My god the Vikings still don't get any love....

[J. Kapp 11]

So I'm home sick today, watching the Dan Patrick Show. Mike Florio is filling in for DP.

When asked whether he'd bet a week's pay on any team in the NFC West making it to the Super Bowl this coming season, he said no.

He mentioned the Giants, whom he says "always plays well if they make the playoffs." Fair enough, I guess.

Next team he said to watch out for? Not the Packers. Not Atlanta. Not the Vikings (of course not0.

He said, "Watch out for the Detroit Lions."

A 4-12 team gets more love than the Vikes.

[The Breeze]

I couldn't care less how much 'love' the talking heads give the Vikes, but I do think the Lions will be tough this year. No way are they a Superbowl favorite or anything....but I wouldn't be shocked if they made the post season. They might even win the division. Of course they could finish 6-10, cause they're the Lions~

[dead_poet]

So I'm home sick today, watching the Dan Patrick Show. Mike Florio is filling in for DP.

When asked whether he'd bet a week's pay on any team in the NFC West making it to the Super Bowl this coming season, he said no.

He mentioned the Giants, whom he says "always plays well if they make the playoffs." Fair enough, I guess.

Next team he said to watch out for? Not the Packers. Not Atlanta. Not the Vikings (of course not0.

He said, "Watch out for the Detroit Lions."

A 4-12 team gets more love than the Vikes.

People have no idea at this time of year, and have to fill time. It'd be interesting to list every "expert"'s pick before the season and re-visit how many were right about playoff contenders and the eventual Super Bowl champ.

That said, I expect the Lions to be much better this season. They have a potentially explosive offense and a downright lethal defensive line (again, potentially). Their secondary is still ripe for the pickings (improved moderately if Delmas can stay healthy), but I'm sure they're counting on their front four to cover up the inadequacies on the back end. I think the Bush acquisition was very, very smart and he's going to be an impact player (particularly in the passing game). Assuming Broyles is and can stay healthy, I think their "floor" is six wins and could see them easily winning 9-10 and sneaking into the playoffs. YMMV.

[J. Kapp 11]

I couldn't care less how much 'love' the talking heads give the Vikes, but I do think the Lions will be tough this year. No way are they a Superbowl favorite or anything....but I wouldn't be shocked if they made the post season. They might even win the division. Of course they could finish 6-10, cause they're the Lions~

Your last three words are the key.

The fact that "they're the Lions" goes deeper than a long history of futility. In my opinion, as long as Jim Schwartz is coach, they're not going anywhere. IMO he's an immature dick, and his players fall right in line. "Discipline" isn't a word in the team's vocabulary. They're utterly terrible in clutch situations. It's a shame for Lions fans. They finally have a bit of talent.

The idea that Detroit should be feared in any way ... sorry, man, but it's ridiculous. I don't care who's on their roster. Since October 10, 2011, when they were 5-0, the Lions are 9-19. The Vikings have won 12 games in that same period of time, and nobody's calling them a "team to watch out for" in Super Bowl discussions.

Bottom line: The only positive thing the Lions have done since Barry Sanders is win five straight in 2011.

[Mothman]

Peyton Manning has never really had a good franchise HB...

Meet Edgerrin James:

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/p ... meEd00.htm

Maybe but he's had much better WRs than the Vikings had last year for most of his career and he's still only thrown for 30 TDs in 50% of the seasons he's played. Thats'a a lot of TDs,especially when a team has a great RB to use in the red zone.

I don't think anybody will disagree that Peyton Manning, one of the greatest QBs of all time, could have made the 2012 Vikings better but beyond that, what's the point? It's not as if it would have been reasonable to expect Christian Ponder to play like Peyton Manning last year.

[The Breeze]

Your last three words are the key.

The fact that "they're the Lions" goes deeper than a long history of futility. In my opinion, as long as Jim Schwartz is coach, they're not going anywhere. IMO he's an immature dick, and his players fall right in line. "Discipline" isn't a word in the team's vocabulary. They're utterly terrible in clutch situations. It's a shame for Lions fans. They finally have a bit of talent.

The idea that Detroit should be feared in any way ... sorry, man, but it's ridiculous. I don't care who's on their roster. Since October 10, 2011, when they were 5-0, the Lions are 9-19. The Vikings have won 12 games in that same period of time, and nobody's calling them a "team to watch out for" in Super Bowl discussions.

