[PLAYOFFS] NFC Divisional Round: Dallas @ Minnesota

[MrBill]

Dallas has been playing playoff football for six weeks.
Minnesota's coach and QB aren't even on the same page.

IMO, with the way Dallas has been playing lately, this is like throwing a piece of steak into a pit of bengal tigers.

I don't like Minnesota's chances at all.

Which was the exact same logic behind every analyst going with the red hot Packers last weekend over the Cardinals. The Vikings were 8-0 at home this season where Favre threw 22 TD's to 2 INT's along with going 4-2 against playoff teams in the regular season. Until somebody beats them at home, I like their chances a lot.

It'd be a foolish mistake to think Ware is a finesse guy who can't stop the run. Plus if you run to that side, you have to deal with Olshansky as well.

No doubts that he can stop the run but the Vikings gain more from running McKinnie and his 70 pound size advantage directly at him and wearing him down over the course of the game than letting him use his speed off the end to dominate the slower OT. Very similar to the strategy coaches used against KGB when he became an every down player for the Packers instead of the 3rd down rushing specialist.

 

[dave]

Which was the exact same logic behind every analyst going with the red hot Packers last weekend over the Cardinals. The Vikings were 8-0 at home this season where Favre threw 22 TD's to 2 INT's. Until somebody beats them at home, I like their chances a lot.

Packers played like shit in the first half.
They were way too overconfident.

Cowboys aren't going to Minnesota thinking they're unbeatable.

And I don't think Minnesota is a truly elite team ... and Favre is not a mistake-free quarterback.

 

[Tailback U]

Harvin concerns me. Have to admit I was wrong on him.

The Vikes run the exact same offense the Eagles do. Difference is unlike Reid, Childress actually uses his running attack.

The Cowboys had 1 serious threat to take care of against Philly - DeSean Jackson. Celek, to an extent, but he's no more a threat than Schiancoe.

The Vikings have Peterson, Rice, Harvin. They run the ball more than the Eagles and most of all, they have Brett Favre have running the entire show instead of Donovan McNabb.

The passing schemes may be a tad similar, but the player personnel, playcalling, and execution is incomparable.

If Minnesota can somehow get up early and foce the Cowboys to throw, they'll be in good shape, because they can harrass Romo. If the Cowboys are able to get the ground game going and keep the D off balance, it could spell trouble.

I agree.

Wade is to be commended for what he's done with the defense over the last 2 months, but I was impressed at how he turned loose some blitzes from the secondary for the first time all season on Saturday. One thing I'm curious about is that he has not used the 46 look at all this year. I know they threw some of it in last year, but it hasn't been seen once this year. One has to wonder if he's saving that for this week or later like he did with the safety blitzes last week. Something to think about.

Would be interesting but I don't think it'd be all that successful with how the Vikings aerial attack has been this season. Make no mistake about it, the Vikings are a better passing team than running team.

All the stuff surrounding Childress and Favre is irrelevant. Favre runs the show, Childress is just in the background.

Like I said, I'm calling 300 and 3 TDs from Favre in this one. But it all comes down to Ware.

 

[Rayman]

Which was the exact same logic behind every analyst going with the red hot Packers last weekend over the Cardinals. The Vikings were 8-0 at home this season where Favre threw 22 TD's to 2 INT's along with going 4-2 against playoff teams in the regular season. Until somebody beats them at home, I like their chances a lot.



No doubts that he can stop the run but the Vikings gain more from running McKinnie and his 70 pound size advantage directly at him and wearing him down over the course of the game than letting him use his speed off the end to dominate the slower OT. Very similar to the strategy coaches used against KGB when he became an every down player for the Packers instead of the 3rd down rushing specialist.

Again, you're forgetting about Olshansky. And even if that wasn't a factor, KGB is no DeMarcus Ware. If he was, don't you think other teams would have tried and had success with the same tactic you just described? Fact is, they have and they failed. DWare is a complete player. KGB is/was not.

The Cowboys had 1 serious threat to take care of against Philly - DeSean Jackson. Celek, to an extent, but he's no more a threat than Schiancoe.

The Vikings have Peterson, Rice, Harvin. They run the ball more than the Eagles and most of all, they have Brett Favre have running the entire show instead of Donovan McNabb.

The passing schemes may be a tad similar, but the player personnel, playcalling, and execution is incomparable.

I agree.


