Vikings at Broncos Depth Chart Preview 2023
Nov 18, 2023 14:09:46 GMT -6
Funkytown and FSUVike like this
Post by Danchat on Nov 18, 2023 14:09:46 GMT -6
Riding high off yet another win, the Vikings find themselves underdogs (for the third game straight) against a Broncos team that has rebounded from a horrid start. Can they cool off the Vikings or will they keep on roaring? Let's see how they stack up:
Line: Broncos -2.5
Super Sim Calculated Line: Vikings -0.5
Injury Report
Vikings
CB Evans - Out
QB Hall - Out
LB Asamoah - Questionable
WR Jefferson - Questionable
RB Mattison - Questionable
Broncos
S Locke - Out
*My Thoughts*
The Broncos were thought to be a lame duck after getting killed a few times early in the year, but they've beaten the Chiefs and Bills back-to-back. Russell Wilson isn't playing as bad as he was last year, but he's still not what he was back in his prime. He's using his legs a bit more and is running for 25 yards a game, but the passing game is still very inconsistent. A big problem is the receivers - they basically have two. Sutton has had a big rebound season and is back to being an effective starter, who specializes in the redzone and big plays down the sideline. On the other hand, Jeudy is regressing after seemingly becoming the #1 receiver. He's got speed and runs routes well, but has had problems with catching and chemistry with Wilson. The RBs get thrown to a lot, with Perine being easily the best one of the bunch. All of the TEs are blockers and none are any threat. 2nd round rookie Mims is not being utilized for some strange reason, despite being so explosive with the ball in his hands.
Denver's strength is in the running game. Javonte Williams has fully recovered from his ACL tear and is beginning to look better. They've mixed in UDFA McLaughlin too, who's at 6.3 yards a carry. Thankfully the Vikings stop the run quite well, and might get them to be one-dimensional. They have a solid OL, that specializes in run blocking. The standout is Meinerz, a third year guard from Wisconsin-Whitewater who is balling in both phases. Bolles has been a solid LT for years now. Powers and McGlinchey were the big FA additions, but Powers has been a problem in the run game and McGlinchey has been bad as a pass protector. Cushenberry had a rocky start in the NFL but is starting to come into his own in both phases.
Defensively, this unit has been improving recently after the 70 point debacle. Still, the run defense is brutally bad. The front seven is lacking, with almost the entire defense having a below-average run defense grade. The team has a whopping 107 missed tackles! The one impact player is Allen, who is producing both as a run-stopper and pass rusher. Jones has been regressing for a couple years now, while all of the rest are just bodies. The pass rushers aren't scary, as they only have 3 players with more than 10 pressures. Cooper and Bonitto have been the most effective, but Bonitto is a Ngakoue-level run defender. Browning recently came off the IR and has the potential to be better than he has been.
The LB duo were both good last year, but they've been parts of the problem this season. Singleton has an inexcusable 17 missed tackles, while Jewell is a liability in coverage and not especially good in run defense.
The secondary has played well as of late, with stud Surtain II holding his own against #1 WRs. It would be great to have Jefferson back to face him and give Addison chances against the mediocre Moreau, who replaced the stupendously bad Mathis. Nickel CB McMillian has had a near-elite level season out of nowhere. It is odd how slot CBs can come out of nowhere play their butts off, and still not make anything on the FA market. At safety, Simmons is no longer the elite player he was in his prime but is still a playmaker. Jackson is one of the oldest defensive players in the league and is still playing well in coverage, but is coming off a 2 game suspension for illegal hits. Let's hope he doesn't injure anyone.
Prediction: Vikings 24, Broncos 17
This time I'm making a stand - I think Vegas is wrong. I bought into the idea that the Saints were the better team last week, but they clearly weren't and we can't spend every week thinking "this is the week Dobbs is going to crash down to earth". O'Connell is working his magic and Flores is getting everything he can out of this defense and you can't say the same about Denver. They should have lost by double digits to the Bills but won thanks to Buffalo blundering turnovers and giving them a chance to retry a game-winning FG. Not only that, but the Vikings also have an extra game of rest.
