1 00:00:06,160 --> 00:00:09,399 Speaker 1: I think Bruce arians almost did the opposite of what 2 00:00:09,520 --> 00:00:11,920 Speaker 1: we would expect. He didn't take away to Alvin Cook, 3 00:00:11,960 --> 00:00:15,080 Speaker 1: who scored a touchdown. He took away justin Jefferson, and 4 00:00:15,280 --> 00:00:19,640 Speaker 1: he pretty much took away at him. Feeling the way 5 00:00:19,680 --> 00:00:22,560 Speaker 1: this team is playing compared to the way they were 6 00:00:22,560 --> 00:00:25,119 Speaker 1: playing a few weeks ago when we saw him, to me, 7 00:00:25,200 --> 00:00:34,320 Speaker 1: it feels more likely that this will be a dog fight. Hey, everybody, 8 00:00:34,320 --> 00:00:39,160 Speaker 1: Welcome to the Minnesota Vikings Podcast, episode seventy two. I'm 9 00:00:39,159 --> 00:00:43,080 Speaker 1: your host, Siam. It's enjoined in studio by Chris Corso 10 00:00:43,240 --> 00:00:48,239 Speaker 1: and Jay Nelson from Vikings dot Com. Fellas. As we 11 00:00:48,400 --> 00:00:51,440 Speaker 1: enter the end stretch of the NFL season. Here, the 12 00:00:51,560 --> 00:00:54,320 Speaker 1: Vikings are running out of time and chances after a 13 00:00:54,400 --> 00:00:58,040 Speaker 1: loss in Tampa Bay, but they still can put themselves 14 00:00:58,040 --> 00:01:00,560 Speaker 1: in a position to compete for a playoff spot if 15 00:01:00,560 --> 00:01:03,400 Speaker 1: they run the last three off that starts this week 16 00:01:03,440 --> 00:01:06,800 Speaker 1: with the Chicago Bears. Before we get into the Bears, 17 00:01:07,120 --> 00:01:08,880 Speaker 1: I don't want to I say this every week, I 18 00:01:08,880 --> 00:01:10,560 Speaker 1: don't want to talk about the last game, but this 19 00:01:10,560 --> 00:01:14,200 Speaker 1: week I genuinely mean it. I'm I don't I am 20 00:01:14,400 --> 00:01:17,080 Speaker 1: talked out. In terms of Dan Bailey, we talked to it, 21 00:01:17,200 --> 00:01:20,840 Speaker 1: and anybody who's following this show and following Vikings coverage, 22 00:01:21,040 --> 00:01:24,800 Speaker 1: you've had your fill of Dan Bailey discussion. You know 23 00:01:24,880 --> 00:01:28,360 Speaker 1: the story, you know the takes. I was trying to 24 00:01:28,400 --> 00:01:32,320 Speaker 1: think about what I was thinking about this game, guys, 25 00:01:32,760 --> 00:01:37,119 Speaker 1: and where I'm at in terms of this season, and 26 00:01:37,200 --> 00:01:40,600 Speaker 1: it brought me to a thought process that I've had 27 00:01:40,600 --> 00:01:44,840 Speaker 1: about sports in general forever, and it's it's going to 28 00:01:44,959 --> 00:01:49,400 Speaker 1: be You might as well play back a banjo in 29 00:01:49,440 --> 00:01:53,120 Speaker 1: the background, because it's gonna be real hill billy cram together. 30 00:01:53,240 --> 00:01:54,760 Speaker 1: It's not. I don't know that it'll make a lot 31 00:01:54,760 --> 00:01:57,520 Speaker 1: of sense or be smart. But let let me walk 32 00:01:57,600 --> 00:02:03,480 Speaker 1: you two through how I view professional and college sports, 33 00:02:04,240 --> 00:02:07,200 Speaker 1: and probably you sports as well. But the sports that 34 00:02:07,280 --> 00:02:12,520 Speaker 1: I watch and what decides how seasons turn out? Okay, 35 00:02:13,120 --> 00:02:15,919 Speaker 1: So as Chris looks on with Bill wildern it and 36 00:02:16,200 --> 00:02:19,200 Speaker 1: what is there a jay? Is there a word that 37 00:02:19,320 --> 00:02:24,360 Speaker 1: describes lack of anticipation? Is there a singular word apathy? 38 00:02:24,480 --> 00:02:27,919 Speaker 1: I guess maybe I'm so excited to hear your takes, 39 00:02:28,000 --> 00:02:34,400 Speaker 1: I tell us all about it. So there's sports teams, football, basketball, whatever. 40 00:02:34,639 --> 00:02:37,200 Speaker 1: You play two types of games in a season. You 41 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:41,240 Speaker 1: compete in games that are decisive, either you whoop somebody's 42 00:02:41,280 --> 00:02:43,320 Speaker 1: ass or you get your ass whooped. You know, the 43 00:02:43,400 --> 00:02:48,040 Speaker 1: sort of games that aren't really in question, decisive games. 44 00:02:48,440 --> 00:02:51,320 Speaker 1: And then there's another group of games that are in doubt, 45 00:02:51,680 --> 00:02:54,080 Speaker 1: the sort of games that could go either way and 46 00:02:54,160 --> 00:02:58,480 Speaker 1: are usually decided by which team makes the less mistakes 47 00:02:58,760 --> 00:03:01,880 Speaker 1: and which team x acutes more. And often those games 48 00:03:01,880 --> 00:03:05,800 Speaker 1: are decided in the clutch moments of the matchup right. 49 00:03:06,720 --> 00:03:10,320 Speaker 1: So those are your two categories. You have your decisive 50 00:03:10,400 --> 00:03:14,040 Speaker 1: games and your in doubt games. Now, when you step further, 51 00:03:14,480 --> 00:03:16,639 Speaker 1: when you look at a league, let's use the NFL 52 00:03:16,720 --> 00:03:20,119 Speaker 1: for example, and you look at the teams that are bad, 53 00:03:20,680 --> 00:03:26,160 Speaker 1: the Jets, the Jaguars, the bottom the bottom barrel teams 54 00:03:26,200 --> 00:03:32,320 Speaker 1: in a season usually have a heavy amount of decisive losses, 55 00:03:32,760 --> 00:03:35,080 Speaker 1: games where they didn't really stand a chance. And then 56 00:03:35,080 --> 00:03:36,840 Speaker 1: when you go look at the elite of the elite, 57 00:03:37,160 --> 00:03:40,760 Speaker 1: the Packers, the Chiefs this year, you know, for example, 58 00:03:40,840 --> 00:03:43,960 Speaker 1: the Bills, who are who are right up there, they 59 00:03:44,080 --> 00:03:49,000 Speaker 1: usually have a heavy amount of decisive wins, generally not 60 00:03:49,120 --> 00:03:53,240 Speaker 1: always right. And then in between the teams that are 61 00:03:53,280 --> 00:03:56,080 Speaker 1: the worst because of their talent and the teams that 62 00:03:56,120 --> 00:03:59,160 Speaker 1: are generally the best because of their talent. There's this 63 00:03:59,240 --> 00:04:05,520 Speaker 1: whole conglomerate of teams that season revolves around how they 64 00:04:05,640 --> 00:04:09,400 Speaker 1: execute in the ind out games, because they'll get a 65 00:04:09,400 --> 00:04:13,320 Speaker 1: couple of decisive victories and they'll get a couple decisive losses, 66 00:04:13,640 --> 00:04:18,760 Speaker 1: and then how does your team play and perform in 67 00:04:18,800 --> 00:04:25,640 Speaker 1: these in doubt difficult situations. That is definitively the type 68 00:04:25,640 --> 00:04:27,680 Speaker 1: of football team that we have in front of us 69 00:04:27,760 --> 00:04:30,479 Speaker 1: right here. We all it's a team filled with youth. 70 00:04:30,680 --> 00:04:33,200 Speaker 1: It's a team with a bunch of rookies playing. It's 71 00:04:33,200 --> 00:04:36,880 Speaker 1: a team with you know, a bunch of depth stepping up. 72 00:04:36,920 --> 00:04:39,359 Speaker 1: There's young talent, there is talent. But we all knew 73 00:04:39,720 --> 00:04:42,599 Speaker 1: that even if this team had a stellar record, this 74 00:04:42,720 --> 00:04:45,360 Speaker 1: was going to be a growth year, especially without the 75 00:04:45,400 --> 00:04:49,440 Speaker 1: pandemic training camp. Right, so this team was going to 76 00:04:49,760 --> 00:04:55,000 Speaker 1: likely land somewhere in that middle group of teams whose 77 00:04:55,000 --> 00:04:57,760 Speaker 1: season has decided whether there'll be a great team or 78 00:04:57,800 --> 00:05:01,000 Speaker 1: a terrible team on those INDU games. Because if you 79 00:05:01,040 --> 00:05:06,240 Speaker 1: break down the Vikings schedule, you have five decisive games. 80 00:05:06,279 --> 00:05:09,240 Speaker 1: You have a Packers loss, a Colt's loss, and a 81 00:05:09,320 --> 00:05:12,680 Speaker 1: Falcon's loss. And then in my opinion. You have a 82 00:05:12,760 --> 00:05:16,560 Speaker 1: Packers win coming out of the bye and a Lions win. 83 00:05:16,720 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: So you went two and three in decisive games, which 84 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,200 Speaker 1: is pretty common for this group a group of teams. 