Vikes/Bears post-game thoughts

[Mothman]

Please pardon any typos... I typed this in a hurry!

I know Thanksgiving was weeks ago but I'm thankful that Devin Hester has hands of stone and that Alshon Jeffery (sp?) dropped a TD pass. That game might have turned out differently otherwise...

Kudos to Frazier for having his team prepared to play and to the whole team for bringing an intensity the Bears never quite seemed to match. The defense couldn't stop Brandon Marshall (WHY was Robinson singled up on him when Marshall scored that TD in the 4th quarter?) but they came up with turnovers and big plays and, along with another great effort from Adrian Peterson, did enough to get the Vikes their 7th win.

I thought Jared Allen had a strong game. he was really giving the Bears all they could handle. the whole d-line played well.

It was great to see Smith and Robinson make those two INTs and aggressively return them. The Vikes need more of that.

It seems to me that Brinkley played a strong game as well.

What more can be said about Peterson? He led the team from the start today, opening the game with a huge run that energized the crowd and (I'm guessing) his teammates. He was excellent and the players blocking for him deserve plenty of credit as well. The Vikes did some effective running against 8+ man fronts and a defense that was doing everything they could to contain Peterson.

The offense was obviously very run-heavy. I don't know how much of that was due to the early lead (which they never relinquished), how much had to do with field position and the success they had running early, and how much was a decision to limit their reliance on Ponder and the receivers. It was probably a combination of factors. The Vikes had some protection issues today and that might have factored into the playcalling as well. Whatever their reasons, Ponder, the WRs and the TEs weren't asked to do much today. For the most part, I thought Ponder did a nice job of executing what little they asked him to do. I thought he made two very poor choices. The first was when he tried to throw the ball away at the last second while being sacked. He was lucky that didn't end up being called a fumble or intentional grounding. The second mistake was the INT, which was a poor choice and another throw off his back foot with insufficient follow-through. It was also another INTt inside of the two minute mark in the first half. how many picks as he thrown late in the first half this season? It seems like 4 or 5.

Ponder did some good things too. He zipped a very nice pass to Jenkins to convert a first down (Jenkins made a nice grab on it too). He made a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw to Wright and he made a couple of other key throws that helped extend drives. I really liked what he did on the deep throw to Aromashodu and it's a shame that didn't end in a TD. Ponder evaded, pressure, stepped up in the pocket, set his feet and threw a nice deep pass, right on target. Unfortunately, it seemed like Tillman distracted Aromashodu enough to prevent the catch.

In the end, nobody in the passing game was asked to do much more than occasionally remind the Bears that the Vikes wouldn't run on every down and today, that was enough. In the next 3 games, I think they'll need more if they're going to win.

Sanford made a great play on special teams to pin the Bears back inside their 5 and Ballard;s fumble recovery was huge, even if he didn't get to hang onto those return yards.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the win and the opportunity it creates for the Vikes to finish with a winning record against divisional opponents. As a team, they're exceeding my expectations this season.

[yezzir]

Please pardon any typos... I typed this in a hurry!

I know Thanksgiving was weeks ago but I'm thankful that Devin Hester has hands of stone and that Alshon Jeffery (sp?) dropped a TD pass. That game might have turned out differently otherwise...

Kudos to Frazier for having his team prepared to play and to the whole team for bringing an intensity the Bears never quite seemed to match. The defense couldn't stop Brandon Marshall (WHY was Robinson singled up on him when Marshall scored that TD in the 4th quarter?) but they came up with turnovers and big plays and, along with another great effort from Adrian Peterson, did enough to get the Vikes their 7th win.

I thought Jared Allen had a strong game. he was really giving the Bears all they could handle. the whole d-line played well.

It was great to see Smith and Robinson make those two INTs and aggressively return them. The Vikes need more of that.

It seems to me that Brinkley played a strong game as well.

What more can be said about Peterson? He led the team from the start today, opening the game with a huge run that energized the crowd and (I'm guessing) his teammates. He was excellent and the players blocking for him deserve plenty of credit as well. The Vikes did some effective running against 8+ man fronts and a defense that was doing everything they could to contain Peterson.

The offense was obviously very run-heavy. I don't know how much of that was due to the early lead (which they never relinquished), how much had to do with field position and the success they had running early, and how much was a decision to limit their reliance on Ponder and the receivers. It was probably a combination of factors. The Vikes had some protection issues today and that might have factored into the playcalling as well. Whatever their reasons, Ponder, the WRs and the TEs weren't asked to do much today. For the most part, I thought Ponder did a nice job of executing what little they asked him to do. I thought he made two very poor choices. The first was when he tried to throw the ball away at the last second while being sacked. He was lucky that didn't end up being called a fumble or intentional grounding. The second mistake was the INT, which was a poor choice and another throw off his back foot with insufficient follow-through. It was also another INTt inside of the two minute mark in the first half. how many picks as he thrown late in the first half this season? It seems like 4 or 5.

Ponder did some good things too. He zipped a very nice pass to Jenkins to convert a first down (Jenkins made a nice grab on it too). He made a beautiful over-the-shoulder throw to Wright and he made a couple of other key throws that helped extend drives. I really liked what he did on the deep throw to Aromashodu and it's a shame that didn't end in a TD. Ponder evaded, pressure, stepped up in the pocket, set his feet and threw a nice deep pass, right on target. Unfortunately, it seemed like Tillman distracted Aromashodu enough to prevent the catch.

In the end, nobody in the passing game was asked to do much more than occasionally remind the Bears that the Vikes wouldn't run on every down and today, that was enough. In the next 3 games, I think they'll need more if they're going to win.

