NFL 100: A Spotlight
When it comes to great offenses in NFL history, you have to certainly talk about the 1998 Minnesota Vikings. Yes, I talked about the 1999 Rams earlier this season, and certainly there has to be some mention to the team who really kept the West Coast offense alive.
The team really came into fruition after many playoff seasons for Dennis Green. While Green won one playoff game since taking the head coaching job in 1992, it would be the entrance of one rookie that really set the pace for the team. In the 1998 NFL Draft, the Vikings took wide receiver Randy Moss, 21th overall, in the first round. It was a risky move but the Vikings made it work with the arm of Randall Cunningham and a plethora of weapons.
Cunningham was having a career renaissance after many seasons in Philadelphia and was the captain of the ship. Cunningham had running backs Leroy Hoard and Robert Smith. He had wide receivers Cris Carter, Randy Moss, Jake Reed and Andrew Glover. They finished the season with 556 points, good enough for 34.8 points/game, good enough for the #1 spot in points.
The Vikings defense wasn't quite as great but they were captained by John Randle. Randle, an undrafted player from Texas A&M-Kingsville, was the rock that reminded Vikings fans of the old days of the Purple People Eaters defense from the 1960s to 1970s. Corey Fuller, and Roberth Griffith joined him along with the rest of the defensive unit. They finished the year with 296 points allowed, or 18.5 points/game, 6th in the NFL in points allowed.
One of the biggest highlights of the season was a Week 13 game against the Dallas Cowboys at Texas Stadium on Thanksgiving. It was a defensive slaughter for both teams as the Vikings won 46-36. Randy Moss caught three Cunningham passes for 163 yards for three touchdowns. For those math nerds out there that's 54.3 yards per catch.
Unfortunately, the great season ended with a heartbreaking loss in the NFC championship game against the Atlanta Falcons. Atlanta would win the game 30-27 after a missed field goal attempt from Gary Anderson, who had not missed a field goal all season, would fail in the clutch. The Vikings became the first team to not reach the Super Bowl with a 15-1 record. While they may not have won a ring, they were certainly a great team to watch.
Week 7 Recap
Kansas City 30, Denver 6: TW: Chiefs; CV: Chiefs
Patrick Mahomes might be out but the Chiefs defense stepped up big. Before the injury Mahomes had 76 passing yards with a touchdown before leaving the game with a knee injury. Veteran Matt Moore finished the job with 117 passing yards with a touchdown. LeSean McCoy had 64 rushing yards in the game. Joe Flacco could only get 213 yards with zero touchdowns. Royce Freeman would get the only touchdown for the Broncos with his 35 rushing.
All-time series: Chiefs lead series 64-55
Next week: Kansas City: vs Green Bay; Denver: @ Indianapolis
TW: 1-0; CV: 1-0
Miami 21, Buffalo 31: TW: Bills; CV: Bills
The Dolphins stay winless. Ryan Fitzpatrick threw the ball for 282 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Mark Walton was the leading rusher for the Dolphins with 66 yards but both Ryan Fitzpatrick and Kalen Ballage would get rushing touchdowns. Josh Allen had a good day with 202 yards with two touchdowns. More rather of a game manager than a gunslinger. Frank Gore was the leading rusher with 55 for the Bills. Steven Hauschka had a busy day hitting all three of his field goals successfully.
All-time series: Dolphins lead series 61-49-1
Next week: Miami: @ Pittsburgh (Monday night); Buffalo: vs Philadelphia
TW: 2-0; CV: 2-0
LA Rams 37, Atlanta 10: TW: Rams; CV: Rams
Jalen Ramsey's arrival certainly gave the Rams a boost. Jared Goff seemed to be back on track with his 268 yards passing with two touchdowns. Todd Gurley ran the ball for 41 yards giving the leading rusher honors for the Rams. Matt Ryan would start the game and threw for 159 yards but would not finish the game, due to an ankle injury. Backup Matt Schaub would get 56 yards passing with a touchdown. Devonta Freeman would only get seven carries with 19 yards, a poor production. That seat is getting a little warmer for Atlanta head coach Dan Quinn.
