Vikings Playoff Scenarios

[Pondering Her Percy]

On the SNF pre game , and just now at halftime, they said if Niners win tonight we will play Saints. If Seachickens win we will play them.
I think I would prefer Seattle myself.

Tough choice. If Seattle is good enough to beat SF, then they can certainly beat us. One thing we’d have going for us is that it’s tough to keep beating the same team if the teams are evenly matched.

On the other hand, the Saints are red hot.

I think I have to agree. Let’s go to the left coast.

I wouldn’t mind either way. I just feel like Seattle’s environment might be a little tougher to play in. Although Seattle’s offense looks a little lost without a running game

[Bowhunting Viking]

Looks like we r going to New Orleans

[VikingLord]

If there is a bright spot to going to New Orleans, it's that they don't have a great front 7 on defense. There is a chance, albeit a small one, that the Vikings offense can move the ball on that defense.

Defensively I think the Vikings can hold their own against the Saints. The question is, will they? Which defense shows up - the one composed of veterans who are disruptive up front and stingy in the back, or the one that loses contain on the pass rush, loses gap coverage against the run, and gives up big plays downfield in the passing game?

The game will likely come down to whether Cousins and the offense can stay on the field and punch the ball in instead of settling for field goals. I'm not really excited about the prospects of that happening, but even if it were to happen, the Vikings would follow that up with another road game against the #1 seed, and that defense CAN get pressure on the QB. Based on what the Vikings offense has shown so far this season against defenses like that, that will be where their post season ride comes to an end.

[CharVike]

If there is a bright spot to going to New Orleans, it's that they don't have a great front 7 on defense. There is a chance, albeit a small one, that the Vikings offense can move the ball on that defense.

Defensively I think the Vikings can hold their own against the Saints. The question is, will they? Which defense shows up - the one composed of veterans who are disruptive up front and stingy in the back, or the one that loses contain on the pass rush, loses gap coverage against the run, and gives up big plays downfield in the passing game?

The game will likely come down to whether Cousins and the offense can stay on the field and punch the ball in instead of settling for field goals. I'm not really excited about the prospects of that happening, but even if it were to happen, the Vikings would follow that up with another road game against the #1 seed, and that defense CAN get pressure on the QB. Based on what the Vikings offense has shown so far this season against defenses like that, that will be where their post season ride comes to an end.

They key is Cook and Matti. Will they play and if so are they healthy enough. Our offense is setup around the ground game. If that don't work the show is over. We are not full out pass team. That is what we wanted. We have two WRs. We don't even have a decent slot guy. We need to be in the 20 something pass attempts. Our D needs to play a great game. Bring the heat to Brees. Make him feel the pressure. That needs to be the goal. Tremendous heat. Hit him early. That will force him into taking chances. If we do that we will hold them in the low 20s. If we let Brees have time then it will create big time problems. No secondary can hold up with no pass rush. It all starts there. We need a big game from Joseph. We can't let them run through us.

[Bowhunting Viking]

If there is a bright spot to going to New Orleans, it's that they don't have a great front 7 on defense. There is a chance, albeit a small one, that the Vikings offense can move the ball on that defense.

Defensively I think the Vikings can hold their own against the Saints. The question is, will they? Which defense shows up - the one composed of veterans who are disruptive up front and stingy in the back, or the one that loses contain on the pass rush, loses gap coverage against the run, and gives up big plays downfield in the passing game?

The game will likely come down to whether Cousins and the offense can stay on the field and punch the ball in instead of settling for field goals. I'm not really excited about the prospects of that happening, but even if it were to happen, the Vikings would follow that up with another road game against the #1 seed, and that defense CAN get pressure on the QB. Based on what the Vikings offense has shown so far this season against defenses like that, that will be where their post season ride comes to an end.

