Thread: My Assessment and Feelings about the Vikings and where they rank in the NFL

"oaklandzoo24" wrote:

I love halftime speeches and actually think they are very important for teams.
Motivational speakers should be brought in for the vikes at halftime because halftime speeches can have a huge impact on momentum.
I know alot of you think about as Pros these guys should be able to motivate themselves which is true.
But as a former football player and those of you who also were, I think we can all agree that halftime speeches can really have a a huge impact.
I remember one game we were down by 21 or something like that at half and a coach gave us this crazy speech about a small linebacker who absolutely took over a goalline stand telling the QB and RB to run it right at him and he stuffed them single handedly 4x.
The way he told it was so motivating and we all came out of the tunnel with a fire lit up under our dimply buttocks and came away with a 3 point victory.

We could have Zeus come down and preach to them at half time. ;D

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

"i_bleed_purple" wrote:

[quote author=Zeus link=topic=53765.msg1007651#msg1007651 date=1256151446]
[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007561#msg1007561 date=1256142866]
[quote author=Marrdro link=topic=53765.msg1007490#msg1007490 date=1256119866]
Thanks for the well thought out and crafted post.

Quick question not only for you but for all the rest of PPO........
How much longer will it take for this team to be considered as no longer "a work in progress", "developing", "gelling", "meshing together"?

when we're no longer last in yards against on defense and 5th last in points against.

Since neither of those are true, I guess the answer is "now".

Vikings are 18th in Yards/Game 341.8/game and 18th in points allowed/game at 20.2/game.

=Z=

well who the hell told me otherwise?
I just copied that from another thread.
That will teach me to believe what people here say.

I wouldn't trust anything people say here.


...especially Zeus.

IBP, those are 4th quarter stats.

We rank last in yards given up in the 4th quarter and 3rd in points given up.
[/quote]

Meh...we're just chillin after the half.
[/quote]

Chilly's halftime speeches must be reminiscent of episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
[/quote]

Out of curiousity, why haven't you posted the 3rd quarter stats?
You know, like the stat that says we have outscored our opponents 51 - 10 in the third quarter so far this season?
Sounds like our halftime adjustments are pretty damn good so far...

And not to bring silly things like FACTS into this, but we are 4th in points given up in the 4th quarter.
Not 3rd.
I am not going to add all the yards up, but I have a feeling that it wrong too.
FYI, prior to this week, we were 15th.
One bad quarter, and all of a sudden the wheels are falling off...
:

4th quarter points given up is a worthless stat anyway.
There is a HELLUVA lot that affects how many points a team gives up in the 4th quarter.
If it was such a tell all stat, then horseshit teams like Tennesee and Seattle wouldn't be the 4th and 5th best for 4th Q points given up.
BTW, in case anyone is curious, Pittsburgh is tied for the second worst in 4th Q given up.
They must be a pushover, right?
:

Here is the breakdown of 4th quarter points given up by team.
You can see that Minnesota is actually doing pretty good, and had one bad quarter against the Ravens.
The Ravens, BTW, are one of the best 4th quarter scoring teams, putting up two games already with 21 or more points in the 4th.
But I am sure that has nothing to do with it, it MUST be the Vikings and their poor coaching...

Week	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total 4Q given up	Games Played	Avg per game
Denver	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	6	1.166666667
Green Bay	3	3	0	2		0	8	5	1.6
New Orleans	0	2	0	0		10	12	5	2.4
Tennessee	3	3	3	7	3	0	19	6	3.166666667
Seattle	0	3	8	6	0	3	20	6	3.333333333
San Fran	3	0	7	0	7		17	5	3.4
Houston	7	0	7	0	7	0	21	6	3.5
Cincinatti	6	3	0	6	7	0	22	6	3.666666667
New England	7	3	0	7	7	0	24	6	4
Jacksonville	0	0	0	8	7	10	25	6	4.166666667
Carolina	0	7	11		0	7	25	5	5
Oakland	14	7	3	0	3	3	30	6	5
Chicago	11	0	6	3		7	27	5	5.4
Washington	6	0	6	3	11	8	34	6	5.666666667
NY Giants	7	7	0	13	0	7	34	6	5.666666667
NY Jets	7	0	0	7	21	0	35	6	5.833333333
Indy	6	10	0	14	0		30	5	6
Atlanta	7	7	10		0	7	31	5	6.2
Philly	0	14	7		7	3	31	5	6.2
Arizona	7	7	3		14	0	31	5	6.2
Detroit	7	10	7	14	0	0	38	6	6.333333333
Baltimore	10	3	3	3	7	13	39	6	6.5
Cleveland	10	14	7	6	0	3	40	6	6.666666667
Tampa Bay	14	13	7	0	5	7	46	6	7.666666667
San Diego	10	3	7	10		10	40	5	8
Buffalo	15	6	17	7	3	0	48	6	8
Kansas City	21	7	7	7	10	0	52	6	8.666666667
Dallas	14	13	0	10	7		44	5	8.8
Minnesota	7	3	7	9	7	21	54	6	9
St Louis	0	0	13	14	14	14	55	6	9.166666667
Pittsburgh	3	10	14	21	7	0	55	6	9.166666667
Miami	3	14	13	7	14		51	5	10.2