All-time series: Rams lead series 48-30-2
Next week: LA Rams: vs Cincinnati (London); Atlanta: vs Seattle
TW: 3-0; CV: 3-0
Minnesota 42, Detroit 30: TW: Vikings; CV: Vikings
The two-headed monster of Kirk Cousins and Dalvin Cook continued to preyed on their competition. Kirk Cousins threw the ball for 337 with four touchdowns. Dalvin Cook ran the ball for 142 yards with two touchdowns, another great day for him. Stephon Diggs had 142 receiving yards. Matthew Stafford had a similar good day with 364 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. JD McKissic and Ty Johnson lead rushing yards with 29 each. Poor Lions.
All-time series: Vikings lead series 75-39-2
Next week: Minnesota: vs Washington (Thursday night); Detroit: vs NY Giants
TW: 4-0; CV: 4-0
Oakland 24, Green Bay 42: TW: Packers; CV: Packers
To say that Aaron Rodgers had a good day was an understatement. Derek Carr threw the ball for 293 yards with two touchdowns and an interception (let alone a red-zone interception). Josh Jacobs had a good day running the ball with 124 yards with zero touchdowns. Aaron Rodgers became the first Packers quarterback to finish the game with a perfect rating. He threw the ball for 429 yards with five touchdowns as well as a rushing touchdown. Aaron Jones finished the day with 50 yards from the ground.
All-time series: Packers lead series 9-5
Next week: Oakland: @ Houston; Green Bay: @ Kansas City
TW: 5-0; CV: 5-0
San Francisco 9, Washington 0: TW: 49ers; CV: 49ers
Robbie Gould provided the only offense in the game. Jimmy Garoppolo threw the ball for 121 yards with an interception. Tevin Coleman had 62 yards rushing with zero touchdowns. Case Keenum started for the Redskins with 77 passing yards. Adrian Peterson outgained his quarterback in terms of yardage with 81 yards (from the ground). Washington is awful and the 49ers defense is pretty legit that they would win the game 3-0 if at all possible.
All-time series: 49ers lead series 21-11-1
Next week: San Francisco: vs Carolina; Washington: @ Minnesota (Thursday night)
TW: 6-0; CV: 6-0
Jacksonville 27, Cincinnati 17: TW: Bengals; CV: Jaguars
Minshewmania returned to form as I picked against them, le sigh. Gardner Minshew threw the ball for 255 yards with one touchdown. Leonard Fournette ran the ball for 131 yards, giving him leading rusher honors for the Jags. Andy Dalton was put into a tough situation but made the best of it with 276 yards passing with a one touchdown and three interceptions. Dalton was the leading rusher with 33 as Joe Mixon ran the ball for a measly 2 yards on 10 carries. Dalton ran in for a rushing touchdown. Just so you know, the Bengals and the Dolphins play in Week 16.
All-time series: Jacksonville lead series 13-9
Next week: Jacksonville: vs NY Jets; Cincinnati: @ LA Rams (London)
TW: 6-1; CV: 7-0
Houston 23, Indianapolis 30: TW: Texans; CV: Texans
Why do you do this to me, Houston? I pick you, you lose, I pick against you, you win... sigh. DeShaun Watson threw the ball for 308 yards for one touchdown and threw two interceptions. Carlos Hyde could only get 35 yards rushing on 12 carries. Jacoby Brissett proved us again that he can win games for the Colts as he threw the ball for 326 yards with four touchdowns. Marlon Mack ran the ball for 44 yards with zero touchdowns. Fuck you Houston!
All-time series: Colts lead series 28-8
Next week: Houston: vs Oakland; Indianapolis: vs Denver
TW: 6-2; CV: 7-1
Arizona 27, NY Giants 21: TW: Giants; CV: Cardinals
The Giants kept Kyler Murray out of his element. They just forgot to defend against Chase Edmonds. Kyler Murray threw the ball for 104 yards with zero touchdowns while getting 28 yards rushing. Chase Edmonds ran over the Giants rush defense with 126 yards from the ground for three touchdowns. Daniel Jones had an average game with 223 yards passing with a touchdown and an interception. The return of Saquon Barkley was nice to behold as the runner got 72 yards rushing with a touchdown.
