Yes, but that was partly because Peters made a great read on the play and got himself in position to make the pick. The ball wasn't even thrown to the receiver he was assigned to cover. It was a bad decision by Bridgewater but I think it was clearly an excellent play by Peters.
I still don't understand what happened on that play. Wallace didn't make a play on the ball at all. I could tell from the camera angle whether it was touchable by Wallace, which would have broken up the interception. I guess I'll have to look for a replay from another angle.
As ugly as todays win may have been, it wasn't as ugly as the packers win over the chargers. Rivers had 500 yards passing, and the chargers ended the game at the Green Bay 3 yard line.
Laserman wrote:munnerlyn played well too. Diggs needs to start. Starting to see why we got Wallace as cheaply as we did
Actually, Diggs did start. Played his butt off, too. Hard to believe this kid didn't see the field until Week 4. All he's done in two games is average 107 YPG on 13 catches.
I've been patient with Norv Turner's playcalling thus far, but the Vikings' offense laid an egg for much of the second half, and for my money Turner needs to shoulder most of the blame. I find it hard to believe that an OC as experienced and as respected as Turner can't stay ahead of a team that's 27th in the league in pass defense and selling out to stop Adrian Peterson. I'm glad we won, but the offense disappointed me today. They almost wasted a great effort by the defense.
John_Viveiros wrote:
I still don't understand what happened on that play. Wallace didn't make a play on the ball at all. I could tell from the camera angle whether it was touchable by Wallace, which would have broken up the interception. I guess I'll have to look for a replay from another angle.
As ugly as todays win may have been, it wasn't as ugly as the packers win over the chargers. Rivers had 500 yards passing, and the chargers ended the game at the Green Bay 3 yard line.
I dont think todays game was ugly at all, Rivers was so on point today and we still held them to only 20 points, ugly is the Denver vs Cleveland game.
"Follow my lead today, whos goona be the big dog with me?" - Aaron Rodgers, February 6th, 2011
Didn't get to see the game this week. But it is obvious our Offense is in a state of ...........whatever. However, the Defense is keeping the Vikings in the games and that is not bad. So while our offense works on getting it's act together, soon I hope, as long as the defense keeps stepping up and the Offense does not give the game away I can live with it for a few more weeks. The Defense held the Chiefs to 62 yards of offense in the first half. And that was without our starting DE. Not sure I want to go back and watch this game.
Vikings fan since Nov. 6, 1966. Annoying Packer fans since Nov. 7, 1966
J. Kapp 11 wrote:I've been patient with Norv Turner's playcalling thus far, but the Vikings' offense laid an egg for much of the second half, and for my money Turner needs to shoulder most of the blame. I find it hard to believe that an OC as experienced and as respected as Turner can't stay ahead of a team that's 27th in the league in pass defense and selling out to stop Adrian Peterson. I'm glad we won, but the offense disappointed me today. They almost wasted a great effort by the defense.
My sentiments exactly. What's weird is that the speedy group of WRs that the Vikings currently play are pretty much what Norv wanted. I'm surprised he doesn't utilize them better or show more imagination in the passing game.
This was a pretty non-descript game for the Vikings overall. KC was missing their best player and couldn't move the ball for long stretches of the game, yet somehow the Vikes barely eked out the win.
Actually, I shouldn't say somehow. I think it's obvious what the problem is at this point - the Vikings are getting virtually no point production via the passing game. After 5 games Teddy Bridgewater ranks 38th out of 40 QBs with 2 passing TDs (versus 2 INTs) on the season. Among QB's who have thrown more than 100 passes this year he is dead last in that category, falling just behind Ryan Mallett (3 passing TDs). And this is happening despite a healthy Kyle Rudolph at TE, speedy Mike Wallace at WR, and Adrian Peterson in the backfield to take the focus off Bridgewater.
Of course, the offensive line hasn't been great. Heck, one could easily say they are the major cause of the regression we've seen in the passing game overall and Bridgewater in particular. But the stats don't necessarily bear that out. Bridgwater has been sacked 13 times so far, which puts him at #11 in that category. Russell Wilson, somewhat surprisingly, is #1 in that category with 22 sacks. Wilson, however, has thrown for 6 TDs against 3 INTs, so even though he is going down at almost twice the rate Bridgewater is, he's still producing points with his arm at twice the rate of Bridgewater.
Maybe Bridgwater's QB rating is good? Maybe he's not producing TDs with his arm, but he's "efficient"? Well, the stats really don't bear that out, either, putting him at #23 in that category, behind notables like Jay Cutler and (gulp) Blake Bortles.
I'm not really sure what to make of Bridgewater's regression. I want to believe it's the classic sophomore slump or the offensive line, and it may very well be either or both, but I can't help wondering if maybe Bridgewater lacks the decisiveness that the good to great QB's all have, or at least the ones that become regular starters in the league. He seems awfully tentative this year and at times reminds me of "he who shall not be named" in terms of his footwork, mechanics and field awareness. Bridgewater doesn't seem to flee the pocket before any actual pressure arrives, which I'm glad to see, but he doesn't look comfortable at all and certainly not confident. He seems to be very erratic having one solid half before following it up with an awful stinker of a half. And even in his solid half we're generally not seeing points coming via the pass.
