We still have a chance

[Mothman]

The '87 team was a little more, "lighting in a bottle." I didn't think they were a serious Super Bowl contender until they beat the 49ers! Did you?

Yes, mainly because of their defense. Maybe it wasn't realistic but I was pretty high on that team, especially after the Saints game you mentioned..

That playoff run was so much fun. I remember calling one of my best friends - also a huge Viking fan - right after both those wins. When he answered the phone, I just screamed. Then he screamed. Like the prison break scene in "Raising Arizona." So awesome! As Viking fans, we have not had nearly enough moments like that.

Amen to that. We truly haven't had enough of those moments.

I'm a Bulls fan and I remember after one of the Bulls championship wins in the '90s, my phone rang immediately after the game. I assumed it was a friend calling to celebrate but it was a wrong number. It was someone trying to call his friend to celebrate. We talked for about 5 minutes, two total strangers reveling in the fun of a championship for our favorite team!

I really feel bad for the fans much younger than me that weren't around for the Tarkenton/Foreman days. They don't even have THOSE memories.

I know what you mean. At least we had the pleasure of seeing Vikings teams get to the Super Bowl.

And on the main topic; I know, I know. For every Peyton and Luck, there's a Ryan Leaf. The can't miss who did. And of course you have Marino, Brady and Rodgers. HOFers that every team had at least one shot at and passed on. But I just think the odds are better if you draft high. And it gives you more ammunition for a potential trade.

I just can't get excited about a win for the sake of the win this season. I just can't. It's just been such a disaster and I'm tired of it. I want this team to put the foundation in place for long-term success. And that begins with a franchise QB.

And to get that QB, I feel better drafting the top guy that nearly everyone thinks is a sure thing than trusting the Vikings' braintrust to find a bit of a diamond in the rough with a much later pick. He can still be a flop, but I think the odds are better.

I really want to call my friend and scream again. I really do.

I understand. I can't get into that "lose for the draft pick" mentality, even in a season like this, but I understand it because it's just another manifestation of the desire to see the team achieve long term success and that's what any true fan wants.

[tmscr]

the "draft experts" aren't even sold on a true #1 QB this year. are there people really hoping to lose so we can draft a guy who puts up numbers against teams like temple, rutgers, south florida, and uconn? they lost to the only good team they played (UCF). there is no andrew luck in this draft! just stop it already! there have been 2 absolute stud QBs taken #1 since 2000 (eli and luck), 2 guys who are too young to tell (bradford and newton), then there's a bunch of guys who have had little playoff success or were total busts. i want to throw up reading posts hoping for losses. look at the vikings remaining schedule. you won't have to hope too hard.

[Laserman]

I'm not big on hoping for losses to gain a higher draft picks.

[Eli]

Here's the correct draft order as of today. The Vikings are #3. That SoS percentage holds a lot of promise in the event they finish in tie for last/first place in wins and losses.

1. Tampa Bay 1-8 (.602 SOS)
2. Jacksonville 1-8 (.639)
3. Minnesota 2-7 (.488)
4. Atlanta 2-7 (.578)
5. Houston 2-7 (.614)
6. Buffalo 3-7 (.604)
7. Pittsburgh 3-6 (.470)
8. Oakland 3-6 (.512)
9. St. Louis (via Washington) 3-6 (.518)
10. New York 3-6 (.571)

[chicagopurple]

Our team is so lacking talent that any GOOD GM would trade the #1 pick for a bunch of lower ones. WE need lots of new blood and a coach who doesn't ride the short bus.

[tmscr]

Our team is so lacking talent that any GOOD GM would trade the #1 pick for a bunch of lower ones. WE need lots of new blood and a coach who doesn't ride the short bus.

exactly. a QB isn't even the biggest need right now.

[PurpleKoolaid]

So while your hoping for the Vikings to loose every game, do you still get to #### and moan about how much they suck? Or about the coaching staff? If they are doing what you want, IE, losing? And who is the sure thing at #1 this year? Are the Vikes picking O or D?

[Eli]

I certainly don't hope that the Vikings lose any games, but I fully expect them to lose nearly all of their remaining games this season.

With today's game having so many season-ending injuries over a long 16 game season, it's becoming more common to see teams lose most of the first 8 games and then go on to win most of the final 8. We began to see that this week, with the three worst teams in the NFL all winning. I think the key to the Vikings garnering a high draft pick this year will be to have a few other choice teams start winning some games.

[Texas Vike]

I'm a Bulls fan and I remember after one of the Bulls championship wins in the '90s, my phone rang immediately after the game. I assumed it was a friend calling to celebrate but it was a wrong number. It was someone trying to call his friend to celebrate. We talked for about 5 minutes, two total strangers reveling in the fun of a championship for our favorite team!

