J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 10:03 pm
VikingLord wrote: ↑Thu Nov 14, 2019 4:41 pm
I wouldn't call that a problem per se. Flying under the radar is generally a good thing. Outright disrespect, or contempt, is not, and I have seen plenty of that towards the Vikings this year from many in the media, but there are also many who see the warts on the team while acknowledging their legitimate potential to compete if certain things fall into place.
I also believe that one way or another, the Vikings' time flying under anyone's radar this season is about to end. The Vikes get this last home game against a losing team, and then in the last five weeks of the season they get a Monday Night Football game against the Seahawks, a Sunday Night Football game against the Chargers, and another Monday Night Football game against the Packers. And they could have another prime time game to finish the year if the Bears become competitive late and the NFL flexes that game.
The last weeks of this season are going to thrust the Vikings into the national conversation if they do well. We'll watch the naysayers disappear and the Vikings will get serious respect and establish themselves as top dog contenders.
Case in point ...
Leading up to the Dallas game, Colin Cowherd says, "The Vikings are fool's gold."
Vikings beat the Cowboys, Cowherd says, "I've been saying all year ... Minnesota has the most talented roster in the NFL. They can go far."
Amazing how the talking heads jump on whatever bandwagon seems the most comfy.
I don’t know that the two statements are mutually exclusive.
On defense you have Barr (1st), Kendricks (2nd), Rhodes (1st), Wayne’s (1st), Alexander (2nd), Hughes (1st), and Smith (1st). Hunter was a 3rd rounder and Linval was a big FA pickup. On offense you have a $84M QB, Diggs, Thielen, Cook, Mattison, Rudolph, and Smith. The line also has two 1st round picks (Reiff and Bradbury) and a 2nd in O’Neil.
So on paper they likely are one of the more talented rosters. Which I think then begs the question, why hasn’t there been more success? I take the fools gold comment to mean the performance and execution hasn’t lived up to the roster talent. On paper, this is a team that should contend. Not a team that gets eliminated from playoff contention, at home, against a team playing with nothing to gain. Or a team that gets absolutely embarrassed in the NFCC game when they had a once in a lifetime opportunity to play in the SB at home.
Maybe this year will be different. But right now this is a wildcard team, which still fits the narrative. The Vikings were really hyped by the media coming into last year. I don’t really see the comments as a lack of respect, I think it’s more a case of this team has a penchant for big letdowns. Until that stops, fans and talking heads alike are always going to be skeptical.