Post-bye schedule

I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

@"Wetlander" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

And we get a Jets team likely without Breece...

@"Skodin" said:

@"Wetlander" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

And we get a Jets team likely without Breece...

Problem is we haven't beaten the Jets in Minnesota well I can't remember when.  We also haven't beaten the Colts since fucking 1997.  Somehow those facts will linger on but we should be able to over come.

Split the NY games
Split the Dallas / NE games
Win 2 out of 3 vs divisional opponents
Beat up on the teams you are favored against (Arizona, Washington, Indy)
L in Buffalo

7-4 on the way out, 12-5 and the #2 seed in the NFC

@"Skodin" said:

@"Wetlander" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

And we get a Jets team likely without Breece...

Problem is we haven't beaten the Jets in Minnesota well I can't remember when.  We also haven't beaten the Colts since fucking 1997.  Somehow those facts will linger on but we should be able to over come.

Split the NY games
Split the Dallas / NE games
Win 2 out of 3 vs divisional opponents
Beat up on the teams you are favored against (Arizona, Washington, Indy)
L in Buffalo

7-4 on the way out, 12-5 and the #2 seed in the NFC

Not an easy schedule, but the NFL is all about matchups and I think we match up well against most of those teams.  Our offense can play with anyone and I expect them to improve in the new system every week.  The defense is the weakness and with the exception of the Bills, none of those teams have really strong offenses.  As far as the Bills, they should get the guys fitted for track shoes as they are going to be doing some serious running that game.  

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"Skodin" said:

@"Wetlander" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

And we get a Jets team likely without Breece...

Problem is we haven't beaten the Jets in Minnesota well I can't remember when.  We also haven't beaten the Colts since fucking 1997.  Somehow those facts will linger on but we should be able to over come.

Split the NY games
Split the Dallas / NE games
Win 2 out of 3 vs divisional opponents
Beat up on the teams you are favored against (Arizona, Washington, Indy)
L in Buffalo

7-4 on the way out, 12-5 and the #2 seed in the NFC

That would be awesome, my $ is on 10/7
split NY games
split dal/ne
Win 1 of remaining 3 divisional road games
One of these 3 will be a L (Az, Wash, Indy)
L Buffalo

@"Kentis" said:

@"purplefaithful" said:

@"Skodin" said:

@"Wetlander" said:

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"purplefaithful" said: I never thought that post bye schedule looked easy and still dont. There are some teams on that schedule that we just dont play well historically/match-up well against today. 

Now is history a predictor of an outcome this year? Some may argue absolutely not and I get that pov. 

But winning on the road divisional games (in the cold), playing the Jets and a few others on that schedule just haven't meant favorable outcomes for this team.

Maybe this year is different? We'll see if a KOC team can break down some of those historical obstacles. 

I sure as hell hope there isnt too much @ stake those final 2 games - but of course there will be. 

It's mostly just about the Giants and the Jets. Everyone else is pretty much who we thought they were. Fortunately, we get them both at home. 

And we get a Jets team likely without Breece...

Problem is we haven't beaten the Jets in Minnesota well I can't remember when.  We also haven't beaten the Colts since fucking 1997.  Somehow those facts will linger on but we should be able to over come.

Split the NY games
Split the Dallas / NE games
Win 2 out of 3 vs divisional opponents
Beat up on the teams you are favored against (Arizona, Washington, Indy)
L in Buffalo

7-4 on the way out, 12-5 and the #2 seed in the NFC

That would be awesome, my $ is on 10/7
split NY games
split dal/ne
Win 1 of remaining 3 divisional road games
One of these 3 will be a L (Az, Wash, Indy)
L Buffalo

5-6 doesn’t sound too faithfulpurple…  ;) :p  

Exercising demons is the theme for this year.  Winning close games check.
Defense being opportunistic when needed, check.
Beating teams that we have historically had problems with?  Started with a check at Miami.   Hopefully it continues. 

Play who's in front of you. I never worry about the 'strength' of schedule, just take it one at a time.

@"StickyBun" said: Play who's in front of you. I never worry about the 'strength' of schedule, just take it one at a time.

Your getting to sound kind of cliché Sticky, however at least you have yet to deal one of your Vikings death knell posts this season…!!!  ;) :p  

@"Kentis" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Play who's in front of you. I never worry about the 'strength' of schedule, just take it one at a time.

Your getting to sound kind of cliché Sticky, however at least you have yet to deal one of your Vikings death knell posts this season…!!!  ;) :p  

@"VikingIowA" said: Exercising demons is the theme for this year.  Winning close games check. Defense being opportunistic when needed, check. Beating teams that we have historically had problems with?  Started with a check at Miami.   Hopefully it continues. 

Agree, we are a different team this year then recent past.  We haven't beaten ourselves with turnovers and are one of the least penalized teams and the teams we played most penalized.  ST's have also been very solid which has been an inconsistency going back many years.  Who would have thought Coaching and ST's would be the strength of the team so far.  Improved consistency from the Off and Def will go a very long way in helping us fight for the #1 seed.

But I really haven't seen any steady improvement from the OFF/DEF yet.  We are benefitting from our lack of mistakes and timing on when we played certain teams.  So even if we don't improve much what future teams have a tendency to hurt themselves the most we should beat with steady play.  

The Bills game will be the equivalent of the 1st half of the season Eagles game.  How far have we come from that game?  How competitive are we with the upper echelon?  The Eagles gave us a decent beat-down even if we didn't make a few of those mistakes (ISJ dropped TD).   

