Tag: Minnesota Vikings

NFL Week 7 Reaction

New England Patriots (1-6) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (2-5)

Leave it to the Pats to make the Jags look good this year. This completely was a game the Pats could have won.

Overall, they got beaten physically. The defense got ran all over and the offense couldn’t run the ball.

On special teams, out kicking the coverage led to a long return TD.

Outside of Maye and the passing game, this team played bad today. On the flip side, it’s nice seeing that our offense can finally produce big plays. There’s a lot to build on.

Jerrod Mayo is starting to worry me as a coach. Going for 2 made absolutely no sense, when the Pats could have kicked an extra point and made it a one possession game. The decision to go for 2 and not get it, completely changed the dynamic of the game and makes it so much harder to win.

I also don’t like that every time the camera shows Mayo, he seems to have an annoyed look on his face, he shows no emotion, and never appears to be talking to any of his players or coaches. If your team is constantly losing, at least try to keep up their spirits instead of pouting on the sideline.

He called out the team after the game and said they were soft. We’ll see if that moralizes or demoralizes the Pats.

Houston Texans (5-2) @ Green Bay Packers (5-2)

Stroud struggled a lot this game, but the Texans still nearly pulled this one out. The Packers came through and won, which is a necessity for them in the stacked NFC North.

Detroit Lions (5-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-1)

The Lions continue to show they are the best team in the league. They can beat you in so many ways and pulled off another win in a great back and forth game.

Kansas City Chiefs (6-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-4)

Wow. That is all I can say about the Chiefs. They are the new Patriots, in the sense that they can change their identity and win any way. They used to be a high powered offensive team. Now they have morphed into a team that runs the ball well and plays amazing defense. Mahomes does’t put up gaudy stats, but makes the big plays when he needs to. Despite losing their top running back and top wide receiver, the train keeps chugging on.

The craziest stat to show how good the Chiefs have been defensively is that today they scored 28 points, which is the most they’ve scored in the last 16 games they’ve played. They are 13-3 in those games. Scary for the rest of the league.

The 49ers under Kyle Shanahan fall to 0-5 vs Andy Reid and the Chiefs. Both teams dealt with tons of injuries today, but the Niners did not get through it like the Chiefs did. Defensively, you can only shake your head. They held Mahomes to a QB Rating of 44.4 and still lost by 10 points. They have very little room for error, given their record, if they want to make the playoffs.

Baltimore Ravens (5-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-3)

The Ravens keep on rolling and Lamar is once again the MVP front-runner. This team is so good in all facets of the game and, dare I say, the best team in the AFC right now. I know Lamar and Co. have struggled vs the Chiefs. But guess what? Tom Brady and the Patriots started off 6-0 vs Peyton Manning including 2-0 in the postseason. The rest of their careers after that? Manning went 6-5 including 3-0 in the playoffs (all AFC Championship games). So just because Mahomes has his number now, doesn’t mean that will continue forever.

The Bucs night started off well with a 10-0 lead and Mike Evans scoring his 100th career receiving TD. Evans is the 9th WR to ever have 12,000 yards receiving and 100 TDs. Despite being so underrated, he’s going to Canton.

After that, things fell apart with Baker throwing some bad picks, the Bucs blowing their lead, and Evans and Godwin leaving with injuries. Evans looks like he’ll be week to week, but Godwin might be out for the year. This could be a massive blow to the Bucs playoff chances.

Game/Betting Picks Results

Game: 3-2 (18-8 This Season) (56-24 All-Time)

Spread: 3-2 (17-8-1) (56-22-2)

O/U: 2-3 (13-13) (42-37-1)

NFL Week 7 Predictions

New England Patriots (1-5) vs Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)

The Pats head to London in a game they could actually win this year. Drake Maye has given this team all kinds of hope and hopefully the team continues to grow. We’re dealing with lots of injuries on the offensive line once again and Rhamondre might not play. I think the Pats win, cover (+6), and the over (42) hits.

