It’s game day, everyone, and welcome to Skoloholics, your home for Minnesota Vikings Discussion! Every day you can join us for the latest Minnesota Vikings news, lots of Minnesota Vikings talk, also NFL news and updates, and most anything else you may have on your mind. At Skoloholics, the real action is in the comments, so if you haven’t checked out the comments section yet, sign up and join the conversation.
Carson Wentz and the Vikings look to keep Philadelphia on a losing streak today. The Eagles have lost two in a row, let’s hope today makes it 3!
Vikings vs. Eagles Updates
A Vikings vs. Eagles game preveiw, from Vikings.com.
The final Vikings vs. Eagles injury report, also from Vikings.com.
How To Watch, Listen, and Stream
Pilfered from Vikings.com
Broadcast TV
FOX (KMSP FOX 9 in the Twin Cities) will televise the game for most of the country (except the New Orleans, Chicago, Carolina and New York Jets marketing areas).
Kickoff: Noon (CT)
Play-by-Play: Adam Amin
Analyst: Greg Olsen
Sideline reporter: Pam Oliver
PREGAME
Vikings GameDay Live will air on FOX 9 in the Twin Cities at 10 a.m. (CT).
AUDIO
VIKINGS AUDIO NETWORK
KFAN (100.3-FM), KTLK 1130-AM and the five-state Vikings Audio Network with 70 affiliates across the Upper Midwest will provide audio coverage.
Kickoff: Noon (CT)
Play-by-Play: Paul Allen
Analyst: Pete Bercich
Sideline reporter: Ben Leber
Pregame Show: 10 a.m.
SPANISH AUDIO
Tico Sports at WREY 94.9 FM and 630 AM will have a Spanish broadcast that will also be available on Tico-Sports.com, elrey949fm.com and Vikings.com.
Play-by-Play: Gabriel Rios
Analyst: Isaias Zendejas
NATIONAL RADIO
Compass Media Networks
Play-by-Play: Chris Carrino
Analyst: Brian Baldinger
SATELLITE RADIO
Vikings: 228; Devices: 820
Eagles: 384; Devices: 825
STREAMING OPTIONS
Paramount+ will stream the game.
Understand why a lot is being said about the QB play – always happens.
But perhaps just me, I was pretty , a lot actually, upset with our defense.
The Eagles had TWO Wr’s get 300 yards and 3TD’s and their QB not known as the greater passer in the league, had a perfect QB rating.
It was 21 – 19 with 10 minute left in the game and we had just scored. And look at our defense after that. KOC gets a lot of crap for his playcalls, but that last big 3rd down they converted was crazy.
I said yesterday that we seem to give up a high rate of 3rd and very long conversions. I don’t know what we’re doing wrong there, but Zimmer started having this same trend in his last few years. 3rd and 26? No problem. I don’t get it. I don’t have any statistical data here, so this is just anecdotal. It just seems like teams pick up 3rd and very long, a lot on us.
Is there anything more peaceful than doing Wordle on the toilet at work?
I don’t use the toilet at work for sit down jobs so I would not know.
Had co-workers at the prison who would brag about waiting to ‘take a dump on state time’.
Just a reminder, Wentz was brought in as a late signing to be QB2. If we wanted a pricey vet to be QB1 Rodgers was available, and before that Darnold. So Wentz bad play is a nothing burger.
‘a pricey vet to be QB1′
Are you saying Wentz is ‘pricey’??
No he is saying he is cheap so we shouldn’t be too upset with his play.
Ok, I can see that.
It is early here and I am on my first cup of coffee, was having trouble parsing his sentence.
Haha I think you’re teasing. No, I’m saying we brought in a cheap option to mentor and be available for a few snaps while JJ is getting seen in the blue tent. Not play more than 80% of snaps to date in the season. Coaches are really playing the let’s make excuses game atm with JJ. Once the team has to pay him the starting QB salary of 40-50M the competitive window closes unless he’s top 5.
