Vikings Message Board.Com

J. Kapp 11 wrote:Peterson will go crazy and be the difference. The Rams are 13th in the league against the rush, but the numbers lie.

Against quality running teams -- Washington, Seattle, San Francisco, New England (unbelievable to include the Pats in "quality running teams") -- the Rams are giving up 160 ypg.

Against crap running teams -- Detroit, Green Bay, Arizona, Miami, Buffalo -- they've padded their stats at 61.6.

Will it be enough? I think so. Why? Their offense is pretty horrible -- 29th in the league at 18.2 ppg. They've lost three games where they've given up fewer than 300 yards on defense, but the offense couldn't score. Sam Bradford's stats, unbelievably, aren't significantly better than Ponder's (their passer ratings are almost identical), and their receivers are just as inept.

The difference: the Rams don't have AP. We do.

Vikings 17
Rams 10

I wouldn't include Buffalo among the bad rushing teams. Spiller is among the most dangerous players in the league, & Fred Jackson is no slouch either.

Pepper2Moss wrote: I wouldn't include Buffalo among the bad rushing teams. Spiller is among the most dangerous players in the league, & Fred Jackson is no slouch either.

OK. I take back Buffalo's rushing attack. The point remains ... they're the only decent rushing team that St. Louis has held below league average, and the Rams have also given up the fourth-most rushing TDs in the league. Their rush defense simply isn't that good, and their pass defense ranks right in the middle of the pack (which means Christian Ponder probably has no chance).

Also, it doesn't change the fact that St. Louis' offense is still far worse than ours. Buffalo is one of the worst defensive teams in the league (27th overall), and the Rams could only put up 15 points and 285 yards against them.

I believe that being in a dome gives the Vikes a great chance to get a rare road win well that and AD is on our side hehe!

Reignman wrote:Put it this way, if we can't beat the Rams on the road, what chance in hell do we have at winning 3 consecutive road games in the playoffs vs some of the best teams in the league? I'm glad this is a must win, because if we don't, then this team has no business being in the playoffs anyway.

You realize that the Rams aren't a BAD team. They are 1 game out of the playoffs. Its not like we are playing last years Rams

vikings-5
rams-2

AD runs for 400yards, Ponder scuppers any chance of a td.
Allen with safety, Ponder S***s himself and runs out of the back of the end zone i.e dan orlovsky's it.
Brinkley sets all kinds of records with 9 1/2 sacks

It could happen!!!!

I predict this game turns into a bit of a runaway; Vikings defense comes through with turnovers and 3 and outs and offense capitalizes:

Vikings 27
Rams 13

I for one would like to see AD get 200+ yards and Ponder have more yards passing than AD has running for a change. Hey, I can dream......

Vikes 24
Rams 16

I think AP has a huge game and the defense shuts down the Rams. Must win game for any chance at the playoffs.

John_Viveiros wrote: Easy for me to say. Look at the schedule. Two 9-4 teams, two 8-5 teams, another 7-6 team... and the Lions. We won the game we could be said to be favored in.

...Played better than one would expect against the two 9-4 teams. Played not as well against the others. Unless the Bears completely fall apart, four of the five losses will be against playoff teams. And if RG3 plays, the Skins may well take their place if the Bears can't pull it out.

Good point

17-14 Vikings win on the road, a highly motivated AP encourages the Oline to have a great day and rushes for 200 plus yards. Defense does enough to hold onto the win.

Play-off hopes alive, for now...

J. Kapp 11 wrote: OK. I take back Buffalo's rushing attack. The point remains ... they're the only decent rushing team that St. Louis has held below league average, and the Rams have also given up the fourth-most rushing TDs in the league. Their rush defense simply isn't that good, and their pass defense ranks right in the middle of the pack (which means Christian Ponder probably has no chance).

Also, it doesn't change the fact that St. Louis' offense is still far worse than ours. Buffalo is one of the worst defensive teams in the league (27th overall), and the Rams could only put up 15 points and 285 yards against them.

Hello Viking fans. Obviously new to this board but I often check in with the opposing teams fans each week.

Not her to troll or cause any problems, just discuss football. I get that you're Viking fans but I think you may be taking our run D a little lightly. I agree our rush defense numbers are a bit skewed but not in the direction you're stating.

In 12 games this year the Rams have played against top 10 rushing offenses 7 times. Yes, AZ was 2 of the other games but the anomaly in the rush D stats is that M. Brockers missed the first 3 games and was not 100% in the 4th one due to a high ankle sprain suffered in the final preseason game.

After taking a few weeks to get his feel for the NFL game he has come on strong in the last 3 - 4 weeks. Last week, this D held Spiller and F. Jackson to 61 yards. The week before they held F. Gore to 51. My point is, this rush D is getting better, not piling up stats against weak teams.

I know that AP is an elite RB and I'm sure he'll get his yards, but the prediction I read of 170 is a bit wishful, IMO. Good luck on Sunday. I hope your team loses (obviously) but I also hope for no injuries on either side.

Go Rams!

If Peterson can get 120 yds and 2 TD's along with Ponder getting 180+ yds and a TD, then we're over the finish line with a Blair FG.

BigRamFan wrote:
Go Rams!

Normal team stat lines against the run kind of take a back seat with Peterson, as he's had almost no pass support, and seeing 8 and 9 man boxes the whole year. That's why his nickname - AD - is now taking on robotic / he's a medical marvel proportions

headless_norseman wrote:
Normal team stat lines against the run kind of take a back seat with Peterson, as he's had almost no pass support, and seeing 8 and 9 man boxes the whole year. That's why his nickname - AD - is now taking on robotic / he's a medical marvel proportions

No question what he has accomplished from a medical standpoint is remarkable, and I truly understand your point about stacked boxes from watching SJ39 the past several years, but I would be shocked if AP continues at his recent pace this weekend.

Our front 7 have really come into their own the last few weeks in Fisher's defense and our DBs tackle well. Either way, I expect a competitive game. I like our chances at home but we sure have a knack for keeping it interesting until the very end.

who knows with the Rams one week they beat SF and the next they lose to a bad team ...

my guy is telling me we win this game...

24 17 Vikings