Brad Childress more approachable entering his third season

It's now or never. This is arguably the best team (on paper) in the history of the franchise. Let's start the season off right with with a little payback on MNF. I predict the offense will play reasonably well and the Vikes "D" will slam Rogers and the Pukers, 27-6. Bring on Indy!

I am a very Die Hard Vikings Fan and often get grief for it, but what I tell everyone - there is Hope. My grandfather got me into this game and I am at a lot of them, unfortunately, he died, never being able to see his team win a Super Bowl. I do not intend to live the same fate, so I cheer relentlessly throughout the good and the bad. Carpe Diem Brad Childress - Take this team to the Top and make Minnesota and all of its fans Proud to be Purple! For God's Sakes, you have the tools now - USE THEM!!!

Chilly will be Coach of the Year!

It will not be Chilly's fault when the Pack stomps the Queens (again) 42-3 Monday night.

Jackson & Grant will cream Midget Jared Allen for a couple hundred yards and the Queenies will be talking hockey by October.

Again.

I know I am ready. I think this team has a real shot at doing some good. If not this year the next. Bring Monday night on.

Gravedigger wrote:

Chilly will be Coach of the Year!
It will not be Chilly's fault when the Pack stomps the Queens (again) 42-3 Monday night.
Jackson & Grant will cream Midget Jared Allen for a couple hundred yards and the Queenies will be talking hockey by October.
Again.

Yeah yeah.- You talked the talk. Now walk the walk. Be interesting to see if you have the stones to come on here Tuesday... "Jackson"? Yeah. Whatever...

Don't get me wrong, I'm a die hard Vikings fan, but the last two years look like the Packers are better coached.

The purple better strap on their helmets, it will be a dog fight!

Ah, isn't it nice how sweet and lovable Clueless has become? Too bad he's still a lousy coach.

I'd be more optimistic if we hadn't drawn the 5th toughest schedule in the league (while the stinking Patriots draw the easiest - what the heck is up with that???). Still, you have to man up and play the games. The harder schedule will make them even better, sot that if they don't make it through this year, they'll be stronger next year (they'll just have to hold their belief a little longer and not let it crush their spirits). It's just the way teams seem to progress. Having said all that, I'm still hoping for a "miracle" year, kind of like the Giants had last year. One game at a time though - bring on the slackers!!!

jackdupp might be on drugs, or perhaps too much caffeine this morning - the best team on paper in the history of the franchise??? Whew! The Foreman, Tarkenton, Page, Eller group might have something to say about that, and so might our "one shot wonder" '98 team. Still, like you, I'm excited about their chances this year, and even more so, next year. I think we have a decent 3-4 year window to do something great.

Gravedigger wrote:

Chilly will be Coach of the Year!
It will not be Chilly's fault when the Pack stomps the Queens (again) 42-3 Monday night.
Jackson & Grant will cream Midget Jared Allen for a couple hundred yards and the Queenies will be talking hockey by October.
Again.

Now, correct me if I'm wrong, but if you take out our embarassing loss last time with BROOKS BOLLINGER under center who isn't even on this team anymore, though we've still been defeated 3 times, they were much closer games. Much much closer.

That said, let's look at the facts. 1) The Packers are potentialy hampered by injuries. KGB might now play, your center might not play, Ryan Grant has a strained hamstring, AJ Hawk has a chest injury, so on and so forth. By all accounts, the only injures the Vikings have to deal with are Madeiu Williams (who we knew wasn't going to play) and Jackson's knee still needing some time. Well plus the suspension of McKinnie. But that's mildly nullified because KGB might not play.

2) Aaron Rodgers' first start. If the Pack wins, I'm sorry but, it's going to be in spite of him. If your line plays like it did against San Francisco, Rodgers is in trouble. He's gotta learn to let the ball go sooner.

3) Green Bay defense vs Adrian Peterson. Yeah, say what you want about the shot to his knee, he tore it up against your defense last year. He hasn't been too impressive this preseason, and to be honest, I don't think the Pack is going to respect our recievers, but your defenders seemed very slow against the run in the preseason.

Obviously I'm pulling for the Packers to win, but I expect this is going to be a very close game. The Vikings D-line is outstanding, and our offensive line is not at full strength. I'm also worried about Peterson breaking off a long run at some point, although I'm sure the Packers will put 8 in the box and force Jackson to beat them with the passing game, which I'm not too worried about (especially with Berrian's turf toe). Should be a classic NFC North slugfest.

Packers 17, Vikings 16

All I know is...if I was Aaron Rodgers, this would probably be the last defense I wanted to face week one, on MNF following a legend. Good luck.

BackdaPack wrote:

Obviously I'm pulling for the Packers to win, but I expect this is going to be a very close game. The Vikings D-line is outstanding, and our offensive line is not at full strength. I'm also worried about Peterson breaking off a long run at some point, although I'm sure the Packers will put 8 in the box and force Jackson to beat them with the passing game, which I'm not too worried about (especially with Berrian's turf toe). Should be a classic NFC North slugfest.
Packers 17, Vikings 16

I think a lot of us Viking fans are hoping we see the same kind of development with our young WR's (Rice, Allison) this year as what your team has seen from Jennings and Jones the last two years. If so, the Vikings O will be dangerous regardless of who is at QB - although it wouldn't hurt to see Jackson take a big step this year either!

Vikings 17 Packers 16 ;-)

I think Backdapack has it pretty close. I don't mind reading objective cheeser posts like that one. As to the game, if KGB, Hawk and the starting center are really injured, the Vike's chances improve quite a bit. I'm worried that our WR's won't be able to handle the decent bump and run coverage of the pack corners, meaning T-Jack will be stuck holding the ball too long with our questionable LT and RT's pass blocking. On the other hand, the pack's O-line is weak up the middle, which plays into our strength, meaning they have to run wide and focus on a quick-hit passing game. This should be more of a defensive battle, and the Vikes will be lucky to come out with a win. We could be in for a tough September if we don't start out with a win.

BackdaPack, I completely agree with you, you just got the score backwards. It should be a great game.

Tarvaris will come out with a bomb to Berrian or Allison right off the bat for a TD. After that, it will be easy to run. Everything Aaron does, he will have to do fast, so the Vikes D needs to concentrate on the catch and run. As soon as the ball arrives on the quick slant, the receiver needs to be de-cleated. Rodgers will get pressure on 5 step drops, so I see McCarthy keeping the O with quick reads/passes. The Vikings need to concentrate on stopping the run first, get them into 2nd/3rd and long, and then attack Aaron.
Of course, this is best case scenario...
Score? Probably low...