[OC] Vikings at Eagles Strat-O-Matic Simulation
Welcome back to another round of Strat-O-Matic football, where I'll be simulating the rematch of the Vikings-Eagles NFC Championship game!
Before we get to the summary of the game, I'm having a special feature to start this game. I gave a special opportunity to one of those rubes out there to call their own plays - the first two drives of this game will be called by honorary offensive coordinator Reignman! Let's see how it goes!
Well, there you go! Reignman's pass-happy gameplan worked for the first drive, although Cousins threw short of the sticks on 3rd down, which I'm sure infuriated him. Thankfully I wasn't going to let the Vikings punt there and Rudolph got to play the role of the hero. The 37 yard TD pass was actually caught 10 yards out, but the Eagles defense completely failed to cover/tackle him and he was able to cash it in for the TD.
Unfortunately Reignman's love for throwing the ball downfield strategy ended with a pick on the very first play of the next drive, and the Eagles would take a 10-7 lead thanks to Cousins' bad throw.
Alright, now let's see how the entire game went:
GAME SUMMARY
Q1
12:05 MIN 37 yard TD pass Cousins to Rudolph (MIN 7-0).
8:33 PHI 22 yard TD run HB Smallwood (7-7).
8:17 MIN Cousins intercepted by CB Darby.
5:40 PHI 51 yard FG is good. (PHI 10-7)
4:50 MIN punt.
4:29 MIN recovers fumble by HB Smallwood.
3:48 MIN 48 yard FG is good (10-10).
3:03 PHI punt.
2:27 MIN Cousins intercepted by CB S. Jones, returned for a TD (PHI 17-10).
Q2
14:22 MIN 6 yard TD pass Cousins to Thielen (17-17).
13:58 PHI punt.
11:32 MIN 47 yard FG is no good.
8:26 PHI 43 yard FG is good (PHI 20-17).
3:06 MIN 4 yard TD pass Cousins to Thielen (ex. point is no good) (MIN 23-20).
1:33 PHI 39 yard TD pass Wentz to Agholor (PHI 27-23).
0:55 MIN punt.
0:02 PHI 30 yard FG is good... wait, holding penalty. 40 yard FG is no good!
Q3
12:33 PHI punt.
8:25 MIN 43 yard FG is good. (PHI 27-26)
[MIN LB Kendricks injured, return probable]
4:39 PHI 15 yard TD pass Wentz to Ajayi (PHI 34-26).
3:27 MIN punt.
0:58 PHI 44 yard FG is good (PHI 37-26).
Q4
14:35 MIN punt.
11:10 PHI 29 yard FG is good (PHI 40-26).
7:39 MIN 8 yard TD pass Cousins to Diggs (PHI 40-33).
5:32 PHI punt.
2:53 MIN 4 yard TD run HB Murray (40-40).
1:35 PHI punt.
0:06 MIN 45 yard FG is blocked!
OT
7:32 PHI punt.
6:08 MIN punt.
5:15 PHI punt.
3:51 MIN punt.
0:00 PHI 34 yard FG is good... wait, another hold! 44 yard FG is good. (Final PHI 43, MIN 40 OT)
BOX SCORE
(other notes: Eagles HB Clement and HB Cook were assumed to be out with injuries. Eagles had 9 penalties and Vikings had 5.)
Once again, I'm left having to make excuses. First off, my Strat-O-Matic games average about 26 points per team or around 50 points combined per game. Today we 83 and nearly 1,000 yards passing, and I can tell that in around 100-200 games I have simulated, I've never had a 500 yard passer. And of course, the game somehow knows who the Vikings are. Of course the Vikings miss a winning FG and two other kicks! I set both teams to "below average pass defense" and all hell broke loose (there are also "poor" and "very poor" ratings that would have lead to even more yards!).
After Cousins' two interceptions in the first quarter, he was nearly perfect from then on. He did get strip-sacked in overtime, but there were only 3 sacks in an insane 71 dropbacks. With the Eagles having the best run defense in football, I mostly kept the ball out of Boone's and Murray's hands. Roc Thomas fumbled the ball the first carry he got, so I immediately placed him back on the bench. Diggs and Thielen were about what you'd expect, but each had one drop on key plays. The Eagles could not contain Rudolph as he added a 50 yard catch near the end of regulation... I wish he could play like that in real life. Treadwell also is much better on paper than in real life.
Meanwhile, the Vikings' defense was as atrocious as it looked on paper. Sure, they actually stopped the run and forced a fumble (who knew they could do that?), but they managed one sack on 58 Wentz dropbacks... and Weatherly's sack came with 2:10 left in OT!! That's 68 minutes with a single sack! The pass defense was about the same as it was against the Rams - even mediocre WRs like Jordan Matthews got huge plays with no effort. Nelson Agholor dropped two passes but still dominated the secondary. The Vikings dropped an interception, because of course they would.
But, in the end, Bailey missed 2 FGs, one being a game winner, and Jake Elliott hit his, though those holding penalties on two of the kicks (!!) made things more dramatic. That's some crazy stuff right there.
I'm sorry for the third straight simulation I couldn't get the Vikings a win... but this'd make an exciting game in real life, wouldn't you think? Any thoughts from you guys?
Is there anyone out there who would like a crack at being the offensive coordinator for a few drives? Funkytown ?
Before we get to the summary of the game, I'm having a special feature to start this game. I gave a special opportunity to one of those rubes out there to call their own plays - the first two drives of this game will be called by honorary offensive coordinator Reignman! Let's see how it goes!