.

Loved this anecdote, Moth.

Random stuff like that is really fun.

[majorm]

exactly. a QB isn't even the biggest need right now.

Oh yes it is!

QB is ALWAYS the biggest need for a team that doesn't have a good one.

[tmscr]

disagree. you will never win a championship with a defense that can't 1) stop the pass and 2) get off the field. also, a great QB with no offensive line means nothing. now, you can be merely average at those areas and go after a QB. the problem is, the vikings are very below average on the offensive line and defense as a whole. far too many other areas of concern to reach for another QB in the first round, when no QB is head and shoulders above the rest.

people forget you can draft a QB after the 5th pick in round 1:

joe flacco (18 in round 1)
jay cutler (11 in round 1)
aaron rodgers (24th in round 1)
roethlisberger (11th in round 1)
russell wilson (3)
kaepernick (2)
andy dalton (2)
matt schaub (3)
drew brees (2)
tom brady (6)

tony romo wasn't drafted.

meanwhile, here are a few guys taken in round 1 since 2010:

tim tebow
ponder
blaine gabbert
brandon weeden

[PurpleKoolaid]

I certainly don't hope that the Vikings lose any games, but I fully expect them to lose nearly all of their remaining games this season.

With today's game having so many season-ending injuries over a long 16 game season, it's becoming more common to see teams lose most of the first 8 games and then go on to win most of the final 8. We began to see that this week, with the three worst teams in the NFL all winning. I think the key to the Vikings garnering a high draft pick this year will be to have a few other choice teams start winning some games.

I don't see them winning another game either. I put a lot of the blame for the shape of this team on Spielman and Fraizer. They are responsible for the players on the field, as well as the coaches. I hope they are both replaced, even if we do win 1 or 2 more. I just don't see it happening.

[PurpleKoolaid]

Oh yes it is!

QB is ALWAYS the biggest need for a team that doesn't have a good one.

Yes, it is. And even more so with the Vikings. I don't see any in the draft that say 'I am it' though. But there are quite a few that could be. Not that smart #### cocky JFB though, hes just trouble and wont work in the nfl.

[John_Viveiros]

disagree. you will never win a championship with a defense that can't 1) stop the pass and 2) get off the field. also, a great QB with no offensive line means nothing. now, you can be merely average at those areas and go after a QB. the problem is, the vikings are very below average on the offensive line and defense as a whole. far too many other areas of concern to reach for another QB in the first round, when no QB is head and shoulders above the rest.

people forget you can draft a QB after the 5th pick in round 1:

joe flacco (18 in round 1)
jay cutler (11 in round 1)
aaron rodgers (24th in round 1)
roethlisberger (11th in round 1)
russell wilson (3)
kaepernick (2)
andy dalton (2)
matt schaub (3)
drew brees (2)
tom brady (6)

tony romo wasn't drafted.

meanwhile, here are a few guys taken in round 1 since 2010:

tim tebow
ponder
blaine gabbert
brandon weeden

We couldn't be more opposite in our thinking. The year Green Bay went 15-1, their defense was historically lousy. But they could outscore everyone because of Rodgers. How many game will the Pack win without him this year?

If you look at individual games this year, slightly better QB play could have won at least three more - just one play in each of those games where the Vikes had a late 4th quarter lead! If the Vikes were 5-4, and didn't have those long 80 yard drives against the defense at the tired end of the game because the offense picked up one more first down, the stats would look better and we frankly wouldn't be having all these doom and gloom conversations.

As for getting mid-round QB's, it's a crap shoot. You mention Russell Wilson, but go ahead and name the 20 other 3rd round QB picks who didn't turn out so well. I think we should have been drafting one QB each year late, and picking up another in rookie FA (Case Keenum anyone?), but even so, there's no way to effectively evaluate those guys until they get starts. If Kurt Warner and Tom Brady had showed up so well in training camp and practice, they wouldn't have needed injuries to get their first starts.

Right now, I wish the Vikes had gone 1-15 in Frazier's first year instead of 3-13 (I enjoyed the wins when they happened, but it gets us only a solid left tackle on a losing team now). Andrew Luck will have his teams on the verge of the playoffs regardless of who is around him for years.

[Raptorman]

I don't see them winning another game either. I put a lot of the blame for the shape of this team on Spielman and Fraizer. They are responsible for the players on the field, as well as the coaches. I hope they are both replaced, even if we do win 1 or 2 more. I just don't see it happening.

I think they beat Seattle. Because it is so far from what everyone would expect.