Vikings 23 Texans 35 We will not be able to shutdown Peterson (see Cushing, Bryan, vs. Jets ), who will garner more than 150 yards. Schaub will be able to shred their defensive secondary to pieces. No pass rush from the Vikes. ¡¡¡VAMOS, TEXANS!!!!!
I still remember when Ponder shredded us in preseason last year and so will the Texans. Go Texans! Remember the Preseason! Bulls 28 Vikes 17
problem with stuffing the box is AP frequently gets to the second level and now you have no one to stop him
I would take that chance in hopes that JJ can disrupt things enough to prevent him from getting to the second level. Either way, we need to figure out how to take away their only weapon.
A game that we all want to win, but most are going to overlook the Vikings as a serious opponent. We have it in our heads that the Vikings are a mediocre also ran with nothing going on besides Adrian Peterson's season....but take another look and you realize that this is a focused and dangerous squad with one foot in the playoffs and serious determination to keep their berth. Defenses know that they can't pass for crap....and yet they still are the #4 rushing team in the league with every opponent stacking the box. That can't be dismissed. Peterson is having one of the all time great seasons in the history of RBs, and their front line is one of the best in the league. Texans would do well to consider different wrinkles going into this game. Teams have found they can pick on Mercilus running to his side. It may be worthwhile to use him more selectively (3rd and long), return to Barwin on the weakside for 1st and 2nd downs, and shift Ruud or Sharpton over to SOLB to play the run. There's not a lot of sense in using both rush specialists on 1st down against a team that is 29th in passing attempts this season. Much more important to control the gaps. Minnesota's also a stout running defense (#8, YPC; Football Outsiders ranks them #9 against the run). It'll be a little tougher than normal to establish Foster in the first half. Jared Allen and Kevin Williams are constantly making it a tall order to open holes on the offense's left side. Robison is a Houston guy that'll be excited to come home, but I'd rather take my chances with Jones and Newton going after the left side of the Viking's D-Line Sunday. Given Kubiak's tendency to start games with a open throttle passing assault before pulling back the reins, the above shouldn't be a major concern. Vikings aren't awful against the pass, but they are at least soft in that area (FO rank: #26). Might be a good game to let Johnson, Daniels, and Posey loose. As we all know, the last guy we want to see much of is Jared Allen. Hopefully, we keep Schaub clean from any dirt hits coming from his direction. Absolutely, the biggest key to this game is realizing these guys are coming to town ready to play their best game of the season...and they've already knocked off the likes of SF and Chicago this year. Time to tune up for the postseason with a show of playoff intensity. Texans 30 - Vikings 23
Yeah, will be interesting to see Wade's gameplan. Do you stay back to prevent the homerun and risk him wearing out the defense over 4 quarters hoping to stop them in the red zone or be aggressive and try to get off the field? Like has been said before, we really need to try to build up a quick lead and go for the jugular early, either forcing them to pass or just prevent the homerun by AP.
We may not be able to stop Peterson but the key to this game will be our offense. Keep each drive going as long as possible in order to keep Peterson on the bench.
A huge motivating factor for the Texans should be that if they do win this game, most of the starters and other injury riddled players will have three weeks to prepare for their first playoff game. (I'm looking at you Jonathon Joseph).
Unlike the Ravens, the Vikings won't abandon the run if they trail early. And they know better than to try and depend on Ponder against our pass rush, especially with no Percy Harvin.
Really looking forward to this. I want to see how good our run D is. AP should get lots of yards for his record attempt and we should get the W. Even if Ponder plays decently, I'm not too concerned about their receivers with the exception of Harvin. KJ can contain him well. I don't the Vikings will fight as hard for this game as most think. They need to beat the Packers after us and have the the Giants lose for them to remain the postseason race. Too many variables. I think they will fight, but not with super-determination. We'll see who it wants it more though.
I have a bad feeling about this game from the standpoint of AP being unstoppable and this vulnerable D other than Watt.
If Kubiak calls the same bonehead plays he called against the colts, we will lose this game. Let Schaub throw the ball. If you don't have faith in him to do it well, find someone who can.
