NFC Wildcard: Joe Webb Will Start for the Vikings Against the Packers
Christian Ponder is out. Joe Webb will be starting. Ponder was on the injury report this week with the elbow injury, but it wasn’t really known that he would be out until news started to circulate today. Webb will be the first quarterback ever to start a playoff game when he threw zero passes in the regular season, according to ESPN Stats & Info.
Webb has two starts and has played significant minutes in three other games he came in relief. His numbers from those games: 81 of 139 (58.3%), 753 yards (5.4 yards per attempt), 1 TD, 5 INT, 28 rushes for 215 yards and 3 rushing touchdowns.
Webb is Tebow-esque as a passer, and will rely on his legs to make plays. Expect a hearty dose of Adrian Peterson, and Minnesota will need to manufacture big plays either with Peterson breaking big runs, or Webb hitting a few deep balls, or scrambling for third down conversions.
Green Bay is the heavy favorite, but they will need to get Minnesota in long yardage situation, and not get into the type of game where Minnesota can sustain drives, keep Aaron Rodgers off the field, and shorten the total number of possessions.
The Line: Green Bay by 10.5 (adjusted after injury news)
The Pick: Green Bay 27, Minnesota 20
[photo via USA Today Sports Images]

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119 Responses to “NFC Wildcard: Joe Webb Will Start for the Vikings Against the Packers”
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January 5th, 2013 at 7:52 PM
Curious what the line was when Ponder was expected to start.
//Doesn’t bet on sports.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:53 PM
You’re stats are wrong. He has 3 passing TDs.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:54 PM
Oh and 853 passing yards.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:55 PM
Oh nevermind I thought you were listing career stats. Such a dumbass.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:56 PM
It moved from 9 to 12 where I looked
January 5th, 2013 at 7:57 PM
Joe Webb shredded the Lions D last year.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:57 PM
I’ll just repeat what I’ve already blathered on Twitter.
To people who think this is some kind of “upgrade”: Did people forget how godawful Ponder looked earlier this year? Doesn’t it say something about Joe Webb that despite that, he got ZERO time? He’s a backup and a 7th round pick for a reason. Also, you have to love Dungy and Harrison salivating over Webb’s highlights against a half-asleep Eagles defense last year.
Unless the Vikings defense plays the best they’ve played all year, this game will be a 3 TD+ blowout.
January 5th, 2013 at 7:58 PM
Let’s go vikings!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:02 PM
The Vikings need to see what they have in Ponder. They need to see if he is their future. The upgrade is that Webb is a completely different QB than Ponder who the Packers have already seen twice. Read option could wreak havoc on that Packers D.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:04 PM
Curious what the line was when Ponder was expected to start.
What’s bullshit is if you turn your cards in early here, and all of a sudden there’s a drastic line change, they’ll void your card. Fuckers don’t like playing their own game. Casino goes home. And took the ball with it.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:07 PM
Doubt they’ve practiced/will use much of it
January 5th, 2013 at 8:07 PM
Not really. They were still winning. Teams don’t change QBs when they’re winning even if the QB sucks.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:08 PM
C’mon AP!
January 5th, 2013 at 8:08 PM
Frazier said theyve practiced the read option and Webb ran it in college.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:10 PM
I put my bet in this morning. Got GB -9, and I got it at +105. Right now it’s back to GB -11, so it looks like some people are playing both sides of the line if it moved all the way to 12 at some point.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:16 PM
It’s worked early. Who is Minn’s backup qb tonight?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:18 PM
just a bit rusty on that first pass
January 5th, 2013 at 8:20 PM
Are you sure you’re sporting the proper avatar? Because your head coach completely disagrees with this statement.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:23 PM
Well there are exceptions lol.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:28 PM
that was a pretty stupid decision. he got lucky
January 5th, 2013 at 8:40 PM
Who didn’t?
Nice weekend for OSU football.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:40 PM
Webb running the read option isnt Griffin running it…
January 5th, 2013 at 8:42 PM
It was alright. Mitchell and Johnson are gonna be bad ass.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:42 PM
Unless your name is Wade Phillips. Bills will never recover from that.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:43 PM
Roeth what’s the +105 you’re talking about?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:46 PM
Morris, meanwhile, is going to lose a star. Still think we get Green. Holding out hope for Treadwell.
