Well hello again, Vikings fans! Welcome back to Ten & Six With Mike Otto!
Week 6 is up us as the Vikings try to build off the momentum of their Week 4 win in London. Just because the Vikings didn't play last week doesn't mean it hasn't been a busy week in the land of snow & purple rain. Off the field the Vikings made two moves signing quarterback Josh Freeman for the rest of the season and giving DE Brian Robison a four year extension.
Sadly the Vikings family was struck by tragedy when it was revealed that Adrian Peterson's son had died due to injuries suffered from an assault. While Mike wrote this week's column before the news of this tragedy, you can be certain that our hearts go out to AP and his family.
With heavy hearts we press on. Killa Cam & the Carolina Panthers are in town as the Vikes look to get back in the NFC North race.
Mikey, it's been an adventurous couple of weeks. What do you think?
My nightmare has been realized.
I've spent much of the last 1 &1/2 years trashing Josh Freeman as an over-rated, inconsistent, below-average NFL quarterback. To be more specific, I have called him the NFL quarterback equivalent of a burning Ford Pinto on the side of the Florida turnpike at least 3 or 4 times.
I stated only weeks ago that my greatest fear was seeing Josh Freeman suit up in purple next year and, while this is only a 12 game audition at this point, that future seems inevitable. Now, on the bright side, he has a rocket arm and his name isn't Christian Ponder. Those are 2 undeniable positives of this signing.
As a Vikings fan, I only know how to approach a signing like this one way: with extreme skepticism, doubt, and fear. The thought in the back of my head that, even in a best-case scenario, Josh Freeman figures it out and leads us through a deep playoff run only to choke in some new, heartbreaking way when it counts most. Worst case scenario, Josh Freeman performs just good enough to earn a healthy three year contract extension at the end of this year, so Spielman and Frazier can hide the Ponder draft pick blunder and save their jobs for at least one more year. Freeman then returns to his wildly inconsistent self and we waste two more years of Adrian Peterson.
Don't get me wrong, this signing was a smart football move. Why not see what he can do on this team? I just don't trust Josh Freeman. Maybe he can change my mind. Time will tell.
Lets jump into the picks. My picks went 9-5 last week and stand at 46-31 for the year. Room for improvement. Lets do it!
Green Bay (2-2) at Baltimore (3-2)
Flacco vs. Rodgers! Rodgers vs. Hammerstein! Oh what a beautiful day! Huh? What?
The faithful Cheesers will make a pilgrimage to Baltimore in order to root their favorite group of pukes to a hopeful victory against last years Super Bowl champs. I, on the other hand, watch the news for word of a hopeful stabbing of a guy in a cheese hat in downtown Baltimore. No vital organs, mind you, just a flesh wound.
Bryant McKinnie, I'm counting on you to protect Flacco's blind side. I ask for so little, just do me this favor. Ravens win 23-20.
Cincinnati (3-2) at Buffalo (2-3)
EJ Manuel you got away with one. Run out of bounds next time. Bills fans, I'm rooting for you, and I'm not here to insult your intelligence or your integrity, not that you'd have much to insult. It's hard not to be dumb when you're forced to root for a schlub like Doug Marrone. I mean his first name might as well be Schlub. In fact, from now on it is. I guess its the week of nicknames. Schlub Marrone, Thad Lewis and th-...wait a minute, for real? Thad Lewis? Diseased. Schlub Marrone, Thad Lewis and the rest of the Bills get dismantled 26-3.
Detroit (3-2) at Cleveland (3-2)
Going with the theme of nicknames it's the return of the weed-whacker himself, Brandon Weeden! Also, learn how to slide without tearing your ACL, Brian Hoyer. Ever heard of Jason Campbell? Yah, that's your future now, best-case scenario. Look on the bright side, buddy. Makin' stacks just to hold a clipboard. Not too shabby, bud. Seriously though, get Nick Punto's number and have him teach you how the fuck to slide. That shit was ugly and it cost you a shot at your dream. Enter substance abuse issues. Lions win 24-17.
St. Louis (2-3) at Houston (2-3)
The Rams suck. It seems like they might always suck. Yes, to me, repeated mediocrity means you suck.
Speaking of that, it's Matt Schaub! Matt Schaub is quickly going the way of Vinny Testaverde. Good but not great and never going to win anything of substance, with less hair and a dumb name. At least Vinny Testicles had some swag to his name.
Is Andre Johnson still alive? Regardless, JJ Watt is enough to win this game by himself. Texans win 27-20.
Oakland (2-3) at Kansas City (5-0)
T-Pry looks like he might actually be a thing. Can't quite tell if NFL defenses have yet to adjust to his goofy, stupid way of quarterbacking or if he actually has stumbled across an effective style.
