Cory's Corner: Who are the Vikings?

Just who are the Minnesota Vikings?

Are they a team that the Packers need to be wary of or are they a team that had everything go their way that allowed them to capture the NFC North crown — interrupting a run of four straight divisional titles by Green Bay.

Obviously, the Bears and Lions are not close which means that the Vikings are still the Packers toughest divisional test and quite possibly the biggest challenge they will see all season. Even though Vikings coach Mike Zimmer recently said, “I don’t think we’re very good, to be honest with you.”

Actually, he’s half right. The Vikings aren’t very good, but they are good enough to be scary. Zimmer is entering his third season as Minnesota’s coach and he increased his win total by four last year and should’ve went to the NFC Divisional Playoffs if not for a booted a 27-yard chip-shot field goal.

The Packers have the best quarterback in the game, yet in the season-finale at Lambeau Field, Teddy Bridgewater brought home first place. Bridgewater was a mere 10-for-19, with only 99 yards passing and a season-low quarterback rating of 45.7.

Minnesota has an aging, but superior running back and Green Bay has better receivers as long as Jordy Nelson can return to pre-knee injury form. But the difference is defense. The Vikings have the best front seven in the division led by rising star Everson Griffen. However, the Vikings have the worst secondary and that unit regularly has big-play lapses.

If the Packers want to reclaim the NFC North as theirs, they cannot play down to their border rival. Play down because Minnesota’s offense is still one dimensional and as long as Adrian Peterson gets corralled, first downs will be hard to come by.

Yet, amazingly, the Vikings will be a tough out each and every week. As long as the offense doesn’t give the ball away, the defense tallies at least four sacks a game and the special teams gets at least one big play every week, the Vikings can win.

But who are the Vikings exactly?

I have no idea.

 

 

 

 

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Cory Jennerjohn is a graduate from UW-Oshkosh and has been in sports media for over 15 years. He was a co-host on "Clubhouse Live" and has also done various radio and TV work as well. He has written for newspapers, magazines and websites. He currently is a columnist for CHTV and also does various podcasts. He recently earned his Masters degree from the University of Iowa. He can be found on Twitter: @Coryjennerjohn

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Comments (60)

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ejr450's picture

April 19, 2016 at 06:28 am

I have to... I'm sorry.

They are who we thought they were!
-DG

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ray nichkee's picture

April 19, 2016 at 06:33 am

The vikings are a team that can pee in the packers cheerios. They are also a team that can't step up to the plate when it all counts. I love the vikings.

Do you know why the vikings are purple?....

You'd be purple too if you choked all the time.

Go pack!

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Peter Zebich's picture

April 19, 2016 at 06:34 am

They are the reigning NFC North Division Champs.

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NickPerry's picture

April 19, 2016 at 06:46 am

I still don't get all the hype the Vikings get, especially Bridgewater. They addressed the OL in Free Agency and have nothing outside of Diggs at WR. Even if they land one of the "Big 3" at WR that offense is nothing that would keep DC up at night. If you keep AP from running all over you, they are normally in big trouble. Peterson is getting older and more beat up with each season, the cliff is near. Hell the Vikings might not even beat the Bears for 2nd place this year. The 2015 Vikings are the 2014 Lions, a one year wonder.

I've said it several times this year and I don't believe it can be overlooked, having a true WR poistion coach is going to make a huge difference to every WR on the Packers, even Jordy. All these posters like Cow and Samson are going to really pissed when Rodgers is back to being Rodgers throwing over 40 TD's with less than 8 INT. Throw in an Actual TE and Eddie (Who looks GREAT) the Packers have MORE than enough to be back to normal on offense. Normal being hanging 42 on the Vikings. The Packers defense has gotten better and better the last 2 years and will this year too. The Queens are 9-7 at best.