Houston Texans (5-1) @ Green Bay Packers (4-2)

A great matchup between two up and coming teams. The Texans are dealing with tons of injuries to their defense. I think the Packers win, the Texans cover (+3), and the over (48.5) hits.

Detroit Lions (4-1) @ Minnesota Vikings (5-0)

A matchup of the two best teams in the NFC. I think the Lions win, cover (+1.5), and the under (50.5) hits.

Kansas City Chiefs (5-0) @ San Francisco 49ers (3-3)

A Super Bowl rematch as the Niners biggest tormentor comes to Santa Clara. The Chiefs have played well in spite of injuries to great offensive players. I think the Niners get revenge, cover (-2), and the over (47) hits.

Baltimore Ravens (4-2) @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)

One of the best primetime games of the year so far. I think the Ravens win, cover (-3.5), and the over (49.5) hits.

Game/Betting Picks Results

Game: 0-0 (15-6 This Season) (53-22 All-Time)

Spread: 0-0 (14-6-1) (53-20-2)

O/U: 0-0 (11-10) (40-34-1)

NFL Week 5 Reaction

New York Jets (2-3) vs Minnesota Vikings (5-0) in London

The Vikings get it done again, even with Sam Darnold playing his worst game of the year. This team is absolutely legit and is a big time contender to represent the NFC in the Super Bowl.

The Jets look like they might internally combust. They have talent but they are super loud and keep causing their own issues off the field. Losing will only amplify that.

Baltimore Ravens (3-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-4)

This might be the game of the year so far. Lamar and Burrow delivered the exact performances we wanted to see, combining for almost 800 yards of offense and 9 TDs.

The Bengals are the best 1-4 team I have ever seen. I think they will start going on a run next week and will still make the playoffs.

Miami Dolphins (2-3) @ New England Patriots (1-4)

This game was just as ugly as we predicted. Both teams looked like they were allergic to scoring and moving the ball down the field. The Pats completely killed themselves with idiotic penalties all game.

Stevenson was “benched,” but ended up playing more than Gibson and looked much better. Polk showed signs of being a great WR which was good to see. I love Brissett as a guy and I feel for him right now. He is getting killed back there and I’m worried he’ll get hurt.

Lastly, the Pats have had reports coming out of internal animosity. If the defense continues to play great while the offense is pitiful, tensions will only rise.

Buffalo Bills (3-2) @ Houston Texans (4-1)

This game came down to the wire even with Josh Allen playing as bad as he can. The Texans look like they might be the best team in the AFC and I think they can go toe-to-toe with Kansas City.

Game/Betting Picks Results

Game: 3-1 (12-5 This Season) (50-21 All-Time)

Spread: 4-0 (12-5) (51-19-1)

O/U: 2-2 (8-9) (37-33-1)

NFL Week 5 Predictions

New York Jets (2-2) vs Minnesota Vikings (4-0) in London

The biggest surprise of the first quarter was how good Sam Darnold and the Vikings played. They should continue that this game and win, cover (-2.5), and the over (40.5) will hit.

Baltimore Ravens (2-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-3)

Two teams that have played much better than their records. I think they are pretty even, but the Bengals have more to play for and are at home. I think the Bengals win, cover (+2.5), and the over (49) hits.

Miami Dolphins (1-3) @ New England Patriots (1-3)

This may end up being the worst game of the entire year. The two worst offenses in football face off with the Dolphins desperately missing Tua and the Pats dealing with injury after injury. I don’t know how either team will move the ball down the field. I think the Dolphins win, cover (-1) and the under (36) hits.

Buffalo Bills (3-1) @ Houston Texans (3-1)

This might be the best game of the entire week. Both teams are playing great, but are dealing with lots of injuries. The Bills have less depth than the Texans and have a lot of defensive guys out. I think the Texans win, cover (-1), and the over (47) hits.

