Kirko Chainz and other observations of NFL Sunday

[StickierBuns]

Nice win for the Vikings on the road. Sammy slung the pigskin just fine, it turns out. Good stuff. D got 5 sacks and a pick 6. Fun game to watch. KOC game planned well. Bradbury and Ingram remain oh so replaceable in pass protect, but some big holes were there for Jones. Other observations:

• The starting rookie QBs didn't look good. Long way to go.
  
• Kirko.....yikes. Looked a little washed. Pressured and made mistakes.
  
• Joey Burrow: gotta get more out of a guy being paid that much money. Lose to New England and Brissett?
  
• Bryce Young is exactly what I thought he was last year: not good.
  
• Going to be a long year in Las Vegas
  
• Will Levis is garbage
  
• DeShaun Watson performed the biggest scam in NFL history on the Cleveland Browns. $172 million dead cap hit in 2025. $172 million. "This even undersells the situation. Usually, there's a ton of dead money on a deal because a team's already paid out bonuses and have yet to account for it on their cap. The Browns would have $80.8 million in dead money for those unrealized bonuses paid to Watson *and* still owe him $92 million in guaranteed salary after this season." - Bill Barnwell. 
  Yes is the answer to this: https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/is-th...in-week-1/
  Teams will play better, be a little more consistent as they get a couple games under their belts, but some things you can see already. Makes me feel better that McCarthy is going to have a redshirt season looking at some of these games. Not sure how you thought Danny Dimes was a guy to stick with if your Daboll. I love a Flores defense. Ivan Pace Jr. was very confident a few days ago about this game....now I know why. Just taking the W for what it is. Much tougher road ahead.
  

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Grade: A

Vikings
Sam Darnold isn't a future Hall of Famer, but he looked like one on Sunday. The Vikings QB carved up the Giants defense by completing his first 12 passes. Overall, Darnold ended up throwing 19 completions to eight different receivers. Darnold got some big offensive help from Aaron Jones, who steamrolled the Giants for 6.7 yards per carry. The Vikings defense dominated the Giants and the biggest play came from Andrew Van Ginkel, who had a pick six. Right now, it's hard to tell if the Vikings are this good or if the Giants are this bad (or maybe a little of both), but Minnesota looked like a team that's going to be competitive this year. -CBS Sports

[MaroonBells]

Cousins had a crap day. He'll play better, but you have to wonder about the length of his leash in Atlanta with Penix on the sidelines. Either way, this offense may not be the powerhouse it appeared to be. Atlanta's on our schedule.

As bad as Levis was, he wasn't nearly as bad as Caleb Williams. Both are on the Vikings schedule.

Mike Brown and Ja'Marr Chase lost the game for the Bengals. Hey, I know, on the eve of our opening game, let's put a bad taste in everyone's mouth by not coming to terms. The haggling over pennies is just so stupid.

Vikings are going to be competitive? What? Who'd have thought a team with Jefferson, Addison a top 10 OL and a BFlo defense would be competitive? Weirdos.

[StickierBuns]

https://twitter.com/HaydenWinks/status/1...4125249015

Kirko should have had 3 INTs, the Steelers dropped a gimme.

[purplefaithful]

Nit to pick:

Why was 29 year old Aaron Jones carrying the ball on five of six snaps with the Vikings leading 28-6 and less than five minutes remaining? Give that mop-up duty to Gaskin and keep Jones on ice at that point of the game.

He is TOO VALUABLE

[Montana Tom]

Nit to pick:

Why was 29 year old Aaron Jones carrying the ball on five of six snaps with the Vikings leading 28-6 and less than five minutes remaining? Give that mop-up duty to Gaskin and keep Jones on ice at that point of the game.

He is TOO VALUABLE

KOC acknowledged he was trying to let him get to 100 yards..but he pulled the pin before he got there, which speaks to your point.

Also, I did not realize how bad Caleb Williams did yesterday, until I just looked at the stats.  

I guess we'll see who the real Vikings are next Sunday, eh?

[DeepFreeze05]

KOC acknowledged he was trying to let him get to 100 yards..but he pulled the pin before he got there, which speaks to your point.

Exactly. Jones had a 100 yard streak going that KOC tried to preserve.

[JimmyinSD]

KOC acknowledged he was trying to let him get to 100 yards..but he pulled the pin before he got there, which speaks to your point.

Also, I did not realize how bad Caleb Williams did yesterday, until I just looked at the stats.  

I guess we'll see who the real Vikings are next Sunday, eh?

Jones was about 35 yards short of 100 when that last drive started... I dont see the "i wanted him to get 100" logic when he is 1/3 of the way short. For a guy that is going to be our primary run threat, and is up there in years.... KOC needs to be smarter and more situationally aware.

[Vikergirl]

It was dumb to have Cousins in shotgun and pistol the majority of the time. That makes no sense whatsoever.

I laughed so hard watching Watson. I don't feel bad at all for the Browns or the Haslams. I hate the Cowboys but I enjoyed that game.

Darnold did well. Even after the fumble by Ham, the response was good. He played smart and took what was given.

[Kentis]

I’m sure Kirko will hoist his new team on his back & carry them to 8 or 9 wins…! 

[DeepFreeze05]

It was dumb to have Cousins in shotgun and pistol the majority of the time. That makes no sense whatsoever.

There are some speculation that Cousins isn't fully healed up.