85 00:05:22,400 --> 00:05:24,599 Speaker 1: You kick a couple of people's asses and you get 86 00:05:24,600 --> 00:05:26,560 Speaker 1: your ass kicked a couple of times. We just saw it. 87 00:05:27,000 --> 00:05:29,920 Speaker 1: Look at the Look at the Tennessee Titans. Look at 88 00:05:29,960 --> 00:05:32,279 Speaker 1: the Buffalo Bills. I know I mentioned them before, but 89 00:05:32,360 --> 00:05:35,200 Speaker 1: look at the Cleveland Browns. These teams that are that 90 00:05:35,240 --> 00:05:37,200 Speaker 1: are pretty good teams this year. They've kicked a couple 91 00:05:37,200 --> 00:05:39,600 Speaker 1: of people's asses and they've had their ass kicked a 92 00:05:39,680 --> 00:05:43,760 Speaker 1: time or two. Right, So now you get into those 93 00:05:43,839 --> 00:05:47,160 Speaker 1: for the vikings, you get into those other eight games 94 00:05:47,200 --> 00:05:50,000 Speaker 1: that can swing your season one way or another, games 95 00:05:50,040 --> 00:05:52,880 Speaker 1: that came down to the final moments. The amount of mistakes, 96 00:05:52,920 --> 00:05:57,120 Speaker 1: the execution and the team is four and four. You've 97 00:05:57,160 --> 00:05:59,479 Speaker 1: gone four and four in those games, and you've put 98 00:05:59,520 --> 00:06:04,599 Speaker 1: yourself at the exact place that you are on the 99 00:06:04,760 --> 00:06:06,840 Speaker 1: edge of football no man's land. We still have a 100 00:06:06,960 --> 00:06:10,160 Speaker 1: chance here. But you look back and this is like 101 00:06:10,440 --> 00:06:17,279 Speaker 1: almost a prime example of this situation because so many 102 00:06:17,400 --> 00:06:22,920 Speaker 1: of those in doubt games were immensely in doubt. I mean, 103 00:06:22,960 --> 00:06:25,560 Speaker 1: let's go through them. You get that Titans, that crazy 104 00:06:25,600 --> 00:06:28,440 Speaker 1: Titans loss at the end, given up that drive with 105 00:06:28,600 --> 00:06:34,320 Speaker 1: the kick unbelievable, The insanity that was the Seahawks loss, right, 106 00:06:34,680 --> 00:06:37,760 Speaker 1: you're owing two there, The insanity that was the Bears 107 00:06:37,760 --> 00:06:41,080 Speaker 1: win with Kirk pumping his fist and running down the sideline, 108 00:06:41,520 --> 00:06:45,440 Speaker 1: The insanity that was the Cowboys lost with Andy Dalton 109 00:06:45,560 --> 00:06:48,600 Speaker 1: at the end of the game. You get the Panthers 110 00:06:48,680 --> 00:06:50,960 Speaker 1: a killer drive to win and then they miss a 111 00:06:51,000 --> 00:06:55,839 Speaker 1: field goal literally at the gun, the Jaguars an overtime loss, 112 00:06:55,960 --> 00:06:58,839 Speaker 1: and then the Buccaneers a game that, even though it 113 00:06:58,920 --> 00:07:02,000 Speaker 1: was a twelve point game, falls into that category because 114 00:07:02,440 --> 00:07:04,640 Speaker 1: you talk about the missed kicks and you talk about 115 00:07:04,680 --> 00:07:07,719 Speaker 1: all the opportunity was there. Not to be dramatic, but 116 00:07:07,839 --> 00:07:12,880 Speaker 1: this is one of the all time in doubt type 117 00:07:12,880 --> 00:07:15,840 Speaker 1: of push you one way or another seasons. Right now, 118 00:07:16,200 --> 00:07:18,440 Speaker 1: We've said it a lot of times because and the 119 00:07:18,480 --> 00:07:20,720 Speaker 1: reason I was thinking about this is I continue this 120 00:07:21,080 --> 00:07:25,320 Speaker 1: marathon speech I'm giving Chris is I was thinking about how, 121 00:07:25,640 --> 00:07:27,520 Speaker 1: you know, every team says that every year, Well, if 122 00:07:27,520 --> 00:07:29,000 Speaker 1: we could have just won this game, in that game, 123 00:07:29,040 --> 00:07:31,200 Speaker 1: we'd have been in the playoffs. Normally that's a lot 124 00:07:31,240 --> 00:07:36,040 Speaker 1: of bull in my opinion, But with this team, with 125 00:07:36,840 --> 00:07:40,920 Speaker 1: the insanely slim margin of error, with the insanity at 126 00:07:40,920 --> 00:07:44,360 Speaker 1: the end of these games, it's just been such an 127 00:07:44,400 --> 00:07:48,960 Speaker 1: interesting journey that was capped once again with a difficult, 128 00:07:49,280 --> 00:07:53,080 Speaker 1: in doubt loss on Sunday. And I thought of all 129 00:07:53,120 --> 00:07:55,240 Speaker 1: that because I was trying to figure out how I 130 00:07:55,280 --> 00:07:58,280 Speaker 1: wanted to process going forward, what did I thought about 131 00:07:58,280 --> 00:08:01,800 Speaker 1: the team in the last three games, etc. Etc. And 132 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: I think lost in that. You know, that big mix 133 00:08:05,440 --> 00:08:07,360 Speaker 1: is something I talk about all the time, the hope 134 00:08:07,400 --> 00:08:09,400 Speaker 1: that I have for the future, not just this year 135 00:08:09,440 --> 00:08:14,440 Speaker 1: but the following years. But it really is a pretty 136 00:08:14,480 --> 00:08:19,440 Speaker 1: insane season thus far in terms of the margin and 137 00:08:19,520 --> 00:08:22,680 Speaker 1: how quickly or closely it could have swung one direction 138 00:08:22,800 --> 00:08:25,880 Speaker 1: or the other. I couldn't agree more. And that's probably 139 00:08:25,880 --> 00:08:29,320 Speaker 1: why I get so frustrated, because we have so many 140 00:08:29,360 --> 00:08:32,760 Speaker 1: good things on this team. We do all the hard 141 00:08:32,840 --> 00:08:36,480 Speaker 1: things really well. We have a running back who is 142 00:08:36,520 --> 00:08:39,440 Speaker 1: the best running back in the league, who leads running 143 00:08:39,440 --> 00:08:43,480 Speaker 1: backs and rushing touchdowns. We have a wide receiver rookie 144 00:08:43,600 --> 00:08:46,319 Speaker 1: that we traded one of the best wide receivers in 145 00:08:46,360 --> 00:08:49,760 Speaker 1: the NFL for who's having one of the best seasons 146 00:08:49,880 --> 00:08:53,080 Speaker 1: as a wide receiver for a rookie Enfranchise history. We 147 00:08:53,200 --> 00:08:55,960 Speaker 1: have another wide receiver on the other side of the ball, 148 00:08:56,160 --> 00:08:59,720 Speaker 1: who's the best red zone target other than probably Davante 149 00:08:59,800 --> 00:09:03,880 Speaker 1: Am touchdown wise in the NFL and Adam Feeling. We 150 00:09:04,040 --> 00:09:08,400 Speaker 1: have so many things that are going so well, but 151 00:09:08,480 --> 00:09:11,640 Speaker 1: when it comes to the easy things, the fall starts 152 00:09:11,760 --> 00:09:14,199 Speaker 1: when you're in the red zone. The sacks out of 153 00:09:14,240 --> 00:09:16,480 Speaker 1: field goal range when you're in the red zone, those 154 00:09:16,520 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: are the things that I get very frustrated about. And 155 00:09:19,880 --> 00:09:23,800 Speaker 1: in this game, it happened so many times against the Buccaneers, 156 00:09:23,840 --> 00:09:25,520 Speaker 1: And that's one thing I want to point out before 157 00:09:25,559 --> 00:09:28,360 Speaker 1: I throw it back to us. I in this game, 158 00:09:29,200 --> 00:09:32,400 Speaker 1: I understand the miss kicks from Dan Bailey. I understand 159 00:09:32,640 --> 00:09:36,560 Speaker 1: Vikings fans being upset about that, but I don't know. 160 00:09:36,679 --> 00:09:39,200 Speaker 1: I get to sit with Kirk Cousins on Mondays and 161 00:09:39,320 --> 00:09:42,400 Speaker 1: hear him break down what he thinks happened in the game, 162 00:09:43,240 --> 00:09:47,520 Speaker 1: and when he spoke, he took blame for the miss 163 00:09:47,600 --> 00:09:51,360 Speaker 1: kicks because we were in those kicking situations because of 164 00:09:51,360 --> 00:09:54,040 Speaker 1: what happened the play before that. We move the ball 165 00:09:54,160 --> 00:09:56,439 Speaker 1: all the way down the field to start the game 166 00:09:56,760 --> 00:10:00,440 Speaker 1: against the number one rushing defense in the NFL. With 167 00:10:00,559 --> 00:10:04,120 Speaker 1: our running back, we fought fire with fire. We did 168 00:10:04,200 --> 00:10:06,800 Speaker 1: the hard thing. But then every drive when we got 169 00:10:06,880 --> 00:10:09,400 Speaker 1: into the red zone. Kirk acknowledged it himself. He said, 170 00:10:09,679 --> 00:10:11,680 Speaker 1: we ran into problems. I got sacked out a field 171 00:10:11,720 --> 00:10:14,240 Speaker 1: goal range on the opening drive, and I want to 172 00:10:14,240 --> 00:10:17,000 Speaker 1: just break that down just a little bit more because 173 00:10:17,200 --> 00:10:20,559 Speaker 1: when he says certain things, I like, sometimes the hill 174 00:10:20,600 --> 00:10:22,880 Speaker 1: finesse a little bit, but when he says certain things, 175 00:10:22,880 --> 00:10:26,640 Speaker 1: sometimes something sticks with me. And he said in this game, 176 00:10:26,720 --> 00:10:30,000 Speaker 1: they were trying to take away the deep ball to 177 00:10:30,240 --> 00:10:33,400 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson and Adam Feeling, which that was the one 178 00:10:33,520 --> 00:10:37,640 Speaker 1: common denominator in the games that we won over this streak, 179 00:10:37,920 --> 00:10:41,200 Speaker 1: the deep passes down the field when Kirk wasn't going 180 00:10:41,200 --> 00:10:44,000 Speaker 1: for those singles and doubles, he was actually throwing the 181 00:10:44,000 --> 00:10:46,000 Speaker 1: ball down the field. You have that combined with a 182 00:10:46,000 --> 00:10:49,360 Speaker 1: good running game. That's the success of this Vikings offense. 