31-10 our ten year window officially closed. maybe 2028 or thereabouts....
dunno if ill be alive to see it.
70s
87
98
09
18
Quote: @FSUVike said:
No Mac and Hughes. All Vowels dinged up. Sherels signed off the street. Really changes some things.
But I keep coming back to this: Thomas and Kamara caught almost half of all completions this season. Cook has come on during their recent hot streak Offensively. That's it. 3 weapons. And a propensity to win when they rush for over 100 yards.
You can't take Thomas away with double teams. Every DC in the League tries it and he still set the record for Receptions in a single season. He's going to get his. Kamara has given Kendricks fits as a receiver. But Eric has improved and is now the best Cover LB in football.
Brees will complete passes to both of them. But it won't be for huge gains. He's next to last on deep throw attempts. YAC is the key and Minnesota led the League by a country mile in not giving up YAC.
I expect Zimmer to use every single pre-snap look in his bag to make Brees think but ultimately won't blitz a lot and count on NO having enough drive-killing plays to keep them from scoring too much in the first half.
On the flip side, New Orleans is down 2 D-Linemen and have only 1 good CB. They blitz a lot more than Minnesota to get pressure. And you can burn them if you call a screen or TE chip and release play to the same side they come off of.
I also anticipate a few Max Protect calls early or even a waggle to give Kirk a chance to hit Thielen against Eli Apple. Diggs beat Slay several times and he's better than Lattimore so he's a viable weapon too. Irv and Rudy should make plays against their LBs.
I expect the game to start slow. Both teams will go out of their way to get the run game going. There will also be a few pass plays designed specifically to take advantage of a mismatch like Ginn on Hill or Boyd. Late Second Quarter the Offenses start opening things up and really moving the ball.
I predict a small Vikings lead at halftime. Will Zimmer be ready for Payton's adjustments? Will Stefanski be ready when Allen starts sending the House?
My answers are No and Yes. Brees can't go deep anymore. But he's still dynamite at everything else and Ramczyk will really slow down Hunter. In the 2nd Half New Orleans will move the ball better and Zimmer will have to blitz. Brees kills the blitz.
On the other side I expect Stefanski to finally bust out the Shotgun once Allen starts bringing the heat on more downs. I don't see the Saints stopping so many weapons and if they don't get home Cousins is really good against blitzes too. Look for some big plays deep.
Low scoring affair in the first half. Back and forth arena league in the second. Minnesota eeks it out on a Dan Bailey special.
Minnesota Vikings 31
New Orleans Saints 28
Felt like I was there! Lol—hope you are right.
What I don't like:
Alvin Kamara.
Hurt for a few games, Kamara hasn't had the best year, but he’s healthy now and has scored 4 TDs in the last two weeks. With Eric Kendricks limited, Kamara could make us all very sick.
Demario Davis.
Snubbed by the Pro Bowl, Davis was named 1st team All Pro. He's their Eric Kendricks. If we’re unable to get Cook going in the run or pass, it will likely be due to this guy.
Ramczyk and Armstead.
Vikings pass rush strength is on the edges with Griffen and Hunter. And that’s where the Saints are best. Doesn’t hurt that Brees also gets rid of the ball very quickly. If Hunter and Griffen can’t get pressure, it could be a very long day. Because you can’t blitz Brees and we don’t often get consistent inside pressure.
Coaching.
Vikings have been a game-planning nightmare all year. On both sides of the ball. Even games we won like Denver and Washington, we were often hobbled by an inexplicable game plan. That happens in this game, ya’ll be watching Netflix by noon.
What I like:
Coaching.
Despite the game plan problem that has haunted us all year…and last…and the year before, Zimmer does seem to play Payton and Brees pretty well. What’s more, the Vikings have covered five of their past six trips to New Orleans and are 3-1 all-time in the playoffs against the Saints. The only loss was the Bountygate game in OT that, by all rights, we should’ve won.
Thomas v. Rhodes.
Wait, what? Hey, there has to be something in the like column. I could be WAY off here. Thomas is the best receiver in the NFL and Rhodes is having a horrific year. 200 yards and 4 TDs is possible. That said, Rhodes typically plays him well. Thomas is the kind of receiver (power forward) that Rhodes matches up well against, holding Thomas under 100 and without a TD in their last two matchups. This is the key matchup in the game.
Wide Zone.
3 of the Saints' worst 4 games came against wide zone schemes. The offense most similar to ours (SF) put up 48 on them. Atlanta is also a zone team and played the Saints tough both times, barely losing in Atlanta 26-18 and smoking the Saints in the Superdome 26-9. Zone offenses have been particularly successful in tangling up Cameron Jordan. With Rankins and Davenport on IR, there isn’t much else there. Saints aren’t particularly stout up the middle either, so we could see a return of the running offense we saw earlier this year. If Stefanski was referring to the Saints when he said he and Kubiak were "giddy" in developing the game plan, it's for this reason.
Cook, Diggs and Thielen.