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RCPackerFan's picture

April 19, 2016 at 07:03 am

Such a simple thing, but having that position coach I think will make a big difference. If McCarthy didn't agree with that, he would have kept it the way it was.
That being said, not having a position coach last year wasn't the reason why the WR's had a bad year. Injuries was the culprit. Nelson, Cobb, Adams, Montgomery all got injured and missed time or severely affected their play. Abbrederis also suffered from injuries.

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dobber's picture

April 19, 2016 at 07:39 am

"Throw in an Actual TE and Eddie (Who looks GREAT) the Packers have MORE than enough to be back to normal on offense."

More important: keep the OL healthy and cohesive. This sets the tone for the rest of the offense. Teams with good, physical CB and a pass rush have the Packers figured out. It's a good thing there aren't many of those teams. A healthy and cohesive OL gives #12 time to improvise when faced by those defensive units.

"The Packers defense has gotten better and better the last 2 years and will this year too."

Let's wait until we hit camp before we start saying things like that. Right now, they're less than they were at the end of 2015-6. I want to see what the draft looks like and what last-minute FA/UDFA this team picks up before I put anything on the improvement of the defense.

For years, it's been the Packers at the top of the NFCN without much opposition. Many prognosticators say that the team that won it last year is always the team to beat. I would say that the "we aren't the team to beat" fire can help motivate the Packers this season. I'm not going to presume that the Vikes will be no better than they were in 2015-6, and the Packers better not, either.

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croatpackfan's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:46 pm

It is easy to put the blame on WR. But I remember when Aaron was throwing bullets through the ears of Vikings secondary and despite they covered Jordy the ball found his hands for not 1, but 2 TDs. That 2 throws were proof that any of them wasn't by accident. That kind of throws Packers were missing last season from Aaron.
I'm not blaming Aaron. He played injured for the most of the season. I may say from the bye week last season. He was throwing from his behind leg and his throws was not accurate as usual.
I expect old (now improved) Packers O this season!

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dschwalm's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:40 pm

I really, really want what you're drinking.

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NickPerry's picture

April 20, 2016 at 06:11 am

Do you now?? Well go to the local market (I go to Ralphs/Kroger) and get yourself some of the Kroger Water, I mean water is water right? Also high on my list of beverages is Grape Poweraide, it's normally cheaper than Gatoraide. Sorry it's nothing more than that, alcohol isn't good for me.

Go nuts!

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chugwater's picture

April 19, 2016 at 08:14 am

If they play 10 times, Green Bay wins 7 or 8. Green Bay is head and shoulders above Minnesota at the most important position - QB. And the Vikes don't have enough superior personnel elsewhere to compensate. Their O line is still worse. They are marginally better at RB when Lacey is on his game. They have a better def front 7 for sure, but our young secondary trumps theirs and is only going to get better. It's just not enough...

Just remember they needed GB to have a bunch of injuries to squeak by us at home last year. (How often can they count on Josh Sitton playing LT?)

The changing of the guard has not come to the NFC North yet.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 08:37 am

And it won't until ARod retires. 7-8 years away yet.

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:34 am

Sitton playing LT is nothing. Try losing 2 of your starters before the season even begins. Also, try missing 3 Pro Bowl defenders for multiple games and still manage to have a better record than GB. The fact is, the Vikings played similar opponents far better. Don't believe me? Look up the division games, Denver, Arizona, etc. The Vikings played them all better. Also, I'd take the Vikings secondary. Harrison Smith is a top-2 safety in the NFL, and Rhodes was a top-five ranked CB after the 5th game of the year. The Packers lost one of their best cornerbacks. Did you forget?

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chugwater's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:17 pm

No, I didn't forget. I wasn't counting him anyway. Rookies Randall, Rollins, and Gunter played very well in their first year. Plenty of upside with no salary cap issues for at least two years. Didn't miss a beat even with the departures of House and Williams. Hayward was good in the slot, but the bottom line is the Packer secondary is a strength to the team even with him leaving.

Sitton at LT is 'nothing'? It's pretty drastic given how the O line was depleted. In the Detroit Hail Mary game they were down to one regular OL starter at one point. And then add the WR injuries on top of those.

