Baltimore at Minnesota

[tsylvester]

The start of the holiday season is quickly approaching. For some, they have already started putting up lights and other decorations trying to jump start the cheer.

But ya can't put the car before the horse if you want to get anywhere. What does any of that have to do with a football game between these two teams? Maybe nothing, maybe everything.

Both teams are trying to keep their post season hopes alive, but you can't get to the post season without winning games in the regular season.

The Vikes finished last year with 14 wins in the regular season, but didn't get much further. They even took a giant leap of faith by jettisoning their starting quarterback in favor of an unproven quarterback still recovering from a season ending injury and with no NFL experience.

Yes, they are clearly dragging the cart with the horse tided to the back end.

While Baltimore "bought a present" for their lackluster defense, how he will perform, if he will make a difference, not even Santa knows.

They are 4-3 lifetime against the Vikes with Baltimore winning their last match up in Baltimore 34-31 in overtime back in 2021 making Lamar 1-0. Jackson rushed for over 100 yards, threw for 266 yards and had 3 scores. 

For Baltimore to win, he may have to put up similar stats, maybe use some magic corn from the Winter Warlock to help his defense.

So, who ya got?

[oldno82]

Gonna be a tough one. At this point, I don't think we can pull this one out but we a have a chance; I'd say we have a 40% chance of winning this one.

Blame the usual suspects: weak D-line and O-line.

[tsylvester]

I've given up trying to figure this team, this organization out this year, not because of losing, not because of moves they have made or not made that I don't agree with. No, because of what the players, coaches have said this year, the excuses, the ridiculous statements they hwve made.

Claims that changes will be made, fans expect too much, this coach is doing poorly, but the one who actually is, is excused and blame placed on the players.

Yeah, we, fans are fools, sure, sure tthing.

[oldno82]

It has become a bit like politics: there are no straight answers ever given. Never get caught in a statement that may leave you accountable.

I think the lesson learned is that they aren't going to make major changes mid-season under any circumstances, anymore. Whatever happens to the team will be decided after the season, i.e, new coach(es), new players, new FO personnel.

We aren't going to get any changes until then.

And, who knows? Maybe this ship will right itself and have a deep playoff run. Our last SB team dropped 4 of their last 5 games. Our first SB team won 5 games without the offense scoring a TD.

All we can do really now as fans is watch and bear it.

[tsylvester]

For years the Baltimore defense, even with Ray, has a habbit of making rookie/first year qbs look hall of fame.

JJ is not ready for the NFL, as Brady and many other commentators have said, while he has the mind, he only has 1 type of pass- the "fast ball". He is not great at the drop in the bucket deep passes, nor the touch pass needed along the sideline or in double coverage.

Their defense- 14th over all, 194 passing yards per game, 122 rushing, 23 pts per game.

They are -4 in turnover differential, with 3 picks, causing 6 fumbles. But- (you knew that was coming) they are 11th in sacks with 23. 

With this line, Lamar should pack his track shoes

[tsylvester]

Fully healthy, full participation at practice today

[oldno82]

That's a rarity!

[papasmurfbell]

Is Pat really healthy.  I have never seen him pancaked before.

[tsylvester]

1 hour ago, papasmurfbell said:

Is Pat really healthy.  I have never seen him pancaked before.

Rust, calves are a source of power, until you can get the strength back that leg will be weak. Same foot, same shoulder works for blocking and tackling

[papasmurfbell]

I can see bad technique and whiffs but being pancaked so completely is concerning.. 

[oldno82]

Yes. He looked like a completely different player. Hope he can pull out of it quickly.

[tsylvester]

Purple vs purple, gold vvs gold, who will win, we don't know

[tsylvester]

Kick off to Hill at the 2, he takes it to the 31

Wide receiver screen, is tipped, almost picked, bounces off of Flowers incomplete 

Mesh play, Lamar keeps it up the middle for 2

Pass short middle to Likely for 6, 4th down

A real quick 3 & out

Punt to the 15, bounces to the 10, picked up and returned to the 16

 

[tsylvester]

Play fake, Hamilton bats down a pass to the flat

Run off the left guard for 4

Pass to the right, has Hamilton on a stunt in his face, competes one for 7 & a fortnight down, Humphrey on the coverage 

Run up the middle for 3

Pass short along the right sideline for 3

3rd and 4

Did I mention I hate Fox

Deep left side, Pass complete, several missed tackles leads to a 62 yard gain, Humphrey beat

