Game thread: Minnesota vs. Green Bay, 9/16/18

[nodakfan17]

^^^

 

I’m actually advocating for less replay (no automatic reviews, max of 2 challenges per coach). I just want to see the scope of reviewable plays expanded. I accept that refs are human and prone to errors in judgement. I just want some recourse for reversing truly bad calls, including penalties.

 

And yes, I think the Clay Matthews hit is still a penalty (barely) upon review.

[stoutdude04]

^^^

 

 

And yes, I think the Clay Matthews hit is still a penalty (barely) upon review.

 

I am surprised you think this. What was it about that tackle that makes it a penalty? He didn't lift him in the air and when he came down he came down off to the side and rolled off immediately. I am curious what you see differently.

[pacopete4]

If Matthews hit is truly a penalty by rule, I'm done with that silly league. It was a perfect wrap and tackle. You can't do it any better than he did.

[nodakfan17]

^^^

 

 

And yes, I think the Clay Matthews hit is still a penalty (barely) upon review.

 

I am surprised you think this. What was it about that tackle that makes it a penalty? He didn't lift him in the air and when he came down he came down off to the side and rolled off immediately. I am curious what you see differently.

You are correct on all counts. Had there been no call, I would be praising Matthews for a great play. However, if I’m being completely objective, I thought he was a millisecond late. The ball was already out. At full speed, I don’t think think the defender can stop (but that’s the rule as it stands).

[OldSchoolSnapper]

The Vikings get even better signing Dan Bailey today. I'm not sure there's a weakness on that roster.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

^^^

 

 

And yes, I think the Clay Matthews hit is still a penalty (barely) upon review.

 

I am surprised you think this. What was it about that tackle that makes it a penalty? He didn't lift him in the air and when he came down he came down off to the side and rolled off immediately. I am curious what you see differently.

You are correct on all counts. Had there been no call, I would be praising Matthews for a great play. However, if I’m being completely objective, I thought he was a millisecond late. The ball was already out. At full speed, I don’t think think the defender can stop (but that’s the rule as it stands).

 

The pressure from Matthews hurried Cousins' throw, which caused the interception. It was a perfect textbook tackle, one that any youth coach would show his players. Matthews was making contact as the ball came out of Cousins' hand. There was literally nothing he could have done better on that play.

 

Also, the referee said the penalty was called because he interpreted it as Matthews lifting Cousins, which just wasn't the case. There was nothing about it being a late hit. It was just a bad call ... as was the late hit on Kendricks earlier in the game. Refs shouldn't be deciding the outcome of games.

 

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The Vikings get even better signing Dan Bailey today. I'm not sure there's a weakness on that roster.

 

Its funny that the Vikings apparently have no weaknesses, yet the Packers have them all over, when you take yesterday's game and the final score into account.

 

The NFL wanted parity, and they have it. Five bad teams and 27 average ones.

[FVBrewerFan]

If Matthews hit is truly a penalty by rule, I'm done with that silly league. It was a perfect wrap and tackle. You can't do it any better than he did.

 

I don't think it's a penalty by rule. However, (as noda suggested) if you make everything reviewable including penalties I bet that call on Matthews does not get overturned. The league is emphasizing it so much, they don't change the call.

 

Really wish I didn't love Packer football as much as I do, because I hate so many things about the NFL rules these days. I mean look at what we're doing, most of the conversation is about the refs- and didn't even mention the phantom holding penalty, ticky tack call on Adams, ripping Grahams arm down before the ball was there, etc. All the illegal contact, holding, etc. is always so wildly inconsistent.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

...Who's saying the Packers have weaknesses all over? I don't think anyone has said that.

 

But where is the Vikings roster weak, on paper? OL is all I can point to, and they are missing starters with injuries. They had three backups in at one point yesterday. RB? WR? Nope, nope. The entire defense is loaded.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

...Who's saying the Packers have weaknesses all over? I don't think anyone has said that.

 

But where is the Vikings roster weak, on paper? OL is all I can point to, and they are missing starters with injuries. They had three backups in at one point yesterday. RB? WR? Nope, nope. The entire defense is loaded.

 

OL is also arguably the most important position group. The Packers' crappy pass rush and the inability to finish was all that was standing in the way of about 7-8 sacks yesterday. There were guys in Cousins' lap all game. I give him credit for standing tall in the pocket and delivering strikes in the face of a lot of pressure.

[nodakfan17]

The optimist in me says the Vikings just wasted a 5th round draft pick. They may not have many shortcomings now, but this is a week to week league. Let’s not worry about them until Thanksgiving.

[pacopete4]

The Vikings get even better signing Dan Bailey today. I'm not sure there's a weakness on that roster.

 

I get that you are really down on the Packers right now but they just took that team to a tie (and what should have been a win). So if that team doesn't have a weakness, I guess we are in pretty good shape moving forward. Especially if Rodgers gets to 100%.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

The optimist in me says the Vikings just wasted a 5th round draft pick. They may not have many shortcomings now, but this is a week to week league. Let’s not worry about them until Thanksgiving.

