You could see last night that any type of pressure on Darnold and he was terrible. Accuracy, movement, and decision making are not in his wheelhouse.
I will agree that was the case last night. Not the rest of the year. He’s had no shortage of pressure on him all year. Their O-line is far from great on the pass rush. Last night they got outcoached for sure.
People act like they didn’t just go 14-3… like it was a fraudulent season. MOst expected maybe 8 or 9 wins. I for one am happy they lost… they proved they can hang with the lions, halftime should have been 7-6… with the Vikings missing at least 3 points they should of had. The defense was worn down, the offense had their one let down.. this time BEFORE the playoffs. I think this was a good thing… should have let the air out of Darnold’s head… and all the MVP chant poop they did last week. As shitty as we played in the first half, we were down by 4. Mental mistakes, throwing errors, missed opportunities, coaching mistakes.. this game had it all and it was ALL bad !!! Can only go up !!!
Pretty sure Bucky is correct. They readjust the brackets after next week’s games and go by original playoff seeding. Detroit will play the lowest seed team remaining. Higher seed being the home team.
If all the wild card teams were to somehow win in the NFC games next weekend, the Vikings (#5) would be home to the Commanders (#6). Lions (#1) would face the Packers (#7).
Pretty sure Bucky is correct. They readjust the brackets after next week’s games and go by original playoff seeding. Detroit will play the lowest seed team remaining. Higher seed being the home team.
If all the wild card teams were to somehow win in the NFC games next weekend, the Vikings (#5) would be home to the Commanders (#6). Lions (#1) would face the Packers (#7).
And then after that, if the Packers upset the Lions…the Vikings would host the NFC Championship game against the Packers too.
All this talk of homefield advantage being lost, and here the Vikings just have to win next Week at the Rams and could have home cooking the rest of the way!
It is based off seeding and who wins. None of that is for certain yet.
You are correct Bucky. I forgot the brackets get all reset after each round.
I said it on the first day of the season and I’m sure I’ll say it when the clock hits zero on the Super Bowl in the 4th quarter. This is the Lions’ year. The Vikes beat themselves, but it’s because they couldn’t respond to a clearly unanticipated game plan by Detroit. We got outplayed and out-coached. I still love KOC and he will respond and get better. But Campbell made it look like amateur hour last night. He made their defense the headline. Hats off to Detroit. Obviously if we somehow meet them again this year I’m routing for the Vikes, but otherwise I can’t help but cheer for team that really deserves it and a city that really needs it. It’s a great story.
I can’t help but cheer for team that really deserves it and a city that really needs it. It’s a great story.
Before last nights game, I didn’t think Detroit had a chance to go all the way with how beat up they have been on Defense. After last night I think they have a shot no matter who they put out there on defense.
Detroit and Buffalo sure seem to be the teams to beat this year. However, when the Chiefs take their third title in a row, will people really be scratching their heads going, how did that 15-1 team nobody was talking about do it again? Until they get knocked off, the defending back to back champs must be the odds on favorite. That team finds a way to get it done when it really matters. The red walrus is a football mastermind.
While the players actually do the work the DC Glenn clearly outcoached KOC last night. Clearly. For reasons unknown there were few if any crossing patterns, no picks with Addison & Jefferson crossing. Darnold wasn’t good but I don’t think it was all his fault. Glenn just dialed up blitzes & stunts tht the Vikings couldn’t handle. Another mystery is why Jones disappears at times. Hurt? Tired? Just not being used.
Now we will find out if KOC has been holding anything back. One thing I know is that if adjustments aren’t made this week McVey will outcoach KOC also.
Wow!
Just a few weeks ago the talk was KOC for Coack of the year, Darnold or JJ for MVP, Packers pay the refs to get calls, blah, blah, blah.
Vikes have had a great year. They get to play next week. That was the goal at the start of the year. There are a bunch of players cleaning their lockers today. Vikes, Packers, Lions get to play next week. Go NFC NORTH!!!!
Wow!
Just a few weeks ago the talk was KOC for Coack of the year, Darnold or JJ for MVP, Packers pay the refs to get calls, blah, blah, blah.
Vikes have had a great year. They get to play next week. That was the goal at the start of the year. There are a bunch of players cleaning their lockers today. Vikes, Packers, Lions get to play next week. Go NFC NORTH!!!!
