Vikings @ Redskins Gameday Discussion Thread -- Week 6

[CalVike]

Can't say he had a good game. That floater to Madieu was *the* bad play of the year. Not just for the Vikings - for the entire league. That can never happen again.

Please. I've watched Peyton Manning throw a disastrous pick 6 before. #### happens. The vitriol toward Ponder's play today is way over the top. The team is 4-2. Christian Ponder is a big reason for the surprising start.

[BGM]

Please. I've watched Peyton Manning throw a disastrous pick 6 before. #### happens. The vitriol toward Ponder's play today is way over the top. The team is 4-2. Christian Ponder is a big reason for the surprising start.

^^^ This!

There is no doubt this was a bad game for Ponder. That Madieu Williams pick was a stinker. But he also helped the Vikings get back into striking distance after the defense allowed RG3 to run untouched for a 70 yard TD. I don't see anyone laying it on so thick on the defense for allowing that embarrassing mistake.

This was a team loss if there ever was...

[PurpleKoolaid]

You are correct BGM. It was a team loss except ST). I personally put alot of blame on Ponder, but, well, I dont really like him as our QB. Hes one of those guys I want to see traded into out division. But I put coaches in there too. Fraizer not calling timeouts when he should, no one watching RG3 every single pLay ( I even posted way before the game they had to have a spt on RG3 all the time). But he still ran all over then. And Williams couldnt make the adjustments in time to slow down the Skins when it mattered.

[smoothoperator]

For the entire league? Seriously? Ponder was far from great today, but did not play that poorly, watch other games and see how a lot of qbs, elite or not, make mistakes. I am surprised at the hate towards ponder. He is a huge reason we are where we are. One subpar performance and suddenly the season is over? What wee need is a deep threat and wrs that consistently get open. Lots of dropped passes today in critical situations as well. Defense choked big time, they just kept running play action and options and we did not adjust. It was definitely a team loss today and one we hopefully learn from.

I see a solid season ahead. Skol vikes

[Delaqure]

I missed the first half completely so my observations are not complete. However I have to say our defense really played poorly today. They allowed way too many points regardless of the circumstances.
I think Ponder played a decent game. What impresses me is his ability to never say die and his ability to seemingly not let his mistakes pull him down. He is far and away the best long term QB we've had in a very long time! I look forward to seeing him play for us for a long time.

Go Vikes!

[Arma]

I think some fans are forgetting about how small of a skillgap there is between the mid-tier teams. Games are all on matchups at that point and the I knew before going into this game that RGIII was a terrible matchup for our defense; we are built to bully teams and making them pass. But with RGIII with all that playaction and option garbage we couldn't play how we wanted to and that leads to failure. I knew we'd have a hard time, but I thought we'd just allow field goals...

It isn't the end of the world guys, the Skins just are a matchup nightmare for us. I had this down as our only lose going into the Bye. All teams lose, but we got to leave looking at the positives: The team doesn't give up, we had no business winning this game yet we still could of.

[radar55]

I like everyone else saw the good and bad that happens with a young Q/B today but I do not agree with those who simply want to throw Ponder under the bus and blame him as the sole contributor and single cause to this loss.

It was not Ponders fault that the defense could'nt stop RGIII. It was not Ponders fault that AP could'nt hold his block that allowed the defender to create the fumble and the resulting TD. It was not Ponders fault that our secondary played so soft for much of the game. It was not Ponders fault that the O line got beat and at times made Ponder run for his life. And its not Ponders fault that our offensive coordinators playbook looks so similar to the dink and dunk KAO that was soooooo popular with our prior head coach (I cant even mention his name).

The point is....some people are so quick to WANT TO BLAME Ponder that they have become blind to the fact that this team is 4-2 and while some of the blame has to be placed on his shoulders some of the success the team has had so far also has to be placed on those same shoulders.

Mistakes today were made by many but it seems that the young Q/B is the only player who gets called out. Its a team game and IMO the TEAM played poorly at important times today and thats why we lost.

[Viking Voodoo]

I think some fans are forgetting about how small of a skillgap there is between the mid-tier teams. Games are all on matchups at that point and the I knew before going into this game that RGIII was a terrible matchup for our defense; we are built to bully teams and making them pass. But with RGIII with all that playaction and option garbage we couldn't play how we wanted to and that leads to failure. I knew we'd have a hard time, but I thought we'd just allow field goals...

It isn't the end of the world guys, the Skins just are a matchup nightmare for us. I had this down as our only lose going into the Bye. All teams lose, but we got to leave looking at the positives: The team doesn't give up, we had no business winning this game yet we still could of.

Good post.

This is the NFL...we are going to lose some games, especially on the road, all teams but 2 in the history of the NFL have

We aren't built to play from behind with these recievers and offense

Breathe into a paper bag everyone, it's just a game in a long season.

[CalVike]

I just watched the whole game back on NFL Game Rewind condensed. It was not as downer of a game that I might have expected by reading the game thread. Comment: The two long drives orchestrated by Ponder after the pick six were impressive. This team does not even seem to have an ounce of give up in their DNA, which is great to see. It will be fun to watch when they develop more of a killer instinct earlier and avoid stalling with FGs so often.

[Arma]

I just watched the whole game back on NFL Game Rewind condensed. It was not as downer of a game that I might have expected by reading the game thread. Comment: The two long drives orchestrated by Ponder after the pick six were impressive. This team does not even seem to have an ounce of give up in their DNA, which is great to see. It will be fun to watch when they develop more of a killer instinct earlier and avoid stalling with FGs so often.

Exactly, it's part of being a young team that is getting it all put together. It's expected. But I guess to some fans we have to be home run hitters every game.

[Raptorman]

My question is, with Simpson out, why not play J. Wright? Even if he does nothing but run down-field he has the speed to they have to watch him. Or is he to much of a Harvin type of player? Although having two of Percy would not be bad.

[Eli]

Did the Vikings attempt even a single go route today? It may be tough to tell, I know, since Ponder probably goes to a second or third receiver 1/2 the time.

[mosscarter]

i think the majority of the criticism of ponder is valid. he now has a full 16 games under his belt, so technically he is not a rookie anymore. the majority of his yards and production always seem to come in the second half, and believe me, there are many qb's in this league who can rack up yards when the defense is in prevent. where has he been in the first half of games, especially in the red zone? his only real complete game was against san fran, but i really think all of this will play out over the course of this season. this team is not as good as their record, i hate to rain on everyone's parade. the sentiment seems to be that nobody can believe they are 4-2, well what if ponder had passed for more than 38 yards in the first half against jacksonville? or, what if he was able to get us in the end zone in the first half today without 3 field goals?

[Just Me]

FFS, we lose one game and the season is over? I know today was an awful performance, but we still have 12 more games. I know the schedule is going to get tougher but, ####, this season is far from over.

While I hope we have 12 more games (that would mean 2 playoff games), we have at least 10 more games to play. (And your point is still valid - I agree.) It was a crazy Sunday yesterday. This is the NFL there will be a few more crazy Sundays before the season is over...

[Mothman]

RG3 put the skins on his back in his one. This team isn't built to be able to win games where the defense gives up 31 points. The offense is efficient but not high powered.

Luckily most teams don't have someone with RG3's skillset. The defense isn't well equped for it.

Well said. Honestly, despite all the hand-wringing and angst about Ponder, I think the performance of the defense was what disappointed me most in this game. From the 90 yard TD drive in the second quarter to the breakdown that allowed RGIII to run for a long TD in the 4th quarter, they just didn't play well after the first quarter.