Vikings 28, Texans 0 : Preseason Finale and Regular Season Thoughts

        Welcome back everyone. Today is a big day for every NFL team around the league and a hard day for many players. 27 players that have been working their tails off for the past 6 weeks are going to be either sent down to a practice squad or become a free agent and need to start brushing up on their insurance sales skills.We also found out today that Kevin Williams will be suspended for the first 2 games of the season, finally putting to rest the ridiculous StarCaps case that has drawn out for the past 3 years. One final piece of news: Odin's Eye recently hit 1,000 views!  To hit such a nice benchmark after only a month of existence is giving me some pretty good vibes. Thanks for reading everybody, I'll try my best to keep this stuff interesting. With all that said, let's get to last night's game, then I'll give some predictions the upcoming season in the NFC North Division.


Things I Liked:

Leaving defenders in his wake.

CP7. Christian Ponder looked like a decent quarterback last night. He still looked like a rookie to me, though. He had several late reads and another handful of missed targets. Ponder still isn't making NFL starter throws,  but his athleticism and improvisation ability is impressive. 8 runs for 61 yards for a quarterback isn't something most of us have been used to seeing the past oh, 6 years or so, and he also eluded some pretty fierce pass rushes in order to do so (but save us the spikes in blood pressure and learn how to slide please, Christian).  It was a little disheartening to see that Jake Locker went 15/17 with a touchdown on the ground and through the air for Tennessee, he looks like the real deal, but Ponder looks like he has the makings of a good QB as well. Just not yet.

Awasom, just Awasom.

Adrian Awasom. THIS GUY *Jon Gruden voice* needs to make the team if for no other reason than for his last name. He picked up 2 sacks, on one of which he stripped Texans rookie quarterback T.J. Yates. Awasom also caused a couple other rushed throws and that could be just enough to put him on the roster. However, if the front office chooses Stylez G. White over him, I suppose I won't be completely heartbroken.

'King of the night?

Caleb King. The Vikings just picked Caleb King up as an undrafted free agent after the Supplemental Draft, and he put the ball in the end zone twice. Just as I said above, that could be enough to at least put this rookie on our practice squad. We are pretty set as it is with our three RB's that didn't touch the field last night, but he looks good enough to give a slot on the practice squad.

The Godfather.

Chris Kluwe. He dropped two punts within the Texans' 10 yard line in the 1st quarter and he made up the name for the blog. Those two things combined get him a mention in this week's edition. If you have Twitter, follow him. (@ChrisWarcraft) He probably could get a mention every week under 'things I liked' just for how funny he is on there.


Things I Didn't Like:

Nothing! When you win 28-0 and no one is hurt, there can't be much to complain about. The defense and offense both had lapses and the Texans committed some drive-crippling penalties, but that's why they are playing in the 4th game of the preseason in the first place. Most of the guys that played extended time last night ideally won't be on the field much during the regular season. No one was hurt badly this entire preseason, the Vikings are headed into the opener pretty much completely healthy, and I'm excited to finally see some real f*cking football.

My Predictions for the NFC North:

Green Bay Packers. - They bring back almost every starter from their Super Bowl winning team of last year, they're healthy, and Aaron Rodgers is still getting better. It is going to be very tough to beat this Packers team as long as they stay healthy. I expect them to win the division and compete for home-field advantage in the playoffs. Damn, that last sentence really stings, eh?

Final Record: 13-3

Chicago Bears. -Coming off of 6 straight Pro Bowls, Lance Briggs is now requesting a trade as of today and creating a lovely distraction for my most hated team. Roy Williams was supposed to come in and give them a legitimate receiver. Turns out he likes to drop just as many balls and suck just as badly as he did in Dallas. Vernon Gholston was supposed to have a career rebirth here as a down lineman after 3 years in NY as an outside linebacker, he's already been cut. Their offensive line is just as bad as it was last year and I do not expect them to catch the breaks they did this time around. Their defense is still the same one it has been forever, but one year older. It will always be tough to beat the Bears for our Vikings, but overall I expect them to sink back into mediocrity.

Final Record: 7-9

Detroit Lions. - I'll say it straight up, Matthew Stafford looks like a f'ing stud horse this preseason. By all accounts, he is making some pretty sick throws so far and if he stays healthy, this could be a playoff contender. These are the Lions though, and until I see Matt Stafford make it through more than a quarter of a regular season of football, I can't just hand them a nice prediction. Their defensive backfield is still awful and again, these are the Lions. Detroit is just a black hole for any positive possibility. 

Final Record: 8-8

Minnesota Vikings. - Call me a homer, but I have high hopes for this year's team. Donny Mac looks comfortable as our quarterback, moreso than he ever did in Washington. People so soon forget how great of a player he was before last season. Adrian Peterson is not declining. He will still be the best runner in the league. Last year, sh*t went all haywire for the entire team and it seemed like everything that could possibly go wrong, did. Sure, that seems to happen to the Vikings a lot, but in my time as a fan we have always bounced back quickly. I think Percy Harvin will establish himself as an elite weapon in the league this year, Bill Musgrave will get a lot more out of the entire offense in general than Bevell or the KAO ever did, and maybe the defense will even make some plays. This year ain't our year, but it won't be anywhere near as ugly as it was last year. We will compete for the playoffs and maybe even pull out a playoff win before getting bounced by a more elite team like the Falcons, Packers or Eagles. It bears repeating though that this season will be without a doubt, more fun to watch than last season. I guarantee that.

Final Record: 10-6

NFC Championship: Packers 34, Eagles 20

AFC Championship: Ravens 27,  Jets 17


Super Bowl: Packers 24, Ravens 20. I'm sorry to say that as I look at this Packers team and think about how they tore through the playoffs while still missing some important players, I can't help but feel like as long as they are healthy they will be the best team in the league. Jermichael Finley is a beast of a TE and if he stays on the field he will make the Pro Bowl, mark my words. Aaron Rodgers is still going to get better, which is scary. He is amazing at eluding pass rushers in the pocket, throwing on the run and hitting his receivers where only they can make a play on the ball. Damn him for being a Packer.The Falcons and Eagles also have a good chance of making a run in the playoffs. The Falcons' offense and the Eagles' secondary both have scary potential.The Ravens have been close to getting over the hump (a.k.a. the Steelers) for the past two years, and I believe this year might finally be their year. They added a great deep threat in Lee Evans that might still have something in him as well as Andre Gurode for their OL. They were only a play or two away from bouncing the Steelers last year in the playoffs, and I'm sayin' this year is the year Joe Flacco finally outduels Big Ben. The Pats have a good chance as always, given they don't blow their third straight home playoff game. The Steelers and Jets will also be in the mix, but I'm predicting how the season is going to end a week before the regular season opener. Take it for what it is. In the NFL, anything can happen. That's why we all love it. I know I'll probably be wrong, but if I'm right, I get to brag about it forever like some kind of football prophet. It's worth the gamble.

Now, it's Friday night and my only day off until Tuesday. Here's a little Ludacris for ya. Have a good Friday night... it's a celebration, bitches.