Winning feels great, doesn’t it? Especially when you are on a three-game tear. But, what feels better than three in a row?

Four in a row.

Everything was going against the Minnesota Vikings last Sunday versus the New York Jets. We struggled with being on the road, the wind, and injuries. Oh, and yes, we struggled with field goal kicking once again. But, the Vikings battled through adversity and won a game that they should have won. It was a business trip and they closed the deal. We as fans should be proud of our men.

Moreover, the Vikings still need to play better, as we have not hit our fullest potential on both sides of the ball yet.

On to primetime against the New Orleans Saints.

There has been a quiet rivalry brewing in the NFL, going unnoticed since the classic 2009 NFC Championship game. In the upcoming matchup, the Saints will be looking for revenge, and the Vikings are looking to prove last year’s playoff win was not a fluke.

Revenge is more fearful than trying to prove oneself.

The Vikings have many variables going against them such as injuries, a mediocre offensive line, and backups having to step up on defense. The New Orleans Saints are an offensive juggernaut and can be scary on defense. But, the Vikes have two variables that can aid them to victory. Yes, his name is Kirk Cousins. This is his next big chance to show us that he can win the big game for the Vikings. The next variable is home field advantage. The Saints cannot come in and push The Purple around at home. Look for the fans to make a big difference on Sunday.

The Narrative.

We can talk about our defense and what they can overcome by playing lights out, but the probability of that happening is 35/65. This game will be all about offense. If Latavius Murray runs for a minimum of 100 yards, we have a high probability of winning. Luckily, he is on a roll. Since his running game is based on momentum, look for a big primetime game from him.

Thielen is hot, and Stefon Diggs has historically had bigtime games on Sunday Night Football. It is just a matter of putting the ball in their hands. So, show us the money, Kirk! This is what the front office is paying him for, and historically he has been mediocre on primetime games. But, that was with a mediocre Washington team. Hopefully, it will be a different story with the Minnesota Vikings.

So, what is the narrative in which the NFL wants for Sunday’s showdown?

The New Orleans Saints look for revenge as the Vikings try to prove that their win last year in the playoffs wasn’t a miracle. There is a new sheriff in town named Kirk Cousins, ready to gun sling, shot for shot with an outlaw named Drew Brees. Will the Vikings prevent an old western train robbery?

The NFL wants a shootout, and that is what it will be. There will be many flags thrown on both defensive teams, and the game will be determined by special teams and how well their quarterback plays.

Lastly, this will be Adam Thielen’s breakout game on national TV, but do not count out Stefon Diggs to have 100 yards either.

Prediction.

Vikes 42 – Saints 35

Boom. Boom. SKOL.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing and for me to be able to create more content you can make a donation to either of these links:

Venmo or Patreon

Dalvin Cook last year, and now Mike Hughes this year. It’s as if the Minnesota Vikings cannot have nice things such as young affordable star draft picks, or nice shiny toys in general unless we go out and pay 87 million dollars for them. How many more first-round draft picks need to continue to be injury ridden like this?

Let’s wish Hughes a healthy recovery and monster return.

Teddy Bridgewater could have been starting against us in this up and coming game against the Big Apple Jets. If the New York Giants would have selected Sam Darnold, then the complexion of this matchup would have been epic. But, I like the field general that we have right now, Kirk Cousins. But first, here are my quick thoughts on the win against the Arizona Cardinals.

Josh Rosen will be a star in this league. If he had any offensive weapons and a the slightest of a better offensive line, this game would have been a different story. Rosen is going to be the best quarterback out of all of the QB prospects in this past year’s draft. He just so happened to go to the team with the least amount of talent. Once the Cardinals build around him, Arizona will be back in business.

Here is a quick question. Why won’t Larry Fitzgerald come to Minnesota and finish his career here? Wouldn’t that be amazing? Please be a Viking.

Getting back on track here.

This game could have been played against Sam Bradford. What another grand NFL narrative that could have taken place. “The Minnesota Vikings will be facing two of their former starting quarterbacks in back to back weeks,” says Colin Cowherd. He never said that because due to the chain of events that have happened it did not lead to this, but try to imagine every NFL analyst saying this to hype up a historic two weeks in NFL history.

There have been several quarterbacks who have switched teams and have gone playing indoors to outdoors. But, not so many have done the opposite.
Cousins has shown us that he doesn’t play as well at US Bank Stadium indoors as he does on the road outside. It would be fascinating to see how many starting quarterbacks who have played predominately outdoors, who have moved to another team playing indoors have done statistically. The only one that comes to mind was Brett Favre when he played for the Vikings in 2009. Even he took a few games to adjust, and I am hoping for the same with Cousins.