If the Vikings are going to contend for anything this season, much less hope for a .500 record, they're going to need to start getting points from the arm of their QB. Bridgewater is on a miserable pace for the year - if things continue at this rate he's due to throw 6-7 TDs by the end of the season. He finished last year with 14.
The defense is fun to watch. I think the special teams are good enough. The offense, however, simply B.A.D. Second-to-last in yards per game. I can't lay everything at Bridgewater's feet, but as I see it he needs to step it up.
losperros wrote:
My sentiments exactly. What's weird is that the speedy group of WRs that the Vikings currently play are pretty much what Norv wanted. I'm surprised he doesn't utilize them better or show more imagination in the passing game.
What did you see that suggests the play calling caused the lack of production?
See, I thought the same after the Vikes lost to the 49ers, but after watching the game again and reading some of the analysis of it, it was clear Bridgewater simply didn't see/attempt to hit several wide open guys and left a lot on the field that directly contributed to the loss. Even Zimmer noted it in the post-game presser.
I want to believe Bridgewater is the answer at QB as much as anyone, but based on what I'm seeing so far it looks like he is the main problem with the offense right now. He's not seeing the field well, his mechanics are very inconsistent, and he is not producing points with his arm. The offensive line hasn't been great, but as you note, he's got solid wide receivers and a good receiving tight end to throw to. And to be honest, I don't see terrible play calling and I'm not sure what those who say the play calling is terrible want Turner to do differently.
VikingLord wrote:
What did you see that suggests the play calling caused the lack of production?
Oh I don't know, maybe the 5 yard routes on 3rd and 10? The "ooh look here we go again" bubble screens on 3rd and 8? The Two deep balls in the last 3 games? The "run up the middle 40 times straight even though it hasn't worked the last 39 times"? The fact that they have an electric player wearing the number 84 and regardless of how he runs routes they cant get him the ball? Not even on a jet sweep or a simple bubble screen? Because they threw a #### screen to Matt Asiata the electrifier!
No misdirection, no deception, the routes are short. They depend way too much on YAC because his scheme is GARBAGE. He can't even see until he has no choice, that he has a rookie that would be in talk for tops in yards in the NFL most likely had he started week 1. The guy flat out blows, thats why people are saying that the playcalling is destroying the offense.
These are the SAME DANG COMPLAINTS that people had against musgrave and his 2 of clubs playcard, and its happening all over again, the difference is zimmer has this defense on point and it's masking alot of what the offense does or doesn't do. Turner needs to go
J. Kapp 11 wrote:
Actually, Diggs did start. Played his butt off, too. Hard to believe this kid didn't see the field until Week 4. All he's done in two games is average 107 YPG on 13 catches.
I've been patient with Norv Turner's playcalling thus far, but the Vikings' offense laid an egg for much of the second half, and for my money Turner needs to shoulder most of the blame. I find it hard to believe that an OC as experienced and as respected as Turner can't stay ahead of a team that's 27th in the league in pass defense and selling out to stop Adrian Peterson. I'm glad we won, but the offense disappointed me today. They almost wasted a great effort by the defense.
J.Kapp - I am responding to your post in particular because you mentioned Stefon and I wanted to post this piece of 'journalism' that you will find disappointing.
3. The Vikings have found something in wide receiver Stefon Diggs. The undrafted free agent was the best receiver on the field, finishing with seven catches for 129 yards. Diggs has 13 catches for 216 yards in two games. Expect him to have a regular role in the offense going forward.
-- Dan Hanzus
Never mind that Diggs was a fifth round draft pick - but what does that matter? Don't let the facts get in the way of a good story - correct?
Anyway, as someone who got to experience Stefon Diggs destroy my college team in person on the field, I knew this guy had it. He should have never dropped to round five. Glad we drafted him. He definitely earned a spot on this team moving forward.
A Randy Moss fan for life. A Kevin Williams fan for life.
Boon wrote:These are the SAME DANG COMPLAINTS that people had against musgrave and his 2 of clubs playcard, and its happening all over again, the difference is zimmer has this defense on point and it's masking alot of what the offense does or doesn't do. Turner needs to go
- Sendejo laid some big hits and played with Physicality.
- Diggs is a weapon.
- Matt Asiata looked good!
- Bridgewater is getting a little more aggressive downfield. More passes to second level.
-Defensive line played well, lots of pressure, sacks, holding calls.
The Negatives
-Sendejo in coverage.
-The offensive line play...yuck
-Adrian Peterson is not a fit in these shotgun/pistol formations, its exacerbating the problems.
It's another game where Adrian Peterson got shut down. Elite players perform against elite defenses.
Feast and Famine is a funny thing to joke about (had no idea there were this many Magic:The Gathering players here ), but do you realize were it not for a 23 yard run yesterday Peterson would have rushed 25 times and caught the ball once for 34 yards and a fumble? Were it not for the 48 yard touchdown run last game, Adrian Peterson's stat line would be 40 rushes for 80 yards and a fumble in his last two games.