183 00:10:50,040 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: The league's top rushing defense, they didn't take away Dalvin Cook. 184 00:10:55,440 --> 00:10:59,240 Speaker 1: They lined up in formations to stop Kirk from going 185 00:10:59,280 --> 00:11:02,679 Speaker 1: down the field. We had no explosive plays at all 186 00:11:02,679 --> 00:11:05,480 Speaker 1: in this game, and when it came time to make 187 00:11:05,520 --> 00:11:08,760 Speaker 1: those plays, Kirk had no options. And I think Bruce 188 00:11:08,800 --> 00:11:12,960 Speaker 1: arians almost did the opposite of what we would expect 189 00:11:13,000 --> 00:11:15,960 Speaker 1: in the game. And he didn't take away to Alvin Cook, 190 00:11:15,960 --> 00:11:18,800 Speaker 1: who scored a touchdown early in this game. He took 191 00:11:18,800 --> 00:11:21,680 Speaker 1: away Justin Jefferson, and he pretty much took away at 192 00:11:21,720 --> 00:11:24,439 Speaker 1: him feeling sick. That's always an interesting thing in the NFL, 193 00:11:24,480 --> 00:11:27,600 Speaker 1: when you know, I remember that with Daryl Revs. Everybody's like, well, 194 00:11:27,600 --> 00:11:29,319 Speaker 1: don't throw out Daryl Reevs. And then every once in 195 00:11:29,360 --> 00:11:33,360 Speaker 1: a while somebody and be like, well, we're just gonna 196 00:11:33,400 --> 00:11:35,480 Speaker 1: go at your strength, because if we can beat your strength, 197 00:11:35,920 --> 00:11:39,120 Speaker 1: you know, there's there's an interesting aspect to how teams 198 00:11:39,160 --> 00:11:42,120 Speaker 1: playing and the chess match there and how they end 199 00:11:42,160 --> 00:11:44,920 Speaker 1: up actually approaching games. And I think you're right. And 200 00:11:45,000 --> 00:11:48,680 Speaker 1: I imagine anybody who's who's listening, who actually sat through 201 00:11:48,800 --> 00:11:52,880 Speaker 1: my ten minute speech that could be summarized as teams 202 00:11:52,920 --> 00:11:55,480 Speaker 1: play close games and if they win them, they're good. 203 00:11:55,880 --> 00:12:00,120 Speaker 1: But I do think Jay, it's just really interesting to 204 00:12:00,559 --> 00:12:04,120 Speaker 1: look at this group, given all their inexperience in youth 205 00:12:04,160 --> 00:12:07,920 Speaker 1: and growth, and realize how close we were because generally, 206 00:12:08,600 --> 00:12:10,720 Speaker 1: only one or two of the teams in the NFL 207 00:12:10,760 --> 00:12:13,720 Speaker 1: every year aren't in this group that I'm talking about. 208 00:12:13,960 --> 00:12:16,960 Speaker 1: Even go back to the Vikings Minnesota miracle year, I 209 00:12:17,000 --> 00:12:19,880 Speaker 1: think that is the upper echelon example this. You had 210 00:12:19,920 --> 00:12:22,000 Speaker 1: a really you had a ton of really talented guys. 211 00:12:22,240 --> 00:12:25,480 Speaker 1: You had a very good football team, but you had 212 00:12:25,480 --> 00:12:29,320 Speaker 1: a team that in in doubt games that year just 213 00:12:29,520 --> 00:12:33,240 Speaker 1: absolutely kicked ass. We played a lot of close football 214 00:12:33,320 --> 00:12:36,280 Speaker 1: games that year, and a lot of games that were 215 00:12:36,360 --> 00:12:39,560 Speaker 1: still in doubt rolling into the fourth quarter, and we 216 00:12:39,720 --> 00:12:42,720 Speaker 1: came out of a lot of those games with victories. 217 00:12:42,760 --> 00:12:46,240 Speaker 1: And this season you're only clipping out about fifty percent, 218 00:12:46,320 --> 00:12:48,840 Speaker 1: and when you clip it about fifty percent, you're going 219 00:12:48,880 --> 00:12:51,560 Speaker 1: to clip it about fifty percent. I think for me, 220 00:12:51,679 --> 00:12:54,240 Speaker 1: the biggest thing there's a word you just used, and 221 00:12:54,400 --> 00:12:57,520 Speaker 1: for me it's the over a writing factor of the 222 00:12:57,640 --> 00:13:01,199 Speaker 1: entire season, which is experience. I think experience is the 223 00:13:01,200 --> 00:13:04,240 Speaker 1: thing that helps you gloss over some of those mistakes, 224 00:13:04,280 --> 00:13:06,079 Speaker 1: that helps you work through it and say, oh, we 225 00:13:06,160 --> 00:13:08,040 Speaker 1: got lucky on this one, but that one we got bit. 226 00:13:08,760 --> 00:13:11,800 Speaker 1: If you're an experienced player, you can recognize some of 227 00:13:11,840 --> 00:13:14,600 Speaker 1: those situations a little bit easier, and I think on 228 00:13:14,640 --> 00:13:17,199 Speaker 1: the front end of the season, in those first six games, 229 00:13:17,600 --> 00:13:20,199 Speaker 1: the experience side is the thing that absolutely torched us 230 00:13:20,240 --> 00:13:23,280 Speaker 1: and some of those small in between our games, like 231 00:13:23,280 --> 00:13:26,040 Speaker 1: you're talking about the Tennessee's and the Seattles, you kind 232 00:13:26,040 --> 00:13:27,920 Speaker 1: of feel like, if if the back half of the 233 00:13:27,960 --> 00:13:30,920 Speaker 1: defense had more experience, maybe they would have recognized some 234 00:13:30,920 --> 00:13:33,559 Speaker 1: of those situations better in order to prevent the teams 235 00:13:33,559 --> 00:13:35,520 Speaker 1: from marching down the field, especially late in the game 236 00:13:35,559 --> 00:13:39,280 Speaker 1: as easily as they did. For me. Going into the season, 237 00:13:39,320 --> 00:13:41,040 Speaker 1: we had a big question, which was what's going to 238 00:13:41,120 --> 00:13:43,640 Speaker 1: happen given all the turnover that we had when you 239 00:13:43,720 --> 00:13:48,240 Speaker 1: lost Linvall, Rhodes, Wayne's and Dajoe Weatherly and Diggs right 240 00:13:48,320 --> 00:13:52,520 Speaker 1: from the previous season and mckenns Alexander up on top 241 00:13:52,559 --> 00:13:55,319 Speaker 1: of that, and then going into the season, you're like, well, 242 00:13:55,320 --> 00:13:57,000 Speaker 1: we have some season guys on the front line, we 243 00:13:57,000 --> 00:13:59,000 Speaker 1: have some season guys at linebackers, some season guys in 244 00:13:59,000 --> 00:14:02,160 Speaker 1: the back end. I knew lose Anthony Barr Pierce because 245 00:14:02,240 --> 00:14:05,520 Speaker 1: the opt out, and then Daniel Hunter. That's more experience 246 00:14:05,600 --> 00:14:08,240 Speaker 1: on that defense, which, to be honest with you, it 247 00:14:08,280 --> 00:14:10,080 Speaker 1: feels like the defense is the thing that's been the 248 00:14:10,080 --> 00:14:14,400 Speaker 1: shakiest the season. So for me, if you're losing that experience, 249 00:14:14,520 --> 00:14:16,320 Speaker 1: then that is where you're going to have a problem. 250 00:14:16,679 --> 00:14:19,840 Speaker 1: One small last thing before I turn it backside. Do 251 00:14:19,840 --> 00:14:22,680 Speaker 1: you guys remember the twenty seventeen Packers season. That was 252 00:14:22,720 --> 00:14:24,560 Speaker 1: the year that Aaron Rodgers was out right, they were 253 00:14:24,600 --> 00:14:26,440 Speaker 1: seven to nine. Everyone was laughing, We were kind of 254 00:14:26,520 --> 00:14:29,720 Speaker 1: dancing on their grave because they were losing those close 255 00:14:29,760 --> 00:14:31,880 Speaker 1: games and they just did not have the answers on 256 00:14:31,960 --> 00:14:35,000 Speaker 1: the back end in that season. In that draft, they 257 00:14:35,080 --> 00:14:37,800 Speaker 1: drafted Kevin Kings and Aaron Jones, and once they got 258 00:14:37,800 --> 00:14:40,640 Speaker 1: Aaron Rodgers back in the building, they have taken off 259 00:14:40,680 --> 00:14:43,320 Speaker 1: because they got that experience. As horrible as it was 260 00:14:43,360 --> 00:14:46,480 Speaker 1: for them their rookie season, since then, those guys have 261 00:14:46,560 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: been contributors and I feel like that is what we 262 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:50,800 Speaker 1: are set up for for the future if this draft 263 00:14:50,840 --> 00:14:52,520 Speaker 1: pans out the way we think it's going to. So 264 00:14:52,640 --> 00:14:55,160 Speaker 1: that's my feeling as the experience is showing here in 265 00:14:55,200 --> 00:14:57,640 Speaker 1: these close games. But the thing that drives me nuts 266 00:14:57,680 --> 00:14:59,480 Speaker 1: about the Tampa game, you know, because I don't I 267 00:14:59,520 --> 00:15:01,640 Speaker 1: don't play the what if, what could have been? What 268 00:15:01,720 --> 00:15:03,520 Speaker 1: if it would have gone this way. Like I said, 269 00:15:03,760 --> 00:15:06,800 Speaker 1: this is one of the rare times I've spent focusing 270 00:15:06,880 --> 00:15:09,960 Speaker 1: on that. But what drives me nuts about that Tampa 271 00:15:10,040 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: game is what early on it was setting up to be. 272 00:15:14,000 --> 00:15:15,960 Speaker 1: And I know it's insane to say that, like, well, 273 00:15:15,960 --> 00:15:18,040 Speaker 1: if things would have gone great, they would have gone great. 274 00:15:18,560 --> 00:15:23,840 Speaker 1: But the truth is, these were such extenuating circumstances in 275 00:15:23,880 --> 00:15:26,560 Speaker 1: this game, much like the first two games of the 276 00:15:26,600 --> 00:15:29,880 Speaker 1: season where you gave up like an NFL record time 277 00:15:29,920 --> 00:15:32,640 Speaker 1: of possession and you're turning the ball over on your 278 00:15:32,680 --> 00:15:36,400 Speaker 1: side of the field, like they were just such outside 279 00:15:36,480 --> 00:15:40,880 Speaker 1: of the ordinary circumstances, which is what a kicker missing ten, 280 00:15:41,400 --> 00:15:44,800 Speaker 1: you know, ten points worth of kicks is. And when 281 00:15:44,800 --> 00:15:46,480 Speaker 1: they drove down, Chris and you were saying, not only 282 00:15:46,520 --> 00:15:48,080 Speaker 1: did they get knocked out of field goal range in 283 00:15:48,160 --> 00:15:51,240 Speaker 1: that first one, but when they missed the first extra point, 284 00:15:51,480 --> 00:15:53,560 Speaker 1: and then they were marching down the field and they 285 00:15:53,560 --> 00:15:55,880 Speaker 1: weren't able to punch it in and get a touchdown 286 00:15:55,960 --> 00:15:58,560 Speaker 1: that could have put them up thirteen, and it pushed 287 00:15:58,600 --> 00:16:01,320 Speaker 1: them to a field goal, which was also then missed. 