I'm happy for Alex Smith and the Chiefs, they are playing great and are a force in the NFL. Let's not forget, we are still less than a year removed from a Chiefs player committing suicide in the parking lot of their practice facility. That has to be an all time low for the franchise. Yet here they sit at 5-0 and Alex Smith has yet to throw a pick. Good stuff. Chiefs win 20-16.
Pittsburgh (0-4) at New York Jets (3-2)
Does God hate me? How in the flying fuck are the Jets 3-2 with a very real chance to be 4-2 after this weekend? Rex Ryan is like a fucking cockroach. I'm starting to wonder if a nuclear winter could even kill him off. The worst part is this roach doesn't scatter with the rest when the lights turn on, he stands up and starts flapping his roach gums, growing stronger with each tired roach cliché. Fuck it, Jets win 23-20. (Cue "Fireman" Ed crawling back in 3-2-1....)
Philadelphia (2-3) at Tampa Bay (0-4)
Who the fuck is the Bucs starting QB? Mike Glennon? Christ. I guess it could always be worse. I wouldn't trust a "Mike Glennon" to drive a U-Haul much less lead an NFL offense. If I walked into the doctors office and they said, "Dr. Glennon will see you shortly", I'd walk out and ask a homeless man to give me a physical. Mike Glennon walks into a room and throws a completion (insert rim shot here). Eagles win 34-23.
Jacksonville (0-5) at Denver (5-0)
This year's Sportsmanship Award goes to Peyton Manning, who said this week, with a straight face mind you, that the Jaguars were a "good football team." Riiiiight. And Blaine Gabbert is only 7 neck surgeries away from being as good as you.
The Jaguars obviously have only one goal this season and that is to completely destroy Blaine Gabbert as a human being. If he has even an ounce of confidence left in his body at the end of this year it will be a small miracle. Don't be surprised if the Jags lose by 30. Broncos win 48-10.
Tennessee (3-2) at Seattle (4-1)
Mike Munchak Football can't save the Titans now. Unfortunately for him, Ryan Fitzpatrick Football overpowers everyone else's talent, intelligence and ability. It always has and it always will. The Seahawks played a great game last week but Andrew Luck was just too much. Some home cooking will cure what ails them. Hawks win 24-21.
New Orleans (5-0) at New England (4-1)
Return of Gronk! Gronk Watch comes to an end! The Gronk Arm is healed! Just in time for the Pats, who only managed 6 points last week in a game where nobody could get open. I've been reading Gronk's book "Growing Up Gronk" and it's been a truly enlightening experience for me. In chapter 6 Gronk reveals he wasn't allowed in the petting zoo as a child because of numerous unfortunate "bunnies with broken necks" incidents. Typical. Saints are the best team in the NFC and they win this one 31-23.
Arizona (3-2) at San Francisco (3-2)
Colin Kaepernick has been struggling through the air but it doesn't matter. Gold Coast Harbaugh knows there's more than one way to skin a cat, piss off a Shwartz, or win a game. He don't need no stinkin' passing game!
The Cards on the other hand, desperately need a passing game. They've been in constant pursuit of one ever since Kurt Warner hung up the cleats. They don't find one this week and they may never again. Niners win 23-20.
Washington (1-3) at Dallas (2-3)
That was a typical Cowboys loss last week. Romo plays out of his mind, they put up 48 points, only to throw an untimely final minute INT deep in their own territory, just giving the Broncos the game winning field goal. It sums up Romo's career doesn't it? So good, but just not quite good enough. Ouch. At least you'll always have the mid-nineties. Thems were good times. 'Boys bounce back with a "W" 21-17.
Indianapolis (4-1) at San Diego (2-3)
Andrew Luck is a stud. He will win a Super Bowl in his career, and if the right pieces get put around him, he could win a few of them. Also, he grows a mean neck beard, something Phillip Rivers could never do.
Another thing Rivers could never do? Enjoy prosperity and consistent play. The dude is as erratic as an epileptic Big Ten football coach. Had to do it, sorry Coach Kill. But hey, at least it's coming from a fellow epileptic. I know the deal. Oh yeah...OK this just got weird. Colts win 33-27.
On to the main event!
CAROLINA PANTHERS (1-3) AT MINNESOTA VIKINGS (1-3)
This will be no easy victory for our favorite team. The Panthers defense is tops in the league for yards allowed and we all know the Vikings history with dual threat quarterbacks. Before we get into how the Vikes can claim their second victory in a row, let's take a look back at some positives and negatives from their first.
As always, the positives first:
Positives:
-Matt Cassel He proved that all the Vikings need for success is basic competence from our quarterback. It was nice to see him put some zip on a couple balls, and a genuine pleasure to see him and the WR's connect on a couple beautiful timing routes that led to yards after the catch.
