Vikes VS Bucks

[zepman]

Early game this week...at home.

Maybe the most important game of the year for the Vikes. They win and they'll be scratching and clawing for a play-off spot. A loss to a very beatable Bucks team could send them the wrong direction.

IMO...Ponder bounces back to put up 21 points and the defense holds on to win a close game. 27-20 win.

6-2

[paceman]

Vikes win 28-14

[LMITOUT]

Super Bowl home boy.

[nofishfisherman]

The Bucs secondary is pretty beatable so hopefully the recievers can get open and Ponder can make the throws. I also think we'll be able to run on them.

Prediction is Vikes win 27-17.

[lawdog]

Hope the Vikes play well, I'm going to the game!

[pikestabber]

The Bucs are #3 at stopping the run, so we will need to push them down in the rankings to win this game. I don't think Ponder can shoulder the load with just his arm...not yet, anyhow. After coming off a couple rough outings I think Musgrave dials him back to single reads and gives AP the ball a lot (maybe some bubble screens and quick slants to Harvin that somehow disappeared in last week's offensive debacle). In any case, I think STs and our D will take care of what our Offense can't bring, and we win 27-19.

[LABS4ME]

Freeman and Jackson have been pretty unstoppable the last 3 games. The defense better be well rested on 4 days between games as 400 yards of passing will tire you out quickly. Their offense can be dangerous, they almost beat the Saints last weekend.

The Vikings will need to win with their offense... the Buccs pass defense is not stellar. Going to need to concentrate on mid-range pass plays to be really effective. Rudolph and Harvin should see a lot of opportunities.

As an outsider that does not view games through a Purple Haze, I think it will be a close game... I wouldn't go into it with too much confidence. Frazier better have them ready on this short week. The Buccs are more formidable than they have been given credit, no different than the Vikings.

Good Luck!

Ken

[schmitty3]

Good test for the Vikings D. Freeman has looked real good lately. Gonna need Ponder to play better and exploit that 31st ranked pass defense. Gonna say Vikes 27-23.

[BEEFEATER]

Early game this week...at home.

Maybe the most important game of the year for the Vikes. They win and they'll be scratching and clawing for a play-off spot. A loss to a very beatable Bucks team could send them the wrong direction.

IMO...Ponder bounces back to put up 21 points and the defense holds on to win a close game. 27-20 win.

6-2

Most Important Game? What about the 2 games againts the packers, 2 games againts the bears, Seattle on the road, Houston. Those games are important and very difficult.

[LABS4ME]

If they don't win this week, it can cause an severe unraveling! I'd say it's one of the more important games they play as the expectations are that they SHOULD win... all the other games you posted they will most likely will not be favored. Those would be UPSETS...

They cannot afford to let games they should win slip through their fingers if they want any shot at making the playoffs

Good Luck!

Ken

[schmitty3]

Next 3 games are all HUGE

[BEEFEATER]

If they don't win this week, it can cause an severe unraveling! I'd say it's one of the more important games they play as the expectations are that they SHOULD win... all the other games you posted they will most likely will not be favored. Those would be UPSETS...

They cannot afford to let games they should win slip through their fingers if they want any shot at making the playoffs

Good Luck!

Ken [/quoteu mean games we should win like the redskins game or the colts game. The upsets are the games were going to need to win, thats not my opinion thats a fact, The bears and packers are on pace to win the division, we would need a few upsets. I think weed need to win 3 out of the four packers/bears games to make the playoffs.

[LABS4ME]

Yes I mean like the colts and redskins. Those are/were the IMPORTANT games. Last week too, this week also... They show where you are at as a team against other teams that are supposedly at the same caliber. Not saying they cannot upset a team... ie: the Niners win... but no one went into that game saying it's 'important' we win this game.

If they want to see what kind of a team they are, they need to do better than last week's performance this week. they need to win with a decisive performance. Yes a win is a win, but more often than not, the performance last Sunday will not get it done in the NFL, just as the Bears performance on Monday night will not get it done most Sunday's.

So important? if I was a Vike's fan, I'd say yes. It also keeps you a game up on the Packers in the division race... and at least neck and neck with the Bears.

Good Luck!

Ken

[nofishfisherman]

I agree. Its not the opponent that makes this such an important game. It really could set up the last half of the season for the Vikings.

