Questions Answered: Vikings and Homefield Advantage, Kirk Cousins’ Downward Spiral, Dallas Turner
The following questions are about current Minnesota Vikings topics, answered by VikingsTerritory. Today is the December 17th edition, addressed in a from-the-hip fashion. If you have questions, please email them to [email protected].
Questions Answered: Vikings and Homefield Advantage, Kirk Cousins’ Downward Spiral, Dallas Turner
Also, please note: These are opinion-based responses. Some answers will be incorrect from time to time. But we’ll try to keep that to a minimum.
Q: Do you think the Vikings can realistically get homefield advantage throughout the playoffs?
Answer: No, not like a realistic chance.
But it’s okay to dream big.
According to DVOA, Minnesota has a 14% chance of seizing the No. 1 seed, as the current struggle is between the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles. Put plainly, it’s probably unlikely for Minnesota to defeat Seattle, Green Bay, and Detroit with zero losses.
Of course, if this squad is a team of destiny, anything is possible. But they’ll probably lose at least one more game, unfortunately.
Q: Will Kirk Cousins get benched?
Answer: Yes. And it may happen as soon as a few days from now.
Falcons skipper Raheem Morris was asked Tuesday if Cousins would remain his starting quarterback, and he replied, “We just got back. We still have to go through that process. All those things will happen over the course of the week. We didn’t play well enough at the quarterback position.”
For Falcons fans, Morris’ comments were interpreted as a smoking-gun moment. Why? Well, it isn’t that difficult to name a quarterback on a contract worth $100 million guaranteed as the starter while holding a 7-7 record.
Put plainly, Morris had an opportunity to stomp out a quarterback controversy dead in its tracks — and he did not. He did the opposite. He inflamed the controversy.
Morris could’ve said something to the effect of: “Why wouldn’t Cousins be the starter? He’s the starter.”
He didn’t, and that’s telling. It’ll be The Penix Show soon.
Q: Will Dallas Turner’s increased snap count continue?
Answer: Yes.
This is the natural time for it. He’s gradually eating into Patrick Jones II’s workload, and that’s the way it should be. Turner is a 1st-Rounder, and Jones II will hit free agency in March. What’s more, Turner looked great on Monday Night Football and totally warrants more action.
The time is here.
The only complicating factor at all involving Turner is that Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard are too good to sideline for Turner’s snap. That’s why it’s taken so long.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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