This is our ceiling!

[DigRun]

I guess the Vikings ceiling has been hit. 14-3. Can raise that 'We beat the Packers 2 times and got a 5 seed' banner.

 

[rmontro]

People talk about needing leaders, based on comments sure sounds like Jacobs, X and Kraft are going to try to step up to fill that. Unfortunately we needed Gary, Alexander, Clark and Love to do that. Wasn't seeing it from those 4 and going to need more from that $100M in cap space. Although I think Jaire is gone.

Sounds like it. You never know though.

I guess the Vikings ceiling has been hit. 14-3. Can raise that 'We beat the Packers 2 times and got a 5 seed' banner.

I never bought into them in the first place.

 

[Heyjoe4]

This is it. Perennial playoff team that rarely goes the distance. Not being a entitled fan here, but just a realistic one. I'm still happy at where we are now (looking at you Bears), but it's time we awaken to reality.

- MLF has hit his his max capability and change needs to start with him. Maybe let the OC help with play calling, while he can look at some meta stuff like clock management, training against penalties etc. We have been mostly stagnant with just passing glimpses of brilliance making things more glitzy that they actually are. How can one be so strategic and blind at the same time!

- Gute's (and Ted's) team building is good to keep us here. We may need to rely on individual brilliance to take us further. But that's it. We are successful, but rarely dominate (looking at you, Lions). Overachievers, but never stars.

I really can't fault anyone as they have done their best. And here we are!

Yeah I agree something has to change for the Packers to go farther than they have the last two years. Just making the playoffs is certainly not enough for me.

I'd say Gluten has done a good job with personnel, especially considering the cap hits from guys like Rodgers, Bakh, JA and now Clark. Even so, he has more work to do than I thought just a few weeks ago. CB talent has to be upgraded, but now add OL depth, Edge rusher, veteran #1 WR talent, and DL talent and his job gets a lot tougher. Morgan will hopefully help address OL depth when healthy. The CB group is my #1 priority followed closely by a veteran, top WR. There is only so much that can be done in FA, and then the draft can supplement other areas that need to be addressed.

The real change needs to come, as you aptly note, in MLF's role. By essentially being the OC on game day, he's missing the forest for the trees. He needs to take a macro view of the team and count on his coordinators to deliver. Clock management and penalties were a problem for the entire season. Someone needs to chase that down, and a clear path to do so is required.

The team is a long, long way from being bad, quite the opposite. We all (most of us) had expectations that the team would build off the success of the last half of last season. Didn't work out so some changes are needed.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I guess the Vikings ceiling has been hit. 14-3. Can raise that 'We beat the Packers 2 times and got a 5 seed' banner.

Oh man I love that! Yeah I would say the queens played above their pay grade this year. Scoring a total of 12 points in their last two games (and the most important for their season) kinda says it all.

And wouldn't it be great if the Lions win the SB and the queens are the lone North team w/o a Lombardi?

 

[rmontro]

Oh man I love that! Yeah I would say the queens played above their pay grade this year. Scoring a total of 12 points in their last two games (and the most important for their season) kinda says it all.

Too bad they didn't get exposed one game earlier.

As for the Lions, I can't say I'm rooting for them (I hate all the other NFC North teams lol). But I'd rather they win the Super Bowl than see the Chiefs win three in a row. Of course, I hate the Eagles too. Sometimes it's hard to say what team I want to win until the game actually starts. Vikings winning it all would have been the worst case scenario.

I used to hate the Cowboys more than anyone, but they've been so harmless for so long. Plus when McCarthy went there I softened on them. I like Mike, even if he's not the greatest coach on the planet.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Too bad they didn't get exposed one game earlier.

As for the Lions, I can't say I'm rooting for them (I hate all the other NFC North teams lol). But I'd rather they win the Super Bowl than see the Chiefs win three in a row. Of course, I hate the Eagles too. Sometimes it's hard to say what team I want to win until the game actually starts. Vikings winning it all would have been the worst case scenario.

I used to hate the Cowboys more than anyone, but they've been so harmless for so long. Plus when McCarthy went there I softened on them. I like Mike, even if he's not the greatest coach on the planet.

Thanks, agree with everything here. The Lions are my pick by the process of elimination - I'd rather not see the Chiefs and definitely not the Eagles in the SB. I could cheer for the Bills as well. As it looks now, a Lions/Bills SB seems the most likely, meaning it probably won't happen.

In the meantime, a Washington win over Philly would be nice.

And I don't dislike MM as a person. And he was a decent HC for about 10 years, hell we won a SB. But we all get old quickly it seems. Whatever the modern NFL is, it doesn't have a chair for MM.

 

[tynimiller]

RAS doesn't measure intelligence, determination or desire.

