if Darrisaw is out. Cousins might be under heavy assault if that’s the case.

The dude who filled in for Darrisaw after he went out actually did pretty good. Granted small sample size, but hopefully if he is called upon he can have another good game.

Yep…..next man up!

PA getting some viral love. Say what you want about him but his play by play is elite imo.

http://www.si.com/fannation/bringmethesports/vikings/lebron-james-calls-vikings-announcer-paul-allen-a-national-treasure

BigWerm wrote:

PA getting some viral love. Say what you want about him but his play by play is elite imo.

I cant stand to listen to his weekly show anymore, but his PxP ranks right up there with Kevin Harlan. He is a total homer, but he really prepares for each game.

It’s widely agreed that he is one of the best local announcers in the nation. But I don’t get why people don’t seem to like his show and him in general. I guess it probably has something to do with his inability to criticize the team and last year him not wanting Zimmer fired because of his ties to him and the team.

I will say this – after a game I will find all of his TD calls and listen to them because they are awesome. He is known as one of the best voices in the biz and a lot of that comes from Horse Race announcing. His call of the fumbled snap by Buffalo was like he was witnessing the second coming of Christ.

But I’m getting a little tired of the PxP, in-general. Everything, such as Buffalo calling a timeout early in the 1st quarter due to confusion, is announced as if it was a game changing play. Also, I was an English minor but I feel I need a dictionary to understand half the quips he has – and they’re constant. After a while it gets confusing as to what’s actually happening.

May I suggest a drinking game? Listen to the Cowboys game and take a drink every time PA or Bercich say “Are you kidding me???”