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The game thread should post right an hour before kickoff (11:00 central), and this will be our thread for the rest of the weekend. I’d love to see a win by the good guys alongside losses for the Lions and Packers. Let’s start with a Vikings win today!
Minnesota Vikings Discussion Topic of the Day
Yards/TD/INT: what do you expect to see from Mullens today?
I’ll go with 280/3/1. I think the Bengals will try to use pressure to force Mullens into making mistakes, and KOC has not shown the ability to call a good screen game to neutralize the blitz, so I expect Mullens will cough up at least one interception. I also think Mullens will be much more aggressive than Dobbs has been in the past few weeks (not a high bar, I know), so I expect he’ll rack up some yards.
Minnesota Vikings News:
Vikings.com shares some final thoughts on week 15 Vikings @ Bengals. They also shared the Week 15 Vikings @ Bengals final injury report.
PFF has contract projections for two 2024 Vikings pending free agents. They have Cousins projected to get a two-year deal worth $60 million. At that price, KAM may be tempted to re-sign Cousins, which would make kfey a very happy man.
ESPN brings you an NFL-wide week 15 injury roundup.
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So we can still win the North, but the Lions have to lose all three remaining games (two of them to us) and we have to win all three.
can do it, will not do it.
I will be very impressed if this team can win 2 of three.
I think one more win is more likely
Jags kicker missed two from 50 and 55. Not gimmies, but need to hit at least one of those.
Must be related to Joseph…
Funny and sad. Panthers won with about 12 people in stands.
Sad indeed.
Thought boys/bills a one score game. Hope tonight is better. Cheer for jags i guess.
My wife is a Ravens fan. So I guess we’re pulling for “the other Purple team”.
Peace within is better NVF.
Indeed
Looks like the Cowboys will end the 3rd quarter with 92 yards of total offense.
Thought it’d be close, unwatchable.
It’s really shocking. 31-3.
Hope Jeruh wore his depends.
Boys pulling a Lions. You think they are good then look like dog shit.
With 2:32 in the 3rd quarter the Cowboys have 100 yards of offense.
The Packers lost, so there is that.
Murray back in for the Cardinals.
Kyler Murray was injured in the Niners game. Tune came in and immediately fumbled the ball. Not sure what happened to Murray.
Bills forced a punt though…
Bills playing prevent defense
But with four rushers and getting pressure.
Yeah, I was a little wrong there. They played two deep with man underneath. Stuck like glue to the receivers.
Bills up 21-3…
Dalvin’s little brother with a 20 yard run to the Cowboys 1 yard line.
He is lighting up the Dallas D.
15 carries 104 yards…
Bills are getting gifted.
Bills get a stop, almost intercept Prescott. Cowboys kick a short field goal on 4th and 4.
Dallas pounding the ball up the middle for 10 yards a pop.
What a shit way to lose. KOC loses his gonads when they get a lead. I’m 90% sure he’s the one telling Flores to back off, too. That needs to end. He’s a solid HC, but if he’s doing that shit, he needs to stop.
Doubt Flores wants to work under KOC, doesn’t look that way.
Shit way is correct – crappy offense followed by crappy defense. If we’re going to rush three, we might as well go home.
Sam Darnold in at QB for the Niners now. Purdy hurt?
Not heard. Doubt they’d pull him.
Purdy back in. Was hit on a play where roughing the passer was called, and came out.
Boys down 14-0. Hoped for something close. Maybe ravens/jags.
I don’t know why a stiff-arm to the face mask isn’t a penalty.
Offensive guys seem to get away with it all the time.
I want the Cowboys to lose… so bad.
I hate the Bills, but I hate the Cowboys more.
I tend to like the Bills.
They are the Vikings East.
Laughing… ya know, I have never looked at the Bills that way… you got a point.
Don’t mind team, just diva diggs.
Afraid it will come down to who i cheer against in playoffs. Last 4 games have been hard and the Raiders game!
