The Minnesota Vikings are 6-6...and they look good. (2 Viewers)

[Ministry of Pain]

They have won 3 straight, 4 of their last 5 and some of these wins are impressive. 35-17 over a playoff bound San Diego, a 41-17 thumping of the playoff bound NY Gants, and then a 42-10 thrashing of the once playoff bound Detroit Lions.

The fact is they are the best in the NFL at stopping the run. Sure, it's easier to throw the ball on them but they are stingy agianst the run. And they have built an incredible run offense despite very poor QB play. I am no TJax supporter but he has looked decent the past couple of weeks. All he has to do is manage the game really.

They have a great rushing attack, they have weapons in the passing game, the real thing that Minnesota needs in order to make a deep playoff run is really better QB play and perhaps some DB help or an upgrade in the pass rush from the DE spots...but those things can be done thru FA, they don't need to wait thru 3 or 4 more drafts. In fact I said earlier this year and I say the same thing now, the Vikings are built to win right now. They are solid on both sides of the line and that's half the battle. Throw in a great young RB, a very credible back up behind him, they can run all day if they want to behind Birk, Hutch, and McKinnie.

What do the Vikingfans think? Time to brag a little I'm guessing.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

We think this.

 

[Whiplash Inc.]

You forgot to mention Sidney Rice.

 

[shadyridr]

Am I the only person who thinks they should keep Taylor next year?

 

[Ministry of Pain]

Am I the only person who thinks they should keep Taylor next year?

Absolutely they should keep Taylor. With the way ADP runs, they might need him for a game or two. DOn't forget that Chester was injured week 1, so we haven't been able to see him in a supporting role till right about now. he is a perfect compliment to ADP, and will allow them to keep ADP to maybe 20 carries a game. I think all RB are optimum when they can get some breathers on the sidelines.

 

[ScoobyDoo]

Am I the only person who thinks they should keep Taylor next year?

No, I agree. They should keep Taylor next year.The Vikings are good enough to get to the Bowl and bad enough to lose the playoff spot. The team runs the ball, and stops the run. You don't get TJack to turn the ball over for you and you are in trouble.Also, they've had problems keeping TJack on the field all year. All he appears to do is win.

 

[MaddHatter]

They run the ball well and play defense. Two main ingredients to success.

 

[sdsjr3]

Yeah, I'm the furthest thing from a Vikes fan, but I gotta admit, if they avoid a serious injury and dumb personnel moves they will be a team to be reckoned with in the next few years to come.

ADP really is amazing too. Geez. Vikes fans are a lucky bunch right now, I'd love for the Jets to have a player like that to watch weekly. I don't want to say he's the next LT...he's simply the first ADP. And that's something very special. Kid is just flat out strong and quick.

 

[bicycle_seat_sniffer]

I would still look to upgrade at QB, but this team looks solid right now.

If I was TB or Seattle I'd be nervous about playing them

 

[lebrija]

Am I the only person who thinks they should keep Taylor next year?

No, I agree. They should keep Taylor next year.The Vikings are good enough to get to the Bowl and bad enough to lose the playoff spot. The team runs the ball, and stops the run. You don't get TJack to turn the ball over for you and you are in trouble.Also, they've had problems keeping TJack on the field all year. All he appears to do is win.

TJack is 6-2 as a starter.........not bad.Early they just wanted him to manage the game.......now he is making plays.Could be scarey good for the purple

 

[Chase Stuart]

http://www.pro-football-reference.com/blog/wordpress/?p=428

The "gap" has closed to 2.64, but it's still well ahead of any other team since the merger.

 

[Koya]

Second best team in the NFC right now. They have dominated the last couple games, they have a great run defense and their pass defense is catching up, if by no other way than causing turnovers - tough choice for an opponent. Run and them and get stuffed or get forced into passing where you expose yourself to turnovers.

On offense, they are looking excpetional. You HAVE to keep 8 in/near the box with A Pete but their QB is not making plays as well.

In regard to Taylor and next year, they absolutely need to hold onto him. This is a running team. Any passing game they have is predicated on the opponents fear of the best runner the game has seen since Barry Sanders retired. If they lost A Pete without Taylor around, the team would be lost... that is there strength and Taylor is as good an insurance policy as I can imagine.

 

[SaintArnold]

Second best team in the NFC right now.

The Vikes look fantastic, but there's no way you can make this claim so quickly after the Pack blew them out 34-0 (and this was their second loss to the Packers). And I think they'd have to beat the Bucs and the Seahawks too, before you could make this claim.All that said, I don't think claiming #3 would be that ridiculous.

