Raising A Green Flag For The #1 Seed

 

I've seen what I was hoping to see from Kyler Murray. It is not a matter to me now of "if he works out" because it works. Kyler is Him! He is every bit as special a talent as Super Sam Darnold. Kyler is capable of leading this team to the #1 Seed in the NFC. He has the intelligence and ability to run KOC's offense effectively. KOC has proven he can elevate the play of veteran QB's. I think Kyler was written off as an oddity that people didn't know what to think of with his up-and-down performances. His recent injury history led people to write him off as a bust. Kyler showed in the Saints game that he still has his wheels and a live arm. KOC's coaching should raise both Kyler's floor and ceiling, making his lows far less bad and lifting his play to new heights. 

If the team comes back healthy out of the bye and stays that way in November, I predict we will have a great month. The schedule can be a team's best friend or worst enemy.  So far, the schedule has been in the Vikings' favor, and I think that will continue with the team getting a tune-up game before we face the Lions in Michigan. The Lions also have a bye this week and have a tough division game at home vs. the Packers before they play us. After the Lions, we get the Bills in Minneapolis, who play the Ravens before us. After the Bills, we get Green Bay in Green Bay after they play the Patriots in New England. To this point, I think we have it easier than our opponents in the week before we play each of them.  Then we face the 49ers in Mexico on November 22nd. We will just have to see what the rosters on both teams look like at that point. The 49ers have been injury-plagued just like the Vikes so far. It is possible that it will be a matchup of unbeaten teams. I guess we will soon see if my optimism is rooted in reality. 

Congratulations, Uncle Sam!

 

From One Year Ago Today

 My Verdict: The Vikings' brain trust fumbled with the decision to go all in on McCarthy. It is clear that in the 2025 season and into the foreseeable future, Darnold will be a top QB in the league. I trusted them to do the right thing, and they blew it.

The Vikes got outcoached badly in their final two games. It is hard for me to feel too bad about the outcome. KOC is a great coach but has a lot to learn. I am not going to jump on the kick Sam when he is down bandwagon for it is for fools. Super Sam is still in there. And now it is quite possible that he can be resigned for a reasonable amount, think Baker Mayfield type contract. Kwesi and KOC know what they have in Sam. I will be shocked if they let him leave. If he does leave I think it will be to the 49ers or Rams. That would suck!

Seahawk Sam Darnold Get's the NFC #1 Seed

 If the Vikings' brain trust had gone all in on Darnold last offseason, I think it's possible, but not probable, the Vikes would have gotten the #1 Seed. I think it's probable that the Vikes would be in the playoffs if Sam didn't get injured. But that is a big IF, because the Vikes O-Line play was subpar for most of the year. I don't know if keeping Uncle Sam would have been a magic bullet or dud round had he stayed. In Seattle, he survived and thrived with some questionable line play. I'm rooting for the ginger to put the critics, cynics, and haters in their place. Darnold seems like a good dude. 

Go get that Super Bowl Ring!   

Can KOC and Uncle Sam Win A Playoff Game?

 Going into the Lions game last week, I had zero worries about KOC and Uncle Sam. Then, they both laid an egg in a winnable game. Now, I have very little confidence in the offensive side of the ball. Sam looked terrible. KOC has Campbellitis. I can't get that bad taste from last week out of my mouth.

What will tonight's game bring? Will the squad play with grit and win this winnable game?

I'll believe it when I see it. 

Prove you can do it, coach.

Update: They lost to the Rams 27-9.  Uncle Sam was better than he was in the Lions game, but not enough to make a difference. The Packers and Lions were both one and done as well. It was an all-NFC East Conference Championship Game, with Philly destroying Wash 55-23.

What To Do With Uncle Sam?

 Honestly, I'm not very worried about what the Vikings brain trust decided to do. They have earned my trust by putting together this season's roster. They know what they have in-house better than anybody. I doubt they let him walk. His skill set is too elite. He and KOC have proved to be a perfect match for each other. The guy has won 14 games with a shot at 15. He is tough, cold-blooded, and puts in the work. I'm sure they will figure something out that works for Uncle Sam and the team. It will shock me if that isn't the case. Uncle Sam knows he's got a good thing going here, and his priorities will dictate what the Vikings organization will do. If Sam chooses to chase the $ like Kirk, the Viking's brain trust will be forced into some hard decisions. Hopefully, it doesn't come to that, and they can work something out where everybody wins, and Sam stays for multiple successful seasons. If the team is forced to go another way because the asking price doesn't meet the budget, I wish Uncle Sam well. Business is business.  

