Vikings @ Lions

[Vin+ 3,121]

http://hosted.stats.com/fb/preview.asp?g=20161124008&home=8&vis=16

 

The Minnesota Vikings learned the hard way earlier this month about the Detroit Lions' late-game prowess. The Vikings would prefer to give themselves a little more elbow room in the rematch on Thanksgiving Day in Detroit.

 

The Lions stole a win in Minnesota on Nov. 6 after the Vikings took the lead with 23 seconds remaining in regulation. A 58-yard Matt Prater field goal sent the game into overtime, and Detroit completed the comeback with a 28-yard Matthew Stafford-to-Golden Tate pass play.

 

That 22-16 overtime victory is the reason why the NFC North teams are tied for first place at 6-4. Detroit has staged a fourth-quarter comeback in all of its wins.

 

"Every one of their games they've played have been seven points or less," Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. "I think they've done a great job at the end of ballgames, including the one we played. The biggest thing is once you start winning, you develop confidence and that's what they've done at the end of ballgames."

 

The Lions have also learned how to win in their annual Thankgiving Day game after nearly a decade of futility. They have a three-game winning streak on the holiday following a nine-game losing streak.

 

"It's a division game at our place on Thanksgiving," said Stafford, whose team has won five of its last six games. "There's no getting around it. I expect it to be an awesome atmosphere and both teams playing at a high level."

 

Neither team expects many surprises, considering they played each other so recently and have a short week to prepare.

 

"From a game-planning standpoint, at least you're familiar," Stafford said. "They're fresh in your mind from just a couple of weeks ago. It doesn't diminish the challenge the Minnesota Vikings give us. They're a really good defense, a really good team, really well coached. We'll have our hands full but as far as a preparation standpoint, it doesn't seem too long ago I was looking at film of these guys anyways."

 

Norv Turner resigned as Minnesota's offensive coordinator just before the first meeting and was replaced by tight ends coach Pat Shurmur. Though Shurmur has now had time to settle into the role, Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford said the offense has simply been tweaked.

 

"We're still the same team," Bradford said. "I don't think it's been that drastic. I don't think Detroit's going to look at the film and say, 'That's a completely different group.' Our guys are just a little more familiar with some of the things Pat has put in the past couple weeks."

 

The Vikings' offense only generated three second-half points against Arizona on Sunday but Minnesota still snapped a four-game losing streak. The Vikings recorded a defensive touchdown and another on Cordarrelle Patterson's 104-yard kickoff return in the 30-24 victory.

 

They still rank at the bottom of the league in yards per game.

 

"There's a lot of room for improvement," Bradford said of the offense. "We've got to be better in the second half but there were some positives. Just to get a win does a lot for this team and does a lot for this group. Hopefully, it's something we can build on going forward."

 

Minnesota's best offensive weapon is wide receiver Stefon Diggs, who has 40 receptions over the last four games. He caught 13 passes for 80 yards against Detroit.

 

"Any time you have somebody catching that many balls, that's a pretty good outing," Lions coach Jim Caldwell said. "He's a talented guy. I know one thing, if you let him catch too many, at some point in time, he's going to burn you because he's explosive as well."

 

The Lions also scored defensive and special teams touchdowns in their 26-19 victory over Jacksonville on Sunday. Stafford didn't throw a touchdown pass and the running game generated only 14 yards. The Lions also had two fumbles after losing just one fumble in their previous nine games.

 

"The good thing about playing on a Thursday is you get to go out there and quickly redeem yourself," Stafford said.

 

The last time the teams met on Thanksgiving Day was 1995, when the Lions pulled out a wild 44-38 victory.

 

 

[RazorStar 4,025]

20

24

 

Drink long to toast the fallen warriors!

[Vin+ 3,121]

 

Theo Riddick (ankle) is active Week 12 against the Vikings.

He was never seriously expected to miss. Riddick could lose some early-down work to Dwayne Washington, but he is a back-end RB2. Detroit declared Justin Forsett, WLB DeAndre Levy, QB Jake Rudock, OT Cornelius Lucas, S Don Carey, OL Joe Dahl, and DT Khyri Thornton inactive for Week 12.