Refs taking over Boys/Bills. What’s new.
Roughing on Prescott? The guy whiffed.
This roughing stuff is getting over the top – Allen looked like n actor and DAK was crying hardly got brushed.
Yeah, I want the old days when you could tackle a guy any way you wanted, and the Ref’s weren’t instructed to protect the QB at all costs.
Roughing on Allen, so sick of officials. Just put qb in some bubble wrap. What a joke.
Flacco throws for 374 yards against the Bears, and the Browns win 20-17. Fields intercepted in the end zone on his hail Mary pass to end the game.
A bear had it land in his lap!
Really? It was intercepted… so I guess I have to see that last play!
You’ll shake your head, trust me.
For sure, Bears WR had a rather easy shot at it.
Browns come back on the Bears and kick a field goal with 32 seconds left to take the lead. Fields has 32 seconds with no timeouts. let’s see what he’s got.
Pukers lose
We’re getting some help, but we need to win a game or two down the stretch.
Probably 2.
Hilarious or sad that they lost 3 winnable games.
Think Lions win both.
I remain hopeful but it’s getting harder.
Say only shot is beat Lions this week then Pukes. What our QB situation is i have no clue.
Always a good thing!
Pukes down 14, 6:30 to play. Well, something to cheer for.
This is my happy dance!
And they just fumbled! YES!
Perfect!
KOC version of tush push:
Bradburied
Mullens
Powell (181 lbs )
Rocket science
There was some graphic that was posted here a week or so ago I think, that showed the Vikings were the most unlucky team in the league this year by a wide margin. I’d say last night, that played out again.
We seemed to get some yesterday – pick 6 overturned by penalty and and that one rollout TD had pick written all over it.
Think we screwed it up pretty good on our own.
Yikes….
Edge’s boy Tucker Kraft took a helmet to the nuts trying to leap a defender. Caught him FLUSH right in the beans & mash….
pretty funny actually….
FTP
Go Bucs!
Another little thought for Flores noting a bit of disturbing trend.
Practice our DB’s bating down those long Hail Mary type 50/50 jump balls. If not, get some taller DB’s.
True, we were in good position several times and the receiver just out-battled us for the ball.
The throw to Higgins that tied it and the back breaker to Boyd were both miracle balls that Browning threw into a crowd. Meckhi Blackmon was bodied out on another deep shot to Higgins. The chances were there.
Even going back to chiefs game, and the endzone late Bronco TD
So was Browning just lucky?
Can’t speak to his luck – speaks to our defense not taking advantage of opportunities when presented. All of the throws I mentioned were opportunities for the defense to make a play. As were the blown ‘free runs’ we had at Browning – Metellus missed on one, Murphy Jr hesitated on a pump fake on another and didn’t get home (which didn’t make sense that he’d even hesitate in any way. Clearly called blitz and his only job is to get to Browning) Defensive played well early and did enough to get the ball back in OT and give the Offense a shot to walk off a winner. Just didn’t happen.
Charlie Woods drove the green on the par four 7th hole. I think it was around 345 for him downwind.
75 feet for eagle…
Anyone else think “Oh shit…” when the network showed the Vikings odds of winning at 78% with 3 minutes to go?
Honestly, I didn’t. But I also thought that once we stuffed the Bengals on their first drive in overtime we would march down the field and win it.
That we did, until we failed to get a few inches TWICE. Why they didn’t try a quick pass on 3rd down or use their running back who was playing well is totally beyond me.
“Situational Masters”
I am still a bit flummoxed by two things.
I think you probably nailed it here. KOC watches his O-line get crushed on 3rd and inches, and then calls the same play on 4th down? Do the same thing, but expect a different outcome?
On 3rd and inches, I would have spread the defense, faked the dive play, and tossed the quick out to the TE. If he breaks a tackle he’s probably loose to the end zone.