Our O line and Peterson and Turner have to figure this out. We can't average 2 yards a touch with Adrian Peterson, for God's sakes. You can forget about the playoffs if this becomes a trend, I can tell you that much.
Just to echo some of the sentiments already laid out here. This game shouldn't have been as close as it was.
Good
Damn Diggs! -- 7 receptions on 9 targets for 129 yards. He's now up to 13 passes for 216 yards in his first two NFL games. Sorry Charles Johnson but you've been passed. At least, one would think so. You can't keep Diggs out of the lineup.
Rush D "You ain't goin' nowhere" -- The Vikings rush defense continues to be stout. Chiefs running backs Knile Davis and Charcandrick West had a combined 14 rushes for 46 yards (3.2 YPC).
Minus Hillman's freak touchdown in week 3, since Week 1 here are opposing team's rushing totals (carries/yards): 12/21; 22/77; 21/74; 14/46
That equates to 69 carries for 218 yards (3.1 YPC) and 0 Touchdowns.
Pass D "Hi, we're streaky" -- After a dominant first half they waned a bit in the second period but they forced a ton of holding calls (more that weren't called). Floyd, in particular, had a very good day rushing the passer despite not being 100% healthy. The Vikings also held the Chiefs to 3/12 on third downs (25%).
Kendricks -- 10 tackles, a sack, TFL and a pass breakup. It wasn't all spectacular as he missed a couple of tackles and was beaten in coverage on more than one occasion (37-yard completion to Kelce) but overall a solid, promising day for the rookie.
Hunter -- A surprising start due to a Griffen illness, I thought Hunter played his best game to date. He did disappear for stretches as a pass rusher but he applied a bit of pressure and had a great move on a shared sack with Floyd. His forced fumble was key to the Vikings securing the win. He's a big, fast dude. Still not very technically proficient or consistent, he has a high ceiling with Zimmer. It'll be interesting to watch him mature. If he can turn into a force, Rick will get a lot of praise for this draft class.
Xavier Rhodes -- I don't think he was flagged once.
Wal$?sh -- Perfect on the day, even from outside of 30 yards. Maybe he's getting it figured out?
Bad
Offensive line: They get some credit in the first quarter but they continued to struggle in the second half in pass protection and especially run blocking. AD had nowhere to go and has been hit at or behind the line of scrimmage a ridiculous amount of times this year. Man we miss Loadholt. Harris and Berger did not have very good games in particular.
Mike Wallace: A pair of drops and only caught 2 of 9 targets (not all of these missed targets were on Wallace). I don't know if his knee was bothering him or what but as good as his Denver game was, this one was nearly as bad. Hopefully he'll rebound next week.
Waynes: Got into the game for a dinged up Newman and was immediately targeted and was a liability. His previous game action did not carry over in this one. It was a little disheartening to see fellow rookie Marcus Peters come up big on more than a couple of plays while Waynes struggled. I'm not saying we chose the wrong corner (yet) but...
I continue to worry about next season if Newman hangs up the cleats. We may have depth at corner, but I'm not seeing a viable long-term starter outside of Rhodes yet. I know it's still early on Waynes but still.
Teddy: It pains me to put him here but this was not his best effort. Coming off of a solid game versus a better secondary, Teddy was great in the first quarter but I don't know what happened later on. He's got to be better in the red zone. The third-and-long strike to Diggs was a beauty, though.
Peterson: Even though he got ZERO help from his offensive line (and I place most of the blame on them), the fumble still irks me. I wish Turner would target AD in the passing game. I thought Asiata had a good game on limited field time. He's grown on me as a player these last two years.
Barr: He played, right? Invisible. I'll concede that Zimmer didn't dial up too many blitzes but still.
Rudolph: Everybody was talking up Rudolph in the preseason. Where's the production? I suppose some of it is the that Bridgewater has a ton of legit targets but Rudolph has not produced to his contract. The fact that he was effectively "boxed out" on the first interception was particularly unsettling. The guy is huge and should win those contests. The pass sailed but he had an opportunity. The one TD was nice but Norv needs to get Rudolph more involved outside of the red zone.
Sendejo: He wasn't as bad as the previous game but I'm growing tired of seeing him only trying to make a huge hit. I never see him trying to wrap up. He angles annoy me and his "coverage" is sub-par. He probably earned another start (he played the entire game, Blanton/Exum didn't get a snap) but he's quickly becoming my least-favorite Viking.
Officiating "What safety?": That was clearly a hold in the end zone and the refs are lucky that blatant missed call didn't decide the outcome of the game because it was one of the worst missed calls I've seen all year.
“Some people think football is a matter of life and death. I assure you, it's much more serious than that.” --- Bill Shankly
), but do you realize were it not for a 23 yard run yesterday Peterson would have rushed 25 times and caught the ball once for 34 yards and a fumble? Were it not for the 48 yard touchdown run last game, Adrian Peterson's stat line would be 40 rushes for 80 yards and a fumble in his last two games.