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Some amazing finishes yesterday. Fun to see ATL lose, good games by the JETS and Ravens went down the tubes in the final seconds. I am unhappy with how decent the Packers looked, but the sadness was tempered by the terrible offense the lions put out there. It is finally GAMEDAY! We get to see the start of the JJ era. I did pick the Vikings in the Pickem thingy, but there is not a lot of confidence after learning our old safety is out. Watching the craziness yesterday also tempered my enthusiasm. Anything can happen, and the Vikings seem to struggle in Chicago. Lets get the win, and do so with no injuries!
The officiating was not terrible in all the games I watched. Just most of them. I am also thankful the fantasy football thing was free, because you basically have a bye when playing my team.
I really wanted to go to bed early last night, but the Bills made me stay up late and watch another very dramatic finish. I would have been one of the fans out the door at 40-25. Guaranteed. I should learn. I promise that when I go watch the Vikings/Bengals game, I will stay to the bitter end no matter the score.
BBQ and football and a nap and a round of golf. Good day for me yesterday.
FTP!
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Skule will be in for Darrisaw. 6 year vet. Should be OK.
Changed my mind.
Now I am going to open a beer, so I cannot be held responsible for any posts after this one….
Darrisaw is inactive.
Yep
I’m seeing the game start is scheduled for 8:15 p.m. Eastern. I always wonder if that is the actual kickoff time or not, though.
I think kickoff is later.
Darrisaw is still listed as questionable, right?
Thought he was upgraded to full participant lately?
He fully participated in a walkthrough practice on Saturday. He was listed as questionable on the injury report the last I saw.
If it is just a walk through our non practice day, the team is supposed to list what they think he would have been had it been a full practice. With the condition of the field, I’d sort him too.
He is actually inactive
Smokescreen much? Or they just don’t want to let him play on that field…
Probably the field
Game thread or are we winging it?
Wing it. we are under 200 comments. it will probably double. that should still load fine.
While I don’t disagree with Ryan’s take, former NFL coaches are usually a lot more cautious, even respectful, when talking about others in their peer group.
Shock Jock commentary from a big mouth who was raised by Buddy Ryan, another loud mouth.
For sure a loud mouth to beg for his britches. And not like there’s a spot for him in canton.
Rex Ryan always was one to put a foot in his mouth
But such beautiful white teeth. Blinding.
I see what you’ve done you brilliant SOB…. And sir, I applaud you for it.
nice to see you around, hope all is well.
Ben with the zinger.
Well plaid.
He’s not wrong….
STOP IT
https://twitter.com/Chris_Hawkey/status/1965134743797993631
Yeesh. Not good.
Sickening to see. Idiots saying “well both teams have to play on it, so no advantage” is just stupid.
I mean, there really ISNT an advantage for either team. Both teams are equally at risk for injury. A risk that wouldn’t be there if the the City of Chicago wasn’t incompetent but, we can’t hope for miracles no can we?
Yeah… both teams could lose key players for the year, so it’s “fair”.
City of Chicago needs to be sued if any player is injured as a result of the field, but they have a billion dollar deficit, and the only ones that would suffer are the taxpayers.
I could see the coaches agreeing to not play tonight, and reschedule the game.
If Jefferson goes down for the season with a knee injury, we’re gonna be screaming bloody murder.
Yup, its fair. Its a shitty fair, but still fair. And I agree. Will have to keep tabs on what the coaches think during warm ups. Maybe it looks worse then it actually is but I am not sure how you reschedule a game like this.
I’m probably wrong on this, but think you are more likely to have injuries on a very tight field with no give. On loose fields, your foot slides out and you fall, but less pressure on your knee.
Now, the quality of the game can be greatly affected. But if it’s loose, our WR’s should have a big advantage over DB’s – they know where they are going.
It’s some like playing on the old Candlestick Field in January after three days of rain.
Think i worry more about the hammy. Soft tissue, tears pretty easy and seems to linger. (Jet)
Yes that or pulling a muscle from hyper extending from sliding.
Good point. Maybe no acl or meniscus tears but hammies and pulled muscles.
Vikes just need to go up by 40 in the forest half and sit starters for the second half. Easy peasy.
Need a run game.