Would be interesting but I don't think it'd be all that successful with how the Vikings aerial attack has been this season. Make no mistake about it, the Vikings are a better passing team than running team.

All the stuff surrounding Childress and Favre is irrelevant. Favre runs the show, Childress is just in the background.

Like I said, I'm calling 300 and 3 TDs from Favre in this one. But it all comes down to Ware.

Hey, NO had a lot of weapons too.

Come to think of it, so do we.

Just sayin'.

 

[ultfrisbee]

I hope that the Vikings win and that some of the Cowboys' fans shut the fuck up and disappear for a while, just like Denver's fans did when they went from 6-0 to 8-8.

 

[Rayman]

I hope that the Vikings win and that some of the Cowboys' fans shut the fuck up and disappear for a while, just like Denver's fans did when they went from 6-0 to 8-8.

:youmad:

 

[SethMode]

All I'll say is this, because everything else has been touched on:

Flozell Adams handling Trent Cole twice in two weeks is apples to handling Jared Allen oranges. Trent Cole is the only guy worth a shit on that Eagles D-line. The Minnesota D-line is arguably the best in the NFL. Doesn't mean Adams can't stop Allen, just means that him stopping Cole isn't a sign that he will stop Allen. There's a lot more to worry about from the Minnesota front 7 (which is good/great) than there was the Eagles front 7 (which stinks).

 

[Rayman]

All I'll say is this, because everything else has been touched on:

Flozell Adams handling Trent Cole twice in two weeks is apples to handling Jared Allen oranges. Trent Cole is the only guy worth a shit on that Eagles D-line. The Minnesota D-line is arguably the best in the NFL. Doesn't mean Adams can't stop Allen, just means that him stopping Cole isn't a sign that he will stop Allen. There's a lot more to worry about from the Minnesota front 7 (which is good/great) than there was the Eagles front 7 (which stinks).

If you read that whole post, you'll see that I said Cole is a speed rusher while I view Allen as a power guy and that it's a fact that the ends who give Flozell Adams the most trouble are speed guys, which is why I say shutting out Cole is a good sign.

Allen's a great pass rusher, but I feel better leaving Flozell alone on him than I would say someone like Dumervil, Harrison, Suggs or Merriman.

 

[SethMode]

If you read that whole post, you'll see that I said Cole is a speed rusher while I view Allen as a power guy and that it's a fact that the ends who give Flozell Adams the most trouble are speed guys.

Allen's a great pass rusher, but I feel better leaving Flozell alone on him than I would say someone like Dumervil, Harrison, Suggs or Merriman.

I read the whole post, and I understand your point, I'm just saying it's not just about Flozell containing Allen and that being it in this case. I should have probably been more clear. I'm just saying that Flozell stopping Allen won't be as big of a deal as Flozell stopping Cole, because in Minnesota's case stopping other guys matters. In Philly's case, Cole was all they had.

 

[Rayman]

I read the whole post, and I understand your point, I'm just saying it's not just about Flozell containing Allen and that being it in this case. I should have probably been more clear. I'm just saying that Flozell stopping Allen won't be as big of a deal as Flozell stopping Cole, because in Minnesota's case stopping other guys matters. In Philly's case, Cole was all they had.

I get what you're saying, I just consider the LT/DE matchup on the blindside to be an island unto itself. It'll be on the other linemen to keep the Williams boys at bay.

 

[MrBill]

I get what you're saying, I just consider the LT/DE matchup on the blindside to be an island unto itself. It'll be on the other linemen to keep the Williams boys at bay.

That will be a major factor in deciding this game. The Williams boys do not get held at bay very often so it will be interesting to see how Dallas approaches the game plan in that regard.

 

[MrBill]

Get ready for a lot of flags, Walt Anderson's crew has been given the game this weekend. He's a Texas native but since he is from the Houston area and based on his calls during the Cowboys @ Seahawks game a few years ago, I don't think the 'Boys will be getting any special treatment from the officials. Both teams will get equally jobbed :laugh:

 

[Archer]

Get ready for a lot of flags, Walt Anderson's crew has been given the game this weekend. He's a Texas native but since he is from the Houston area and based on his calls during the Cowboys @ Seahawks game a few years ago, I don't think the 'Boys will be getting any special treatment from the officials. Both teams will get equally jobbed :laugh:

