No Viking homers on this board, eh?
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http://www.dailynorseman.com/2015/11/7/9687228/st-louis-rams-at-minnesota-vikings-who-ya-got
St. Louis Rams at Minnesota Vikings: WHO YA GOT?!
By
Christopher Gates
@DailyNorseman on Nov 7, 2015
It's prediction time again, ladies and gentlemen, as we gear up for this Sunday's match-up between the
St. Louis Rams and your
Minnesota Vikings at TCF Bank Stadium in Minneapolis.
Just like everyone else, I'm expecting a very physical contest between these two teams. Defensively, these are two of the best teams in the NFL, and I don't anticipate there being a whole lot of scoring. (Apparently, the sharps in Vegas don't, either, as the over/under for this one has been set at 40).
The running backs in this game figure to be prominently featured, as
Adrian Peterson and
Todd Gurley are both in the top 5 in the NFL in rushing thus far. Peterson's numbers against Chicago, on the surface, weren't
that much better than what he had against Detroit the previous week, but he was much more consistent, and hopefully he can keep that consistency going this week. Gurley, on the other hand, has been just destroying teams since he was inserted into the lineup, and the Vikings will have their hands full slowing him down.
With two backs of that caliber, this one might end up coming down to the passing game. As we know,
Teddy Bridgewater wasn't great against Chicago, but he was great when he needed to be, leading the Vikings to ten points in the final three minutes to pull out the win. On the other side,
Nick Foles has had his moments as well. . .he has a similiar touchdown-to-interception ratio to Bridgewater, but four of his five interceptions on the season came in one game.
However, he hasn't broken the 200-yard passing mark since Week 1, and only has multiple touchdown passes in one game this year. Bridgewater completes a significantly higher percentage of his passes than Foles does (64.5% for Bridgewater, 58.7% for Foles), but their yards/attempt figures are fairly similar, as are their quarterback ratings (85.5 for Bridgewater, 81.7 for Foles).
Defensively, it's tough to say that either team has an advantage, though the absence of
Sharrif Floyd and
Eric Kendricks definitely plays to the Rams' advantage. Mike Zimmer has gotten a lot of good play from the depth players on the squad when he's needed to, so hopefully there won't be a significant drop-off with
Audie Cole starting in the middle for Minnesota.
This one's going to be a slugfest, I think. Gurley and Peterson are going to trade punches all afternoon, and. . .to keep the boxing analogy going. . .it's going to come down to who has the better cornerman. And even though Teddy Bridgewater has had his issues at times this year, I don't see a compelling reason to believe that he's going to get outplayed by Nick Foles. Being at home after a couple of tough divisional road contests should play to Minnesota's advantage as well.
I'll go
Vikings 20,
Rams 17 in what could be the best game of the weekend for Week 9 in the NFL.
Who do you have, ladies and gentlemen?
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I really can't decided who wins this game so logic says pick the home team. Vikings 27 Rams 24
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Walsh kicks his 4th FG of the game as time expires.
19-17 Vikings
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I love that the Vikings are not getting any love from the national media
They seem to think this is the same team that showed up in San Francisco opening week. Good luck with that.
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17-7 Vikings
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On paper, it is Vikes 19-14
Based on offensive and defensive team performance, adjusted for strength of competition and handicapped for home game at TCF.
If both teams play within their relative previous performance levels, the outcome could range between 22-8 VIkes to 18-13 Rams.
I have this suspicion that Uncle Norval is going to take the governor off of the throttle of the jalopy that is the MV offense Sunday, and Teddy and Co. are going to take it out on the open highway and see what it will do against a very good defense at home. I think we will see the play book start to open up a bit, and more pieces falling into place, so I expect more than the previous level of play from the offense (relative to the strength of the Rams defense, anyway).
I’m going with a 24-14 Vikings victory.
I believe that it is highly unlikely that the Vikes lose in a shoot-out to the Rams, so with an o/u of 40 (and previous performance suggesting scores considerably below that amount), and only 2 point favorites at home, it looks like Vegas has presented an interesting hedge opportunity.
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Diggs/TD Teddy will prove too much at home with Walsh again sealing it at the whistle.
17-14 Vikes.
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52-49 Vikings
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With Floyd and Kendricks out I could see Gurley getting just enough space to be a problem.
So I think the Rams take it 20-17
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20-17 Vikes
I think the defense continues to do their job, while adding a defensive TD. The offense will do just enough, but will remain inconsistent do to the o-line play which will require keeping Ruldolph in to block limiting Teddy’s options.
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16-13 Vikes
Walsh gets one more FG then Greg the Leg, defense comes up with a big game sealer late.
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31-13 Vikings. Offense is dinged up and defense is also dinged up so
it’s going to be up to special teams to make an impact and make the difference this Sunday. Patterson goes wild on KOR’s and Sherrels the same with PR’s giving us either TD’s or excellent field position for AP, Diggs, Wallace, Theilen and Wright to take it the rest of the way. Gotta keep the stupid penalties down again, and for the love of Odin, PROTECTTEDDY!!! . Make the catches, please and hang on to the ball, pretty please. Let’s have a good, competitive game with relatively few, if any, injuries.
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2-2 tie!
defenses each score a safety
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Am I the only one?
