Post by Purple Pain on Nov 12, 2021 11:43:57 GMT -6
Minnesota Vikings Week 10 preview: Predictions and what to watch versus the Chargers by The Athletic Minnesota staff
Link:
theathletic.com/2950400/2021/11/12/minnesota-vikings-week-10-preview-predictions-and-what-to-watch-versus-the-chargers/
What I’m watching
Chad Graff: The Vikings defense as a whole. The unit has made significant strides since the beginning of the season and, based on any number of stats, is now the team’s strength. But they’re also coming off a physically taxing game against a running quarterback where they were on the field for 45 minutes. Practice was light for the team this week, but I’ll be watching to see if both physical and mental fatigue are factors this week after what’s already been a tiring season.
Arif Hasan: Camryn Bynum. He had a great game, especially in coverage, against the Ravens. If he can keep that up in his second stint replacing Harrison Smith, the Vikings might have their long-term answer at safety.
Jon Krawczynski: Everson Griffen. I continue to be amazed at both the number of snaps he is getting and the quality of those snaps. After being on the field for so much time against Baltimore last week, will his body hit the wall? The Vikings are going to need him to get after Justin Herbert.
Start ’em/Sit ’em
Graff: Start — Street tacos. Los Angeles isn’t my favorite city, in part because it’s so hard to get anywhere. But it’s hard to argue with world-class tacos for a couple of bucks on the side of the road. Sit — SoFi Stadium. It’s the most expensive sports venue in the country, and while the exact price tag isn’t clear, some reports suggest that it may have cost more than $5 billion to build. Yet the visiting locker rooms are so cramped that the entire team can’t sit in the same area to hear from the head coach. Also, the indoor stadium has already had one weather delay.
Hasan: Start — Close games. Of the 16 games these two teams have played, 13 have finished within one score. The games have been subject to 11 lead changes in the fourth quarter between them. This should be a barnburner. Sit — Stability. Neither of these organizations is the poster child for stability, and the Vikings have had a tumultuous week in particular. It’s hard to think of two teams that give observers more headaches than these two.
Krawczynski: Start — Tyler Conklin. Apparently, Kirk Cousins is determined to make him a Pro Bowl tight end while checking down and looking off his receivers. So, fantasy owners, pick him up! Sit — The canned answer of “We have enough talent to be better than this.” I love that Adam Thielen said Monday that he knows fans are tired of hearing that over and over again. Either start utilizing that talent in a better manner and win some games or follow the adage of Zimmer’s old mentor: You are what your record says you are.
The Vikings win if …
Graff: The passing game gets going. After a great start to the season, Cousins hasn’t thrown for more than 200 yards in either of the last two games and hasn’t exceeded 8.0 yards per attempt since the Week 5 game against the Lions.
Hasan: The coin flips the right way. Honestly, both teams have been lucky at times, and both know how to give up games.
Krawczynski: The defense can generate a few turnovers and put the Vikings in scoring position. I know it didn’t exactly work out that way last week, but I have to think that the approach will be a little bit different after the malaise last week, right? RIGHT?!?
Quote of the week
“Around here, nothing really surprises you, especially the last two years — or really going back eight years.” — Adam Zimmer on finding out just before last week’s game that Harrison Smith had tested positive for COVID-19.
Stat of the week
Minus-2. The Chargers have given up two more points than they’ve scored this season and have only spent 30 percent of games with the lead. Yet they’re 5-3 and tied for first place in the AFC West. It’s a weird team playing against its funhouse mirror opposite.
Predictions
Graff: Chargers 24, Vikings 20. I actually think the Vikings match up well against the Chargers, who struggle to stop the run. But it’s a big ask for the defense to slow down Herbert on the road a week after playing a draining game on the East Coast.
Hasan: Vikings 27, Chargers 22. As much as “winning close games” has been a weakness of the Vikings, there’s a lot of randomness involved. At a fundamental level, the teams are fairly equivalent in talent and the Chargers don’t have much of a home-field advantage, so I’ll take a chance and say the ball bounces in the Vikings’ favor for once.
