ask the right question

[VikingPaul73]

The question isn't "Why is this team 0-3"??

The real question is, "how did this team go 10-6 next year"?

Seriously, how did this team win 10 games last year? I was baffled last year and I'm even more baffled now. This team is a total debacle and I still have no clue how this team won 10 games year!!!!

[soflavike]

The question isn't "Why is this team 0-3"??

The real question is, "how did this team go 10-6 next year"?

Seriously, how did this team win 10 games last year? I was baffled last year and I'm even more baffled now. This team is a total debacle and I still have no clue how this team won 10 games year!!!!

"Why am I a Vikings fan?" << the question I keep asking myself.

I've been waiting for a championship for over forty effin' years.

[yezzir]

AD and lucky bounces.

[Reignman]

Has a home opening crowd ever boo'd so vigorously? That's how bad it's been. It's like in unison the crowd was saying, where's the progress we were promised?

[Eli]

The question isn't "Why is this team 0-3"??

The real question is, "how did this team go 10-6 next year"?

Seriously, how did this team win 10 games last year? I was baffled last year and I'm even more baffled now. This team is a total debacle and I still have no clue how this team won 10 games year!!!!

That's positively the most irrelevant question anyone could ask. What does it matter? That was last year. This is this year.

[Demi]

Historic season by individual player. Those last four games made the difference. Peterson out rushed his QBs passing stats. One of the best seasons by a running back EVER!

Along with a 3 win last place finish....which means our schedule is going to be easier.

Some of us REALISTS pointed it out...and were shouted down as negative haters.

[VikingPaul73]

That's positively the most irrelevant question anyone could ask. What does it matter? That was last year. This is this year.

Not really. were they doing something differently last year? Is it something they can change? I mean, its basically the same team that's gone from an (admittedly over-achieving) 10-6 playoff team to an utter debacle!!!

[VikingPaul73]

Historic season by individual player. Those last four games made the difference. Peterson out rushed his QBs passing stats. One of the best seasons by a running back EVER!

Along with a 3 win last place finish....which means our schedule is going to be easier.

Some of us REALISTS pointed it out...and were shouted down as negative haters.

true, and I did not expect him to come close to repeating that performance. And I predicated a 6-10 team this year. But sheesh, I am one of the most pessimistic Vikings fans in the world (maybe THE most pessimistic, next to you ), and even I thought they'd win this one!!!

[yezzir]

Not really. were they doing something differently last year? Is it something they can change? I mean, its basically the same team that's gone from an (admittedly over-achieving) 10-6 playoff team to an utter debacle!!!

You don't make a bad point. I feel we were lucky last year with a combination of the best RB possibly ever.

Perhaps teams have adapted to Frazier's, Musgrave's and Ponder's incompetence. I mean, you could be a high school coach and realize the Ponder/Musgrave combo may be the worst the Vikings have had in a decade.

I'd be doing the same sh** teams have done to us the last 3 years -- "stack the box and make Ponder beat us, because we know he isn't any good. And if AD beats us and busts us for 200 yards, good for him."

[S197]

Has a home opening crowd ever boo'd so vigorously? That's how bad it's been. It's like in unison the crowd was saying, where's the progress we were promised?

It was pretty bad with Childress and Jackson.

[Reignman]

true, and I did not expect him to come close to repeating that performance. And I predicated a 6-10 team this year. But sheesh, I am one of the most pessimistic Vikings fans in the world (maybe THE most pessimistic, next to you ), and even I thought they'd win this one!!!

Hey I'm about as positive as a fan can get xD and I predicted a blowout. Heck I even thought we'd get our first shutout since 1993. 3rd string QB and no running game? Scientifically we just proved that more positivity doesn't correlate to more winning.

[Mothman]

Not really. were they doing something differently last year?

It depends on what part of last year we're talking about. The first two games of last season were a lot like the first three games of this season, except the Vikes managed to come back in the final seconds, force OT and beat Jacksonville. They lost to the Colts in very similar fashion to the way they've lost the last two weeks.

