Quote Originally Posted by Phantaroth
Quote Originally Posted by Lukie
I can't jump on the Vikings bandwagon. Playoffs-- maybe, but they aren't even the best team in the NFCn (GB). Here's why I think they get so much love.

Tier 1 NFL fans: Madden players who are all about the passing game and throwing 40 yard bombs to fast/tall receivers, hence love for the passing game.

Tier 2 NFL fans: Realize the importance of running the football and the absolute *necessity* for good line play to be a good football team. True, and the Vikes have a supurb left side of the O-line, and just picked up a premier edge-pass rusher, so it makes them a trendy pick. But...

Tier 3 NFL fans: Look at their freaking passing game. QB, receivers, TE. Look at the teams that have been winning the big one. Off the top of my head:

E. Manning, not an elite QB, *BUT PLAYED LIKE ONE ALL POST-SEASON*. The best d-line in 2007 that stepped up in the playoffs and particularly against brady's bunch didn't hurt, of course. Strahand, Uminyoouraruiraa, Tuck, etc.

P. Manning, Reggie Wayne, Marvin Harrison, Dallas Clark, Tarik Glenn, Jeff Saturday, et al. 'Nuff Said.

Before that, Ben Worthlessburger and the Pittsburgh squeelers. Cowher built that team to be a tough, smash mouth football team (they earned that reputation), but they've been transitioning over to more of a spread attack ever since they drafted big ben, who is a big time underrated QB (has been for a while).

The 2 sb's prior to that, xxxix and xxxiix (39 and 38 to normal people)-- tom brady, nuff said. possibly underrated/underappreciated back then, not anymore.

Going back further we can talk about more sick defense-- pass rush in particular with simeon rice, warren sapp, more tom brady, ray lewis, john elway, blah blah blah.

The point being: birk, hutch, bryant, APAD, both williams + J.A. is a nice corps group, good chance they even make the playoffs.

But Tavaris Jackson, Bobby Wade, and Sidney Rice, *winning a super bowl*?



BWAHHAHAHAHAHAHAHAAAAAAAAAAAA

Bobby Wade, Sidney Rice, and Bernard Berrian is solid. Their running game is the best in the NFC, which I still think is weaker than the AFC.

I do not think the Packers are as good as they played last year, and the rest of the division blows.

Vikings will grind out the regular season, and once they get into the playoffs - their top notch defense and running game will get them to the title game.

IMO
I think the packers are a real solid team. Top to bottom, they have a strong roster. Vikes are really top heavy-- hence a bunch of pro-bowlers but only 8 wins in the NFC.

I think they are a good team, just not super bowl contenders, that's all. They are clearly getting better.