swede700 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Game 17 at When: 1:05 PM EST January 5th Where: Mercedes-Benz Superdome (New Orleans, LA) TV/Radio: FOX (TV), KFAN 100.3 (Radio) Announcers: Joe Buck, Troy Aikman, Erin Andrews, Chris Myers Coverage Map: National Notable Injuries: Vikings - Questionable: None, Doubtful: None, Out: None Saints - Questionable: None, Doubtful: None, Out: None Please keep all discussion about the game here. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDBrocks Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Just said this in the playoffs thread - Michael Thomas is going to catch like 20 passes. The pass rush will need to get home early. I think Brees is clearly showing his age this year, but definitely has enough to get it done. I would love to see Thielen turn in a monster game now that he is healthy. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Torchezim Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 If we have any chance in winning, defense has to be on point, Cook has to be on, Cousins has to play great, and well, pretty much everything has to go perfect. i predict a score of 37 - 13 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemperFeist Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Drew Brees needs to hit the ground hard, and a lot. By any means necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vike daddy Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 In last year’s wild card round, all four home teams were favored, but three of the four home teams lost outright. https://profootballtalk.nbcsports.com/2019/12/30/saints-are-biggest-favorites-of-wild-card-round/ 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede700 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 I will continue to insist that this is the best matchup we could have hoped for. I'm still not sure the Vikings will win, but this opponent gives them the best chance, as they always match up well with the Saints, unlike the Seahawks (no matter who their RBs are). We could hope that how this playoff is set up, we could get a repeat of the 1987-88 playoffs (at least the first 2 rounds), because if they can manage to beat the Saints, I also think they have a decent chance to beat the Niners (since we don't know yet how the Niners will play in the playoffs). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nozizaki Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 All three of these can be true at once: The Saints are one of the best teams in the conference, with one of the best odds to represent the conference in the Super Bowl. The Vikings are quite possibly the 3rd or 4th best team in the NFC, and capable of playing way past wild card weekend. Kirk/Zimmer need this game for their legacies. Badly. 7 minutes ago, swede700 said: I will continue to insist that this is the best matchup we could have hoped for. I'm still not sure the Vikings will win, but this opponent gives them the best chance, as they always match up well with the Saints, unlike the Seahawks (no matter who their RBs are). We could hope that how this playoff is set up, we could get a repeat of the 1987-88 playoffs (at least the first 2 rounds), because if they can manage to beat the Saints, I also think they have a decent chance to beat the Niners (since we don't know yet how the Niners will play in the playoffs). I prefer the matchup against a more stationary QB in Brees than Rodgers or Wilson. The Saints showed in their first meeting with the Falcons that if their O-Line isn't focused that Brees can be harassed. In their rematch, however, they dominated the Falcons front and also didn't give up a sack. I think the game ultimately comes down to whether the Vikings can generate pressure and disguise looks enough to get Brees off the field. The Vikings will generate points, they probably need artificial pressure from holding a lead most of the game. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede700 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 2 minutes ago, Nozizaki said: I prefer the matchup against a more stationary QB in Brees than Rodgers or Wilson. That is the key point. Zimmer's defenses have tremendously struggled against mobile QBs, especially this year. I don't know if it's necessarily a function of the CBs inability to stay on receivers or if it's the d-lines inability to contain the QB, but that's been their main issue. It's why the playoffs, set up as they are, set up nicely for them as a #6 seed, as neither Brees or Garappolo are tremendously mobile QBs. They wouldn't have to face a real mobile QB until the NFCC vs. the Seahawks or Packers (as I'm fairly confident that the Eagles won't be there). 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JDBrocks Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) There was a Brett Kollmann video a while ago showing how the Vikings defensive line rushes vertically and horizontally in layers in an attempt to keep the QB contained and eliminate escape routes. I tend to believe that when the QBs do get away from the rush it’s a coverage breakdown. and that’s understandable. When the receivers break from their designed route because the QB had to improvise, the DBs will typically be a step behind. I am indifferent about the opponent, as I think the Vikings can beat any team in the NFL outside of the Ravens. It just depends on which team or parts of the team show up and execute. Edited December 30, 2019 by JDBrocks 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vikes_Bolts1228 Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 (edited) This needs to be the time of game Mike Zimmer dreams about. Keep the Saints offense on the sidelines. Run down the clock. Win the field position battle. Put the crowd to sleep. It's going to be hard to beat the Saints and Brees/Thomas/Kamara/J. Cook in a shootout. Edited December 30, 2019 by Vikes_Bolts1228 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
vikingsrule Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 So how do we stop Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SemperFeist Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Just now, vikingsrule said: So how do we stop Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara? Kamara his done a good job of stopping himself lately. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENINCH Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 1 minute ago, vikingsrule said: So how do we stop Michael Thomas and Alvin Kamara? Bountygate them! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
swede700 Posted December 30, 2019 Author Share Posted December 30, 2019 7 minutes ago, TENINCH said: Bountygate them! No, we don't stoop to that level. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TENINCH Posted December 30, 2019 Share Posted December 30, 2019 Just now, swede700 said: No, we don't stoop to that level. just throwing out some ideas. Thomas is like 70% of the passing offense. Shut him down and make the Saints throw somewhere else. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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