Sports Illustrated Predicts the Vikings to Lose. . .the NFC Championship Game
by Gonzo
on Aug 27, 2008 11:19 AM CDT
in Vikings
Remember a month or so back when Sports Illustrated's Paul "Dr. Z" Zimmerman decided that he was going to make the Vikings his pick to win Super Bowl XLIII and everyone was shocked?
Well, if that shocked you, you'd better be sitting down and/or have a stiff drink handy. . .or both. . .when I present the news I'm about to give you.
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, it appears that the good doctor has been passing around his flask of purple Kool-Aid over the last month, because Sports Illustrated's 2008 NFL preview is out, and it projects the Beloved Purple to advance all the way to the NFC Championship game while amassing a 13-3 record.
Now, believe me when I tell you. . .I am what the kids today might call one purple Kool-Aid sippin' mofo. . .and I'm hoping for 11-5. Hoping. I would love to see a 13-3 record for this team, and it just might happen, but at this point I'm not sure if I could project such a thing. The Vikings' schedule isn't easy, what with having to run the gauntlet through the AFC South (which might be the best division in football), what should be an improved NFC South, the always tough divisional contests, and a season finale date with the defending world champions.
Does this team have the talent to go 13-3? They most certainly do, particularly if the improvement that Tarvaris Jackson has shown isn't an aberration. But as Brad Childress says in the SI article, the key is to be consistent, and as anyone that's followed the Vikings for any length of time knows, the Vikings are notorious for having at least one game a year where they lose to a team they should beat. That alone keeps me from the kind of lofty, pie-in-the-sky projection that SI doesn't seem to have any problems making.
What do you folks think of the SI prediction? Are they completely out of their minds, or do you think that they're on the money? Discuss it here, and we'll be back with more later on today!
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Within Reach?
I think the Championship Game is more within reach than 13-3. Eli Manning’s QB rating was only fractionally better than TJ’s dismal rating LAST year. A much improved Jackson THIS year, with a defense and running game that will also improve as the stars come into alignment, and there’s no reason why this team cannot make a run. This said, 13-3 seems generous, given that this team will NOT YET be consistent and in top form consistently over sixteen games. For two years now, I’ve wanted THIS to be the year we simply make the playoffs and would be thrilled if we made it into the second week. NEXT year has been my timeline (since Childress was hired and TJ was drafted) for beginning to “expect” to make a push to the Super Bowl. After Tice’s firing and the clear gestures of putting this team through the “rebuilding” mill (which you will remember infuriated Winfield and sent Randy packing [he wouldn’t have stood for it!]), I see no reason to believe we are not right where we should have expected being. I like the base this team is building and look forward to reaping the benefits as a solid contender for the next several years.
by Anthony Carter on Aug 27, 2008 11:57 AM CDT 0 recs
But 13-3..?
The Vikes have so much explosive talent that I could see them beating anyone on any given day. This will be a dangerous team if they make the playoffs. But our inconsistencies on both sides of the ball are much to great to go 13-3. A lesser team with more consistency would have a better chance of that.
This team will probably lose to two crappy teams this year minimum. They’ll probably blow out at least two very good teams this year as well. That is just the way they are built.
by Sand0 on Aug 27, 2008 12:34 PM CDT 0 recs
Schedule a little too tough for 13-3
I’m expecting anywhere from 10-12 wins this season, but looking at the schedule, I would have a hard time seeing the Vikes win 13. Especially with the entire AFC South to play. Don’t get me wrong though, I think that in the playoffs this team will be as dangerous as any.
by cruton647 on Aug 27, 2008 3:42 PM CDT 0 recs
Consensus
Pretty interesting vote results – don’t often see that much agreement.
by FishingMN on Aug 27, 2008 4:23 PM CDT 0 recs
play calling
another year of horrible play calling and mismanagement of talent will leave this team and it’s fan’s scratching their heads……
Childress has yet learned how to attack the 8-9 in the box scheme…..he continually throws two TE sets at opposing defenses bent on stopping our run game….only when he counters with 3 and 4 WR sets will we be able to exploit the 8-9 in the box scheme to stop the run….
we need to establish the passing game to open up our running game….until this team shows it can throw the ball, every opposing defense will concentrate on stopping the run, and AD will experience more games like the SF, Washington, or Denver games last year than his Chicago or SD outbursts….
I continue to this day to not be a believer that Jackson will ever amount to more than an average NFL QB……his mechanics have been, and will continue to be, horrible…..I still feel he plays a second slower than those around him…..I would love to be proved wrong, but I don’t see it happening….IMO we would have been better off drafting a real project QB rather than JDB….
13-3…..would love to see, but seriously doubt it…..
10-6…..will probably win the division, but not a wild card…..
by Hilton Head viking on Aug 27, 2008 11:51 PM CDT 0 recs
Well, if we win the division we don’t need to worry about a wild card…
Anyways, who says Childress isn’t aware how to attack the 8-9 box scheme? What are you judging that off of? The preseason? He isn’t going to tip his hand for a meaningless game. He’s brought in a fast reciever who’s going to take advantage of those single coverages that they’re going to face if teams stack up to stop the run. That would seem to defeat it to me.
Back to the topic, 13-3 seems to be a bit much. That would take amazing effort and skill to topple the juggernaughts of the AFC South. Unless of course those three losses are from the AFC South and we beat, say, the Texans. But then we’d have to sweep the NFC games which isn’t going to be easy.
by Frost on Aug 28, 2008 10:26 AM CDT 0 recs
a fast reciever isn't the answer
you can put the Jamacian sprinters out there, but if Childress continues to counter defenses by using a 2 TE set, or play action off 3 WR sets, we’ll be in the same boat as the end of last year….granted, Berrian is a huge upgrade over Williamson, and I hope Rice has the breakout year that everyone is predicting…it’s not a simple as bringing in a fast reciever…take notice of New England…..they SPREAD the field with 4 and 5WR sets…impossible to put 8-9 in the box….you can count on one hand how many 4 or 5 WR sets CHildress ran last year…without the scheming and the QB play, the fastest recievers in the world are worthless….
teams will continue to jam the box until we can show we can beat them….
and 13-3 isn’t really that much of a reach…..average QB play, better play calling, and an improved pass rush will make it more reachable than people realize….
by Hilton Head viking on Aug 28, 2008 12:56 PM CDT 0 recs
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