Welcome to Skoloholics! If you’d like the stats and highlights from the game, click here for stats from Vikings.com. Game thread 1, and also thread 2. I just add these because it improves our Google rankings.
First Half:
The first half went well for most facets of the team. Kirk Cousins started off very poorly, but he managed to turn it around, despite being beaten nearly to death by the Jets defense. Kirk has taken some huge shots, but has stuck in there and shown his toughness. The running game has done the scoring, with one touchdown by Cook and another by Mattison. Hey, you go with what’s working, and right now, the running game is working. Kirk, JJ, and company have made some plays as well, and Reagor chipped in with a long reception on a drive toward the end of the half.
The defense looked much better in the first half than they’ve looked in quite some time. They’ve forced White to get rid of the ball early, gotten consistent pressure, and the coverage has looked much better. The defense stopped the run very well, and honestly, the defense looked really good for most of the half.
What may be the most shocking news of all is that kicker Greg Joseph has gone 2 for 2 on field goals, with one of those being from beyond 50, and (and I hope you’re sitting down for this) he was also 2 for 2 on extra points. Yes, you read that correctly.
At the end of the half, the Jets stupidly went for it on 4th down, and failed, and gave the ball back to Minnesota. The Vikings got a late field goal out of it, but then went prevent, which prevented them from stopping the Jets like they’d been doing all day up to that point, and allowed the Jets a field goal of their own. The half ended with the Vikings up 20-6. I hope to see them continue to play aggressively.
Second Half:
The defense decided to go into “Hey, let’s give up a bunch of yards!” mode in the second half. They allowed several more scoring drives, but held all to 3 until they allowed a touchdown on a 4th down QB sneak. The offense has sputtered. Kirk Cousins is still off. The running game worked, on the rare occasion it has been used. The red zone defense has been very good. The Vikings offensive play calling has been horrendous in the second half. Bynum secured the win for this team with an interception on 4th and 10 with 16 seconds left. It didn’t have to be this close, but it was. Hey, a win is a win.
Summary
Another team win today. When one facet of the game is struggling, the team is deep enough with talent that they can lean on someone else. Today, it was the run game that came through in clutch situations. There is plenty of praise and blame to go everywhere, though. The passing game did their part at times after a shaky start, but also sucked for long periods of time.
The defense played strong the first half, then went half-poopy in the second half. They tightened up when they needed to, prevented TDs on all but one scoring drive, and forced two turnovers.
Again, please sit down while reading this, but Greg Joseph did not miss a single field goal or extra point. Not a one. This is not a joke. When all was said and done, your Minnesota Vikings are now 10 and 2, and have all but clinched the NFC North. As a fan of an NFL team in week 13, it really doesn’t get much better than this. For now, enjoy the win & the Vikings sitting at 10 and 2. SKOL!!!!!!!!
SKOL!!!!
Went out with sister and realtor today looking at patio homes. Stopped by sports bar after with sister and got to see the last few minutes of the Vikings game. A win is a win.
Lol
https://twitter.com/christomasson/status/1599621967732056064?s=46&t=F03rE0IkatfT7Uyyu3Tkew
Why can’t we have a game like this?
That escalated quickly.
Lol another pick????? 4 turnovers by Ryan wow
A joke.
I don’t care about the Colts, but I do feel bad for Jeff Saturday. Seems like a salt of the earth guy, and I didn’t like how all the talking heads made fun of the hire. Not saying it was a wise hire, but they’re so uppity about it.
As of today, bengals the top team in AFC for me. Cowpies in NFC which sucks to say
On the bright side, even if Vikes lose to kitties next week… we may have a free win against Colts at home. Ryan looks so bad
No fun to watch their offense at all, unless they hand it off.
Wow, Matt Ryan sucks.
He’s trash wow.
vikes lions early line is dead even. I think it’s accurate. Kitties toughest game left
Yep, I agree. Lions are playing well recently.
I think it’s a toss up. Divisional games always tough and lions have to win out to stay alive.
This is why Kirk was off today. He was getting obliterated all game. Constantly had to throw his passes 1 second sooner than he wanted knowing he was going to get lit up.
https://twitter.com/bheintzskol/status/1599601640302350337?s=46&t=F03rE0IkatfT7Uyyu3Tkew
Woahhhh I saw Jimmy got hurt but didn’t see he’s gonna missed the rest of the year with a broken foot
Feel bad for him. He handled that whole situation with such class, and his team mates love him. Terrible injury luck though, every year.
LOLOL
Mick
Reply to
Fivefingers
4 December 2022 10:58 am
they just got FGs
5s an idiot we all know that. Boomer who knows nothing about football.
He owes me $120
Coaches inherit different teams. KOC inherited a good one. Zim was just an idiot at the very end.
It’s also funny bc Zim lost so many 1 score games last season at the last minute. We just were on the wrong side of it.
we’re in the right side this year
We weren’t “just” on the wrong side of it. The entire plan and coaching style of Zimmer sucked. It was an authoritative punitive approach that did not produce results. But the wingers here like the strong man ineffective man who actually does the wrong thing but because he’s a tough guy he gets a pass. O’Connell inherited the same team and produced the exact opposite result because he didn’t make it about himself he made it about his players and supporting them. You’d think fans here that spouted “this soft culture shit won’t work blah blah blah would get a fucking clue but guess not.
Must’ve lost some people due to cardiac issues after this game…
Jimmy donezo
Niners defense is elite. I’m sold on that now but they’re offense is going to be the ? With Jimmy and lance dead for the rest of year
https://twitter.com/sosarick/status/1599584594684100608?s=46&t=o87qSKUaZurebzBwJH_rFQ
I 100% agree
I says this lots
I was a Reagor fan day 1 of trade. I got ripped on by 99% of everyone. Like I said in Spaces today, he’s gonna make a massive play for us in playoffs to win a game
we can hope.