Opened in 1925, reconstructed in 2003. Chicago is on top of everything. 1924.
Goddamit Chicago….you need to be fired into the sun. I swear to God if any one gets a season ending injury.
if they tear up chunks of sod on cuts it’s unsafe.
You know its going to look like an abused tee box on a golf course right?
Good think it’s not raining.
The slippers go flying, but he has a death grip on that coffee cup.
He’s very fortunate he didn’t leave his brains on his landscape bricks.
I’d hang on to a beer but let coffee go.
The coffee went flying but he had a death grip on the empty cup.
If he came to this blog he would have…..
Will there be a new game thread, or are we supposed to stay here?
Yes?
Maybe?
seeing all the fantasy football and golf talk has me like….
We could talk about how to change a battery……
Im going to pull an old man here and talk about my weekend golf. Decided last minute to join a buddy and his wife on one of the harder courses in town. Had zero expectations. First 3-4 holes were awful as they usually are and then he asked if he could tell me some things he noticed and and if I would be willing to make some adjustments and I said sure, as him and his wife are pretty good and I value constructive criticism. I ended up adjusting my feet and where I place the ball in my stance when I tee off with a driver specifically, as well as where I am placing the face of my club when lining up. The entire past two summers I thought my slice was because of my wrists and not closing my club face. Turns out that was fine for the most part, but everything else was just slightly off.
Long post short, I went from hitting the ball off the heel (slice) to more center and I started driving the ball either straight or with a draw almost immediately and in the 200-250 yard range. I also adjusted the ball in stance when using my wedges and high irons and adjusted a striking issue there. I have never golfed more consistently in my life. The greens on this course are the hardest in town so I basically 3-4 putted every hole except for the two that I parred. I also ended up in the bunker about 5 times which added strokes. I shot a 110, but if I cleaned up putting and stay out of the sand those 5 times, Im firmly in the mid 90s which Iv never done. Im excited. Skol – Vikings win by 10+
Congratulations on a fun round of golf. Even ‘young men’ like it when they see progress.
It’s interesting what you said. A pretty good golfer named Nicklaus once said ‘ 90% of all bad golf shots can be attributed to bad alignment, grip, posture and ball placement.” All things that can be corrected before one even swings.
Agee on the plus 10.
And there weren’t BIG adjustments, a few inches here or there in stance, ball placement and club head placement…and then miracles happened. I was very grateful to him, he was even excited for me because we have the same issues with our Irons so were similar golfers. Fun Saturday all around and it was beautiful out. Having the positive vibes also helped though, instead of being around people who get so negative either about themselves or others. Little adjustments and mental attitude go far.
One part is the mechanics. (Which could be 10 parts.)
The second part is the mental.
Once you get in the groove, it should come together.
Absolutely, and agreed.
We have a strong roster. The Bears have holes everywhere, new coaching staff and have been poor for years. What’s everyone so nervous about? we aren’t playing the Eagles or the Bills.
I’m nervous cuz our QB hasn’t played a real snap, the Vikings have a history of underwhelming their fans in prime time, and the starters played 30 seconds in preseason.
Always reasons for concern can be found, especially with our ‘Viking PTSD’.
Take a deep breath, understand you can’t control it, embrace ‘Hope for the best but expect the worst’.
Then if the worst does not happen it is all good. That is how I deal with it all.
as you know that quote is my motto with most things.
Everyone (here at least) says it’s the start of a new era. So let’s forget the old, and start with ‘big’ positive thinking.
‘the start of a new era’
Need some evidence of that before it surpasses decades of prior experiences.
I just listen to Bow. New era and the start of a run of SB’s.
After tonight people are going to be saying “Patrick who”.
Bingo.
Same here, same reasons.
So…..Chicago’s best Corner, and another starting Corner should be out tonight…
Their best Linebacker is also out tonight….
Our offense SHOULD feast. but will they…..
Our Minnesota nice will kick in and we will avoid throwing in the direction of the replacements.
No, we make replacements look like all-stars. They will get PD’s and picks. That is the MN way.
Just call the pick six play in the huddle and we will be good to go.
Yeah, I don’t understand why more teams don’t do that. Is there a limit how many times you can run that per game? I only ever see like 2, maximum.
