Heading into a needed bye - the 3 C's

[StickierBuns]

This is what KOC does, wins regular season games like this where he's got backups, patchwork fill-ins, etc. and finds a way. He outcoached Stefanski. The team hopefully is much healthier in 2 weeks. What sucks is the injury doesn't allow JJ to practice, so once again he's missing valuable reps. Wentz at this point in his career isn't going to elevate the team against strong opponents, he's VERY serviceable however as QB2. But obviously nobody wants him as the long term starter...hell, Minnesota didn't sign him until late August:

"Over the last five years (2021-2025), Carson Wentz has played for five different teams: the Indianapolis Colts (2021), the Washington Commanders (2022), the Los Angeles Rams (2023), the Kansas City Chiefs (2024), and most recently, the Minnesota Vikings (2025-present)"

But he's tough:

[purplefaithful]

I think this two week trip took a lot out of them...They sound burned-out an in need of some rest and "getting away"

“My brain hurts right now, if I’m being honest with you,” coach Kevin O’Connell said, “navigating that at the end and making sure our team maintained their poise, specifically on offense knowing we had to travel quite a bit there to try to get seven.”

The banged-up Vikings (3-2) enter a much-needed bye week after a victory over Cleveland (1-4), although they were 25 seconds away from coming up empty on this trip following last week’s 24-21 loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in the NFL’s first game in Dublin.

A horde of white Vikings jerseys jumped, cheered and rallied around Addison, who didn’t play in the first quarter after he missed a walkthrough earlier in the week, according to O’Connell. The intense celebration seemed grander than a Week 5 victory in the NFL might warrant, but this was not an ordinary regular-season game in ordinary circumstances.

“In my brief time here, it’s a very unique group of guys in this locker room, and I mean that in a really good way,” said Wentz, who improved to 2-1 as a starter after signing with the Vikings in late August. “Everybody is so close, and I think this week was great for that, too, and the weirdness of it.

“It’s hard to win in this league. When you get it done in dramatic fashion, it doesn’t matter who you’re playing. It doesn’t matter if it’s Super Bowl, Week 1, it doesn’t matter. You got to enjoy those moments.”

[StickierBuns]

Everyone is going to benefit from being back home, seeing family/kids and back to their normal home routine. Rest up, a bye weekend awaits and then a home game to get back into it. 3-2 isn't bad at all considering what the team has gone through....and it just sits so much better to take a break after a W. I think the Europe trip really pushed them hard.

[Montana Tom]

Chicago
Cinci
Cleveland

None of em are world beaters and yet u can only play who's on the schedule right?

So I'm still not fired-up about the team, have more questions about JJM then I had in September and probably most disappointed in the defense (especially vs run). 

But 3/2 is good enough for #2 in the North (for now) and I feel fortunate with that record given the injuries. Glad to take a week off as a fan. Would really like to see what the team's ceiling is if ever at full strength.

Most importantly? Lets get JJM back behind Center and let's see what we got.

Where u at with 12 games to go???

I'm not on the same page right now.
Yes, I was a total JJM homer, but those 7 (out of 8) awful quarters showed me that he was not ready.  Maybe not even this year.

Is Wentz the answer?  Watching a lot of passes yesterday sailing over the heads of his receivers, probably not, but he's a damn good and serviceable backup.  However, he's played better (with far less prep) than JJM this year.  I think KOC needs to play the hot hand and frankly Wentz is clicking better.  

Honestly, a teeny little bit of me was hoping that we'd see Brosmer in the second half.  But Wentz came back and put it all together in the latter part of the second half...Clicking finally (and getting beyond the curse of 0-2 on turnovers).  

Sitting at 3-2, there are only five teams in the NFC with better records.  I think its a solid place to build from, given the situation.