 

[Warhogs]

I have heard a lot of claims in Minny that they should fire Childress. They should fire the management that forced them to go into the season with no proven QB and no proven WR. Still, they are putting together a nice run and are in the hunt. If management does not bring in some proven capable WR and QB help to help the youngsters they should be run out of town.

If they had committed to that they could be a 9 or 10 win team and practically have locked up a playoff birth.

 

[Sabertooth]

Second best team in the NFC right now. They have dominated the last couple games, they have a great run defense and their pass defense is catching up, if by no other way than causing turnovers - tough choice for an opponent. Run and them and get stuffed or get forced into passing where you expose yourself to turnovers.On offense, they are looking excpetional. You HAVE to keep 8 in/near the box with A Pete but their QB is not making plays as well.In regard to Taylor and next year, they absolutely need to hold onto him. This is a running team. Any passing game they have is predicated on the opponents fear of the best runner the game has seen since Barry Sanders retired. If they lost A Pete without Taylor around, the team would be lost... that is there strength and Taylor is as good an insurance policy as I can imagine.

Come on. This is crazy talk. Green Bay absolutely them and hurt ADP in the process.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

 

[SteelCat]

I'd like to see them in the playoffs with a chance to play the Cowboys early......just to wipe that stupid smirk off Romo's face. Always friggin' smirking.

 

[snogger]

I have heard a lot of claims in Minny that they should fire Childress. They should fire the management that forced them to go into the season with no proven QB and no proven WR. Still, they are putting together a nice run and are in the hunt. If management does not bring in some proven capable WR and QB help to help the youngsters they should be run out of town.

If they had committed to that they could be a 9 or 10 win team and practically have locked up a playoff birth.

That was ALL on Childress. Go back to the Off season and/or Pre-season. You will see Childress stating he was very happy with what the Vikings had at QB and saw no need to add anyone.

Childress knew his career as a coach with the Vikings or any where else for that matter rested squarely on his shoulders as he wanted TJ as his starter.

The last 3 weeks TJ has grown tremendously and a lot of us might end up eating crow happily if he continues to grow.

 

[TitusIII]

They dominate the line of scrimmage regardless of opponent, and because of that everything clicks...Jackson will cost them in the playoffs, but I like what they are doing...

 

[snogger]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

If TJ continues to mature as the season progress, we won't be seeing any potential starting FA QB coming in.The possible trade most of us thought for D. Anderson will be out the window if he continues to play as well as he has the last 3 weeks.

 

[Sabertooth]

They dominate the line of scrimmage regardless of opponent, and because of that everything clicks...Jackson will cost them in the playoffs, but I like what they are doing...

The Packers zone/cut scheme neutralize those big DTs pretty well though.

 

[snogger]

They dominate the line of scrimmage regardless of opponent, and because of that everything clicks...Jackson will cost them in the playoffs, but I like what they are doing...

The Packers zone/cut scheme neutralize those big DTs pretty well though.

The game at Green Bay was a joke. The coaching staff was so worried about the loss of Winfield in the back field that they went in with a game plan to rush 4 and drop back into coverage. The Defensive Coordinator even said after that fiasco that it was probably a mistake to game plan that way and only blitz once the whole game.... you think???

 

[Evilgrin 72]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

If TJ continues to mature as the season progress, we won't be seeing any potential starting FA QB coming in.The possible trade most of us thought for D. Anderson will be out the window if he continues to play as well as he has the last 3 weeks.

True that, I'm not sold on Jackson at ALL, however. With a running game like they have, they need an accurate QB who can take advantage of the windows downfield that playing 8-9 in the box creates, and I don't think Jackson is that guy.

 

[jonboltz]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

If TJ continues to mature as the season progress, we won't be seeing any potential starting FA QB coming in.The possible trade most of us thought for D. Anderson will be out the window if he continues to play as well as he has the last 3 weeks.

True that, I'm not sold on Jackson at ALL, however. With a running game like they have, they need an accurate QB who can take advantage of the windows downfield that playing 8-9 in the box creates, and I don't think Jackson is that guy.

60% completion % in the last 3 games is pretty solid, especially with this group of WRs.

 

[The_Man]

I was just thinking about this today -- let's say you're Seattle and you can clinch the #3 seed and a game vs. the Vikings with a win in Week 17, or clinch the #4 seed and a game with Eli and the Giants by losing Week 17. Do you even think about tanking?

