Can the Vikings lose yet another NFC Championship?

[Hammock Parties]

You know the stories! There is nothing like a Minnesota Vikings NFC Championship loss!

In 1987 the Vikings were all set to tie the Redskins in the fourth quarter...Wade Wilson threw a perfect pass on 4th and goal...BUT THEY DROPPED THE BALL!



In 1998 the Vikings were ready to take a 10-point lead with 2 minutes left, but Gary Anderson, who had not missed a kick IN TWO YEARS...WIDE LEFT!



In 2009, Brett Favre had the Saints ON THE ROPES and tried to be Mahomes and THREW A TERRIBLE PICK!



In 2017 CASE KEENUM happened



Can it happen again? SURVEY SAYS...YES!

The Vikings also will now play five of six games at home. They won't play outdoors again until Week 17.

— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) November 13, 2022

The VIKINGS are going to be the one seed. That means, If the Vikings, can win just one playoff game, they can indeed LOSE in the NFC CHAMPIONSHIP...AGAIN!

SKOL!

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by New World Order

4th and 9 and Cousins checks it down for 4 yds to lose the game.

Classic Cousins

Yeah. He panics, and when he does, he makes bad head-scratching decisions, like that last throw. Or even that throw to Justin Jefferson vs BUF (I think it was BUF); that throw was actually not very good. Cousins threw that ball like he was trying to over-throw Justin. If it weren't for Jefferson's exceptional athleticism and length, there's no way that's a catch, and it nearly wasn't.

Overall, though he's been pretty good for a while. He's got pretty good numbers across the board, as far as QB stats go. He needs several top-tier weapons, a solid running game, a good OL, to be that successful, meaning he can't make do with lesser weapons/OL/running game. He's just not that dude.

Anyway, if I were MIN ownership, I'd be looking for another QB, unless I thought I could build a top-10 defense for next season.

[displacedinMN]

Everyone wants the DC fired. Trending like heck on social media

They are in debt to Cousins, but should be able to pay another qb

[ThaVirus]

I think from a personnel perspective, the Vikings just sort of have to ride the wave until 2024. That's when it'll make some financial sense to start getting rid of guys like Cousins, Thielen, etc.

There is value in retaining guys into the new season. I think their roster is pretty good. Who knows, maybe they'll get lucky? If they don't, serious changes need to be made in 2024.

They need to draft a legitimate QBotf ASAP though.

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by scho63

No one bought the Vikings story this year.

EXACTLY !!!!

Paper Tiger all along !!

[Chiefshrink]

Originally Posted by Megatron96

Yeah. He panics, and when he does, he makes bad head-scratching decisions, like that last throw. Or even that throw to Justin Jefferson vs BUF (I think it was BUF); that throw was actually not very good. Cousins threw that ball like he was trying to over-throw Justin. If it weren't for Jefferson's exceptional athleticism and length, there's no way that's a catch, and it nearly wasn't.

Overall, though he's been pretty good for a while. He's got pretty good numbers across the board, as far as QB stats go. He needs several top-tier weapons, a solid running game, a good OL, to be that successful, meaning he can't make do with lesser weapons/OL/running game. He's just not that dude.

Anyway, if I were MIN ownership, I'd be looking for another QB, unless I thought I could build a top-10 defense for next season.

He and Dak will NEVER win the big games needed. Oh sure they will flash just enough to get the fanbase at least in hope mode but seriously they will not take you to glory. Just watch Dak tonight!!

[Megatron96]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

He and Dak will NEVER win the big games needed. Oh sure they will flash just enough to get the fanbase at least in hope mode but seriously they will not take you to glory. Just watch Dak tonight!!

Oh, I completely agree. They need everything to be perfect just to be in the conversation, but take away just one piece of the supporting cast and they fold. Rapidly. And the fact is that in the NFL one rarely goes into the postseason with all the parts and pieces 100% ready to go.

[chiefzilla1501]

Originally Posted by Chiefshrink

He and Dak will NEVER win the big games needed. Oh sure they will flash just enough to get the fanbase at least in hope mode but seriously they will not take you to glory. Just watch Dak tonight!!

This is what I’ve been saying about CJ stroud. And why I like Trevor Lawrence’s potential. The “it factor” thing is so cliche but it’s also true. Big Ben was a seriously flawed qb but man in his prime that guy was a beast when it mattered most. Maybe stroud found it in the Georgia game. I guess we’ll see.

An even better example is Sam darnold. I still can’t get over the rose bowl game where in the 4th quarter down 2 scores he was walking into the huddle and letting the whole playclock wind down. No urgency.

It’s just another reason we are so crazy blessed to have our qb. The way he shakes off mistakes and knows the right mix of urgency and poise is just absurd for a guy his age.

[chiefzilla1501]

The other example I think of is mahomes and kelce going to mecole and pumping him up after the fumble. And then (probably a lot on Reid) but also mahomes going to him where he then made huge plays in a big moment.

That’s a contrast to, say, Lamar who sulks on the bench when they’re down. Some of the worst body language I’ve seen from a good qb in those situations.

[lewdog]

Their defense was absolute trash most of the year.

They have some washed guys taking up lots of cap space too. Thielen and Smith being two big ones. Both are cooked.

[kccrow]

The Vikings are in an interesting spot. They are headed into the last year of Cousins' deal so they'll need to address the future there soon, whether it's this year or next.

A lot of the guys worth a shit are getting old too. They probably have to restructure Brian O'Neill this year plus at least cut Theilen, Smith, and Kendricks to have some type of space (about 17 million). Maybe they can snag a later pick by trading Smith. Chris Reed is an easy cut. Address depth a little cheaper at guard. That would get them up to nearly 20 million. Get rid of CJ Ham as well. No reason to pay 3+ million for a FB.

Garrett Bradbury is a FA that they probably want to re-sign and they have 15 overall. They probably sign back their two ERFAs. Bradbury on a Pat Elfein-type contract makes some sense but nothing probably more than that. Do those moves and they probably sit at 19 million in space, which lets them add a couple of value free agents and address the draft.

They can't do too much otherwise unless they get rid of Harrison Smith, Jordan Hicks, and/or Dalvin Cook. I can't see them getting rid of Kendricks and Hicks in the same off-season. Smith is a staple of consistency in their secondary. Cook is a damned good back and they are going to have a rookie QB soon enough (probably).

I dunno, it's going to be problematic for Minnesota to get any better. It's probably time to start the rebuild process while keeping enough pieces around to compete for the division again.

[Pepe Silvia]

Originally Posted by backinblack

This was way funnier than it had any business being.