"NodakPaul" wrote:

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007654#msg1007654 date=1256151535]
[quote author=Zeus link=topic=53765.msg1007651#msg1007651 date=1256151446]
[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007561#msg1007561 date=1256142866]
[quote author=Marrdro link=topic=53765.msg1007490#msg1007490 date=1256119866]
Thanks for the well thought out and crafted post.

Quick question not only for you but for all the rest of PPO........
How much longer will it take for this team to be considered as no longer "a work in progress", "developing", "gelling", "meshing together"?

when we're no longer last in yards against on defense and 5th last in points against.

Since neither of those are true, I guess the answer is "now".

Vikings are 18th in Yards/Game 341.8/game and 18th in points allowed/game at 20.2/game.

=Z=

well who the hell told me otherwise?
I just copied that from another thread.
That will teach me to believe what people here say.

I wouldn't trust anything people say here.


...especially Zeus.

IBP, those are 4th quarter stats.

We rank last in yards given up in the 4th quarter and 3rd in points given up.
[/quote]

Meh...we're just chillin after the half.
[/quote]

Chilly's halftime speeches must be reminiscent of episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
[/quote]

Out of curiousity, why haven't you posted the 3rd quarter stats?
You know, like the stat that says we have outscored our opponents 51 - 10 in the third quarter so far this season?
Sounds like our halftime adjustments are pretty damn good so far...

And not to bring silly things like FACTS into this, but we are 4th in points given up in the 4th quarter.
Not 3rd.
I am not going to add all the yards up, but I have a feeling that it wrong too.
FYI, prior to this week, we were 15th.
One bad quarter, and all of a sudden the wheels are falling off...
:

4th quarter points given up is a worthless stat anyway.
There is a HELLUVA lot that affects how many points a team gives up in the 4th quarter.
If it was such a tell all stat, then horseshit teams like Tennesee and Seattle wouldn't be the 4th and 5th best for 4th Q points given up.
BTW, in case anyone is curious, Pittsburgh is tied for the second worst in 4th Q given up.
They must be a pushover, right?
:

Here is the breakdown of 4th quarter points given up by team.
You can see that Minnesota is actually doing pretty good, and had one bad quarter against the Ravens.
The Ravens, BTW, are one of the best 4th quarter scoring teams, putting up two games already with 21 or more points in the 4th.
But I am sure that has nothing to do with it, it MUST be the Vikings and their poor coaching...

Week	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total 4Q given up	Games Played	Avg per game
Denver	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	6	1.166666667
Green Bay	3	3	0	2		0	8	5	1.6
New Orleans	0	2	0	0		10	12	5	2.4
Tennessee	3	3	3	7	3	0	19	6	3.166666667
Seattle	0	3	8	6	0	3	20	6	3.333333333
San Fran	3	0	7	0	7		17	5	3.4
Houston	7	0	7	0	7	0	21	6	3.5
Cincinatti	6	3	0	6	7	0	22	6	3.666666667
New England	7	3	0	7	7	0	24	6	4
Jacksonville	0	0	0	8	7	10	25	6	4.166666667
Carolina	0	7	11		0	7	25	5	5
Oakland	14	7	3	0	3	3	30	6	5
Chicago	11	0	6	3		7	27	5	5.4
Washington	6	0	6	3	11	8	34	6	5.666666667
NY Giants	7	7	0	13	0	7	34	6	5.666666667
NY Jets	7	0	0	7	21	0	35	6	5.833333333
Indy	6	10	0	14	0		30	5	6
Atlanta	7	7	10		0	7	31	5	6.2
Philly	0	14	7		7	3	31	5	6.2
Arizona	7	7	3		14	0	31	5	6.2
Detroit	7	10	7	14	0	0	38	6	6.333333333
Baltimore	10	3	3	3	7	13	39	6	6.5
Cleveland	10	14	7	6	0	3	40	6	6.666666667
Tampa Bay	14	13	7	0	5	7	46	6	7.666666667
San Diego	10	3	7	10		10	40	5	8
Buffalo	15	6	17	7	3	0	48	6	8
Kansas City	21	7	7	7	10	0	52	6	8.666666667
Dallas	14	13	0	10	7		44	5	8.8
Minnesota	7	3	7	9	7	21	54	6	9
St Louis	0	0	13	14	14	14	55	6	9.166666667
Pittsburgh	3	10	14	21	7	0	55	6	9.166666667
Miami	3	14	13	7	14		51	5	10.2

