Vikings Message Board.Com

Pondering Her Percy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:33 am Man this is a huge game. If I'm looking at the playoff picture correctly, if we win tonight, we would be 9th in the NFC. The Bears would still be ahead of us at 5-5 and we would be 4-5 but have win over the Bears when it comes to tie breaking purposes. So essentially, we are in the drivers seat for the 8th spot if we win. In terms of squeaking into the playoffs, we would need some teams to drop a few games. Luckily for us, our remaining schedule is the 4th "easiest" remaining schedule in the NFL. But I'm guessing if the Vikings lose, it really kills playoff chances?

nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture

This definitely isnt a SB caliber team yet but given how wide open the NFC is and the fact that the Vikings have started to find their groove the past few weeks, I honestly think they can beat anyone in the NFC. And IF they were able to get into the playoffs, I wouldnt be shocked if they won a game or two.

I think it might be a blessing in disguise that Hill and Hughes are hurt. Because I think Gladney has gotten much better with time. I think Kris Boyd has looked better than both Hill and Hughes. And I like what I've seen out of Harrison Hand. Add Dantzler back into the mix and I'm much happier with that group of corners than I am Hill and/or Hughes.

As for the post Ngakoue trade, I've actually liked what I've seen out of Wonnum. And I think Odenigbo has been playing better. But this is kind of what I was hoping to see out of this defense. We all know they arent going to be the 2017 defense but we want to see improvement and see rookies flourish. Between Gladney, Dantzler, Hand, Wonnum and Lynch (who I still think should be getting more time) I've really been impressed as of late. Add in guys like Jefferson and Cleveland and this draft class looks extremely promising.

J. Kapp 11 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 10:35 am

Pondering Her Percy wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 9:33 am Man this is a huge game. If I'm looking at the playoff picture correctly, if we win tonight, we would be 9th in the NFC. The Bears would still be ahead of us at 5-5 and we would be 4-5 but have win over the Bears when it comes to tie breaking purposes. So essentially, we are in the drivers seat for the 8th spot if we win. In terms of squeaking into the playoffs, we would need some teams to drop a few games. Luckily for us, our remaining schedule is the 4th "easiest" remaining schedule in the NFL. But I'm guessing if the Vikings lose, it really kills playoff chances?

nfl.com/standings/playoff-picture

This definitely isnt a SB caliber team yet but given how wide open the NFC is and the fact that the Vikings have started to find their groove the past few weeks, I honestly think they can beat anyone in the NFC. And IF they were able to get into the playoffs, I wouldnt be shocked if they won a game or two.

I think it might be a blessing in disguise that Hill and Hughes are hurt. Because I think Gladney has gotten much better with time. I think Kris Boyd has looked better than both Hill and Hughes. And I like what I've seen out of Harrison Hand. Add Dantzler back into the mix and I'm much happier with that group of corners than I am Hill and/or Hughes.

As for the post Ngakoue trade, I've actually liked what I've seen out of Wonnum. And I think Odenigbo has been playing better. But this is kind of what I was hoping to see out of this defense. We all know they arent going to be the 2017 defense but we want to see improvement and see rookies flourish. Between Gladney, Dantzler, Hand, Wonnum and Lynch (who I still think should be getting more time) I've really been impressed as of late. Add in guys like Jefferson and Cleveland and this draft class looks extremely promising.

Unfortunately Dantzler has been ruled out for tonight's game against the Bears. So is Irv Smith, which just plain sucks.

As I mentioned in another thread, what has me worried is Samia's testing positive for Covid. If he spent time in the O-line room or practiced while he was infected, he could have infected others. The stupid thing has a 3-5 day incubation period, so we'll see what happens with today's testing.

I think you're right ... it's pretty much a must-win for us tonight if we're serious about the playoffs. A 9-7 record might be good enough this year in the NFC, but a loss would require us to win 6 of our last 7. That's a tall order with both Tampa Bay and New Orleans left on the schedule. Plus, it's looking pretty apparent that the NFC West is going to put 3 teams in the playoffs, leaving only one Wild Card spot open. So there's no room to stumble. The Vikings need to win all their winnable games, and this game is winnable.

I'm with you on the DBs. Gladney has really picked it up lately and is looking like a first-round draft choice. Kris Boyd has played well. We really could use Dantzler, if for no other reason that depth, but that's unfortunately not the case tonight. However, the Bears have probably the weakest WR corps of all the teams we have left, and Allen Robinson is questionable, so that's a plus for us.

As long as the starting O-line is intact, I like our chances tonight.

VikingPaul73 wrote: ↑Mon Nov 16, 2020 2:14 pm Not sure 9-7 would get us into the playoffs this year
There are (3) 6-3 teams in West and (2) 7 win teams in the South. So only 4 more wins for AZ and LA, and 3 more for Tampa and NO puts them all at 10 wins. And 3 more wins for Seattle gives them 9 and the tie-breaker over a 9-7 Vikings team with their win against us.

I haven't looked through their schedules, but we would need AZ or LA to go 3-4 the rest of the way, and then hope for the tie-breaker . I can't imagine Seattle, Tampa or NO only winning 2 more games the rest of the way. So not impossible, but probably not likely that 9-7 would get us in.

Either way, you are right, a L tonight would effectively eliminate us from any chance. And still, it's remarkable we're even discussing this with our 1-5 start

Man, that Seahawks collapse could really haunt us in December

Edit: How annoyed will people be if a 5-10-1 Eagles team gets in ahead of a 9-7 Vikings