Major News

The Pats traded their best defensive player Matt Judon to the Atlanta Falcons for a 3rd round pick. This is laughable. I have no problem with them not overpaying for an older Judon coming off a season ending injury. But why not do this before the draft? They could’ve gotten another offensive weapon to help out Drake Maye. Or a defensive player to help replace Judon. Now, they lose their best player and have nothing to show for it this year.

J.J. McCarthy is out for the year. This is sad to see. McCarthy had probably the best situation of any rookie QB with a great offensive coach and a ton of weapons. I definitely think he could’ve won OROY this year. It’s also odd how the situation progressed. He played a great game last weekend and no one was really talking about an injury. Then it seemed liked he had a minor injury that wouldn’t really affect him being ready for the year. And now he’s gone for the year. Regardless, he should still be a solid QB for this team once he’s back next year.

Post Draft Thoughts

So much success in the NFL is based on where you play, especially at quarterback. No matter how much talent you have, a terrible organization, coach, and team can derail a career. Now that we know where the top 6 QBs and a couple other top prospects are playing, below I predict how their careers will turn out.

Caleb Williams:

Going to Chicago has historically been where careers go to die for QBs. However, if one QB can buck that trend, it’s Williams. He is so talented and the fact that his pro comparisons are Aaron Rodgers and Patrick Mahomes tells you how good he is. Unlike with Justin Fields, the Bears have actually done a great job of surrounding him with amazing weapons and a solid Oline. How great he will be will come down to how well the coaching staff develops him. Regardless, the Bears history of never having a QB throw for 4,000 yards or 30 TDs will end soon.

I think he will be a really good to great QB in the NFL. He will make multiple Pro Bowls and help the Bears compete in a really tough division. My main apprehension with him is he seems like a diva type player. That’s fine with wide receivers like TO and OBJ, but when it comes to quarterback, that type of personality tends to not work out. Look at guys in the league who are star QBs: Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, Lamar Jackson, etc. They are not controversial and outspoken personalities. They always say the right things and are tremendous leaders. I just get the vibe that Caleb will not be a great leader and might causes some issues off the field similar to Kyler Murray and Aaron Rodgers. Once again, I think he’ll be really good to great, but will definitely cause some headaches for the Bears.

Jayden Daniels:

It’s great to see another LSU QB have a massive progression, win the Heisman, and be a top pick in the draft. That shows how great his work ethic is. His athleticism is off the charts and he will be one of the most athletic QBs in the league right away. It’s also reassuring that Daniels put up the numbers he did while playing in the best conference in college. He will be able to make an immediate impact and having an OC like Kliff Kingsbury is also a plus.

My one apprehension with him is that he is not super well built. This is something that can be fixed, but with a terrible Oline and being a guy that runs so much, it could be an issue.

Overall, he has a pretty good group of weapons around him with Terry McLaurin and Jahan Dotson at WR and Austin Ekeler and Brian Robinson Jr at RB. I think he has an average to solid career as a starter, but is not anything special.

Drake Maye:

I have super high hopes for Maye. He was my favorite QB in this draft, so the fact the Pats got him at #3 is a steal in my opinion. He reminds me a lot of Andrew Luck and Justin Herbert in terms of his combination of size, athleticism, and arm talent. He will just have turned 22 at the start of next season and will have time to develop under Jacoby Brissett. He is extremely tough, is a great kid, and played well through some perseverance and tough situations last year.

The biggest question with Maye has nothing to do with him, but the Patriots. First off, they have the worst roster in the league, especially when it comes to Oline and WR. They drafted some wide receivers and offensive lineman after Maye, but they still need to surround him with weapons and guys who can block. Also, how will the coaches develop him? Jerrod Mayo is a defensive coach so it will mainly be the responsibility of Alex Van Pelt, who is relatively unproven.

I believe he will develop into the Patriots franchise quarterback. He has the tools to succeed in New England, with a big frame and big arm that will serve him well in the terrible Foxboro weather. He obviously won’t be Tom Brady, but I think he can be a better version of Drew Bledsoe. He should be a multiple time Pro Bowler and lead the Pats back to contention for years to come.