Super Sam Sweeps the Pack In 2024, 14-2 BOOM!

 

Super Sam was "The Man" yet again. He went 33/43 for 372 yards using 8 different receivers, throwing 3 TDs and had a QB rating of 116.1. Amazing day. The Vikes held the Pack down for three-quarters, then held on at the end to win 27-25. The game really wasn't that close, and I never doubted that the Vikes would win. I was not happy with the pick Uncle Sam threw that let the Pack think they had a chance, and our Special Teams had another bad game. Our kicker, Will the Thrill, needs to get himself squared away.

Now it is on to Detriot for the opportunity to be the NFC #1 Seed, which comes with a first-round bye and home-field advantage. I am bullish on the Vikes chances for so many reasons. Some of them are:

The Vikes are healthier as a team than in the first meeting this season. We got Cashman and Hock playing this time.

The Lions D is a MASH Unit and will be missing their power running back.

The Vikes got Uncle/Super Sam throwing the rock to our elite receiver corps.
Dan Campbell played his starters for the whole game vs. the 49ers. Not bright when they had nothing to play for.
The 49ers were hitting.

The Lions will have a short week and played on the West Coast.

The Vikes just played really well in Seattle, giving the offense experience and confidence in a really loud environment against a defense that is a couple of notches better than the Lions.

We won the Seattle game on a short week.

The Pack lost to us playing on a short week where they played at home, so they didn't have to deal with the travel headache the Lions do.

The Vikes will come in as underdogs with revenge on their mind.

The Lions are trying to hold on to the Division Crown and #1 Seed and the Vikes have positioned themselves to take it with the win.

I really like the Vikes chances, SKOL!

Vikes Win In Seattle, 13-2!

 

Super Sam showed up in Seattle on Sunday. Some drops by receivers and crappy clock management at the end of the first half kept Seattle in the game. Uncle Sam and Jets would not be denied when it mattered. Gink sacked Geno twice. And they picked Geno off to seal it.

13-2. If the Vikes can beat the Packers, the #1 Seed will be there for the taking Week 18 in Detroit.  

Vikes Beat Da Bears, Now 12-2 And Control Destiny

 

The Fans and Defense carried the team this week until the Offense finally locked in the second half and put Da Bears away 30-12. Uncle Sam and Jetta didn't have a great game but made plays when it counted. Free 3 got thrown like a rag doll, drawing a long PI call on the defense in the endzone. The running game looked good with plenty of bursts from Jones, who scored his 50th career TD; Cam Akers ran it in after the PI of Addison.

The Lions lost a boat race at home to the Buffalo Bills 48-42, so now, if the Vikings win out, they will probably get the #1 Seed in the NFC. Winning the next two games is critical to achieving that goal. We are going to Seattle on a short week after playing on Monday night. Geno Smith, the Seahawks QB, injured his knee vs. the Packers in a highly physical game that the Hawks lost on Sunday Night. The Hawk's backup QB looked lost. Geno is a gamer who will probably try to play, but the chances of him being 100% are not good. The Vikes D will be licking their chops. The Hawks can't afford to lose this game. If the Vike's O-Line holds up and our running game gets going, I don't see how the Hawks can keep up without getting multiple turnovers.  

The next two weeks, the Vikes play the Packers at home and the Lions in Detroit; both teams will be on short weeks coming off of Monday night games, so the schedule makers did us a solid, provided we don't stumble on our short week. If the Vikings can beat the Hawks and the Pack without sustaining any costly injuries, I really like their chances versus that beat-up Lions team, which could be a game or two behind us if my boys take care of business. 

SKOL Vikes!

Vikes 4th Quarter Comeback Gives Vikes 10th Win

10 And 2, Just Win, Baby!

The Vikes beat Kyler Murray and the Cards, who won the stat sheet except for the final score and turnovers. SKOL! 

Vikes Beat Da Bears, 9-2.

