The Vikings Aren’t Who We Thought They Were

//

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});

I tweeted it last night long before the game was over:

@PJDiaries they aren't who we thought they were #vikings

— SoCalwannabe (@FOR_PETEYS_SAKE) September 15, 2015

Teddy Bridgewater said something to that effect after the game of “we’re not as good as they said we were.”

Denny Green said something very similar a long time ago when he coached the Cardinals against the Bears.

And at least that’s the knee-jerk reaction from last night’s game. They actually aren’t who we thought they were.

Not until they prove otherwise. And next week is their first chance to do so – against an 0-1 Lions team that will be every bit as hungry as the Vikings.

During the pre-season, I likened this team to the 2009 Vikings version. I still do. But there is one big difference. Brett Favre in his late 30s was a much better quarterback than Teddy Bridgewater in his early 20s – and that difference alone might be why the 2015 Vikings won’t match the 2009 Vikings. Favre could put the ball in tight windows – ala his game-winning strike from 40 yards to Greg Lewis in the back of the end zone to beat, ironically, the 49ers in the last seconds of the game. And he could put the softest touch on the ones to the backs and the crossing routes.

Sorry, folks, if no one knows already – but it’s a quarterback league. Look no further than the contracts being doled out left and right in the 20-million and above per year level. We need better play from Bridgewater. Sure, he doesn’t have that gunslinger mentality and he doesn’t have that tight-window throw in traffic to get a first down or touchdown – he’s more methodical, exceptionally accurate, etc., as experts have noted from his exploits last year. Whatever he is, he needs to play better and sooner than later.

And this brings us to the offensive line. Didn’t we have an equal chance to sign Evan Mathis who is now a Bronco? Didn’t we have an equal chance to sign Jake Long who will now become a Falcon? Would these guys be our saviors this season? Perhaps not, but to be truthful, anything is better than what we saw last night – from blocking to pass protection. It was awful.

And one more thing . . . in 2009, Adrian Peterson was 24 years old. Another big difference and another reason why they truly may not be who were thought they were – at least last night anyway. Carlos Hyde looked every bit of his 23 years last night – 168 yards, 2 touchdowns. The Vikings have seen that before – it’s just that it is starting to feel like eons ago. Let’s hope AP can turn back time in these coming weeks.

Three total points a few more Sundays will get you and whoever else a front row seat in next spring’s draft in Chicago and maybe a kick in the rear as the Vikings enter the new stadium in the fall.

//

//pagead2.googlesyndication.com/pagead/js/adsbygoogle.js

(adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({});