1st and goal

Time out Vikes

9:50

Run to left tackle, walks in

7-0 Vikes

 

[tsylvester]

Kickoff to Mitchell at the 8, returned to the 32

Henry left side for 4

Draw to Henry for 2

3rd and 4

Henry out, Hill in

Pass to Andrews over the middle for 6

I formation with Henry and Riccard, play fake, hits Flowers over the middle for 15

Henry up the middle bounces it outside to the left for 2

Play fake, Lamar layers one to Hopkins on the right side for 6

3rd and 2

Henry up the middle, bends it back a bit and powers for 5

Lamar to Henry out of the back field for 4

Hill in

Lamar fires high over the middle to Amdrews who leaps and gets two hands on it but cant handle it

3rd and 6

All out blitz, Lamar to Likely over the middle who also can't handle it...

4th down, field goal try of 44 yards is

Good, just inside the right upright

7-3 vikes

 

 

 

[tsylvester]

Kickofff is to the endzone, 2 yards deep, returned to the 29

Run to the right for 3

Mike Green breaks free gets a nice tackle for a loss on a run to the right

3rd and 13

Wide receiver screen is a throw back to the other side for a screen to McCarthy who dodges a few tackles then gets taken down after and 11 yard gain

4th and 2

Punt is to the 15, fair caught

Nice 3 & out

 

 

[tsylvester]

Side note, Tags has passed away

[tsylvester]

The Hesiman this year is really not that exciting. The qbs are average, Sayin has some decent numbers from Ohio St, so too does Mendoza from Indiana, but their numbers are not that great, especially when you consider their competitors 

[tsylvester]

2:06 left 1st quarter 

I formation Henry to the right, bends it back for 4

Broken I formation 

False start Vorhees 

Play fake, screen to Henry who was tackled right away

3rd and looong

13

Quick short pass to Andrews on the left side, no where to run for 8 yards.

Punt time, 2nd quarter

Punt is to the 45, bounces out of bounds at the 43

 

[tsylvester]

JJ with all day, Jones gets in deep enough to tip the pass, it falls incomplete 

2nd and 10

Screen to the left, Smith forces him out of bounds after a 6 yard gain

JJ pumps to the left connects over the middle to Jefferson for 18

Toss to the left loses 2 yards

Stunt by Ravens opens a lane, JJ runs up the middle for 4 3rd and 8

False start

3rd and 13 

Wide receiver screen  to the right is stopped by Starks after a short gain

Field goal try of 49 yards is good

10-3 Vikes

[tsylvester]

That was a good series for the defense, the shorter field because the offense could not move off of the 15 yard line helped the Vikes.

It takes both sides of the ball.. so far the offense is not holding up its end of the bargain 

[tsylvester]

Kickoff is to the goal line, Wester takes it to the 30

Pass, Lamar breaks a tackle, Rose blew his blocks, l

Lamar gets 2

Henry to the right,  cuts back and gets 3

3rd and 5

They need a first down badly

0 blitz showing

They come, quick pass attempt to the left is batted down.

Quite sluggish is this offense, not clean

Punt is to the 16, tackled right away by Martin, he almost fumbled it, nutz 

 

[tsylvester]

Run to the right gets 6, Ravens blown off of the ball

JJ with time, throws to the left to Jefferson for 13

False start

JJ tries to pass, pocket collapses, pass is batted down by Okoye

2nd and 15

Pass to the right for 9, just missed a sack

Cover better

Pass deep middle, Starks gets his 2nd pick of the season, returns it to the Ravens 45!

 

[tsylvester]

The pressure on the pocket is generally good but the pass coverage has not been great to that point, giving JJ a chance to unload before the pressure gets to him.

The timing had just been off. On this play, the pressure forced hom to step up and he didn't see Starks lurking deep.

[tsylvester]

They ruled that he was touched down back where he picked it off at the Ravens 22

I formation, Henry to the right, cuts it back to the middle for 3

Lamar cant find anyone, runs up the middle, steps out of a tackle for 9

Lamar gets jittery, for some reason, he had time, runs into a sack, but hands to the face saves him. Had Henry in the flat

1st and 10

Lamar quick pass to no where, in the direction of Likely on the right flat, incomplete 

Henry up the middle, cuts outside, good stiff arm breaks him free for 12

Mitchell in, takes the hand-off to the right, sprints freely for 9, fumbles out of bounds

Mitchell up the middle turns on the burners to the 18 of the Vikes

Sweep left for Mitchell loses 2

Screen to Flowers who gets 10

2 min warning