Overall, I am happy about this win. It was an excellent game to take care of business, spark the confidence of the run game, and to see what kind of depth that we have on defense.

The Big Apple versus The Minnie Apple.

Last week was a week to see our depth at safety, and now this week our week will be a test of our depth at cornerback with the ACL tear of Mike Hughes, putting him on IR.

The Vikings need to continue building their confidence in the run game from last week, and most importantly we need to take advantage of Sam Darnold’s tendency to throw interceptions. Look for our defense to force some interceptions, and hopefully a pick six. This will all start with our pass rush, led by Danielle Hunter, forcing bad throws to the outside. If we can take advantage of their week offensive line, it would be great to see a pick six and a forced fumble on the road, which would take a lot of pressure off of the Vikings Offense.

Look for a big game from Kirk Cousins. As mentioned before, he has been great while playing outdoors. He will throw for 300 plus yards, with a third of those going to Adam Thielen. With that, Diggs will havea massive game-breaking play. MetLife Stadium is a field that he is familiar with, being a vast leadership factor that he brings to the table this weekend.

Vikings 31 – Jets 17.

Boom. Boom. SKOL.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing and for me to be able to create more content you can make a donation to either of these links:

Venmo or Patreon

Offense, Offense, Offense. For the Vikings to be better than last season, which we still can be, we need to win out and run the table. If we go 13-2-1, we will technically improve upon from last season. This team has the potential to become the up and coming premiere passing team in the league.

Here are my thoughts on last Thursday’s offensive shootout between The Mighty Vikes and The Hollywood Rams.

Our receiving core will continue to progress, and with zero run game, aerial attack will be the main staple of the offense. As I said in my last article giving my analysis about the upcoming game, our offense needs to rush for at least 200 yards a game for us to win. Well, 100 yards would be a good start. Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray have to find other ways to be useful such as blocking, screen passes, and punching the ball down the field for one or two yards. The Vikings are failing to realize that Dalvin Cook is bitten with the injury bug. Getting hurt like that as a rookie does not help a career. Look at how mediocre Deshaun Watson is with the Houston Texans.

Dear Mr. Cousins, step up in the pocket and get rid of the ball. Please eliminate all of these fumbles. 

Make Latavius Murray our number one running back. He used to be a star with Oakland, so let him be a star here. Let him run the ball, and make Cook a passing option until he can figure out in his head how to be a great tailback again.

With that, our offensive line needs to create bigger holes for our running backs. Did you see how big the holes the Rams O-line made for Todd Gurley?

With the way the NFL has changed the game, don’t expect for the Vikings to win games with their defense anymore. For us to be competitive, we need to change our mindset to be an offensive team. The emergence of our offense has confused our identity, and with the struggling start to the season we’ve had this is the change we need.

Defensively, ever since the NFC Championship game last year (2017) we have been playing as if a ghost has haunted us. Doug Pederson exposed us last year, and the rest of the league has used that game as a blueprint to crush our defense.

With the unfortunate loss of Everson Griffin, we have lost an emotional leader in the locker room. Danielle Hunter needs to step up in a leadership role this season. Last, why is Anthony bar so damn slow? Since 2016, he has now shown us that he will have a good year (2015), then a bad year (2016), then another great year (2017), then another mediocre season (2018 thus far).

Barr got picked on by Cooper Kupp and Jared Goff all night last Thursday, like a skinny snot-nosed nerd on the playground in front of his hometown in LA. To be put simply, Barr is not playing with any pride and has become complacent, which is the best word to describe our defensive play.

Last, Harrison Smith and Andrew Sendejo need to step up and make their tackles. Look to see George Iloka more in the mix. He has been a starter his whole career, and he is the player with that type of hunger in which we need on the field.

Let’s go bird hunting on Sunday. Fly Eagles, crash and burn. This is America’s game of the week on Fox and the most pivotal point in our season. No team has gone 1-3-1 to start the season and has made the playoffs. No team. Let me repeat, no team.

Stefon Diggs has historically had big games under big stages on National television. Look to see him do the same this Sunday.

If and when the Vikings avenge their NFC Championship game from last year, looking at the remainder of their schedule, they will run the table and win the rest of their games. I am calling it. But, that is if and only if they beat the Philadelphia Eagles on Sunday.

Moreover, play with an offensive mindset. When we run the ball, two yards are better than none. Defense, figure it out.

Vikings 28- Eagles 21.

Boom. Boom. SKOL.

Remember,

“The Zos Knows”

-David Zosel 

If you want to support my writing and for me to be able to create more content you can make a donation to either of these links:

Venmo or Patreon