Thoughts Week 17

[autobon7]

Good...... Thielen
Defense (Griffen, Robison, Rhodes, T Johnson, UCLA duo)
McKinnon
Zimmer

Bad........TB, Newman, OL, Patterson fumble

Ugly.......TB left handed pass, TB fumbling handoff to AP, TB missing a WIDE open Mckinnon in the 1st Q

[Mothman]

Paul and Mike post game report after the game

Paul gets pretty emotional during the take.

I love the way it ended. Thanks for the link.

[dead_poet]

Minnesota Vikings

– Composure and not making bad mistakes in the right moment will be crucial if Teddy Bridgewater (-3.7) is to lead the Vikings past the Seahawks next weekend, and while he clinched the NFC North title this week, Bridgewater came up with two crucial errors that could have turned the game. A left handed pass out of the grasp of a defender was picked by Micah Hyde (+1.8 ), and then a fumble on a handoff to Adrian Peterson at the end of the game are the kind of plays that can see teams fall out of the playoffs very quickly and Vikings fans will hope Bridgewater “got them out of his system” this week.

– The first of those mistakes by Bridgewater was bailed out by one of Everson Griffen’s (+3.5) nine pressures on the night as he rounded Josh Sitton to hit the arm of Aaron Rodgers as he threw, forcing a fumble which Captain Munnerlyn (+1.0) scooped up to setup the Vikings 20-3 lead. With Green Bay shuffling the pack at left tackle, the onus was on Griffen to come up with a game-changing performance to take advantage and he did not disappoint against either run or pass with his third-highest graded game of the season and his most productive in terms of sacks (two), total pressures (nine) and stops (four).

– Michael Harris’ surprising season came unraveled a little against the Packers back in Week 11 with his lowest graded game of the season (-3.2) but he made amends last night, finishing the regular season with his third game earning a grade of +2.0 or above. One of the surprises of this season, Harris’ early season form was built on his pass protection but it is his run blocking that has been his strength late in the season, combining well once again with C Joe Berger (+1.7) last night to drive the Packers’ defensive linemen off the ball to create space for Adrian Peterson in the ground game to power the Vikings’ offense.

Top performers:

CB Xavier Rhodes (+4.2)
LB Anthony Barr (+4.1)
DE Everson Griffen (+3.5)
RG Michael Harris (+2.6)
LB Eric Kendricks (+2.3)

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... e-rodgers/

[dead_poet]

This picture says a lot.



https://www.instagram.com/p/BAG1x30l6Ql/

[Mothman]

https://www.profootballfocus.com/blog/2 ... e-rodgers/

Griffen really played a terrific game yesterday. He was a crucial factor in the win. Kendricks was a standout on defense too. He played with some real fire!

What the heck happened on that bad exchange between Bridgewater and Peterson? When they showed the slow motion replay before going to commercial, it looked to me like Bridgewater brought the ball in lower than Peterson was expecting but that was just a first impression and it may be incorrect. I only saw the play those two times (live and on replay). I did notice that after the play, Bridgewater said something to AD but it was impossible to tell what was said from their body language .

[Texas Vike]

This picture says a lot.



https://www.instagram.com/p/BAG1x30l6Ql/

Raise a toast to Zimmy! Glad he's our coach. Enjoy your moment, Mike. You earned it.
...

OK, now get to work! Beat those blasted Seahawks!

[dead_poet]

What the heck happened on that bad exchange between Bridgewater and Peterson? When they showed the slow motion replay before going to commercial, it looked to me like Bridgewater brought the ball in lower than Peterson was expecting but that was just a first impression and it may be incorrect. I only saw the play those two times (live and on replay). I did notice that after the play, Bridgewater said something to AD but it was impossible to tell what was said from their body language .

Looked like to me the ball simply slipped out of Bridgewater's hand just before he could get it into Peterson's chest.

