Week 13 Predictions: Seahawks at Vikings

[PurpleKoolaid]

Vikings 20-17

I really like the Seahawks, but couldnt care carel if they lose every game from here till the end of time if the loose the game SUnday, (I assume its a 12:00 pm game here in MN?).

Its going to be so close, the gaem day thread is going to be tense. But I think the Vikings can do it, and AD and Teddy will be co_MVP's of the game. This is a big one.

[Just Me]

Great post Just Me!

Everything in my hearts says the Vikings could win and I can justify it in many ways.

Unfortunately, I feel this weird air of uncertainty that I felt right before the 49ers game and I don't like it.

I hear ya. But...here's the thing: If the Vikings are going to be 'legitimate' playoff participants, they have to be able to 'hang with the big dogs.' I don't know how to explain it, but I think they will this time.

[dead_poet]

One of the key matchups in this one will be Clemmings vs. Cliff Avril.

*big gulp*

Expect a ton of this if he doesn't get help on nearly every pass-blocking snap. He's so slow to come out of his stance.



O-line also needs to watch stunts (something they seem to be notoriously bad at identifying and picking up). This cannot happen.



The other is Rawls vs. Vikings rush-D on perimeter runs. They've been burned more than twice for chunk plays on them. I'd like to see a breakdown of the rush defense vs. runs to various sides of the defense. I think we'd probably see YPC rise outside the tackles (and away from Joseph). DEs need to stay disciplined and 'backers need to shed and attack.

Also can't underestimate how huge of a loss if Barr, Joseph and/or Smith are unable to play. If all three sit there's no way we win.

[HardcoreVikesFan]

One of the key matchups in this one will be Clemmings vs. Cliff Avril.

*big gulp*

Expect a ton of this if he doesn't get help on nearly every pass-blocking snap. He's so slow to come out of his stance.

https://vine.co/v/iWhieD2LwF3

O-line also needs to watch stunts (something they seem to be notoriously bad at identifying and picking up). This cannot happen.

https://vine.co/v/iWhqZWeXlgV

The other is Rawls vs. Vikings rush-D on perimeter runs. They've been burned more than twice for chunk plays on them. I'd like to see a breakdown of the rush defense vs. runs to various sides of the defense. I think we'd probably see YPC rise outside the tackles (and away from Joseph). DEs need to stay disciplined and 'backers need to shed and attack.

Also can't underestimate how huge of a loss if Barr, Joseph and/or Smith are unable to play. If all three sit there's no way we win.

Maybe trading Hodges wasn't such a good idea after all. No Audie Cole means that Brandon Watts and Edmond Robinson would play bigger roles if Barr cannot go.

What has made me upset is the lack of production from Tom Johnson this year. I don't know what happened there. I wish Shamar wasn't on IR.

[Texas Vike]

Sweetness!

I just realized that I'll get to see the game this week (All Texas VMB posters will too), and the fact that it is NOT a primetime nationally televised game gives me hope that the lights won't be too bright for this young Vikings team.

http://506sports.com

I don't feel the same sense of doom that many have expressed here. I think we will go toe to toe with the Seachickens. It will be close and hard fought, that's my only prediction.

[dead_poet]

Sweetness!

I just realized that I'll get to see the game this week (All Texas VMB posters will too), and the fact that it is NOT a primetime nationally televised game gives me hope that the lights won't be too bright for this young Vikings team.

http://506sports.com

I don't feel the same sense of doom that many have expressed here. I think we will go toe to toe with the Seachickens. It will be close and hard fought, that's my only prediction.

I'd be a little more confident if they didn't get outmatched physically by the Packers.

[losperros]

One of the key matchups in this one will be Clemmings vs. Cliff Avril.

*big gulp*

Expect a ton of this if he doesn't get help on nearly every pass-blocking snap. He's so slow to come out of his stance.

Being slow off the snap has been a consistent problem for the Vikings OL even when the starters are in there. So yeah, I share your concern. And you're right about the match-up with Avril. It doesn't look good.

Also can't underestimate how huge of a loss if Barr, Joseph and/or Smith are unable to play. If all three sit there's no way we win.

Agreed. Those guys are the heart and soul of the defense, not to mention the best players.

[DK Sweets]

You know, I don't really have anything to base this off of, but I'm going to go ahead and make a bold prediction and say that Clemmings doesn't start the game for the Vikings this week. It's a just a hunch, but Zimmer seems to be pretty fed up with the protection issues and Clemmings has been the Troy Williamson of RTs this year. We also traded for Easton and Sirles, so hopefully one of those guys has picked up the offense well enough by now.

If somehow my prediction ends up being correct, I'd say Harris slides to RT, Fusco to RG, and Sirles comes in at LG. I also saw Sirles is listed as the back up RT, so it could be a simple 1-for-1 swap that way.

