Week 9 Predictions: Rams @ Vikings

[autobon7]

One last time.....you were the one who started with the whole "rely" thing. I never mentioned it and neither did DK. I simply made the statement that the Rams have used trickery more than the Viks over the past few years. That is an element of the game that cannot be overlooked. The play I remember from last year against Seattle.......http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss ... kes-a-play . Just an fyi....the Rams pulled 2 fakes that game and won by 2 points. Read and weep......http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutd ... 11656.html

[Purple bruise]

One last time.....you were the one who started with the whole "rely" thing. I never mentioned it and neither did DK. I simply made the statement that the Rams have used trickery more than the Viks over the past few years. That is an element of the game that cannot be overlooked. The play I remember from last year against Seattle.......http://www.nfl.com/videos/nfl-cant-miss ... kes-a-play . Just an fyi....the Rams pulled 2 fakes that game and won by 2 points. Read and weep......http://sports.yahoo.com/blogs/nfl-shutd ... 11656.html [/quote]

This started with your comment:
" Bottom line I think they have more tricks up their sleeve than the Viks. Hope that is not the difference maker".
I responded that good teams do not rely on trick plays to win games. The Meaning was that good teams do not lose games because other teams have more trick plays nor do good teams rely on trick plays to win. And then your buddy added all the rest. So I will try and control my weeping...thank you.

[808vikingsfan]

Rams red zone D

If the Vikings are trying to fix their red zone offense, now is not a good time to play against the Rams.

[DK Sweets]

This started with your comment:
" Bottom line I think they have more tricks up their sleeve than the Viks. Hope that is not the difference maker".
I responded that good teams do not rely on trick plays to win games. The Meaning was that good teams do not lose games because other teams have more trick plays nor do good teams rely on trick plays to win. And then your buddy added all the rest. So I will try and control my weeping...thank you.

At this point your meaning has been well established. Your point just doesn't stand up against facts. Trick plays are used by good teams to beat good teams in big games.

[Skoltastic_Voyage]

24 27 one play seals the deal, which way will it drop? Vikings NEED this game Rams have some easy games coming up they can get their W's with. I think the Vikes dig in and prove they are ready for the nightmare schedule being shoved down our throats.... Question, why does it always seem like our schedule is crafted by some gimped imp salivating green and puke yellow spittle on a vomitous manifesto from hell?

[Raptorman]

I figure it's going to be 24-21. Whoever has the last good long drive will win. Point of note. The Vikings are the only team that has not allowed more than 23 points in any game this year, so far.

[808vikingsfan]

PFF Offensive line rankings through week 8

27. St. Louis Rams (25th)
Pass blocking rank: 25th

Run blocking rank: 28th

Penalties rank: 28th

Stud: First-year player Rob Havenstein (73.1) doesn’t look like a rookie.

Dud: Sophomore Greg Robinson (34.4) does look like a rookie.

Summary: There’s some talent on this offense, but this line is making them really max it out with their up and down efforts. We mentioned Robinson as the dud, but it’s a worry that he doesn’t seem to be progressing.

14. Minnesota Vikings (15th)
Pass blocking rank: 14th

Run blocking rank: 17th

Penalties rank: T-8th

Stud: Nobody expected Joe Berger (83.1) to fill in for John Sullivan so well, but he has.

Dud: A disappointing year for Brandon Fusco (44.5) who has given up way too much pressure by his own high standards.

Summary: There’s been an improvement in Matt Kalil (54., which has been good to see, but no real standout performances. That said, they’ve done a lot better than expected, given how they’ve coped without two lynchpins on the line.

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... ng-week-9/

[LondonViking]

17-14 to the Vikings last drive Walsh long fg for the Win, but I will say it could easily swing the other way.

War in the trenches so wont be a pretty one.

[J. Kapp 11]

This game comes down to the Vikings offense being able to finish drives.

We can move the ball between the 20s. We even moved the ball against Denver. We just have trouble scoring. Defensively, we've given up fewer than 20 points four times in seven games, so there's no reason to believe the Rams, whose offense also struggles to score, will put up more than 20 on the road.

If we can finish a couple of drives, we'll win. If we're constantly kicking field goals, we'll probably go down.

And let's not overlook special teams. The Viking have scored 9 special teams TDs since Mike Priefer became ST coordinator.