The Vikings' run D is great. Their running game is great. They are going to be a scary team to play in December.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

60% completion % in the last 3 games is pretty solid, especially with this group of WRs.

Jackson's completion percentage has increased with Troy Williamson being out.Coincidence?

 

[malice]

I'd like to see them in the playoffs with a chance to play the Cowboys early......just to wipe that stupid smirk off Romo's face. Always friggin' smirking.

I don't know...I still think the secondary is the Vikings' achilles heel. Basically, they just can't afford to get down early in a game. I can't see them doing a better job covering T.O. than GB did.The biggest difference- and best improvement they've made- in the last few weeks has been cutting down the stupid penalties. Their biggest opponent may just be themselves with false starts and holding penalties.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

If TJ continues to mature as the season progress, we won't be seeing any potential starting FA QB coming in.The possible trade most of us thought for D. Anderson will be out the window if he continues to play as well as he has the last 3 weeks.

True that, I'm not sold on Jackson at ALL, however. With a running game like they have, they need an accurate QB who can take advantage of the windows downfield that playing 8-9 in the box creates, and I don't think Jackson is that guy.

60% completion % in the last 3 games is pretty solid, especially with this group of WRs.

60% is nothing to crow about, especially as a high-water mark. I'm not trying to rip the guy, he's fun to watch, but I think if they had a more accurate QB back there, their offense would really take off, especially if they were able to add a playmaker at WR.

 

[Andy Dufresne]

60% is nothing to crow about, especially as a high-water mark. I'm not trying to rip the guy, he's fun to watch, but I think if they had a more accurate QB back there, their offense would really take off, especially if they were able to add a playmaker at WR.

Have you seen him play the last two weeks? He has been VERY accurate. And he even threw a nice fade pass yesterday.Sidney Rice will be a playmaker next year. And if they draft someone like DeSean Jackson...

 

[snogger]

60% is nothing to crow about, especially as a high-water mark. I'm not trying to rip the guy, he's fun to watch, but I think if they had a more accurate QB back there, their offense would really take off, especially if they were able to add a playmaker at WR.

Have you seen him play the last two weeks? He has been VERY accurate. And he even threw a nice fade pass yesterday.

Sidney Rice will be a playmaker next year. And if they draft someone like DeSean Jackson...

You need to throw away the first games of the season. Hell, he hasn't even had a full season yet under his belt as a starter.

He will make mistakes, all QB's do.

But he seems to be learning that he doesn't have to be the play maker to make plays.

 

[Eric]

The Viking ship is wandering the seas and barely afloat right now.. It is looking like YEARS before they will find any land to dominate.

Will you please change that sig now? Pretty please? I'm getting tired of reading that tripe. TIA.

 

[shakeybarn]

I'd like to see them in the playoffs with a chance to play the Cowboys early......just to wipe that stupid smirk off Romo's face. Always friggin' smirking.

I don't know...I still think the secondary is the Vikings' achilles heel. Basically, they just can't afford to get down early in a game. I can't see them doing a better job covering T.O. than GB did.The biggest difference- and best improvement they've made- in the last few weeks has been cutting down the stupid penalties. Their biggest opponent may just be themselves with false starts and holding penalties.

A common misconception about their secondary. Ppl need to wake up. The Minnesota pass D is quite respectableEveryone just looks at the yards per game they give up, and think they suck as a pass D.

What the reality is ... they have most pass attempts against them than ANY other team in NFL. The run is shut down, so teams have nothing less to do, but pass.

However they are top 15 in just about every other pass category in the NFL!!

Look it up... passing TDs given up... INTs yielded.... QB sacks yielded...

Yesterday, Jon Kitna only got one TD vs them...

Because they don't have to dedicate schema to the run, they can devote a bit more help in the passing D with LBs and safeties.

True, GB worked em bad a few weeks back, happens... but the prior time, they gave up 2 TDs to Favre... they gave up 1 TD to Romo. Yeah, they give up 300 yards to that quality of QB, but "holding" them to 1 or 2 TDs fares much better than most teams that face those guys.

I can't see them doing a better job covering T.O. than GB did.

Actually they didMIN - 7/103/1

GB - 7/156/1

Both games in Dallas.

 

[malice]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

If TJ continues to mature as the season progress, we won't be seeing any potential starting FA QB coming in.The possible trade most of us thought for D. Anderson will be out the window if he continues to play as well as he has the last 3 weeks.

True that, I'm not sold on Jackson at ALL, however. With a running game like they have, they need an accurate QB who can take advantage of the windows downfield that playing 8-9 in the box creates, and I don't think Jackson is that guy.

