Had @friesfootball.bsky.social chart both J.J. McCarthy and Carson Wentz to parse all the differences in their circumstances, scheme and styles of quarterbacking to come up with a nuanced answer for how to handle the decision to pick a starting QB www.wideleft.football/p/quarterbac...

I started out writing a piece about whether the Vikings should start McCarthy or Wentz. Then I fell down a rabbit hole of discussing how the media has talked about the Vikings QB room. Oh also I did get around to determining who should start. For Wide Left: www.wideleft.football/p/quarterbac...

Trying to force encroachment feels like a bad clock decision by the Falcons? You have 2nd and 1. This saves the Bills a timeout assuming you convert 2nd and 1.

The discourse around this play drives me insane. Luke nails exactly what we should be focusing on and gets to the heart of why banning the "tush push" part of the tush push won't make a difference at all.

my favorite part of this story are the videos (all linked, two embedded) of Jefferson just talking about being a receiver. Coaching kids or detailing the catch process or whatever. Really cool stuff

O'Connell and people got asked about it and a lot has been written but not sure if anyone has actually gone to the All-22 on Reichard's miss. It's clear from the EZ angle that the skycam is BEHIND the ball and the wire you see from this angle is just moving up with the ball. It didn't hit a wire.

I wonder how much more value the Browns have gotten over the Vikings on 4th down decisions so far this game. They've made 3 conversions and the Vikings punted on at least one where they should have gone for it.

Feels like a good time to promote how I wrote that run defense was a major issue for the Vikings' defense.

Fantastic to be able to hit a 2nd and 10 run for a first down

Broadcast crew is doing a terrible job mixing in replays. That was like the 3rd time the ball was snapped before they cut back to the action.

That's not a hold imo

The Vikings drives have started at the 8, 18, 21, and will now start at the 14. Disastrous special teams day so far.

Fantastic play by Dallas Turner to take down Gabriel on the backfield there.

I cannot believe that worked. You put CAM AKERS in for the first time this year and the defense doesn't alert a fake?

How do the Vikings constantly give themselves terrible field position? Not super easy to find stats but they have to be one of the worst in the league.

Theo Jackson needs to make that tackle.

Way to neutralize Garrett by chipping him with Hockenson and then screening right to Hock

Had @friesfootball.bsky.social break down the film and data behind the Vikings run defense numbers. Is it as bad as people are saying? If so, what's causing it? And how important is it anyway?

New from me: Is the Vikings run defense an issue? I dove deep into the numbers on their defense, their opponents, and the film to see what they are trying to do, how successful they were and if it's a problem. My latest for Wide Left: open.substack.com/pub/wideleft...

Don't agree with spiking it there. Bad clock management. Have two plays

Vikings have gotten gifted two non-turnovers. Hope they can capitalize

Greg Olsen is so good at talking about game management

Addison stumbling (on the grass) was obviously what precipitated being caught from behind. Jefferson has had slipping issues as well today. Cleats getting the best of the Vikings again today.

Harrison Phillips matters

Not a single mention of DK Metcalf grabbing Turner's facemask in the frame.

What an elite toe tap by Scott

This tape is going to be UGLY in the trenches

They called THAT holding???

Ivan Pace absolutely rocked an offensive lineman on that tackle

A bunch of rough angles on that play

Yeah that's on Wentz not Darrisaw

Glad to see we're back to shooting ourselves in the foot

Mostly just leaked yards due to quick game on that drive. Would like to rally and tackle quicker. Defensive line was discombobulated on a couple snaps early. The fade to Metcalf is the play you really can't let them complete but that's what happens when you have that guy on him. Personnel issue.

8 is an issue

This is way better than a fumble touchback. Incredible luck.

What even knocked the ball out?

Shotgun empty quick game on the first play? Are we sure O'Connell is calling plays?

Aaron Rodgers has absolutely no interest in getting hit

Lmao the Vikings run a sim pressure and the Steelers left Redmond unblocked in the A gap on the very first play.

What is a perfect game? Did Isaiah Rodgers have one against the Bengals? I dug into the tape to try to figure out exactly what a "perfect game" means in a football context and also fully review the tape on Rodgers's historic performance for Wide Left: www.wideleft.football/p/isaiah-rod...

From @friesfootball.bsky.social Isaiah Rodgers and the Anatomy of a Perfect Game www.wideleft.football/p/isaiah-rod...

Jalen Redmond beats the RG to flush Brett Rypien up in the pocket and Chaz Chambliss does a great job of containing for the sack.

Austin Keys does a good job of coming off the LT as a crasher and getting to Browning for a sack. Also good coverage by the Vikings' backups! The Bengals' first team is still out there, including Chase and Higgins!

Jalen Redmond disengages form the LG for a run stop. That dude did not have a good day.

This was pretty good coverage to start and it was good to force a late throw to the flat, but you have to make the tackle. Chambliss and McGlothern both overpursue and Sample is able to get into the end zone after the catch.

The Bengals simply don't block Levi Drake Rodriguez here and he punishes them with a TFL.

I didn't think this was horrible coverage, but it was too grabby by McGlothern and he got called for DPI against Higgins. Good job turning his head around and knocking the ball down, but he needed less contact prior to that turn to avoid DPI.

Great punch by Theo Jackson to force a fumble on this TE screen, but good job by the Bengals' receiver to recover.

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins got in on the fun late, beating the LG here for a run stop.

The Vikings have about 90% backups in here, but Okudah loses big on the fade route by Chase, with the Vikings playing what looks like Quarters to that side. I'm not sure if he thought it was supposed to be Cover 2 and Jackson misplayed it, but there was no one in that flat/seam if so.