The playoffs actually kickoff around thanksgiving. The weather turns. The pretenders are only playing full out in occasional spoiler roles... Ie. Sunday game where indy visits NE.
Last game before the bye week for both teams.
New england is all but eliminated. Indy is climbing a giant hill but almost out of oxygen.
Both squads know. Next week theres no game. And the week after that is likely just playing out a string of meaningless games. Does either team play all out in boston this weekend? Meh. Doubtful. Anthony Richardson knows hes the starter next season. Drake Maye is likewise annointed. Call fed ex & mail this one in!
Indy will get one shot to play spoiler in a week 15 visit to denver. The pats have 4 playoff hopefulls games they can spoil in their last 4 after the bye. Az, chargers & buffalo x 2.
Back to this sunday in Boston. Somebody has to win. But only the 2 coaches fighting to save their jobs will actually care.
Why have the vikings bombed out late season- year after miserable year?
Coaching? Schedule? Players?
Its some of each. Mostly. The vikings arent a run dominant offense. Nor are they built big & beefy to stop the run. Playoff football is about closing out games winning at the end. How many seasons, late year games have bemoaned- we couldnt run out the clock. Which is accompished by running the ball right at a tired defense. How many times have we bemoaned- we couldnt stop them on 3rd down late in the game... Bc. They run it down the throat of our tired defense.
Why is KC does these things? They have a monstrous & large dominant o-line. And a defense built to stop the run.
All that said. The viking defense is currently ranked #1 vs the run. But I think its misleading.
Being ranked #1 vs the run. Through the nice weather months. Doesnt mean a team will continue the trend late in the year.
The vikings final stretch. These final 7 games.
They only play outdoors twice. At chicago sunday and then at Seattle week 16. Both of those o-lines are playing with multiple backups. So the viking D should hold up. Prevent both squads from running every down to clock a lead. Unfortunately. Minnesota has not shown the ability on offense. To do their own run the clock by running at the clock. The viking o-line can be manhandled. Its shown in nearly every game when the vikings are repeatedly forced to punt and blowouts turn into nail biters. Close games become "we need a turnover to save the day."
You tell me, is that coaching? Players? Schedule?
Its kind of a famed if you do/ dont scenario. A coach can only coach what hes given. You cant ask a player to suddenly become a 330lb dominant road grader when on the day you drafted him the team knew he was a 295lb finesse center.
Im a broken record. What is it the vikings are building? The Ravens drafted a 388lb right guard. The kid played at the u of minnesota. Falala. The ravens average around 200 yds rushing per game. The vikings keep drafting finesse o-line. Their run game ranks in the bottom half of the league. Its not the fault of a backfield lacking in talent. Its just not a KOC priority.
Sure, he wants balance. He knows they need to run it to win. But its not going to happen when you dont build it to succeed.
These results. This style of football. That fate was sealed when KOC & Kwesi were chosen over that Jim Harbaugh crackpot the Wilfs didnt like.
What is it the vikings are actually trying to accomplish? Excitement & entertainment? 38 24 wins Or?
15-6 victories on a domed plastic floor that has the ability to clock a playoff game at the end.
TBH. Playing on the plastic. I think it seals their fate. Those big bodies are designed for grass. Finesse & speed fit the plastic model.
You can see it come into view by the number of injuries detroit is faced with these past few years as the season gets late. Detroit is built more like a grass team. They play like a grass team. It'll be interesting to see how their depth chart looks in january. Plastic is just not as forgiving to those 340lb+ bodies.
The league says its nonsense. That the injury rate is the same. Grass vs plastic. I dont think its true data.
Lol, I rambled a lot.
I think. The real problem. The Vikings rely far to much on justin jefferson. Neutralize him. The vikings get frustrated. KOC has no plan b.
The eagles, the lions? Take away their pass game. They run for 200yds. Take away the run. They pass for 300 & 4 tds.
Take Justin Jefferson away. Eliminate turnovers. How do the vikings beat a good team?
Next week vs kyler murray, james connor. Thats going to be a very interesting must see moment for viking football. Flores has his work cut out for him. KOC is going to need to play a time of possesion/ score every time type game. Kyler isnt getting the publicity. But i think fans recognize it. That dide looks like the league mvp. Not the media darling in baltimore. Not goff or Hurts.
2 guys, maybe 3-this year. Are performing magic with mediocre rosters. Josh Allen & Kyler Murray.
To a lesser degree. The TC pitchers son in KC.
Schedule makers didnt put allen or mahomes in front of the vikings. Tis a shame. I sure would love to see Flores design to stop them. They did plant Kyler in front of Flores. You can bet flo has been working on it already. School is in session! I am so ready! I wont be cutting class that day. By no means am I calling it success.
But im gonna learn something that day!
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