I decided this topic should be updated to include Minnesota after seeing a Vikings fan wear a bag with the record 1-5 on his head lol. When a team is a fumble away from a winless record at the halfway point, there is no way you can count them out of it. The Steelers were still winless when they lost again in London and later lost to Oakland so I am no t giving the Vikings any credit for their single win. No other team has one win, so after Tampa Bay, Minnesota is by far the most worrisome of the losing teams. The Vikings have a similar quarterback situation: Christian Ponder got hurt, came back, then was benched, and his backup was not any better. The difference - signing a FA - is irrelevant because he also sucks. So this is definitely a three-headed race and there is no guarantee a Florida team will get the top pick.

 

So here is Minnesota's remaining schedule:

 

@ Cowboys

REDSKINS

@ Seahawks

@ Packers

BEARS

@ Ravens

EAGLES

@ Bengals

LIONS

 

I don't see any winnable games here. This is a team that could not even beat the Browns. The Bengals are not terrible. The Lions are actually good this season.

 

Of course, the fact that they have a harder schedule than us means we hold the tiebreaker, but we also can win more games.

 

So what about the Buccaneers? Here is Tampa Bay's remaining schedule:

 

@ Seahawks

DOLPHINS

FALCONS

@ Lions

@ Panthers

BILLS

49ERS

@ Rams

@ Saints

 

They already pooped on the Panthers, so I am not optimistic about that one. Even the lousy Falcons beat them already, so I am worried about that too. The Bills and Rams, however, do look promising. I see them going 2-14, maybe 3-13.

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They at least scored 31 points last night against Green Bay. Although 7 came in catch up time and 7 from the kick off return. That's still almost as many points as we've had in the last three weeks.

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They at least scored 31 points last night against Green Bay. Although 7 came in catch up time and 7 from the kick off return. That's still almost as many points as we've had in the last three weeks.

 

They would not score nearly that much if Clay Matthews played. Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Jermichael Finley did not play either, so how many points they gave up is more significant than anyone would expect for a game against the Packers. I mean how could anyone not know Aaron Rodgers would throw the ball to #87 with all of those backups in there? I expect the loss at GB to be a lot worse, especially if Cobb (broken fibula) is off IR by then.

 

I hope you understand the number of points a team scores against the best team in the division is irrelevant when the NFL assigns first round draft picks.

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They would not score nearly that much if Clay Matthews played. Randall Cobb, James Jones, and Jermichael Finley did not play either, so how many points they gave up is more significant than anyone would expect for a game against the Packers. I mean how could anyone not know Aaron Rodgers would throw the ball to #87 with all of those backups in there? I expect the loss at GB to be a lot worse, especially if Cobb (broken fibula) is off IR by then.

 

I hope you understand the number of points a team scores against the best team in the division is irrelevant when the NFL assigns first round draft picks.

 

 

Even if the Vikings Defense was at full strength,   they would have struggled to keep the Packers Offense in check.     Yet,  with Harrison Smith,   one of the best young Safeties not coming back anytime soon and their other starting Safety Jamarca Sanford getting injured early in last night's game,   they practically had no answer for the Packers Offense.      

 

In another thread last week,   I expressed that Jordy Nelson is clearly a top 10 NFL WR.     Nelson reinforced my opinion with his superb performance in Minneapolis.       The Vikings certainly don['t have the Defenders at this point in time that can contain Nelson AND keep their other skill players in check.     Especially with the pinpoint accuracy that Aaron Rodgers was displaying.   The Vikings were playing a loose box most of the evening,  knowing that they would be vulnerable to the rushing attack lead by Eddie Lacy.     In reality,   it was picking their poison.    The bottom line is the Packers  never had to even punt in the game and didn't turn the ball over.       Every Packers possession,  they scored at least 3 points.      

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Now let's see what happens when the Vikings host the Redskins, who suffered a lot of injuries in Denver including Robert Griffin's other knee.

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Now let's see what happens when the Vikings host the Redskins, who suffered a lot of injuries in Denver including Robert Griffin's other knee.

 

I'm not sure what the injury situation will be for both teams when they play in 9 days.       On the surface though,  this probably will be the Vikings most realistic chance at winning a game until at least early December.  

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I'm not sure what the injury situation will be for both teams when they play in 9 days. On the surface though,  this probably will be the Vikings most realistic chance at winning a game until at least early December.  