Michael Penix Jr:

Easily the biggest shocker of the draft. I was initially shocked by what they did, but the Falcons explaining why they did it helped me make more sense of it. I just don’t agree with their reasoning.

Penix is going to be 24 before the season starts and is maybe the most “pro-ready” QB prospect in the draft. But they drafted him to be the developmental, eventual starter. He should have some good weapons around him when he does start, but when will that be?

They owe Kirk Cousins a ton of money and realistically can’t get out of the contact until 2026 when Penix with be 26 himself. Cousins isn’t amazing but he’s a good enough starter who probably won’t play himself out of the position. With all the uncertainty and an odd situation, I think Penix doesn’t end up being a long-term starter in the league.

J.J. McCarthy:

I like McCarthy, but easily think he was the most overrated player this draft. Compared to the other 5 QBs taken, I think he easily was the worst prospect and was benefited by his team more than any of them. With that being said, he is going to basically the perfect situation. He has a really good offensive coach in Kevin O’Connell, the best WR in the league in Justin Jefferson, a top 3 TE in TJ Hockenson, one of the best young WRs in the league in Jordan Addison, and new RB Aaron Jones. They even have a good offensive line. Furthermore, McCarthy can develop behind Sam Darnold if needed.

I think McCarthy will have a career similar to the man he is replacing – Kirk Cousins. His situation is just too good to be a complete bust. I see him putting up solid numbers but not being a guy who can win his team big games and take them far in the playoffs.

Bo Nix:

Nix lands in a spot with a good head coach, but a team that really lacks weapons. He’s accurate and has a ton of experience, but I just don’t think he has that high of a ceiling. Sean Payton has also been very impatient and critical of his QB and team since taking over and I don’t think that’s a great situation for any rookie QB. I think Nix ends up playing a good bit as a rookie, but I don’t think his career will mount to much and he won’t be a long-term starter.

Marvin Harrison Jr.

I think he is the best player in this class and the most exciting by far. Getting to play for a good QB in Kyler is also huge for him. He’ll be a Day 1 starter and should be an absolute stud for years to come.

Brock Bowers:

I think Bowers fits into the Raiders mold well. The biggest question is who is gonna be the QB throwing him the ball and how good will they be. However, he’s so talented that he should make an immediate impact and he has other weapons around him so defenses can’t just key in on him. He should be a long-term starter and make a handful of Pro Bowls.

Other Quick Points

With 6 QBs taken in the first round and all these other amazing offensive players at marquee positions like WR and OT, I think this draft will go down in history as one of the best ever.

The fact that round 1 of the NFL draft had a higher average viewership than last year’s NBA finals once again shows why football is the king of sports in the US.

Xavier Worthy should be a great pick for Chiefs. He fits in so well with Mahomes and that offense. The Chiefs have rebuilt their WR corps into one of the better ones in the league in just one year, showing why they are the dynasty that they are.

It’s still so early, but the Bears – Panthers trade from last year might go down as the worst trade in NFL history. If Bryce Young ends up being a bust, while Caleb is a stud that’s bad enough. But on top of that, the Bears got one of the best WRs in the league, a starting tackle, a starting CB, and still have another 2nd round pick next year. This is something to keep an eye on.

End of Season Top 10 QBs

Below are my top 10 QBs in the NFL. I am not solely basing it off this year, but instead the last couple of years plus how I think they’ll perform moving forward.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

Do I even have to explain?

2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow had a tough year, first dealing with a nagging calf injury that hampered him the first 4 games, then going on IR after the 10th game of the year. During the 5.5 games he was healthy, he threw for 13 TDs and showed how good he is.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen is the modern day Brett Favre. He is an absurd athlete who routinely makes jaw dropping plays. He will also go rouge every now and then and make you ask yourself what the hell he is doing. His 173 total TDs the past 4 years make up for those mistakes.