What they did differently last year when they won was execute and avoid committing turnovers. I know it's an oversimplification but in the end, despite all of the game's complexities and all the discussions we have about football, the game is primarily about blocking and tackling. That's not all it's about but the team that does the best job in those two fundamental areas has a great chance of winning. If they take care of the ball and win the turnover battle, their chances of winning are even greater. When the Vikes won last year it was usually when they won the battle at the line of scrimmage and took care of the ball. They haven't really done either consistently enough to win this season.

Is it something they can change? I mean, its basically the same team that's gone from an (admittedly over-achieving) 10-6 playoff team to an utter debacle!!!

I wouldn't call them an utter debacle but I understand the frustration you're expressing. I'm feeling it too.

They need to play more fundamentally sound football and they need to stop turning the ball over. That's not going to be enough to make them a serious contender but I think it would help get them back to over-achieving (or at least achieving!). There are obviously other problems to address as well but taking care of the ball and winning at the line are where winning starts, especially for a team like the Vikes. How they do those things is harder to answer.

Every area of the team needs improvement but if they were all doing their jobs even 10% better they'd probably be 2-1 and in striking distance of the division lead right now.

[VikingPaul73]

It depends on what part of last year we're talking about. The first two games of last season were a lot like the first three games of this season, except the Vikes managed to come back in the final seconds, force OT and beat Jacksonville. They lost to the Colts in very similar fashion to the way they've lost the last two weeks.

What they did differently last year when they won was execute and avoid committing turnovers. I know it's an oversimplification but in the end, despite all of the game's complexities and all the discussions we have about football, the game is primarily about blocking and tackling. That's not all it's about but the team that does the best job in those two fundamental areas has a great chance of winning. If they take care of the ball and win the turnover battle, their chances of winning are even greater. When the Vikes won last year it was usually when they won the battle at the line of scrimmage and took care of the ball. They haven't really done either consistently enough to win this season.
I wouldn't call them an utter debacle but I understand the frustration you're expressing. I'm feeling it too.

They need to play more fundamentally sound football and they need to stop turning the ball over. That's not going to be enough to make them a serious contender but I think it would help get them back to over-achieving (or at least achieving!). There are obviously other problems to address as well but taking care of the ball and winning at the line are where winning starts, especially for a team like the Vikes. How they do those things is harder to answer.

Every area of the team needs improvement but if they were all doing their jobs even 10% better they'd probably be 2-1 and in striking distance of the division lead right now.

well, good points, as always. As bad as it has looked, they are really only a couple of plays from being 2-1. But Cleveland at home!!!??? It doesn't get any easier moving forward. If they can't beat Brian Hoyer at home, well.........

[Mothman]

well, good points, as always. As bad as it has looked, they are really only a couple of plays from being 2-1. But Cleveland at home!!!??? It doesn't get any easier moving forward. If they can't beat Brian Hoyer at home, well.........

Yeah, it looks grim.

Thanks for the kind word above though... much appreciated.

[Raptorman]

The question isn't "Why is this team 0-3"??

The real question is, "how did this team go 10-6 next year"?

Seriously, how did this team win 10 games last year? I was baffled last year and I'm even more baffled now. This team is a total debacle and I still have no clue how this team won 10 games year!!!!

It's more simple then most want to make it.

2012
Offense scored 23.7 points a game. Defense gave up 21.8 points a game.
2013
Offense scored 27 points a game. Defense has given up 32 points a game.

The Vikings are currently the 6th leading scoring team in the NFL. But also the third worst in giving up points. Those numbers may change due to the late games not being added in yet.

Lions had 17 points off of turnovers, Bears had 0 points off turnovers, Browns had 7 points off turnovers. So out of 5 interceptions and 5 lost fumbles the other teams have scored 3 TD's and 1 field goal.

But I am sure this will be bash Ponder thread in no time. No one wants to talk about the elephant in the room. The defense. They don't seem to be able to stop the pass.