11/05/24
December 21, 2009
SportsFilter: The Monday Huddle:
A place to discuss the sports stories that aren't making news, share links that aren't quite front-page material, and diagram plays on your hand. Remember to count to five Mississippi before commenting in anger.
I don't think that one can be pinned on Favre. Peterson couldn't go anywhere, there were three or four terrible dropped balls, and his arm got hit as he was throwing on the end-zone interception.
It looks like their offensive line pretty much sucked it. The whole team kinda looked disinterested. I wonder if knowing they clinched the division did that for them? Because they were awful.
posted by fabulon7 at 08:11 AM on December 21, 2009
I thought before the season that Favre would run out of gas by December, but I gave up that notion with his incredible play in the early going. With Peterson only getting 35 yards, this loss hangs on more than just Favre.
posted by rcade at 08:52 AM on December 21, 2009
Yeah, it wasn't Favre that made Matt Moore look, that gave up more than a hundred yards of rushing to Jonathan Stewart and let Steve Smith have the best game of the season.
posted by NoMich at 08:54 AM on December 21, 2009
It's hard to pin this one on Favre; though he wasn't sharp, he wasn't the reason the other players on the field looked so bad. Dropped passes, Peterson looked very pedestrian and the defense was shoddy. They did not look like a playoff team last night. Oddly enough, Carolina did.
posted by dfleming at 10:24 AM on December 21, 2009
Julius Peppers was a beast last night; that play where he just barreled over McKinnie en route to a sack was just dominant. After the Saints lost Saturday night, I thought that Minnesota actually had a decent chance of garnering the number one seed in the NFC, but that is pretty much lost now (I think the Saints will handle the Bucs next week but may have problems with the Panthers in the final week). At least the Vikings can be glad that they won't have to play a Sunday night game in the playoffs. NFC looks pretty open to me -- any of the Saints, Vikings, Cowboys or Eagles could probably be champs, and perhaps throw Arizona into the mix if they can play to their potential (a la last year's Super Bowl run and this year's Vikings game). AFC seems like it will be a two-horse race between the Colts and Chargers (who have handled the Colts in recent history).
posted by holden at 10:33 AM on December 21, 2009
yea, I'll pile on the "don't pin that game on Farve express".
With the numerous dropped passes in key situations, a lack-luster defense, a surprisingly porous offensive line, missed field goal, etc., it's hard to blame this loss on #4.
Now, if the Vikes can't turn it around next week in Chicago, I'll start to worry, but for now I'm just fine with where they are.
posted by dviking at 10:54 AM on December 21, 2009
As a Bears fan I hate saying this . But if the Vikes can't beat Chicago, they should automatically be diisqualified from the post season.
And Favre should immediately announce his retirement.
Although It would be smart to play Favre in a limited capacity the rest of the way, IMO. Give the backups some work - just in case.
They could win vs Chi with either of the backups playing. As long as the defense holds on the int's Cutler throws to their Def. backs
posted by Underdog at 12:18 PM on December 21, 2009
Padraig Harrington: "I just thought he was... playing video games. I thought his life was quite boring."
Clip from Padriag's appearance on The Late Late Show last night. Full report on the interview here, including: "No. I don't have sympathy. You choose your own path."
posted by JJ at 12:56 PM on December 21, 2009
Interesting article on Childress' attempted benching of Favre during last night's game here.
Not that such a situation necessarily means that Favre was more at fault for the loss than folks here think he was. The points made in defense of Favre at SpoFi are well taken.
But at the very least, it seconds the conclusion that you can draw from the comments made here, which is that the Vikes did not appear to enter last night's game as a well-prepared, well-coached team. I can't tell if the coaching staff is in charge of that team or not.
posted by beaverboard at 01:38 PM on December 21, 2009
I went to the Cardinals/Lions game yesterday and I wasn't very impressed with the Cardinals. Kurt Warner doesn't seem to be playing all that well which could be bad news. Beanie Wells is good, but I don't think he is good enough yet to carry the team if Warner is struggling.
Their rush defense wasn't so hot either, giving up over 100 yards to Maurice Morris isn't part of a stellar resume.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 01:50 PM on December 21, 2009
That Vikings game was absolutely inexcusable. Losing to a 5-8 team with a backup QB, running back, and defensive tackle is pathetic. Indefensibly, Childress didn't have the team ready to play and didn't make any adjustments at halftime. The offensive line couldn't pass block and couldn't run block. The defense couldn't tackle. Julius Peppers was great and no one could block him. Hmmm, maybe a double-team? What sense would that make?
Right now I have no confidence the Vikings will beat the Bears. Let's see: a night road game in cold weather against a sub-.500 opponent. They'll lose, just like last night. They'll probably lose the #2 seed to the Eagles, then lost their first-round game.
Losing to the Cardinals was one thing. At least they were in the Super Bowl last year. Losing to the Panthers when the Panthers just got eliminated from the playoffs is disgraceful. You absolutely can't lose a game in this manner at this stage in the season and expect to have any success in the playoffs.
posted by kirkaracha at 01:54 PM on December 21, 2009
Beanie Wells is good, but I don't think he is good enough yet to carry the team if Warner is struggling.
Beanie was at least good enough yeaterday to carry the Lions though. Check out this clip at 3:45
posted by BornIcon at 02:11 PM on December 21, 2009
They'll probably lose the #2 seed to the Eagles, then lost their first-round game.
Remember Bill Parcells' adage that you're never as bad as you look in a loss and never as good as you look in a win. I think you're over-rating the Bears and I think the Vikings will make some noise in the playoffs. It's been my contention that Childress is an idiot, but some of that is my Patriots bias. Even if I'm right, that Vikings team could make the NFC Championship with a moron at the controls.
posted by yerfatma at 02:14 PM on December 21, 2009
For all of you with a few pennies lying fallow, here is an article evaluating hockey-related stocks for investment. No get-rich-quick stuff here, sadly.
posted by Howard_T at 02:16 PM on December 21, 2009
Former Cleveland Browns G.M. George Kokinis has filed an arbitration claim against the team.
posted by BornIcon at 03:40 PM on December 21, 2009
Beanie was at least good enough yeaterday to carry the Lions though. Check out this clip at 3:45
Trust me I saw it. But it is also the Lions. They are atrocious tackling so any sort of a power back runs all over them.
posted by Ying Yang Mafia at 04:21 PM on December 21, 2009
Griffin: Best of the '00s: Expos' unforgettable adieu : Just because I like seeing the words Montreal Expos on SportsFilter.
posted by tommybiden at 05:47 PM on December 21, 2009
They are atrocious tackling so any sort of a power back runs all over them.
I think you mean "person on 1 1/2 good legs" instead of "power back"...
posted by MeatSaber at 07:19 PM on December 21, 2009
What is wrong with Peterson? That overrated, or that pedestrian? Or is that asking the same thing?
posted by graymatters at 08:34 PM on December 21, 2009
What is wrong with Peterson?
Their offensive line makes it almost impossible not to meet a defender before the line of scrimmage. He's not had a lot to work with.
posted by dfleming at 09:54 PM on December 21, 2009
Well, it's December, and the Favre Express is probably right where some folks thought it would be at this time.