Good to see the Vikings take a knee to see the game out by getting the key first down rather than punting and relying on the defence to get the stop.
Oof. My opponent scored 147 points and still has a player to go. Fair play, he had a great week. My search for my maiden championship goes on. Who will win one first, me or the Vikings?
So the lions game is the Sunday night game, so my plan is to watch it while at work on Monday morning, just need to avoid spoilers.
Teams expected to check in on JJ McCarthy apparently. I would not be opposed to signing Darnold to a long term deal and trading JJ TBH. The stock of the QB's in the 2025 draft has fallen so Vikings may get an offer they can't refuse (i.e. a 1st rounder and a day 2 or 3 pick). A high 1st round pick would be huge - could get good help for the O Line with that.
I can't remember a time where the Vikings have been in such a strong position with their QB's. I know KOC was confident in Darnold before the season started but even he surely couldn't have foreseen what he's done this season - a borderline MVP candidate season (he won't get many votes, if at all due to Allen, Jackson, Barkley, Goff). He should get some votes IMO, he's led the Vikings to the verge of the number 1 seed when everyone predicted the Vikings would get 6 or 7 wins.
Definitely worth exploring what they can get. I’d be very surprised if it was a first rounder, but as you say the QB class looks weak this year so teams may get desperate. Vikings aren’t exactly desperate to get rid of McCarthy either so should be in a pretty strong position when it comes to negotiating. I’m not really sure what I’m in favour of doing. I wasn’t particularly high on McCarthy coming out of the draft, but given how Darnold has played you could make an argument (which lots of people did last year) that the Vikings is a great situation for any QB to perform. Good tackles, solid running back and some top end receivers and a head coach who is known for his QB coaching. Do you pay Darnold the amount people are talking about, or let him walk and think McCarthy on a much cheaper deal can step in and the drop off won’t be too bad/at all? Especially when you consider that you can use the money you’d save on Darnold elsewhere on the team. Anyway it will be interesting what they do. My feeling is they pay Darnold and likely keep McCarthy but we’ll see. The Jones signing was insurance I think for if Darnold wants too much money. I can see there being interest in him from a QB needy team, but obviously for a low draft pick
The franchise tag is also in play for Darnold. If the Vikings still believe JJ is the long term future then they can tag Darnold, he can raise his profile even more while getting paid what he deserves (the tag is around $40mill I think) then hit FA next offseason and really get paid. Either way I think Darnold is our QB next year. Too big a risk to go with McCarthy I think.
Talking of Sam, I see he's been voted to the Pro Bowl. The flag football is dull but it's slightly less dull when your team's quarterback is playing
With no Vikings game this evening, watching the falcons v the Panthers. Decided to put it on as most of the other games seemed like a very good team vs a very bad team and therefore probably likely to be one sided. Pretty good game actually, currently 24-24.
At least the Patriots won to make me some money, laid them being number 1 pick at the start of the season Vikings to lose tonight then be eliminated in the wildcard nailed on. Would’ve been fitting if it was after playing Cousins Falcons but not to be.
If we are to lose tonight I hope the Rams beat Seattle. Bucs are nothing special and Vikings will beat them. Rams are more dangerous.
Got up early to watch the re-run. Had so many chances to score TD's and failed. Can't do that against Detroit. Vikings were well in the game until the 4th quarter so the score doesn't really reflect how close the game was for a long time. Credit to their DC, their red zone defence was flawless. If AVG had managed to hold on to that INT at 17-9 it would have been a pick six and a different game.
Just watched the game, Kevin O’Connell is an idiot, should’ve been out of sight by mid 3rd quarter with the opportunities. If you’re going to go for it on 4th down when you are on the 3 yard line, then run it on 3rd down. Much better chance of getting a TD on 3rd down than throwing it Anyway always likely they would lose as the Lions are miles better, this team always felt like a 1 and done in the playoffs
