Learning Curve

[FSUVike]

Yesterday's game should have been over before the 4th Quarter started. The first half wasn't an aberration. Other than Brees, who's starting to look his age, and that RB tandem, they didn't have any Unit that was equal to or better than Minnesota's.

Now, as perennially snakebitten fans you never want to loudly proclaim that on a Vikings fan site because you'll surely jinx the team. And so I didn't say it.

But it's true.  And Minnesota let the Saints hang around too long and it almost bit them in the ass. And that's a good thing.

I've long been a believer that in sports you need to experience some Playoff or Tournament growing pains to win it all. And yesterday was painful at times.

So the Vikings have learned to land the knockout punch the next time they have an inferior opponent on the ropes. And they learned it in a game they won. One more team to beat and the Super Bowl awaits.

[Guest]

The Vikes are used to getting up in the first half and then going to into a clock killing mode.  They make it tough for teams to come back.  
The problem is when you lose Sendejo, add in a few bad calls from the refs against a team like the Saints with a Qb like Brees, you open yourself up to historic comebacks.

The formula has worked pretty good during the regular season but the playoffs are a different brand of football.  The Vikes had the game in hand and instead ended up in a battle that took a lot out of them.  This felt like their Superbowl.

My concern is that usually when teams have to play in a game like that, its really tough to play another the next week. Id be surprised if they can get up to that level again against the Iggles.  Foles is no Drew Brees.  I hope the Vikes dont come out flat.

[Guest]

@FSUVike said:
Yesterday's game should have been over before the 4th Quarter started. The first half wasn't an aberration. Other than Brees, who's starting to look his age, and that RB tandem, they didn't have any Unit that was equal to or better than Minnesota's.

Now, as perennially snakebitten fans you never want to loudly proclaim that on a Vikings fan site because you'll surely jinx the team. And so I didn't say it.

But it's true.  And Minnesota let the Saints hang around too long and it almost bit them in the ass. And that's a good thing.

I've long been a believer that in sports you need to experience some Playoff or Tournament growing pains to win it all. And yesterday was painful at times.

So the Vikings have learned to land the knockout punch the next time they have an inferior opponent on the ropes. And they learned it in a game they won. One more team to beat and the Super Bowl awaits.

Best part ever.  NO adjusted, give them credit.  But yes, we stopped playing with that same tempo and intensity.

[Guest]

we have a tendency to do that. To play soft and keep everything in front and wait for a mistake. It usually works. But you cannot do that against Brees, Brady, Rodgers, Ben. Other QBs are really dangerous, too, but just a notch below: Ryan, Rivers, Cam (sometimes).

[Guest]

They also gave them a very short field twice.  Those are mistakes you can't make if you want to go into a preservation mode.