Your assertion that the Vikes played far better than Green Bay among common opponents is weak. Granted MN did better within the division, but they got their butts handed to them in a late season matchup against Seattle, and still managed to lose a close one in the playoffs. MN lost to SF. GB did better against STL and KC. Even in the games between the two teams, GB's was the much more impressive win. The Viking dominance you suggest just isn't there.

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dschwalm's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:43 pm

Finally an impartial assessment. Thanks Rick

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NickPerry's picture

April 20, 2016 at 06:25 am

They went 1-1 against one another and just might do the same. Matter of fact Minnesota was pretty much whooped at home by the Packers, where the Vikings by no means "Whooped the Packers.
The Vikings have ONE Safety, the Packers have far and away the best starting Safety duo in the Division and one of the best in the NFL. Hayward played decent in a contract year (Who Doesn't) but he knew as did Packers Management. Shields, Randell, and Rollins is better than Shields, Randell, and Hayward.

Did you REALLY use injuries as an excuse?? The Packers WR and OL units were Mash Units last year, gimmie an F'ing break when using injuries as an excuse.

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dschwalm's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:41 pm

"They marginally better at running back"?????

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chugwater's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:03 pm

Yes. I'd say Lacy's 1566 yds from scrimmage in 2014 is comparable to Peterson's 1707. Last year was a down year for Eddie compared to his previous two, but he's in better shape this spring and in the prime of his career.

The gap between MN and GB's rushing game is much smaller than the chasm between their passing attacks.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 08:18 am

I don't get the Vikings hype. I seriously don't. Well - I get half of it. They do have a very good defense that is young and will only get better for the next few years. They're not going to give up 30 points very often.

That said, their offense is PUTRID. And I mean P-U-T-R-I-D. Worse yet, it's not that they just underachieved last year on that side of the ball like we did. It's that they don't have the quality personnel.

They'll never get better with Teddy at QB. He is Matt Cassell. A poor man's Alex Smith. Check-Down-Charlie who just doesn't have the temperament or talent to make the throws he has to. AP is one of the all-time greats, but he was markedly worse last year than any full season he's ever played. He's not able to single-handedly beat anyone anymore. They have total schlock at WR. Total. Schlock. Rudolph is ok when he's healthy (which is not often). They have total schlock at ALL the offensive line spots. I'm sorry - but when you tout Andre Smith as someone who's going to save your season??

GB is going to walk into Minny in week 2. They're going to take a dump in a bag. Light it on fire. And leave it on the Vikings shiny new front porch to fester. It's going to be beautiful. I agree with Nick Perry above. Everything went right for the Vikings last year and they STILL barely managed to win the division. They're in for a BIG TIME regression. I'll personally be surprised if they make 8-8 and get 2nd place in the NFCN.

1st place isn't even in question. That's us. By 3-4 games clear.

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:29 am

Everything went right for the Vikings? Since when did losing 2 of your starting offensive lineman before the season began go right? You know, the best center in the division in John Sullivan and arguably the best RT in Loadholt. Since when did losing 3 of your Pro Bowl defenders for multiple games (at least 3 for each) go right for them? Since when did missing a chip-shot field goal go right for them? The Vikings faced more adversity than the Packers did last season, and they rightfully came out on top in the division. You cannot honestly believe the Packers are 3-4 games better. The Vikings have the better defense by far.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:38 pm

Ok. I'll scratch the troll itch just this once. You're probably gone already, but in case you do respond:

1. Sullivan is OLD. He was not the best center in the division by 2014. That would be GBs starting Center. Sully's Career is probably done.

2. The Best RT in the NFCN would also be GBs RT. Not Fat-Cant-Move Loadpants. Who BTW might just be done too...

3. Harrison is always hurt. You can count on him missing 4 games a year. Just like CM3. So why are you whining about it?

4. I was clearly speaking about regular season play. Not a stupid field goal choke job in the playoffs. FACT: The Vikings overachieved last year during the regular season. They had an over .500 record in games decided by less than 1 possession, which history shows is luck. They're going to regress dude.