Krawczynski: Chargers 28, Vikings 24. Sorry, there’s just no way I can pick this team to go out West and win a game right now. No trust whatsoever.
Chad Graff: The Vikings defense as a whole. The unit has made significant strides since the beginning of the season and, based on any number of stats, is now the team’s strength. But they’re also coming off a physically taxing game against a running quarterback where they were on the field for 45 minutes. Practice was light for the team this week, but I’ll be watching to see if both physical and mental fatigue are factors this week after what’s already been a tiring season.
Arif Hasan: Camryn Bynum. He had a great game, especially in coverage, against the Ravens. If he can keep that up in his second stint replacing Harrison Smith, the Vikings might have their long-term answer at safety.
Jon Krawczynski: Everson Griffen. I continue to be amazed at both the number of snaps he is getting and the quality of those snaps. After being on the field for so much time against Baltimore last week, will his body hit the wall? The Vikings are going to need him to get after Justin Herbert.
Start ’em/Sit ’em
Graff: Start — Street tacos. Los Angeles isn’t my favorite city, in part because it’s so hard to get anywhere. But it’s hard to argue with world-class tacos for a couple of bucks on the side of the road. Sit — SoFi Stadium. It’s the most expensive sports venue in the country, and while the exact price tag isn’t clear, some reports suggest that it may have cost more than $5 billion to build. Yet the visiting locker rooms are so cramped that the entire team can’t sit in the same area to hear from the head coach. Also, the indoor stadium has already had one weather delay.
Hasan: Start — Close games. Of the 16 games these two teams have played, 13 have finished within one score. The games have been subject to 11 lead changes in the fourth quarter between them. This should be a barnburner. Sit — Stability. Neither of these organizations is the poster child for stability, and the Vikings have had a tumultuous week in particular. It’s hard to think of two teams that give observers more headaches than these two.
Krawczynski: Start — Tyler Conklin. Apparently, Kirk Cousins is determined to make him a Pro Bowl tight end while checking down and looking off his receivers. So, fantasy owners, pick him up! Sit — The canned answer of “We have enough talent to be better than this.” I love that Adam Thielen said Monday that he knows fans are tired of hearing that over and over again. Either start utilizing that talent in a better manner and win some games or follow the adage of Zimmer’s old mentor: You are what your record says you are.
The Vikings win if …
Graff: The passing game gets going. After a great start to the season, Cousins hasn’t thrown for more than 200 yards in either of the last two games and hasn’t exceeded 8.0 yards per attempt since the Week 5 game against the Lions.
Hasan: The coin flips the right way. Honestly, both teams have been lucky at times, and both know how to give up games.
Krawczynski: The defense can generate a few turnovers and put the Vikings in scoring position. I know it didn’t exactly work out that way last week, but I have to think that the approach will be a little bit different after the malaise last week, right? RIGHT?!?
Quote of the week
“Around here, nothing really surprises you, especially the last two years — or really going back eight years.” — Adam Zimmer on finding out just before last week’s game that Harrison Smith had tested positive for COVID-19.
Stat of the week
Minus-2. The Chargers have given up two more points than they’ve scored this season and have only spent 30 percent of games with the lead. Yet they’re 5-3 and tied for first place in the AFC West. It’s a weird team playing against its funhouse mirror opposite.
Predictions
Graff: Chargers 24, Vikings 20. I actually think the Vikings match up well against the Chargers, who struggle to stop the run. But it’s a big ask for the defense to slow down Herbert on the road a week after playing a draining game on the East Coast.
Hasan: Vikings 27, Chargers 22. As much as “winning close games” has been a weakness of the Vikings, there’s a lot of randomness involved. At a fundamental level, the teams are fairly equivalent in talent and the Chargers don’t have much of a home-field advantage, so I’ll take a chance and say the ball bounces in the Vikings’ favor for once.
Krawczynski: Chargers 28, Vikings 24. Sorry, there’s just no way I can pick this team to go out West and win a game right now. No trust whatsoever.
Link:
theathletic.com/2950400/2021/11/12/minnesota-vikings-week-10-preview-predictions-and-what-to-watch-versus-the-chargers/