[/quote]

What the Fuck Nodak?
Posting garbage stats like this makes Chilly out to in fact not be the worst HC to ever step foot on an NFL playing field.
This is going against what the greatest football mind in the history of the world is trying to tell us.
He will strike you down with his mental prowess all the way from NYC.
I see him crouching now..in his stance ready to do unmentionable things to you and your soul.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007654#msg1007654 date=1256151535]
[quote author=Zeus link=topic=53765.msg1007651#msg1007651 date=1256151446]
[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007561#msg1007561 date=1256142866]
[quote author=Marrdro link=topic=53765.msg1007490#msg1007490 date=1256119866]
Thanks for the well thought out and crafted post.

Quick question not only for you but for all the rest of PPO........
How much longer will it take for this team to be considered as no longer "a work in progress", "developing", "gelling", "meshing together"?

when we're no longer last in yards against on defense and 5th last in points against.

Since neither of those are true, I guess the answer is "now".

Vikings are 18th in Yards/Game 341.8/game and 18th in points allowed/game at 20.2/game.

=Z=

well who the hell told me otherwise?
I just copied that from another thread.
That will teach me to believe what people here say.

I wouldn't trust anything people say here.


...especially Zeus.

IBP, those are 4th quarter stats.

We rank last in yards given up in the 4th quarter and 3rd in points given up.
[/quote]

Meh...we're just chillin after the half.
[/quote]

Chilly's halftime speeches must be reminiscent of episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
[/quote]

Out of curiousity, why haven't you posted the 3rd quarter stats?
You know, like the stat that says we have outscored our opponents 51 - 10 in the third quarter so far this season?
Sounds like our halftime adjustments are pretty gol 'darnit good so far...

And not to bring silly things like FACTS into this, but we are 4th in points given up in the 4th quarter.
Not 3rd.
I am not going to add all the yards up, but I have a feeling that it wrong too.
FYI, prior to this week, we were 15th.
One bad quarter, and all of a sudden the wheels are falling off...
:

4th quarter points given up is a worthless stat anyway.
There is a HELLUVA lot that affects how many points a team gives up in the 4th quarter.
If it was such a tell all stat, then poopy teams like Tennesee and Seattle wouldn't be the 4th and 5th best for 4th Q points given up.
BTW, in case anyone is curious, Pittsburgh is tied for the second worst in 4th Q given up.
They must be a pushover, right?
:

Here is the breakdown of 4th quarter points given up by team.
You can see that Minnesota is actually doing pretty good, and had one bad quarter against the Ravens.
The Ravens, BTW, are one of the best 4th quarter scoring teams, putting up two games already with 21 or more points in the 4th.
But I am sure that has nothing to do with it, it MUST be the Vikings and their poor coaching...