288 00:16:01,800 --> 00:16:04,720 Speaker 1: Not only did it go from ten to six, it 289 00:16:04,840 --> 00:16:08,760 Speaker 1: kind of could have gone from fourteen to six execution wise, 290 00:16:08,760 --> 00:16:12,000 Speaker 1: and at that point, the time of possession was incredible. 291 00:16:12,040 --> 00:16:14,520 Speaker 1: It was like twelve to three minutes. The game had 292 00:16:14,520 --> 00:16:18,400 Speaker 1: been set up so perfectly. Brady was uncomfortable. He was 293 00:16:18,440 --> 00:16:21,040 Speaker 1: missing his throws. They were gonna have to start playing 294 00:16:21,120 --> 00:16:23,280 Speaker 1: from behind, and he was gonna have to throw him 295 00:16:23,280 --> 00:16:26,280 Speaker 1: back in. I mean, it was like we lost an 296 00:16:26,280 --> 00:16:30,400 Speaker 1: opportunity for an all time performance. And Mike Zimmer does 297 00:16:30,440 --> 00:16:34,800 Speaker 1: this all the time where he will rally in moments 298 00:16:35,040 --> 00:16:38,280 Speaker 1: where it seems improbable. You know, I always think back 299 00:16:38,320 --> 00:16:40,880 Speaker 1: to that Arizona game a number of years ago where 300 00:16:40,880 --> 00:16:44,640 Speaker 1: we went down there missing Harrison Smith and lineback, you know, 301 00:16:44,800 --> 00:16:47,240 Speaker 1: just a shell of a defense, and you took that 302 00:16:47,280 --> 00:16:50,000 Speaker 1: game against a good Cardinals team, and you took it 303 00:16:50,080 --> 00:16:52,800 Speaker 1: down to the very stretch to the end of the game. 304 00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:56,200 Speaker 1: And that's what really bummed me out about this game 305 00:16:56,320 --> 00:16:58,840 Speaker 1: is you know, you said the defense Jay has been 306 00:16:58,960 --> 00:17:01,160 Speaker 1: the shaky part to the team at times this year, 307 00:17:01,160 --> 00:17:03,240 Speaker 1: and I think there's truth to that. But also with 308 00:17:03,280 --> 00:17:06,440 Speaker 1: all this youth, Zimmer is going to turn in likely 309 00:17:06,480 --> 00:17:11,760 Speaker 1: a top ten DVOA defense this season, which is shocking. 310 00:17:12,080 --> 00:17:15,040 Speaker 1: And losing that game wasn't just a loss. It didn't 311 00:17:15,040 --> 00:17:17,200 Speaker 1: just hurt the playoff chances. To me, it was also 312 00:17:17,280 --> 00:17:20,479 Speaker 1: just this gut punch because of the way those first 313 00:17:21,280 --> 00:17:27,040 Speaker 1: sixteen eighteen minutes set up. We're prompting this wonderful storm 314 00:17:27,080 --> 00:17:30,600 Speaker 1: and this this incredible moment and achievement given the fact 315 00:17:30,600 --> 00:17:33,480 Speaker 1: that you were also without Eric Kendricks Corso. Yeah, and 316 00:17:33,480 --> 00:17:36,240 Speaker 1: you talk about some of those things that happened early 317 00:17:36,320 --> 00:17:38,159 Speaker 1: in the game, when you have the chance to go 318 00:17:38,280 --> 00:17:42,879 Speaker 1: up two scores on Tom Brady in the first quarter, 319 00:17:42,960 --> 00:17:46,040 Speaker 1: when you're completely dominating the time of possession, which is 320 00:17:46,080 --> 00:17:50,119 Speaker 1: exactly what we wanted. That's why I get upset, because 321 00:17:50,160 --> 00:17:54,320 Speaker 1: we do the hard things so well. Everything was going 322 00:17:54,359 --> 00:17:57,720 Speaker 1: the Vikings way. We were set up to just completely 323 00:17:57,760 --> 00:18:00,840 Speaker 1: dominate the game. Tom Brady was is not himself. He 324 00:18:01,160 --> 00:18:04,240 Speaker 1: missed a wide open receiver early in the game. He 325 00:18:04,320 --> 00:18:07,200 Speaker 1: threw another ball like ten feet over Gronk's head. It 326 00:18:07,280 --> 00:18:10,640 Speaker 1: was all going our way. And for someone who grew 327 00:18:10,720 --> 00:18:12,560 Speaker 1: up in New York who is not the biggest fan 328 00:18:12,600 --> 00:18:14,880 Speaker 1: of Tom Brady, the one thing I know is when 329 00:18:15,200 --> 00:18:19,520 Speaker 1: you don't take advantage of certain things against Brady, he 330 00:18:19,560 --> 00:18:22,240 Speaker 1: just goes and sticks and knife right in you and 331 00:18:22,520 --> 00:18:27,040 Speaker 1: turns it inside of your body side, because that's exactly 332 00:18:27,080 --> 00:18:30,879 Speaker 1: what he did when he threw that touchdown to Scottie Miller. 333 00:18:31,160 --> 00:18:34,440 Speaker 1: It's like, we worked our butt off for those two drives, 334 00:18:34,480 --> 00:18:37,280 Speaker 1: which we end up with only six points, and then 335 00:18:37,320 --> 00:18:40,720 Speaker 1: he just comes in after playing terribly with three minutes 336 00:18:40,760 --> 00:18:43,600 Speaker 1: of time and possession in the first half and gets 337 00:18:43,640 --> 00:18:46,159 Speaker 1: seven points, and then they get another touchdown, and all 338 00:18:46,200 --> 00:18:49,600 Speaker 1: of a sudden, they scored seventeen points. So a few 339 00:18:49,680 --> 00:18:53,439 Speaker 1: calls that probably went Tom Brady's away, which we all know, 340 00:18:53,840 --> 00:18:58,639 Speaker 1: that's kind of a common things. We get it. We 341 00:18:58,960 --> 00:19:00,800 Speaker 1: already had to listen. I've had to listen to you 342 00:19:00,840 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: do this all week. We get it. You didn't like 343 00:19:02,920 --> 00:19:07,520 Speaker 1: the calls. He takes advantage when you'd make mistakes and 344 00:19:07,600 --> 00:19:11,200 Speaker 1: miss opportunities. I will always give Tom Brady that he 345 00:19:11,280 --> 00:19:15,119 Speaker 1: knows how to stick the dagger in his opponent. He 346 00:19:15,200 --> 00:19:18,359 Speaker 1: does that better than any quarterback in NFL history. How's 347 00:19:18,400 --> 00:19:20,439 Speaker 1: that say? How big of you to give such an 348 00:19:20,480 --> 00:19:23,720 Speaker 1: immense amount of credit to literally maybe the greatest quarterback 349 00:19:23,760 --> 00:19:26,520 Speaker 1: of all time. If I'll say anything about Tom Brady, 350 00:19:27,000 --> 00:19:30,600 Speaker 1: it's he takes advantages of mistakes. That's like saying that's 351 00:19:30,640 --> 00:19:34,960 Speaker 1: like saying McDonald sells a couple of sandwiches. It's the 352 00:19:35,359 --> 00:19:38,720 Speaker 1: understatement of the millennia. It was interesting. It was the 353 00:19:38,760 --> 00:19:41,600 Speaker 1: first Hail Mary Pass interference call in the NFL since 354 00:19:41,600 --> 00:19:44,679 Speaker 1: two thousand and nine, so feel about that. I have 355 00:19:44,760 --> 00:19:48,760 Speaker 1: a point. The loss, paired with an Arizona Cardinals win, 356 00:19:48,880 --> 00:19:51,760 Speaker 1: means that we're now officially in the eighth seed and 357 00:19:51,920 --> 00:19:55,359 Speaker 1: we essentially need to win out and probably get help 358 00:19:56,440 --> 00:20:02,960 Speaker 1: as we play Chicago, New Orleans and Frey. Vikings Connected 359 00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,959 Speaker 1: as a lighthearted look at the Vikings players, an organization 360 00:20:06,119 --> 00:20:10,320 Speaker 1: through social media as well as a platform to showcase 361 00:20:10,400 --> 00:20:13,960 Speaker 1: the big time personalities on the team. Segments include fan 362 00:20:14,080 --> 00:20:18,000 Speaker 1: favorites such as skull l Ol, Purple Pups, and the 363 00:20:18,080 --> 00:20:23,359 Speaker 1: Hot Dish, plus new editions like History Lessons featuring comedian 364 00:20:23,760 --> 00:20:29,400 Speaker 1: and diehard Vikings fan psiamin Sen returning for a seventh season. 