 

Cole Madison says "Hold my beer!"

[MrTPlush]

If you think that was a penalty, even after the fact, you don't know the rules.

 

Which is fine because neither does the NFL or the Nfl'S Refs.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I think that Vikings team is far away better than ours. They can still blow out an ACL but I think they are the favorites. To put it another way, I see us performing a lot worse in their house than they did in ours. They had a ton go wrong yesterday and should have won...after they should have lost, but still.

[nodakfan17]

The optimist in me says the Vikings just wasted a 5th round draft pick. They may not have many shortcomings now, but this is a week to week league. Let’s not worry about them until Thanksgiving.

 

Cole Madison says "Hold my beer!"

 

Ha. Well played.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

I think that Vikings team is far away better than ours. They can still blow out an ACL but I think they are the favorites. To put it another way, I see us performing a lot worse in their house than they did in ours. They had a ton go wrong yesterday and should have won...after they should have lost, but still.

 

The "Lambeau Mystique" home field advantage hasn't been around for years. Very few teams have any sort of home field advantage anymore.

 

The Packers played well enough to win yesterday at least until midway through the 4th quarter, and had several chances to put the Vikings away in regulation. They didn't. Instead, they tied. I see these teams as very evenly matched. The Vikings are good on paper. The Vikings are always good on paper.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

I'm not talking about any Lambeau Mystique but I'll argue all day that the Packers are better off against that team at home than they are in Minnesota.

 

There are certain teams with whom the Packers are night and day home/away.

 

You think the Packers would play Atlanta or New Orleans as well in their domes than at Lambeau? I don't. If we're talking about the Dolphins and Redskins then I don't think it makes a lick of difference. But the Vikings and the environment they cultivate when they play the Packers? Yes, absolutely think it makes a difference.

[FVBrewerFan]

I'm not talking about any Lambeau Mystique but I'll argue all day that the Packers are better off against that team at home than they are in Minnesota.

 

There are certain teams with whom the Packers are night and day home/away.

 

You think the Packers would play Atlanta or New Orleans as well in their domes than at Lambeau? I don't. If we're talking about the Dolphins and Redskins then I don't think it makes a lick of difference. But the Vikings and the environment they cultivate when they play the Packers? Yes, absolutely think it makes a difference.

 

Since the Packers biggest strength is their passing game, I would argue domes are a perfect venue for them. They won playoff games in Atlanta, Dallas, could be forgetting one. I won't deny a HF advantage, but I think it's very small these days.

[OldSchoolSnapper]

For their offense maybe, but their defense cannot play fast, at least not up to this point. I'm not really using what they did in 2010 as a criteria for the current ability. Dom Caper's defenses had some dreadful performances in New Orleans and Atlanta. This defense is definitely faster even if it isn't better at all.

 

I'm looking forward (not really) to the 10/28 game in LA as a true litmus test for this team.

[Ron Robinsons Beard]

For their offense maybe, but their defense cannot play fast, at least not up to this point. I'm not really using what they did in 2010 as a criteria for the current ability. Dom Caper's defenses had some dreadful performances in New Orleans and Atlanta. This defense is definitely faster even if it isn't better at all.

 

I'm looking forward (not really) to the 10/28 game in LA as a true litmus test for this team.

 

I'm looking forward to all the games. Yesterday's game result kinda sucked, but if I wasn't looking forward to watching, I wouldn't be a fan.

[homer]

The optimist in me says the Vikings just wasted a 5th round draft pick. They may not have many shortcomings now, but this is a week to week league. Let’s not worry about them until Thanksgiving.

 

Cole Madison says "Hold my beer!"

 

I was thinking about him last night. Pure speculation but given the secrecy and the stigma I'm wondering if it isn't some mental health issue.

[homer]

Packers @ Minnesota recent history:

 

2017 loss (Rodgers played 8 snaps)

2016 loss

2015 win

2014 win

2013 win

2012 loss

2011 win

2010 win

2009 loss

2008 loss

 

So they're .500 with Rodgers @ Minnesota including the game where he was hurt early.

[MrTPlush]

Lol the NFL confirmed the Matthews hit was a penalty. I will just assume they don’t want to admit it. Definitely not going out of my way to turn football on anymore. Maybe catch some of the Packers games, but anyone else? No thanks...won’t support this trash. I have better ways to waste my life. Unfortunately I agreed to do a $50 league this year so I have to pay attention enough where I don’t feel like I am flushing that money down the toilet.

[NeedMoreFans]

I'm pretty much there as well. I'll still watch the Packer games when I'm home, but I really don't care about other NFL. It has been slowly becoming painful to watch; catch or not, ridiculous amounts of penalties, injuries, etc... Ratings are down for a reason.