Have you watched Campbell yet? He’s a friggin’ Sophmore and is already getting offers from all over the country.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:47 PM
Books will adjust the vig to encourage action on a side. So if GB was +105 at -9, Minn would’ve been -125 at +9
January 5th, 2013 at 8:48 PM
I know you lead for Green, but he’s still gotta go visit those teams down South. Money talks. I wouldn’t hold out hope for Treadwell.
Not familiar with Campbell.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:51 PM
Has this demonstration provided enough evidence yet why Webb sucks?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:52 PM
Sorry about your luck s1rweeze… he looks awful, and that read option bullshit doesnt work in the pro’s.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:53 PM
SC, still don’t understand what the extra number is for. So at -9, what is the +105 for? Or does vig stand for something I’m not following?
January 5th, 2013 at 8:54 PM
Pretty sure he’s commiting in the next couple days.
Cass Tech QB that’s won back to back D1 state titles. Hoke has that pipeline feeding back into Ann Arbor.
January 5th, 2013 at 8:55 PM
Meth- a standard bet is -110 on both sides. So say the spread is 9, you would typically have to bet 110 to win 100 on either side. However, a lot of action was coming in on Minn at +9, so the book adjusted the odds so you had to lay 125 to win 100, while you could take GB at -9 laying 100 to win 105
January 5th, 2013 at 8:56 PM
January 5th, 2013 at 8:57 PM
the +105 just mean you lay 100 to win 105 is the simplest way to put it
January 5th, 2013 at 8:59 PM
Now I get it, and know why I didn’t understand it. Delaware doesn’t allow single game bets, so that number doesn’t mean shit to me.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:01 PM
Meth get on 5dimes.com, they have reduced juice for most games. You can deposit using Visa debit, and their payout is simple using Moneygram. Site is amazing.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:01 PM
I grew up in Delaware Meth, that parlay bullshit is for the birds.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:02 PM
Unless you’re Washington I guess.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:03 PM
parlay bullshit is for the birds.
Gotta settle for what you’ve got. Never tried those online sites. Actually up until this season I never bet on games at all. Never was much on gambling, so once NFL seasons over I’ll probably stick to my other vice. Beer.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:04 PM
Michigan always had that pipeline. The more valuable pipeline are the secondary players that OSU doesn’t offer in Ohio.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:08 PM
True and San Fran to some extent, what I’m saying is that Joe Webb sucks.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:10 PM
SC has landed two 5 star db’s from Tenn and Fla. SEC! SEC! SEC!
January 5th, 2013 at 9:11 PM
More amazing are the players that burned SC at the last second in recent years. Burfict, Teo, D. Thomas
/speeds up drinking pace
January 5th, 2013 at 9:12 PM
Like Kalis and Dymonte?
January 5th, 2013 at 9:13 PM
Horrible playcalling McCarthy. Why take it out of Rodgers hands on two of three plays?
January 5th, 2013 at 9:14 PM
So 17 pts wins this for GB, right?
January 5th, 2013 at 9:16 PM
SC was incredible this week. They had several 5 and 4 stars decommit. Kiffin just shrugs and gets equal replacements for them.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:17 PM
17 for sure… maybe 13.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:18 PM
Anyone taking late night College BBall tonight? Looking at RAS to bounce back with Irvine and Northridge. I already took Cal Bakersfield +21.5 at UNLV.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:19 PM
17 for sure… maybe 13.
Both numbers of which are more than the number of yards Webb has thrown for in 2 quarters.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:20 PM
I took Belmont -11.5. Last I looked they were up 26-5. Also on the OVER in the UTAH/DEN NBA game.
/first basketball bets all season
January 5th, 2013 at 9:20 PM
Think Caribou and Vez are your big CBB bettors. Maybe Roeth, too. Can’t remember. I think Caribou would bet on anything. Doesn’t even have to do with sports.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:26 PM
Those were both due to the sanctions and turmoil. But if OSU lands Vonn Bell I could care less about Thomas.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:27 PM
Vlad, how do you live in Michigan but root for OSU? I thought that was punishable by public stoning.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:30 PM
Belmont looks pretty solid so far this year. Have DePaul right now, took a 3 team teaser with Pacific/Irvine/Bakersfield later. Only loss today was Sam Houston in football.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:32 PM
when does the next game start?
