Some musings about the upcoming game from the Vikings Messageboard

[Maikeru-sama]

I haven't seen much of the Vikings, so I went to the Vikings forum to see what they are talking about. Here are some interesting comments.

Well it's on. Lets get talking about it underway. I personally am preprogrammed to expect a full meltdown. And unfortunatly with how hot the Cowboys are, combined with how bad of a match up it is for us, makes me expect the worse here. We have had a problem with TE's all year and Witten is going to eat us for lunch. Seems like Dallas has a good O-line that could give Romo enough time to pick apart guys like Madieu Williams and my least favorite player Tyrell Johnson. We need to come out passing because thats what we've been doing successfully since half time of the Bears game. But if they 3 and out us a couple of times early and put up a couple scores it can be over early. Their defense is playing damn good. Maybe Adrian finally bust out, or Favre will keep it going. But I have a terrible feeling about this game. Just disgusting....

Is it too late to find a new LT so McKinnie doesn't have to play? If that slow piece of crap is in there, I really think Ware is literally going to kill Favre. However, I'm actually much more terrified to watch someone try and cover Witten.

Their pass rush is scary as is their pass defense as a whole. Not looking forward to this game after watching them manhandle the Eagles.

Bad match up? Really?

I actually think the Cow******* are one of the better match ups for us in the entire conference (Green Bay being the other). The one spot I'm most concerned about has already been mentioned--Ware/McKinnie. Witten can be handled, and Austin is nothing if you jam him at the line. Romo has had one decent playoff game now, but I wouldn't be surprised if he reverts back to choking next week. Also, keep in mind that 25% of their wins this season have now come against the Iggles. Obviously they own that team, but they've lost to the Giants (twice!) and the Packers, both of whom the Vikings handled easily. At any rate, I think our defense will take care of their running game completely, and forcing Romo to pass will invite at least two picks. Vikes win 30-17.

BTW, the worst match ups are/were the Cardinals and Iggles--the latter because I think Reid will always own Childress, and because they don't need to use their running game to win like most teams, which would give our defense an advantage. The Cards are a bad match up because of their stout O-line, a quick decision making QB, and an emotional defense that always seems to get jacked up to play us. Come to think of it, the Aints will probably be a pretty bad match up for the same reasons. So I'm glad we're playing the *****es, and hope GB is who we face next.

Some of you guys ought to ashamed to be fans, and i'm disgusted you are. The game is a week away, and you are already writing off the vikings. WHAT THE HELL IS WRONG WITH YOU??

What the vikings have or have not done, hell since their inception, has ABSOLUTELY no bearing on the 2009-'10 team.

According to you, we should just forfeit, because if they ask you we won't win anyway.

SAD AND PATHETIC!

Its all going to come down to which Romo shows up (or what we allow him to do). If he is in sync with Witten and Austin and has time to make throws, I think we could be in for a very rough game. But if we can take advantage of their line and bring pressure against their aging line (COLUMBO will be our ******) we are going to have a very good shot at going to the championship game.

Well, our secondary should get all but torched. But that'd be nothing new. We need to come out swinging because we WILL have to score in the high 30's to win.

You think Chilly will put somebody over there to help BMcK when he's getting abused or just try to bench Favre so he doesn't get killed???

Home field will be HUGE!!!!! If your goin' BE LOUD!!!!!!

I'm not too worried about this game. The Cowboys have been playing very good as of late and have a good momentum going, but for us we have also been playing great since that 2nd half of the bears game. We also had a much needed bye to rest up our players so we have the advantage being fresher and being at home. We're also undefeated at home this year and we have one of the loudest stadiums which can be a big factor. I don't see their offense being able to execute as well as they have been showing because it will be very loud for them and I have faith our D-line will feed off the noise and dominate in the home dome. What we need to do is have a great start early with our offense and put up some points. If we can do that, I'm fairly confident our defense can hold them down. I am not putting down the cowboys at all and I think they are very capable of beating us but if we show up and play as well as we have then I don't see them or any team beating us. My prediction is we will win 41-27 because well be at home and have fresher bodies.

link

 

[Maikeru-sama]

I heard Mckinnie was struggling this year but based on what they are saying on the Vikings Messageboard, he is playing really bad and they are frightened at the prospects of him trying to stop Demarcus Ware.

It looks like the Vikings will give Mckinnie some help but this will give Anthony Spencer some opportunities.

 

[Givincer]

I love how "Austin is nothing if you jam him at the line." As if this message board poster has figured something out that defensive coordinators in the league have not yet figured out or something.

And, this gem, as if it's supposed to discredit us in anyway: "Also, keep in mind that 25% of their wins this season have now come against the Iggles." Well, the flipside of that is we've dealt the Eagles 50% of their losses.

"But if we can take advantage of their line and bring pressure against their aging line (COLUMBO will be our ******) we are going to have a very good shot at going to the championship game." Little do they know that our "aging line" is what makes this juggernaut go.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

Didn't realize just how good Brett Favre was playing at home.

Favre has something to prove and he will want to end his losing streak to the Cowboys in the playoffs. He is 0-3. All 3 times he was in Dallas. He is at home now. He is 8-0. He has 21 TDs and only 2 INTs.

 

[pgreptom]

lol @ "just jam him at the line" - yeah, as if it's that easy.. if it was, DC's would've done it .. oh, 1,200 yards ago?

 

[Givincer]

Didn't realize just how good Brett Favre was playing at home.

Someone posted the eight opponents and it looked quite unimpressive, to say the least. Sort of an "oh, that's why their 8-0 at home" moment.

 

[Beast_from_East]

Yea, they are undefeate at home but dont forget that they had to have a miracle pass into the endzone against the Niners to win.

