A look from some sad eyes in Dallas

the Vikings went into Dallas without three of our best players and won on the road.  This was a huge and impressive win!

If Zimmer can play looser and more aggressive from this point on, I think that brings the team closest to its potential. Get Thielen back. Waynes returns. Put a bye week in there for healing and lets light this candle. Not sure how good the team is but if they can run, they'll be right there in the 4th quarter to pull out a win. 

I do disagree with this quote: “We knew what it was going to be,” linebacker Joe Thomas said. “We knew what type of team they are. That’s the way they’re built. They’re big up front. … We knew they were going to come out and try to run the ball, do what we do on offense. They accomplished that.”

I would guess the Vikes Oline is in the bottom half in terms of overall weight.

@"PSBLAKE" said: the Vikings went into Dallas without three of our best players and won on the road.  This was a huge and impressive win!

True.  I felt ok with Hughes/Hill for Waynes and Stephen/Johnson for Joseph. But we have no depth behind Thielen and Diggs. Bisi is ok. Treadwell is ok. That's it.  The reality is that without AT, we are looking at Smith and Rudy. Rudy was great and Smith was good. But we need AT back at least for Seattle.

@"VikingOracle" said: I do disagree with this quote: “We knew what it was going to be,” linebacker Joe Thomas said. “We knew what type of team they are. That’s the way they’re built. They’re big up front. … We knew they were going to come out and try to run the ball, do what we do on offense. They accomplished that.”

I would guess the Vikes Oline is in the bottom half in terms of overall weight.

Yeah, I thought that was a bit odd as well.  But guess it just means our line plays big?

@"VikingOracle" said: I do disagree with this quote: “We knew what it was going to be,” linebacker Joe Thomas said. “We knew what type of team they are. That’s the way they’re built. They’re big up front. … We knew they were going to come out and try to run the ball, do what we do on offense. They accomplished that.”

I would guess the Vikes Oline is in the bottom half in terms of overall weight.

Even the commentators stated Mn is built with lighter more mobile oline to move in space.

@"Akvike" said:

@"VikingOracle" said: I do disagree with this quote: “We knew what it was going to be,” linebacker Joe Thomas said. “We knew what type of team they are. That’s the way they’re built. They’re big up front. … We knew they were going to come out and try to run the ball, do what we do on offense. They accomplished that.”

I would guess the Vikes Oline is in the bottom half in terms of overall weight.

Even the commentators stated Mn is built with lighter more mobile oline to move in space.

Another great stat...

The Cowboys entered Sunday having allowed a third-down conversion on 27.1% of attempts, second-best in the NFL. The Vikings were 8-for-14.
On Monday, Dallas had only two missed tackles on defense against the Saquon Barkley-led New York Giants. Cook forced more than two missed tackles on his first two receptions in the first quarter.

"-- It’s hard to believe Prescott had nine completions of 20 yards or more and two 100-yard receivers and it still wasn’t good enough to win. That’s because Dallas did not record a rushing first down for only the third time in franchise history. That’s an indictment on the Cowboys’ offensive line."

https://www.dallasnews.com/sports/cowboys/2019/11/11/10-truths-from-the-cowboys-loss-minnesota-weaponized-its-best-player-while-dallas-stumbled-out-of-the-gate/

Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

@"Mattyman" said: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. That offensive line goes Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Lael Collins...Best in the NFL. 15 Pro Bowls between them. And they couldn't move Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen? I mean couldn't move them AT ALL in the run game. 

Have to give Zim credit for the game plan in this one. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Mattyman" said: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. That offensive line goes Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Lael Collins...Best in the NFL. 15 Pro Bowls between them. And they couldn't move Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen? I mean couldn't move them AT ALL in the run game. 

Have to give Zim credit for the game plan in this one. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Mattyman" said: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. That offensive line goes Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Lael Collins...Best in the NFL. 15 Pro Bowls between them. And they couldn't move Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen? I mean couldn't move them AT ALL in the run game. 

Have to give Zim credit for the game plan in this one. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Mattyman" said: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

Have to give Zim credit for the game plan in this one. 

@"Mattyman" said: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

Good insightful post.  I agree that definitely had a playoff feel.  I am not draft guru but Mattison came out nowhere but I guess I was thinking RB during the draft.  What a find!  We had our first 3 picks - Bradbury, Smith and Mattison starting or with significant playing time and then you add in our 7th rounder Bisi.  Looks to be another very good draft for Spelly.  Oh, and to me at least, that was Zimmers signature win as our coach.  I had said weeks ago that if we can come out of the next 3 games (KC, Dallas, Denver) with 2 wins that would be big for Zimmer.  

We have the bye after playing Denver at home next week.  That gives us/Zimmer and extra week to prepare for one of our 3 remaining primetime games vs Seattle in Seattle.  Our 2 remaining primetime games are then the Chargers (away) and finally the Packers at home.  We play our 3 remaining division foe's all at home in the remaining schedule.  

I'll repeat what I said before this stretch - if we/Zimmer can win 2 of those 3 primetime games we are a strong playoff contender/legit.  

(guess I am looking past the Broncos...yikes) 

@"savannahskol" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"Mattyman" said: Sean Lee, Jaylon Smith and Vander Esch are arguably  the best trio of linebackers in the NFL , All 3 can play IMO.

They couldn't stop Cook and Mattison last night.

The Dallas Oline  is also among the best in the NFL IMO, and even with Joseph out they couldn't run against the Vikings.

Felt like a playoff game to me. Both teams needed a win and things were settled on the field. 

Sometimes it just doesn't make sense. That offensive line goes Tyron Smith, Connor Williams, Travis Frederick, Zack Martin and Lael Collins...Best in the NFL. 15 Pro Bowls between them. And they couldn't move Jaleel Johnson and Shamar Stephen? I mean couldn't move them AT ALL in the run game. 

Have to give Zim credit for the game plan in this one. 

seemed to me we were always bringing one of the safeties/& or lbs on every play to stop the run and if it was play-action get after Dak.  problem with that is, you're vulnerable in medium/long range pass plays. and boy were we.  

worked out, tho.