Nah, NFL wants Chicago to win. So they’ll at least keep it close.
idk, seeing all the stuff coming out about the organization, it seems like the NFL is against the Bears.
The media has been hyped about them the past 2 years, and many outlets are saying they are going to win 10+ games this year. And they are not the Vikings, most importantly (we get screwed against most teams).
The luster around Williams has worn off and the Bears are well the Bears.
Yep.
The media hype from the “experts” are off the charts again.
Why did they schedule the Vikings two primetime games to start the season then? I think they are ready to make JJ the darling of the league.
Now that would be nice. Considering how the league has treated us since… well, for a very long time, I’ll believe it when I see it, and they finally let us win a Superbowl.
They’re just setting up the 0 and 4 versus 0 and 4 SuperBowl and we know how that’ll end.
Did the Packers look good or Lions look really bad? I think it was a combination of both. Either way, Packers are way too high on their season now I think. I hope their outlook comes crashing down to earth on Thursday.
I’d say Lions look more like Sh**.
Love was not impressive.
Lions should have had an easy pick but dropped it.
I would say it was more Lions looking bad than Packers looking good too, but their defense did well.
Both these teams play very physical football like many teams in the NFC now. And the Packers were simply more physical than the Lion especially in the trenches..
Could have been 2 picks! A penalty away from the play (correct call tho) negates the Branch pick-6. Anzelone showed why he’s a linebacker on the other one.
True.
As I posted last night during the game Detroit looked much sh*ttier than last year while FTP looked about the same.
The lions looked weak, from what I watched. The Packers, if you stop Gary and Parsons, you should be ok.
The Packers looked good. My opinion is worth the paper it is printed on.
My humble opinion also.
Had a patient today that was bragging about how good the Packers looked. Too much snobbery for 1 game. Makes me wish bad things for their season (if I didn’t already).
Triple their bill.
If only… I would do it for everyone if I could. Eye exam reimbursements haven’t increased since like the 90’s, even though inflation has been like 250% since then (arbitrary number but maybe true).
Wrenage,
What’s your take on JJ’s hair?
Keeping it long for extra padding under helmet to prevent concussions and CTE.
Lazy punk
I hate it. He looks like one of the Alpha Betas from Revenge of the Nerds.
Would you prefer a Tri-Lamb at QB? Maybe our own Lamar.
Yes! That’s a solid haircut! No frills and covers the scalp.
Starting to get excited fellas…..
Well I don’t think he’ll be scoring any tonight, but hopefully some others!
Psst…he’s not playing.
Correct. But the team he plays for, the one we root for, the reason for this blog….. IS playing tonight.
didn’t think I needed to spell that out….. but here we are.
skol
If your team plays on Monday Night Football, the next day should be an automatic come in to work at noon day.
It should be a law.
Took tomorrow off…..
I’m out in SoCals time zone so I think the game starts at like 3 pm.
We are in Mountain Zone as is most of Montana, except for the far north/east corner that about to be annexed by North Dakota.
Tell me about it… glad I can sleep in tomorrow.
I played 9 holes today as a walk on. I got hooked up with three guys in their 30’s who were athletically built. They were a fun group. The first hole was a 310 yard par four, with a marsh that started at about 150 yards off the tee. It was about 190 yards to carry the marsh. I pulled a 6 iron out and hit a nice little draw down the right side about 145 yards. The young guys all pulled out drivers and commenced to losing their tee shots in the marsh. They all hit second shots as “breakfast balls” as we call them down here, and they all cleared the marsh. I was faced with a 165 yard shot over the marsh for my second shot. I hit a seven wood just OK, and ended up a little short right. I pitched the ball onto the green, and two putted for bogey. None of my playing partners made par, even with their breakfast balls. I ended up shooting 41, and didn’t hit any terrible shots.
It was a good round, and the guys were fun to be around. Now I’m home, the wife is out getting her nails done, and the cats are snoozin.
Nice round. Your play is getting better every week.
