C. Carter ~ Don't Sleep on the Vikings ~ KOC's Maturity

That was really solid perspective by CC there. Much better than the National media folks who just pull team stats and create a narrative on a team.

Defense is the real deal and the offense has had some adversity early. Hopefully we get JJ and Mason back here and Kyler continues to get more comfortable.

Could be a fun season.

MAD GAINZ wrote:

Could be a fun season.

Yah, it's too bad 4/0 has sucked so badly so far...😅

MAD GAINZ wrote:

That was really solid perspective by CC there. Much better than the National media folks who just pull team stats and create a narrative on a team.
Defense is the real deal and the offense has had some adversity early. Hopefully we get JJ and Mason back here and Kyler continues to get more comfortable.
Could be a fun season.

The national media is kind of picking this game as their spot where Minnesota loses. Tyler Shough is playing like a top 10 QB right now, they say. Vikings can't keep winning games like this without offense, they say. Worst 4-0 team ever about to be the worst 5-0 team ever. Always a trip with the sports media.😒

purplefaithful wrote:

Yah, it's too bad 4/0 has sucked so badly so far...😅

I've enjoyed it. I will say I was a little surprised after the Bucs win how negative it was here. I get having some concerns (I do too) but we get 17 games guaranteed every season.

I'll take wins over the alternative every day of the week. At the end of the day this is entertainment and the defense is must see TV. Hopefully the offense gets there too. ;-)

MAD GAINZ wrote:

I've enjoyed it. I will say I was a little surprised after the Bucs win how negative it was here. I get having some concerns (I do too) but we get 17 games guaranteed every season.
I'll take wins over the alternative every day of the week. At the end of the day this is entertainment and the defense is must see TV. Hopefully the offense gets there too. ;-)

If you want a laugh, look at the post I did gameday morning when we were 3-0 and I said the board was 'low energy', lol. All the reasons in the world to not be excited! It was classic board curmudgeonfest. 😜

Special teams is one third of the game. Having Top 5 special teams play and 3 players named ST players of the week in the first 4 weeks of the season and a stingy defense the Vikings can make up for a developing offense.

Mattyman wrote:

Special teams is one third of the game. Having Top 5 special teams play and 3 players named ST players of the week in the first 4 weeks of the season and a stingy defense the Vikings can make up for a developing offense.

Scoring a special teams touchdown in the NFL increases a team’s historical probability of winning the game to roughly 75% to 85%.

While the exact shift in win probability depends heavily on when the touchdown occurs and the current score, non-offensive touchdowns provide one of the most massive single-play logic swings in football

The impact changes quarter-by-quarter in a typical, tightly contested game:

First Quarter: The Foundation Builder (+10% to +15% WPA)

When a team scores a special teams touchdown early in the first quarter (such as an opening kickoff return), it provides a massive emotional lift, but the standard analytics models remain relatively conservative.

• The Logic: A 7-point lead with 55 minutes remaining is highly fluid. The opposing offense hasn't even taken the field yet, and pregame favorite projections still heavily influence the live probability math.

• The Result: Your baseline odds of winning will jump from a coin-flip (50%) to roughly 60% or 65%.

Second & Third Quarters: The Game Dictator (+15% to +25% WPA)

As the game progresses toward halftime and into the third quarter, a special teams touchdown begins to dictate how coaches call the rest of the game.

• The Logic: If the game was tied or close, an unexpected 7 points suddenly alters the script. The trailing team is often forced to become one-dimensional (abandoning the run game to pass more), while the scoring team can start leaning on their running game to burn the clock.

• The Result: A touchdown here routinely pushes a team’s win probability into the 70% to 80% range, as the clock begins to turn against the opponent.

Fourth Quarter: The Dagger (+35% to +50%+ WPA)

In the final 15 minutes of a close football game, a special teams touchdown—like a late punt return or a touchdown off a blocked field goal—is often an absolute death blow to the opponent.

• The Logic: Time is the ultimate enemy in the fourth quarter. An offensive touchdown takes minutes off the clock, giving the opposing defense time to rest and their coaches time to adjust. A special teams touchdown happens in the blink of an eye, instantly altering the required possessions needed to win without giving the opponent any tactical reprieve.

• The Result: If a team scores a special teams touchdown to break a tie late in the fourth quarter, their Win Probability Added (WPA) will skyrocket by 40% to 50% on that single play, instantly locking their overall win probability at 95% or higher.

Source: AI