Week	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total 4Q given up	Games Played	Avg per game
Denver	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	6	1.166666667
Green Bay	3	3	0	2		0	8	5	1.6
New Orleans	0	2	0	0		10	12	5	2.4
Tennessee	3	3	3	7	3	0	19	6	3.166666667
Seattle	0	3	8	6	0	3	20	6	3.333333333
San Fran	3	0	7	0	7		17	5	3.4
Houston	7	0	7	0	7	0	21	6	3.5
Cincinatti	6	3	0	6	7	0	22	6	3.666666667
New England	7	3	0	7	7	0	24	6	4
Jacksonville	0	0	0	8	7	10	25	6	4.166666667
Carolina	0	7	11		0	7	25	5	5
Oakland	14	7	3	0	3	3	30	6	5
Chicago	11	0	6	3		7	27	5	5.4
Washington	6	0	6	3	11	8	34	6	5.666666667
NY Giants	7	7	0	13	0	7	34	6	5.666666667
NY Jets	7	0	0	7	21	0	35	6	5.833333333
Indy	6	10	0	14	0		30	5	6
Atlanta	7	7	10		0	7	31	5	6.2
Philly	0	14	7		7	3	31	5	6.2
Arizona	7	7	3		14	0	31	5	6.2
Detroit	7	10	7	14	0	0	38	6	6.333333333
Baltimore	10	3	3	3	7	13	39	6	6.5
Cleveland	10	14	7	6	0	3	40	6	6.666666667
Tampa Bay	14	13	7	0	5	7	46	6	7.666666667
San Diego	10	3	7	10		10	40	5	8
Buffalo	15	6	17	7	3	0	48	6	8
Kansas City	21	7	7	7	10	0	52	6	8.666666667
Dallas	14	13	0	10	7		44	5	8.8
Minnesota	7	3	7	9	7	21	54	6	9
St Louis	0	0	13	14	14	14	55	6	9.166666667
Pittsburgh	3	10	14	21	7	0	55	6	9.166666667
Miami	3	14	13	7	14		51	5	10.2

[/quote]

Those are just the facts though......................... I'm just saying.

I'll save my reply for a few weeks.
At this point we have played 3 decent teams and should have lost 2 of the games.

If the Vikes get homefield they will be tough though

"tastywaves" wrote:

"NodakPaul" wrote:

"C" wrote:

"ultravikingfan" wrote:

"C" wrote:

[quote author=ultravikingfan link=topic=53765.msg1007680#msg1007680 date=1256153181]
[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007654#msg1007654 date=1256151535]
[quote author=Zeus link=topic=53765.msg1007651#msg1007651 date=1256151446]
[quote author=i_bleed_purple link=topic=53765.msg1007561#msg1007561 date=1256142866]
[quote author=Marrdro link=topic=53765.msg1007490#msg1007490 date=1256119866]
Thanks for the well thought out and crafted post.

Quick question not only for you but for all the rest of PPO........
How much longer will it take for this team to be considered as no longer "a work in progress", "developing", "gelling", "meshing together"?

when we're no longer last in yards against on defense and 5th last in points against.

Since neither of those are true, I guess the answer is "now".

Vikings are 18th in Yards/Game 341.8/game and 18th in points allowed/game at 20.2/game.

=Z=

well who the hell told me otherwise?
I just copied that from another thread.
That will teach me to believe what people here say.

I wouldn't trust anything people say here.


...especially Zeus.

IBP, those are 4th quarter stats.

We rank last in yards given up in the 4th quarter and 3rd in points given up.
[/quote]

Meh...we're just chillin after the half.
[/quote]

Chilly's halftime speeches must be reminiscent of episodes of Mr. Rogers Neighborhood.
[/quote]

Out of curiousity, why haven't you posted the 3rd quarter stats?
You know, like the stat that says we have outscored our opponents 51 - 10 in the third quarter so far this season?
Sounds like our halftime adjustments are pretty gol 'darnit good so far...

And not to bring silly things like FACTS into this, but we are 4th in points given up in the 4th quarter.
Not 3rd.
I am not going to add all the yards up, but I have a feeling that it wrong too.
FYI, prior to this week, we were 15th.
One bad quarter, and all of a sudden the wheels are falling off...
:

4th quarter points given up is a worthless stat anyway.
There is a HELLUVA lot that affects how many points a team gives up in the 4th quarter.
If it was such a tell all stat, then poopy teams like Tennesee and Seattle wouldn't be the 4th and 5th best for 4th Q points given up.
BTW, in case anyone is curious, Pittsburgh is tied for the second worst in 4th Q given up.
They must be a pushover, right?
:

Here is the breakdown of 4th quarter points given up by team.
You can see that Minnesota is actually doing pretty good, and had one bad quarter against the Ravens.
The Ravens, BTW, are one of the best 4th quarter scoring teams, putting up two games already with 21 or more points in the 4th.
But I am sure that has nothing to do with it, it MUST be the Vikings and their poor coaching...

