Benster and D Pick Your Games----Zimmer's Last Ride? Edition

Old dude, it's quite possible that the Mike Zimmer era could be ending against the Bears at US Bank Stadium on Sunday. But I thought that the Vikings were going to win last week? Even the KFAN approved Vikings hosts like Meatsauce, PA, and Bumper to Bumper told me so. 

What did that damned Benster write about me this week?

Now you're just trolling, Benster. But that's okay. Trolling is fun. And yeah, Zim appears to be dead coach walking now.

You love to see it. You also loved to see the Packers clinch home field a week early. 

It does make things more comfortable. But that's a double-edged sword. The last time the Packers came in feeling fat and sassy, the Saints handed them their asses.

True. But know this much -- I am feeling the HYYYYYYYYYYYPPPEEE! and am ready to talk about some games. It is time to watch me work. 

Bear Down Chicago Da Bearz Still Suck (+5.5) vs. Minnesota Vikings Remember when Bears fans claimed that the NFC North was run by the Bears? Pepperidge Farm remembers. Matt Nagy and Ryan Pace should stick in their jobs. I've said it before, they have done a great job running the Bears. As for the Vikings, I'll be talking more about Kirk later, but testing positive wasn't Kirk's fault. All credit to the Vikings fans for being just has hard on Kirk as they were on Aaron earlier in the year. I wouldn't be surprised if both teams go in different directions on Black Monday, but who would be the right people to lead a rebuild? This game is going to be a bit odd. Nobody has anything to play for, and I think it might be slightly more open than most people think. Vikings 26, Bears 23.

It puzzles me a bit, but the Bears seem to be playing better the last few weeks. Maybe the team wants to save Nagy. I agree -- I'm all for it. The Bears haven't had a real GM since Jim Finks and we won't belabor the quarterback jokes. As for the Purple, last week's performance was, well, pathetic. I can't prove the team quit on Zim, but it sure seemed that way. I should pick the Vikings here, but it feels like the Bears are more motivated. Therefore, Bears 24, Vikings 20.

Glorious Green Bay Packers (-3.5) vs. Detroit LOLions Meanwhile, the Packers have nothing to play for. It might have been a strange journey, but the Packers have the top seed clinched, and have the luxury of choosing to be careful. I personally would have sat Aaron to give him another week of rest for the toe, but that would have insulted Hub Arkush. When Mike Florio calls you out for hating on Aaron, that is something. I was also glad to see that some of the injuries are starting to heal, and that the Packers have fresh legs. This game has worried me for about a month. On an intellectual level, I see that the LOLions are terrible. But they have clearly fought hard for their coach, and played a lot of teams tough. In Week 2, they gave the Packers a lot of problems in the first half at Lambeau. I think the Packers will win, but it won't be easy, especially when the regulars get their bye week started. Packers 31, LOLions 17.

If you had told me at the beginning of the year that the Lions would look like the second most stable franchise in the division by the end of the year, I wouldn't have believed you. But here we are. The Lions are set up well for success for the first time in, well, 65 years. Extra draft picks and some nice pieces in place; if they don't blow it completely, the Lions could rule the division in a few years. But then again, they are the Lions. Packers 28, Lions 24.

Georgia Bulldogs (-2.5) vs. Alabama Crimson Tide, in Indy Oh great, another SEC vs. SEC title game that nobody asked for. The only redeeming factor to this Big Ten loyalist is that this game will be in Big Ten country, which is something that I have been advocating for years. If college football is to grow and prosper, it's time that the Big Ten get the chance to play games in locations favorable to us and our fans, who have been good soldiers in traveling to SEC, ACC, Big XII, and Pac 12 country for bowl games for years. Georgia laid an egg in Atlanta a month ago, and I'm sure that Kirby Smart has been very clear about reminding the Bulldog players of  that fact. It is hard to beat a good team twice in one season in college football. As much as I want both teams to lose, that isn't possible. If Georgia wins, then at least someone new wins, which could be healthy. If Georgia loses, then at least Bulldogs fans can console themselves with the Braves? Hate Feeds the Dawg 35, Can't Nick Saban Retire Already 34.

I agree -- it's not good for the college game if the SEC keeps dominating, but it's up to the other schools to get better. Georgia looked like a complete juggernaut against Michigan, but they have a mental block where the Tide is concerned. Can they break through? I'd like it, but. . . . Alabama 38, Georgia 29.

It's time for A Very Special Comment, and it's not another rant about why the SEC is evil or why they will rue the day they invited the Longhorns into the league. The Vikings are at a crossroads, and it's clear that Kirk Cousins is at the center of it. Now, I'm not a Vikings fan, and I have no emotional attachment to Kirk. That being said, Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman haven't done a great job in giving Kirk the best chance to win. Zimmer clearly has struggled to keep offensive coordinators, even allowing for losing two to head coaching jobs. John DeFilippo wasn't the right fit, but he was hired in part to improve the offense, and they showed promise. He was right to hand the keys of the offense to Kirk, and to attempt to build an offense around what Kirk does best. Zimmer just wants to run the ball, and as we saw at Lambeau when that fails he is screwed. Also, how come Kirk doesn't have full control of the two minute drill? If Kirk is at the level of an Aaron, Brady, and Mahomes, then he should get more trust in him. Klint Kubiak is a nepotism hire, and the offense is a pale imitation of his dad's. Justin Jefferson might force his way out, as he seems frustrated with the offense at times. 

Rick Spielman has been around since the Triangle of Authority days. While it is true that Spielman has drafted plenty of great players, he hasn't done a good job in getting Kirk the help he needs. Spielman can't draft offensive linemen, and seems to draft a ton of defensive backs in recent years. That is despite defense not being the problem for the Vikings. He also should have told Zimmer in no uncertain terms that Kirk was brought here to get the Vikings over the hump because he thought that Case Keenum couldn't. As much as Vikings fans hate to admit it, the Packers show what can happen when you build around a quarterback when you want to get over the hump. They hired an offensive coach to work with Aaron, got him more weapons on offense, and have improved their relationship with the quarterback since the summer. Why can't the Vikes do the same?

I don't usually say much about your Very Special Comments, but in the case I'd simply observe that Spielman has picked a bajillion defensive backs because that's what his head coach wanted. And I would also add the Packers have spent more draft capital on defensive backs than any other position in recent years, mostly in vain. Having a great quarterback cures many ills and the Packers have had consecutive Hall of Famers. Having grown up with David Whitehurst and the petrified remains of John Hadl, I remain eternally grateful for the efforts of ol' number 4 and Mr. Rodgers.

Enjoy your football this weekend. Ben out.