Its been 3 1/2 days since the Vikings got beat down like a red headed step child in Cinci, and I think my emotions and willingness to back this team is finally starting to get back. With that, here is my prediction for this Sunday's game against the Saints. Saints Should Be Tired This is the third week in a row that the Saints are on the road. Traditionally teams that play three weeks in a row on the road do not fair so well. Add to this the fact that they don't have any home to go to in between games and the road will definitely be taking its toll on this team. The Saints are also coming off of a short week in which they played a 'home' game in New York. Although the Vikings look like a team in which you just need to show up to win, any resistence they offer could quickly snowball against the Saints. Saints are Not Happy Although they are not pubicly discussing their displeasure with having a home game taken away against the Giants, the players are mad, as well as the coaches. Obviously their anger did not help them Monday night against the Giants, but it could help them this week if they are able to focus that anger. The hurricane disaster and the fact that they lost a home game are all working to make the Saints an underdog this season. Athletes tend to thrive off of being an underdog, which could definitely help the saints this week. Vikings Held a Players-Only Meeting The fans are not the only people who are pissed at the Vikings performance, the players are as well. There has been a lot of talk about the off-season acquisitions that the Vikings made. Although the talent has not translated to the field yet, hopefully the maturity is starting to come through the locker room. Players held a players-only meeting to talk about the problems the team was having. The idea behind this meeting is that the players are not playing as a team, but as an individual. Encouragement needs to be given, and criticism needs to be given. I like the fact that the players had this meeting. It is extra work on their part, and it shows their dedication to turning things around. An Absolute Must Win Game for Vikings The players are talking about this game as if it is week 15 and they are on the verge of the playoffs. This is a must win game for the Vikings. Next week they face the Falcons, a game that will be much more difficult to win if they don't overcome their problems this week. There are changes being made in the play calling. Steve Loney, who is currently calling the plays, will be moved up to the booth so he can see the field better and help adjust to the defenses. This will also allow Tice to filter all of the plays and disagree with the play if he chooses to do so. Although I lack confidence in Tice, he still has more play calling experience than Loney does and should be a nominal upgrade here. It All Rests on Culpepper Culpepper is the heart of this team. His biggest problem is that when things go wrong, he tries to do too much. He had this problem in 2002 when he was benched for a game due to throwing too many intereceptions. Fortunately he has overcome this problem in the past and should have the ability to overcome this problem again. Culpepper is traditionally one of the most accurate passers in the NFL with a high completion % and the ability to spread the ball around better than most QBs in the league. If he starts to relax and is willing to run the ball a little more when presented with the opportunity, he should quickly find that 'Jedi' state that he referred to in the preseason. Receivers are Still Strong Burleson will be out this week, which may be a good thing. Since he has been the #1 guy, he has not played nearly as well as he has in the past. Much of this is probably due to him trying too much to be the #1 guy. This week Travis Taylor will be the #1 receiver. Troy Williamson has shown a lot of ability in the few plays he has had, and Robinson is still a good receiver. Koren Robinson will also get on the field this week which will help our depth. With Burleson out, 3 of the 4 receivers on the field are former 1st round draft picks. This is a talented group that just needs Culpepper to start playing like Culpepper again. So Who Wins? Because the Vikings still have a lot of talent, and because the Saints have been on the road as long as they have, the edge has to go to the Vikings this week. This will not be a close game. If the Vikings start having problem early, look for them to repeat last week's loss. If they are able to start clicking on both offense and defense, they should be able to bury the exhausted Saints and show the league that the first two weeks were an abberation.
Vikings better win. With the Pack down as well that only leaves my AFC team that is I root for when they don't play those 2. The Ravens!! O wait. Yikes!! And you all wonder why I have been so crabby lately.
I think the saints take their anger that they have been spewying on the media out on the vikes... and im sorry, ik the bengals d isnt that good, so when i saw last week, i have to think the saints can beat them
VF ... just curious. Who calls and leads the player-only meetings? I assume Culpepper is one, but wonder who the other locker-room leaders were.
I would have to say Minnesota wins. The Vikings aren't in as bad as shape as most think. They lost to 2 teams who'll probably contend to for the playoffs. I had them at 1-1 at this point thinking Tampa would be a close game and it was ugly for the Vikes. I have to think the Vikes will win this game. New Orleans is on short rest and Rita is hitting. Minny needs this. It's setup for the Vikings to win. I think they get it done and Culpepper makes a ultimate turn around this week facing a weak Saint secondary. Vikings 28 Saints 17
yea i think vikings when this one to and i think there D will show improvement but we will have to see.
Good win Vikings!! I still think this is the best team in the divsion and they finally got rolling today.
The Vikings really needed this win. Culpepper is back on track and it looks like the team is pulling it together. Hopefully they can keep it together, they don't need a repeat of their first 2 games unless its next week against the Falcons.
Next week will be very important for this team. The Falcons are a great test for them...hopefully everything will be clicking.
Congrats. I'm still a little sour.................................i have been since the opening kickoff. What luck huh??? Two games in a row. F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm cool, i'm cool *throws computer screen*
<div class='quotetop'>QUOTE (Bleedblk&gld)</div><div class='quotemain'>Congrats. I'm still a little sour.................................i have been since the opening kickoff. What luck huh??? Two games in a row. F*CK!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! i'm cool, i'm cool *throws computer screen*</div> Yeah, you're guys are playing like they've been on the road without a home for three weeks. Oh wait...