So it is not like they are the 07 Pats just plowing through everybody, they are not invincible at home as some in the media would have you believe.

 

[Maikeru-sama]

This is another thread where Vikings fans are posting what they believe has to happen for the Vikings to win:

1. Pass Rush:

This is a tricky one. As we saw with the eagles game, when they started coming hard, they ran alot of draws and screens, especially that bubble screen. We need to get to Romo, but also watch for plays like that, which brings me to my next point.

2. Get ahead early:
This is a game we NEED to score early and often. we have to force them into passing situations, where they can't get us with screen and draw plays.

3. Contain Romo:
I don't mean keep him unded 300 yards, I mean keep him contained in the pocket. Dont let him weasel away and make a big play.

4. blanket Austin:
He's the one that worries me. In our cover 2, I can see him weaving around our safeties for the big score. We can't allow that. perhaps double him or play more man (not with winfield). We can't let him get in the open field, where he can really make us pay.

5. contain Felix Jones:

give him runs up th emiddle, but don't let him turn the corner. When he does, we don't have anyone on defense who can catch him.

6. Pass Block
This should be higher on the list, but I'm too lazy to go back: We need to keep Ware & Co. in check. put in Sauce as FB on every play, I don't care, we just can't let them get to Favre.

7. Work Harvin:
Their corners are fairly good. They can probably keep Berrian quiet, and give Rice problems, after that, I think Harvin can cause problems in the slot for them. Hit him and hit him often.

8. don't give up on the run.
We can't stop running the ball because they are slowing us down. We need to score often, but we can't become one dimensional. A good 50/50 ratio of runass needs to be maintained.

1. Get to Romo
This O-Line is aging and Columbo is just getting back from injury so hopefully Ray can take advantage of that.

2. Protect the Football (2 Hands AD, don't be afraid to go OB once in a while)
AD has been covering the ball better since the incident a couple weeks ago. If we want to win, we need to limit turnover or else Dallas is gonna take advantage of them.

3. Keep Favre on his feet
Ware is gonna make some plays, whether they are sacks or not. If we can limit their pressure, it will pay off huge throughout the game.

4. Contain Witten
TEs are our kryptonite (even more so than WRs). Dallas has one of the best in the game which could spell trouble. He needs to be accounted for each play.

5. Screen passes to beat the rush (PLEASE)
Pressure is going to get through at points in the game, even if they aren't producing sacks. If pressure is consistently coming, I'd love to see some screen game to AD or Percy. Get the playmakers the ball.

6. Have deep safety support vs. Austin
Austin has speed and Winfield is still feeling some effect of his injury. On passing downs it is key that we have support over the top if he gets beat.

7. Work Harvin in the slot
I think of Harvin as a Welker type with more big-play making ability. Welker may know how to operate the slot better as of now, but if Harvin has the ball in his hands, he is one of the most explosive players in the league.

8. No Punt Return issues this week (what was up with Reynaud?)
Kind of worries me after seeing Reynaud muff a couple last week. Could be something to keep an eye on.

9. Don't abandon the run
Even if our passing game is successful, we should continue to run. I'd like us to control the clock in this game and limit the amount of touches we give Romo.

10. Let Favre work his magic
Apparently Chilly doesn't realize it but Favre knows much more about the game than he does. Give Favre the opportunity to modify plays at the line. You don't have to let the media know that Favre took over, but tone down your ego and let Favre operate.

 

[JohnsKey19]

What happened to McKinnie? This was a young dominant Pro Bowl OT just a few years ago. In fact, what happened to their entire OLine? My thoughts even just a couple of months ago were that they had a dominant group until I started hearing all the talk about their struggles. It seems it's only gotten worse.

I think Ratliff could have a huge day after being neutralized by the Eagles for 2 weeks.

 

[Garland powerplay]

Does Minnesota actually home for Brett Favre? Don't see how this would be homefield advantage esp. after N.O. game

 

[CATCH17]

New Orleans was undefeated @ home too until we showed up.

 

[Don Corleone]

I've been to the Metrodome and the Superdome before. There is no comparison. The Superdome is much, much louder.

 

[Alexander]

I love how "Austin is nothing if you jam him at the line." As if this message board poster has figured something out that defensive coordinators in the league have not yet figured out or something.

:laugh2:

And, this gem, as if it's supposed to discredit us in anyway: "Also, keep in mind that 25% of their wins this season have now come against the Iggles." Well, the flipside of that is we've dealt the Eagles 50% of their losses.

I also liked the next bit:

Obviously they own that team, but they've lost to the Giants (twice!) and the Packers, both of whom the Vikings handled easily.

Okay. We obviously own the Eagles. They have owned the Packers and beaten a Giants team mailing in the season finale. Riiiiight.

 

[theebs]

their own beat writers yesterday said that austin was pretty good but doesnt have good size?????

what the heck?

 

[adbutcher]

What happened to McKinnie? This was a young dominant Pro Bowl OT just a few years ago. In fact, what happened to their entire OLine? My thoughts even just a couple of months ago were that they had a dominant group until I started hearing all the talk about their struggles. It seems it's only gotten worse.

I think Ratliff could have a huge day after being neutralized by the Eagles for 2 weeks.

Just because Rat did not have a sack does not mean he was neutralized.

 

[VACowboy]

Don't Garrett, Romo and their offense usually torch cover 2 defenses?

 

[sbark]

Didn't realize just how good Brett Favre was playing at home.

...but literally should have had 4 additional early in season vrs. 49rs'---he gave them 4 passes in their laps and they dropped them...

...and then Farve throws a 40 hail mary in final 3 seconds to win.....

ya...home feild advantange.....as beatable as anyone....