They key is Cook and Matti. Will they play and if so are they healthy enough. Our offense is setup around the ground game. If that don't work the show is over. We are not full out pass team. That is what we wanted. We have two WRs. We don't even have a decent slot guy. We need to be in the 20 something pass attempts. Our D needs to play a great game. Bring the heat to Brees. Make him feel the pressure. That needs to be the goal. Tremendous heat. Hit him early. That will force him into taking chances. If we do that we will hold them in the low 20s. If we let Brees have time then it will create big time problems. No secondary can hold up with no pass rush. It all starts there. We need a big game from Joseph. We can't let them run through us.

Totally agree. I just said in the other thread that I truly hope that Cook and Mattison truly are healthy and we can establish a running/screen game to keep the Saints O off the field and we can control the clock.
Hard place to play, but would be a great place to usher them out of the dance.
Thomas scares me, so hope we have a great scheme to limit him, cuz we ain't gonna take him out of the game completely.
SKOL VIKINGS.

[VikingLord]

They key is Cook and Matti. Will they play and if so are they healthy enough. Our offense is setup around the ground game. If that don't work the show is over. We are not full out pass team. That is what we wanted. We have two WRs. We don't even have a decent slot guy. We need to be in the 20 something pass attempts. Our D needs to play a great game. Bring the heat to Brees. Make him feel the pressure. That needs to be the goal. Tremendous heat. Hit him early. That will force him into taking chances. If we do that we will hold them in the low 20s. If we let Brees have time then it will create big time problems. No secondary can hold up with no pass rush. It all starts there. We need a big game from Joseph. We can't let them run through us.

Brees doesn't really need a lot of time. He's very good at getting the ball out quickly if the rush is getting near him. If its not, good night. He'll take the extra time and carve the Vikings defense up.

I agree 100% on stopping the run on 1st and 2nd down. They were awful doing that against the Packers and while I don't think that was the primary reason they lost the game (the primary reason was the offense's inability to stay on the field), that isn't a formula for playoff success. All offenses will struggle if they're constantly in 3rd-and-6 or longer, so keeping the Saints from running is key. I don't know if that all falls on Joseph. I think the LBs have to take responsibility for their part against the run, and the entire line needs to be more stout and maintain gap control. It's a matter of consistency because they have the talent to do it. Just do it.

I feel like a broken record with this defense, but they've gotten a reputation for inconsistency and they've earned it.

[CharVike]

They key is Cook and Matti. Will they play and if so are they healthy enough. Our offense is setup around the ground game. If that don't work the show is over. We are not full out pass team. That is what we wanted. We have two WRs. We don't even have a decent slot guy. We need to be in the 20 something pass attempts. Our D needs to play a great game. Bring the heat to Brees. Make him feel the pressure. That needs to be the goal. Tremendous heat. Hit him early. That will force him into taking chances. If we do that we will hold them in the low 20s. If we let Brees have time then it will create big time problems. No secondary can hold up with no pass rush. It all starts there. We need a big game from Joseph. We can't let them run through us.

Brees doesn't really need a lot of time. He's very good at getting the ball out quickly if the rush is getting near him. If its not, good night. He'll take the extra time and carve the Vikings defense up.

I agree 100% on stopping the run on 1st and 2nd down. They were awful doing that against the Packers and while I don't think that was the primary reason they lost the game (the primary reason was the offense's inability to stay on the field), that isn't a formula for playoff success. All offenses will struggle if they're constantly in 3rd-and-6 or longer, so keeping the Saints from running is key. I don't know if that all falls on Joseph. I think the LBs have to take responsibility for their part against the run, and the entire line needs to be more stout and maintain gap control. It's a matter of consistency because they have the talent to do it. Just do it.

I feel like a broken record with this defense, but they've gotten a reputation for inconsistency and they've earned it.