Sanford made a great play on special teams to pin the Bears back inside their 5 and Ballard;s fumble recovery was huge, even if he didn't get to hang onto those return yards.

Overall, I'm thrilled with the win and the opportunity it creates for the Vikes to finish with a winning record against divisional opponents. As a team, they're exceeding my expectations this season.

Didn't see you post during the game. Thought you may have been in a ditch somewhere.

Great analysis.

[Mothman]

see you post during the game. Thought you may have been in a ditch somewhere.

Great analysis.

Thanks.

I usually don't post much during the game if it's on TV here. I just watch. A lot of times I'm just listening to the game on Sundays so I post then and watch the game on NFL.com during the week.

[yezzir]

Thanks.

I usually don't post much during the game if it's on TV here. I just watch. A lot of times I'm just listening to the game on Sundays so I post then and watch the game on NFL.com during the week.

Crap! I forgot you live in Chicago. Glad you could see it.

[tmscr]

you summed it up pretty well. defense and special teams carried the load today. unfortunately, the "good" things ponder did today would be mere footnotes for most other QBs. i would have liked to see the vikings be a bit more agressive today with ponder considering they led for the entire game. i think the approach was too conservative and the vikings were very fortunate generate 14 points on defense.

[Mothman]

Crap! I forgot you live in Chicago. Glad you could see it.

I am too!

[yezzir]

you summed it up pretty well. defense and special teams carried the load today. unfortunately, the "good" things ponder did today would be mere footnotes for most other QBs. i would have liked to see the vikings be a bit more agressive today with ponder considering they led for the entire game. i think the approach was too conservative and the vikings were very fortunate generate 14 points on defense.

Yea. I feel conservative QB play was the way to win the game. Hope the defense plays well and let AD rip the field. The most productive passes were quick fire shots over the middle that didn't allow Ponder to think too much.

[tmscr]

Yea. I feel feel conservative QB play was the way to win the game. The most productive passes were quick fire shots over the middle, which didn't allow Ponder to think too much and run for his life to the sidelines.

i agree, you certainly don't want ponder to make a costly mistake that could cost you the lead. however, if he is ever going to be the man for the vikings, the training wheels have to be removed and if he can't hack it, well you know what happens. most teams can't sit on a 14 point lead for 55 minutes

[Mothman]

you summed it up pretty well. defense and special teams carried the load today. unfortunately, the "good" things ponder did today would be mere footnotes for most other QBs. i would have liked to see the vikings be a bit more agressive today with ponder considering they led for the entire game. i think the approach was too conservative and the vikings were very fortunate generate 14 points on defense.

I think those points were one of the reasons they didn't ask more of Ponder. We saw the same approach at Detroit earlier this season. It's conservative but especially at this point in the season, I can't blame Frazier for playing it that way. It could have cost them (almost did) but they got the win and I think we can all understand why Frazier preferred to put the game in the hands of his superstar RB and the defense rather than his struggling QB and a crew of receivers that don't exactly scare opponents.

When the Vikings have a better passing game (hopefully next year), I hope they'll be less conservative. For now, I understand...especially because in this offense, with Harvin out, the most likely source of a big play is Peterson.

[yezzir]

i agree, you certainly don't want ponder to make a costly mistake that could cost you the lead. however, if he is ever going to be the man for the vikings, the training wheels have to be removed and if he can't hack it, well you know what happens. most teams can't sit on a 14 point lead for 55 minutes

Yep good point. But where do you draw the line when you're in a playoff hunt?

[soflavike]

Yes, it seems that our best offensive strategy is "hide the quarterback's lack of talent". Although Ponder made a few good throws today, he is still a liability in the grand scheme of things.

[PurpleKoolaid]

AD good, rest of the O pretty bad.
The D won the game for us, got a few INTs.
The Bears and Cutler looked real bad.

[yezzir]

AD good, rest of the O pretty bad.
The D won the game for us, got a few INTs.
The Bears and Cutler looked real bad.

Yea. This game was won by our D and our AD.

[tmscr]

i'm not sure how much it matters. of course i'd like to see us in the postseason, obviously. but you can't hide a QB in the playoffs unless your other parts are historically strong (i/e the '00 Ravens defense). try throwing for less than 100 yards in january. no chance

[CalVike]

I am very happy with the win, the excellence of AD, and the defensive INTs that allowed the Vikes to win today in the absence of any offensive points other than the short 5.5 yard drive after the very first drive of the game. But I worry that this team is setting up for another heartbreaker. Many on this Board don't think this season was ever about anything other than rebuilding, but I think it was always about making the playoffs for those in the know. Zygi Wilf reportedly addressed the team on Friday for the first time all season, which indicates everything is on the line. I also honestly believe the decision makers on the team believe Ponder gives the team a good chance to win every week, far better than any other QB on the roster. Who am I to argue? They are 3-2 in the division. They have improved the team dramatically over last year. They may make a legitimate playoff run from 7-6. Both Spielman and Frazier have earned contract extensions after the season. But I cannot see how a QB, even one being asked to do very little, can lead a legitimate playoff run when he throws for 91 yards and leads only one scoring drive. Misfiring on the TD to Wright on the bomb is a disaster for any team, apparently except ours. It is notable that Cutler did not play particularly well, did not play the whole game, had WRs with the dropsies, completed only 50% of his passes, had a generally lousy game missing open WRs at times, threw two horrible INTs, and threw for 260 yards, almost three times Ponder. I cannot accept a QB who managed the game like Ponder today as acceptable on any level.