MNF Plays week 1

Question

well, looks like Dallas has this on lock so gonna post my writeups for tomorrow nite now. nice to get a winner finally after and 0-3 day, looks like a lot of people on here got sucked into the G men.

Sorry if you tailed me today. I don't know how to explain it but it's so frustrating - the last 3 years in a row I have lost on the 1st Saturday of College FB and the 1st Sunday of the NFL, and every time it's just that I'm taking the wrong games, like I have winners picked and then when I narrow it down to avoid taking too many games I eliminate the picks that win and keep the losers.

On the bright side, I always come back strong week 2 like I did yesterday in college and I am 4-0 in midweek games this year so far including KC last thurs, and with Dallas being a 2 unit play today i am only down 1 unit in NFL.

Now for the pick: Minnesota -3

This isn't a sexy pick. I'm sure you want to take Drew Brees and that offense with the AD homecoming. Go ahead if you want, there certainly are reasons to doubt the Vikings but here's my take:

First of all, the VIkings were supposed to be SB contenders last year, remember? Then Bridge got hurt, Bradford got shipped in and all he could do was complete short throws because they were so thin at WR and their line STANK. They couldn't even rush for a yard at key times over and over.

Well, they have 5 new starters on the line. Usually, that is a go AGAINST team in week 1. But this line was so bad last year that this has to be an improvement! the 2 FAs they brought in were not superstars, but they are upgrades, and might be better than their last performances, because BOTH of them (Reiif and Remmers) were playing out of position on their last teams and are playing in the right positions now.

And the Saints have their own O-line issues. The Center they traded Jimmy Graham for, Max Unger, is out. And now their starting LT is out and has to be replaced by a rookie. In case you don't know, the Vikings have probably the best D line in the entire league - 3 guys in the top 35 in sacks last year including Daniell Hunter with 12.5. Even the safety Smith gets sacks. So that rookie is gonna have problems.

The Saints have one good pass rusher - Cam Jordan. He is VERY good, also led the league in tackles for loss, but it is easier to gameplan for one rusher than for the 4+ that Vikes have.

I've watched the Vikings in preseason and while the O-line issues are not all sorted as you would expect with a new group, the offense looks better in general. Dalvin Cook looks good, and they signed Latavious Murray who had a decent year last year and most importantly is great in short yardage which was the Vikings achilles heel last year. And they still have McKinnon who is very solid so they are actually stacked at RB now.

Bradford had very little time to develop chemistry with his WRs last year as he was brought in during preseason. Considering the lack of a good O-line, the lack of WRs and the lack of time he had, he actually did the best anyone could do, leading the league in comp percentage and i think actually setting an all time record in that stat. Now he's had more time in the offense and with these guys and it showed in preseason. Diggs looks like a legit number 1, and Theilen is okay at the 2, more importantly, Laquon Treadwell, the former ole miss stud who only had one catch his rookie year, has had a few nice grabs in preseason and combined with Kyle Rudolph they should be able to help the defense out more with less 3 and outs.

The Saints meanwhile, though they picked up AD, they traded away Brandin Cooks who was like 12th in rec yards last year in the league. Now, they obviously think the emergence of Michae Thomas, who was righ behind him in 14th, made Cooks expendable, but I disagree. You need to keep your QBs biggest and best weapon (look what happened to the Pats without Edelman). And quite possible, Thomas had such a great year in part because of teams focusing on Cooks so much.

They didn't even really need AD as Ingram had over 1k rush yards last year. I don't really understand what the Saints are doing - Brees is getting older and you take away Jimmy Graham and then Cooks to take a Center and an aging RB you don't need.

People are saying the Saints defense is getting better but I'll believe it when I see it. Of course, you could say the same for the Vikings offense, but I think the best cure for a bad offense is a a bad defense, while the VIkings defense is exactly what you need to stop a team like the Saints.

In general, I don't like when guys face their old team unless they are still at their peak. With Ingram being the starter, a very stout Vikings front 7, and Brees being the best weapon you have, I don't see AD being a huge factor.

Let's not forget, the Vikings are honoring Randy Moss at this game. Moss, not AD, is the best offensive player the Vikes have ever had. He was their MNF talisman for many years and maybe that magic will rub off on some of those guys for minnesota. They rarely lost on MNF when he was in the house.

Minny -3. Straight cash homie!

PhillyBrown · Answer