Bottom line: The only positive thing the Lions have done since Barry Sanders is win five straight in 2011.

I gotta completely agree with you about Schwartz. His wild vibe permeates that whole team. I just can't dismiss the talent they have and I agree with DP about the pick up of Reggie Bush. They could put it together for long enough to displace another team in the North....but go nowhere in the playoffs for the lack of discipline on several fronts, like you mentioned.

edit to add: I wouldn't bet even a sixpack on them making the playoffs....but I would not be surprised if they pulled off on of 'those' seasons.

[SLCVikefan]

Because it's never happened. No ones even come close to having a 2k yard rusher and a 50 TD passer.
What Adrian did was awesome, but lets not act like it's never been done and quite possibly done better, twice.

You tell me what team has ever had a A.p like running back while having a Brees type QB, never? 50 tds isn't realistic even with a team that passes on every play. However I grantee the qbs listed would have no problem putting up 30 plus tds with a 2000 yard rusher.[/quote]


Well, in fantasy land, that would be awesome. We should just go get one. Simple as that, because they fall out of trees and you just pick them up off the ground.
The original number was 55 not 30. 25 more than 30. Nearly double the number your arguing. 30 an number that no one has ever come close to with a 2k rusher. It hasn't happened and it'll never happen in a 16 game season.[/quote]

How can you say never? a 38 year old Elway at the end of his career had 22 in 13 games with a 2k rusher. Assuming he played all 16 well still averaging two tds a game that's 28 tds in a full season. Now a prime Peyton manning or Brady you don't think can complete two more tds? You can go on and say fantasy land all you want, but I wouldn't say never.[/quote]

I can say never the same way you'd say Ponder will never be a good QB. The signs don't point to it.
Also check your math. 13 games X 2 TDs = 26. 4 more than 22 and 4 less than 30. You can't just pull 8 TDs out of thin air, or out of the trees, or where ever your going to get a HOF QB in his prime from.

[SLCVikefan]

I HTML gud...lol
Man I need to get a clue on that.

[allday1991]

You tell me what team has ever had a A.p like running back while having a Brees type QB, never? 50 tds isn't realistic even with a team that passes on every play. However I grantee the qbs listed would have no problem putting up 30 plus tds with a 2000 yard rusher.

Well, in fantasy land, that would be awesome. We should just go get one. Simple as that, because they fall out of trees and you just pick them up off the ground.
The original number was 55 not 30. 25 more than 30. Nearly double the number your arguing. 30 an number that no one has ever come close to with a 2k rusher. It hasn't happened and it'll never happen in a 16 game season.[/quote]

How can you say never? a 38 year old Elway at the end of his career had 22 in 13 games with a 2k rusher. Assuming he played all 16 well still averaging two tds a game that's 28 tds in a full season. Now a prime Peyton manning or Brady you don't think can complete two more tds? You can go on and say fantasy land all you want, but I wouldn't say never.[/quote]

I can say never the same way you'd say Ponder will never be a good QB. The signs don't point to it.
Also check your math. 13 games X 2 TDs = 26. 4 more than 22 and 4 less than 30. You can't just pull 8 TDs out of thin air, or out of the trees, or where ever your going to get a HOF QB in his prime from.[/quote]

As far as the eight TDS I was referring to Elways 98 season. He only played 13 games while scoring 22 tds. If he played those last three games while keeping up his 2td per game pace he would have had 28tds( 13 games played = 22tds, plus say he played the three games he was injured while still scoring 2tds per game (cause that was his average that year) he would have 28, my maths fine you just misunderstood) in 16 games with a 2k rusher. Just two tds away 30..... not that far fetched someone can hit 30 with a 2k rusher. My statement about ponder no being good is only betting against ponder, where as your statement your betting no one in nfl will ever throw for 30tds with a 2k rusher. No one can say for sure but your odds are a lot more unlikely than mine.

[J. Kapp 11]

People have no idea at this time of year, and have to fill time. It'd be interesting to list every "expert"'s pick before the season and re-visit how many were right about playoff contenders and the eventual Super Bowl champ.