5. I admitted the Vikings D was better than the Packers. But with Teddy check down at QB, the Vikings O has a ceiling of about what they did last year. Which is awful. The REAL question is whether the Vikings D is THAT much better than the Packers D that the VASTLY differing abilities of the offensive units don't matter. Answer? NO.

6. Yes. Yes I do believe GB will finish 13-3 or better. And No. No I don't belive the Vikings (or any other NFCN team) get to 10 wins. And if they do, IMO it'll be the Bears, who have the building blocks of a very good D - combined with an offense that can actually put points on the board and not just run for 3 yards and a cloud of dust.

Make sense now Pumpkin? ;)

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:40 pm

1.) OL at 30 is not considered old as many play until they are 35 on a routine basis. He was the best center in 2014. He was actually the #1 rated center by PFF in 2014. So no, GB's center was not better that year.

2.) Agree to disagree on who the best RT is. FYI, he finished higher than both GB tackles in 2014 according to PFF (#4 that year)

3.) Harrison Smith is always hurt...he missed time his rookie and last year to freak accidents. He has been healthy for well over most of his 4 year career. The point was that injuries happen, and you can't claim that GB's injuries were worse when Matthews has been declining and Smith has developed into a top-2 safety in the NFL.

4.) Your "fact" is not a fact. They didn't overachieve whatsoever. They earned every win. They won 4 games by 1 possession. GB won 3 games by 1 possession. I guess thinks makes GB lucky, too (hail mary twice..cough).

5.) "Check down Teddy" actually had a higher yards per attempt compared to Rodgers in head-to-head matchups, and much higher completion percentage. Teddy's throws in the air went further than Rodgers, too. So who was the real check down quarterback in their meetings? Also, when Peterson is out of the game, Teddy's QBR soars to 86.5 which is right where Rodgers plays. So to say they reach their ceiling is idiotic at best. Again, not fact.

6.) Again, agree to disagree as you have no facts to back it up while I disproved most of your "facts".

You needed a phantom facemask call and a hail mary to beat Detroit. I'd say that reeks of overachieving and being lucky, as you would say.

Make sense now, Pumpkin?

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:29 pm

We shall see. Viking fans are irritating. I don't go to DN for this reason. Trying to talk sense into most Vikings fans is like trying to talk sense into a wall. They can't be reasoned with. They're blinded by their hate because deep, deep down, they KNOW they are the red-headed stepchild of their daddies to the east and the fans just can't take it. Deep, deep down, they KNOW that GB will come through and their team will choke when the going gets tough. (as the latest example: WIDE LEFT!!)

I will finish by saying this. I find it best to just troll them right back. It's FAR more satisfying.

Dear Vikings Troll: We own you. We will continue to own you. We have team that is stacked at all the important positions, and are almost as young as you are - except we don't have the roster holes you do. Last year was a fluke. Since you came to a PACKERS FAN SITE (and not us to you), if you have any honor, you'll be back here to apologize in the fall when we kick your teeth in.

Enjoy your mediocrity (at best) this year. Pumpkin. :D

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rickrahra's picture

September 28, 2016 at 01:09 pm

I'm still here buddy. That "teeth kicking" your referring to is nowhere to be found.

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Ferrari Driver's picture

April 19, 2016 at 08:48 am

Who are the Vikings?

They are a team who has the nastiest, most insulting, and football ignorant fans in the NFC North!

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:31 am

Says a fan of a team that does nothing but bash the Vikings. Sure, we are real nasty fans...