4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Lamar balled out and won his 2nd league MVP this year. He is one of the most athletic players we’ve ever seen and can do things at QB that no one else in the league can. He needs to play better in the playoffs though.

5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert is insanely talented, but has struggled to win. The lack of coaching and injuries around him in the past is reasonable enough to blame. However, with Jim Harbaugh now his coach, there are no more excuses. He needs to start winning games and making runs in the postseason.

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts is a special QB and a great duel threat. He had some up and down moments this year, but the season ended on a bad note. He will need to shake it off next year.

7. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

This season did not go as he wanted it to, however, I am still a believer that this all-time great will come back with a splash next year.

8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dak played great at times this year, but does not always bring it during big games.

9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence struggled this year, especially when his team needed him down the stretch. He’ll need to work out some kinks this offseason to return to the player he was last year.

10. Brock Purdy, San Franciso 49ers

He is definitely aided by his coach and playmakers around him, but he still gets them the ball and plays great. My only concern is that he struggles to bring his team back if they get too far behind.

On the Bubble:

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

He’s a solid starting QB, but is limited.

CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud established himself as one of the best young QBs in the league this year. Should he continue to develop, he could easily enter the top 10 next year.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Kirk’s absence shows the Vikings and the world how good he really is. He just doesn’t get it done in the playoffs.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

He’s a very similar QB to Brock Purdy. I give Purdy the slight edge, because I trust him more in big games.

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

I still am a Russ believer. He played well this year despite the fact that he did not have that much talent around him. I think Sean Payton scapegoating him for all of Denver’s woes is laughable. He may not be at his peak anymore, but is still a good starting quarterback.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

He rebounded well this year and led a young team to the playoffs. I still think he’s slightly overrated.

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Kyler has all the talent in the world and he played well in limited action this season. I’m excited to see him back to full strength next year for an entire season.

End of Regular Season Top 10 QBs

Below are my top 10 QBs in the NFL. I am not solely basing it off this year, but instead the last couple of years plus how I think they’ll perform in the postseason (if applicable) and next year.

1. Patrick Mahomes, Kansas City Chiefs

He had his worst season as a pro this year and still led his team to the AFC West title, won 11 games, and threw for 27 TDs. He would be the consensus pick if you were starting an NFL team right now and is dangerous in the postseason.

2. Joe Burrow, Cincinnati Bengals

Burrow had a tough year, first dealing with a nagging calf injury that hampered him the first 4 games, then going on IR after the 10th game of the year. During the 5.5 games he was healthy, he threw for 13 TDs and showed how good he is when healthy.

3. Josh Allen, Buffalo Bills

Allen is the modern day Brett Favre. He is an absurd athlete who routinely makes jaw dropping plays. He will also go rouge every now and then and make you ask yourself what the hell he is doing. His 173 total TDs the past 4 years, make up for those mistakes.

4. Lamar Jackson, Baltimore Ravens

Lamar balled out and will be the league MVP this year. He is one of the most athletic players we’ve ever seen and can do things at QB that no one else in the league can. He needs to prove himself in the playoffs, but if he does, he will move up this list.

5. Justin Herbert, Los Angeles Chargers

Herbert is insanely talented, but cannot win. I know he’s had horrible coaching his first 4 years, but the hope now is that he can get a coach who knows what they’re doing and starting winning big games. If that happens, the sky is the limit for him.

6. Jalen Hurts, Philadelphia Eagles

Hurts is a special QB and a great duel threat. He had some up and down moments this year, but a great postseason run will launch him up this list.

7. Aaron Rodgers, New York Jets

This season did not go as he wanted it to, however, I am still a believer that this all-time great will come back with a splash next year.

8. Dak Prescott, Dallas Cowboys

Dak played great at times this year, but does not always bring it during big games.

9. Trevor Lawrence, Jacksonville Jaguars

Lawrence struggled this year, especially when his team needed him down the stretch. He’ll need to work out some kinks this offseason to return to the player he was last year.

