Perfect wk 9. LAR made it look easy in NY, as did PHI, while ARI & IND did just enough against bad teams. My teasers finally have a winning record. Now I pray for some consistency w/another winning wk here.
POW 4-5, Teasers 5-4, Overall 25-17-1.
MIN -1 ½ are now up 2 gms on DET & GB for the North, & travel to WAS off their bye. WAS’ laundry list of key injuries is well known, yet they managed to pull off a rare victory @ SEA last wk to stop a 2 gm losing streak. It definitely wasn’t a clean gm, however. Cousins was sacked 6 times, but remained fearless in the pocket, despite getting hit a bunch more times. The LT spot is the issue, w/3[SUP]rd[/SUP] stringer TJ Clemmings anchoring Cousins’ blind side. Trent Williams will likely miss more gms, while backup Nsekhe will be a GTD. If neither plays, Cousins should expect more hits, because All-World DE Everson Griffen (10 sacks in 8 gms) will play despite missing some practice this wk. Griffen is a key cog in MIN’s front-7 but is my no means the only impact player. Led by stalwarts Joseph, Hunter, Kendricks & Barr, MIN is #3 vs the run & #7 vs the pass. Their effectiveness up front only makes MIN’s great secondary (I’d venture to say they’re better than both DEN & SEA’s this season) look better, w/Rhodes, Newman, Harris & Smith looking like an all-star team by themselves. W/Garcon & Jackson leaving WAS in offseason, much was made on how WAS was going to do in the passing gm. Crowder (expected to play) & now Doctson have stepped up leading to some stretching of the field. However, I expect MIN to stuff Kelley in the run gm, & not give Cousins much time to throw. Thompson has been an excellent pass catcher, but MIN has shut down notable receiving RBs this yr, like LeVeon Bell & Kamara. I also believe MIN will make hay in the ground gm thanks to their revamped oline. Last yr MIN suffered a slew of injuries that resulted in starting 5 different LT’s. This yr, FA pickup Riley Reiff as stabilized the left side, & MIN is enjoying tremendous depth all along the line. Not coincidentally, MIN’s “O” has enjoyed great success, whether it’s Bradford or Keenum @ QB or Dalvin Cook or Latavius Murray @ RB. Diggs is fully back too (only 4 catches vs CLE), so that will only open up lanes for Thielen, Rudolph & McKinnon. MIN should win the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball, which is the key to winning any gm. Also riding tremendous trend w/teams off bye from London (now an amazing 11-0-1).
MIN 24
WAS 17
5 Units
GL to all & comments are most welcome.
POW 4-5, Teasers 5-4, Overall 25-17-1.
MIN -1 ½ are now up 2 gms on DET & GB for the North, & travel to WAS off their bye. WAS’ laundry list of key injuries is well known, yet they managed to pull off a rare victory @ SEA last wk to stop a 2 gm losing streak. It definitely wasn’t a clean gm, however. Cousins was sacked 6 times, but remained fearless in the pocket, despite getting hit a bunch more times. The LT spot is the issue, w/3[SUP]rd[/SUP] stringer TJ Clemmings anchoring Cousins’ blind side. Trent Williams will likely miss more gms, while backup Nsekhe will be a GTD. If neither plays, Cousins should expect more hits, because All-World DE Everson Griffen (10 sacks in 8 gms) will play despite missing some practice this wk. Griffen is a key cog in MIN’s front-7 but is my no means the only impact player. Led by stalwarts Joseph, Hunter, Kendricks & Barr, MIN is #3 vs the run & #7 vs the pass. Their effectiveness up front only makes MIN’s great secondary (I’d venture to say they’re better than both DEN & SEA’s this season) look better, w/Rhodes, Newman, Harris & Smith looking like an all-star team by themselves. W/Garcon & Jackson leaving WAS in offseason, much was made on how WAS was going to do in the passing gm. Crowder (expected to play) & now Doctson have stepped up leading to some stretching of the field. However, I expect MIN to stuff Kelley in the run gm, & not give Cousins much time to throw. Thompson has been an excellent pass catcher, but MIN has shut down notable receiving RBs this yr, like LeVeon Bell & Kamara. I also believe MIN will make hay in the ground gm thanks to their revamped oline. Last yr MIN suffered a slew of injuries that resulted in starting 5 different LT’s. This yr, FA pickup Riley Reiff as stabilized the left side, & MIN is enjoying tremendous depth all along the line. Not coincidentally, MIN’s “O” has enjoyed great success, whether it’s Bradford or Keenum @ QB or Dalvin Cook or Latavius Murray @ RB. Diggs is fully back too (only 4 catches vs CLE), so that will only open up lanes for Thielen, Rudolph & McKinnon. MIN should win the battle in the trenches on both sides of the ball, which is the key to winning any gm. Also riding tremendous trend w/teams off bye from London (now an amazing 11-0-1).
MIN 24
WAS 17
5 Units
GL to all & comments are most welcome.