Good.
Cause I am not sure Wentz is even making Gouger Money.
#grin
Live in the now!
We’re almost dead last in the league in rushing attempts. True we have played one fewer game than many teams, but we don’t run the ball too well. Since KOC has been here, the Vikings running game has not been good. We started running better in the second half of yesterday’s game, so I’m hopeful we can start doing better there. That will make a big difference in how we move the ball and win games. Clearly, Wes and KOC need a rungame guru to come in and assist them.
As I mentioned yesterday, I think we run really well up the gut. Our toss and stretch plays rarely work out, and we often get called for holding on those. I’ve noticed that when we do have a good outside run, it’s usually because we’ve had some good inside runs to set those up.
That’s what I’m seeing. I’d love to see some stats that confirm or refute it.
We are currently 15th in average yards per run, so when we do run we are average.
We are currently 11th in yards per pass attempt.
I will not be watching the game Thursday if Wentz is QB. I am tired of watching him make rookie mistakes.
K
You defend Wentz a lot more than JJ.
I’m practical, and I know that playing QB in the NFL is very hard. McCarthy isn’t going to be very good in my opinion unless he shows something he never has in his life on the field. The ability to beat defenses with his arm and his brain. Every QB in the league will have their ups and downs. If you watch all the games, and watch all the QB’s you see mistakes, bad throws, and bad QB play from every single one of them. The longer a QB is with a team and a system, usually the better they are overall. Brady had 20 years with the Patriots and only three OC’s. That’s one reason he was so good. Total mastery of the system.
Wentz has issues with the deep ball, and always has. Throwing deep into triple coverage is not a good game plan for him. Especially under pressure. KOC calls deep balls several times a game for a couple reasons. First to stretch the defense, second luck out on a big play or PI call, and third to keep the defense “honest”. Wentz can operate an NFL offense though. He can be efficient, and get the job done even though it can be a little uneven at times. KOC uses the “quick” game the least of anyone in the league. Wentz and McCarthy both would be better with this scheme. Since that isn’t going to be the case though, you need a big, strong QB who can take a lot of hits.
Fair enough with the big, strong QB who can take a lot of hits. That’s my biggest concern with JJ, that he’ll be an injury prone guy now.
But don’t you think we should see what we have in JJ for more than two games before writing him off? I don’t find that practical. You even said it takes time for a QB to get comfortable in a system. JJ has had two games…..without our all-world LT.
Don’t you think there is a difference between playing a QB in the right situation and writing him off. Wentz is taking a beating out there. He’s 6’5″ and weights about 240. JJ is much small, been hurt a lot, and with our line is going to take a beating too.
Could easily make the case it’s in JJ’s best interest to sit a while longer.
“But he might get injured” is not a good reason to sit a QB who needs more experience to get better.
Exactly, might as well trade him to a team that’s not afraid of opposing linemen if that’s the case.
You will get the Bryce Young experience, or the Cam Ward experience, or the Trevor Lawrence experience etc, with McCarthy IMO.
This is a pretty good team. A team that can still win the Division and make a run in the playoffs right now. The players want to win games, not watch a QB develop.
…or watch a QB who failed to develop continue to make the same mistakes (Wentz).
Wentz sees the defense and knows his keys and reads. McCarthy does not. Simple as that.
I disagree with your second paragraph. I would in fact say the opposite, and really don’t care what the players want. They get paid to do a job, not sit in the coaches office planning what to with the QB position.
Well then, more simply put, what has McCarthy even done to show he deserves to be on the field. He sure hasn’t looked “ready” in his first two appearances.
I’m all for playing rookies and understand there will be mistakes, but there has to be minimum level of competencies to even be on the field.
He brought us back to win in game 1 on the road in primetime.
Was getting massacred in game 2 because of the o-line.
He played badly, but let’s see what he’s got.