-Jerome Felton I don't think it's a coincidence that Adrian Peterson had his best day of the year in the game Jerome returned from suspension. Felton is good. AP has been vocal in the past of his preference to run without a lead blocker, but you don't hear any of that chatter when Felton is in front of him. I think that speaks volumes in and of itself.
Negative(s):
-The Defense: The tackling is still leaving a lot to be desired. Once again the defense almost blew the game in the final minute. The Steelers were 6 yards away from tying that game, and anything could have happened in overtime, but they finally made a play when they really needed one. Let's hope its something they can build off of because things are still pretty damn ugly from top to bottom. The Vikings defense is ranked 30th overall right now and that just isn't good enough.
Three Keys To A Vikings Victory:
Key #1: Contain Cam Newton!
I want a LB or DE spy on him at all times. If he gets to the second level, there is no telling when he's going to stop running. The Vikings have a long history of failing to contain dual threat QB's and getting burned/losing games because of it. Vinny Testaverde, (yes, he did, w/the Bucs) Steve Young, Michael Vick, RG III... that list doesn't need a fifth name, so please, for the love of GOD, play with proper containment!
Key #2: Continue The Precise Timing Routes In The Passing Game
Greg Jennings loves those timing routes. He ran them all the time when he played for the Packers and it's really his bread and butter. Timing routes rely upon trust between the WR and the QB, something Christian Ponder failed to gain in the first three weeks of the season but Matt Cassel found in his first start. I'm not sayin', I'm just sayin', know'm'sayin'?
Key #3: Hang On To The Ball
The Panthers offense has been struggling this year, one sure fire way to get them out of that funk is by turning the ball over and giving them a short field to work with. Turnovers swing momentum quickly, and the Vikings need to maintain momentum throughout the game and keep the crowd in the game. Use that Dome field advantage!
Two Matchups To Watch:
Matchup #1: Steve Smith vs. Chris Cook
All signs point to Cook returning to the field on Sunday and we all know Steve Smith's history with the Vikings secondary. Granted it was many years and teams ago when Smith torched the Vikings for 200, but also worth noting that this secondary is terrible and would be a league worst if it weren't for the bye week they enjoyed. If Steve Smith has a big game, the Vikings won't be celebrating a victory come Sunday night.
Matchup #2: Luke Kuechly vs. Matt Cassel
Kuechly is arguably the best linebacker in the NFL and he has 2 INT's on the year already. He is crafty, he can hide behind his line and sit in a middle zone just waiting for a QB to make a mistake, or he can play man-to-man with the most athletic tight ends in the game. Truly a young sideline-to-sideline defender that Matt Cassel always needs to be aware of, whether on the blitz, or in coverage.
Mike's All-Purpose Flour Lock Of The Week:
Jerome Simpson, Wide Receiver, YOUR Minnesota Vikings
Jerome is off to the best start of his professional career this year. He's healthy, he's fast, and he's hungry for more. 5 catches/100 yards/1 TD.
Final Takes
It certainly seems like, barring injury, Christian Ponder has started his last game as a Viking. I wish I could say it was always a fun ride, but it wasn't. In fact, it was only fun about 30% of the time. That was always the problem, his wild inconsistency. Had he started all 16 games this year, I'm sure he would have had 4 or 5 "good" games. Hell, even Kelly Holcomb had a couple "good" games.
Yes, the Josh Freeman signing officially puts the nail in Ponder's preverbal coffin. What I want to know is, what do the Vikings do with Freeman if Matt Cassel keeps winning? You can't rightly pull Cassel in the middle of a winning streak, destroying team chemistry just to get a look at the aforementioned burning Ford Pinto currently on the shoulder of 94 West, can you?
At the same time, you aren't paying him two million dollars to not get a look at him lead this offense. The situation seems totally convoluted to me and I honestly have no idea how this is all going to play out. All I do know is, I'm scared, I'm nervous, and I will keep waiting for the other shoe to drop.
As for the Panthers, fuck 'em. They will score some points on our defense no doubt, so our offense needs to be efficient and effective if we are to stay in this game.
Killa Cam is going to get his, but if you can keep him in the pocket, this game is easily winnable as his pocket presence is still below average at this point in his career. Make him uncomfortable in the pocket and it will be a purple Sunday.
This is going to be a grind-it-out, nerve wracking game, but hey, what Vikings contest isn't these days?
FINAL SCORE
Carolina Panthers: 26
Minnesota Vikings: 27
WOOOOOOO! Objects in your rear view mirror are closer than they appear!
There you have it, Vikings fans! The Vikes stay winnin' against Killa Cam & the Panthers! You're on notice, NFC North!
For more Mike Otto be sure to give him a follow on Twitter (@SwervinTaters). The line between sad & entertaining runs awfully thin on Sundays. He can also be found right here on Newest Industry contributing to our Trendsetting column.
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