365 00:20:29,720 --> 00:20:33,760 Speaker 1: Our co hosts Aaron Newburgh and Chris Hockey from KFA 366 00:20:33,960 --> 00:20:37,800 Speaker 1: N and the wildly successful, highly talented Power Trip Morning Show. 367 00:20:38,320 --> 00:20:42,920 Speaker 1: Catch This Thing weekly KMSP Box nine or Fox Sports North, 368 00:20:43,200 --> 00:20:47,200 Speaker 1: or via the Vikings digital and social channels, including Vikings 369 00:20:47,240 --> 00:20:50,320 Speaker 1: dot Com, the Vikings Mobile app, Vikings now the team's 370 00:20:50,320 --> 00:20:55,120 Speaker 1: connected TV app, YouTube, Facebook, and Twitter information, Vikings dot Com, 371 00:20:55,160 --> 00:21:02,760 Speaker 1: Slash Connected. Join Adam Feeling and the Salvation Army in 372 00:21:02,840 --> 00:21:06,520 Speaker 1: providing food, shelter, and care for our neighbors in need. 373 00:21:07,080 --> 00:21:11,080 Speaker 1: Text skull to two four three six five to donate 374 00:21:11,400 --> 00:21:14,480 Speaker 1: to day that's s k o l to two four 375 00:21:14,640 --> 00:21:18,520 Speaker 1: three six five to donate. Let's move from the Bucks 376 00:21:18,560 --> 00:21:22,400 Speaker 1: to the Bears. Different team than we saw a couple 377 00:21:22,359 --> 00:21:27,800 Speaker 1: of weeks ago. Mitch Dubinsky in the David Montgomery is 378 00:21:27,920 --> 00:21:30,920 Speaker 1: playing and actually functional and having a hell of a 379 00:21:31,000 --> 00:21:33,200 Speaker 1: couple of a hell of a couple of games here. 380 00:21:33,760 --> 00:21:36,080 Speaker 1: This Bears team is going to be a little closer 381 00:21:36,080 --> 00:21:38,119 Speaker 1: to the Bears team that we've seen the last couple 382 00:21:38,200 --> 00:21:42,240 Speaker 1: seasons than the Bears team we saw a few weeks ago, Right, Jay, Yeah, 383 00:21:42,280 --> 00:21:44,879 Speaker 1: And that's the thing we felt like before we somewhat 384 00:21:44,920 --> 00:21:46,640 Speaker 1: dodged a bullet, but you weren't sure what you're gonna 385 00:21:46,640 --> 00:21:49,920 Speaker 1: get with Nick Foles. Now Foles is out, Rubisky's back in. 386 00:21:50,160 --> 00:21:53,439 Speaker 1: We all know about Rubisky's history and some of the 387 00:21:53,440 --> 00:21:55,919 Speaker 1: problems that he has had, but he looked like he 388 00:21:56,040 --> 00:21:58,240 Speaker 1: was on fire and out on a mission last week. 389 00:21:58,280 --> 00:22:01,400 Speaker 1: Against Houston in twenty four or thirty three for two 390 00:22:01,520 --> 00:22:05,080 Speaker 1: sixty seven and three touchdowns. I think between he and 391 00:22:05,119 --> 00:22:08,919 Speaker 1: Montgomery coming in and finally injecting some life into that 392 00:22:09,080 --> 00:22:12,040 Speaker 1: offense and then defensively them getting some of their studs back, 393 00:22:12,480 --> 00:22:14,080 Speaker 1: this is going to be a lot harder game than 394 00:22:14,359 --> 00:22:17,080 Speaker 1: we were thinking earlier, especially in Week ten and Chris 395 00:22:17,560 --> 00:22:23,160 Speaker 1: David Montgomery has been absolutely fantastic. But Alan Robinson, now 396 00:22:23,160 --> 00:22:28,280 Speaker 1: with Traubitsky stepping in, has just this is corny, but 397 00:22:28,320 --> 00:22:32,880 Speaker 1: he's basically old mister reliable. I mean he has been 398 00:22:33,359 --> 00:22:36,560 Speaker 1: all over the place all the time, one hundred or 399 00:22:36,600 --> 00:22:40,560 Speaker 1: a thousand yards receiving for the second straight year. He's 400 00:22:40,640 --> 00:22:44,200 Speaker 1: just going to make his presence felt. And with David 401 00:22:44,240 --> 00:22:47,840 Speaker 1: Montgomery actually opening up the field a little bit, Alan 402 00:22:47,920 --> 00:22:50,960 Speaker 1: Robinson is a guy you gotta be ready for on Sunday. Yes, 403 00:22:51,119 --> 00:22:54,800 Speaker 1: I he has eleven straight games in this offense as 404 00:22:54,800 --> 00:22:57,880 Speaker 1: the leading wide receiver on the team. I don't expect 405 00:22:57,880 --> 00:23:00,520 Speaker 1: that to change at all in the game that we 406 00:23:00,600 --> 00:23:03,960 Speaker 1: play on Sunday. But you touched on David Montgomery, and 407 00:23:04,840 --> 00:23:07,320 Speaker 1: I think that was the thing that was missing when 408 00:23:07,320 --> 00:23:10,359 Speaker 1: we played them in Chicago earlier in the seat. They 409 00:23:10,400 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: had no running game. I think they had Cordirol Patterson 410 00:23:13,320 --> 00:23:15,199 Speaker 1: running the ball out of the backfield the time we 411 00:23:15,240 --> 00:23:17,160 Speaker 1: played them. And when you have a guy who can 412 00:23:17,200 --> 00:23:19,639 Speaker 1: literally break off for an eight yard run like he 413 00:23:19,720 --> 00:23:23,359 Speaker 1: did on Sunday against the Texans, that opens up things 414 00:23:23,359 --> 00:23:26,440 Speaker 1: for Alan Robinson, that opens up things for Mitch Trubisky 415 00:23:26,520 --> 00:23:29,120 Speaker 1: to do some of the things that we haven't seen 416 00:23:29,240 --> 00:23:31,320 Speaker 1: him do this year. I mean, he's coming off of 417 00:23:31,359 --> 00:23:35,439 Speaker 1: his best game against the Texans with three touchdowns, season 418 00:23:35,560 --> 00:23:38,560 Speaker 1: high of a passer rating, and obviously he didn't turn 419 00:23:38,600 --> 00:23:41,520 Speaker 1: the ball over, which is a big thing with Trubisky. 420 00:23:41,600 --> 00:23:44,560 Speaker 1: But I look for them to really have that go 421 00:23:44,600 --> 00:23:47,560 Speaker 1: back to that that offense that we saw from Matt 422 00:23:47,680 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: Nagy back in the past couple of years, when Trubisky 423 00:23:50,520 --> 00:23:53,480 Speaker 1: kind of hurt us with the gadget plays, with the 424 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,840 Speaker 1: plays that he runs to Anthony Miller or this guy here, 425 00:23:56,960 --> 00:24:00,520 Speaker 1: that guy there, and things that that really our defense 426 00:24:00,600 --> 00:24:02,320 Speaker 1: is gonna have to focus in on, because as you 427 00:24:02,480 --> 00:24:04,400 Speaker 1: as you touched on earlier, Jay, a lot of young 428 00:24:04,440 --> 00:24:07,359 Speaker 1: guys in this defense who don't have experience going up 429 00:24:07,400 --> 00:24:09,760 Speaker 1: against that type of offense, and it's not gonna be 430 00:24:09,840 --> 00:24:12,320 Speaker 1: Nick Foles back there like it was a few weeks ago, 431 00:24:12,359 --> 00:24:15,080 Speaker 1: and there's actually gonna be I think a better game 432 00:24:15,080 --> 00:24:17,840 Speaker 1: plan from the Bears heading into this game on offense. 433 00:24:18,240 --> 00:24:24,200 Speaker 1: And Jay, you mentioned Mitch Drubitsky and his numbers, and 434 00:24:25,640 --> 00:24:28,160 Speaker 1: I've always said about Mitch Drabitsky he seems to play 435 00:24:28,240 --> 00:24:31,080 Speaker 1: really well when the defense is putting him in good situations. 436 00:24:31,480 --> 00:24:35,040 Speaker 1: And he might have been he might have done well 437 00:24:35,160 --> 00:24:39,240 Speaker 1: last week, but the defense done done well. Last week. 438 00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:45,160 Speaker 1: They sacked the maybe the most mobile quarterback or one 439 00:24:45,200 --> 00:24:49,719 Speaker 1: of the most mobile escapable quarterbacks in the NFL, Deshaun Watson, 440 00:24:50,119 --> 00:24:55,320 Speaker 1: seven times. I mean, Khalil Mack is full on awake 441 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:58,600 Speaker 1: since the last time we played them. The front seven 442 00:24:58,720 --> 00:25:02,440 Speaker 1: here is going to be again, like I just said 443 00:25:02,440 --> 00:25:05,040 Speaker 1: about the offense, much closer to the front seven we've 444 00:25:05,080 --> 00:25:07,439 Speaker 1: seen in the past as opposed to the front seven 445 00:25:07,480 --> 00:25:09,600 Speaker 1: we saw a few weeks ago. Yeah, and if you 446 00:25:09,720 --> 00:25:12,560 Speaker 1: look with that seven set game, I mean, you had 447 00:25:12,600 --> 00:25:16,040 Speaker 1: other guys that are also somewhat bit players, but they're 448 00:25:16,080 --> 00:25:19,080 Speaker 1: benefiting from the fact that you have your Roquan Smith, 449 00:25:19,200 --> 00:25:22,439 Speaker 1: your Khalil Mack. A team Hicks being back is a 450 00:25:22,440 --> 00:25:25,240 Speaker 1: big deal as well, him going out in that game 451 00:25:25,280 --> 00:25:28,480 Speaker 1: against US was a big, big momentum shift at that 452 00:25:28,480 --> 00:25:30,159 Speaker 1: point where things were still kind of close, and that's 453 00:25:30,200 --> 00:25:33,399 Speaker 1: when we pulled away. I think having that stout front 454 00:25:33,440 --> 00:25:36,240 Speaker 1: seven still in there and seeing guys this past week 455 00:25:36,280 --> 00:25:38,880 Speaker 1: like Roquan Smith get two sacks, Mario Edwards Junior also 456 00:25:38,960 --> 00:25:42,600 Speaker 1: have two sacks, I think they're gonna look at us 457 00:25:42,600 --> 00:25:45,560 Speaker 1: and say, yeah, Week ten is one we should have had. 458 00:25:45,600 --> 00:25:48,439 Speaker 1: But now that offensively we can put up some points, 459 00:25:48,680 --> 00:25:50,680 Speaker 1: they're gonna go back to what they've always done. They're 460 00:25:50,680 --> 00:25:53,080 Speaker 1: gonna try to make your life miserable. On the front 461 00:25:53,119 --> 00:25:56,000 Speaker 1: offensive line, They're gonna try and stuff Dalvin Cook and 462 00:25:56,320 --> 00:26:00,520 Speaker 1: I think given feelings two touchdowns in Week ten, justin 463 00:26:00,600 --> 00:26:03,240 Speaker 1: Jefferson breaking off over a hundred in that game as well, 464 00:26:03,560 --> 00:26:05,199 Speaker 1: I think that secondary is going to know what they 465 00:26:05,240 --> 00:26:06,920 Speaker 1: have and those guys, and I just feel like, if 466 00:26:06,960 --> 00:26:10,240 Speaker 1: they're gonna look at what's happened the last couple weeks, 467 00:26:10,440 --> 00:26:12,200 Speaker 1: if you get pressure on Kirk Cousins, you know you're 468 00:26:12,200 --> 00:26:13,840 Speaker 1: gonna make a miserable. You know you're gonna make it 469 00:26:13,840 --> 00:26:16,159 Speaker 1: difficult on them. I do not see how the Chicago 470 00:26:16,200 --> 00:26:18,040 Speaker 1: Bears feel like They're just gonna sit back and try 471 00:26:18,040 --> 00:26:20,600 Speaker 1: to make that happen. So I think those front seven 472 00:26:21,000 --> 00:26:22,840 Speaker 1: for the Chicago Bears are going to be doing an 473 00:26:22,840 --> 00:26:24,960 Speaker 1: awful lot of blitzing and putting an awful lot of 474 00:26:24,960 --> 00:26:27,159 Speaker 1: pressure on our offense to try to make sure that 475 00:26:27,200 --> 00:26:29,880 Speaker 1: we can't get comfortable and we can't score points. Chris, 476 00:26:29,920 --> 00:26:32,080 Speaker 1: that is going to be the key is keeping Kirk upright. 