 

More like the only realistic chance all year. A team that can't beat the Browns certainly can't beat the Ravens.

 

That said, I remember the Chiefs shocked the world by beating the undefeated Packers at Romeo Crennel's first game as the interim head coach. Stranger things have happened.

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I forgot to make the poll when I started this thread. You can now vote for one of three teams.

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More like the only realistic chance all year. A team that can't beat the Browns certainly can't beat the Ravens.

 

That said, I remember the Chiefs shocked the world by beating the undefeated Packers at Romeo Crennel's first game as the interim head coach. Stranger things have happened.

 

 

One thing worth keeping in mind is the Vikings faced the Browns in Week # 3.     When the Vikings play the Ravens,   it will seem like an eternity since their game against Cleveland.    So much as already changed with the Browns since they played the Vikings.    Including losing both Brian Hoyer and WR-PR Travis Benjamin for the season.     

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One thing worth keeping in mind is the Vikings faced the Browns in Week 3. When the Vikings play the Ravens, it will seem like an eternity since their game against Cleveland. So much as already changed with the Browns since they played the Vikings. Including losing both Brian Hoyer and WR-PR Travis Benjamin for the season.     

 

None of those changes made the Vikings any better than they were in Week 3.

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None of those changes made the Vikings any better than they were in Week 3.

 

 

It's possible that Vikings would have beaten the Browns in week # 3 if the Browns would have not had the services of Brian Hoyer and/  or Travis Benjamin.     The game that was played was decided in the last minute.     

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It's possible that Vikings would have beaten the Browns in week 3 if the Browns would have not had the services of Brian Hoyer and/or Travis Benjamin. The game that was played was decided in the last minute.     

 

If the Vikings need opposing players to be on injured reserve, they can't beat the Super Bowl champs. I still think their only chance is the Redskins.

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If the Vikings need opposing players to be on injured reserve, they can't beat the Super Bowl champs. I still think their only chance is the Redskins.

 

Injuries can turn what looks like a loss on paper into a win and vice versa.    

 

Because of injuries,  the Bears could be very vulnerable on the road against the Vikings on December 1.

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Injuries can turn what looks like a loss on paper into a win and vice versa.    

 

Because of injuries, the Bears could be very vulnerable on the road against the Vikings on December 1.

 

Jay Cutler will be back by then. It depends on what type of injury a player has.

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Jay Cutler will be back by then. It depends on what type of injury a player has.

 

It remains to be seen if Jay Cutler will be back by then.

 

Even if Jay Cutler will be back by then,   3 significant Defensive players won't be back by then:

 

1.  DT Henry Melton   ( I.R. )

2. DT Nate Collins      (I.R. )

3. OLB Lance Briggs 

 

Two of the 3 Defensive players have been to the Pro Bowl on merit in recent seasons.

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It depends on how good the backups are if injuries help Minnesota.

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It depends on how good the backups are if injuries help Minnesota.

 

  That's true to a large extent.    In the case of Nate Collins,  he began the season as the Bears # 3 DT.      The combined losses of Henry Melton and Nate Collins have noticeably weakened the Bears DT rotation.

 

  In the case of Lance Briggs,  he was injured in the Bears most recent game,   their road loss against the Redskins.      A game in which the Bears gave up a ton of points.     

 

 Unless players at DT and OLB emerge for the Bears,   they are going to have difficulty stopping most NFL Offenses unless they force a turnover.     

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What about the Eagles? Do you see any way they can lose at Minnesota?

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What about the Eagles? Do you see any way they can lose at Minnesota?

 

I definitely can envision scenarios in which the Eagles lose at Minnesota.    So much depends on the QB situation at the time the teams meet in December.    

 

In the last 2 games combined,   the Eagles scored 10 points.      In one game,   they were facing a Cowboys Defense that was without their best Defensive Lineman,   DE DeMarcus Ware.    In the other game,   they were facing a Giants Defense that was struggling mightily not that long ago.       

 

One thing seems evident is the Eagles 3rd string QB,   Matt Barkley has a long way to go before he's ready to win games consistently.    That's assuming Barkley ever gets to that level,   which is far from a given.      

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Have you guys met each other?

 

D6, Meet JW ... JW meet, D6.

 

Best thread of the month.

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