60% completion % in the last 3 games is pretty solid, especially with this group of WRs.

60% is nothing to crow about, especially as a high-water mark. I'm not trying to rip the guy, he's fun to watch, but I think if they had a more accurate QB back there, their offense would really take off, especially if they were able to add a playmaker at WR.

What kind of QB are you proposing? Drafting a rookie means he won't be ready inside of the time that this O-line is at its prime. Free agents? Jackson is actually making good use of his feet and not forcing bad throws, so which free agent(s) could be an upgrade? Yesterday Jackson looked more decisive in his throws than McNabb has most of the season- so outside of name recognition, I doubt he'd be a true upgrade. The bidding war for Derek Anderson might be not worth it. The only QB upgrade they might want to consider is a good backup since Jackson still might be an injury risk.

 

[snogger]

The Viking ship is wandering the seas and barely afloat right now.. It is looking like YEARS before they will find any land to dominate.

Will you please change that sig now? Pretty please? I'm getting tired of reading that tripe. TIA.

hmmmm.. Yep I maybe able to change that.. But wait.. what if THAT is what is motivating them???? Sorry, guess I'll need to keep it there for a bit.

 

[Evilgrin 72]

If they can somehow get a hold of McNabb and manage to draft a gamebreaker like Doucet or DeSean Jackson in round 1, they could be among the NFC elite next year.

If TJ continues to mature as the season progress, we won't be seeing any potential starting FA QB coming in.The possible trade most of us thought for D. Anderson will be out the window if he continues to play as well as he has the last 3 weeks.

True that, I'm not sold on Jackson at ALL, however. With a running game like they have, they need an accurate QB who can take advantage of the windows downfield that playing 8-9 in the box creates, and I don't think Jackson is that guy.

60% completion % in the last 3 games is pretty solid, especially with this group of WRs.

60% is nothing to crow about, especially as a high-water mark. I'm not trying to rip the guy, he's fun to watch, but I think if they had a more accurate QB back there, their offense would really take off, especially if they were able to add a playmaker at WR.

What kind of QB are you proposing? Drafting a rookie means he won't be ready inside of the time that this O-line is at its prime. Free agents? Jackson is actually making good use of his feet and not forcing bad throws, so which free agent(s) could be an upgrade? Yesterday Jackson looked more decisive in his throws than McNabb has most of the season- so outside of name recognition, I doubt he'd be a true upgrade. The bidding war for Derek Anderson might be not worth it. The only QB upgrade they might want to consider is a good backup since Jackson still might be an injury risk.

I don't know yet who is going to be available, but a guy like Garcia could be terrific for them, if such a free agent were to pop up. You never know who might be a salary cap victim.

 

[gregjcross]

Everyone thinks the Vikes should put themselves over the top and draft a bunch of offense in April, but in reality, they should stay the course, get more depth on the lines and ensure they lead with defense and their running game even if starters get hurt. Just get the best available as they have been doing -- and keep building a physical team.

They have a formula to be successful, so dont get caught up now trying to get the percieved "Missing offensive piece."

In the playoffs, I think the party could end if Tavaris Jackson gets crazy or behind -- but I like their chances in almost any game save for the Patriots.

I can think of about 18 teams that would love to bein the Vikings shoes right now

 

[Warhogs]

I have heard a lot of claims in Minny that they should fire Childress. They should fire the management that forced them to go into the season with no proven QB and no proven WR. Still, they are putting together a nice run and are in the hunt. If management does not bring in some proven capable WR and QB help to help the youngsters they should be run out of town.

If they had committed to that they could be a 9 or 10 win team and practically have locked up a playoff birth.

That was ALL on Childress. Go back to the Off season and/or Pre-season. You will see Childress stating he was very happy with what the Vikings had at QB and saw no need to add anyone.

Childress knew his career as a coach with the Vikings or any where else for that matter rested squarely on his shoulders as he wanted TJ as his starter.

The last 3 weeks TJ has grown tremendously and a lot of us might end up eating crow happily if he continues to grow.

Are you serious? What did you expect the coach to say when management did not bring any talent in at QB or WR? He was not going to say they were going to suck on offense with no talent. When management does not bring in any talent at QB or WR your only option is to spin it as being happy with whatcha got.

 

[malice]

I'd like to see them in the playoffs with a chance to play the Cowboys early......just to wipe that stupid smirk off Romo's face. Always friggin' smirking.

