Post by Purple Pain on Dec 1, 2019 21:09:56 GMT -6
For a coach who’s long said he loves proving people wrong — and seemed to take delight in felling the statistical narratives that periodically form around his teams — Vikings coach Mike Zimmer can put a big prize in his cross airs on Monday night.
The Vikings’ task is this: Travel west of home (where they’ve won just once in six tries and lost three times at night since 2014), face a perennial NFC contender that’s been indomitable at home, stare down a Super Bowl-winning QB in the midst of an MVP-caliber season … and win.
If they can do that, they’ll keep themselves in commanding playoff position ahead of a favorable schedule in the final quarter of the season. They’ll also have what might be their most impressive win outside of Minnesota since Zimmer’s first win at Lambeau Field to claim the 2015 NFC North title.
For a coach who’s long said he loves proving people wrong — and seemed to take delight in felling the statistical narratives that periodically form around his teams — Vikings coach Mike Zimmer can put a big prize in his cross airs on Monday night.
The Vikings’ task is this: Travel west of home (where they’ve won just once in six tries and lost three times at night since 2014), face a perennial NFC contender that’s been indomitable at home, stare down a Super Bowl-winning QB in the midst of an MVP-caliber season … and win.
If they can do that, they’ll keep themselves in commanding playoff position ahead of a favorable schedule in the final quarter of the season. They’ll also have what might be their most impressive win outside of Minnesota since Zimmer’s first win at Lambeau Field to claim the 2015 NFC North title.
There’s a case to be made that no team in the NFL — especially since the Vikings have turned the Packers from overlord to worthy opponent — has caused Minnesota more heartache in the Zimmer era than the Seahawks, who’ve remained the gold standard for NFC consistency even as they’ve made the transition from defensive stalwarts to high-scoring dynamos.
There are only three teams the Vikings have played more than once, and not beaten, since Zimmer took over in 2014: the Patriots, Bills and Seahawks. Of those three, the Seahawks are the only one the Vikings have played three times and lost.
The Vikings’ task is this: Travel west of home (where they’ve won just once in six tries and lost three times at night since 2014), face a perennial NFC contender that’s been indomitable at home, stare down a Super Bowl-winning QB in the midst of an MVP-caliber season … and win.
If they can do that, they’ll keep themselves in commanding playoff position ahead of a favorable schedule in the final quarter of the season. They’ll also have what might be their most impressive win outside of Minnesota since Zimmer’s first win at Lambeau Field to claim the 2015 NFC North title.
For a coach who’s long said he loves proving people wrong — and seemed to take delight in felling the statistical narratives that periodically form around his teams — Vikings coach Mike Zimmer can put a big prize in his cross airs on Monday night.
The Vikings’ task is this: Travel west of home (where they’ve won just once in six tries and lost three times at night since 2014), face a perennial NFC contender that’s been indomitable at home, stare down a Super Bowl-winning QB in the midst of an MVP-caliber season … and win.
If they can do that, they’ll keep themselves in commanding playoff position ahead of a favorable schedule in the final quarter of the season. They’ll also have what might be their most impressive win outside of Minnesota since Zimmer’s first win at Lambeau Field to claim the 2015 NFC North title.
There’s a case to be made that no team in the NFL — especially since the Vikings have turned the Packers from overlord to worthy opponent — has caused Minnesota more heartache in the Zimmer era than the Seahawks, who’ve remained the gold standard for NFC consistency even as they’ve made the transition from defensive stalwarts to high-scoring dynamos.
There are only three teams the Vikings have played more than once, and not beaten, since Zimmer took over in 2014: the Patriots, Bills and Seahawks. Of those three, the Seahawks are the only one the Vikings have played three times and lost.
West Coast woes
Precise, efficient football has been hard for the Vikings to come by as they’ve traveled west, playing through a phenomenon that’s long affected teams making the trip from the country’s two easternmost time zones.
A Stanford University study in the 1990s analyzed 25 years of Monday night results and found West Coast teams won 63 percent of the time while playing East Coast teams. Since 2006, teams from the Central or Eastern time zones are 18-38 while playing night games on Pacific time.