He made ONE throw for a TD in Bears game. The second TD was to a RB on a wheel route – wide open – and he under threw it but got away with it because the receiver was so wide open. The TD run was such a well designed play, Nick Mullens could have run it in.
OK he did that. but there was a host of other plays, not so good, that come into the calculus too. Heel of a lot more bad than good.
I’m no Wentz fan, or JJ either. I just want to win the next game.
I watched McCarthy’s play in both his starts carefully. I replayed the all 22 and what I saw was a QB who didn’t know what he was doing. He can run plays as designed for sure. He can scramble too. But he doesn’t have a clue what the defense is doing, and he also made some really poor throws. What I see in McCarthy is a 22 year old, in way over his head at this point. He may, or may not ever get how to run an NFL offense. KOC is focused on his mechanics and footwork to make him more consistent, and throw more accurately. That’s great. After a year and a half of drills, his mechanics and footwork are still bad? Really? How slow a learner is he?
That said, it’s between the ears where he is lacking the most IMO. Knowing where to go with the ball because he can see and decipher defenses, and do so instinctively. Wentz at least understands his keys and reads. McCarthy still has to learn all that, and may be a couple years away.
The Titans said they are simplifying the offense for Cam Ward since he sucks so bad trying to play at an NFL level. Maybe that will help him be a lot better. McCarthy is in the same boat.
Which comes with experience. He needs that to get better.
You’re right…..he’s not playing like Allen or Mahomes. He’s also a first year starter and you’re making sweeping conclusions about him after two games at age 22.
Wentz by your own statements, should be doing better. That pick-6, the INT that followed it, and the missed passes all showed “rookie-like” mistakes, yet you write them off as “new system” mistakes. Aren’t those also “between the ears” issues? Especially for a vet QB who should know better?
This is my point. You are far more forgiving of Wentz and slanted toward him than McCarthy.
That’s a bit unfair saying his comments are slanted.
Both QB’s have played, If you asked any unbiased bystander, to rewatch every play from both QBs, who do you think would come out on top.
This is the NFL, it’s all about performance.
It’s simple though. When the majority of one players decisions and throws are bad, and the majority of the other players are not, you go with the better guy. Wentz is the better QB on the team. He isn’t Joe Montana, but he isn’t Ponder either. He is better than McCarthy at this point. Always play the best guy.
I’m just going to say this…we don’t have a team atm that is going to make a playoff run. By definition we are average or perhaps below average. Our backup QB won 2 and lost 2. Fans can say oh the Brandel hold or the Hock bobble (it clearly was) but average QB play and below average defensive play/play calling making Hurts look like Montana gave the defending SB champs all the points they needed.
I frankly could not care less if we go 3-14.
What I do care about is seeing how JJ performs. He could lose out the remaining schedule but if he shows improvement and his teammates show clear respect for him that is our victory for the year.
We are currently at the halfway point of a decision process that will need to be finalized at the end of his third season. Fifth year option? Sign him? Who will be our QB after his fourth year?
Obviously, to date he has not shown any sign he can be a durable QB. That is a big concern.
That is all.
Yes. Let’s see what the kid can do..
Agreed
it was mind bottling to watching him make some of the plays he did.
even greg olsen was like that’s not something you see a veteran qb do…..
The intentional grounding was really bad. The pick-6 was incredibly head-scratching, as the defender was right there and even crossed his line of sight. The INT that followed was a really bad choice.
He also missed a wide open Hock, shorted a pass to Addison that would have been a TD, missed badly on another quick out to Addison that would have been a TD. It was a rough game overall.
I will say he stuck in there with bad ribs, took some hits, and ran for big first downs a couple of times. Those were big in the moment.
I’d rather watch JJ go through growing pains and play like this than watch a vet QB do this when we weren’t playing all that badly against a good team.
Wentz played with a lot of grit but he was not good.
If JJ is healthy time to go with JJ. Wentz has made this an easy decision for the coaching staff.
Yep, that being said, Wentz played good enough to win if we didn’t get screwed by the refs yet again.