 

 

 

 

Vikings declared Stefon Diggs (knee) inactive for Week 12 against the Lions.

There was a faint glimmer of hope he would play on Thursday morning, but this was the expected outcome. With Diggs out, rookie Laquon Treadwell should see a few more snaps, but Adam Thielen and Cordarrelle Patterson will see the biggest bump in targets. Minnesota also declared CB Terence Newman, CB Marcus Sherels, QB Taylor Heinicke, DT Sharrif Floyd, DE Stephen Weatherly, and OT Rashod Hill inactive for Week 12.

[BwareDWare94 723]

I am so fucking sick of throwing these passes behind the LOS that either get stopped for very short gains or huge losses. So fucking dumb

Edited November 24, 2016 by BwareDWare94

[Bay 2,003]

Lol at the Vikings mostly boring offense. Get Patterson more involved dammit.

[BwareDWare94 723]

Conservative playcalling will lose Minnesota this game. Bradford has not been sacked, has been barely been hit, but no, let's throw every single pass behind the line to gain.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

BIG.PLAY.SLAY.!!!!

 

LET'S GOOOOOOOOOO

[RazorStar 4,025]

We clearly need a nickname for this kid.

 

I'm coining the "Pussy Slayer", right here right now.

[Vin+ 3,121]

https://twitter.com/ESPNStatsInfo/status/801888665882554368

[BwareDWare94 723]

First of all, Matt Prater is the greatest kicker in the history of the NFL. There are guys who are historically more accurate, but Prater has NEVER missed when it counts the most. It's truly amazing to watch this guy just dagger one team after another. Detroit may win a Super Bowl in the next 3-5 years because they have Matt Prater in their back pocket when needed.

 

Second, just a few weeks ago I was talking other Vikings fans down from calling for Mike Zimmer's head with the way the team was unraveling before our very eyes due to suspect coaching decisions. Now, I'm so fed up with him myself that he's losing my confidence. I don't want him gone. I want him to be the coach of this team next year, 5 years from now, and 10 years from now, but he has to stop being so fucking conservative and gutless. It's time for him to take on a larger role when it comes to offensive play-calling, and to start vetoing our mentally challenged offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur. Initially, I thought the play calls were better without Norv Turner. Clearly, that isn't the case, as Turner would at least take shots down field.

 

Look at today's game. Sam Bradford was not sacked. Sam Bradford was barely touched all game long. And yet, every play call was for a short pass. Even when Sam had time, it was a short pass, almost always short of the line to gain. Often to a covered receiver who had no chance to turn up field and run for a first down. That's not Sam's decisions while going through reads. That's the offensive play caller continually calling hot reads short of the line to gain. You want to know why Minnesota has lost 5 of 6? Because their offensive play calling has been utterly and completely ball-less. Time for Minnesota's coaching staff to do a man-check and act like they have the guts needed to win a fucking game.

 

You don't "play it safe" to wins in the NFL. You take them from the other team.

 

Then we have Bradford throwing the worst INT of the season to lose the team the game at the end. That's a failure in situational football from Bradford, a failure that not even Teddy Bridgewater and his weak arm would make. Oh, we need 7 yards for a first down. Let's target one of the best two corners in the division, one of the top 4 corners in the conference (Sherman, Peterson, Slay, and Rhodes, imo). Yes, target Darius fucking Slay at the end of the game, on 3rd and long. How stupid is Sam Bradford for that? You know what a smart QB does pre-snap? He finds Slay, and he finds Quin, then he proceeds to throw at neither. Fuck you, Sam Bradford, for making such an awful collection of mental mistakes at the worst possible time. You have the intellectual capacity of a fucking gnat.