477 00:26:32,119 --> 00:26:34,640 Speaker 1: And you talked about what the Buccaneers did. You talked 478 00:26:34,640 --> 00:26:37,920 Speaker 1: about what Kirk said on his show. I mean, is 479 00:26:38,920 --> 00:26:42,160 Speaker 1: it reasonable to believe, given what you saw last week, 480 00:26:42,280 --> 00:26:46,200 Speaker 1: that they will be successful in keeping him upright against 481 00:26:46,280 --> 00:26:50,040 Speaker 1: the growing monster that is the current Bears defense. You're 482 00:26:50,040 --> 00:26:53,040 Speaker 1: growing up against the team that literally has had some 483 00:26:53,080 --> 00:26:56,000 Speaker 1: of the best games against Kirk Cousins when it comes 484 00:26:55,600 --> 00:26:58,119 Speaker 1: from the defensive side of the ball. And when I 485 00:26:58,160 --> 00:27:01,560 Speaker 1: see Khalil Mack literally sacked to Shawn Watson in the 486 00:27:01,680 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: end zone for a safety and then on another play 487 00:27:04,760 --> 00:27:07,840 Speaker 1: force and recover a fumble by literally ripping the ball 488 00:27:07,880 --> 00:27:11,639 Speaker 1: away from a Duke Johnson last week, I start to 489 00:27:11,640 --> 00:27:14,960 Speaker 1: get worried and say that stuff cannot happen in this game. 490 00:27:15,080 --> 00:27:19,399 Speaker 1: Roquan Smith, Mario Edwards junior. Both had two sacks each 491 00:27:19,520 --> 00:27:23,000 Speaker 1: last week against DeShawn Watson, who is very mobile on 492 00:27:23,040 --> 00:27:25,280 Speaker 1: his feet. Now, now, I know the Texans have had 493 00:27:25,320 --> 00:27:28,119 Speaker 1: a lot of issues with their offensive line this season, 494 00:27:28,200 --> 00:27:30,520 Speaker 1: but I mean in the past few games that that's 495 00:27:30,560 --> 00:27:34,520 Speaker 1: been one of our weaknesses is protecting Kirk Cousins, especially 496 00:27:34,560 --> 00:27:37,440 Speaker 1: in the pass game. That's that is my number one. 497 00:27:37,600 --> 00:27:40,640 Speaker 1: Like I talked about us against their offense, I'm looking 498 00:27:40,680 --> 00:27:43,000 Speaker 1: at our offense against their defense, I'm looking at the 499 00:27:43,080 --> 00:27:48,800 Speaker 1: interior offensive line in the passing game side jay the defense. 500 00:27:49,359 --> 00:27:51,920 Speaker 1: You know, as as opposed to you always want to 501 00:27:51,920 --> 00:27:54,879 Speaker 1: get pressure on the quarterback. So I'm not going to 502 00:27:54,960 --> 00:27:58,880 Speaker 1: say something ridiculous, but last week it's imperative to get pressure, 503 00:27:59,200 --> 00:28:02,320 Speaker 1: especially up the in Tom Brady's face, and with a 504 00:28:02,400 --> 00:28:06,320 Speaker 1: young defensive line, pressure hasn't always been the easiest thing 505 00:28:06,359 --> 00:28:09,320 Speaker 1: this season. With Mitch Trubitsky, he's obviously a guy you 506 00:28:09,320 --> 00:28:11,679 Speaker 1: want to put pressure on, But as Corso alluded to 507 00:28:11,720 --> 00:28:14,240 Speaker 1: a little while ago, he's also a guy who gets 508 00:28:14,240 --> 00:28:16,600 Speaker 1: outside the pocket. He's a guy who might gadget, He's 509 00:28:16,600 --> 00:28:18,760 Speaker 1: a guy who might do a few things. So he's 510 00:28:18,760 --> 00:28:20,960 Speaker 1: a guy that I feel like you want to get 511 00:28:21,000 --> 00:28:23,280 Speaker 1: pressure on him, but you also want to make Mitch 512 00:28:23,280 --> 00:28:26,160 Speaker 1: Trubisky sit in the pocket and beat you with his arm. 513 00:28:26,760 --> 00:28:31,200 Speaker 1: If this game comes down to Mitch Trubitsky's arm beating you, well, 514 00:28:33,560 --> 00:28:35,240 Speaker 1: what were you going to do about it? You know 515 00:28:35,600 --> 00:28:39,680 Speaker 1: that's I like our chances if it's our defense against 516 00:28:39,680 --> 00:28:42,520 Speaker 1: straight up Mitch Trubitsky's on. I think this is one 517 00:28:42,560 --> 00:28:44,880 Speaker 1: of those situations where you end up hearing Andrea Patterson 518 00:28:44,920 --> 00:28:46,680 Speaker 1: talk about all the time whenever you have a mobile 519 00:28:46,720 --> 00:28:48,840 Speaker 1: quarterback who can get out of the pocket and make 520 00:28:48,880 --> 00:28:50,960 Speaker 1: you pay, what do they want to do? They want 521 00:28:50,960 --> 00:28:53,480 Speaker 1: to have those defensive ends get up field in order 522 00:28:53,520 --> 00:28:56,360 Speaker 1: to squeeze them and make them sit in the pocket. 523 00:28:56,480 --> 00:28:59,640 Speaker 1: Like you just said, I think Trubisky is one where 524 00:29:00,080 --> 00:29:01,960 Speaker 1: you go on the internet and everyone's got a theory 525 00:29:01,960 --> 00:29:03,880 Speaker 1: as to what he can't do, and what he can do, 526 00:29:03,920 --> 00:29:06,080 Speaker 1: and where he can throw and where he can't. At 527 00:29:06,120 --> 00:29:09,160 Speaker 1: the same point, like you said, if the game plan 528 00:29:09,320 --> 00:29:12,040 Speaker 1: is stop David Montgomery and then you're gonna just take 529 00:29:12,080 --> 00:29:15,080 Speaker 1: your chances at Mitch Trubisky, who, to be honest with you, 530 00:29:15,120 --> 00:29:18,560 Speaker 1: for the last year plus at this point, everyone's been 531 00:29:18,600 --> 00:29:21,240 Speaker 1: saying he's a headcase because he's been having all these issues. 532 00:29:21,280 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: I think, like you said, defensively, you will take that chance. 533 00:29:24,320 --> 00:29:27,360 Speaker 1: So stop David Montgomery. Make Mitch have to sit in 534 00:29:27,360 --> 00:29:30,280 Speaker 1: the pocket and throw it around. And if you do, 535 00:29:30,280 --> 00:29:32,480 Speaker 1: you know who the top targets are. Robinson is going 536 00:29:32,520 --> 00:29:36,640 Speaker 1: to be his top target. You know, Comet coming out 537 00:29:36,640 --> 00:29:39,360 Speaker 1: of Notre Dame. The rookie this year, he's been getting 538 00:29:39,400 --> 00:29:42,040 Speaker 1: some run with the tight ends, and then they've also 539 00:29:42,120 --> 00:29:45,520 Speaker 1: got Mooney at the rookie wide receiver as well. Those 540 00:29:45,600 --> 00:29:48,280 Speaker 1: are some of his knookie blankies. And if the whole 541 00:29:48,320 --> 00:29:50,240 Speaker 1: thing is you can keep them in the short to 542 00:29:50,320 --> 00:29:54,160 Speaker 1: intermediate passing game and take your chances on being able 543 00:29:54,200 --> 00:29:56,040 Speaker 1: to break on a ball and pick something off or 544 00:29:56,120 --> 00:29:57,880 Speaker 1: knock it away in a third down. You're gonna do 545 00:29:57,960 --> 00:30:00,400 Speaker 1: that on defense. So I think you're right. I think 546 00:30:00,400 --> 00:30:03,600 Speaker 1: it comes down to contain Mitch, make sure Montgomery doesn't 547 00:30:03,720 --> 00:30:06,880 Speaker 1: doesn't gass you too much, and then squeeze. And at 548 00:30:06,920 --> 00:30:08,520 Speaker 1: the end that's when you put that pressure on and 549 00:30:08,560 --> 00:30:11,320 Speaker 1: make Mitch make a mistake. And given the way we 550 00:30:11,360 --> 00:30:14,240 Speaker 1: started this show and the topic we discussed as I 551 00:30:15,440 --> 00:30:20,479 Speaker 1: Ted talked my way into this particular episode about you know, 552 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:23,360 Speaker 1: games that are ind oubt versus games that are decisive. 553 00:30:23,880 --> 00:30:25,760 Speaker 1: I hope the Vikings go in and get a decisive 554 00:30:25,840 --> 00:30:29,080 Speaker 1: victory this weekend. But the way this team is playing 555 00:30:29,280 --> 00:30:31,400 Speaker 1: compared to the way they were playing a few weeks 556 00:30:31,400 --> 00:30:33,920 Speaker 1: ago when we saw him, to me, it feels more 557 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:36,240 Speaker 1: likely that this will be a dog fight. And they're 558 00:30:36,240 --> 00:30:38,800 Speaker 1: the sort of team that loves to play the style 559 00:30:38,840 --> 00:30:42,120 Speaker 1: of football that Mike Zimmer also likes to play. These 560 00:30:42,120 --> 00:30:45,320 Speaker 1: are two teams that want to play smash mouth defense, 561 00:30:45,800 --> 00:30:49,120 Speaker 1: time of possession offense, and just beat you by being 562 00:30:49,160 --> 00:30:54,200 Speaker 1: good at football. So I think outside of something absurd 563 00:30:54,240 --> 00:30:57,600 Speaker 1: happening or a litany of turnovers on one side of 564 00:30:57,600 --> 00:31:00,560 Speaker 1: the ball, you likely are gonna have a situation where 565 00:31:00,600 --> 00:31:02,000 Speaker 1: this is. This is going to be a hell of 566 00:31:02,040 --> 00:31:05,880 Speaker 1: a battle, and you know, special teams are probably going 567 00:31:05,920 --> 00:31:08,200 Speaker 1: to play a factor. You know they played a factor 568 00:31:08,320 --> 00:31:12,240 Speaker 1: last time when Patterson returned to kick. And here's the 569 00:31:12,360 --> 00:31:15,880 Speaker 1: hoping whoever the kicker is on Sunday, Damn, it looks 570 00:31:15,880 --> 00:31:18,160 Speaker 1: like Dan Bailey will be around. We're not going to 571 00:31:18,240 --> 00:31:21,120 Speaker 1: speculate on that sort of thing, but hopefully I actually 572 00:31:21,120 --> 00:31:24,520 Speaker 1: just say I'm a big believer in Dan Bailey. He's 573 00:31:24,520 --> 00:31:27,400 Speaker 1: a guy who he's I mean, he's a sixth month 574 00:31:27,600 --> 00:31:30,360 Speaker 1: most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. You know, 575 00:31:30,440 --> 00:31:33,120 Speaker 1: guys like that might have a couple of bad weeks. 