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vikes123's picture

April 19, 2016 at 09:11 am

I am a Viking fan but I do believe the Packers are still the team to beat. 1 yr doesn't mean much but I find it funny you all think we will mediocre at best. Are QB had 14 td's, are line was terrible with 2 starters out for the season, are best receiver was a fifth Rd rookie, and we still won the division and 11 games. GB has the best QB in the league, but Denver showed an average QB with a great defense can win it all, and we have young stud's all over the defense. Teddy can be good enough if he has a little time, ( most pressured QB last season) so I wouldn't consider us 8-8 quite yet and the division already yours

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dobber's picture

April 19, 2016 at 09:22 am

***our***

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:30 am

As a fellow Vikings fan, for the love of GOD please recognize the difference between "are" and "our". It's embarrassing.

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Point-Packer's picture

April 20, 2016 at 12:24 am

Must have went to Bemidji State.

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Ferrari Driver's picture

April 19, 2016 at 05:08 pm

I fully expected you to say "...and we still "one" the division..."

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Darth_Viking's picture

April 19, 2016 at 09:20 am

The Vikings are your new Masters. The Packers now live to amuse them. Aaron Rodgers is their new chew toy that tear apart for a couple of games a year.

Let's face it ... Aaron is at the age now when he will never play an entire season healthy again and frankly he is your only hope. Your only hope. I know you don't like to hear this, but it's over. You are facing 10+ years of rebuilding minimum. Look forward to the 2017-2020 drafts. You will be likely picking in the top three.

Best of luck in the cellar. At least the Vikings will be on in January.

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Point-Packer's picture

April 19, 2016 at 09:31 am

Zero Super Bowls.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

April 19, 2016 at 01:45 pm

Lol

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Tundraboy's picture

April 20, 2016 at 06:44 pm

Lost one of those with a "legendary" best Vikings team ever in embarrassing fashion to boot!

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LeagueObsrvr's picture

April 19, 2016 at 11:31 am

Wide left...

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:42 pm

Not going to lie...that stings. LOL!

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NickPerry's picture

April 21, 2016 at 06:01 am

Let's face it ... Aaron is at the age now when he will never play an entire season healthy again and frankly he is your only hope. Your only hope. I know you don't like to hear this, but it's over. You are facing 10+ years of rebuilding minimum. Look forward to the 2017-2020 drafts. You will be likely picking in the top three.

First of all we're not the Vikings so we stay on top. 32 years old is hardly "Old", keep trying to talk yourself into Rodgers 2015 season will be his new norm, as a person who grew up in Minnesota it's embarrassing to imagine the School District 281 and others aren't still some of the best School Districts in the US. The only time in the last 18 years you managed to be decent was with a guy named Favre. Once Brett left you went right back to the toilet.

I listened to this crap about the Vikings through the late 60's, 70's, and early 80's and you NEVER GOT IT DONE so just STOP. Don't you guys have sites to talk each other into how good Teddy will be? Though it's fun to see Vikings fans are still in full delusion mode.

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:24 am

The Packers homerism on this thread is astounding. I see excuses everywhere. "Jordy Nelson was injured. That's why Rodgers wasn't himself." Every NFL team has injuries. The Vikings lost their best TWO offensive lineman before the season even began. They also lost their THREE best starters on defense for an extended period of time and still managed to beat the Packers. The fact is, the Vikings are a better overall team. The Vikings have the better defense across the board. That's right. Much better DL, LB's, and secondary. It's not even close, and the fact that you think it's close is hilarious to every NFL team outside your little Green and Yellow stadium.
You guys rag on Teddy, but the fact remains that his numbers are a result of the system he plays in. Did you Packers fans realize that "check-down" Teddy had more yards per attempt that your beloved Rodgers when the teams went head-to-head? He also had a much better completion percentage. In truth, Rodgers checked down more than Teddy!
You guys don't believe in the Vikings? Well, they had a better record with more important injuries to key players than the Packers did. The FACT is, the Packers lost to Chicago and Detroit, and got pounded by the Cards and Broncos. The Vikings beat Chicago and Detroit both times, and were within a missed play from beating the Cardinals (with 7 starters injured), and a fumble from beating Denver. The Vikings played similar opponents better.
In the offseason, the Packers lost one of their best cornerbacks and gained a TE that lead all TE's in drops last season. The Vikings gained two new potential starting offensive lineman and lost absolutely nothing. The Vikings are going to get better. Meanwhile, Green Bay is getting worse. Face it GB, the Vikings are a team on the rise. Will they win the NFC North again? I don't know. It'll be a good battle between GB and Minnesota, but if we were to just read the responses (and the article...), you'd think Minnesota will finish 0-16 and GB will sweep the division with ease.