Since the NFL’s TV contracts are all national (unlike the NBA, NHL and MLB, where teams have their own local rightsholders), the league normalizes its start times to accommodate national audiences. While that means the Vikings don’t have to deal with games that start after 9 p.m. Central time (with the exception of their Monday night loss to the 49ers in 2015), they’re still facing opponents whose circadian rhythms are set to Pacific time, where night games routinely end around 8:30 p.m.
That, coupled with a long flight and an excess of idle time before kickoff, can make it difficult for visiting players to perform at their highest levels.
“The few times we’ve done it, I’ve definitely noticed a difference in your energy levels, things like that — especially with how many noon games we’ve played this year,” wide receiver Adam Thielen said. “When you’re able to just wake up and go, it’s a lot different feeling than when you’re sitting they’re all day — plus, it’s a time difference. … I think it’s good to just be cognizant of that, and understand you may have to start your routine at a similar time as you would to a noon game, try to figure out a way to get those energy levels up and feel normal.”
The Vikings flew to the West Coast a day early before night games against the Rams and Seahawks last year, in an effort to get acclimated to the time zone change. After a pair of losses, they waited until the day before the game and flew west on Sunday.
“Especially on a night game, it’s too long to be over there for a night game,” Zimmer said. “We’re just trying to keep the routine as best we can.”
Precise, efficient football has been hard for the Vikings to come by as they’ve traveled west, playing through a phenomenon that’s long affected teams making the trip from the country’s two easternmost time zones.
A Stanford University study in the 1990s analyzed 25 years of Monday night results and found West Coast teams won 63 percent of the time while playing East Coast teams. Since 2006, teams from the Central or Eastern time zones are 18-38 while playing night games on Pacific time.
Since the NFL’s TV contracts are all national (unlike the NBA, NHL and MLB, where teams have their own local rightsholders), the league normalizes its start times to accommodate national audiences. While that means the Vikings don’t have to deal with games that start after 9 p.m. Central time (with the exception of their Monday night loss to the 49ers in 2015), they’re still facing opponents whose circadian rhythms are set to Pacific time, where night games routinely end around 8:30 p.m.
That, coupled with a long flight and an excess of idle time before kickoff, can make it difficult for visiting players to perform at their highest levels.
“The few times we’ve done it, I’ve definitely noticed a difference in your energy levels, things like that — especially with how many noon games we’ve played this year,” wide receiver Adam Thielen said. “When you’re able to just wake up and go, it’s a lot different feeling than when you’re sitting they’re all day — plus, it’s a time difference. … I think it’s good to just be cognizant of that, and understand you may have to start your routine at a similar time as you would to a noon game, try to figure out a way to get those energy levels up and feel normal.”
The Vikings flew to the West Coast a day early before night games against the Rams and Seahawks last year, in an effort to get acclimated to the time zone change. After a pair of losses, they waited until the day before the game and flew west on Sunday.
“Especially on a night game, it’s too long to be over there for a night game,” Zimmer said. “We’re just trying to keep the routine as best we can.”
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Wilson thriving
Seattle’s other unique challenge, to go with its difficult travel and deafening home environment, is its quarterback.
Wilson is on pace for perhaps the best season of his career, having thrown for 24 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 11 games. His 112.1 passer rating is the NFL’s second-best, behind only Kirk Cousins, and he has run for 271 yards and three scores, while also using his mobility to extend plays and set up downfield shots. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Wilson has averaged 7.2 air yards per completion, the fourth-highest figure in the league.
Seattle’s other unique challenge, to go with its difficult travel and deafening home environment, is its quarterback.
Wilson is on pace for perhaps the best season of his career, having thrown for 24 touchdowns against just three interceptions in 11 games. His 112.1 passer rating is the NFL’s second-best, behind only Kirk Cousins, and he has run for 271 yards and three scores, while also using his mobility to extend plays and set up downfield shots. According to NFL Next Gen Stats, Wilson has averaged 7.2 air yards per completion, the fourth-highest figure in the league.
... and neither is this Chris guy.