And of course, the most likely scenario is that I'm wrong. It's more fun to share my wrongness, though.

[dead_poet]

You know, I don't really have anything to base this off of, but I'm going to go ahead and make a bold prediction and say that Clemmings doesn't start the game for the Vikings this week. It's a just a hunch, but Zimmer seems to be pretty fed up with the protection issues and Clemmings has been the Troy Williamson of RTs this year. We also traded for Easton and Sirles, so hopefully one of those guys has picked up the offense well enough by now.

If somehow my prediction ends up being correct, I'd say Harris slides to RT, Fusco to RG, and Sirles comes in at LG. I also saw Sirles is listed as the back up RT, so it could be a simple 1-for-1 swap that way.

And of course, the most likely scenario is that I'm wrong. It's more fun to share my wrongness, though.

We would probably know about that via practice reports. Seems like something the beat guys would report on. Like how Exum is lining up with the first team defense alongside Smith with Sendejo out.

Good thought though.

[dead_poet]

Nice preview:

Seahawks vs. Vikings Breakdown Corner: Pass the Brennavin

Having watched a few Vikings games this year, I can confidently say that Teddy Bridgewater is no Russell Wilson. At least, he's no Russell Wilson from 2015; he's more like Wilson 2012, with a twist. Bridgewater has ample arm and accuracy, and he reads defenses well pre-snap, but where Wilson has been starting his scrambles a split second early, Bridgewater has been starting his a split second late, leading to a lot of ugly knock-downs.

That having been said, Bridgewater is no stranger to the use of tight ends and running backs as outlets. He works the field well, using receivers about twice as often as tight ends and thrice as often as running backs on short throws (under 15 yards). He's also willing to throw the ball deep (63 of 326 attempts this year), but he has the tendency to force these passes: his 7 INTs have all come on deep balls -- yes, 1 in 9 of his deep passes is picked off. Overall, Teddy is a 65.2% passer, but he's mysteriously bad with 4-6 yards to go, dropping to a 53.7% thrower and managing first downs just 1/3 of the time.

The Minnesota offensive line took a lot of crap early in the season for being relatively ineffectual, but the group has been far better at preventing sacks than Seattle's has. The main weakness is at right tackle, where rookie T.J. Clemmings has had trouble facing strong defensive ends and linebackers. Expect Michael Bennett to really try to light him up.

http://www.fieldgulls.com/2015/12/3/984 ... n-peterson

[DK Sweets]

We would probably know about that via practice reports. Seems like something the beat guys would report on. Like how Exum is lining up with the first team defense alongside Smith with Sendejo out.

Good thought though.

I considered that, but I forget how much of the practice the beat guys are able to view.

If it's a sizable portion, I feel very wrong. If it's, say, 25% or less, I feel like it could be something the Vikings are trying to get an advantage with since having multiple players at different spots could very well alter the Seahawks' blitz packages.

[dead_poet]

I considered that, but I forget how much of the practice the beat guys are able to view.

If it's a sizable portion, I feel very wrong. If it's, say, 25% or less, I feel like it could be something the Vikings are trying to get an advantage with since having multiple players at different spots could very well alter the Seahawks' blitz packages.

I think they get to see at least the walkthrough and opening period which, to me, would be enough. It would be weird if Zimmer wasted time playing media games by not getting a new starter reps there as much as possible. Plus, consider continuity. As I mentioned in another thread, coaches value that to an extreme degree on the offensive line. Instead, I look for constant help on his side with extra blockers & chips. Clemmings can't handle anyone on the Seahawks' defensive line one-on-one, particularly in pass protection. But I'd love to see someone else there or a shuffling of some kind like you recommend. I just don't think it's going to happen.

[Hunter Morrow]

The game is literally a pick 'em.

This is a bigger mirror match than the Rams game was and that went to overtime!

The packers loss is infuriating. I hope that doesn't mean this team is a sham.

However, I like our chances with a productive tight end and Adrian Peterson. That said, Wilson is Bridgewater but Better.

The record doesn't tell the story, which is what Seattle and Minnesota fans are selling.
But the defensive stats don't really tell the whole story, either.

Seattle and Minnesota yards wise give up almost identical yards. Seattle has a 14 yards lead overall. Woo. Vikings have about a field goal PPG advantage. It's just about a wash. It's really a clone game.

Edge to the home team with the starting RB. Why not?

Vikings 21-20

[Laserman]

I think we will be on the losing end in this game. Unless , AD has a very big day. Bridgewater's Dink and Duck will get shut down

[losperros]

That's downright weird. What the heck causes Bridgewater to drop so badly in those situations? I mean, we've all seen it happen.

This is probably one of the reasons why drives keep failing to score TDs.