Thanks, I haven’t actually played much this summer due to the heat, and the thunderstorms. Maybe 3 rounds in the last couple months. My fundamentals let me play decent without practice. I hit my wedges and short irons well, and I’m a decent putter. I hit a three wood or five wood off the tee because the driver is just flat the weakest club in my bag. There were three par fours today I couldn’t reach in regulation, and I was very happy with hitting a solid tee shot, hitting a 6 iron layup, and hitting a wedge onto the green, with a two putt bogey. I parred four holes. Both par threes, one of the par fives, and a three hundred and fifty yard par four (which is a long hole for me).
That’s a good day.
Thanks. It’s about as good as I can play, honestly.
Dennis Allen has been coaching in the NFL at various levels for around 23 years. His defensive schematics aren’t a secret. He plays a 4-3, and he tends to use unorthodox blitz packages to put pressure on the opposing QB.
Allen also disguises coverages well, so he’s going to try and force the ball out of McCarthy’s hands quickly, and hope he makes a bad decision.
Supposedly McCarthy has been studying Allen’s defensive tendencies for weeks now, preparing for this game.
Should be interesting to see how it all pans out.
I’m going with Hockenson offensive player of the game.
He’ll have two touchdowns and +100 yards.
Everyone will wish they took him in fantasy.
Yes, I took him in fantasy.
I already lost the league I have him in but I will upvote this into existence still.
Young QB’s typically rely a lot on their TE’s as a safety blanket, so I could see it. I would say more like 77 yards and 1 TD though.
Not only young QB’s.
Short on 4th & 8.
Hope so. I did too.
Bears defense was very average last season looking at the stats: https://www.espn.com/nfl/stats/team/_/view/defense/season/2024/seasontype/2/table/passing/sort/netYardsPerGame/dir/asc
That surprised me. I thought they were better. They were particularly bad against the run, so I imagine KOC wants to test that early tonight.
Did the Bears defense add anyone of note to the defense?
Vikings 20 bears 13
In case you missed it, Chris Christie was a guest on ABC news Sunday.
The topic: RFK Jr is wrong about what is healthy at HHS.
Can’t make it up.
—————————————–
Thanks for not showing the Gif where he is in a baseball uniform and his camel toe is showing.
Can’t unsee that one.
“Vaccine denier”….they keep using this line about him. Every clip I’ve heard from RFK Jr is that he thinks they should be studied more and go through more rigorous approval.
I wonder how much money Christie has gotten from big pharma over the years.
Yep.
Common sense can’t be part of the policy I guess.
Christie is a loser.
Don’t watch ABC but wonder why anyone would have him on as a sort of expert on anything.
He’s a crook too.
Because he is a “republican” who screams orangeman bad…..
AKA white lizzo
Too fat. – FiveHole
No fat shaming.
Any predictions on the first play from scrimmage for McCarthy? I’m going to go with screen pass to Jones, gain of 4 yards.
Run play to the right with Jones.
Then a play fake rollout to a TE.
I second this.
Let’s hope it’s not……
#jinx
O’Connell is all over this:
Pitch to Jones, Jones throws it back across the field to Jefferson, Jefferson hits McCarthy on a deep throw, McCarthy hook and ladder to Hockenson, Hockenson Holly Roller into the endzone, McCarthy dives on it for the score.
Play is called back for ineligible receiver downfield.
64 yard TD to Justin Jefferson.
Basic 15 yard crossing pattern that breaks.
The annexation of Puerto Rico….
JUST watched this movie with my kids for the first time.
THEY LOVED IT
Did that with our kiddos this summer. They were cracking up.
90s kids movies were the best. (Side note: I did not realize when I was growing up how much language was in kids movies back then.)
Is that Little Giants?
The original Bad News Bears is a classic worth re-watching.
thats ALOT of lotion on your dresser there…
you must have REALLY dry skin
My mom has a collection of those little plastic ducks.
I have no idea why.
https://www.vikings.com/news/nfl-expert-picks-bears-week-1-2025
Looks like the experts are picking Chicago to win. I kinda like it.
No way. There are teams we play, like the Eagles, where we need to be hitting on all cylinders to win. The Bears not so much. No major screwups and just play good solid football.
#nojinx
In regards to the words up top: The officiating is almost always very one-sided. I get intrigued when I see a game where there are fair calls and the NFL seems to be letting it go either direction (which is rare). We’ll see who the NFL wants to win tonight (I would guess Chicago, hoping I’m wrong).
I only need 3 TD’s by Aaron Jones to win my other fantasy league matchup.