No more projects.

Draft players that have played a minimum 30 games and have produce both on film and on the field.

More veterans for next season. Team needs balance, less youth.

Um....you know who fits this of our first rounders of late?

Meet the criteria:
Rashan Gary
Jordan Love
Eric Stokes
Quay Walker
Devonte Wyatt
Jordan Morgan

Doesn't meet criteria
LVN just misses it with 27 games (and still had 13.5 sacks)

 

[SudsMcBucky]

Too much dedication to RAS.

This EXACTLY gets too much into Gute's head in the early 1st/2nd rounds.

 

[rmontro]

And I don't dislike MM as a person. And he was a decent HC for about 10 years, hell we won a SB. But we all get old quickly it seems. Whatever the modern NFL is, it doesn't have a chair for MM.

Yeah, there was a window when he was a pretty good coach. And that reminds me of 2011, coached by McCarthy. That team's offense was unstoppable until the league figured out how to do it, and the Giants knocked us off on their way to winning the Super Bowl (again).

I saw somebody on TV this morning, saying the Cowboys were right to let him go, because McCarthy couldn't win a Super Bowl. I know what he meant, but I couldn't help thinking "He's already won one".

 

[Pugger]

People talk about needing leaders, based on comments sure sounds like Jacobs, X and Kraft are going to try to step up to fill that. Unfortunately we needed Gary, Alexander, Clark and Love to do that. Wasn't seeing it from those 4 and going to need more from that $100M in cap space. Although I think Jaire is gone.

From here it doesn't seem like Love is a vocal leader. He may be more of a follow my example kind of guy? Of course I am not in that locker room so I may be totally wrong...

 

[Pugger]

Oh man I love that! Yeah I would say the queens played above their pay grade this year. Scoring a total of 12

points in their last two games (and the most important for their season) kinda says it all.

And wouldn't it be great if the Lions win the SB and the queens are the lone North team w/o a Lombardi?

The kittens? Yuk.

Right now I'm thinking Philly will win the NFC. In the AFC the Bills are the team to beat. Buffalo might win the whole thing. KC is not the dominant force they have been in the past.

 

[milani]

Yeah I agree something has to change for the Packers to go farther than they have the last two years. Just making the playoffs is certainly not enough for me.

I'd say Gluten has done a good job with personnel, especially considering the cap hits from guys like Rodgers, Bakh, JA and now Clark. Even so, he has more work to do than I thought just a few weeks ago. CB talent has to be upgraded, but now add OL depth, Edge rusher, veteran #1 WR talent, and DL talent and his job gets a lot tougher. Morgan will hopefully help address OL depth when healthy. The CB group is my #1 priority followed closely by a veteran, top WR. There is only so much that can be done in FA, and then the draft can supplement other areas that need to be addressed.

The real change needs to come, as you aptly note, in MLF's role. By essentially being the OC on game day, he's missing the forest for the trees. He needs to take a macro view of the team and count on his coordinators to deliver. Clock management and penalties were a problem for the entire season. Someone needs to chase that down, and a clear path to do so is required.

The team is a long, long way from being bad, quite the opposite. We all (most of us) had expectations that the team would build off the success of the last half of last season. Didn't work out so some changes are needed.

MLF had his opportunity with division crowns in 2019-2021. He mourned having to go on the road this season. Now winning the division is much harder than it was then. I do not buy it. The home field has not really helped us in postseason that much.

 

[shockerx]

MLF had his opportunity with division crowns in 2019-2021. He mourned having to go on the road this season. Now winning the division is much harder than it was then. I do not buy it. The home field has not really helped us in postseason that much.

True about our home playoff record lately. But all the home teams won the Wildcard this last Weekend..Minus the bucks... ill take home field everytime.

 

[El Guapo]

I'd be fine with the Lions in the SB versus either the Bills or Ravens. Either would make it an entertaining game.

 

[Heyjoe4]

The kittens? Yuk.

Right now I'm thinking Philly will win the NFC. In the AFC the Bills are the team to beat. Buffalo might win the whole thing. KC is not the dominant force they have been in the past.

Philly will have to play a lot better than it played Sunday to advance. I'd be fine if Buffalo finally won, as well as the Lions. But please, not the Chiefs again......

 

[milani]

Philly will have to play a lot better than it played Sunday to advance. I'd be fine if buffalo finally one, as well as the Lions. But please, not the Chiefs again......

Home field still means a lot to these teams. The Chiefs, in my opinion, have the best coaching staff. And it transcends to a very unselfish team. That is how they managed to win all those games even when they were not playing their best. When you give Andy Reid and Spagnola 2 weeks to prepare for a game they are so difficult to beat.