6-2 going into the toughest part of your schedule means you only need to win 3 out 8 the rest of the way to have a good shot at the playoffs. 5-3 means you need to find a way to win an extra game against a much tougher opponent.

A solid win here also should help build extra confidence, even more so if Ponder can come out and bounce back after what was probably his worst game as a pro.

With that said I'm not sure 9-7 will get you into the playoffs. I see both the Bears and Green Bay at at least 10-6.

[deets22]

everyone has torn up the New Orleans secondary this season. Ryan Leaf could have a 300 yard day against them. the vikes defense is a little more sound than the saints i'd like to think. plus the saints don't have pass rushers like the vikes either. if the defense has a good day tomorrow the vikes win. roll a safety over vincent jackson and make the other recievers step up, and freeman move on to second and third reads. when he gets to that point jared allen will be dry humping his leg.

[FISHINGURU]

We need Chong Simpson to step it up this game, he played all game and has practiced all week. We need to start going deep, I used to like Ponder because he used to have the jewels to go deep but lately he has been quite the wimp.

With a good game plan we should be able to shred them apart on offense. Our defense has been pretty stout lately this will be another good test for them.

The scary part is this is a game they should win.

[MuleShack]

The Bucs secondary is pretty beatable so hopefully the recievers can get open and Ponder can make the throws.

The receivers were open last week for the most part...so that is a two part wish list with the 2nd part being the ?

[nofishfisherman]

I didn't get to watch much of the game and on TV they don't show the receivers down field unless the ball is thrown to them, the cameras are just on the line of scrimmage. I was just going by what I heard the "experts" on the radio and tv were saying. All of them said the receivers for the most part were not open the bulk of the game. At least not when it came to anything down field. I'm sure Harvin was open on the short crossing routes and other short stuff.

[MuleShack]

I didn't get to watch much of the game and on TV they don't show the receivers down field unless the ball is thrown to them, the cameras are just on the line of scrimmage. I was just going by what I heard the "experts" on the radio and tv were saying. All of them said the receivers for the most part were not open the bulk of the game. At least not when it came to anything down field. I'm sure Harvin was open on the short crossing routes and other short stuff.

Lets just say that TJunk had a lot better games than what ponder did as far as hitting the receivers.

[Musky Buck]

Is this why the pack had Rodgers carry the clipboard for 3 years. Ponder is in year 2 as a wet behind the ears starter, he's no Rodgers no but he's our guy for now, he needs to play well tonight at home no doubt, as long as the team has faith in him so do I, if he starts losing the guys some then oh boy.

[pikestabber]

Is this why the pack had Rodgers carry the clipboard for 3 years. Ponder is in year 2 as a wet behind the ears starter...

Agreed. We are criticizing him pretty relentlessly right now, but I think we need to dial it back a notch. We haven't had to break in a true rookie and hopefully franchise QB in quite some time and I think we forgot how patient you have to be at times. Granted, last week was very poor, but it happens. I have seen an attitude shift in Ponder this year (rolling with the punches instead of tanking after a mistake) and I am curious to see if he can bounce back tonight. If he does, that could be a terrific confidence boost all the way around. Skol, Vikes!

[MNice]

Given their history of stellar performances on nationally televised games we'll lose 28-10.

[otterman91105]

Well i'm hopeing that they will have a good game. Go Vike's

[Musky Buck]

No doubt pike if Fran Tarkenton,Tommy Kramer,Jim McMahon,Randall Cunningham, Daunte Culpepper, Jeff George,Brett Favre, man what a list and there's many more Sage never even got a shot, etc. couldn't win a superbowl here than Ponder can't do worse than that. And those guys had stellar wideouts to chuck it to. We need to hope he's the real deal because who's to say the next guy will be, I bet most thought Cam Newton would have a monster year he did last year and nada, not yet anyway. I'm skeptical of Ponder as well, but reality tells me he's in year 2 has the teams faith, has made some improvements so lets back him. Hope he bounces back tonight with a quality effort. I think therein lies the issue we're hoping, we're not certain like we knew Favre knew what was what, hopefully he needs just more game experience.

[zepman]

Jenkins is 6'4"...he doesn't necessarily need to be "open" for Ponder to get him the ball. Throw the ball Christian!! There's no reason Jenkins shouldn't be targeted more down the field.

Same goes for Rudolph...I believe he's 6'6".