Week	1	2	3	4	5	6	Total 4Q given up	Games Played	Avg per game
Denver	7	0	0	0	0	0	7	6	1.166666667
Green Bay	3	3	0	2		0	8	5	1.6
New Orleans	0	2	0	0		10	12	5	2.4
Tennessee	3	3	3	7	3	0	19	6	3.166666667
Seattle	0	3	8	6	0	3	20	6	3.333333333
San Fran	3	0	7	0	7		17	5	3.4
Houston	7	0	7	0	7	0	21	6	3.5
Cincinatti	6	3	0	6	7	0	22	6	3.666666667
New England	7	3	0	7	7	0	24	6	4
Jacksonville	0	0	0	8	7	10	25	6	4.166666667
Carolina	0	7	11		0	7	25	5	5
Oakland	14	7	3	0	3	3	30	6	5
Chicago	11	0	6	3		7	27	5	5.4
Washington	6	0	6	3	11	8	34	6	5.666666667
NY Giants	7	7	0	13	0	7	34	6	5.666666667
NY Jets	7	0	0	7	21	0	35	6	5.833333333
Indy	6	10	0	14	0		30	5	6
Atlanta	7	7	10		0	7	31	5	6.2
Philly	0	14	7		7	3	31	5	6.2
Arizona	7	7	3		14	0	31	5	6.2
Detroit	7	10	7	14	0	0	38	6	6.333333333
Baltimore	10	3	3	3	7	13	39	6	6.5
Cleveland	10	14	7	6	0	3	40	6	6.666666667
Tampa Bay	14	13	7	0	5	7	46	6	7.666666667
San Diego	10	3	7	10		10	40	5	8
Buffalo	15	6	17	7	3	0	48	6	8
Kansas City	21	7	7	7	10	0	52	6	8.666666667
Dallas	14	13	0	10	7		44	5	8.8
Minnesota	7	3	7	9	7	21	54	6	9
St Louis	0	0	13	14	14	14	55	6	9.166666667
Pittsburgh	3	10	14	21	7	0	55	6	9.166666667
Miami	3	14	13	7	14		51	5	10.2

[/quote]

Those are just the facts though......................... I'm just saying.
[/quote]

Just as it's fact that we give up more yards than any other team in the NFL during the 4th quarter. I guess it's ok to ignore that?

Just sayin'. Some of us just look at the team objectively and not with purple shades all the time... or putting the lyrics to "Welcome to Miami" in their sig...


Also, I like how you're saying we're doing "pretty good" in 4th quarter defense, yet we're 4th from the bottom in the league. How are those purple shades workin' for ya?

"fanofteam" wrote:

I'll save my reply for a few weeks.
At this point we have played 3 decent teams and should have lost 2 of the games.

If the Vikes get homefield they will be tough though

"Should have" is subjective.
While I understand what you are saying, what did San Fran or Baltimore do to make them deserve the win so much more?
I don't think they did anything that could make me say that they "should have" won.

In fact, the two games are almost mirror images of each other.
In the San Fran game, both teams played well, and Minnesota was able to march down the field in the final two minutes and win with a last second score.
In the Baltimore game, both teams played well, and Baltimore was able to march down the field but missed a last second score to win.
If Minnesota "should have" lost the San Fran game, then Baltimore "should have" lost too.

A couple of years ago, we were losing a lot of close games.
Now we are a better team, and we are winning the close games.
I don't think that it is fiar to take anything away from what this team has done so far.
Is there room for improvement? Absolutely!
Are we the best team in the NFL right now? Nope, that would be Denver or New Orleans IMHO.
But are we a good team with a better than average chance to win each and every Sunday? Yes we are.
Are we Superbowl Contenders? Yes we are.

"C" wrote:

Just as it's fact that we give up more yards than any other team in the NFL during the 4th quarter. I guess it's ok to ignore that?

Just sayin'. Some of us just look at the team objectively and not with purple shades all the time... or putting the lyrics to "Welcome to Miami" in their sig...


Also, I like how you're saying we're doing "pretty good" in 4th quarter defense, yet we're 4th from the bottom in the league. How are those purple shades workin' for ya?

Your "fact" about us being 3rd worst in points given up was wrong, I have absolutely no reason to believe that your "fact" about us being last in yardage is correct either.

And we have given up 7, 3, 7, 9, 7, and 21 points in the 4th quarter so far this year.
5 good games, 1 bad game.
Yes, that sounds like we are pretty good to me.
In fact, let's break down all the games so far...