January 5th, 2013 at 9:36 PM
Is it 4PM on sunday yet? I dnt even want to watch baltimore-indy
January 5th, 2013 at 9:36 PM
I’ve said this before. But I became an OSU/Tribe fan in the mid 90′s. My dad did a lot of business in Ohio and I made some trips down with him and fell in love with the Indians after going to some games and decided to be an OSU fan as well since all my friend were Michigan fans and I liked their colors and some of the players they had at the time.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Luck in a playoff game = must see tv
January 5th, 2013 at 9:39 PM
Makes sense, Vlad. I don’t watch much baseball anymore but I was always a Pirates fan just because I grew up going to their games. Haven’t had a winning season since I was still taking shits in my pants.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:43 PM
Trojans, its moreso of not wanting to watch boring baltimore
January 5th, 2013 at 9:45 PM
My CPA is an OSU graduate. She just realized what an ass backwards shithole Ohio is and moved up here*.
* = My words, not hers.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:45 PM
Just got back from the local watering where I had been for the last 4 hours. After taking HOU -4.5, I said what the hell and took GB -11.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:48 PM
How is it that i slept in til 11am..and its now 948 pm and im sleepy? Boooooooooo
January 5th, 2013 at 9:52 PM
There we go – now we’re back on the same page. Anything on the ArkSt/KSU game tomorrow? I think I’m going to pass – don’t have a feel for either team now since both coaches are gone. May put a small bet on the over just for shits/giggles.
Leaning toward IND +7 and SEA -3 tomorrow. I hate taking road favorites in playoff games though.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:54 PM
I hate taking road favorites in playoff games though.
Granted playoffs adds a bit more motivation but if I’m not mistaken Washington hasn’t been all that great at home these past few seasons.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:54 PM
I think my Belmont bet is safe. They’re up 33 with 12 minutes to go.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:57 PM
Not gonna argue with you about that. I’ve enjoyed the time I’ve spent in Ohio at times. But I love the state of Michigan. Both states have their flaws.
January 5th, 2013 at 9:59 PM
Just saw an Applebee’s commercial. The town I live in (Irwin, PA) has always had a slew of general fast food type places along the main drag (US Route 30). In the past few years, there’s been some more development and a “chain” dinner restaurant finally opened about a month ago (i.e., Applebee’s). My wife and I were out getting groceries, etc. tonight and although neither of us really care either way about Applebee’s we figured we’d try the new place out.
The wait was 90 FUCKING MINUTES FOR APPLEBEE’S.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:00 PM
Western PA, everybody!
January 5th, 2013 at 10:00 PM
LOL. Glad to see we’re back on the same page Roeth. Yeah, took Lisk’s articl on HOU -4.5 to heart and laid 1 unit on that and then went a little more on GB -11. To jump from -9.5 to -11, I thought the public might jump on MIN even more after winning last week and only losing by 8 about a month ago.
Skipping the KEN/ASU game completely. Only have 4 games on my spreadsheet for ASU and nothing for KENT. Just being lazy and not wanting to do the work. If I had to pick, I’d take KENT +3.5. Soft spot for Dogs, and I like the defense of KENT, though ASU can score the points.
As for tomorrow’s NFL games, leaning BAL -7 ad SEA -3.5. The IND record of 11-5 and going from 4-12 to that reminds of the 2008 MIA team. Nice little team with potential (with a last place schedule), but too young and inexperienced to win the opening round. IMO. BAL makes a statement and wins 31-14. I really like the SEA/WAS game. I like both QBs, both ROTY contenders, but give a slight nod to the better defense in SEA. GLTA.
Had too many Yuenglings tonite. Going to bed soon.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:04 PM
Aaron Rodgers won’t win it but he might have been the MVP again this year. Didnt have a 1000 yard receiver or a 500 yard rusher. And not to be Baylessian, but should an MVP be taken out of the game on 3rd downs?
