Ironically, a lot of that describes how the Eagles game started as well.

 

It isn't Cousins fault that the coaching staff is calling a run heavy early game. That probably cost us the Bucs game and probably a few others. Zimmer-ball ain't doing us any favors. But if Hurts was our QB, that wouldn't change, in fact we'd be hearing about how it's necessary to support a young QB.

 

But Cousins has been a pretty good QB this year. He isn't the reason we have a losing record.

 

I'm not trashing Cousins, but it's a bit unfair to compare a 30 something QB to a guy who is in his second career start....no?  Cousins isn't the reason we're bad, but he's not going to take us to another level either.  And I say that as someone who 100% supported signing him in the first place.

 

The biggest difference between the two QBs is the 30M we'd have available to play with while Hurts is on his rookie contract.  As the kid matures he's going to be a Watson/Wilson/Allen like stud (so...better than Cousins) plus he'll allow us to add to the team immediately.  

Re-signing Cousins, Rudolph, Cook, and trading a 2nd round pick for a DE after losing your best player......that sound like awful GMing to me......and yes, the coaching staff has a 1950s philosophy on offense tha has to go.

A big part of the reason that Cousins has the stats he has is that he has one of the top running backs in the NFL. Cousins has had very good success with play-action because of Cook and probably has had second half success in part because defenses have been worn down by an elite running attack.

I think in the end a QB such as him keeps the team mediocre. If their defense was Top 10, they could be a threat in the playoffs. With a good defense and an elite quarterback (Mahomes, Rodgers, Wilson) they could be a Super Bowl team.

A big part of the reason that Cousins has the stats he has is that he has one of the top running backs in the NFL. Cousins has had very good success with play-action because of Cook and probably has had second half success in part because defenses have been worn down by an elite running attack.

I think in the end a QB such as him keeps the team mediocre. If their defense was Top 10, they could be a threat in the playoffs. With a good defense and an elite quarterback (Mahomes, Rodgers, Wilson) they could be a Super Bowl team.

Isn't that any team? An elite qb and good defense? They are so far from there it isn't even viewable.

Isn't that any team? An elite qb and good defense? They are so far from there it isn't even viewable.

Sure. My point is that Cousins is mediocre (average) and given that the Vikings would need to be elite on both sides of the ball to compensate for an average QB. Teams have won with less talent overall, but with a top QB.

Worst defense I've ever seen in that quarter. Like the 80s gophers vs Nebraska.....

No pass rush makes for easy offense. This team gets no push.

The best gift the Vikings can give us is losing out and finishing 6-10.

I mean, if it weren't for a couple terrible passes by Brees, they score sixty?

Fire Zimmer.

 

No pass rush makes for easy offense. This team gets no push.

PFF counted one single pressure on Brees in the entire game. That's astoundingly bad. This defense is bad and was going to hemorrhage yards, but this was a pathetic effort. 

PFF counted one single pressure on Brees in the entire game. That's astoundingly bad. This defense is bad and was going to hemorrhage yards, but this was a pathetic effort.

With sadness, I speculate that the effort was fine, but the assemblage of talent was the pathetic ingredient.

We score 33 and lose by nearly three touchdowns. I'm done with the Zimmer era. He was a good coach and a nice upgrade over the Tice, Childress, Frazier period but it's time to move on.

 

Fire Zimmer.

Dreamer. The excuses are long, and unending. 

 

With sadness, I speculate that the effort was fine, but the assemblage of talent was the pathetic ingredient.

That was the main ingredient, but Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, and Jeff Gladney (rated as an elite tackler by PFF) were all whiffing on tackles that they normally make. I'd like to think that they aren't pathetic at their jobs...

 

That was the main ingredient, but Harrison Smith, Anthony Harris, and Jeff Gladney (rated as an elite tackler by PFF) were all whiffing on tackles that they normally make. I'd like to think that they aren't pathetic at their jobs...

Part of it, I figure, is that the defense is demoralized and just not playing to the best of their abilities. They know they suck.

It was a terrible season to try to incorporate so many new defensive players. Many teams have run into being decimated at one position or another, as the Vikings did at linebacker. I didn't think that they were much more than a .500 team, but they have a good deal of skill position talent. They'll have to strengthen the defense and improve the special teams and be more consistent on offense. It's been an every other year team in the playoffs, so maybe everything will break right for them next year.

And they finish 7-9. I don't find it surprising that they got hot against mostly bad teams despite the 1-5 start. There was too much talent on the team to be that bad, and now they get the 14th overall pick. The defense is in shambles, the offensive line is still a weakness for the 7th/8th straight year, and we have very little cap room to work with. Can't say I feel too optimistic about this team in 2021, but I'll bet they will be over .500 again, but won't be a Super Bowl contender.

I can't believe how poor the officiating was that game, and in the Vikings favor. It's just so hard to get over how bad the defense and special teams are. Well, maybe not the special teams, they usually stink.

 

I think the win only impacted the draft position by two spots though. 

Is it okay to root for the Bears in the play-offs, thinking if only we had beaten them, that coulda been us?

 

So very far from the 0-16 ideal...

 

 

 

Is it okay to root for the Bears in the play-offs, thinking if only we had beaten them, that coulda been us?

 

So very far from the 0-16 ideal...

And that woulda been us. Oh well.

 

Maybe if Green Bay wins it all, then all we need to do is beat them, and we got it made...

 

And that woulda been us. Oh well.

 

Maybe if Green Bay wins it all, then all we need to do is beat them, and we got it made...

 

Green Bay winning the Super Bowl is always, and will always be the worst possible outcome for the NFL season for me.