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dobber's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:33 am

"The Packers homerism on this thread is astounding."

OK...dude, look at the name of the blog. Look at the subject matter of the blog. I don't know what you were expecting...

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:35 am

I'm aware, but good lord this is another level. That said, purplepride.org or those other Vikings sites are terrible, too. At least they don't call GB absolute trash. There is some respect for GB there. There is no respect here.

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Evan's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:52 am

When you're one of the storied franchises of the league, you tend to get your due respect....

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RCPackerFan's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:55 am

'The Packers homerism on this thread is astounding.'

Coming onto a rivals team website, and talking about their homerism is hilarious. Its like going to a game at the other teams stadium and questioning why everyone is wearing home team colors... Hmmm....

'You guys don't believe in the Vikings? Well, they had a better record with more important injuries to key players than the Packers did.'

Who all was injured for the Vikings?
You may not agree with it, but the Packers were very injured. I'm not saying more then the Vikings because honestly I don't watch the Vikings, but the Packers were injured enough to really hurt their team. They had many key injuries to key players which caused them to be not as good as they normally are. Its not just about who was on IR, its also about the lingering injuries that keep players from performing at their peak level. Packers top 4 WR's were either put on IR, missed games or severely limited by their injuries. One game the Packers were down to 1 starting OL. Before the start of the season they lost a Top 5 WR in the league in Nelson, lost their starting ILB.

Packers didn't have their best season. Not many would argue with that. But to proclaim they are getting worse, I would strongly disagree with. They had their worst season in a long time, their QB played terribly and still finished with a 10-6 record and was an OT away from winning 2 playoff games.

For the record I respect the Vikings. Zimmer is a great coach. But before we say one team is clearly better or worse based on 1 good year by the Vikings and 1 bad year by the Packers, can we give it 1 more year?

I do agree, that I think it will be a good battle in the NFC North. Chicago should be better, and Lions can always be dangerous.

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 11:33 am

John Sullivan (all season), Phil Loadholt (all season), Charles Johnson (#2 receiver, 5 games missed, 11 injured), Harrison Smith (4 games), Anthony Barr (3 games), and Linval Joseph (4 games) were the big ones. The team also lost Sendejo, Kendricks, and numerous backups to injury as well. It hurt the team, especially when Sullivan, Loadholt, Smith, Barr, and Joseph were all ranked in the top 3 (according to PFF) of their respective positions either this year or last.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:42 pm

Charles Freaking Johnson??? LOL! Ok then. And again, stop complaining about Smith being hurt. He's hurt every dang year. Not Sully because he's an over 30 center, and Loadholt.. eh...

Barr and Joseph I'll give you. Kendricks maybe. STILL - Losing Jordy. Having Cobb with 1 shoulder. Monty out for 2/3 the year. And like 5,000 different OL combinations due to injury. GB was nailed WAY harder than Minny last year by the injury bug.

You also went 3-2 in games decided by 6 points or less. Whereas GB went 1-3. And the 1 was the lucky hail mary. And the week 17 game was decided by a very questionable fumble return for a TD. Just admit that you got lucky to win the division last year dude. GB was the better team all along. Further, GBs ceiling is MUCH higher and they (rightly) are going to be the prohibitive favorites to win the division (again) this year.

Just take the facts as they are and go home. You are embarrassing yourself.

