Divisional Round - Vikings @ Niners Support Group

[suncoastvike]

Jan 6, 2020 21:33:49 GMT -6 coolbreeze44 said:

Here's my thoughts on this matchup:

Back in the 80's when Eddie DeBartolo was circumventing the salary cap and the 49ers were winning titles I hated that franchise. They were a lot like the Patriots of today. If you weren't cheating you weren't trying. Today the greatest cheap shot artist of all time (John Lynch) is their general manager. If you don't remember John, he was the king of "guys hold up the running back at the line of scrimmage, I'll run full speed from my safety position and spear him in the ribs to finish him off". But all that aside, this version of the 49ers is a lot more likeable than their iconic predecessors. In fact if the Vikings can't make the Super Bowl, I sure hope the 9ers can beat Green Bay. I'd have no problem with SF representing the NFC this year.

Here's two problems for us Vikings fans:
1) You don't become a #1 seed unless you're a damn good football team
2) There is a reason why teams strive to get first round byes. It's a huge advantage to have two weeks to prepare and play at your home field. A lot of times this round of the playoffs proves to be anticlimactic for these reasons.

The Vikings can win this game but the odds are long against it. The big question for me is can our offensive line play two good games in a row? If the outstanding 49ers front can control the game we have virtually no chance. We must have a balanced attack and the line has to give Kirk time to throw. I expect our defense will play pretty well, but as we've seen they can also be no-shows.

I have a better feeling about this game. SF may not be their sharpest and their time may not have arrived yet. That being said I think the Vikes keep things close and lose a heartbreaker.

I can't agree with you. While I'll give you Debartolo is like a mob boss. John Lynch is a smart tough GM just like how he played.

[coolbreeze44]

Jan 7, 2020 12:16:28 GMT -6 suncoastvike said:

Jan 6, 2020 21:33:49 GMT -6 coolbreeze44 said:

Here's my thoughts on this matchup:

Back in the 80's when Eddie DeBartolo was circumventing the salary cap and the 49ers were winning titles I hated that franchise. They were a lot like the Patriots of today. If you weren't cheating you weren't trying. Today the greatest cheap shot artist of all time (John Lynch) is their general manager. If you don't remember John, he was the king of "guys hold up the running back at the line of scrimmage, I'll run full speed from my safety position and spear him in the ribs to finish him off". But all that aside, this version of the 49ers is a lot more likeable than their iconic predecessors. In fact if the Vikings can't make the Super Bowl, I sure hope the 9ers can beat Green Bay. I'd have no problem with SF representing the NFC this year.

Here's two problems for us Vikings fans:
1) You don't become a #1 seed unless you're a damn good football team
2) There is a reason why teams strive to get first round byes. It's a huge advantage to have two weeks to prepare and play at your home field. A lot of times this round of the playoffs proves to be anticlimactic for these reasons.

The Vikings can win this game but the odds are long against it. The big question for me is can our offensive line play two good games in a row? If the outstanding 49ers front can control the game we have virtually no chance. We must have a balanced attack and the line has to give Kirk time to throw. I expect our defense will play pretty well, but as we've seen they can also be no-shows.

I have a better feeling about this game. SF may not be their sharpest and their time may not have arrived yet. That being said I think the Vikes keep things close and lose a heartbreaker.

I can't agree with you. While I'll give you Debartolo is like a mob boss. John Lynch is a smart tough GM just like how he played.

He was smart and tough, doesn't mean he didn't take cheap shots.

[suncoastvike]

Jan 7, 2020 12:44:30 GMT -6 coolbreeze44 said:

Jan 7, 2020 12:16:28 GMT -6 suncoastvike said:

I can't agree with you. While I'll give you Debartolo is like a mob boss. John Lynch is a smart tough GM just like how he played.

He was smart and tough, doesn't mean he didn't take cheap shots.

That was how safety used to be played. Joey Browner was cheap by today's standards.

[Works2muchguy]

Jan 7, 2020 12:49:38 GMT -6 suncoastvike said:

Jan 7, 2020 12:44:30 GMT -6 coolbreeze44 said:

He was smart and tough, doesn't mean he didn't take cheap shots.

That was how safety used to be played. Joey Browner was cheap by today's standards.

Can also say the same about Ronnie Lott too, different times, different standards, more importantly different rules.

[Just Me]

Jan 7, 2020 11:33:40 GMT -6 Funkytown said:

Eric Kendricks will have his work cut out against 49ers TE George Kittle, but the Vikings LB has been terrific this season in coverage. Per NFL Next Gen Stats, Kendricks has a 20% ball-hawk rate, the 3rd highest among LBs (% of targets where nearest defender made a play on the football, either with a PD or INT), allowed a 56% completion percentage as the nearest defender in coverage - the 3rd lowest among LBs and had 12 pass break ups this season.

Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer

Don't forget that Kendricks basically saved us in the Dallas game by making a play on the ball at the end that would have been one that a cornerback would have been proud to make.   If any linebacker can do it, it will be Kendricks...

[vikecycle]

Jan 7, 2020 11:55:43 GMT -6 VikingsBoss said:

Jan 7, 2020 4:54:09 GMT -6 vikecycle said:

No, it most certainly is not meaningless, and anyone who's numbers stand up with Steve Young is doing well.

But the era does matter, it is easier to pass now. We are 25 years removed from Steve Young's best season, 30 from Montana's. The rules have been relaxed to allow for a more productive passing game.

For context's sake, the Vikings have had the NFL leader in passer rating once, in 1986, Tommy Kramer had a 92.6 rating. That is the 12th best passer rating in franchise history, behind amongst others: Sam Bradford in 2016, Case Keenum in 2017, and Kirk Cousins in both 2018-19.
In fact, only one of the eleven better seasons was prior to 1986, it was 1973 when Fran Tarkenton had a 93.8 and finished second to Roger Staubach (94.2, I believe).

You can't take Jimmy Garoppolo's 2019 and compare it to Steve Young or Joe Montana's era-it is a different game now.

It's not apples to apples of course, but Young's numbers are still impressive even by a modern standard. To be equal to or greater then that is still impressive.

[Funkytown]

[Funkytown]

Kyle Shanahan on how the Vikings installing an offense similar to the one he ran w/ Kirk Cousins in Washington brings out the the best in the QB: "Any time you’re running the ball as good as they are that brings the best out in everyone. When a quarterback only has to do a few things a game it makes it a lot easier. It allows you to not be as risky, to pick and choose your spots a little bit more, it allows you to block people better and doesn’t put all the pressure on one guy."

Courtney Cronin, ESPN Staff Writer

[Raptorman]

I think this game comes down to who ends up running the ball the best.

[coolbreeze44]

Jan 7, 2020 13:06:26 GMT -6 Works2muchguy said:

Jan 7, 2020 12:49:38 GMT -6 suncoastvike said:

That was how safety used to be played. Joey Browner was cheap by today's standards.

Can also say the same about Ronnie Lott too, different times, different standards, more importantly different rules.

I don't think you can say anything about Lott being cheap.  Totally different player.

[vikingpwr]

Jan 7, 2020 17:46:52 GMT -6 Raptorman said:

I think this game comes down to who ends up running the ball the best.

Sounds about right. 

[Funkytown]

[Burgundy&GoldViking]

I am excited about this game. If I remember right the last time Kirk played on the West Coast was vs the Rams and he balled out in that game on prime time 36/50 422 for 3 tds and 117.2 qbr so im not worried about the location of the game. What I do hope is that the Win vs the Saints was the tipping point in his career, where he can finally just go out and play ball without his mental block getting in the way, and good Kirk shows up

Kyle wanted Kirk to be his Qb for a reason, its just that the 49ers could not wait for Kirk to become available so they went with Jimmy G instead, which in my opinion they are almost the exact same as far as skill set and fitting in to the system. Jimmy G I think has the slight advantage over Kirk because of who the coach is..

The Vikings as a team match up well with the 49ers, both offenses are hybrids of sorts from the original one from Mike Shanahan (Kubiak vs Kyle) so both run the ball and play action well.
Both defenses are great with the advantage to the Vikings who are coming off a morale building performance Vs the Saints.

[Deleted]

Walt Anderson is the ref for Saturdays game.

[Josey Wales]

Jan 7, 2020 19:35:11 GMT -6 Burgundy&GoldViking said:

I am excited about this game. If I remember right the last time Kirk played on the West Coast was vs the Rams and he balled out in that game on prime time 36/50 422 for 3 tds and 117.2 qbr so im not worried about the location of the game. What I do hope is that the Win vs the Saints was the tipping point in his career, where he can finally just go out and play ball without his mental block getting in the way, and good Kirk shows up

Kyle wanted Kirk to be his Qb for a reason, its just that the 49ers could not wait for Kirk to become available so they went with Jimmy G instead, which in my opinion they are almost the exact same as far as skill set and fitting in to the system. Jimmy G I think has the slight advantage over Kirk because of who the coach is..

The Vikings as a team match up well with the 49ers, both offenses are hybrids of sorts from the original one from Mike Shanahan (Kubiak vs Kyle) so both run the ball and play action well.
Both defenses are great with the advantage to the Vikings who are coming off a morale building performance Vs the Saints.

From your mouth to God's ears.

Happy for your boy Kirk, BTW. He finally lived up to his capabilities.