Q1 Drive 1
(opening drive from the 24 yard line)
1:10 - Deep pass to Diggs incomplete
2:10 - 12 yard pass completed to Rudolph
1:10 - 11 yard pass completed to Thielen
1:10 - 2 yard run by Murray
2:8 - Short pass to Rudolph incomplete
3:8 - 6 yard pass completed to Diggs
4:2 - 8 yard pass completed to Rudolph
1:10 - 37 yard pass completed to Rudolph, Touchdown!! (MIN 7-0)
Q1 Drive 2
1:10 - Cousins pass deep to Thielen is intercepted by Ronald Darby.
(opening drive from the 24 yard line)
1:10 - Deep pass to Diggs incomplete
2:10 - 12 yard pass completed to Rudolph
1:10 - 11 yard pass completed to Thielen
1:10 - 2 yard run by Murray
2:8 - Short pass to Rudolph incomplete
3:8 - 6 yard pass completed to Diggs
4:2 - 8 yard pass completed to Rudolph
1:10 - 37 yard pass completed to Rudolph, Touchdown!! (MIN 7-0)
Q1 Drive 2
1:10 - Cousins pass deep to Thielen is intercepted by Ronald Darby.
Unfortunately Reignman's love for throwing the ball downfield strategy ended with a pick on the very first play of the next drive, and the Eagles would take a 10-7 lead thanks to Cousins' bad throw.
Alright, now let's see how the entire game went:
GAME SUMMARY
Q1
12:05 MIN 37 yard TD pass Cousins to Rudolph (MIN 7-0).
8:33 PHI 22 yard TD run HB Smallwood (7-7).
8:17 MIN Cousins intercepted by CB Darby.
5:40 PHI 51 yard FG is good. (PHI 10-7)
4:50 MIN punt.
4:29 MIN recovers fumble by HB Smallwood.
3:48 MIN 48 yard FG is good (10-10).
3:03 PHI punt.
2:27 MIN Cousins intercepted by CB S. Jones, returned for a TD (PHI 17-10).
Q2
14:22 MIN 6 yard TD pass Cousins to Thielen (17-17).
13:58 PHI punt.
11:32 MIN 47 yard FG is no good.
8:26 PHI 43 yard FG is good (PHI 20-17).
3:06 MIN 4 yard TD pass Cousins to Thielen (ex. point is no good) (MIN 23-20).
1:33 PHI 39 yard TD pass Wentz to Agholor (PHI 27-23).
0:55 MIN punt.
0:02 PHI 30 yard FG is good... wait, holding penalty. 40 yard FG is no good!
Q3
12:33 PHI punt.
8:25 MIN 43 yard FG is good. (PHI 27-26)
[MIN LB Kendricks injured, return probable]
4:39 PHI 15 yard TD pass Wentz to Ajayi (PHI 34-26).
3:27 MIN punt.
0:58 PHI 44 yard FG is good (PHI 37-26).
Q4
14:35 MIN punt.
11:10 PHI 29 yard FG is good (PHI 40-26).
7:39 MIN 8 yard TD pass Cousins to Diggs (PHI 40-33).
5:32 PHI punt.
2:53 MIN 4 yard TD run HB Murray (40-40).
1:35 PHI punt.
0:06 MIN 45 yard FG is blocked!
OT
7:32 PHI punt.
6:08 MIN punt.
5:15 PHI punt.
3:51 MIN punt.
0:00 PHI 34 yard FG is good... wait, another hold! 44 yard FG is good. (Final PHI 43, MIN 40 OT)
BOX SCORE
(other notes: Eagles HB Clement and HB Cook were assumed to be out with injuries. Eagles had 9 penalties and Vikings had 5.)
Once again, I'm left having to make excuses. First off, my Strat-O-Matic games average about 26 points per team or around 50 points combined per game. Today we 83 and nearly 1,000 yards passing, and I can tell that in around 100-200 games I have simulated, I've never had a 500 yard passer. And of course, the game somehow knows who the Vikings are. Of course the Vikings miss a winning FG and two other kicks! I set both teams to "below average pass defense" and all hell broke loose (there are also "poor" and "very poor" ratings that would have lead to even more yards!).
After Cousins' two interceptions in the first quarter, he was nearly perfect from then on. He did get strip-sacked in overtime, but there were only 3 sacks in an insane 71 dropbacks. With the Eagles having the best run defense in football, I mostly kept the ball out of Boone's and Murray's hands. Roc Thomas fumbled the ball the first carry he got, so I immediately placed him back on the bench. Diggs and Thielen were about what you'd expect, but each had one drop on key plays. The Eagles could not contain Rudolph as he added a 50 yard catch near the end of regulation... I wish he could play like that in real life. Treadwell also is much better on paper than in real life.
Meanwhile, the Vikings' defense was as atrocious as it looked on paper. Sure, they actually stopped the run and forced a fumble (who knew they could do that?), but they managed one sack on 58 Wentz dropbacks... and Weatherly's sack came with 2:10 left in OT!! That's 68 minutes with a single sack! The pass defense was about the same as it was against the Rams - even mediocre WRs like Jordan Matthews got huge plays with no effort. Nelson Agholor dropped two passes but still dominated the secondary. The Vikings dropped an interception, because of course they would.
But, in the end, Bailey missed 2 FGs, one being a game winner, and Jake Elliott hit his, though those holding penalties on two of the kicks (!!) made things more dramatic. That's some crazy stuff right there.
I'm sorry for the third straight simulation I couldn't get the Vikings a win... but this'd make an exciting game in real life, wouldn't you think? Any thoughts from you guys?
Is there anyone out there who would like a crack at being the offensive coordinator for a few drives? Funkytown ?
As crazy as it seems, it's not that far off from what we've been seeing around the league this year. 
I'm a member of PETE (People for the Ethical Treatment of Excel).
