2024 Vikings

Vikes balled out again. Can’t wait for the playoffs! Hope somebody knocks off Philly. I don’t want our team to have to play in that cesspool.

Interesting scenario on Thursday when the Packers visit the Lions. Detroit is favored by 4.5 points.

Who do you cheer for here? Obviously Detroit has to lose a game somewhere and then the Vikings have to beat them in week 18 if Minnesota is to have a chance at the division, but the Packers are only a game behind.

Guess maybe it doesn’t really matter what seed you are if you don’t win the division. The Vikings and Packers will be the 5 and 6 seeds so they’ll both be on the road in round 1 and they’ll play the winner of the south/west.

Pains me to say it but I think I’ll be cheering for Green Bay.

Detroit also has to play the Bills after GB. Go Pack, Go Bills, Vikes keep winning and it comes down to final game in Detroit for the division?

I doubt it – but it’s possible, I guess.

I tell ya what, I’d rather play Detroit than Philly right now.

ThunderLund78 wrote:

Vikes keep winning and it comes down to final game in Detroit for the division?

Depends on who Detroit loses to. If they lose to a divisional foe like GB or Chicago, then if the Vikings beat them in week 18 and they have the same record, Minnesota would have the tie breaker.

If Detroit loses to Buffalo, and the Vikings beat them in week 18, the Lions still have the tie breaker.

Detroit only needs to lose once for us to have the same record – and yes, Detroit has the tie breaker in that scenario. So if they drop two to Pack and Bills and we win-out to the last game than we’d have the division lead going into that game and both teams would effectively control their own destiny. It would be a must-win for both teams to take the division. Stranger things have happened. But I’m banking on 2 of 3 wild cards coming from the NFC north and one of them will be the Vikings.

Kirko’s return will be a fun one… he can hit targets like Kyler Murray did yesterday, but he cant run. So if we get pressure, he’s bound to throw picks or put the ball on the ground via strip sacks. AVG, Grennard and Cashman have to be licking their chops.

Yes, that’s correct. Obviously if Detroit loses two, and the Vikings win out, the Vikings win the division.

If they end up with the same record, tie breakers come into play and the Lions have that edge unless they lose to another divisional opponent.

Never a easy win for this team. I know a win is a win, as I’ve said so myself, but this team never looks real good to me. Then again neither has KC this year. I say that the Vikings are one of the worst 10-2 teams ever and KC is probably the worst 11-1 team ever. The only 2 teams that have a good record that I feel have really earned it are The lions and the Eagles. The Eagles and the Bills are getting hot now and will both be trouble come playoff time for whoever they play. Then again KC is the defending champs and always seem to play their best ball at playoff times so I’d never bet against them come playoff time either.

gimruis wrote:

Pains me to say it but I think I’ll be cheering for Green Bay

Gross. The internet is forever bud, don’t put that sort of nastiness out there. Go Lions!

Seriously unless the Vikings can tighten things up significantly and start playing at a higher level it won’t matter what seed they are. Offense just vanishes for quarters/halfs regularly often related to them turning it over too much, and the defense, while still playing well, has returned to the mean of their age/talent level. If Stephon Gilmore is out that would be a huge hit too, he’s been solid (not great) but his backup will have a target on him anywhere he goes on the field now.

fishthumper wrote:

I say that the Vikings are one of the worst 10-2 teams ever

If you look at the 2022 team that finished 13-4, that was actually not only the worst Vikings team ever with a good record, but they were also the worst team in NFL history that had such a gaudy record.

They went 11-0 in one-score games that season, and the 4 losses were all by at least 10 points. If I remember correctly, they are the only team in the history of the league to actually have a negative point differential and finish over .500, much less go 13-4. Their point differential that season was a -3.

Course, we found out their true identity when they lost to the Giants, ironically who were led by Daniel Jones, in the wild card round at home.

The current 2024 team actually has some pretty good metrics. They’ve beaten playoff caliber teams (houston, green bay, and arizona) and lost to Detroit by 2. Other than the two losses to Detroit and LA back to back weeks giving up 30+ points, the defense has played well most of the season. They are ranked #10 in total defense after yesterday’s win.

gimruis wrote:

Course, we found out their true identity when they lost to the Giants, ironically who were led by Daniel Jones, in the wild card round at home.

Kinda funny how that playoff game got Jones paid by the Giants and now full circle he is on the Vikes.

I’ve been thinking for awhile this year’s team feels a lot like that 2022 team. Almost every game is close, they’re not putting bad teams away, and every game just doesn’t feel that good….yet they’re still winning most of them. 10-2 in this league is impressive. I think a lot of people thought things might unravel a little after those back-to-back losses and all they’ve done is win 5 straight since then. At the moment I like their first round chances but I would consider their seasons likely done once a playoff matchup included Detroit or Philly, unless they really hit a groove and play some complete games in all facets…which I believe is what we were saying in 2022. Gotta enjoy it while we can, if you can’t get excited about a 10-2 season so far I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

The defense should be licking their chops for Atlanta. Cousins threw 4 picks yesterday en route to their 3rd straight loss.