Thought we got a pretty poor spot on the 3rd down play. Easy to say now don’t do it again, but I don’t like a handoff to back there either – to much time.
Would guess on third down, we had at least 2 WR’s in single coverage (JJ). S0,I’d have taken a shot on third, and done a sneak on fourth.
All said, pretty poor blocking on both of those plays.
But our O-line is the weak spot on the offense. We played right into the defense’s hands twice!
True. But don’t you think we should be able to get two feet in two tries.
Apparently we couldn’t get 3 inches in two tries.
Our O-line ALWAYS gets owned when we need them most. Every, single, time.
So true. But also wouldn’t say Mullens is a real good sneaker either.
Nobody is a good sneaker when the O-line is going backwards.
“Oh Shit” – not really. But when we were at the 3rd and 1 in OT, just a couple of yards from FG range, I thought not even the Jets could screw this up – I’m an idiot.
Before today, the Vikings had won 84 consecutive games when leading by 14+ points entering the fourth quarter, per @ESPNStatsInfo
. Last loss: 1993 vs. Lions.
The Vikings are now 171-4 all-time in that scenario.
https://x.com/SeifertESPN/status/1736165033304875123?s=20
The “situational mastery” is clearly evident with KOC.
Without a doubt. So much inclusion and collaboration can only lead to being the master of “situational mastery”.
Yikes.
Since had to leave yesterday right after game, didn’t get much venting time.
DE asked below if the blame is on the defense? Someone pointed out a total team game – fair.
But a thought from an old baseball player. As a pitcher, if you’re going to have a bad inning, do it early like 1st or second, certainly not the 9th.
Our defense has played well this year. But you can play well for 57 minute, even put up good stats, but the last 3 minutes are really important.
Hasn’t gone well Denver, Bears, and Cincy for defense at the end.
Sure offense screwed up at end, but defense needs to finish.
Any good games to watch today? Think I’ll just turn on the NFL Redzone channel and watch them all.
Hope the Bucs can beat the FTP.
SKOL!
3rd and inches – fail
4th and inches – fail
and we gave up a long pass on 3rd and 21 yards to go.
This one hurts. I’m still pouting.
A trip out of state is just what I head to clear my head after that painful loss yesterday.
Hopefully my head will be in a better place when I get back.
Drive safe!
Goal #1.
The Teacher is ‘almost’ ready to go.
*7th time I thought that in the last 90m.*
LOL
Ok, maybe now.
*patience is a virtue, no rush, repeat constantly*
LOL indeed.
Yeah, tough place to play, and while they had the game almost locked up when leading by 14, bad things happened on both sides of the ball.
Looks like the cloudy weather is passing now. We have some blue skies here in Trinity, and that will be the case the remainder of the day. Sunny, but windy.
Still cloudy and drizzling here in the west panhandle. Hoping it will clear up later.
Slight clearly but really windy here in Orlando – pretty tough golf weather.
It’s 62 degrees, cloudy, and very windy here in Trinity Florida. Same conditions the players will face about 77 miles East of here at the Ritz-Carlton Orlando, Grande Lakes golf course. Tiger and Charlie tee off in about 15 minutes. The wind is currently blowing about 20 mph from the Southeast.
Read this and laughed:
“I drove the ball really good today,” Charlie said after the first round. “Didn’t miss a fairway, and still managed to shoot 8 under. We just suck at putting.”
Added Tiger, “That sums it up right there.”
Headed up to the Boise area today to retake possession of the Retirement house from the property managers.
Locks to change, Inspections to make, utilities to change over, maybe some repairs to make, decisions to make over what appliances replace (electric stove vs gas etc), caretaker to meet/hire.
Spent yesterday after the game packing and loading the CRV up with stuff The Teacher says she needs there.
Hope/plan to be back on Sat, hope the weather cooperates.
Safe travels. Hope things work out well for you!
Looks like we will sneak in just before the winter storm hit and will head home right after they move on.