The question you might ask is what does McCarthy bring to the table that Wentz doesn’t? He has a 58% completion rate and the lowest passer rating in the league, other than Cam Ward (another #1 pick taking his lumps). Wentz is uneven, but not terrible. He has made many very strong plays that shows vet experience and knowledge. Plays McCarthy wouldn’t have.
That game could have gone differently yesterday, and Wentz’s play impacted the outcome directly, but a lot of other factors were in play too.
This is what I mean. You don’t know that. You are giving Wentz more leeway than McCarthy.
You can also say McCarthy would not have made the same mistakes or misthrows that Wentz has. Then you would say, “How do you know that?” And I would have to say, “I don’t know. I’m assuming.”
It’s also not fair to compare the stats when McCarthy didn’t have Darrisaw and the offensive gameplan obviously has changed over the last couple of weeks.
I do know that. The plays I am referring to were complex reads on route combinations. Pro reads. McCarthy doesn’t see the defense at all. He throws a ball to the primary guy when he sees him open. BTW McCarthy has a 25% rate on bad throws. Wentz has a less than 10% rate. Big difference.
Yes, no one is a bigger Wentz fan than I am. No one wants him to succeed more than I do.
And yes he can be an adequate QB, but I want a really good QB. It’s time to find out if JJ is that QB or if we need to keep looking.
That pick 6 was really because of the immediate pressure up the middle. Wentz never saw Carter or he wouldn’t have thrown the ball. He had Jefferson on a curl, and he threw the ball to where he expected Jefferson to be. Carter just made an exceptional play, falling into the throwing lane. This wasn’t a bonehead play by Wentz, or a bad mistake. It was a great defensive play, unfortunately.
Agree – lots of very good QB’s will miss the guy dropping out od a zone blitz especially with a DL right in his face.
Now, the second INT was a bad decision.
The second throw was a KOC special. Basically a punt. Jefferson was well covered, deep down the field. Go ahead and take the throw and hope for a good outcome. This was something he and Cousins went back and forth on, and why Cousins threw so many interceptions his first year with KOC. Cousins talked about how his experience told him “no” on a throw, and KOC would say, we want you take that throw. He wants deep shots, and this was an example of taking a throw that you know isn’t there, and living with the consequences.
Actually I was fine with the 2nd pick. His other option on that play would have been to throw it away, which would have left us 3rd and 18 – probably not going to pick that up….go ahead and take the deep shot and maybe your play maker comes up with it.
I commented that the end result was no worse than a below average punt.
OK, and we really never got hurt by the second pick anyway. I simply understand how the first pic happened.
More proof that you explain Wentz’s mistakes away, and you hammer McCarthy.
It was a terrible pick. The intentional grounding was a terrible play. The other INT was a terrible play. And on and on…
I saw a very similar play in the Niners game that was not called intentional grounding. So sometimes that happens. As I said, Wentz isn’t perfect. He’s uneven. He’s more brute force than finesse. But he still put up 313 yards passing while getting beaten to a pulp, and delivered three balls in the end zone that were TD’s, that didn’t pan out.
While we lick our wounds a little today, let me provide a glimmer of sunshine. The Vikings are 1-0 in the Division so far. We have had our ups and downs, and suffered a lot of injuries, despite KOC’s bubble-wrap preseason plans, and Addison’s legal issues. We can still win the Division, and still get to the playoffs and even the Super Bowl, if we get a couple more pieces back, and play just a tad better.
I thought the TD that was wiped out by the BS holding call on Brandel was to Addison for some reason. I watch the games on mute, so I don’t hear the calls. It was actually to Nailor though. That was a really bad call by the refs. Game changing moment.
Crap call, DL fell down and they called holding.
And I still don’t understand the Hock reversal as I don’t think the ball was ever on the ground (Hocks hands were under it) so what does it matter if it bobbled some as he rolled over.
