The Vikings at 2-1 feel like a team fortunate to be above .500 entering week 4. After a fast start where everything went right against their division rival week 1, the last two weeks honestly have left me with more questions than answers.
Offense: Justin Jefferson looked unstoppable week 1 and then suddenly disappeared for the following two contests. With some bad looking plays and effort at times he’s realizing being the man isn’t as easy as it was to start the season. How much is scheme, a fair amount imo. Yes defenses are doubling and triple teaming him but KOC has allowed him to stand at the LOS instead of having him on the move pre snap to find the better matchup. Hopefully we see that adjustment this week.
Cousins has been typical hot and cold at times but dug himself out of a hole to finish last weeks game with an impressive game winning drive. He hasn’t had much support in the running game as Cook has been meh and Mattison has been improved. Haven’t seen any of Kene or Chandler who I think could contribute.
Defense has improved closing out games but there are a lot of questions imo. Pass rush has been weak, secondary coverage has been teetering on the edge of falling completely apart if asked to cover man to man and usually giving 5 yard cushions that I can only assume is a scheme request by the coaching staff. Run defense has been gashed which mirrors the bend don’t break mentality of the secondary. This level of play will not bode well as offenses start to get a rhythm and have tape to exploit the weaknesses that are on tape.
Special Teams is as it typically is, kicker can’t be counted on. Punter is good return game is meh.
Week 4 although favored in no way shape or form even with backup Red Rifle at the helm for the Saints should we think the Vikings are the favorites here. It will be tight down to the wire likely and if the Vikings exit 3-1 they should thank Odin for their good fortune.
I have a close Vikings win 23-20.
We will find out in a few hours. 23-20 Vikings sounds realistic, I would have preferred facing Crab Legs instead of Dalton, though. Hope our defense will be ready for him.
Viking should win.
Then again, Goofers should have won today.
MN sports.
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PJ Fleck is a pud
I’d rather the Vikings faced Winston than Dalton-at least Winston will serve up the ints (and crab legs from Publix)
I’ll go 27-20 Vikings win, with many sad and disappointed they didn’t win by more
This sounds very likely.
I also wanted Winston to start, would have been good for at least 3 interceptions, & I have the Vikings defense on my FF team.
Outta boy lifer. We win by double digits though 🙂
Yeah, I have a feeling that the offense is going to break out tomorrow. I hope so, anyway. This is a perfect game for the defense to put one together, too.
Saints have a good defense so we’ll see if KOC can find the cracks to get the offense rolling.
Yeah, Kirk will need to be on his game. I think the Saints run defense is fairly weak, but their pass defense has been pretty tough. Maybe I have those reversed.
Damn, you don’t let the grass grow under your feet. Nice work!
Agreed, the last two weeks have been confusing. The same team that dominated the Pack can’t find their ass with both hands ever since. I’m hoping Kirk’s annual September slump is over, and his annual scorched earth play in October & November will start tomorrow. Defense scares the shit out of me, too.
Feels like maybe after that 4th qtr win they have some confidence and better understanding of what they can and cant do. I think KOC is a smart guy and will hopefully make the right adjustments. Cousions….well we’ll see but feels like he might go in to Angry Kirk mode.