[TSonn]

What the heck happened on that bad exchange between Bridgewater and Peterson? When they showed the slow motion replay before going to commercial, it looked to me like Bridgewater brought the ball in lower than Peterson was expecting but that was just a first impression and it may be incorrect. I only saw the play those two times (live and on replay). I did notice that after the play, Bridgewater said something to AD but it was impossible to tell what was said from their body language .

The ball just squirted/popped out of his hand before getting to Peterson. My guess is that it he was holding it too tight.

[Mothman]

Looked like to me the ball simply slipped out of Bridgewater's hand just before he could get it into Peterson's chest.

The ball just squirted/popped out of his hand before getting to Peterson. My guess is that it he was holding it too tight.

Thanks, guys!

[Mothman]

This picture says a lot.

It sure does... it's good to see him so happy.

[losperros]

This picture says a lot.

It's the happiest and most relaxed Zimmer has looked since he became the Vikings HC!

[losperros]

Good:
The defense was awesome except for parts of the 4th quarter.
Xavier Rhodes had his best game as a pro, including the play at the end knocking the ball down.
Kendricks is a STUD... he and Barr are going to be a force to be reckoned with for many years. I hope we can afford them both.

I was blown away by the defense. Yeah, the 4th quarter had some rocky moments, but that was against Aaron Rodgers at Lambeau for the division title. No D plays perfect ball against those odds. And yet the Vikings defense carried the team on its back for the most part, as they did many times during the season.

Zimmer has built something special with this fast, alert, athletically inclined D. I think they have a bright future ahead.

[Hunter Morrow]

Good:
D held the team to thirteen points on the road in Lambeau in January with the division on the line when in the prior meeting they gave up 30 points at home. The D was overall good and great for the first full half. Griffen was a total monster out there. 5 sacks, a Scoop and score and red zone picks on Rodgers? Fantastic. 3/3/0 score for the first 3 quarters? Excellent.

Thielen had an excellent one out there. Our special teams played well. That fake!

We shut down the run for the game. 26 rushing attempts, under 80 yards, long of 11, no TDs. Eddie Lacy had 6 or 7 cheeseburgers in paradise 100 yard games on us and Rodgers usually scrambles for a ton on us. Not last night!

How about this for good? Officiating! I can't believe it, either. 12 penalties for under 90 total yards and they got the scoop and score review correctly. Sure, Vikings and Packers fans can point to missed calls and a few they didn't like, but the refs did not dictate the game.

Bad and Ugly
Bridgewater didn't show up. 91 net yards passing, credited with a fumble at a crucial moment in the 4th quarter and that interception was probably the worst throw of his career, considering the circumstances. At least he admitted it.

Out scored 10-0 in the 4th. Golden opportunities wasted, especially the Patterson fumble. That should have started the game winning drive. The fake punt into a field goal and the punt in the 4th to give the Packers an opportunity to tie was ridiculous. We have to get in the red zone and we have to close out games.

Ellison out with a tendon tear. This is a really underrated injury. Nationally, nobody gives a crap (Ellison, who?) but our already crummy, statistically bottom of the basement pass blocking took another step backwards.

We got DOMINATED time of possession and our tired D wasn't pressuring Rodgers and Zimmer backed off blitzing, too. when you give Rodgers that much time against a gassed D, the results were pretty ugly.

[dead_poet]

We got DOMINATED time of possession and our tired D wasn't pressuring Rodgers and Zimmer backed off blitzing, too. when you give Rodgers that much time against a gassed D, the results were pretty ugly.

2/11 on third downs really doesn't help the defense. The offense has to be more productive to allow them more time to rest.

I also thought players (B-Rob in particular) had a hard time with their footing. They kept slipping a ton out there. Equipment or field issue?

[mansquatch]

Part of the TOS issue was the Fumble Return for a TD. We stopped a drive with the turnover, kicked the ball off and then were on defense again. However, I agree, that is the point in the game where 2 first downs can basically close it out.

The KR Fumble was horrible. Especially considering he got stripped by the kicker of all people.

The photo of Zimmer on the bus is just priceless. I've been a fan since the early 90s and he is without reservation the best coach I've had the pleasure of watching. He is so awesome. Love it!