Will go prepared and keep a ‘weather eye out’. No need to rush so we can drive safe and sane. Just have to watch out for idiots.
Indeed. Drive defensively. Have the idiot-radar turned up full blast!
Just want to point out I am NoDakastrumous….I said Mullens would pass for 280-320, he ended up with 303.
Of course he threw 2 picks to go with his 2 TDs…a very Mullens like performance.
One of those “picks” though was a somewhat bizarre event. He was getting sacked and at the last moment tried to throw the ball away and it ended up in the defensive lineman’s lap.
His other interception, I have no idea what he was doing.
In all we saw that Mullens can indeed move the ball well. He completed almost 79% of his passes, and led a drive to score a TD and take the lead with 3:48 left in the game. I believe we would have also moved the ball into field goal range on that last drive in overtime had we found a way to move the ball 6 inches on 3rd and 4th down. I mean, that was just ridiculous in the extreme in my opinion.
Yes, the one pick at the goal line he was reading JJ to run a 90 degree cut, JJ did about a 60 degree cut…
I see. This may have been the result of KOC’s adaptive route running scheme, where the receiver adjusts their route to where they see the defense, on the fly. QB thinks the receiver is going one way, the receiver goes the other way.
Maybe, not sure though.
He has that gun slinger mentality. That leads to exciting plays, but also a lot of turnovers.
Favre lived his entire career like that. Holds the record for career interceptions, and he’s in the Hall of Fame. Today’s QB’s are getting benched for playing that way though.
You got it!
Never thought Mullens would crack 300 on his first game in about 2 years.
Add in Chandlers 132yds rushing and seems the Offense was productive. D was good for 3 qtrs, and then we managed to mismanage the game away.
Wasn’t the loss to Cincy the fault of the defense?
It was a team effort , but the defense chose a very inopportune time to lay an egg. I think a good chunk lays on the coaches, both offense and defense.
This is the folly that “fans” pursue. Laying blame at the feet of person or one aspect of the game for a loss. Why didn’t we run a punt back for a TD like the Ravens did in overtime last week to win? Must be the special teams that lost the game. Folly.
Part of it for sure, gave up 24 points the second half, add turnovers and the questionable playcalling at the end and you get a loss
Ponder and Kirk’s fault
Lions looked very good.
Next week Mullens will not survive the entire game IMO.
turnover machine will bring the hook and we will watch Hall get another concussion
Sounds about right. Season was over anyway when we lost Kirk.
Season was over with the 0-3 start. It just took awhile for the team to realize that.
Curious if they will still make the playoffs for the usual one and done. Hope they will be entertaining, at least.
They are always entertaining.
Its just if you view it as a tragedy or comedy.
They could have found a more entertaining way to lose yesterday, but yeah, it’s the usual comical tragedy we all know too well.
I still say the game yesterday was entertaining.
Shitty ending, but I have watched many movies with endings I did not approve of.
Offense had good moments.
I like the way Mullens threw some timing routes that I am not sure Dobbs could at this point , or maybe ever.
Defense balled out until they decided to prevent the team from winning.
O line/Mullens, just handle that snap better on the second QB sneak and you make it. Bottom line on that play, the Eagles have a better O line (Especially center) than the Vikings do, and Jalen Hurts is stronger than Mullens.
Not sure if the Viking can win two of three and sneak it.
Seems as though some Viking fans are upset at KOC after the game.
https://www.yahoo.com/sports/zulgad-vikings-hope-kevin-o-005422090.html
I think I will be a Broncos fan for the next few hours.
Halftime in Missoula, good guys 10, hillbillies 6
NDSU failed on a 2pt conversion in the 2nd OT. Final Montana 31 – 29.
Montana vs SDSU for the championship!
Go Jacks!
Game Thread is up if anyone is left here.
My hot take prediction…..FB is a team game, BUT whichever QB has a better game his team will win.;