Vikings @ Packers Game Day Discussion Thread -- Week 5

[yezzir]

You want the guy who knows the playbook. Harnish doesn't.

LEAFMAN THE PURPLE FAN

I know......I know.

Perhaps it's just my disdain for Ponder.

[Leafman]

So much for the smoke and mirrors theory (just didn't add up IMO). Zimmer appears to be a straight forward no nonsense type of guy and not the type of person who would play that game (but I could be wrong).

Well, the NFL network just reported that the coaches decided Tuesday night to start Ponder but told everyone to keep that on lockdown secret until this evening while they publicly expressed optimism about Teddy's progress for the balance of the week. Apparently, Teddy did not look good at all at practice on Tuesday.

On the flip side, they reported that the Vikings are very pleased with the progress of Teddy's injury and in fact had the game been on Sunday he would have started ... which is very positive news.

LEAFMAN THE PURPLE FAN

[mosscarter]

j kapp: i truly hope i'm dead wrong.

[MikethePurple]

It's super dope from what I have seen so far! At a sports bar called Sidelines right now. Beautiful weather so far you are right!


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Definitely check out breweries if you are into beer. There's tons of great local beer. Hope you like hops because this is the land of them:)

[yezzir]

Come on... enough of this sad sack, throw-in-the-towel attitude, Vikes fans! How many times today do I have to point out that the Vikes are 1-1-1 in their last 3 games against GB with Ponder starting, that they've scored more than 26 points in all 3, or that he has thrown 0 INTs in those contests and posted a passer rating over 100 in two of them? It's time to start thinking like this:
I hope he does just that.

By the way, that's just posted as a passionate Vikes fan, not as a directive from a moderator. Post whatever you feel but please keep it within board rules.

Who threw in the towel? Not me! He's bad, that's all. Hope he plays well.

[yezzir]

I'm interested to see if Norv Turner has managed to help Ponder.

Spot on. This game could tell us a lot about Musgrave as well.

[beardedterror]

Spot on. This game could tell us a lot about Musgrave as well.

I'm in the same boat. Ponder has said this whole season that he's learned a lot. We'll find out tonight.

[VikingsKid28]

Listen, I'm not big on Ponder either. Seriously guys, I thought we were Vikings fans? Yes, he's had way too many chances to be the guy we hoped him to be and he came up short, but just because he's starting tonight doesn't mean we still don't support our team. We're suppposed to support everyone who puts on that jersey. Anyway... Skol Vikes

[mossbutt]

Ponder could pull a rocket out of his ueckerism and throw a few pretty passes and before you know it Packers fans are sighing.

[frosted]

Definitely check out breweries if you are into beer. There's tons of great local beer. Hope you like hops because this is the land of them:)

Love them - had three different IPAs at that place and they were all fantastic!


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[PotGoblin]

ok time to get the drinks out I am gonna need it

[frosted]

All microbrews!


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[Leafman]

Definitely check out breweries if you are into beer. There's tons of great local beer. Hope you like hops because this is the land of them:)
Love them - had three different IPAs at that place and they were all fantastic!

+1.

Sessions is my favorite, but man there are a lot of great choices.

LEAFMAN THE PURPLE FAN

[John_Viveiros]

I think I'm on board with sitting Teddy tonight. I'm assuming he really was no better than questionable.

Imagine a healthy Bridgewater playing in Green Bay. The point spread of the game (9-10 points in favor of the Pack) indicate that the collective knowledge of the crowd expects the Packers to win - let's say - 70% of the time (I did a statistical analysis once - point spread vs. win percentage). With Ponder playing, maybe the Packers are favored 80% of the time. It's not worth the risk to Teddy for that kind of an edge. Yes, Teddy gives us a much better chance of winning (say 30 vs. 20 percent), but in the end, we're likely to lose either way.

I'd much rather sit him for another week, make sure he's good, and convert the Lions game at home from a game that Detroit has the advantage (with Ponder playing because Teddy got reinjured) to where the Vikings have an advantage (with Teddy playing well, like he has since the second preseason game). The Lions defense is tough. We need Teddy for that one. Ponder has a legit shot at winning this one for us: I sat that even though I'm one of his biggest detractors.

Even so, hey, it's a game we all had as a loss from the moment the schedule came out - Thursday prime time game on the road early in the season with a young team. Let's play well, and hope for limited injuries, and if it's a close loss, that's not a bad showing in the grand scheme of things.

[PacificNorseWest]

This was why keeping Ponder on the roster was a good move. I expect Ponder to play well. It'll be extremely wet, so they'll be running the ball. The defense has shown at times to fly around, gang tackle and be opportunistic. I think tonight will be stamped by Zimmer's MO and the defense comes up big.