Referee (sorted by last name), Total accepted penalties per game, Total penalty yards per game, Average penalty yards per penalty, Total points per game, Home team win rate.
Walt Anderson (13.9, 124, 8.9, 39.7, 29%)
Jerome Boger (13.3, 101, 7.6, 34.7, 43%)
Don Carey (10.6, 84, 8.0, 41.9, 57%)
Mike Carey (12.6, 104, 8.2, 45.8, 43%)
Carl Cheffers (11.4, 97, 8.5, 43.3, 43%)
Walt Coleman (12.1, 102, 8.4, 45.9, 53%)
Tony Corrente (12.8, 108, 8.4, 41.0, 43%)
Scott Green (11.5, 97, 8.4, 46.8, 47%)
Ed Hochuli (12.9, 104, 8.0, 43.0, 36%)
Bill Leavy (10.6, 82, 7.7, 39.9, 79%)
Terry McAulay (11.4, 95, 8.3, 41.1, 43%)
Peter Morelli (10.3, 92, 9.0, 41.0, 64%)
John Parry (12.4, 99, 8.0, 49.4, 50%)
Alberto Riveron (10.9, 92, 8.5, 42.3, 50%)
Gene Steratore (9.8, 79, 8.0, 52.3, 50%)
Jeff Triplette (13.1, 105, 8.0, 45.9, 79%)
Ron Winter (13.0, 106, 8.2, 38.2, 57%)

First in Penalties accepted, First in Penalty Yards, worst home winning percentage

 

[Rayman]

Get ready for a lot of flags, Walt Anderson's crew has been given the game this weekend. He's a Texas native but since he is from the Houston area and based on his calls during the Cowboys @ Seahawks game a few years ago, I don't think the 'Boys will be getting any special treatment from the officials. Both teams will get equally jobbed :laugh:

It's not Jeff Triplette's or Ron Winter's incompetent ass, so I ain't mad.

 

[Tailback U]

If you read that whole post, you'll see that I said Cole is a speed rusher while I view Allen as a power guy and that it's a fact that the ends who give Flozell Adams the most trouble are speed guys, which is why I say shutting out Cole is a good sign.

Allen's a great pass rusher, but I feel better leaving Flozell alone on him than I would say someone like Dumervil, Harrison, Suggs or Merriman.

Allen is just as fast, if not faster, than he is powerful. When he came into the league he was strictly a speed rusher. Very weak against the run and not much power to his arsenal.

Since then he is developed into a much more complete defensive end. He might not be as fast or as quick as Ware but don't think for one second that he lacks the quickness or speed to beat Adams.

Since he has added power and strength to his game he's arguably become the best defensive end in football. He can bull rush you or dip his shoulder and run right around you, he's not one dimensional like Merriman, Dumerville, Cole, etc.

Cole is a great speed rusher but not comparable to Allen. Allen is a completely different type of beast in the mold of Justin Tuck. I think he's going to give Adams some trouble.

 

[Rayman]

Allen is just as fast, if not faster, than he is powerful. When he came into the league he was strictly a speed rusher. Very weak against the run and not much power to his arsenal.

Since then he is developed into a much more complete defensive end. He might not be as fast or as quick as Ware but don't think for one second that he lacks the quickness or speed to beat Adams.

Since he has added power and strength to his game he's arguably become the best defensive end in football. He can bull rush you or dip his shoulder and run right around you, he's not one dimensional like Merriman, Dumerville, Cole, etc.

Cole is a great speed rusher but not comparable to Allen. Allen is a completely different type of beast in the mold of Justin Tuck. I think he's going to give Adams some trouble.

Meh, I still like his chances. He's been much better of late.

 

[GoChargers]

Vikings by 6.

 

[dope]

First in Penalties accepted, First in Penalty Yards, worst home winning percentage

fuck

 

[MrBill]

Isn't this game today? opcorn:

 

[Rayman]

Final thoughts.

For all the talk about how great the Vikings are at home, here's who they've beaten in the dome;

San Francisco (barely)
Green Bay
Baltimore
Detroit
Seattle
Chicago
Cincinnati
NYG

Also, 7.5 of Jared Allen's 14.5 sacks came against Green Bay - in the first 8 weeks of the season when their o-line was a sieve.

Edit: If there's any justice in this world Dallas wins today- 2 years ago Wade gave his team the bye week off and was gillrd nationally for it. Brad Childress just did the same thing and I haven't heard a peep about it.

That being said, I think this will be a good, close game.

See you all here afterward, win or lose.