10. Brock Purdy, San Franciso 49ers

He is definitely aided by his coach and playmakers around him, but he still gets them the ball and plays great. My only concern is that he struggles to bring his team back if they get too far behind.

On the Bubble:

Jared Goff, Detroit Lions

He’s a solid starting QB, but is limited. We’ll see how he plays in the playoffs.

CJ Stroud, Houston Texans

Stroud established himself as one of the best young QBs in the league this year. Should he continue to develop, he could easily enter the top 10 next year.

Kirk Cousins, Minnesota Vikings

Kirk’s absence shows the Vikings and the world how good he really is. He just doesn’t get it done in the playoffs.

Tua Tagovailoa, Miami Dolphins

He’s a very similar QB to Brock Purdy. I give Purdy the slight edge, because I trust him more in big games.

Russell Wilson, Denver Broncos

I still am a Russ believer. He played well this year despite the fact that he did not have that much talent around him. I think Sean Payton scapegoating him for all of Denver’s woes is laughable. He may not be at his peak anymore, but is still a good starting quarterback.

Matthew Stafford, Los Angeles Rams

He rebounded well this year and led a young team to the playoffs. I still think he’s slightly overrated.

Kyler Murray, Arizona Cardinals

Kyler has all the talent in the world and he played well in limited action this season. I’m excited to see him back to full strength next year for an entire season.

NFL Week 3 Reaction

Los Angeles Chargers (1-2) @ Minnesota Vikings (0-3)

The Chargers barely saved their season IN SPITE of their coach Brandon Staley. I love teams being aggressive but he consistently makes dumb calls when going for it on 4th down. His team is so talented that they saved this game and maybe his job. I think eventually Kellen Moore will take over for him.

Games like this are why I think Justin Herbert is right behind Mahomes as the best QB in the league. He’s 6’ 6” 240 lbs, can avoid pressure in the pocket, scramble, make throws on the run from any arm angle, and has a rocket arm. In 52 career games, he has 15,000 yards passing and 100 TDs. Insanely fun to watch.

What do the Vikings do? Kirk Cousins is not the reason this team is losing as he has thrown for 1,075 yards and 9 TDs in three games. But do they want keep in around when he is expensive, old, and has had very little postseason success? I think they should keep him around until the deadline. At that point, if they still suck they can trade him and look to get one of the great new QBs in next year’s draft.

New England Patriots (1-2) @ New York Jets (1-2)

Once again the Patriots defense is amazing and their offense is a let down. Despite grossly out gaining the Jets in yards, the games comes down to a Hail Mary that the Jets almost executed. Mac isn’t good but neither are the skill players around him. Get ready for a lot of unders hitting this season for the Pats.

The Jets are in a brutal spot right now. Zach Wilson sucks but who out there is a better option than him? There’s no good solution.

Los Angeles Rams (1-2) @ Cincinnati Bengals (1-2)

The Bengals save their season in a much needed game. Something still looks off with the Bengals offense. They are not dynamic as normal and Burrow and the WRs are out of sync. I do like how they put Chase all over the field and really got him the ball. But if Burrow’s injury lingers, this team may continue to struggle.

Those Bengals white out uniforms are absolutely awesome. The end zone and logo also being white was the cherry on top.

The Bengals defense was the star of the game today. They will have to continue playing this way until the offense gets it together.

The Rams have played much better than I thought they would. Once Kupp returns, they could make a run at the playoffs.

Other Thoughts:

Wow the Dolphins put up Madden numbers against the Broncos. The first team since 1966 to put up 70 points and they did it without WR Jaylen Waddle. The fantasy numbers they put up were ridiculous too. RBs De’von Achane (51.3) and Raheem Mostert (45.2) combined for 96.5 points.

Betting Picks This Week

Game: 3-0 (10-7 Overall)

Spread: 3-0 (12-5)

O/U: 0-3 (6-10-1)