I think the kid had some talent.
give him a shot.
Well, you also claimed that the Vikings receiving corps was top 5 in the nfl. That’s why you get ripped. You make wild claims week in and week out. A blind squirrel finds a nut once in awhile.
I will laugh if the Cowboys lose to the Colts.
I took colts to cover haha!
cowboys struggle on run. That’s why I thought Taylor might do well
100% illegal hit trying to injure the QB, Fine his ass.
AFC wide open now too. Bungholes are the best team in AFC IMO as of today. They’re really turning on the jets after starting like 1-3 or 1-4
Tua re-aggravatred an injury, just watching it on the TV, so no link. Dungy said it and I trust him.
Playoffs all about who’s the healthiest and coming in hot.
Vikes are relatively healthy and still haven’t put a complete game together
Second half offense wasn’t very pleasant to watch. Yikes.
A win is a win, and 10-2 is a good place to be. I don’t think anyone expected this at the beginning of the year.
DVOA. Watch PPB make something up now. Said we wouldn’t beat pats or jets lol.
WWWWWWWWWW that’s the number of Ws I counted
As you so eloquently stated earlier… fuck the DVOA.
Lol…
Lol
Jesus….its not all glory and good times.
Yikes. That’s scary. I would retire if I were him.
That would be the best thing to do for Stafford I think. He’s won a Super Bowl, nothing left to prove for “fat Cousins” (as some like to call him).
I would just like one weekend where we can win without a fuck load of stress.
Mid February isn’t too far off
Actually looking forward to the offseason. Season is stressful although this year has been amazingly exhausting. We know how it ends and I’m ok with that.
That wold be a treat. Week one is the least stressful win I can recall.
Not how the teams built. They’d o what it takes to win
Yeah, this was did not need to be this close.
10-2 sound really nice.
Yes it does.
FTP
Yea.
I’m hoping they get their DVOA to #32.
So another double digit win?
I’m 2-0 on alternate spreads. Took -6.5 against pats (odds were -3.5 by Vegas) and took Vikes -4.5 today and odds were -3 by Vegas.
I was sweating those last 2 drives though oh boy bc even if Vikes win they weren’t going to cover
I would take the Vikings 0-5 before the lions go 5-0
Lions schedule pretty easy outside us and Jets.
I think Lions gonna beat us next week. Toughest game for us left in schedule from my point of view
Giants too.
all of the remaining Vikings games will be nail biters including playoffs.
If it was any team but the Lions, odds would be 50/50.
Homers; ‘We win again, 10-2 baby!!’
Doomers: ‘It wasn’t pretty enough, Waaa’.
Lol very accurate
I have both of those feelings.
Poor offense in the 3rd quarter pissed me off.
Win is great though. 10-2 feels good.
Vikings went 4-1 against 5 top 10 defenses in 5 weeks
They suck. Cut them.
Jimmy G hurt.
who leads the 9ers now?
Brock Purdy
That is not going to be Purdy.
wondering if I pick up Purdy, or grab someone else off the trash heap.
Such important decisions when doing this fantasy football thing.
Opposing teams are 1-9 in the RZ the last two weeks
Whatever we do in the locker room at halftime when we have a good lead…….do the opposite.
I think…
the jets d kicking the shit out of the Vikings offense added up
Never a doubt.
https://twitter.com/bheintzskol/status/1599515136670453760?s=46&t=o87qSKUaZurebzBwJH_rFQ
Yep. That said, if we can have a 3rd quarter that buries a team, that will go a long way to convincing people. We always let them back.
Don’t get me wrong, I am very happy!
SKOL!!
Another win! They swept the entire AFC East this season, very impressive!
Not buying in. Play better.
A win is a win, but they didn´t need to make it THIS close, again.
team stats
Jets 486 total
Purple 287
Kirk 173
White 369
Seriously, we every qb hall of famer
This shit will not hold.
Yes, that is VERY frustrating. Every shitty backup QB looks like an All-Pro against the Vikes. It has always been that way.
Some things never change, apparently.
NO. PRESSURE.
kirk started out missing wide open guys, seemed like he was off most of the game
play calling in the 2nd half was atrocious
the defense did their job in the end but they have to start tackling better
Hey, Joseph didn’t miss today
credit to the Jets, they didn’t fold
Kirk was hammered all day, but he hung in there.
Many of his passes were off target, all day. Credit the Jets D line.
yeah thats why I thought we likely lose this game…almost did and probably should have with the amount of cracks they had in the RZ. Unbelievable we held them out that many times.
Agreed
Yeah, he looked “hammered.” Maybe just water before the next game, Kirk.
I need a defibrillator near me for these games
I know right. Right after the game I told my daughter that it was a good thing I was not getting my blood pressure checked right then. She assumed we lost. I told her we won, but the nail biters are killing me.
https://twitter.com/i/spaces/1lDxLnOjgpYGm
Come on in
At the end of the game with the way the team was playing, I just knew we were going to lose. I’m delighted to be so wrong.
FUCK THE DVOA
I second this.
Well, the team will most likely be 13-4 or 12-5 if we drop 3 of the next 5.
This team is either kicking ass or sucking ass.
I know we won, but I’m just tired of these types of games. Its no longer fun to watch for me.
This team is going to kill me.
What doesn’t kill you makes you stronger. We should live forever.
Every single week… 20-6 at halftime? Trust the Vikings to make it come down to a last second INT and several goal line stands. Phew…
I was thinking that we are up by 2 touchdowns and we get the ball to start the second half, so that would be a good time to start blowing them out and get this over early. Not so.
I don’t get it.
Me too