Definitely doable. I expect him to get five tonight.
I need Jefferson to score 3 TDs.
All thrown by JJ. Then I need JJ to run in two more scores.
I need Jefferson and swift to get less than a combined 4 points. I’m ok loosing if it comes down to Jefferson scoring to many tds.
Travis Swift isn’t playing tonight, so you should be good.
Fantasy football sure tests your team loyalty.
Like I want the Vikings to win, but JJ, JJ and TJ can’t score tonight for me to win both my matchups this week.
I always go with Vikings victory first and there are enough weeks in the season for me to make up for it in fantasy.
Great movie, even greater scene.
My first game day mood summed up (if you know the context of this part in the show):
I’m hyped for football no doubt, but I’m not hyped about the outcome.
Biggest challenge might be the field itself.
Seriously.
Standard coach’s answer, but everyone knows Soldier Field is the worst.
https://www.si.com/nfl/bears/field-of-dreams-hardly-describes-familiar-situation-bears-opener
The Bills/Ravens game was very fun to watch as an impartial observer. If I was a fan of either team, I would have been a wreck and would not have been able to fall asleep for hours after that one either from exhilaration or despair/anger.
I almost went to bed a few times throughout the 4th quarter because it looked like the Ravens were just too much and the Bills would fold eventually.
But credit to them and Josh Allen, they never did give up and hung in there. Then they took advantage of the fumble by Henry and seized it. The defense came up huge and got a 3 and out, when it was needed against a running game they couldn’t stop all game.
The importance of being clutch. That’s why I’m excited for this year. JJM seems like a clutch guy, at least in college. Let’s hope that continues in the pros.
I’m expecting that tonight.
Unless the Vikings look like a sh** show, then I might just go to bed, knowing the outcome.
I couldn’t sleep after that game last night. It was such a bummer as a Ravens (Lamar) fan.
GameDay, finally! Don’t know what to expect, the offense will likely struggle a bit with this being JJ’s first start in the NFL, but I hope they’ll find ways to score.
Defense needs to keep us in the game and go after painted nails guy early and often. A timely takeaway or 2 could do wonders… we’ll see what transpires.
SKOL!
Vikings have come out on all cylinders like the Packers did and not flat like the Lions did.
You knew who was going to win that game from outset.
The day is finally here.
Hopefully, Vikes are up by 24 in the third quarter because I will likely fall asleep by then and won’t miss anything but the standard give up 24 points to the other team in the fourth quarter and then win in overtime on a FG strategy.
The Ravens almost successfully pulled that off last night.
i am officially nervous for tonights game.
looking at some of the AWFUL qb performances yesterday, i just REALLY hope JJ looks….DECENT
I am mostly even-keeled so far. I expect a loss because we are playing on a hayfield in primetime, but as long as the Vikes are competitive and JJ plays well, I won’t be upset if they drop this one.
Who knows. Maybe playing in Chicago might help JJ. That is his childhood. Looking at it from that perspective, if we are going to play a prime-time away game for JJ’s first game as a starter, perhaps Chicago is the best-case scenario.
Same here. All about that OL and his protection. Hopefully Darrisaw plays and is back in form.
I think Mason might have some big tough runs, too, to set the tone.
Still no idea what is ailing the Hitman…
It was listed as an “illness,” for what it’s worth.
Keep working, Harry!
Monty Python Auto Rec.
broken wiener
Doom!
the kids were telling me yesterday now that it’s the regular season, i can get back to yelling a the tv during vikings games, and i can hit the wall if i need.
thank you kiddos, hopefully the vikings don’t make me do that this year…..
My family is already bracing and commenting about it as well.
Good morning, SKOL!
FTP!
Game Day!
Happy Gameday,
Skol
FTP
FTB
Good morning and SKOL!
The Ravens gave up a 15 point lead in the fourth quarter last night, by playing Zimmerball. First they fumbled deep in their own territory, then they didn’t even try and pick up a first down on their next drive, and gave the ball back. Stupid.
Well tonight it’s our night. Let’s go!
And FTP!
First
I fell asleep and missed the Bills comeback. Damn, what a finish.
SKOL for first!
First & FTP auto rec
FTP Auto Rec.