Monday Open Thread: November 2, 2020

Merry post-win Monday, everyone!

Well, that was an unexpected and most pleasant surprise. I’ll be honest, I was not expecting the Vikings to win. I was hoping they’d win, as I always do, but I’d be lying if I said I was expecting it. Well, they did win, and those of you who didn’t tune in to the Dalvin Cook show yesterday missed a dandy. Cook averaged nearly five and a half per carry, and he finished the day with 163 rushing yards and 3 rushing TDs, then added another 63 receiving yards with another TD, that’s 226 yards from scrimmage and 4 touchdowns for the young man, and that’s damn impressive. Cousins had a good game, although not a busy one, as he only threw 14 passes, but he completed 11 of them and didn’t throw any to the wrong team. Zimmer made the best with what he had personnel-wise, and I was really impressed with how he disguised coverages and assignments. The defense played a good game, and they held a good offense to 21 points, which was enough to get the W against the Packers at Lambeau. I’m not going to complain about the reffing today, I may do it tomorrow or in the comments, because there were some laughably absurd calls, which is par for the course when you play there.

This was a win which was almost unanimously unexpected by those who watch football. According to Fox Sports, 88% of overall bets were on the Packers to win, and 85% of all bet money was on the Packers. The spread breakdown had 90% of bettors taking the Packers to win and cover the six-point spread. That’s a very high percentage. You probably couldn’t get 90% of the population to agree that the earth is round. I don’t know how spread % would be higher than overall % for the team who has to cover the spread, I would think those two would be versey-vicey, but I don’t know how those numbers are calculated, If any of you who understand such things wish to enlighten me, please do. I just know that not many thought the Vikings would win, but they did, and that makes me happy.

There are some who say the Vikings should lose to get a higher draft pick. I’ll go on record as to say that I have never cheered for the Vikings to lose, and I never will. I disagree that they should ever try to lose, and I also disagree that any NFL coach who wants to continue to be an NFL coach would ever ask his team to do that. I can say with absolute certainty that as long as I live, I will never, ever, ever, for any reason whatsoever, cheer for the Vikings to lose, especially to the Packers. I don’t like the Packers, yesterday was a happy day for me, and it gave me a mood boost that will last a while. Thanks Vikings!

Around the DN since our last open thread:

From Chris, Dalvin Cook made history yesterday.

Chris has your post-game wrap-up.

Mark Fields suffered a punctured lung and will be out 2-3 weeks, per Chris. Doesn’t it seem like a punctured lung would require a longer healing period? 2-3 weeks seems soon for such an injury.

vhcadet posted the Stock Market Report 2.0: Vikings-Packers.

Other Vikings/NFL news, and random oddities and annoyances:

Here are all the NFL week 8 scores and highlights, courtesy of ESPN.

Over at Vikings.com, hear Coach Zimmer’s post-game locker room speech, see all the highlights from yesterday’s victory, and there is much more to sift through in the media vault.

We come to today’s media selection:

I love this DN open thread tradition, the playing of the Vikings fight song the day after a victory. I love it even more the day after a victory against the Packers, and I love it even most the day after an unexpected victory over the Packers in Lambeau. STRIKE UP THE BAND!!!!!!!!!!1

Again, we all know the rules, but in case someone is new:

-No discussion of politics or religion
-No feeding of the trolls
-Take the gender hatred elsewhere, it won’t be tolerated
-Keep the bad language to a minimum (using the spoiler tags, if you must)
-If discussing a newer show or movie, please use spoiler tags
-No pictures that could get someone fired or in serious trouble with their employer}
-If you can’t disagree in a civil manner, feel free to go away
-While navigating the open thread, just assume it’s sarcasm.

With that, the beer light is on and the bar is open. Belly up & tie one on, or continue the celebration you began yesterday, whichever is applicable to your situation. SKOL!!!!!!!!