I don't know...I still think the secondary is the Vikings' achilles heel. Basically, they just can't afford to get down early in a game. I can't see them doing a better job covering T.O. than GB did.The biggest difference- and best improvement they've made- in the last few weeks has been cutting down the stupid penalties. Their biggest opponent may just be themselves with false starts and holding penalties.

A common misconception about their secondary. Ppl need to wake up. The Minnesota pass D is quite respectableEveryone just looks at the yards per game they give up, and think they suck as a pass D.

What the reality is ... they have most pass attempts against them than ANY other team in NFL. The run is shut down, so teams have nothing less to do, but pass.

However they are top 15 in just about every other pass category in the NFL!!

Look it up... passing TDs given up... INTs yielded.... QB sacks yielded...

Yesterday, Jon Kitna only got one TD vs them...

Because they don't have to dedicate schema to the run, they can devote a bit more help in the passing D with LBs and safeties.

True, GB worked em bad a few weeks back, happens... but the prior time, they gave up 2 TDs to Favre... they gave up 1 TD to Romo. Yeah, they give up 300 yards to that quality of QB, but "holding" them to 1 or 2 TDs fares much better than most teams that face those guys.

The defense has tightened up the last couple weeks...but I remember in the Philly and GB games there were a number of EASY INTs that were dropped. They also still have a vulnerability to the 8-9 yard hook route (a number of passes were off the mark or dropped yesterday which helped this from becoming problematic).

 

[ScoobyDoo]

I have heard a lot of claims in Minny that they should fire Childress. They should fire the management that forced them to go into the season with no proven QB and no proven WR. Still, they are putting together a nice run and are in the hunt. If management does not bring in some proven capable WR and QB help to help the youngsters they should be run out of town.

If they had committed to that they could be a 9 or 10 win team and practically have locked up a playoff birth.

That was ALL on Childress. Go back to the Off season and/or Pre-season. You will see Childress stating he was very happy with what the Vikings had at QB and saw no need to add anyone.

Childress knew his career as a coach with the Vikings or any where else for that matter rested squarely on his shoulders as he wanted TJ as his starter.

The last 3 weeks TJ has grown tremendously and a lot of us might end up eating crow happily if he continues to grow.

Are you serious? What did you expect the coach to say when management did not bring any talent in at QB or WR? He was not going to say they were going to suck on offense with no talent. When management does not bring in any talent at QB or WR your only option is to spin it as being happy with whatcha got.

With all due respect, Chili is not interested in getting a FA QB of any caliber above Kelly Holcombe.http://www.twincities.com/vikings/ci_7612403?nclick_check=1

In early March, veteran quarterback Jeff Garcia considered signing with the Vikings, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. But Garcia wanted something Childress was not ready to give him, according to the source - the starting job.

Without that assurance, Garcia signed a two-year, $7 million contract with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers that included $5 million in guarantees. Garcia has the Bucs atop the NFC South with a 7-4 record, and he is the league's sixth-rated quarterback with a passer rating of 96.0.

"We'd be a lot better with him," one Vikings player said of Garcia. "But I like how (Jackson) plays, and I think he will get better."

 

[snogger]

I have heard a lot of claims in Minny that they should fire Childress. They should fire the management that forced them to go into the season with no proven QB and no proven WR. Still, they are putting together a nice run and are in the hunt. If management does not bring in some proven capable WR and QB help to help the youngsters they should be run out of town.

If they had committed to that they could be a 9 or 10 win team and practically have locked up a playoff birth.

That was ALL on Childress. Go back to the Off season and/or Pre-season. You will see Childress stating he was very happy with what the Vikings had at QB and saw no need to add anyone.

Childress knew his career as a coach with the Vikings or any where else for that matter rested squarely on his shoulders as he wanted TJ as his starter.

The last 3 weeks TJ has grown tremendously and a lot of us might end up eating crow happily if he continues to grow.

Are you serious? What did you expect the coach to say when management did not bring any talent in at QB or WR? He was not going to say they were going to suck on offense with no talent. When management does not bring in any talent at QB or WR your only option is to spin it as being happy with whatcha got.

Living up here I read and follow all that goes on all year long. Chlidress has a LOT more pull than you seem to realize on what personnel is brought in.

Childress made the decision to move up in the draft to get TJ.

Childress made the decision not to go after Brees.

Childress made the decision to release Brad Johnson and make TJ the starter.

 

[Judge Smails]

Lord just let their D play to expectations this week vs. the 49rs. They should stop Gore and force Dilfer (if he's even playing) or the backup who's never thrown a pass into a TON of mistakes. Please let this happen.