Yeah the NFL and football in general is a funny game. I tend to agree with you here. Let’s flip the last two games and the narrative is probably completely different. Oh man got exposed by the lions and then Sam throws for 300plus and 3TD’s against the Pack and it’s probably great adjustments and great job righting the ship.
Does anyone think the Lions team they seen in the first half is going anywhere ? It only gets tougher each game from here. They can be beat and I predict they do not come out of the NFC on top. Actually, I think the Vikings, Packers and Eagles, can beat them with the right chips falling.
They said on the radio today that Hurts still hasn’t been cleared to play for the Eagles yet.
Trying to put a silver lining on it…..
…but I actually thought the same thing. If you’re gonna have a bad game perhaps it’s better to get it out of the way before the playoffs.
^Anything can happen obviously. However, Last night’s game gave me more reasons to feel confident that they will come out of the NFC. The Lions lost the turnover battle, played a full half of terrible offense, had tons of missing defensive players, were missing one of their x2 star runningbacks, and STILL beat the Vikings easily. Everyone loves to play the “what-if” game. “What-if” that safety is called, or KOC kicks FGs early to take the lead. The game definitely could have been closer given the “what-if” factor.
The other side of the coin:
What if the Lions don’t lose the turnover battle? What if the Lions are healthier 2 weeks from now? What if the Vikings don’t stay as healthy as they are now? What if the Lions offense doesn’t lay an egg for an entire half? One could easily argue that game could’ve been an even more lopsided score.
Other NFC Teams + Why I think they won’t make it to the SB:
Packers: Peaked too early and aren’t fully healthy. Jordan Love hasn’t been more than average…and that’s what it takes to win in the playoffs. They are a solid, but not great team. The offense just lacks that gamechanger type guy beyond Josh Jacobs.
Commanders: They are flashy and create a tough matchup to scheme against, but I’m not ready to bet on a rookie QB getting to the SB.
Eagles: They quietly put together a heck of a year, but I’m not sold on Hurts going into Detroit (if it comes to that) and matching what the Lions do offensively. That hypothetical game could have some serious points scored though.
Rams: They have some major talent at the skill positions, but their defense isn’t of SB caliber. I look for the Vikings to exploit it early and often.
Bucs: Fun to watch, but they feel like a team that beats on the bad teams and runs up numbers on the non-playoff part of their schedule. Baker could light up anyone or throw 3 unforced INT’s to anyone with a playoff caliber D too.
Vikings: I think the scouting report is out now, and that sitting in Cover 2 or a soft zone against KOC and that offense in big spots allows them to do what they want. KOC can scheme guys open all day with zone beaters of every imaginable type – he’s that good of an offensive mind. Challenge 175# Addison in a physical press coverage, roll your safety to JJ, dare KOC to call 3 running plays in a row with the game on the line or for Darnold to complete high traffic or even open throws with guys at his feet.
KOC is still the leader in the clubhouse imo for Coach of the Year. And he sure had a lot of guys running wide open for getting out coached so badly… Rams are a very tough matchup for us imo, but if they can get past them I think they got as good a shot as anyone. Lions still have a coach who utilizes kamikaze means, and losing Arnold hurts a ton. All those injuries matter, despite what they have shown down the stretch. And as they always say in the playoffs, it’s tough to beat a team 3 times!
Hock, Mundt and Oliver should of had big games… they did not. KOC did not adjust early to the Lions D… the Lions finally did in the 3rd quarter… they started targeting Laporta which opened up the others and the run game and they torched the tired Vikings D.
KOC is still the leader in the clubhouse imo for Coach of the Year.
I agree, even after last night he will take that award.
Although the voting may be a little closer now. Dan Quinn in Washington deserves his name in there too.
The fact that the Packers still won 11 games but went 1-5 in the division is a pretty telling stat here. It was a TOUGH division. Arguably the best division in the last 30 years.
Only thing I don’t agree with Bucky is guys were covered. Some plays yes. Other plays they had guys wide open. Just didn’t get the accurate throws last night.
And “whaf if” Sam Darnold was Tom Brady then what. 
The third down and goal from the from 4 we passed rather then running it once
You should be able to run the ball in from inside the 5. They don’t even try though. Its just automatic pass play, usually targeting Jefferson.
