GREATER LOSSES

PACKERS 41

VIKINGS 17

Nothing at all good to say about this game. The Vikings got crushed by their hated rival, making their trash pit fans happy, and probably lost the 2 seed. 

But they also suffered a couple of serious injuries that loom much larger for a team that hosts a playoff game in 2 weeks. 

The vibes were bad going in. The early slate Sunday had a collection of results that were irritating to awful. The only good result was an Eagles loss that slightly opened the door to that #1 seed. Even that though felt like a tease. 

The first big play at the Lambeau cow pasture came when, for the 2nd week in a row, Josh Metellus blocked a punt. We got the ball at the 1, but in a disastrous sequence that would inform the rest of the game we not only failed to get the touchdown. We also lost backup center Austin Schlottman to injury. 

Greg Joseph's short field goal gave us a lead that lasted only a few seconds. The ensuing kickoff was taken 105 yards to the house. 

Our offense couldn't get anything going. We were dropping passes right from the start. And one drop by Hockenson became a 75 yard pick six. 

On the runback, Brian O'Neill went down with a non-contact injury. The early word is that it could be a season ending injury, which would be devastating for the Vikings. How are the Packers allowed to have such a garbage turf? 

The 14-3 deficit wasn't anything the Vikings haven't faced this year. Even Nantz and Romo took a few breaks from jerking off Green Bay to give the Vikings a modicum of credit for their comebacks this season.

But our offense couldn't get anything going, cause we could barely get plays off. I get that this was a tough spot for 3rd string center Chris Reed to be thrown into. But Reed displayed a shocking level of incompetence. Snaps were ill-timed, if they even got off at all. We did get called for a delay a couple times. Even a couple of the snaps themselves were bad. It was just a disaster, and nuked really any chance for this offense to mount a comeback. 

Nothing got any better in the first half. Justin Jefferson didn't catch a pass (he only caught 1 all day, ending his MVP hopes and probably his chance at the record). Kirk got a pass tipped and turned into a 2nd interception on a play where Thielen was wide open for a touchdown. Greg Joseph missed two field goals, the 2nd miss setting up the Packers for their own end of half field goal...which hit the crossbar and bounced in. Doesn't get more symbolic than that. 

It was 27-3, but it felt even worse than the Colts first half. Losing to the garbage Packers always would be worse. 

No big comeback was coming. The Vikings reached the redzone midway through the 3rd with a chance to maybe still make it a game, but Oli Udoh (in for O'Neill) got blown back into Kirk causing a strip sack. That was the death blow. 

Packers chewed clock and put it in the endzone for a ghastly 34-3 score. Kirk then got picked on the first play of the next series. Then the Vikings defense let Rodgers run one in for yet another score. 41-3. 

For some reason, KOC hadn't pulled Kirk from the game, so he was still in to hit Jailen Nailor for a nice little sideline throw and catch and his 1st career TD. Nick Mullens later hit KJ Osborn for a TD to make the final score a tiny bit less disgusting.

The Vikings 4 losses this year have all been unpleasant in their own way. This was the worst. Allowing these dipshit Packers like Rodgers and that unintelligible clown Jaire Alexander to gloat is revolting. Fuck these assholes. 

Here come all the same tired old takes about this Vikings team. Nothing new to see or hear. Whatever. Let the media jackasses and the bandwagon fans say what they want. I would still rather be the Vikings than the Packers. We have a division title and a home playoff game coming, while they still have to win again to even make the playoffs (and likely head to San Francisco). 

The injuries are the bigger deal here. Garrett Bradbury should be back for the playoffs. I've assumed they have just been being cautious with him the last few weeks. The O'Neill loss could be a crusher. Cause this defense ain't gonna be the driving force behind any playoff run. The offense has to do it. 

This loss also knocked us down to the 3 seed, after the 49ers pulled out an OT win. So this pretty much assures us of just the 1 guaranteed home playoff game. The only way we could grab that 2 seed back is if the 49ers (who will also have a shot at the 1 seed still) lose to the Cardinals. Ain't happening. 

We go to Chicago to finish up next week, but honestly the smart play may be to just rest everybody, rather than go all out on another crappy field in a likely futile attempt to move up a seed. It would set up a 3-6 game against the Giants, who themselves will likely be resting players next week. We just beat the Giants. We can do it again, if healthy. Gotta think bigger picture here. Today was a blow, but ultimately what happens in 2 weeks matters a whole lot more.