Phil Loadholt is a top flight right tackle, ranking 8th among right tackles on ProFootballFocus last season. He’s graded out well above average in two straight seasons, but right tackles should not be able like left tackles because they don’t protect the blind side. Credit the Vikings for not overpaying Loadholt, with this 4 year, [...]
This was one of the really good signing of the days. Felton was an integral part in Adrian Peterson’s near record setting season and he is one of the best fullbacks in the game, ranking 5th at his position on ProFootballFocus. I was expecting him to exceed Vonta Leach’s 3 year, 11 million dollar contract [...]
Trade for Seattle: I’m going to go away from convention for this one. I don’t like this move. Percy Harvin has very good upside. We’re talking about someone who, over the past 2 years, has 1652 receiving yards on 651 routes run, which is among the most efficient in the NFL. And yes, he was [...]
The Vikings got an amazing season from Adrian Peterson, who came within 9 yards of the single season rushing record despite being less than a year removed from tearing his ACL and MCL. Without that, they would have been screwed. Peterson dragged them into the post-season, but the Vikings were never a legitimate threat to [...]
For analysis on Minnesota click here For analysis on Green Bay click here The Vikings beat the Packers just last week so they will definitely hang within 8 of the Packers this week right? Well, that seems to be what everything thinks as the public is all over the Vikings. However, as is frequently the [...]
I’m going to do an awards article in a few days, but I’ll give a sneak pick. I think that Adrian Peterson should be MVP for taking the Vikings to the playoffs, despite their horrific pass offense. The Vikings averaged just 6.1 YPA this season, good for 31st in the NFL. In fact, it took [...]
Green Bay Packers (11-4) at Minnesota Vikings (9-6) There are many reasons to like the Vikings here. They’ve played great football at home, going 6-1 with wins over San Francisco and Chicago, as opposed to 3-4 on the road. They played the Packers tight a few weeks back and that was in Green Bay. They’re [...]
Last week: 14 (+1) Record: 9-6 Net points per drive: 0.04 (16th) DVOA: -0.8% (16th) Weighted DVOA: -4.4% (19th) Studs RT Phil Loadholt: Allowed 1 quarterback hurry on 35 pass block snaps, run blocked for 20 yards on 3 attempts FS Harrison Smith: Allowed 1 catch for 2 yards on 5 attempts, 1 pass deflection, [...]
Minnesota Vikings (8-6) at Houston Texans (12-2) The Vikings kept their playoff hopes alive last week, as they are one of many 8-6 teams in the NFC. They are long shot hopes, however. Not only do they not control their own destiny, their final 2 games are against Houston and Green Bay, two of the [...]
Last week: 20 (+6) Record: 8-6 Net points per drive: -0.07 (19th) DVOA: -5.3% (20th) Weighted DVOA: -10.0% (23rd) The Vikings are 8-6, but with games against the Texans and Packers left on their schedule, it’s going to be very, very hard for them to make the playoffs. 9-7 looks like a best case scenario [...]
Minnesota Vikings (7-6) at St. Louis Rams (6-6-1) The Vikings won last week as home dogs against the Bears, but I’m still not sure about them. Christian Ponder once again had a terrible game, completing 11 of 17 for 91 yards and an interception. In his last 7 games, he’s 107 of 191 (56.0%) for [...]
Last week: 20 (+0) Record: 7-6 Net points per drive: -0.14 (20th) DVOA: -5.1% (18th) Weighted DVOA: -8.8% (24th) The Vikings pulled the huge upset at home over the Bears, but things don’t get easier as they have to face the suddenly surging Rams in St. Louis, the Texans in Houston, and then head home [...]
Minnesota Vikings (6-6) at Chicago Bears (8-4) The Bears lost last week in upset fashion, but they still have a very good chance to be this year’s team that goes from out of the playoffs to a first round bye because the 49ers also lost. If they win 1 more game over their final 4 [...]
Last week: 15 (-5) Record: 6-6 Net points per drive: -0.18 (21st) DVOA: -4.0% (19th) Weighted DVOA: -7.6% (23rd) Studs RB Adrian Peterson: Rushed for 210 yards (186 after contact) and a touchdown on 21 attempts, 4 broken tackles, caught 1 pass for 10 yards on 2 attempts LT Matt Kalil: Did not allow a [...]
Minnesota Vikings (6-5) at Green Bay Packers (7-4) Aaron Rodgers is normally deadly off a loss, going 14-9 ATS in that situation in his career, including 10-4 ATS since 2009, which excludes 2008, his first year as a starter. However, as favorites of a touchdown or more, he’s just 4-3 ATS in that situation in [...]
Last week: 16 (+1) Record: 6-5 Net points per drive: -0.12 (19th) DVOA: -0.8% (17th) Weighted DVOA: -3.2% (18th) Tier 4: Young teams that could make the playoffs, but won’t do much once they get there Studs MLB Jasper Brinkley: 8 solo tackles, 5 stops, allowed 2 catches for 11 yards on 3 attempts RE [...]
Minnesota Vikings (6-4) at Chicago Bears (7-3) Jay Cutler might be the most undervalued player in the NFL. In the last 2 seasons, when he starts, the Bears are 14-5 and score 26.8 points per game. When he doesn’t, they are 1-6 and average just 13.1 points per game. That isn’t all him. For instance, [...]
Last week: 15 (-1) Record: 6-4 On bye.
Last week: 19 (+4) Record: 5-4 Their schedule is still brutal from this point out (as is the case with pretty much the whole NFC North) as they head to Chicago, Green Bay, St. Louis, and Houston, while hosting Chicago and Green Bay. How would you like to play Chicago, Green Bay, and Houston in [...]
Detroit Lions (4-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-4) Like Indianapolis +1 at Jacksonville, this game is one I really wished I would have made a play on last week. Like Jacksonville, Minnesota was a favorite last week in the early line for this game, -2.5, but now they are +2.5 here at home, a massive line [...]
Last week: 12 (-7) Record: 5-4 In his last 4 games, Christian Ponder completed 73 of 126 (57.9%) for 724 yards (5.7 YPA), 4 touchdowns, and 6 interceptions, all less than stellar team performances (0-3-1 ATS, 1-3 SU). The only reason it was even close against Seattle was because Adrian Peterson went nuts, but as [...]
Minnesota Vikings (5-3) at Seattle Seahawks (4-4) I think I preface every single one of my picks on Seattle’s game by saying I love picking their games because of their huge home/road disparity. Dating back to 2007, they are 30-14 ATS at home and 16-30 ATS on the road. They’ve lost their last two after [...]
Last week: 10 (-2) Record: 5-3 A bad game or the beginning of the end for this young impressive team? I’m going to go with the former because it was on Thursday Night and it’s tough to knock a team, especially such a young team, for a bad game on a short week. However, Christian [...]
Last week: 11 (+1) Record: 5-2 The Vikings’ game last week was pretty boring, but since they’re playing tomorrow night in this week’s Thursday Night game, I’d like to take this opportunity to rant about Thursday Night Football. I hate it. One, it screws up my whole schedule. I like football and writing about football [...]
Tampa Bay Buccaneers (2-4) at Minnesota Vikings (5-2) As I like to mention every week, the rule of thumb on Thursday Night is to take the home team. Home teams are 68-49 ATS in the history of Thursday Night football. It makes sense. On a short week, all the time to prepare, practice, and rest [...]