Not sure why they don’t utilize CJ Hamm more too down there. He is a big full back and a good blocker. Have Jones or Akers run behind him a couple times.
Yeah I’m passing on third and goal. Probably 100 percent of the time outside of the 1 yard line.
Only thing I don’t agree with Bucky is guys were covered. Some plays yes. Other plays they had guys wide open. Just didn’t get the accurate throws last night.
And “whaf if” Sam Darnold was Tom Brady then what.
I can hardly tell them apart.
^Exactly…meaning KOC and the weapons are too good to sit back as they ARE going to get open against a soft zone. You’re better off taking your shot (in spots) to get Darnold off balance and moving, hoping he either doesn’t have time or the ability to get it to open guys amidst the chaos. The Lions are also at liberty to take risks on defense considering their offense can strike right back when they give up a big play.
Hamm is an ox and should be played more.
Let’s not toss the towel in just yet. I think this Lions game is a wakeup call.
As I see it, the Vikes need to beef up or step up the the o-line and give Darnold a bit more time to find a receiver.
Defensively the best play was Smith’s interception.
Asfar as O’Connell, Id kick him i9n the nuts if given the chance for all of the predictable first down trots that the oppositions defense is reading without light.
Then the sdtripes and non calls… there were a couple.
We could have won that game.
Uncle Sam laid an egg, missing throw after throw, which he had been making all year, with an occasional exception here and there. Last night he was shook and performed terribly from start to finish. The only good thing about Sam last night was that he didn’t throw any picks. In light of Darnold’s play I’m not sure my preferences of running the ball more often and KOC not having Dan Campelitis makes much of a difference. Sam was a trainwreck, which is inexplicable given how he has played this year; even in the 3 pick game in Jacksonville, he was making most of the throws.
It will be interesting to see what Uncle Sam’s implosion in this game does to his value on the QB market. Can he be trusted in a big spot? No, he can’t. He crashed the car when it was in position to take the checkered flag. It is going to be really hard for Sam to change that narrative.
Lets not act like Darold is the first and only guy to have a tough first big game. Hostile crowd in a city starved for any kind of football success. You would think he crapped the bed and had 5 picks and 4 fumbles. They got up and down the field but didn’t cash in when they had the chance. Gibbs on the other hand owned the Viking defense.
Before we completely bury the kid lets see how he (and KOC) react in LA. They get regrouped and he gets another crack at Detroit. If not they finish 14-4 which not one guy here would have bet a dollar on Darnold being able to do. As our girlfriend Erin would say…..RELAX.
I expect Sam will bounce back for the Rams game. The first meeting loss was a fluke of circumstances coming together perfectly in the Rams favor. It being a Monday Night game gives Uncle Sam a start on chipping into the narrative I outlined. He can mostly erase it by getting to the NFC Championship Game and playing well in it. Getting there is going to be a hard road.
Gibbs didn’t take off last night until after the dropped INT by Gink at the start of the 4th Q. If Gink takes it to the house, who knows what happens from there as the game would have been tied up with a 2pt conversion. That dropped pick was the play of the game, total backbreaker for the spirit of the defense. Instead, Lions score a TD a couple of plays later for a 15pt lead; Game Over! Gibbs runs wild in garbage time gaining half of his yards for the game on their next drive.
Sam had a bad game no doubt, but to put that loss on him is really ridiculous. There were countless terrible decisions made on play calls. I have seen some of the all 22 from the game and the one 4th and goal if Jefferson just stayed flat it was an easy touchdown. Instead he did an out an up and ran right toward the defender and pass was overthrown. Sam had to make a perfect pass there in order for it to be a completion which he had done many times, but if that route stayed near the goal line its an easy pitch and catch.
They were not good in the red zone plain and simple. Play calling and inaccurate throws made it a one sided score.
They were not good in the red zone plain and simple. Play calling and inaccurate throws made it a one sided score.
Big part of it but it’s not that plain and simple. If we want to make it in the post season, we have some special teams issues to wrestle with – missed kicks aside, the kick out-of-bounds was inexcusable.
And beyond the red zone, the O-line got dominated – which is always a festering issue with us. Sam was under constant pressure and we clearly didn’t plan for Detroit to bring a blitz and trust a 2nd & 3rd string secondary in man-to-man situations. Watch for the Rams to do more of the same. We were exposed.
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