 

[Heyjoe4]

Home field still means a lot to these teams. The Chiefs, in my opinion, have the best coaching staff. And it transcends to a very unselfish team. That is how they managed to win all those games even when they were not playing their best. When you give Andy Reid and Spagnola 2 weeks to prepare for a game they are so difficult to beat.

Good point. I can't recall the name of a single KC WR, and yet here they are again at 15-2 with a 1 seed. And it comes down to coaching and consistency. Andy Reid is the best. I'd rather see the Bills in the SB. I won't be surprised at all if it's the Chiefs.

 

[rmontro]

Good point. I can't recall the name of a single KC WR, and yet here they are again at 15-2 with a 1 seed. And it comes down to coaching and consistency. Andy Reid is the best. I'd rather see the Bills in the SB. I won't be surprised at all if it's the Chiefs.

And unlike the Packers in recent decades, the Chiefs have made use of their home field advantage. There was a time the Packers were undefeated at Lambeau in the playoffs, but that seems like a very long time ago. Similarly, Mahomes has become what we had hoped Favre and Rodgers had been - multiple time Super Bowl champions. GB was unable to convert that potential, for whatever reason.

 

[Heyjoe4]

And unlike the Packers in recent decades, the Chiefs have made use of their home field advantage. There was a time the Packers were undefeated at Lambeau in the playoffs, but that seems like a very long time ago. Similarly, Mahomes has become what we had hoped Favre and Rodgers had been - multiple time Super Bowl champions. GB was unable to convert that potential, for whatever reason.

I remember that once Harlan/Wolf/Favre got to GB, a game at Lambeau was a guaranteed win. That has changed.

And yeah, the Chiefs' fans aren't the loudest, but the Chiefs win a lot at home. Win all home games and split on the road is a sure way to the playoffs.

It's surprising too, given the ferocity of GB fans. They follow the team everywhere, they're a vocal bunch on gameday, either at home or on the road. Football is one sport where the home-field advantage is valid. Wish that worked a little better for the Packers.

 

[Voyageur]

I believe Gutekunst has done a respectable job drafting players. If he hasn't, why did we make the playoffs? The team consists of players he's drafted or signed as free agents.

We may question the drafting of an individual player here and there, regardless of round taken, but the real story is in how well the GM and his staff does on the overall concept of actual players who contribute to the team's success.

I'm not going to give up on Morgan or Van Ness either. Both have the ability to make an impact in this league and I think they will. Not all players come into the league being plug and play. Some take time to develop. If we'd listened to detractors, Gary would have been dumped before he started his second season.

 

[Heyjoe4]

I believe Gutekunst has done a respectable job drafting players. If he hasn't, why did we make the playoffs? The team consists of players he's drafted or signed as free agents.

We may question the drafting of an individual player here and there, regardless of round taken, but the real story is in how well the GM and his staff does on the overall concept of actual players who contribute to the team's success.

I'm not going to give up on Morgan or Van Ness either. Both have the ability to make an impact in this league and I think they will. Not all players come into the league being plug and play. Some take time to develop. If we'd listened to detractors, Gary would have been dumped before he started his second season.

That's a fair assessment. Gluten, on the whole, has done a very good job bringing talented players to the team. There are always going to be some misses.

And to that point, I feel confident he can address the talent gaps revealed this year - most notably CB, Edge rusher, OL depth, and the need for a true #1 WR. People will differ with some of the items, and they aren't in any particular order, but I believe Gluten will make sure MLF has more talent than he did this year.

(The biggest thing that surprised me in the playoff game was the lack of OL depth, at least at G. There was not an adequate backup available for Jenkins when he got injured. That's inexcusable.)

 

[Pugger]

That's a fair assessment. Gluten, on the whole, has done a very good job bringing talented players to the team. There are always going to be some misses.

And to that point, I feel confident he can address the talent gaps revealed this year - most notably CB, Edge rusher, OL depth, and the need for a true #1 WR. People will differ with some of the items, and they aren't in any particular order, but I believe Gluten will make sure MLF has more talent than he did this year.

(The biggest thing that surprised me in the playoff game was the lack of OL depth, at least at G. There was not an adequate backup available for Jenkins when he got injured. That's inexcusable.)

With the limited number of bodies allowed by the league it is difficult to have adequate depth at every position. Should Gute have signed another guard when Morgan went down? With 20/20 hindsight yes, but Gute may have had other areas to address too so rolled the dice.

 

[El Guapo]

Let's be real about this. Unless some offensive lineman is an obvious flop in practice, the team really doesn't know until you put someone into a game. They didn't have many opportunities because our OL had great health this season. So it got down to the playoffs and we saw what we have for depth. I'll also not judge these guys for flopping in a road playoff game against a great DL.

As they always say, losing is just an opportunity to grow.