January 5th, 2013 at 10:05 PM
Applebee’s we figured we’d try the new place out.
I’m not going to tell what to like or not like, but the weird thing about Applebees is that everything has the same flavor. I can’t explain it.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Peyton is the MVP IMO. I would be fine with a split MVP like what happened with Barry when he rushed for 2000.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:06 PM
Hell of play by Matthews. Leaping grab and causes & recovers the fumble.
/Discount Double-check!!!!!!!
January 5th, 2013 at 10:06 PM
gb m11 and under 45 big. pushed on cincy p5 and under 42.5
January 5th, 2013 at 10:07 PM
I think Manning is a runaway. Look at this game to see why a rb isn’t mvp. Qb’s are inherently more valuable
January 5th, 2013 at 10:08 PM
will now sweat the under. winning both would be huge
January 5th, 2013 at 10:08 PM
I’d love to see your spreadsheet sometime. I’ve always kept one for the NFL (it needs about 5 or 6 weeks of data though), and prior to this year it worked fairly well (about 57% ATS for all games, and the top 5 bets each week were well into the 60′s%). This year though it just didn’t mesh out for whatever reason – about 44% overall.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:09 PM
We’ve been to other Applebees – we knew what we were getting into. That’s why we were flaggergasted by the wait.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:09 PM
Speaking of restaurants, someone said yesterday or the day before that a Sonic opened by their place in Ohio and closed within a year. I drove by ours for the first time today in a while and come to find out it closed, too. Was open longer than a year but not by much.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:12 PM
i’ve told this story before but here goes: i stopped at an applebee’s on the way home from work back in the 90s. it was 1130, and i figured hey it say ‘bar’ on the sign. it was closed and i’ve never been back
you gotta wet my whistle to earn my respect
January 5th, 2013 at 10:13 PM
Exactly – down 3 scores in the 2nd half, this game is over and Peterson is pretty much useless. If Manning/Brady/Rodgers were down 3 scores the game wouldn’t feel over like this one does.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:14 PM
I like the idea of Sonic more than Sonic itself. The shakes are great though.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Same thing here. Anytime something “chain” related that runs national advertising opens, the rednecks flock there in droves.
“Ooooh look honey, Logan’s Roadhouse is open!”
January 5th, 2013 at 10:16 PM
Sonic really went through a big expansion right before the recession – kind of poor timing. They ended up taking a decent hit, and have been recovering by closing the underperforming stores and buying back shares. They are profitable again (at least as of the last quarters of 2012).
January 5th, 2013 at 10:20 PM
Sounds like something Matt Stafford would say.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:20 PM
Favorite “chain” place, I’m probably voting for Outback.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:22 PM
I like the idea of Sonic more than Sonic itself. The shakes are great though.
Never tried the shakes (guess I never will now) but ate their once. Typical tasting burger and fries. Nothing to write home about.
Sonic really went through a big expansion right before the recession – kind of poor timing.
That’ll do it.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:22 PM
Oh, and Culvers for those of us with them.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:25 PM
Both of today’s games have been shitty. Ugh.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:26 PM
I had Culvers once when I was up north. Delicious.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:29 PM
The spreadsheet for College ball holds pretty well, I’d say I’d hit 63-65% of the time. It’s about tendencies in college ball, and they seem to follow them. I run a pts/play per team and then compare the 2 teams playing, along with factoring in 3pts for Home team and a PR value.
Like I said in earlier posts, this week from New Year’s Eve to today, they winners have been spot on 8-3 ATS for the game I did. Losers were PITT +4, NOILL +14 and SOCAR -5.5.
This sheet does not translate well for NFL. Whether it’s the NFL where teams turn it off/on on a whim, I dunno. Send me an email, and I will share a sample score with you.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:29 PM
First game was ok. This is a non-game
January 5th, 2013 at 10:33 PM
What’s the address? Nothing linked to your name
January 5th, 2013 at 10:33 PM
Sounds like something Matt Stafford would say.