Who is tired of hearing how badass the Rams are? Ram’s dline will murder TB…Kendricks and Sharif are hurt…Sendeblows…blah,blah,blah. Screw that noise!
Its called confidence, and this team has a lot of it. Plus playing at the Bank. Vikes FTW!
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Go Vikes! Hoping for a blowout in the Vikings favor. Even then, we'd probably earn no respect because the Rams would
drop to a .500 team and pundits will say, "But the Vikings still haven’t beaten a team over .500"
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56-6 Rams
The Rams fans coming here this week and gloating about beating the Browns and Niners without giving up a touchdown really swayed me. Plus that Nick Foles led offense. Can’t forget about the HoF RB in the backfield either.
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Don't have a good feeling about this one.
And really bummed Kendricks is out. This is THE game! This is the game that decides if we’re a playoff team or an average 8-8, imo. Can we please get the offense going tomorrow? Would love to experiment with CJ starting opposite of Diggs. Both guys know how to get open. They’ll never sit Wallace though.
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Eh, both teams could lose this game and still make the playoffs. I'm not seeing the win or bust
most people are labeling this game as, on both sides. The Vikings still play quite a few opponents that are in the wildcard hunt.
With that said having 6 wins after next week, will greatly improve our chances to making the playoffs.
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IF the Vikings dont put up 20+ points they will lose
I think the Rams are going to take advantage of the Vikings getting up to stop the run. Safety’s creeping up playing close to the line of scrimmage. Rams just dont run at you. They use misdirection running plays and use Austin in power sweeps from the WR position. Like we use to do 3 years ago with Patterson. This is the formation the rams could exploited the DE’s and Linebackers.
Vikings Linebackers and DE’s have to show discipline. As fast as Gurley is getting to the outside on sweeps. This is going to cause breakdowns in the LB Core. Audi is going to have to be fast enough to help Greenwood on those sweeps. But, The read of the play is important they dont get caught in a counter run like the last 5 teams have against the run. This is how the MLB takes himself out of the play and Gurley breaks of a huge run between the tackles.
The Rams are running our old offense from 3 years ago. Then just a fake then Foley takes a couple of steps back Could catch the Vikings slipping on quick slants or deep middle to Austin in the slot like we did with J.wright. Catch a Safety coming up and Austin running by the safety. The safety that plays with Smith. Discipline discipline discipline on defense is a huge key.
The Vikings huge key is Teddy. Vikings need to throw on 1st down play action and complete these passes down field for big yardage and not a check down. This will open up the Rams and make it easier to run the ball. Rams are going to try and stuff Peterson early and the Vikings have to take advantage of this. Passing passing passing early and often is the Key to the Vikings putting up 20+ and help to build a two score lead early.
Just like the Vikings the Rams wont abandon the run. Even if they are only getting 2 yards per carry. Both teams have that back to take it to the House. Gurley is a physical RB and DB’s better be tackling him low or they are going to be in for a surprise like the DB’s in Peterson rookie year found out.
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I know the Rams have defense and have an explosive Running back
but as usual, this game will come down to the silent Killer, Teddy Bridgewater. He will be efficient, limit mistakes and methodically wear the Rams down, so in the 4th quarter, his magic super saiyan powers will become activated. And he will devour the almighty great Ram defense. Then they’re left wondering how a guy with skinny knees and a noodle arm could accomplish such a mighty task.
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Dont take the Rams record lightly
They have beat Seattle and the Cardinals this season and in the last 4 games with Gurley being the starting RB are 3-1. The Rams are coming in here believing they are the team everyone disrespects and can show the NFL they can win big games on the road.
Rams believing they have the best RB and will punish a bang up front 7 of the fighting. Gurley like to deliver the blow and not receive the blow. Sound like someone we know. Vikings will need the crowd to help pump them up. The Rams are no Joke and are a lot better than teams with better records. The Vikings better be ready to play.
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Well, whether us fans take a team lightly or not has no bearing on the players who actually play.
I’m pretty sure both sides have a chip on their shoulders and nothing Vikings fans or Rams fans say, will ultimately have any leeway on the outcome of the game. As long as the players and coaches are taking the Rams seriously, the Vikings should be fine.
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You are right and wrong
Fans have no bearing in the out come of the score. But, The roar of the crowd can effect the out come of games. Have seen it to many times. Home team Players get fired up. Other teams panic cant hear the count and cause penalty’s down by their own goal line. QB’s get nervous and get gun shy. Either toss INT or get sack.
Foley isn’t a great veteran and cant be rattled and the roar of he crowd isnt helping him. Only the silence of the crowd would. Coaches always take the other team serious and the other team does too But, Players that play teams every year and are use to the team skill level and were to exploit other teams weakness or key players out on one team and exploit that weakness.
This is a big area that Billacheat does with perfection and Tom or defense attack that weakness. So I agree that coaches and players(depending who is the coach) take the game serious up to a point and Fans always are a big part of the team success home with the vocal support at games and on the Road with vocal support through the Media and other social out lets.
Players listen to the radio shows or what fans think. Teams like the Vikings and Rams are starting up that hill where the Pats Broncos Packers have been setting for almost a decade and are getting ready to push some one off the top to start their reign. I think Fans play a huge part of their teams success.
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