 

Last but not least, Anquan Boldin is no longer fast or quick. Why is it so hard to stick to him? Seriously? At this point in his career, should Anquan Boldin be getting such big separation anymore? No, he should not. He is a great player, and is probably my favorite WR of this generation (so glad he won a Super Bowl with Baltimore). He should not be so effective anymore. Especially not against a Mike Zimmer defense. Tate I can understand. Marvin Jones was invisible because of X. Other guys needed to step up today and they failed.

 

Fuck this team, fuck this offensive coaching staff, and fuck this quarterback for being completely gutless unless, of course, it's the end of the game and you need a first down. Might as well throw at Darius fucking slay and not target a bad coverage linebacker, or Nevin Lawson. No. Go after the best player on the opposing team's defense. Brilliant!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, guys. Great win, DMac. The difference was coaching. Jim Caldwell and Jim Bob Cooter do a wonderful job and if the Lions can generate something that resembles a running game by season's end, watch the fuck out.

Edited November 24, 2016 by BwareDWare94

[BwareDWare94 723]

It's easier to "take a breather" when your team just sucks, drafted the wrong quarterback, and will likely extend an awful coaching staff. You know there's no hope. I'm watching my team self-destruct through horrible in-game coaching. I wanted to sum things up, and I feel better because of it.

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

First of all, Matt Prater is the greatest kicker in the history of the NFL. There are guys who are historically more accurate, but Prater has NEVER missed when it counts the most. It's truly amazing to watch this guy just dagger one team after another. Detroit may win a Super Bowl in the next 3-5 years because they have Matt Prater in their back pocket when needed.

 

Second, just a few weeks ago I was talking other Vikings fans down from calling for Mike Zimmer's head with the way the team was unraveling before our very eyes due to suspect coaching decisions. Now, I'm so fed up with him myself that he's losing my confidence. I don't want him gone. I want him to be the coach of this team next year, 5 years from now, and 10 years from now, but he has to stop being so fucking conservative and gutless. It's time for him to take on a larger role when it comes to offensive play-calling, and to start vetoing our mentally challenged offensive coordinator in Pat Shurmur. Initially, I thought the play calls were better without Norv Turner. Clearly, that isn't the case, as Turner would at least take shots down field.

 

Look at today's game. Sam Bradford was not sacked. Sam Bradford was barely touched all game long. And yet, every play call was for a short pass. Even when Sam had time, it was a short pass, almost always short of the line to gain. Often to a covered receiver who had no chance to turn up field and run for a first down. That's not Sam's decisions while going through reads. That's the offensive play caller continually calling hot reads short of the line to gain. You want to know why Minnesota has lost 5 of 6? Because their offensive play calling has been utterly and completely ball-less. Time for Minnesota's coaching staff to do a man-check and act like they have the guts needed to win a fucking game.

 

You don't "play it safe" to wins in the NFL. You take them from the other team.

 

Then we have Bradford throwing the worst INT of the season to lose the team the game at the end. That's a failure in situational football from Bradford, a failure that not even Teddy Bridgewater and his weak arm would make. Oh, we need 7 yards for a first down. Let's target one of the best two corners in the division, one of the top 4 corners in the conference (Sherman, Peterson, Slay, and Rhodes, imo). Yes, target Darius fucking Slay at the end of the game, on 3rd and long. How stupid is Sam Bradford for that? You know what a smart QB does pre-snap? He finds Slay, and he finds Quin, then he proceeds to throw at neither. Fuck you, Sam Bradford, for making such an awful collection of mental mistakes at the worst possible time. You have the intellectual capacity of a fucking gnat.

 

Last but not least, Anquan Boldin is no longer fast or quick. Why is it so hard to stick to him? Seriously? At this point in his career, should Anquan Boldin be getting such big separation anymore? No, he should not. He is a great player, and is probably my favorite WR of this generation (so glad he won a Super Bowl with Baltimore). He should not be so effective anymore. Especially not against a Mike Zimmer defense. Tate I can understand. Marvin Jones was invisible because of X. Other guys needed to step up today and they failed.

