Vikings at Seahawks

[CharVike]

The Seahawks are a bad home team and we are a good road team. It don't look good for them at this point but they are battling for the division lead. Geno Smith has a bad knee and really hasn't played that well this year. 14 Tds and 13 INTs sums it up. The Hawks are basically a middle of the road team who can't beat the better teams. They do nothing well or bad. If we are going to keep the division hopes alive we need this game. Cam Robinson was a penalty generator last game with 4 pre snap goofs. One for lining up too deep and three false starts. Leonard Williams is the guy we need to block. Like always we need to keep turn overs low and try to control the point. I don't think the Hawks have enough to put up a strong fight. I don't see a blowout but I do think we win this 24-13.

[J. Kapp 11]

ESPN analytics has the Seahawks winning by 6.

Even computers disrespect the Vikings.

[VikingLord]

ESPN analytics has the Seahawks winning by 6.

Even computers disrespect the Vikings.

Yeah, I saw that too. Supposedly the predictions are based on FPI rankings, but if so that prediction is puzzling because FPI rankings would suggest a Vikings win (https://www.espn.com/nfl/fpi).

Vikings are the overall 6th rated team in those rankings at +3.5 as compared to the Seahawks at 19th with a -0.9.

Offensively the Vikings are 13th with a +1.3 while the Seahawks are 19th with a -1.3, while defensively the Vikings are 1st with a +2.6 while the Seahawks are 12th with a +0.8.

Even on special teams FPI has the Vikings ranked ahead of the Seahawks, although both teams are near the bottom of the barrel in that area (Vikings and Seahawks both have a -0.4 and are tied with several teams).

So I guess based on that, Seahawks win by 6....

Vikings just have to take care of business and get rolling for 4 quarters and I think they win comfortably. If we keep seeing long stretches where the offense can't execute or the defense can't get off the field it will be closer. Vikings can still win in that case but it may come down to last second heroics which, while fun to watch, isn't where they need to be at this point in the season. Hang on to the football and don't commit costly penalties and I I think the Vikings will be set up for the final two games nicely.

[Cliff]

Every stretch of games this season have seemingly been "prove it" games for the Vikings, who seem unable to prove anything to anyone despite their victories. They're in the top 5 of various power rankings because their record demands it, but most don't seem to believe it. I expect them to be the underdogs for their remaining games and if they should lose any of those games I expect the "experts" to say in unison "SEE! I TOLD YOU THEY WEREN'T VERY GOOD!" hoping for a loss to justify their view on the team.

They'll need to beat Seattle by 14 or they're "frauds". And god forbid one of those scores be on special teams or defense. If they beat Detroit it won't be because they're actually good, it'll be because Detroit has so many injuries.

Anyway. Seattle is an 8-6 team fighting for a playoff spot and the Vikings are fighting for that playoff bye week and playoff home games. It should be a hard fought game. The Vikings have the tools to win, but they've got a bad history in Seattle and "any given Sunday" applies. I'm definitely nervous about this one, and their remaining schedule for that matter.

[Cliff]

Harrison Smith out

[CharVike]

Getting out of there with a win is nice. They were picking on Gilmore. Nice pick by Dallas. Van Gink couple of sacks. The Hawks played hard. A big thanks to Gino for throwing the last pick to Theo for the end. Back home next week.

[StpViking]

Sam Darnold playing through his ankle injury just sealed the deal for. Sign him to whatever deal he wants. He is Viking for life to me.

[Cliff]

Big night for Jets. Darnold is now 15/1 TD/INT since his poor showing at JAX. The defense had a bit of a hard time but they got 2 INTs, one of which sealed the game. Had another Dallas Turner sighting, that's good news. They could have easily had 2 other INTs. Despite having 2 sacks it seemed like the defense really struggled getting pressure, especially early on. Harrison Smith was sorely missed. Christian Darrisaw is too. The offensive line needs work. The running game was pretty weak on their 20ish attempts. Speaking of rushing Darnold made a couple of decent runs.

Overall it was a fun game to watch. The Vikings went into one of the more harsh places to play against a team fighting for their playoff spot and came out on top.

Onto another big challenge against GB next week. I'm sure they'll be glad to be back home tho.

[J. Kapp 11]

Sam Darnold playing through his ankle injury just sealed the deal for. Sign him to whatever deal he wants. He is Viking for life to me.

Thank you.

Finally somebody else who sees what this guy has done. I’m so tired of the “but he sucked for five years so he still sucks now” narrative. Incredible game-winning drive. Again. Five this year.

I made the case in the Sam thread. Sign Darnold and trade McCarthy.

For your viewing pleasure.

[VikingLord]

Tough, gritty win today. Sam Darnold continues to impress when the Vikes need him the most. That last TD throw was amazing, and not just because it resulted in a TD, but the way Darnold moved in the pocket to keep himself alive long enough for JJ to get open and then the toughness to hang in there and make that throw knowing he'd get smoked. For all his flaws, Darnold is the kind of QB other guys will play harder for and sacrifice for, and that counts in the moments when the game is on the line and the team has to dig deep. That was just generally another tough, gut-check drive there at the end.

The defense spent a lot of time on the field in the 2nd half, but they also stepped up when it mattered the most. They didn't get much pressure on Smith until they had to have it, and they must have been gassed by that point.

This team might not be the most talented Vikings team I've ever watched, but they are the mentally toughest Vikings team I've ever seen. These guys can get down but they refuse to stay down. I have visions of Rocky Balboa when I think about the type of team this is. Just a gutsy group of guys that is a lot more as a whole than any of them is as an individual.

The Vikings have now put themselves in position to realize something truly special. They get to not only face two of the best teams in the NFL to finish the season, but divisional opponents and, if they beat the Packers next Sunday, they'll be playing for the #1 seed in the NFC and a first round bye plus home field as long as they last. This is rare air we're in, and it's even better that for the most part I never saw this coming nor had any expectations of it. This team was predicted by many to win 6 games this year, and for the most part few of the national analysts still consider the Vikings to be a legit contender. Well, how do you like them now? Maybe after the next two weeks they'll finally be given their due nationally.

And the best part of this is that I still don't think the Vikings have played a complete game as a team. They can be better than this, and they'll have to be to win it all, but wouldn't it be great if the Vikings were to beat the Chiefs in New Orleans and exorcise two ghosts at the same time?