576 00:31:33,120 --> 00:31:36,600 Speaker 1: And this is must not pussyfoot around it. This is 577 00:31:36,640 --> 00:31:39,680 Speaker 1: an epic level of a bad couple of weeks. But 578 00:31:39,840 --> 00:31:42,720 Speaker 1: the thing that I've always thought about Dan Bailey is 579 00:31:42,800 --> 00:31:46,440 Speaker 1: Dan Bailey responds, well, I always thought he was a 580 00:31:46,480 --> 00:31:49,600 Speaker 1: good match with coach Zimmer. He seems to handle himself. Well, 581 00:31:49,640 --> 00:31:52,400 Speaker 1: he's not. You know, he's not intimidated by the moments. 582 00:31:52,400 --> 00:31:55,680 Speaker 1: He's not intimidated by his teammates, he's not intimidated by 583 00:31:55,720 --> 00:31:57,840 Speaker 1: fans or coaching staffs. He's a guy who just and 584 00:31:57,880 --> 00:32:01,080 Speaker 1: that You've heard Zimmer basically say at forever, I'm not 585 00:32:01,120 --> 00:32:05,120 Speaker 1: worried about Dan Bailey. Dan Bailey, dan Bailey's unshakable. Well, 586 00:32:05,160 --> 00:32:08,320 Speaker 1: now we've seen him get shaken, and I don't exactly 587 00:32:08,360 --> 00:32:10,960 Speaker 1: know how it'll play out on Sunday. But I might 588 00:32:11,000 --> 00:32:13,360 Speaker 1: be the only person in Minnesota when I say this, 589 00:32:13,440 --> 00:32:16,000 Speaker 1: But if Dan Bailey walks out onto the field Sunday 590 00:32:16,000 --> 00:32:19,880 Speaker 1: to kick a field goal, honestly, my anticipation is that 591 00:32:19,920 --> 00:32:22,880 Speaker 1: he will make it. He's been too good for too 592 00:32:22,960 --> 00:32:25,760 Speaker 1: damn long that I don't think he's gonna have the 593 00:32:25,880 --> 00:32:28,719 Speaker 1: mental yips in his career is gonna be over. I 594 00:32:28,760 --> 00:32:31,960 Speaker 1: think it's something functional. I think it's something they'll get fixed. 595 00:32:32,320 --> 00:32:34,320 Speaker 1: And if he walks out under the field to have 596 00:32:34,360 --> 00:32:37,160 Speaker 1: to drill a forty eight yard or I anticipate it 597 00:32:37,240 --> 00:32:41,120 Speaker 1: going through, maybe I'm a crazy person, but that's what 598 00:32:41,240 --> 00:32:44,240 Speaker 1: I see happening. You know, it's Dan Bailey has had 599 00:32:44,280 --> 00:32:47,400 Speaker 1: a couple of rough stretches in his career and is 600 00:32:47,480 --> 00:32:51,000 Speaker 1: still one of the most accurate kickers in NFL history. 601 00:32:51,480 --> 00:32:55,320 Speaker 1: There are every once in a while, the Adam Vinatari's 602 00:32:55,920 --> 00:33:00,760 Speaker 1: or the Justin Tuckers of the lead, these guys who 603 00:33:00,880 --> 00:33:04,600 Speaker 1: come in and they're knocked down, drag out studs for 604 00:33:04,680 --> 00:33:09,160 Speaker 1: twenty years. Does that happen? Sure, it's one in. However 605 00:33:09,200 --> 00:33:12,560 Speaker 1: many guys the rest of them are you know, now 606 00:33:12,600 --> 00:33:16,000 Speaker 1: here's my new here's my new kicker theory, Chris. The 607 00:33:16,080 --> 00:33:17,920 Speaker 1: rest of them are either guys who are going to 608 00:33:18,000 --> 00:33:20,880 Speaker 1: float in and out of positions, like the Cody Parkey's 609 00:33:20,920 --> 00:33:27,440 Speaker 1: of the world, you know, or they're bona fide good 610 00:33:27,520 --> 00:33:31,880 Speaker 1: kickers who play on one, maybe two teams in their 611 00:33:31,960 --> 00:33:36,320 Speaker 1: career and are mostly good with a few rough stretches. 612 00:33:36,760 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 1: So if you're a betting man and you know what 613 00:33:40,760 --> 00:33:45,960 Speaker 1: Dan Bailey's history is, and you know how he's performed 614 00:33:45,960 --> 00:33:48,880 Speaker 1: and how his career has progressed, and you literally had 615 00:33:48,920 --> 00:33:53,200 Speaker 1: to put something important on the line, which side are 616 00:33:53,240 --> 00:33:56,560 Speaker 1: you leaning on? Oh No, Dan Bailey's broken. He can't 617 00:33:56,600 --> 00:33:58,760 Speaker 1: come back from this time to move on. If he 618 00:33:58,840 --> 00:34:02,080 Speaker 1: goes out, he won't hit his neck kick or this 619 00:34:02,160 --> 00:34:03,880 Speaker 1: is a rough stretch. But this is a guy who's 620 00:34:03,880 --> 00:34:07,640 Speaker 1: done it forever. This isn't a young Blair Walsh. This 621 00:34:07,720 --> 00:34:11,439 Speaker 1: isn't a young Daniel Carlson, This isn't Kai four Bath. 622 00:34:11,520 --> 00:34:16,000 Speaker 1: This is a decade and a half NFL veteran who's 623 00:34:16,080 --> 00:34:19,799 Speaker 1: seen a couple of rough stretches and seen consistency other 624 00:34:19,840 --> 00:34:22,440 Speaker 1: than that throughout his career. So my point is, and 625 00:34:22,480 --> 00:34:25,840 Speaker 1: this might all be laughable come Sunday, depending on who's 626 00:34:25,880 --> 00:34:29,239 Speaker 1: out there kicking the football, But if you made me 627 00:34:29,760 --> 00:34:32,640 Speaker 1: put money on one side of the line or the other, 628 00:34:34,120 --> 00:34:36,120 Speaker 1: I am gonna put it on the side that Dan 629 00:34:36,239 --> 00:34:38,480 Speaker 1: Bailey's career is going to recover and he's gonna go 630 00:34:38,480 --> 00:34:41,799 Speaker 1: back to being a good kicker like he was the 631 00:34:41,920 --> 00:34:46,760 Speaker 1: previous eleven games this season and sixteen last year, seventeen 632 00:34:46,760 --> 00:34:49,560 Speaker 1: including playoffs. Yeah, I think the thing about it is 633 00:34:49,560 --> 00:34:52,640 Speaker 1: that you cited is the longevity, Like, unless there's something 634 00:34:52,719 --> 00:34:56,240 Speaker 1: physically wrong, you know that mentally, it's something that he's 635 00:34:56,440 --> 00:34:58,560 Speaker 1: had to go through this before. So if that's the case, 636 00:34:59,160 --> 00:35:00,920 Speaker 1: there should be no rea and why he can't try 637 00:35:00,960 --> 00:35:04,719 Speaker 1: and get it back. I understand the frustration. I understand 638 00:35:05,000 --> 00:35:07,040 Speaker 1: whether it's the coaches, of the players or even just 639 00:35:07,080 --> 00:35:10,600 Speaker 1: the public at all across the board. I think a 640 00:35:10,680 --> 00:35:14,160 Speaker 1: guy like Dan Bailey has the career of the longevity 641 00:35:14,160 --> 00:35:17,120 Speaker 1: and the tenacity to get through this. I just feel like, 642 00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:21,359 Speaker 1: unless I don't think there's anything major that's coming when 643 00:35:21,360 --> 00:35:24,320 Speaker 1: you've got three games left at this point in the season, personally, 644 00:35:24,360 --> 00:35:27,200 Speaker 1: and I just feel like Dan Bailey, the reason why 645 00:35:27,239 --> 00:35:28,560 Speaker 1: you put him out there, I think for that fifty 646 00:35:28,600 --> 00:35:30,520 Speaker 1: yard field goal too, was to say, listen, we have 647 00:35:30,600 --> 00:35:33,960 Speaker 1: the faith in you, and go do it like there 648 00:35:34,040 --> 00:35:35,960 Speaker 1: is no other question, there is no other answer, Just 649 00:35:36,080 --> 00:35:39,080 Speaker 1: go do it. And I feel like in practice this 650 00:35:39,080 --> 00:35:41,399 Speaker 1: week coming up, I'm sure he's going to be working 651 00:35:41,400 --> 00:35:43,799 Speaker 1: as much as he can, but what it comes down 652 00:35:43,840 --> 00:35:46,000 Speaker 1: to is just going out there and executing. So hopefully, 653 00:35:46,640 --> 00:35:49,640 Speaker 1: whether it's something else going on with him, whether it's 654 00:35:49,640 --> 00:35:52,640 Speaker 1: physically or the unit or whatever the heck, it is, 655 00:35:53,080 --> 00:35:55,640 Speaker 1: hopefully another week's worth of time to kind of work 656 00:35:55,640 --> 00:35:58,799 Speaker 1: on this thing is going to actually have us work 657 00:35:58,840 --> 00:36:01,040 Speaker 1: into a better position than were these last two weeks, 658 00:36:01,080 --> 00:36:03,480 Speaker 1: because yeah, it was frustrating, and I'm sure there's nobody 659 00:36:03,480 --> 00:36:05,960 Speaker 1: else beating himself up more than Dan Bailey at this point. 