Rumors have started swirling about him getting benched. Should be a highly interesting game, gotta love the NFL for all the storylines!!

Dan wrote:

Gotta enjoy it while we can, if you can’t get excited about a 10-2 season so far I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

This season is like getting up huge at a casino early, all house money. Just enjoy the ride and don’t plan on leaving rich or losing it all.

KP wrote:

Kinda funny how that playoff game got Jones paid by the Giants and now full circle he is on the Vikes.

Lol yep, irony at its finest, full circle.

Cousins looked terrible yesterday. He’s obviously capable of picking a team apart if given time, but he checks down a lot and has virtually no mobility if the pocket collapses. It won’t be anything like trying to defend someone as mobile as Kyler Murray yesterday.

He can’t be permitted time to throw like Goff and Stafford were in the two losses.

Dan wrote:

I’ve been thinking for awhile this year’s team feels a lot like that 2022 team. Almost every game is close, they’re not putting bad teams away, and every game just doesn’t feel that good….yet they’re still winning most of them. 10-2 in this league is impressive. I think a lot of people thought things might unravel a little after those back-to-back losses and all they’ve done is win 5 straight since then. At the moment I like their first round chances but I would consider their seasons likely done once a playoff matchup included Detroit or Philly, unless they really hit a groove and play some complete games in all facets…which I believe is what we were saying in 2022. Gotta enjoy it while we can, if you can’t get excited about a 10-2 season so far I don’t know what you’re waiting for.

Agree the biggest difference was our D in 2022 was at or near the bottom.
At least this years team shows some life in that department.

BigWerm wrote:

Pains me to say it but I think I’ll be cheering for Green Bay

Gross. The internet is forever bud, don’t put that sort of nastiness out there

Don’t feel to bad Gimruis. I think I’ll be cheering for GB as well. We need the lions to have a loss to help the vikings.

Interesting stat… Of the 388 NFL games this year, 307 have been decided by 8 points or less. So, almost 80 percent of games come down to one score.

NFL is just a really effing tight league. Whether it’s good teams against bad teams, good teams against good teams, or bad teams against good teams, the games are almost always close. Get over it and enjoy the wins.

Vikes actually have 4 of 12 games decided by 2+ scores; almost double the league average

Just this past week/weekend there was only 3 games that were not one score games.

With the Lions, Vikings, and Packers all above, 9 wins, this is the first time a single division has had three teams with 9 or more wins at the 13-week mark since 1985. Pretty historic.

There is potential for a 15-2 five seed. This division is really something special this season.

fishthumper wrote:

We need the lions to have a loss to help the vikings.

It doesn’t have to be to GB though, it could be to the Bills, 49ers or Bears. And then the Vikes win out, and beat Detroit in the last game for their 3rd loss.

If Goff, Darnold or Hurts goes down it’s open season in the play-offs. Speculating with 5 games to go is crazy.

If Darnold goes down we just plug and play Danny Jones all the way

The Vikings have opened as 5 point home favorites over the visiting Atlanta Falcons on Sunday.

The Falcons, sitting at 6-6, are currently tied with Tampa (also 6-6), but Atlanta already beat them twice so they hold the tie breaker.

They have lost three games in a row – two close ones to New Orleans and Los Angeles (Chargers), sandwiched by a thrashing against the Broncos 38-3.

Last week Cousins threw for a career high 4 interceptions, one of which was returned for what turned out to be a game-winning touchdown.

This could be another first round playoff preview, just like last week was against Arizona.

Nice to play a QB you know has ZERO interest in running out of the pocket…I think Kirko gets sacked 5+ times…

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Nice to play a QB you know has ZERO interest in running out of the pocket

Yes, but the two losses this season were to a couple of pure pocket passers that had similar lack of mobility: Goff and Stafford.

If he has time, he’ll carve it up. Just like those two did.

JoeMX1825 wrote:

Nice to play a QB you know has ZERO interest in running out of the pocket…I think Kirko gets sacked 5+ times…

Agreed, and if you remember last years training camp, BFlo’s defense was beating the hell out of Kirk and the offense. To the point Kirk was complaining in the media about not getting their work in because the defense was so dominant. This defense is WAY better than last year, and Atlanta’s offense is not as good as MN last year. I wouldn’t be surprised to see Penix at some point. Kirk will be motivated for sure, but I don’t see it happening. Vikes by 8+

Vikings are gonna be peaking at just the right time. Jones gotta stop the fumbles. Gilmore needs an ice pack on his hammy. Darnold best ball yet to come. This is gonna be a great stretch of football. During pheasant season I usually listen to the games driving between spots.