[UKno1VIKING]

This game scares me a bit. The way the Rams team is built, might highlight our weaker areas. I do think we will be the first team to keep Gurley under 100 yards. Unfortunately i cant see AD going for more than 60.
However, barring injury setbacks, i see us being the more consistent passing the ball, and winning a real scrap.
Turnovers are ultimately more important in this game than any other, in that it'll be a tight affair. So if Adrian can hold onto the ball, and Teddy doesnt get killed by that ferocious front four, we should have the tools to be victorious.
Our secondary should deal with their wide receivers and we should see some success at getting to Foles and forcing him into making those mistakes that he likes to make.
16-13 Vikes, but could quite easily go either way. Will be fun to see two good defences face off.

[Raptorman]

Everyone keeps talking about the defense's and Gurley vs. Peterson. What this game may end up being about is the QB's. I mean if all else is even, who do you want throwing the ball? Very few people are talking about how the offense's of these teams might play.

[Mothman]

Everyone keeps talking about the defense's and Gurley vs. Peterson. What this game may end up being about is the QB's. I mean if all else is even, who do you want throwing the ball? Very few people are talking about how the offense's of these teams might play.

Well, Gurley and Peterson DO play offense but you're right, there's not much talk about how the passing games might perform. I think the general assumption is that neither of them will be very effective.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

I am a little upset: I had a ticket to go to this game with my brother, my father, and my uncle, but I had to give it up. They will have great seats too!

Anyway, this game will be a tough battle, but I think Minnesota wins. Actually, Minnesota will win. Cordarrelle Patterson will score the game winning TD in OT.

But in all seriousness, my big question is what Teddy Bridgewater will show up on game day for us? The Teddy Bridgewater who played against San Fran and Chicago, or the Teddy Bridgewater who played against Detroit? I love Teddy, but the consistency just isn't there right now. That being said, what, this is his, 20th start?He already looks better than the last QB we had in his first twenty games. That is enough for me at this juncture.

[Mothman]

This game comes down to the Vikings offense being able to finish drives.

We can move the ball between the 20s. We even moved the ball against Denver. We just have trouble scoring. Defensively, we've given up fewer than 20 points four times in seven games, so there's no reason to believe the Rams, whose offense also struggles to score, will put up more than 20 on the road.

If we can finish a couple of drives, we'll win. If we're constantly kicking field goals, we'll probably go down.

And let's not overlook special teams. The Viking have scored 9 special teams TDs since Mike Priefer became ST coordinator.

Good post. Special teams could be huge in this game. Ditto for turnovers.

Since they began starting Gurley, the Rams have scored 24+ points in 3 of 4 games. Their lone loss in that stretch was on the road, @GB, where they only scored 10 points. If the Vikes can contain Gurley, they should have a good chance to keep the Rams under 20 points.

On the other hand, unless Peterson has a BIG day, I doubt the Vikes offense will score more than 13 or 14 points without getting help from the defense and scoring some points off turnovers. Holding the Rams under 20 might not be enough.

I really think this one may come down to the elements that are hardest to predict: big plays on defense, special teams, etc. Health might be a factor too. Barr, Kendricks, Floyd and Diggs all missing practice time yesterday concerns me. I doubt the Vikes can contain Gurley without at least one of those two LBs and I doubt they'll generate much in the passing game without Diggs.

[Mothman]

http://espn.go.com/blog/st-louis-rams/p ... -predictor

Here's how the numbers breakdown using the Football Power Index and the game predictor model:

Entering Sunday's game, the Vikings and Rams have the sixth and seventh-best chances of making the playoffs in the NFC. Of course, only six teams qualify for the postseason, so that would mean they're essentially jockeying for the final spot as we hit the halfway point of the season.

As of Wednesday morning, FPI projects the 5-2 Vikings to have a 45 percent chance to make the playoffs. If Minnesota beats the Rams, that number jumps to roughly 59 percent. If the Vikings lose, it drops to approximately 27 percent.

The Rams currently sit with a 36 percent chance to make the playoffs but, like the Vikings, their numbers will change dramatically regardless of outcome. If the Rams win, the playoff probability improves to about 54 percent while a loss would mean a dip to about 21 percent.

So given all of that, which team does FPI view as the favorite on Sunday? That would be Minnesota, though not by much. FPI gives Minnesota a 56 percent chance to win with a projected point differential of just two. In other words, it's closer to a pick 'em.

There's more at the link,