660 00:36:06,000 --> 00:36:09,120 Speaker 1: So hopefully for Dan, he has a better game coming 661 00:36:09,200 --> 00:36:10,960 Speaker 1: up this week and for the next three weeks everything 662 00:36:11,000 --> 00:36:13,120 Speaker 1: is smooth sailing and we don't have to worry about 663 00:36:13,160 --> 00:36:17,160 Speaker 1: special teams again. And speaking of money being on the line, 664 00:36:17,280 --> 00:36:19,640 Speaker 1: it is Game day any day play the new Vikings 665 00:36:19,640 --> 00:36:22,360 Speaker 1: scratch game from the Minnesota Lottery with the top prize 666 00:36:22,360 --> 00:36:26,920 Speaker 1: of one hundred thousand dollars. Are you game? Just say 667 00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:33,960 Speaker 1: I'm in? Get more details at mn lottery dot com. 668 00:36:34,200 --> 00:36:37,160 Speaker 1: Download Vikings Now, the team's connected TV app to watch 669 00:36:37,160 --> 00:36:39,680 Speaker 1: all of your favorite Vikings programming on your Apple TV, 670 00:36:39,840 --> 00:36:43,600 Speaker 1: Roku or Amazon Fire TV. Search Vikings Now with any 671 00:36:43,640 --> 00:36:47,799 Speaker 1: compatible device to begin watching videos. Watch full episodes of 672 00:36:47,840 --> 00:36:51,000 Speaker 1: TV shows such as Vikings Game Plan and Vikings Connected, 673 00:36:51,000 --> 00:36:54,840 Speaker 1: plus digital programming like The Voyage. Also watch game highlights, 674 00:36:54,840 --> 00:36:58,000 Speaker 1: player and coach press conferences, and much more. It's Vikings 675 00:36:58,040 --> 00:37:02,960 Speaker 1: dot com slash CTV for vote. Hey guys, Pro Bowl 676 00:37:03,040 --> 00:37:06,279 Speaker 1: voting continues via social media. Check out Twitter and drop 677 00:37:06,360 --> 00:37:10,440 Speaker 1: hashtags to help vote for your favorite Vikings. Tweet hashtag 678 00:37:10,560 --> 00:37:14,160 Speaker 1: Pro Bowl Vote plus your player's name or Twitter handle 679 00:37:14,239 --> 00:37:18,960 Speaker 1: to cast your Pro Bowl ballot. Get out there. C J. 680 00:37:19,160 --> 00:37:21,879 Speaker 1: Hamm another great year. Eric Kendricks, who might have missed 681 00:37:21,920 --> 00:37:23,959 Speaker 1: a couple of games, but he'd better be in. He'd 682 00:37:23,960 --> 00:37:27,920 Speaker 1: better be in that Pro Bowl game. Harrison Smith, Garrett 683 00:37:27,920 --> 00:37:30,319 Speaker 1: Bradbury stepping up on and on and on and on. 684 00:37:30,600 --> 00:37:33,320 Speaker 1: I'm gonna keep stumping like I have every single week 685 00:37:33,600 --> 00:37:38,440 Speaker 1: for Brian O'Neill, Brian O'Neill. Brian O'Neill, Brian O'Neill. This 686 00:37:38,520 --> 00:37:42,040 Speaker 1: is an organization that has longed for stud offensive lineman, 687 00:37:42,239 --> 00:37:44,680 Speaker 1: and Brian O'Neill has come in and been a stud 688 00:37:44,719 --> 00:37:47,960 Speaker 1: since day one and gotten better with each and every 689 00:37:48,040 --> 00:37:51,239 Speaker 1: single week. Get out there and cast your vote. A 690 00:37:51,280 --> 00:37:54,480 Speaker 1: couple of housekeeping notes, Chris mentioned this week's episode of 691 00:37:54,560 --> 00:37:57,040 Speaker 1: Under Center with Kirk cousins. Check it out. Tight end 692 00:37:57,080 --> 00:38:01,640 Speaker 1: Tyler Conklin talks about his love of Beerian Huskies they 693 00:38:01,680 --> 00:38:05,000 Speaker 1: both grew up in Michigan, his nicknames in the locker room. 694 00:38:05,239 --> 00:38:07,800 Speaker 1: It's every week on kfa N on Tuesday night, or 695 00:38:07,840 --> 00:38:10,440 Speaker 1: you can get it on the podcast app. Tune into 696 00:38:10,520 --> 00:38:14,160 Speaker 1: Vikings Postgame live every week fifteen minutes after each game 697 00:38:14,600 --> 00:38:17,719 Speaker 1: from inside US Bank Stadium. Get a breakdown of the game, 698 00:38:17,800 --> 00:38:22,480 Speaker 1: including highlights, stats, analysis, and more. Tune in on vikings 699 00:38:22,520 --> 00:38:27,800 Speaker 1: dot Com, the Vikings App, and Vikings social media channels. Finally, 700 00:38:27,880 --> 00:38:30,920 Speaker 1: check out Vikings Vantage this Friday, six thirty pm kfa 701 00:38:31,160 --> 00:38:34,279 Speaker 1: N one hundred point three Our boy Chris Corso, our 702 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:38,680 Speaker 1: friend Gabe Henderson, their special guest Courtney Crone in this 703 00:38:38,719 --> 00:38:43,600 Speaker 1: week originally from Chicago. Gabe and Corso will also give 704 00:38:43,680 --> 00:38:46,920 Speaker 1: you info on everything leading up to kickoff versus the Bears. 705 00:38:47,200 --> 00:38:49,440 Speaker 1: Check it out live on kfan or downloaded on your 706 00:38:49,440 --> 00:38:53,880 Speaker 1: favorite podcast app. That's Vikings Vantage this Friday, six thirty 707 00:38:53,960 --> 00:38:58,640 Speaker 1: pm kf A and boys. We've been talking about Margina 708 00:38:58,800 --> 00:39:01,400 Speaker 1: error on this show the last few weeks. Well, it's gone. 709 00:39:02,040 --> 00:39:05,920 Speaker 1: From a season standpoint, there is no longer a margin 710 00:39:05,960 --> 00:39:08,839 Speaker 1: of error. You gotta win this game, you gotta win 711 00:39:08,880 --> 00:39:12,080 Speaker 1: the next two. What's the number one thing you're going 712 00:39:12,120 --> 00:39:15,200 Speaker 1: to be looking for going into Sunday. Jay brought it 713 00:39:15,280 --> 00:39:18,440 Speaker 1: up earlier. David Montgomery. He is the X factor. He 714 00:39:18,560 --> 00:39:21,160 Speaker 1: is the missing link from the Week ten matchup. I 715 00:39:21,200 --> 00:39:24,800 Speaker 1: think if he is doing what he did against Houston 716 00:39:24,880 --> 00:39:27,160 Speaker 1: and ripping off eight yard runs and having over one 717 00:39:27,200 --> 00:39:29,880 Speaker 1: hundred and twenty in a game, I think David Montgomery 718 00:39:29,960 --> 00:39:31,640 Speaker 1: is potentially going to be that X factor that's going 719 00:39:31,680 --> 00:39:34,440 Speaker 1: to make your life miserable defensively, and the fact that 720 00:39:34,440 --> 00:39:37,040 Speaker 1: you have Trubisky back in So stop David Montgomery, like 721 00:39:37,080 --> 00:39:40,000 Speaker 1: you said, make Trubisky bacha and go from there. That 722 00:39:40,160 --> 00:39:43,040 Speaker 1: is my X factor. Watch for how we handle David Montgomery. 723 00:39:43,200 --> 00:39:47,160 Speaker 1: Chris Carso, mine is the interior of the offensive line. 724 00:39:47,200 --> 00:39:48,920 Speaker 1: I don't know who's going to be in there or 725 00:39:48,960 --> 00:39:51,839 Speaker 1: what formation we go with with the offensive line, but 726 00:39:52,280 --> 00:39:56,560 Speaker 1: we need to protect the quarterback as well as in 727 00:39:56,640 --> 00:39:58,920 Speaker 1: the running game. Let's block down the field against this 728 00:39:59,600 --> 00:40:03,719 Speaker 1: STA defense. I'm just curious to see how everybody responds. 729 00:40:04,440 --> 00:40:08,600 Speaker 1: Backs are against the wall, tough loss. Everybody, I think 730 00:40:08,640 --> 00:40:12,400 Speaker 1: is immensely frustrated and this is a Chicago team that, 731 00:40:12,719 --> 00:40:15,919 Speaker 1: like I mentioned numerous times in this show, is more 732 00:40:16,000 --> 00:40:18,759 Speaker 1: like the Chicago team that you've struggled with the last 733 00:40:18,800 --> 00:40:21,600 Speaker 1: few years than the one you played earlier this season. 734 00:40:21,920 --> 00:40:24,799 Speaker 1: This is the Chicago team the way they're playing right 735 00:40:24,800 --> 00:40:27,719 Speaker 1: now as they're healthy. This is the Chicago team that 736 00:40:27,880 --> 00:40:32,760 Speaker 1: is built to give the Minnesota vikings fits. So, knowing 737 00:40:32,920 --> 00:40:35,759 Speaker 1: that it's a particularly tough matchup for what you like 738 00:40:35,920 --> 00:40:39,000 Speaker 1: to do, and knowing how last week fell apart, and 739 00:40:39,080 --> 00:40:41,840 Speaker 1: knowing all the things that are swirling around this team, 740 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:46,080 Speaker 1: how do you respond? You know, if you can go 741 00:40:46,120 --> 00:40:48,880 Speaker 1: out and play really, really well and get a defining 742 00:40:49,000 --> 00:40:52,520 Speaker 1: victory with all those things flying in your face. Cardinals 743 00:40:52,640 --> 00:40:54,560 Speaker 1: don't have the easiest schedule in the world. All of 744 00:40:54,600 --> 00:40:57,520 Speaker 1: a sudden, that Eagles game this weekend is looking kind 745 00:40:57,560 --> 00:41:00,200 Speaker 1: of tough. They got to see the Rams again. I 746 00:41:00,200 --> 00:41:02,759 Speaker 1: think are the best team in the NFC. There's a 747 00:41:02,760 --> 00:41:05,960 Speaker 1: real possibility that the Cardinals slip up here. You have 748 00:41:06,040 --> 00:41:11,560 Speaker 1: a chance to respond, get a defining win, and walk 749 00:41:11,680 --> 00:41:14,840 Speaker 1: forward in a very specific way. And I'll be really 750 00:41:14,840 --> 00:41:17,680 Speaker 1: curious to see what that looks like On Sunday for 751 00:41:17,920 --> 00:41:21,120 Speaker 1: Jay Nelson and Chris Corso. Thank you guys for listening. 752 00:41:21,160 --> 00:41:22,040 Speaker 1: We'll see you next week.