It's not all on Joseph but he needs to hold the point. He's a run stuffer first. We haven't stopped the run. He's a big part of the problem. But it's certainly more than just him. I've seen enough of Brees. If you get after his qss big time he will crumble. That's always been the case. That's the case for all QBs. I watch some of Tom terrific on Sunday and he took a few big hits. He wasn't very happy about it and it impacted his game. Hard time getting up. He'll feel it today. There were times when he stood there all day also and he picked them apart when he did. And I mean all day. He didn't throw quick either. I'm a firm believer in pressure. No QB can handle it. None of them. Brees needs to be hit and under big pressure. He will fall apart. That's guaranteed. If Cousins gets pressure look out. He will fall apart also. That's why our OC moves him by design. Plus our OL sucks regardless of some stupid stat. Reif is the worst LT I have ever seen. The entire is garbage. Not one guy is starting caliber. These good teams bring pressure. Teams like the Giants, Lions ect... Bring nothing.

[StumpHunter]

They beat Houston, TN, Seattle and the Bears. The only playoff team they lost too was SF, and that game could have gone either way.

3 wins out of 4 chances against playoff teams and they killed a team that beat us at full strength. With their backup QB playing.

Ok? Houston has been one of the most inconsistent playoff teams out there. Seattle, good win. Tennessee, decent win.

And who cares that they beat the bears? We smoked the eagles who beat the packers. We smoked the falcons who beat the saints and 49ers. The Seahawks lost to the cardinals. The packers got smoked by the chargers who we beat by 29. Like, it doesn’t matter who beat who. What matters is what you do when the time comes. If we play New Orleans, it doesn’t matter who they beat or who we beat. It’s a fricken playoff team against a fricken playoff team. Nothing else matters other than how you play right then and there.

But please, go defend how all these teams had great schedules, we had a crappy one, we don’t deserve to be 10-6, our QB can’t beat a winning team and only count who you want as quality wins. Again, I don’t give a fuc# who we play, they could be the best team in the nfl or the worst, we need to do our job and win the damn game. Losing to the fricken bears in week 4 means nothing. Literally zero at that point. Simple as that

Okay?

Try to stick to discussing the points brought up in the post, not ones you make up please.

[Pondering Her Percy]

Ok? Houston has been one of the most inconsistent playoff teams out there. Seattle, good win. Tennessee, decent win.

And who cares that they beat the bears? We smoked the eagles who beat the packers. We smoked the falcons who beat the saints and 49ers. The Seahawks lost to the cardinals. The packers got smoked by the chargers who we beat by 29. Like, it doesn’t matter who beat who. What matters is what you do when the time comes. If we play New Orleans, it doesn’t matter who they beat or who we beat. It’s a fricken playoff team against a fricken playoff team. Nothing else matters other than how you play right then and there.

But please, go defend how all these teams had great schedules, we had a crappy one, we don’t deserve to be 10-6, our QB can’t beat a winning team and only count who you want as quality wins. Again, I don’t give a fuc# who we play, they could be the best team in the nfl or the worst, we need to do our job and win the damn game. Losing to the fricken bears in week 4 means nothing. Literally zero at that point. Simple as that

Okay?

Try to stick to discussing the points brought up in the post, not ones you make up please.

Ugh I did? What was made up? Or do you just not like hearing your rationale get shot down?

[StumpHunter]

Ugh I did? What was made up? Or do you just not like hearing your rationale get shot down?

This is my post:

They beat Houston, TN, Seattle and the Bears. The only playoff team they lost too was SF, and that game could have gone either way.

3 wins out of 4 chances against playoff teams and they killed a team that beat us at full strength. With their backup QB playing.

This is what you wrote in response to it:

But please, go defend how all these teams had great schedules, we had a crappy one, we don’t deserve to be 10-6, our QB can’t beat a winning team and only count who you want as quality wins. Again, I don’t give a fuc# who we play, they could be the best team in the nfl or the worst, we need to do our job and win the damn game. Losing to the fricken bears in week 4 means nothing. Literally zero at that point. Simple as that

I didn't say they had a great schedule, didn't mention ours at all, have never once said we don't deserve to be 10-6, our QB can beat a winning team, Philly, that is the only one so far as a Viking, but he did do it.

Try to stick to what is written, not what you think was written.