Vikings Territory: Why A Vikings Bounceback Performance Against The Colts Is So Important

Press release from Vikings Territory:

Dustin Baker Dustin Baker

2021-08-21

The win-loss outcome of Saturday’s Minnesota Vikings showdown with the Indianapolis Colts means nothing at all.

Preseason is used to dip toes in water, adjudicating which players are viable for the 53-man roster — which will be announced by the Vikings in 10 days. If the Vikings topple the Colts 56-0, that is also not a boastful ordeal. It would merely indicate that Minnesota played better than last weekend’s Denver Broncos stinker.

The Colts are merchants of naughty memories imposed on the Vikings as of late. In 2016, Minnesota’s playoff hopes dangled by a shoestring when Andrew Luck and friends ripped them to shreds at U.S. Bank Stadium in one of the most lifeless performances of the Mike Zimmer era. That December matchup punctuated a wild 2016 season for Zimmer. First, his quarterback Teddy Bridgewater was lost for the season. The team responded by winning five games out of the gate led by Sam Bradford. Then, the Vikings nosedived thereafter, finishing the season 8-8 and missing the postseason altogether after owning fancy mathematical odds to reach the playoffs sitting at 5-0.

The Colts know how to spank the Vikings.

The task is not tremendously difficult. Score a touchdown, convert some field goals and extra points, force the Colts to punt, and then ask the Vikings punter to kick the ball further than 35 yards.

He won’t bench 30 men tonight, so the product should be competitive. An adept performance will erase last week’s game. Memories are short in The Digital Age, and the Denver game is easy to delete.

This press release was produced by Vikings Territory .The views expressed here are the author’s own.