Frustrating game. I wrote yesterday at about the 10 minute mark we had just scored and score was like 21-19 – it’s now up to who wants it most. They made plays, we didn’t. Shame really.
The team played a role in a team loss. It always does. Wentz’s pick 6 was a big factor, but we only ran the ball for 15 yards on 10 carries in the first half. Their front was beating our O-line a lot the first half, both on pass rush, and run game stuff’s.
In the second half, we suddenly started running the ball a lot better. If we had been able to do that in the first half, the game would have likely played out much differently.
Hmmm looks like the site is empty. Good morning and welcome to Monday. Tough day for us yesterday, but we get to see if we can bounce back Thursday.
It’d be great to not relive yesterday football-wise.
Mornin… yeah, hard fought loss. Lots of things went wrong.
Nix brings the Broncos back, with 33 points in the 4th quarter. Down 18 with 6 minutes left.
Nix brings the Broncos back in the 4th quarter. Spikes the ball with 2 seconds left for a game winning field goal.
GOOD!
I like Nix but can’t stand Buttholemouth.
Too bad they two are joined at the hip now.
There is that. Not a big Sean Payton fan either. That game was crazy though.
I hate the Packers with a passion
Close but no cigar for the Cardinals… bother
Holding call on first down against the Cardinals.
Plenty of time, and 2 timeouts in their pocket. Cardinals down by four. Need a TD to pull it out.
Packers about to score inside 2 minutes and take the lead.
There it is.
4th and 1 Cardinals went for it. No bueno.
Just gauging by the cheering, I think there are more Packer’s fans at the Arizona game than there are Cardinal’s fans.
I’m watching it on mute… so…
Cardinals hanging in there.
Packers TD… that sucks.
Packers trailing by 7, have the ball at the Cardinals 7, second and six. 4th Quarter about to get underway. This would be a pretty big upset if the Cards pulled out the win.
Roughing the passer call against the Cardinals… BS call IMO.
I don’t think the Chargers are that good. I think the shine of Herbert is gonna start wearing off and he will be talked about in the group he belongs, mid.
Man, I wish the Vikings would have drafted Nix, he’s looking like a stud against one of the worst teams in the league
These long field goals are getting ridiculous. They need to narrow the goal posts.
Watching Cowboys Redskins. They just showed the Hail Marry Pass. I will go to my grave insisting Drew Pearson pushed off! #@#$@
It was 50 years ago, so not too many folks around even remember it… but Pearson pushed off.
I’m old. Remember all four Vikings super bowl losses, so today’s horrible showing is just a blip. They broke me long ago. 😀 Still, on my death bed those will probably be my last words. 😁
This was a game where if one thing had gone another way, multiple times, we could be drinking our beer instead of crying in it.
Maybe. I think the play before the Dallas receiver was given a catch when he was out of bounds. On the other hand I forget who the AFC champ was that year, Vikes probably would have lost and had 5 Super Bowl losses instead of 4. Still irritates the hell out of me. No way Nate Wright go flying in the air if Pearson doesn’t shove off. And they show it over and over again. How great Dallas is! Arggg! Sorry. Every time I see that play it sets me off! 😀
These backup Redskins receivers can’t catch to save their life. Terrible drops.
Cowboys kick a 61 yard field goal, would have been good from 65 or more.
Cardinals kick another field goal, up 6-3.
Micah Parsons penalized 15 yards for a hip drop tackle on Brissett.
Ertz dropped a nice pass from Daniels right in his hands for a first down. Bother.
I’m don’t think Wentz did anything today, that our sophomore can’t do. Difference is there is a chance that JJ learns from his mistakes and gets better. Wentz has shown over the years, he’s a really good back up.
Wentz doesn’t throw a great deep ball. Basically his singular weakness. He’s also not the fastest processor. He’s a bit of a brute force player, and he is a competitor. He missed a few deep balls today. I don’t think he liked the coverage though on Jefferson. Looked like he was trying to throw away from the coverage, and hope Jefferson could come up with it somehow.