All-time series: Giants lead series 80-45-2
Next week: Arizona: @ New Orleans; NY Giants: @ Detroit
TW: 6-3; CV: 8-1
LA Chargers 20, Tennessee 23: TW: Chargers; CV: Chargers
The Chargers keep on shitting the can. Philip Rivers threw the ball for 329 yards with two touchdowns and no interceptions. Melvin Gordon didn't return to his old form with his 32 yards rushing on 16 carries. Ryan Tannehill started for the Titans and he played well enough to throw for 312 yards with two touchdowns and an interception. Derrick Henry ran the ball for 90 yards with a touchdown. The Chargers confuse me. They have all this talent but falter against teams they should beat. I don't get it.
All-time series: Titans lead series 28-18-1
Next week: LA Chargers: @ Chicago; Tennessee: vs Tampa Bay
TW: 6-4; CV: 8-2
Baltimore 30, Seattle 16: TW: Seahawks; CV: Ravens
I drank the Russell Wilson For MVP kool-aid and boy did it taste off. Lamar Jackson threw the ball for 143 yards while running the ball for 116 yards with a touchdown. The Ravens defense took advantage of Seattle turnovers and turn them to touchdowns, totaling two of them. Russell Wilson threw the ball for 241 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Chris Carson was the leading rusher for the Seahawks with 65. Yet another game where it goes 180 on me. Fuck my life.
All-time series: Series tied 3-3
Next week: Baltimore: Bye; Seattle: @ Atlanta
TW: 6-5; CV: 9-2
New Orleans 36, Chicago 25: TW: Bears; CV: Bears
The Bears looked sluggish against the Saints. Teddy Bridgewater continued his play with 281 yards passing with two touchdowns. Alvin Kamara was injured but Latavius Murray played a great game with his 119 yards rushing with two touchdowns. Mitchell Trubisky had 251 yards passing with two touchdowns. The Saints are going to look tough when Drew Brees returns.
All-time series: Saints lead series 16-15
Next week: New Orleans: vs Arizona; Chicago: vs LA Chargers
TW: 6-6; CV: 9-3
Philadelphia 10, Dallas 37: TW: Eagles; CV: Eagles
The Eagles laid an egg, what else can I say. Carson Wentz threw the ball for 191 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Jordan Howard had an average day on the ground with 50 yards on 11 carries. Dak Prescott threw the ball for 239 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Prescott would run it in for a score along with 30 rushing yards. Ezekiel Elliot ran the ball for 111 yards with a touchdown. Tavon Austin would also get a rushing touchdown on a 20-yard play. All seems well in Dallas.
All-time series: Cowboys lead series 69-52
Next week: Philadelphia: @ Buffalo; Dallas: Bye
TW: 6-7; CV: 9-4
New England 33, NY Jets 0: TW: Patriots; CV: Patriots
Any chance the Jets could play like they did against the Cowboys diminished very quickly. Tom Brady threw the ball for 249 yards with a touchdown and an interception. Sony Michel had 42 rushing yards but also got three touchdowns. Sam Darnold certainly had his worst start since entering the NFL, at one point he had a quarterback rating of 10.0. Darnold threw the ball for 86 yards with four interceptions (yep four interceptions, not a typo). Le'Veon Bell gave the Jets some life on offense with 70 yards rushing.
All-time series: Patriots lead series 67-54-1
Next week: New England: vs Cleveland; NY Jets: Bye
TW: 7-7; CV: 10-4
The Records (By Week & Year):
Cardinal Viking:
2017: 167-89
2018: 156-98-2
2019:
Week 1: 11-4-1
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 10-6
Week 4: 7-8
Week 5: 9-6
Week 6: 7-7
Week 7: 10-4
Overall: 64-41-1
My record:
2012: 164-90-2
2013: 162-92-1
2014: 172-83-1
2017: 164-92
2018: 156-98-2
2019:
Week 1: 12-3-1
Week 2: 10-6
Week 3: 11-5
Week 4: 8-7
Week 5: 5-10
Week 6: 9-5
Week 7: 7-7
Overall: 62-43-1
See you guys on Wednesday for the Week 8 picks post!
-Tom
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