The Vikings defense matches up very well against this offense as they can shut down the run game (though without Hicks will they not be as good?), and can contain their receivers. Offensively, this should be like the Chargers & Panthers game where even Mattison should have a big game against a woeful run defense. If Dobbs can continue to feed Hockenson and hit on enough passes, they should be able to control this one.
Any thoughts?
Line: Broncos -2.5
Super Sim Calculated Line: Vikings -0.5
Injury Report
Vikings
CB Evans - Out
QB Hall - Out
LB Asamoah - Questionable
WR Jefferson - Questionable
RB Mattison - Questionable
Broncos
S Locke - Out
*My Thoughts*
The Broncos were thought to be a lame duck after getting killed a few times early in the year, but they've beaten the Chiefs and Bills back-to-back. Russell Wilson isn't playing as bad as he was last year, but he's still not what he was back in his prime. He's using his legs a bit more and is running for 25 yards a game, but the passing game is still very inconsistent. A big problem is the receivers - they basically have two. Sutton has had a big rebound season and is back to being an effective starter, who specializes in the redzone and big plays down the sideline. On the other hand, Jeudy is regressing after seemingly becoming the #1 receiver. He's got speed and runs routes well, but has had problems with catching and chemistry with Wilson. The RBs get thrown to a lot, with Perine being easily the best one of the bunch. All of the TEs are blockers and none are any threat. 2nd round rookie Mims is not being utilized for some strange reason, despite being so explosive with the ball in his hands.
Denver's strength is in the running game. Javonte Williams has fully recovered from his ACL tear and is beginning to look better. They've mixed in UDFA McLaughlin too, who's at 6.3 yards a carry. Thankfully the Vikings stop the run quite well, and might get them to be one-dimensional. They have a solid OL, that specializes in run blocking. The standout is Meinerz, a third year guard from Wisconsin-Whitewater who is balling in both phases. Bolles has been a solid LT for years now. Powers and McGlinchey were the big FA additions, but Powers has been a problem in the run game and McGlinchey has been bad as a pass protector. Cushenberry had a rocky start in the NFL but is starting to come into his own in both phases.
Defensively, this unit has been improving recently after the 70 point debacle. Still, the run defense is brutally bad. The front seven is lacking, with almost the entire defense having a below-average run defense grade. The team has a whopping 107 missed tackles! The one impact player is Allen, who is producing both as a run-stopper and pass rusher. Jones has been regressing for a couple years now, while all of the rest are just bodies. The pass rushers aren't scary, as they only have 3 players with more than 10 pressures. Cooper and Bonitto have been the most effective, but Bonitto is a Ngakoue-level run defender. Browning recently came off the IR and has the potential to be better than he has been.
The LB duo were both good last year, but they've been parts of the problem this season. Singleton has an inexcusable 17 missed tackles, while Jewell is a liability in coverage and not especially good in run defense.
The secondary has played well as of late, with stud Surtain II holding his own against #1 WRs. It would be great to have Jefferson back to face him and give Addison chances against the mediocre Moreau, who replaced the stupendously bad Mathis. Nickel CB McMillian has had a near-elite level season out of nowhere. It is odd how slot CBs can come out of nowhere play their butts off, and still not make anything on the FA market. At safety, Simmons is no longer the elite player he was in his prime but is still a playmaker. Jackson is one of the oldest defensive players in the league and is still playing well in coverage, but is coming off a 2 game suspension for illegal hits. Let's hope he doesn't injure anyone.
Prediction: Vikings 24, Broncos 17
This time I'm making a stand - I think Vegas is wrong. I bought into the idea that the Saints were the better team last week, but they clearly weren't and we can't spend every week thinking "this is the week Dobbs is going to crash down to earth". O'Connell is working his magic and Flores is getting everything he can out of this defense and you can't say the same about Denver. They should have lost by double digits to the Bills but won thanks to Buffalo blundering turnovers and giving them a chance to retry a game-winning FG. Not only that, but the Vikings also have an extra game of rest.
The Vikings defense matches up very well against this offense as they can shut down the run game (though without Hicks will they not be as good?), and can contain their receivers. Offensively, this should be like the Chargers & Panthers game where even Mattison should have a big game against a woeful run defense. If Dobbs can continue to feed Hockenson and hit on enough passes, they should be able to control this one.
Any thoughts?
... and neither is this Chris guy.