Playoff Picture

Last week I started looking at the playoff picture and tried to forecast what would happen. I said the Vikes would fall one game short of reaching the playoffs. That has changed after this past weekend.

With four weeks left in the season, the playoff picture is beginning to come into focus. In the AFC:

PLAYOFF TEAMS
• Colts (12-0)
• Broncos (9-3)
• Bengals (9-3)
• Patriots (7-5)
• Jaguars (9-3)
• Chargers (8-4)
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
• Chiefs (8-4)
• Steelers (7-5)
• Dolphins (5-7)
• Bills (4-8)
ELIMINATED• Raiders (4-8)
• Ravens (4-8)
• Browns (4-8)
• Titans (3-9)
• Jets (2-10)
• Texans (1-11)

AFC playoff matchups at the moment

Wild-card round, Jan. 7-8

No. 5 Jaguars (9-3) at No. 4 Patriots (7-5, AFC East leaders)

No. 6 Chargers (8-4) at No. 3 Bengals (9-3, AFC North leaders)

Second round, Jan. 14-15

Lower-ranked team at No. 1 Colts (12-0, AFC South leaders)

Higher-ranked team at No. 2 Broncos (9-3, AFC West leaders)

Explaining the Seedings

Broncos seeded ahead of Bengals because of better record agaisnt AFC (Denver 6-2, Cincinnati 6-3)

Chargers seeded ahead of Chiefs because of head-to-head record (San Diego won 28-20 on Oct. 30)

In the NFC:

PLAYOFF TEAMS
• Seahawks (10-2)
• Bears (9-3)
• Panthers (9-3)
• Giants (8-4)
• Bucs (8-4)
• Cowboys (7-5)
OUTSIDE LOOKING IN
• Vikings (7-5)
• Falcons (7-5)
• Redskins (6-6)
• Eagles (5-7)
• Rams (5-7)
• Lions (4-8)
• Cardinals (4-8)
ELIMINATED
• Packers (2-10)
• Saints (2-10)
• 49ers (2-9)

NFC playoff matchups at the moment

Wild-card round, Jan. 7-8

No. 5 Bucs (8-4) at No. 4 Giants (8-4, NFC East leaders)

No. 6 Cowboys (7-5) at No. 3 Panthers (9-3, NFC South leaders)

Second round, Jan. 14-15

Lower-ranked team at No. 1 Seahawks (10-2, NFC West leaders)

Higher-ranked team at No. 2 Bears (9-3, NFC North leaders)

Explaining the Seedings

Bears seeded ahead of Panthers by head-to-head matchup (Chicago won 13-3 on Nov. 20)

Cowboys seeded ahead of Vikings, Falcons by better record vs. NFC (Dallas 6-3, Minnesota 6-4, Atlanta 4-4)

I did a highly scientific analysis of the remaining schedule to try and ascertain how the Vikes will end up: Invited to the party or on the outside looking in. And let me say there are a ton of huge matchups that will figure into the playoff possibility for the Vikings. Here is the playoff picture based on my guess:

•AFC: Division winners: New England at 10-6 (East); Cincinnati at 13-3 (North); Indianapolis at 16-0 (South); Denver at 12-4 (West); wild cards: Kansas City at 10-6 and Jacksonville at 12-4.
•NFC: Division winners: N.Y. Giants at 12-4 (East); Minnesota at 10-6 (North); Carolina at 13-3 (South); Seattle at 13-3 (West); wild cards: Tampa Bay at 11-5 and Chicago at 10-6. That puts the Vikes hosting Tampa Bay which would be a rematch of the regular season opener. I like our chances this time around.

Go ahead and call me Homer. I'll wear that tag until proven wrong.

Scary Quotes

Besides the ultimate in scary quotes with FOX analyst Terry Bradshaw openly mentioning head coach Mike Tice as a Coach of the Year candidate, Kevin Seifert had a quote in this past Sunday's Star Tribune that had me experiencing a cold sweat....and why I cannot count on this coaching staff quite yet:

With that mix of styles, Johnson took over as the Vikings' starter Nov. 6 against Detroit. Courtesy of two Lions turnovers, the Vikings used short fields to score 21 second-quarter points and cruise to a 27-14 victory.