 

Fuck this team, fuck this offensive coaching staff, and fuck this quarterback for being completely gutless unless, of course, it's the end of the game and you need a first down. Might as well throw at Darius fucking slay and not target a bad coverage linebacker, or Nevin Lawson. No. Go after the best player on the opposing team's defense. Brilliant!

 

Happy Thanksgiving, guys. Great win, DMac. The difference was coaching. Jim Caldwell and Jim Bob Cooter do a wonderful job and if the Lions can generate something that resembles a running game by season's end, watch the fuck out.

 

Yea, Boldin keeps finding ways, guy is incredibly savvy.

 

It was a great game though, at least for me all things considered. And since the day just started out here on the west clast this leaves me happy for the rest of thanksgiving. Lol

[BwareDWare94 723]

I am going to enjoy Thanksgiving and the other two games. I just wish this loss felt like a knock down slugfest where the Vikings just weren't as good as the other team on this particular day. Instead I watched my team be way too conservative and never give themselves a chance to be comfortable.

 

For the record, give me Matt Stafford to build a franchise around right now. Of all the young QBs, only Wentz or Prescott would get similar consideration, but we know what Stafford is now. Holy shit, what a player.

[RazorStar 4,025]

Matt Stafford is making a strong case for MVP this season, I'd have to agree. Pat Shurmur has always been a gutless sissy, so seeing the Vikings offense stumble like it has been is the only logical conclusion. Bradford had a lot of bad plays taken away by penalties on their first drive that eventually ended up being a Vikings score, but they were virtually silent for the rest of the game. It's pretty pathetic.

[SteVo+ 3,702]

That Bradford INT that ended it :ugh:

 

 

So, how dangerous are the Lions going to be, assuming they win the division? Are they a team that can go into Dallas or Seattle in January and score a big upset?

[DonovanMcnabb for H.O.F 2,241]

For the record, give me Matt Stafford to build a franchise around right now. Of all the young QBs, only Wentz or Prescott would get similar consideration, but we know what Stafford is now. Holy shit, what a player.

 

Yea, realistically speaking, the Lions will probably finish with around 9 wins, and he won't put up Brady numbers in this offense, so there's no chance he actually wins the MVP, but the work he's done this season has been pretty incredible imo.

 

So, how dangerous are the Lions going to be, assuming they win the division? Are they a team that can go into Dallas or Seattle in January and score a big upset?

 

They have a game against Dallas towards the end of the year, it doesn't seem like Dallas will have much to play for at that point, but I hope they bring out the whole team... It'd be a great indicator, imo.

[RazorStar 4,025]

It’s finally come, it’s Thanksgiving day!

The morning drags on, wait when do they play?

Football and feasting with friends all around;

The kick flies off and we’re victory bound!

Stefon is out, our line is atrocious,

But Sammy two-sleeves sure is precocious.

The defense is great, it wins us our games

They get pick-sixes and beautiful dames.

We lead in the fourth, it’s not over yet,

These end game lions still pose us a threat.

Playing with caution as we’ve done all day,

Couldn’t prepare us for Darius Slay.

I brood in silence in the dim-lit den

Stafford and Prater, they did it again!

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Lions have kept winning by the skin of their teeth... Part of it is luck, but you have to ask why they can't open up leads on people. Also, probably partly luck. They close exceptionally well, but neither that nor luck lasts forever. If they make the playoffs, they will lose their opening game.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

Maybe not in the sense that it exists in your mind. Psychology is a very real thing, whether PhilElliot believes it or not.

 

But when the game is close, the Lions really believe that they are going to pull it out, regardless of what happens. They will it to go their way. That's great and is pulling them through the regular season kicking and screaming. But counting on that to go 16 games + the playoffs is illogical. One of those times they try willing themselves to clutch out another game, they won't be able to. Maybe that itself perpetuates itself to more losses or perhaps it fails them when they need it most.

[Favre4Ever+ 4,476]

 

lol psychology doesnt have shit to do with luck. Things either happen or they dont.

 

and what wont happen is them winning the division

 

Why do things either happen or not?