Right before he put on his bib and points to himself, informing everyone within earshot that it’s his new shirt.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:37 PM
First game was close, but by the beard of Zeus, Cincy’s offense blew goats.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Favorite “chain” place
Not saying it’s my favorite, but I’ll put those salmon steaks from Texas Roadhouse in their place. Whether it’s high quality salmon is yet to be determined. Best seafood I’ve ever eaten though, hands down, is Swordfish steaks. Got those at this podunk seafood place right outside of Philly when you cross into DE.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:39 PM
Hey, Adrian Peterson is finally getting going about three quarters too late.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:49 PM
Shit – now I have to sweat the last few minutes for another garbage TD.
January 5th, 2013 at 10:53 PM
You betting these as single games or parlays?
January 5th, 2013 at 10:59 PM
Singles. I typically only parlay moneyline bets.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:02 PM
I think if I did single games, I’d be willing to throw down way more than I do. Maybe that’s for the better that I don’t.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:06 PM
The bookies I know love bettors that play parlays. Ultimate sucker bets.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:07 PM
Isn’t this some shit. Was supposed to get paid a full day for Xmas eve, even though we worked a 6 hour shift. Just checked my time card, and only got 6. Xmas eve fell on a Monday-my regularly scheduled day off. I volunteered to work it to swap out with one of the ladies who have kids that way they could spend it with their family. Granted it’s only 2 hours, but still. Offer to do something nice and get fucked in return.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:09 PM
The bookies I know love bettors that play parlays. Ultimate sucker bets.
The “bookies” I know follow State law, which prohibits anything less than a 3 team parlay. I bet at the casino, not online.
/Established earlier
January 5th, 2013 at 11:12 PM
Meth – in DEL do they use the spread only, or are you allowed to make moneyline parlays too (i.e, just bet teams to win or lose)?
January 5th, 2013 at 11:16 PM
whew. funny story. i’m figuring that of course the vikings would score to wipe out the spread, making me a vig loser instead of a double winner. my wife is reading next to me and i say to her with 19 seconds left
honey, watch this. there’s 19 seconds left. if the vikings score a td i lose 10 bucks. if they don’t, i win 200
she says this is why i could never gamble. so she watches and of course the vikings get one last play. i’m saying no no no no, tackle him tackle him! yes!
she says, i could never gamble. that was so nervewracking just watching you
January 5th, 2013 at 11:16 PM
Usually just spread only. They had a new format for the playoffs where you picked the first team with the spread, and could pick just win or lose on the next day’s games, as well as which conference would win pro bowl or super bowl with or without spreads with different payouts. I tried putting a few of those cards in, but the machine was fucked up, so all I have for this weekend is a 3 team that I dropped 4 bucks on. I can only win like 26 or 28 bucks off of it. I just didn’t feel like standing there and filling out more after I found out the new cards couldn’t be turned in at the moment.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:17 PM
Only way this game could have been interesting is if they just showed swimsuit models in splitscreen…. I turned the game off and watched justice league movie on netflix. Yes, animated superheroes were more interesting than a playoff game
January 5th, 2013 at 11:22 PM
Meth – you really should look into an online site or find a local bookie who’s set up online (generally speaking, local bookies don’t give a shit about silly state laws and most bookies these days are set up online). It’s fun to throw 4 teams in a parlay with a 10:1 payout, but those hit about once out of every 20+. When I first started gambling, I’d bet 3 parlays for every straight up bet. Soon I learned that you make money grinding out wins on individual games.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:24 PM
2-0 on the day straight up, I’ll take it.
have all 4 teasers/parlays still in the mix.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:27 PM
Shit – I pushed my NBA over/under bet (DEN/UTAH over 201). That’s rather rare.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:28 PM
4-0-1 for the day.
January 5th, 2013 at 11:31 PM
I experienced my favorite NBA betting phenomenon tonight. Had under Mavs/Hornets. Lost in OT. OT was forced by Dirk missing a ft. Good times
/7-7 on night still
//has LAC-GSW o201
January 5th, 2013 at 11:33 PM
Note to GSW- feel free to show up. LAC playing back to back. GSW two days off
January 6th, 2013 at 8:24 AM
Hockey!!!!! And bills have a coach!
January 6th, 2013 at 9:20 AM
-Dwight Howard, ESPN.com
The least self-aware guy in sports