Johnson threw for only 136 yards in the game while the Vikings rushed for 164. They managed just 137 yards of total offense in a 24-21 victory over the New York Giants, and by halftime of the following game at Green Bay, Tice was agitated.

The Vikings hadn't scored an offensive touchdown in eight quarters, and Johnson had completed 10 of 19 passes for 82 yards. Coaches held a brief discussion about replacing Johnson with backup Shaun Hill. Eventually, they implored Johnson to have patience with the downfield passing game rather than checking down to short-range receivers.

Are you shitting me!?!? Even a fleeting chat about replacing Big Bad Brad (BBB) with Hill should never have occurred. All because BBB was checking off the long ball and dunking off to the short route? All because BBB was going against the orders of a Coach of the Year (cough-cough) candidate? All the more reason to love BBB.

The players sure do. And here are some quotes on why you should have confidence in the players more than the coaching staff at the moment:

"To me, the systems [Brad's} been in throughout his career, they're the kinds where you get the ball out a little quicker," said tight end Jermaine Wiggins, the primary beneficiary of Johnson's read progression. He is averaging 9.8 yards on a team-high 19 receptions in Johnson's four starts. "He goes with what he sees," Wiggins added. "He's calm and even-keeled. He never really gets flustered."

And:

"Basically," receiver Travis Taylor said, "it took us a game or two to get ourselves into game condition with him. ... The biggest thing was timing. I know with Brad, he likes a lot of different routes. He likes things that go across the field, with receivers coming under the coverage. That's his type of thing. So we adjusted our routes. It was all things we had in this offense, just that we weren't using it as much."

You have to fancy BBB and you have to love the fact that the players are adjusting to him. The Vikings are finally turning into a T-E-A-M...the kind that wins championships with no big stars ala the New England Patriots. Not to mention the "let's draw a play in the dirt and see if it works" BBB way of life. Such as:

The decision had been made to open the game with an "all-go" route Thursday at Winter Park -- in part the creation of a coaching staff that wanted to get a quick start on an opponent, and also a veteran quarterback who saw flaws in the Lions secondary.

In particular, the flaw was with Detroit cornerback R.W. McQuarters, in whom the Vikings showed interest during the offseason when he was a free agent. Johnson's plan: Whoever drew McQuarters was going to get the deep ball.

"We call it, 'Dart right, all go,' or 'Louisiana -- by you,' " Johnson said of the play. "The limit is usually 40 yards. [Backup quarterbacks] Shaun Hill and J.T. O'Sullivan were standing down on [the Detroit] 40. I said to Koren, 'Look at those guys; go 5 yards past them.' "

How many fans will be screaming "Louisiana -- by you" from the stands this Sunday against the Rams? Here's another BBB innovative example:

[Koren] Robinson finished the first half with two catches for 125 yards, more receiving yards than he had in any game this season, and ended the day with four receptions for 148 yards. His 45-yard grab on third-and-3 from the Vikings' 39 on the first play of the second quarter set up a Michael Bennett touchdown run that made it 14-3. Unlike the long-planned 80-yarder, the 45-yard pass was drawn up quickly.

In the huddle, Johnson told Robinson: " 'There's a cameraman in a red hat. Run to him.' It was sort of like Thanksgiving football ... run to this spot. Koren made a tremendous play and was there."

So, while the likes of Terry Bradshaw wants to cuddle with Mike "I Need a Hug" Tice, I'll continue to look for BBB to lead this team into the playoffs. If Tice wants to be patted on the back, he can call his good friend Terry...who could perhaps lend some fashion tips.....

Terry Bradshaw also produced a fine album of cover tunes, with his version of "I'm So Lonesome I Could Cry" actually sounding pretty good. But we can't pass him by without showing you the back cover of the album he recorded, just for Terry's outfit.

Nice, eh?

I'm having too much fun right now. And I hope the ride won't end any time soon for the Vikes.

You?

VU Videocast

Sent in by Coworker Jim. It is not football related but since Xmas is coming......perhaps this is your neighbor?

Latest Desktop from Cindy

You love 'em and now Cindy has a new one. Called 'Clean Sweep' it is another in a fine line of Vikings desktops for your computer. Check it out.

Posted by maasx003 at December 6, 2005 06:31 AM