Want to know why the 10-2 Vikings look so well-prepared and in-tune with their game plans? They are diligent workers Monday through Saturday, in the film room and on the practice field.Trae Waynes settled into his window seat in the exit row near the back of the plane. He was headed to Detroit to watch his alma mater, Michigan State, play Penn State the following day.
Waynes was technically on vacation with the Vikings on their bye week. They had nine days until they played at Washington. Coach Mike Zimmer gave his players the weekend to relax and unwind away from football.
Waynes could have slept on the plane. Or watched a movie. Or listened to music. Instead, the Vikings cornerback got out his team-issued iPad and watched video of the Washington offense, taking mental notes on receivers that he would be covering.
“This is your job,” Waynes said. “You’ve got to prepare. I just wanted to get a jump-start. Yeah, we had a lot of time off, but I wanted to come back prepared.”
That snapshot of Waynes studying on a plane at the start of his mini-vacation is symbolic of the entire Vikings locker room. Want to know why the 10-2 Vikings look so well-prepared and in-tune with their game plans? They are diligent workers Monday through Saturday, in the film room and on the practice field.
http://www.startribune.com/if-vikings-lo...461979623/

I've always thought Herm Edwards was odd and a little full of his own B.S. He fancies himself quite the motivator . When I lived in KC, I got more than my fill of the dude. This is a strange presser and a very strange hire. 

https://deadspin.com/new-arizona-state-c...in_twitter&utm_source=deadspin_twitter&utm_medium=socialflow

https://www.dailynorseman.com/2017/12/5/...etter-case
Pretty good read...

Looking at the Panthers D from a statistical vantage point they are very similar to the Vikings...passing yards and rushing yards given up per game are within a few yards...TOP is very similar...sack numbers are also close...the differences start to emerge in turnovers, where we take it away more often...not a great deal more but we have an edge...the advantage starts to increase in explosive plays in the running game allowed, 9 to 2, and the passing game, 41 to 32...the big difference is in third down %, 36% to 27%...watching the Saints run all over Carolina leads me to believe we'll try the same...

The only thing I don't like about this game is the venue...our D isn't the same on grass...playing last week on a heavily rubbered up field was better prep, but its not the same...Panthers playing for their playoff lives...I'm still counting on a brief post game press conference from Cam...

Love for em to put a dagger in Packers this weekend...

There were 25 seconds left in the second quarter Sunday when Case Keenum’s short pass for Stefon Diggs fell incomplete. Keenum then hit on back-to-back throws to Michael Floyd and Adam Thielen before the half came to an end with the Vikings holding a one-point lead.Keenum’s incompletion to Diggs was long forgotten 30 minutes later as the Vikings departed Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta with a 14-9 victory, but the misfire was notable for one reason.

It was the last time the Vikings quarterback did not complete a pass in the game. He was 13-of-13 for 117 yards with a touchdown to Kyle Rudolph in the second half, meaning Keenum’s last 15 passes did not touch the ground.
A few months back this might have been considered a remarkable achievement for a guy who had spent much of his first four seasons as a backup, but Keenum’s success is no longer a surprise.
He finished 25-of-30 for 227 yards with two touchdowns in leading the Vikings to their eighth consecutive victory.
http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/1...-expected/

Over a long season, there is never one event or decision that can be credited or blamed with the year’s outcome, but if you were ranking reasons that the Minnesota Vikings’ season has gone much better this year than last, you would put the decision to sign Riley Reiff and let Matt Kalil leave in free agency at the top of the list.Shortly after Kalil signed a five-year, $55.5 million contract with the Carolina Panthers, he made comments insinuating the Vikings’ offensive line coaches had not pushed him hard enough.

“(Matsko) is the first guy I’ve played for that kind of demands excellence from his offensive line room,” Kalil told the Charlotte Observer.
But that excellence hasn’t shown up on the field this year as Pro Football Focus ranks Kalil 44th of 56 qualifying tackles in pass blocking. They have graded him positively in just three of 13 games. Cam Newton has been sacked 28 times this season. In Carolina’s key matchup with the New Orleans Saints, the 2012 No. 4 overall pick committed two key penalties
Meanwhile Reiff just gave up his first sack of the season on Sunday against Atlanta (and head coach Mike Zimmer said Monday that the sack wasn’t entirely on Reiff). Case Keenum has been sacked just nine times total.

http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2017/1...r-vikings/

Tarkenton, who lives in Atlanta, addressed the Vikings at the team hotel Saturday night. And he was on hand for Minnesota’s 14-9 victory over the Falcons at Mercedes-Benz Stadium.
Tarkenton, who played for Minnesota from 1961-66 and 1972-78, brought a prop to the meeting, the game ball he received from the first time the expansion Vikings took the field. In the Sept. 17, 1961 opener, the rookie out of the University of Georgia came off the bench to throw four touchdown passes as Minnesota stunned Chicago 37-13.
Coleman said Tarkenton touched upon quarterback Case Keenum, who completed 25 of 30 passes for 227 yards Sunday and is 8-2 as a starter for the 10-2 Vikings. Tarkenton, known for his scrambling ability, loves how Keenum is also able to elude the pass rush.
“(Keenum) reminds him of himself being able to extend plays with his legs,” Coleman said.
http://www.twincities.com/2017/12/03/hal...game-ball/

but if it was I apologize. Does anyone think Case gets a look at comeback player of the year?

This guy doesn't say much...ever.

I was just thinking back to a couple years ago when "we"/"us" were calling for Sendejo to be pulled, that we must trade for/sign in FA some Safety with credentials to start opposite Harrison Smith.  Whenever some top name came up in FA, it seemed like there was a hue and cry to "sign him", "wouldn't it be great if"...

I mean, who could blame the chorus?  An UDFA out of Rice, played for an Arena football team out of Sacramento. Jack Schidt for credentials.  

I think the number of times that I heard those comments were less last year.  

This year, the quiet guy has frankly played consistently, been much more of a thumper, been in position better...and has quieted his critics.  When Rick signed him to a four year, $16mm contract in March of 2016, I thought two things:  a) they're off their rocker and b) they must be seeing something that I sure am not seeing.

In hindsight, I believe its the latter.  And for all the crap that Rick has taken from fans over the past several years on some questionable (and potentially ballsey) personnel decisions, this is one of the wise moves.

I think it is a testament that Coach Zim and his position coaches actually "coach" guys.  Help them improve...season to season, game to game.  IMHO, Sendejo is one guy on this D who has upped his game in a noticeable way, and is in no small part a major contributor to our overall toughness and stinginess.    He may not be a Pro Bowler, but dangit...he sure has gotten solid back there.