This game could have been very different though. Wentz threw three TD balls in the end zone, but came up 0-3. Just the way the cookie crumbles sometimes.
Agreed. I think we can put our QB controversy discussion to rest
I really hate how everyone slobbers over the Packers
I think Kyler Murray is out today for the Cards right? They’re up 3-0 over the Packers and have the ball.
Yup and the announcers are still slobbering all over the Packers
Looks like the Pack is about to score.
Cowboys trying to draw the Redskins offsides on 4th and 3. No go.
Kicked a field goal to go up 10-8.
Jayden Daniels with a nice 44 yard throw to somebody I never heard of, inside the 10.
Then they get the ball to Ertz in the end zone for a TD. Obviously Ertz is playing.
They go for 2, and fail. Soooo they are up 8-7 over Dallas.
Redskins stuff the Cowboys RB in the end zone for a safety. Gotta like that.
We are an average football team
Yup, my thoughts also. 3-3, pretty average. Definitely not a playoff team. We’ll see how things go, but right now, the bears and the Panthers have a better record than us.
More importantly, we are a non-playoff football team. This sorry posse of clowns we trot out every week surely is not going to qualify for the postseason.
Justin Fields got benched at halftime by the Jets.
Chargers are wearing these God awful all yellow uniforms. Ugly.
They look like the savanna bananas baseball team.
Not sure what that is, but it sounds a little gay.
It’s a comedy baseball team. They’re pretty funny.
Kind of like the Harlem Globetrotters, but baseball.
Cool…might have to check them out.
The have a pitcher that throws on like 6-7 foot stilts.
Even The Teacher thought that was worth watching.
Watching the Redskins vs the Cowboys. The Redskins are missing all of their starting wide receivers, and I think Ertz (starting TE) is out too. Gonna be a long day in Dallas.
Tough game for the good guys. That snap over Wentz’s head when we were in scoring range was crazy. The holding call on Brandel that nullified Addison’s TD was crazy, Jefferson had his hands on a TD ball but the defender did a great job knocking it away. Running game was shit the first half, but we ran for 75 in the second half which was decent.
Wentz wasn’t pretty, but he was tough. He threw for over 313 yards. Still, he could have been better. We could be sitting here celebrating a win, but it just wasn’t in the cards today.
Shit
Understatement detected
Wentz has no touch 6 bad throws when a guy was open. Defense when really needed can’t hold up, Back up center 3 bad plays. Hope JJ plays to get experience.
Woulda, Coulda, Shoulda.
So much ‘Almost’.
Oh well.
We knew cornerback was our weakest position going into the year. And the Eagles exploited that. Yuck.
Yup, this secondary allowed frickin Jalen Hurts to have a perfect passer rating. How pathetic is that.
It seems we give up way too many 3rd and longs, but I have no data on that.
CBs failed us bad today
QB*. Can’t win in the NFL when you only kick FGs.
Both. Wentz at least played a bit better along the way.
After he threw that second INT, he played his ass off. Threw two TD’s that were called back.
And both thoses calls were bullshit by the refs.
Hock was wide open. Shouldn’t have had to dive
Fair – but Hock gets paid like 20 mil to catch balls like that. And it was a catch anyway.
The script didn’t allow for a 3rd poop eaters loss, so the refs acted accordingly.
The NFL is officially entertainment anyway.
So intentional grounding in the red zone, is playing his ass off?
He played better. But still couldnt get the ball in the endzone.
Umm he threw 3 TD passes in the red zone today. Two were dropped, and one was nullified by a phantom holding call… so.
Hmmm….
Check the stats…no TD passes.
Check the tape… he was robbed.
WTH. is wrong with you Well i guess to each his own, but i prefer to judge the entire game.
So did the Refs.
Rodgers gets beat… game over.
A decent more by Brown got him the space.
Gets beat – that was pitiful coverage.