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rickrahra's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:49 pm

There was nothing questionable about that fumble. It was very clear. If you think otherwise, you need your eyes checked. GB's ceiling is higher? That's HIGHLY debatable, especially since Minnesota's young talent easily trumps GB's. Smith is better than any GB safety, Rhodes is better than any GB cornerback, Barr and Matthews may be a push, but if last year is any indication, Barr is ahead of him. Joseph is better than any DT/NT the Packers have, and Griffen is the best pass rusher for either team. If Rodgers goes down, GB goes down with him. There is not one player in the Vikings where you could say if he goes down, the team goes down, too.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:30 pm

1 player: Adrian Peterson. He IS your offense. And he's no longer all world. Maybe Barr too. Maybe Rhodes. But eh... he's good. Not awesome. And let's not forget that you have a bundle of "meh" at the most important position in sports.

GB's QB is. And their WR1 too. And their WR2 is pretty good too. And their halfback had a bad year, but looks to be pointing up. He was a top 3 RB in 13/14. And Mike Daniels. And CM3. And Sitton. And Linsley has a high ceiling. And Bulaga. And their entire secondary is one of the best in football - and better than the Queens - even when Harrison plays.

Enjoy your purple tinted glasses. If you seriously think Minny's talent is better than GBs overall, methinks (and most people outside of Queens land) that the tint has to be affecting your brain.

I'm done talking to trolls. Since you had the balls to come to a Packers fans site, I hope you also have the balls to come back here and apologize when your team gets its teeth kicked in during week 2 and when GB rolls to a 4 game lead in the NFCN.

Have a nice day cupcake. :D

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Lphill's picture

April 19, 2016 at 11:14 am

Who are the Vikings receivers ? An over 30 running back who fumbles in big games , a QB who throws 10 passes a game , that's who the Vikings are.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 11:29 am

Nailed it.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

April 19, 2016 at 12:44 pm

Any given Sunday. And along with that Defense - the Vikings should be in every game. I understand the hate (us being rivals and all), but where are the realist? You'd be fooling yourself to think any game against the Vikings is an automatic win.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 01:22 pm

MM and ARs division record says otherwise. I think they'll probably lose an away division game. I do not think that it will be to Minny. Walking off that field in week 17, you could see the anger. They knew they were the better team and they knew they blew it.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

April 19, 2016 at 01:47 pm

We loss to the Bears and Lions last season. Do you think we'll see an article about The Bears or Lions? I doubt it. Why? They're still dysfunctional and can't get over the hill. The Vikings are legit. I'm not saying they're better than the Pack, but I am saying the NFC North title is not a guarantee. Similar to the Seahawks and Cardinals and their division. Who's more likely to win that division? Would it be an upset if the other team won the division? I don't think so.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:34 pm

Let's be real Drealyn. How often has a divisional loss like THAT happened to an MM led team since 2009? And we won't see articles about the Lions because they're completely rebuilding and probably not about the Bears unless they go on an early season run to prove them a threat. As pathetic as this is, the Vikings have clearly been the (distantly behind) 2nd best NFCN team since 2009.

2009: Both Vikings games. They were on top and declining. We were ascending but not there yet.

2010: @ CHI. Clunker we should have won @ DET. No ARod

2012: Week 17 @ MIN. Ponder's 1 good game ever. And we repaid his team 1 week later plenty fine.

2013: Bears at Home loss. Vikings at home Tie - No Arod. HUGE asterisk. The Lions kicked our butts on Thanksgiving. No excuses. (But still we won the division) :)

2014: @ DET in week 3. Clunker lost by 12.

2015: Discussed above.

That is 7 lost games. 9 if you include the ones without ARod. In 36 games over 6 fricking years! 38 if you include playoffs.

We OWN the division. We have owned it. We will continue owning it until AR/MM hang em up. There is not one team in the NFL over that same period that has so thoroughly dominated their division. Not even the Colts in the weak-sauce AFCS, nor the Pats in the AFCE. MM and AR's division dominance is nothing short of historic.

Them's not homer glasses. Them's facts.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:32 pm

You're going off the past. I'm talking about the future. No one cares about the past stats/results. None of that will affect either team.