This is the first time in 12 WEEKS the Vikings offense has had all three of its best playmakers in the game. Saints are near the bottom in points given up to WRs, and Diggs has crushed them in his last three meetings, finishing with 10/119/1 last year, 6/137/1 in the 2017 playoffs, and 7/93/2 in the 2017 regular season. One other thing: Cousins plays his best football Sundays at noon.
Conclusion.
No doubt, we’re going to need the intangibles to go our way in this one. But intangibles (bounces, turnovers, luck) don’t care who’s home or who’s favored. Both teams have an equal shot in the battle of the bounces. But I’m an optimist. Just happy to be watching playoff football on Sunday morning for at least one more week.
Vikings 41
Saints 38
Expecting/predicting the Vikings to play a better full game than any game we've seen them play in the past 4 months seems silly. I'd LOVE to see it but...
MIN 27NO 34
Bonus prediction for even more fun- Payton gets Teddy in for a trick play or 2 just to rub our noses in it.
I'll take the under.
Vikings 13
Taints 31
It's what the NFL wants
Quote: @MaroonBells said:
What I don't like:
Alvin Kamara.
Hurt for a few games, Kamara hasn't had the best year, but he’s healthy now and has scored 4 TDs in the last two weeks. With Eric Kendricks limited, Kamara could make us all very sick.
Demario Davis.
Snubbed by the Pro Bowl, Davis was named 1st team All Pro. He's their Eric Kendricks. If we’re unable to get Cook going in the run or pass, it will likely be due to this guy.
Ramczyk and Armstead.
Vikings pass rush strength is on the edges with Griffen and Hunter. And that’s where the Saints are best. Doesn’t hurt that Brees also gets rid of the ball very quickly. If Hunter and Griffen can’t get pressure, it could be a very long day. Because you can’t blitz Brees and we don’t often get consistent inside pressure.
Coaching.
Vikings have been a game-planning nightmare all year. On both sides of the ball. Even games we won like Denver and Washington, we were often hobbled by an inexplicable game plan. That happens in this game, ya’ll be watching Netflix by noon.
What I like:
Coaching.
Despite the game plan problem that has haunted us all year…and last…and the year before, Zimmer does seem to play Payton and Brees pretty well. What’s more, the Vikings have covered five of their past six trips to New Orleans and are 3-1 all-time in the playoffs against the Saints. The only loss was the Bountygate game in OT that, by all rights, we should’ve won.
Thomas v. Rhodes.
Wait, what? Hey, there has to be something in the like column. I could be WAY off here. Thomas is the best receiver in the NFL and Rhodes is having a horrific year. 200 yards and 4 TDs is possible. That said, Rhodes typically plays him well. Thomas is the kind of receiver (power forward) that Rhodes matches up well against, holding Thomas under 100 and without a TD in their last two matchups. This is the key matchup in the game.
Wide Zone.
3 of the Saints' worst 4 games came against wide zone schemes. The offense most similar to ours (SF) put up 48 on them. Atlanta is also a zone team and played the Saints tough both times, barely losing in Atlanta 26-18 and smoking the Saints in the Superdome 26-9. Zone offenses have been particularly successful in tangling up Cameron Jordan. With Rankins and Davenport on IR, there isn’t much else there. Saints aren’t particularly stout up the middle either, so we could see a return of the running offense we saw earlier this year. If Stefanski was referring to the Saints when he said he and Kubiak were "giddy" in developing the game plan, it's for this reason.
Cook, Diggs and Thielen.
This is the first time in 12 WEEKS the Vikings offense has had all three of its best playmakers in the game. Saints are near the bottom in points given up to WRs, and Diggs has crushed them in his last three meetings, finishing with 10/119/1 last year, 6/137/1 in the 2017 playoffs, and 7/93/2 in the 2017 regular season. One other thing: Cousins plays his best football Sundays at noon.
Conclusion.
No doubt, we’re going to need the intangibles to go our way in this one. But intangibles (bounces, turnovers, luck) don’t care who’s home or who’s favored. Both teams have an equal shot in the battle of the bounces. But I’m an optimist. Just happy to be watching playoff football on Sunday morning for at least one more week.
Vikings 41
Saints 38
Wow. Well done, MB. By Odin's bollocks, I hope you are right.
Not feeling it's in the cards this year...Way too many key injuries
Saints 33
Vikings 18
Vikes defense is dinged up.
The saints score points, especially at home.
Cheaters 44- Vikes 17.
PS- Sean Payton has a lot of guts wearing spandex. Seriously, the dude needs a bro.
Wow, what a game! I'm giving the win to both Disgustipated and Ralphie - way to keep the faith! I tip my Viking cap to you both, but also to JR44, MaroonBells, and FSUVike for picking the Vikes! SKOL!
Quote: @ Disgustipated said:
FSUs breakdowns have got me feeling a bit optimistic...I think we stifle Brees early on, build a decent lead and hold on in a nail biter.
Vikes 27
Saints 23
Quote: @Ralphie said:
Can't argue with this ^^^. But to be different, what fingernails? 
Vikings 26
Saints 24
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