That said, I expect the Lions to be much better this season. They have a potentially explosive offense and a downright lethal defensive line (again, potentially). Their secondary is still ripe for the pickings (improved moderately if Delmas can stay healthy), but I'm sure they're counting on their front four to cover up the inadequacies on the back end. I think the Bush acquisition was very, very smart and he's going to be an impact player (particularly in the passing game). Assuming Broyles is and can stay healthy, I think their "floor" is six wins and could see them easily winning 9-10 and sneaking into the playoffs. YMMV.

I'm not saying the Lions don't have a chance to be improved.

But to call a team that has lost 19 of its last 28 games a "team to watch" when looking at the SUPER BOWL picture, as Mike Florio did, is a pretty big leap. Kind of like trying to jump the Grand Canyon in a tricycle.

[VikingLord]

Let's face it - the main reason the Vikes get little "love" from the national media is their poor passing game from last year, with both the QB and the receivers being major question marks. Apart from that, the Vikes have a solid o-line returning all starters, are deep at RB, TE, and FB, are solid at kicker, and field a defensive line that should be among the deeper and more effective lines in the league. They are at worst average at LB and in the secondary, although as with the receivers the secondary could be better than expected if a few things fall into place for them. They have continuity among the coaches as well. Punter is a position where things could go south I suppose, although their situation there is more an unknown than a problem per se.

So, if by hook or crook the passing game improves to even average, this is going to be a very tough team to beat. Ponder doesn't have to light it up with a huge season and the receivers don't have to be the league's best - if they are just average, and even assuming the running game takes a step back towards average, the 2013 Vikings should be in the mix for the playoffs.

And it's not like the other teams around the NFC North don't have serious concerns as well. Take the Packers who just lost their starting LT for the season and will be relying on a low draft pick to *start* for them at that spot. They have serious concerns at right tackle as well, and their running game is extremely questionable. Talk about a team *needing* a huge season from it's passing game...

[Arma]

You fail to mention a few things. One being Elways age he was 38 and at the end of his career, would have been different if he was younger. Two: Elway averaged 220 ypg while Ponder average 173. Three: the biggest difference, Ponder 300-483 attempt to completion ration Elway 201-356, that's right he had a hole 127 less attempts and still had 5 more tds (I am 90% sure Elway missed three games that year also). So lets say Elway during the 98 season had as many attempts as ponder you would of been looking at a 30td season by a 38 year old man at the end of his career. Now what makes you think a QB as listed above wouldn't explode with a 2000 yard rusher?

You're also comparing an all-time great to Ponder...so I'd hope Elway does better, age doesn't matter...

[allday1991]

You're also comparing an all-time great to Ponder...so I'd hope Elway does better, age doesn't matter...

Then why is he not playing still? along with the other hundreds of football players that retired because of age, but it doesn't matter.

[SLCVikefan]

Then why is he not playing still? along with the other hundreds of football players that retired because of age, but it doesn't matter.

Well duh... because the player gets told "your services are no longer needed". Very few get to walk away on their own terms. And Elway happened to QB a Superbowl team that year so obviously he still had skills. Favre and Adrian 09, not close to 30/2k

[Funkytown]

I gotta completely agree with you about Schwartz. His wild vibe permeates that whole team. I just can't dismiss the talent they have and I agree with DP about the pick up of Reggie Bush. They could put it together for long enough to displace another team in the North....but go nowhere in the playoffs for the lack of discipline on several fronts, like you mentioned.

edit to add: I wouldn't bet even a sixpack on them making the playoffs....but I would not be surprised if they pulled off on of 'those' seasons.

J. Kapp 11 has the right idea!

The Browns' number ones looked far better than the Lions' number ones tonight. The Lions were without C. Johnson, but still...the Browns looked like the way better team--on both sides of the ball. The Lions have a ton of talent and all of the potential in the world...they just can't figure it out. I bet the Browns will be more of a surprise, and the Lions will be more of the same. Of course preseason doesn't mean a whole lot, but just evaluating the number ones vs. the number ones...it doesn't look that great for the Lions, especially considering people think they are some kind of sleeping beasts! Oh, maybe that's it, they're still sleeping.

I've had hope for them since that 6-2 start in '07. Then ya know, they finished 7-9 after losing 7 of 8 of their last games, went 4-0 in the preseason in '08--and then 0-16 for the regular season, 2-14 in '09, 6-10 in '10, 10-6 in '11, and 4-12 last year. Yeah. I don't think anyone would be WRONG to not be scurred of the Lions. What are they going to do? Creep up on us with a surprisingly bad record despite their talented roster?