I'm not discrediting what Rodgers and MM have accomplished so you bet not try to take it there. I'm just going off what I see from each team NOW.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:34 pm

And that's been established above too.

The Vikings have a very good D that could be great soon. They also have one threat on offense. And he is a RB over 30. They need more "scary" on O - starting with their QB - before they're a real threat to do anything more than be non-sucky as a team.

GB has some holes on the front 7 (pending the draft). But I'd take our position as a 1-53 roster over theirs ANY day.

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DrealynWilliams's picture

April 19, 2016 at 02:51 pm

"But I'd take our position as a 1-53 roster over theirs ANY day."

You're making it into who's the better team. I'm not here for that. I'm just saying the Vikings can't be overlooked. They're a tough team. That's ALL I've been saying from the jump.

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marpag1's picture

April 19, 2016 at 03:45 pm

There’s little doubt that AP was the Minny offense last year, as he has been every year. The Vikes gave him an astounding 327 carries, and you can add 30 completed passes on top of that. 327 carries led the league BY FAR. The next highest was Doug Martin at 288. The average of the ten RBs with the highest number of carries was 258, and the average of the top 32 was about 200. Peterson’s per carry average was actually just a bit above middling, tied with 2 others for 12th in the league (not counting QBs).

If I were a Vikes fan, that would be concerning. Perhaps the main reason that he piled up the yards last season is that the Vikes force-fed him the ball so many times. But as he gets older how much longer are they going to be able to do that? The Vikings need young offensive weapons in the worst way, and pronto. Here’s hoping that they trade up and draft Troy Williamson again.

About the best I’d be willing to say for Bridgewater is that he does have a chance, but he’s still very much in the “prove it” stage. The Teddy excitement got a little out of hand last year. But he seems to have decent poise and his arm is better than I thought (I didn’t like him much in the draft). He needs to improve a good bit and he needs more weapons. Unless BOTH of these things happen before AP retires, it’s going to be ugly on offense once Peterson is gone. Really ugly.

Kyle Rudolph is not “a weapon.” Purely on a performance basis, he’s mediocre at best. On a “bang for the buck” basis, he’s horrific. I’m not sure if they have any receivers. Diggs needs to do something more than 700 yards before I’m jumping on the bandwagon.

When healthy, I’d expect the O-line to be average. They were poor last year with the injuries. Boone is a decent addition, but they paid too much for him. They need depth everywhere.

The defensive front is very good. Even though they are the Vikes, I love how they’ve been building it over there. That’s Zimmer, IMO. Barr, E. Griffen and the DTs are nice players. Barr could be great if he develops. But Brian Robison is sub-par at DE and Chad Greenway was finished already last year. On the back end, Harrison Smith REALLY IS that good, and needs to be on the field. They don’t have a respectable starter at strong safety, and Michael Griffen is definitely not the answer. The corners are weak and need upgrades.

They need better punter. Locke was awful.

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Bearmeat's picture

April 20, 2016 at 03:45 pm

Agree with everything you said - except I'd say that Rhodes is a very good press corner and Waynes has a chance to be the other. Also McKinnon is a very good change of pace back, but he's no every down back.

All in all, they are VERY limited offensively. Like you said: unless BOTH TB improves and they get MASSIVE upgrades across the board on O, they're going south on that side of the ball quickly.

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egbertsouse's picture

April 19, 2016 at 03:56 pm

You think that reading these trolls is bad? Try living next to them. They all move to WI when they get tired of the prairie and swamps in Minny then run around in their No. 4 jerseys telling everyone what a great guy Adrian Beaterson is and how he got jobbed. Puke!,

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lebowski's picture

April 19, 2016 at 10:48 pm

I love rivalries.

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Tundraboy's picture

April 20, 2016 at 06:53 pm

Do we really care about the Vikings at this point? I only do when we play them and when they go on a win streak, usually in the first half of the season when their fans announce them as a Superbowl contender.

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