Other then the Bills game all the remaining games are winnable with steady mistake-free ball which has been our trademark to date.  Can only imagine how good we could be if we maintain the C/ST expertise and out OFF/DEF even show some improvement!  I think it is incumbent upon the Offense to pick it up a notch or two over the second half starting with the Cardinals.  They are the senior most veteran unit on the field with 10 of 11 starters from last year.  Kirk and the offense need to lead this team on a couple "offensive" wins :)

@"minny65" said:

@"VikingIowA" said: Exercising demons is the theme for this year.  Winning close games check. Defense being opportunistic when needed, check. Beating teams that we have historically had problems with?  Started with a check at Miami.   Hopefully it continues. 

Agree, we are a different team this year then recent past.  We haven't beaten ourselves with turnovers and are one of the least penalized teams and the teams we played most penalized.  ST's have also been very solid which has been an inconsistency going back many years.  Who would have thought Coaching and ST's would be the strength of the team so far.  Improved consistency from the Off and Def will go a very long way in helping us fight for the #1 seed.

But I really haven't seen any steady improvement from the OFF/DEF yet.  We are benefitting from our lack of mistakes and timing on when we played certain teams.  So even if we don't improve much what future teams have a tendency to hurt themselves the most we should beat with steady play.  

The Bills game will be the equivalent of the 1st half of the season Eagles game.  How far have we come from that game?  How competitive are we with the upper echelon?  The Eagles gave us a decent beat-down even if we didn't make a few of those mistakes (ISJ dropped TD).   

Other then the Bills game all the remaining games are winnable with steady mistake-free ball which has been our trademark to date.  Can only imagine how good we could be if we maintain the C/ST expertise and out OFF/DEF even show some improvement!  I think it is incumbent upon the Offense to pick it up a notch or two over the second half starting with the Cardinals.  They are the senior most veteran unit on the field with 10 of 11 starters from last year.  Kirk and the offense need to lead this team on a couple "offensive" wins :)

@"MaroonBells" said:

@"minny65" said:

@"VikingIowA" said: Exercising demons is the theme for this year.  Winning close games check. Defense being opportunistic when needed, check. Beating teams that we have historically had problems with?  Started with a check at Miami.   Hopefully it continues. 

Agree, we are a different team this year then recent past.  We haven't beaten ourselves with turnovers and are one of the least penalized teams and the teams we played most penalized.  ST's have also been very solid which has been an inconsistency going back many years.  Who would have thought Coaching and ST's would be the strength of the team so far.  Improved consistency from the Off and Def will go a very long way in helping us fight for the #1 seed.

But I really haven't seen any steady improvement from the OFF/DEF yet.  We are benefitting from our lack of mistakes and timing on when we played certain teams.  So even if we don't improve much what future teams have a tendency to hurt themselves the most we should beat with steady play.  

The Bills game will be the equivalent of the 1st half of the season Eagles game.  How far have we come from that game?  How competitive are we with the upper echelon?  The Eagles gave us a decent beat-down even if we didn't make a few of those mistakes (ISJ dropped TD).   

Other then the Bills game all the remaining games are winnable with steady mistake-free ball which has been our trademark to date.  Can only imagine how good we could be if we maintain the C/ST expertise and out OFF/DEF even show some improvement!  I think it is incumbent upon the Offense to pick it up a notch or two over the second half starting with the Cardinals.  They are the senior most veteran unit on the field with 10 of 11 starters from last year.  Kirk and the offense need to lead this team on a couple "offensive" wins :)

I think we're going to see a better offense at home Sunday against the Cards. My hope is that we used the bye to fix the running game. I think once that's going, the rest of the offense will fall into place. The defense might be another story. 

Get the running game on track.  That must be the plan, it helps the roll out game be more effective which is currently struggling and limiting big play opportunities.

I don't know if it is a scheme issue or a talent issue.  Dalvin, has looked for the most part, below average this year.  I don't see a lot of speed and he seems to go down easier than before.  I would love to see what Kene can do as a runner, similar to R. Mostart in Miami.  Great straight line speed, could be another weapon to add off the bench and change up the pace of the game.

More Kene and Mattison in the running game could help establish a stronger running game, stop the frequent 3 and outs, and open up the offense for more big plays.

@"StickyBun" said:

@"Kentis" said:

@"StickyBun" said: Play who's in front of you. I never worry about the 'strength' of schedule, just take it one at a time.

Your getting to sound kind of cliché Sticky, however at least you have yet to deal one of your Vikings death knell posts this season…!!!  ;) :p  

Lots of games to be played yet.  :p

@"Skodin" said: Get the running game on track.  That must be the plan, it helps the roll out game be more effective which is currently struggling and limiting big play opportunities.

I don't know if it is a scheme issue or a talent issue.  Dalvin, has looked for the most part, below average this year.  I don't see a lot of speed and he seems to go down easier than before.  I would love to see what Kene can do as a runner, similar to R. Mostart in Miami.  Great straight line speed, could be another weapon to add off the bench and change up the pace of the game.

More Kene and Mattison in the running game could help establish a stronger running game, stop the frequent 3 and outs, and open up the offense for more big plays.

ive had similar thoughts,  Dalvins burst seems to be a little off this year and is getting tripped up and leaving some yards on the field.  if he was a half step quicker he would have  been gone on at least 3 or 4 more long TD runs.  I dont know if Kenny has the vision of DC and if he would have hit the hole as quick,  but his top end speed should be enough to seal those deals if he does.  AM is a thumper,  i dont think he is going to break any more long TD runs than DC,  but he does seem to run through more arm tackles than DC and typically seems to end his runs going forward.