 

An insane comeback by the Bears results in the game going to OT. The Bears won the coin toss. The Vikes Defence came up big, and then Uncle Sam did work after getting sacked on first down taking us down the field quickly resulting in a Romo game-winning field goal.

3 Quick Thoughts:

1. Caleb Williams is an impressive QB. Just Wow! Lions better not sleep on him Thanksgiving Day.

2. Uncle Sam was locked in, and our Offensive weapons went off.

3. Aaron Jones looks healthy, and we need him to stay that way.

Final Thought:
The Cards and Kyler Murray are dangerous, but are they as dangerous as Uncle Sam and the Flores D. We will see next week. 

Vikes Win 3 In A Row, Now 8-2

 

I had a lot of questions three weeks ago, the last time I did some Vikings blogging. I still have quite a few questions, but as of right now, there are reasons for optimism. Cam Robinson is no Christian Darrisaw and Dalton Risner isn't a great run blocker, but these guys aren't to bad at pass pro. The O has not been hitting on all cylinders and the win 12-7 win in Jacksonville was ugly, but really was total domination by the Offence. The run game may be in a bit of a rut but if Darnold continues to be the guy we saw in Tennesee and not at Jacksonville, the sky is still the limit for this team. Hock and Addison are still getting acclimated to Darnold. 

The Defence with Cashman back in the lineup is dangerous and really tough to run on. 

Right now the Lions look unstoppable, but they have a trap game this week against the Colts, play the Bills in mid-December, and play the 9ers on the road the week before they play us. This horse race is far from over. We'll just have to see what the Vikes put on tape. 

Update: I didn't mention Green Bay at the Lions because I figured that Jordan Love's leg injury would be an ongoing impediment, but he got healed up during the bye week and looks to be at least 95%. 

Vikes Take Care of Business In London, Defeat A A Ron

 The Offense and aspects of the Special Teams did not play well, but the Defense and other aspects of the Special Teams were on point, so we won the game in a squeaker. Uncle Sam made bad decisions and bad throws. AJ got injured. We had the Jets Defence on the ropes and didn't press the advantage when we had the chance to impose our will in the running game when we were ahead in the first half. The Special Teams had multiple screw-ups that cost the team.  It was a sloppy, but we got the W. Now we have the bye week. Hopefully, AJ's hip injury isn't that serious and the team comes out refreshed and ready vs. the Lions in a couple of weeks.

Vikes D picked off A A Ron three times including the dagger in the final minute. Flores won the chess match vs. Rodgers pretty convincingly. If other aspects of the team could shoot straight they would have won easily. 

2-0, Lions, Pack, And Bears Say "Oh Crap!..."

 

...the Vikes are one of the best teams in the league. 

The Vikings victory over the 49ers was hella impressive. The Vikes were the better team against the top of the class in the NFC, straight up. The Vike's composure held in the midst of taking haymakers from the 49ers on both sides of the ball. This was a heavyweight fight and the Vikes came out victorious. This wasn't a fluke, in my opinion, this Viking squad is impressive. If the team stays healthy the sky is the limit.

Let's Go Purple!

  

Vikes 1-0, Uncle Sam Performs Well

 

D Feasts, Van Ginkel Pick 6 for the Dagger! Aaron Jones is who I thought he was, thanks Pack! Uncle Sam gets it done in game one. 

Kirk is who he is Falcons 0-1.

As Unlce Sam Goes, So Does The Vikings Season

 The NFL season is almost upon us. The Kirk Cousins experiment ended in a whimper. I didn't think JJ McCarthy would start this year and his unfortunate knee injury ensures that is the case. So we are left with Uncle Sam to lead the Vikings to the promised land this season. I don't know much about Uncle Sam other than he was Drafted 3rd in 2018 by the hapless Jets. This is probably Sam's last chance to prove he can be a trusted NFL starting QB. The Vikings O has weapons and a QB Guru Head Coach. I think he is going to open some eyes; His arm talent has always been there. It's decision-making and talent around him that have always held Sam back. Knowing this is his last best opportunity to make it will certainly concentrate his mind. He is older and wiser. If he stays healthy, I think it will be a breakout season.

As Uncle Sam goes, so goes the team. Don't crash the car, man!