Vikings @ Lions Noon

[hermes]

Big Game Again

can't let up against the lions, need to go in and take care of business and stay in the lead of the North
The Williams Wall is active for this game

and AP needs to carry this team on his back to the playoffs

and Daunte is starting for the lions, let him have it d-line

GO VIKINGS

[hermes]

well it wasn't pretty, which it usually isn't with the lions
but we got the win, which at this stage is all you can ask for

we needed this bad, and now we're still in first

defense played ok

but we got banged up big time in this game, Gus is a big one

bug Tavarias Jackson came in and won the game for us, which i thought was very refreshing
the first drive was huge runs, but jackson made some good throws, and won the game

shiancoe has come on this year, he's a good player now that he can catch the ball

now a lot of hoping is involved
-AP to continue to carry us
-US Justice system to continue to slow down suspension process
- Gus to get back and quit making mistakes, or..
- Tavarias to continue to play like he did today

which brings up an interesting ordeal, if Gus gets healthy, which qb do they choose?

[Worm Guts]

Gus is still the QB if he's healthy but I think we're on the brink of a full blown QB controversy.

I thought the decision to kick that last field goal was very questionable, I think you have to punt in that situation, but it worked out.

[gjn19]

inside a dome, it's a good decision to let longwell kick the last one. he's very accurate in this range and in a dome. outside, they wouldn't have kicked. good decision.

it was an awfull game, not easy to win, but they did it somehow...those 4th down stops were huge again (and kind of stupid that the lions tried them...but hey, we take it).

t-jack came in and was surprisingly sharp...without being nervous. he was ready when we needed him, had some nice throws (some bad ones), but didn't loose it for us.

gus is still our QB when healthy, and i hope he'll be ready next week against AZ. it'll be a tough game: their strenght is our weakness. we need to tough it up on the pass rush, otherwise we are toast. Not that they are unbeatable (i think they're record is better than they really are), but they sure can pass and catch the ball.

winning 2 of the last 3 assures us the play-offs. 1 would be enough IF chicago looses one.

[Worm Guts]

inside a dome, it's a good decision to let longwell kick the last one. he's very accurate in this range and in a dome. outside, they wouldn't have kicked. good decision.

Longwell has been incredibly accurate from long distances this year, but normally I'd say a 50 yard field goal is about a 50/50 shot (even in a dome) and if the Vikings miss, the Lions get the ball at the 40 with 22 seconds left. If the Vikings punt, the Lions get the ball at best at the 20 with about 20 seconds left. I definitely punt in that situation.

[deeney0]

Even with the Vikings horrible punt coverage this year? I wouldn't count on anything but a boot real close to the endzone/out of bounds. I say there's at least a 50% chance of a touchback, and the ball was on the 32. So a punt nets you 12 yards. I'd say the two options were FG and going for it on 4th and 11. Do your best to waste as much clock on the play as possible and don't do anything stupid.

[Worm Guts]

Even with the Vikings horrible punt coverage this year? I wouldn't count on anything but a boot real close to the endzone/out of bounds. I say there's at least a 50% chance of a touchback, and the ball was on the 32. So a punt nets you 12 yards. I'd say the two options were FG and going for it on 4th and 11. Do your best to waste as much clock on the play as possible and don't do anything stupid.

They aren't going to get a return when the punt team only has to get 20 yards down field. Even if the ball does go in the end zone, a 12 yard net is pretty huge when Detroit has 20 seconds and no timeouts. A punt is going to take more time than any play they could run.

[gjn19]

Worm Guts, on outside weather with some wind, I agree with you, but longwell+dome+50yards is more than 50 percent...alot more.

but let's assume, for arguments, that it was 50 percent, you still take the try. if we would have missed, the lions would have needed 30 yards in 20 seconds to get themselve a 50/50 chance. and with our defense, them getting those 30 yards is probabably 50/50 too...which accumulates to 25%...well below 50% which you had in the first place for the field goal. a punt would have put the cats to a position to need 40-50 yards...again 30 or 50 yards in 20 seconds is NOT enough difference.

Any if you take the 50% and do it, the lions need to go the whole distance, instead of 'just' going for the field goal...now that's a HUGE difference.

if it would have been the colts, the math would be different, but it was good as it was called.

on to next week. if we win and the bears loose, we have clinched the division.

[Worm Guts]

20 yards is an extra play, which is huge when there probably was only 3 left in the game. If you punt, the Lions have to do everything perfectly to win the game. If Longwell misses the field goal, the Lions get 3 shots to go 20 yards and have an opportunity to win the game. I definitely punt.
Just for the record, Longwell is 19-33 from 50+ in his career and 11-18 indoors.

[gjn19]

that's 61%. pretty darn good.

the huge difference is between them needing a field goal, and them needing a touchdown...which is about 30 to 35 yards...but i stop now.

we can't get on the same page on this one, i assume; and it's a minor point anyway.

so let's just discuss that people are now shouting for t-jack to start next sunday, given, after a good performance (not stellar, as most saw it...he still had this jump-throws and one bad giver to AD). how crazy is that?

or who the hell can stop those crazy recievers of the cards? two of the best in the game. griffin and winfield will get picked on.

or how about chicago loosing to NO? NO is still fighting for the PO's...and are a better team than the bears, imo.

or how about napo playing great for e.j.?

so much silence on this board....but people still prefer to discuss why it was right to fire wittman?

crazy board.s

[hermes]

link
haha
its janet jackson all over again!

[Worm Guts]

that's 61%. pretty darn good.

the huge difference is between them needing a field goal, and them needing a touchdown...which is about 30 to 35 yards...but i stop now.

we can't get on the same page on this one, i assume; and it's a minor point anyway.

You don't have to stop. It is only minor point, but it's an interesting topic on strategy. At least I think it's interesting

so let's just discuss that people are now shouting for t-jack to start next sunday, given, after a good performance (not stellar, as most saw it...he still had this jump-throws and one bad giver to AD). how crazy is that?

I understand it. Gus kills us with his lack of mobility and makes alot of the same boneheaded decisions that T-Jack makes. The key with Gus is that he'll hit on a few big plays per game, if T-Jack can figure that out, I'd rather go with him.

or who the hell can stop those crazy recievers of the cards? two of the best in the game. griffin and winfield will get picked on.

Our corners won't be able to match up with their receivers. The key is getting to Warner, if he can stand in the pocket he has the accuracy to tear us apart. If we get pressure, he's statuesque and has a tendency to fumble.

or how about chicago loosing to NO? NO is still fighting for the PO's...and are a better team than the bears, imo.

New Orleans is terrible on the road (1-5) and a cold Chicago is a big home field advantage. Of course, Chicago is terrible against the pass and Drew Brees can pick anyone apart.