Week 1: We enter the 4th Q up 24-13.
We outscore our opponent in the 4th 10-7.
Week 2: We enter the 4th Q up 17-10.
We outscore our opponent in the 4th 10-3.
Week 3: We enter the 4th Q up 20-17.
We score the same as our opponent in the 4th 7-7.
Week 4: We enter the 4th Q up 28-14.
Our opponent outscores us in the 4th 9-2.
Week 5: We enter the 4th Q up 24-3.
We outscore out opponent in the 4th 14-7.
Week 6: We enter the 4th Q up 20-10.
Our opponent outscores us in the 4th 21-13.

So let's see, what kind of patterns are there... first of all, we entered the 4th Q up every game so far.
In fact, we enter the 4th up by an average of 11 points.
There was only 1 game in which we were up by less than a TD.
Don't know if you know this or not, but a LOT of coaches start to play shell or prevent when up by double digits late in the game.

Second, we outscored our opponents 56-54 in the fourth.
Hey, I will be the first to admit that the Ravens really gave us a run for our money in the 4th Q.
Kudos to them (especially since they have scored 21 or more points in the 4th Q multiple times this year - probably not a fluke).
But the point still remains that we always enter the 4th with a lead, and outscore our opponents in the 4th more often than not.

Should we have gone into a shell in the 4th against the Ravens.
In hindsight no.
But we were stopping their offense all game, in fact for the first 1/3 of the 4th as well.
We were up by 17 points in the 4th, I have a hard time faulting them without the benefit of hindsight.

Maybe you don't understand what "objectively" really means.
But keep looking for everything that is wrong if that is what makes you feel better.
If you REALLY want to convince yourself that this 6-0 team is so horrible, be my guest...

"NodakPaul" wrote:

"fanofteam" wrote:

I'll save my reply for a few weeks.
At this point we have played 3 decent teams and should have lost 2 of the games.

If the Vikes get homefield they will be tough though

"Should have" is subjective.
While I understand what you are saying, what did San Fran or Baltimore do to make them deserve the win so much more?
I don't think they did anything that could make me say that they "should have" won.

In fact, the two games are almost mirror images of each other.
In the San Fran game, both teams played well, and Minnesota was able to march down the field in the final two minutes and win with a last second score.
In the Baltimore game, both teams played well, and Baltimore was able to march down the field but missed a last second score to win.
If Minnesota "should have" lost the San Fran game, then Baltimore "should have" lost too.

A couple of years ago, we were losing a lot of close games.
Now we are a better team, and we are winning the close games.
I don't think that it is fiar to take anything away from what this team has done so far.
Is there room for improvement? Absolutely!
Are we the best team in the NFL right now? Nope, that would be Denver or New Orleans IMHO.
But are we a good team with a better than average chance to win each and every Sunday? Yes we are.
Are we Superbowl Contenders? Yes we are.

Nice post...pretty much how I feel too.
I'd even go one step further to say that there is still room for improvement from the coaching side of the ball...yet with that said they do seem much improved over years past.
I think they are learning from the mistakes they've left on the field.

"NodakPaul" wrote:

"fanofteam" wrote:

I'll save my reply for a few weeks.
At this point we have played 3 decent teams and should have lost 2 of the games.

If the Vikes get homefield they will be tough though

"Should have" is subjective.
While I understand what you are saying, what did San Fran or Baltimore do to make them deserve the win so much more?
I don't think they did anything that could make me say that they "should have" won.

In fact, the two games are almost mirror images of each other.
In the San Fran game, both teams played well, and Minnesota was able to march down the field in the final two minutes and win with a last second score.
In the Baltimore game, both teams played well, and Baltimore was able to march down the field but missed a last second score to win.
If Minnesota "should have" lost the San Fran game, then Baltimore "should have" lost too.

A couple of years ago, we were losing a lot of close games.
Now we are a better team, and we are winning the close games.
I don't think that it is fiar to take anything away from what this team has done so far.
Is there room for improvement? Absolutely!
Are we the best team in the NFL right now? Nope, that would be Denver or New Orleans IMHO.
But are we a good team with a better than average chance to win each and every Sunday? Yes we are.
Are we Superbowl Contenders? Yes we are.

I would say this week on the road against the Superbowl champs we probably have a below average chance of winning(less than 50%, atleast according to Vegas).