"Breaking Browns" Pre-game Thread

[vikeinmontana]

I wouldn't say that. For example, the power rankings over on ESPN have them as the 6th best team in the league:

https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/322 ... erback-far

By comparison, the Vikings are ranked 20th in that assessment.

I'll give you another example from the pre-game analysis over on Vikings.com.

https://www.vikings.com/video/vikings-b ... fl-network

At the end of that video there is a summary of expert predictions for the game. Out of 10 predictions, only 1 favors the Vikings.

Maybe Vikings fans might be discounting how good the Browns are, but those without a dog in the fight would probably pick the Browns in this one.



Yeah, the ability of the Vikings to limit the Browns running game, especially on 1st and 2nd downs, will be key, as will their ability to limit the RBs and TEs in the passing game as well. The Vikings manage that on defense, I think they win.

This is really a game the Vikings have to win if they're going to be taken seriously by anyone. It's a home game, they're 1-2, and the Browns are pretty universally thought to be a good team and maybe even one of the better teams in the AFC. So if the Vikings want to step up and out and let everyone know they are for real, this is the game to do that.

I meant that towards the fans myself included. I didn't really look that closely at them until this game and was surprised what I found out. They're a good team and if we play with anything but our A game we will be in serious trouble. The last thing you want is to get into one dimensional offense trying to come back. We need to try and flip the table and make them come back. They can be passed on which I was trying to show so we need to try and take advantage of that.

They're favorites on our own home field. We got our hands full but I like our chances.

All you lucky #### going to the game, I hope you bring it like last week. It was so damn loud even watching that game on tv! Appreciate you all!

[RandyMoss84]

If Vikings lose to the Browns, I would be okay with it since Browns are finally a good team, I am still not over the loss to a terrible Browns team at home in 2013, that was unexcusable!

[VikingLord]

If Vikings lose to the Browns, I would be okay with it since Browns are finally a good team, I am still not over the loss to a terrible Browns team at home in 2013, that was unexcusable!

The only way anyone should be OK with a loss to the Browns at home when the team is 1-2 is if you don't think the 2021 Vikings are all that good. You may think that, and certainly you're not alone in that view as most of the so-called experts are picking against them as well.

But, if you think the 2021 Vikings are a good team that just got off to a slow (and somewhat unlucky) start, then you view this upcoming game completely differently. This is in fact a statement game for a team with high aspirations and a chance to send a clear message that not only are they good, they're a contender.

Along those lines, the Seahawks were also ranked in the top 10 of many power rankings heading into the last game against the Vikings, and I believe most experts also had them favored in that game. A lot of Vikings fans also seemed consigned to believing that the Seahawks were better and the Vikings would struggle against them yet again just as they had for the 12 years prior. Based on the first half, it sure looked like they were all correct, but then the Vikings figured it out and got it going.

Obviously there isn't nearly as much history with the Browns here, but I'm encouraged that most still seem to be discounting the Vikings. I think the Vikings play much better when nobody expects them to win and the pressure is off. While I have some concerns about the Vikings defense at this point, most of those can be explained more by a lack of cohesion on defense rather than a lack of talent. They have some warts, sure, but there are indications they're putting it together and when they put it together they can be very good. They'll take that second half they played against the Seahawks into this upcoming game against a talented Browns team that, for all of that talent, isn't very explosive and has some obvious shortcomings of its own. Offensively, the 2021 Vikings can be as good as anyone in the NFL and maybe better. The sky is really the limit for that group barring some major injury. Their main concern was the play of the OL and the loss of Irv Smith at TE, but the OL has been getting it done the last 2.5 games and Conklin is stepping up bigtime at TE.

Anyway, I expect the game against Cleveland to be close, but I also wouldn't be surprised if the Vikings run away with it. The only outcome that would surprise me would be a comfortable Browns win.

[J. Kapp 11]

Bad news. Michael Pierce is listed as questionable for the Browns with elbow and shoulder injuries. That could be really bad against a team that averages 5.1 yards per carry.

For the Browns, Greg Newsome, their first-round CB, is out. Cleveland is not deep in the defensive backfield, so this is good news for us.

Also good … Dalvin Cook practiced every day this week. Even though he was limited, word is that he’s looking good for Sunday.

[allday1991]

Please let Darrisaw and Danztler start stupid head coach of ours. I’m done with this corner back whisper don’t play rookies stupid head coach. Last year Dantzler started 10 games a was graded the second best rookie CB that year behind Jaylon Johnson. Jaylon has started this year for the bears and hasn’t allowed a single catch if I’m right, Dantzler is sitting behind the worst rated CB in the league, play him you retard! Also sitting our first round pick behind Hill is inexcusable. Even if we win this guy needs to go. The amount of times I’ve seen him sit better players for no reason at all drives me up the wall.