“The Definition Of Average”
December 7th, 2020
Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer
Joe’s been devouring Minnesota Vikings media over the last two days and watching Vikings film.
In case you’ve disconnected for a while, the 6-6 Vikings head to Tampa on Sunday to face a 7-5 Bucs team that must win to avoid humiliation and a catastrophic NFC nosedive.
Jim Souhan is a former Vikings beat writer who now types a column for the Star-Tribune newspaper. He sees what Joe sees in the Vikings — a messy team that’s found its way into playoff position behind the Bucs.
If the 2020 Vikings didn’t exist, the ghost of Pete Rozelle would invent them.
After taking the subterranean elevator to play down to the level of the 1-11 Jacksonville Jaguars on Sunday, the Vikings are the definition of average, whether you consider the word a compliment or slur, and are helping to fulfill the mandate of the NFL’s most important commissioner.
Rozelle fought for parity and economic equality between teams, to maximize the number of games that would matter, the number of teams that would stay in contention, and the number of fans who would tune in because of the league’s enforced unpredictability.
If he were alive in 2020, he would be wearing Helga horns and a Dalvin Cook jersey, because the same team that was often unwatchable on Sunday while pulling out a 27-24 overtime victory over the horrid Jaguars is now in position to make the playoffs.
No, really.
Joe knows a Vikings fan personally and got a text from him after the game. “I’ve never been so embarrassed after a victory. Almost afraid to watch against the Bucs next week.”
That’s how weird it is in the world of the average Vikings. Head coach Mike Zimmer said yesterday, after his Jaguars needed multiple possessions in overtime to beat the Jags, that there’s been little celebrating and happiness after the Vikings’ final-whistle wins the last two Sundays because the team hasn’t played well.
Maybe that makes the Vikings especially dangerous, because they’re winning while playing poorly?
Or maybe they’re just an average team the Bucs should pound if indeed they are any good and well coached?
Joe’s going with the latter.
December 7th, 2020 at 9:08 am
As of now, they are in the playoffs, so they can not be taken lightly.
December 7th, 2020 at 9:13 am
this is a must win game,might as well be playoffs. and even if they win,the rest of the seasons games are also going to be must wins.Vikings are scary….
December 7th, 2020 at 9:13 am
Their receivers, and D.Cook? We better take them serious. I’ve already seen Cousins kill us playing for that Washington team. How do you like that!! The Vikings can rush the passer too. I might be more afraid watching this game as a buc fan, then a Viking fan.
December 7th, 2020 at 9:28 am
This is the NFL people. This last Sunday alone, Jags almost beat Vikings, Jets almost beat Raiders, Giants beat Seahawks, Broncos hung with Chiefs.
December 7th, 2020 at 9:53 am
LMAO. We can ill afford to call anybody average when we are perhaps a half notch above that, vikings game will be tough. They have a QB who can actually avoid the rush move in and out of the pocket to extend plays. We do not.
December 7th, 2020 at 10:03 am
In OT the Vikings were very deep in their own territory…..got off a fantastic punt…..covered for no return and Jags received a penalty……backed up inside their 20.
Glennon dioked & dunked all game…..2 interceptions, a fumble and took a safety….same ole Mike.
I simply can’t conceive of us playing that poorly in this absolute must win game.
December 7th, 2020 at 10:12 am
We have a secondary that will let receivers roam wide open all day. On top of that they can not tackle . I can see this getting bad real fast If they don’t get pressure on the QB.
December 7th, 2020 at 10:15 am
Yes Mike Johnson, since Kirk Cousins (50-48-2 record as starting QB) is more mobile he’s better than Tom Brady (226-69). Rolling my eyes.
December 7th, 2020 at 10:19 am
Speaking of average, a 50-48-2 record as a starting QB is just about as average as you’ll find. Cousins did beat Tampa Bay a few years back, but that’s because Lovie didn’t believe in defending the slant pass.
December 7th, 2020 at 10:28 am
Playoff Week.
December 7th, 2020 at 10:48 am
I will move from the “probably will make the playoffs” column to “probably won’t make the playoffs” column if the Bucs don’t win on Sunday, at home, against the Vikings. A convincing win would certainly lift my spirits.
December 7th, 2020 at 11:07 am
If we bring our A game we win big.
If we bring our B game..it better be B+
C game and we’re at their mercy. We don’t necessarily lose but it will require a game from the Vikings like they played against the Jags for us to win.
December 7th, 2020 at 11:45 am
“Mike Zimmer vs BA the Narc
2 words
Justin Jefferson
another 2 words
Byron Leftwich
Vikings win 28-17”
Kobe Faker
December 7th, 2020 at 1:46 pm
Justin Jefferson would be the 3rd best receiver on the Bucs, but okay. He’s having a great rookie year, but so did Michael Clayton. You gotta do it for years. Somebody was saying how Tua is great earlier this year, the dude has played in 6 games.
December 7th, 2020 at 1:54 pm
vikes have won 5 of 6…
on any given sunday…
December 7th, 2020 at 1:55 pm
they started 1-5
December 7th, 2020 at 1:57 pm
Don’t forget a couple of weeks ago we barely squeaked by the Giants and since then we feasted on an undermanned Panther team and lost to New Orleans, Chiefs, and Rams. We have no room to assume that any game is a gimme.
December 7th, 2020 at 2:18 pm
No NFL game is a gimme, unless a team quits or throws it (see Jets game, leaving Ruggs one on one) for Trevor Lawrence.
December 7th, 2020 at 3:55 pm
That’s hilarious Joe, as I have a buddy who is a Vikings fan and he said almost the exact same thing to me verbatim.
December 7th, 2020 at 9:08 pm
“If he were alive in 2020, he would be wearing Helga horns and a Dalvin Cook jersey…”
Nice Horrible reference! I kinda miss when comic strips could be politically ambiguous.
December 8th, 2020 at 8:04 am
Joe in Michigan, love all your posts bro.
December 8th, 2020 at 9:35 am
Thank you, Sir!
December 8th, 2020 at 12:08 pm
This game in these circumstances make me miss the NFC Central.