Episode 445

Unknown

Hosts	Arif Hasan, James Pogatshnik
Guests	None
Type	Game Review

Norse Code Episode 445 was a game review episode focusing on the Vikings' victory over the Washington Commanders.

Overview

The episode reviewed the Vikings' performance against Washington, discussed T.J. Hockenson's impact in his first game as a Viking, and featured extensive mailbag discussion about the team's improved play in close games under Kevin O'Connell compared to the Mike Zimmer era.

Segments

Opening: Episode introduction and Patreon acknowledgments
Washington Commanders Review: Analysis of the Vikings' win over Washington
Mailbag: Extensive listener questions covering various Vikings topics

Mailbag Questions

Sam - Why is our screen game so utterly horrible?
Ryan - Is this the proper complaint/suggestion box that gets the Vikings to stop throwing to tight ends from -2 to 0 yards from scrimmage? Is Chris Reed old English or German for "the corpse of Dru Samia"? Also when did Cleveland forget what a stunt was? Was Ingram contagious? Would the Commies be obligated to give the Back Judge a game ball if they won?
Jack Rackham - If you could pre-record a 10 second video of yourself to be played at halftime on the big screen at Lambeau Field next home game, what would you say?
MJ - Hockenson was on for 60 of 66 snaps in his first game, and was an improved threat over the middle. How should we expect coverage of Jefferson and Thielen outside to adjust now that some safety coverage will have to be devoted to the Hockenson threat in the middle?
Loyal Stooge - To what extent could Hockenson's production against WAS be due to there being no tape on him in the Vikings system?
Rmensen - Is the significant improvement in the outcome of close games relative to last year an indictment on Zimmer, a credit to KOC, due to other teams making mistakes, or just random fluctuations?
Damian Barrett - Do we have enough evidence yet to prove that Kirk Cousins actually passed away over the summer but the team contrived to cover his death up and replace him with a member of the backroom staff (Steve)? My wife & daughter are away for the week. Apart from a steak, what are your go to meals for one when you wanna push the boat out for a dinner and not be left with a shed load of leftovers?
Michael - For Arif's neo-regression (regressionist?) corner: In the last years of Mike Zimmer it seemed that the Vikings consistently lost close games and this season that seems to be the opposite. How does a neo-regressionist explain these streaks which should be randomly distributed?
Kenneth Allen - Where does Jefferson rate as a contested catch receiver? It seems like there a fair amount of balls that he should fight through and catch but doesn't. Is this the weakest part of his game?
RoRo - Do we think there's much correlation between KOC leaving and the Rams offensive implosion?
Winston - For Arif's coven corner: given that the Vikings once again won over a backup quarterback and that the Bills lost to inferior competition a week early, can we assume that the Vikings coaching coven has an internal schism about their next target, and how will that split result in our inevitable late season collapse?
Delta BC Dad - What would be better: the Vikings winning out or the packers losing out? I don't mean for football purposes. I mean, philosophically and manically.
BeePercenter - Show question: how much of the Packers struggles this season can be pinned directly on the Justis Mosqueda ownership group?
Kyle Slaybee - In 2018 the NFL began to question whether Aaron Rodgers was cooked. But a resurgent 2019-2021 Packers team lead by a new coach and high flying offense chalked up that prior poor play to bad coaching and potential sabotage by Rodgers on McCarthy. However the lack of Davante Adams has left Rodgers unable to read even the simplest progressions. Was Davante Adams the real MVP the last 3 years and Rodgers merely a game manager?
Beef Brewski - If you could pick a phrase to put on the back of helmets in the NFL, what phrase would you choose?
Tommy Gunn - When Kevin O'Connell is inevitably fired midseason some time down the road as many recent Vikings coaches have been, who would the interim coach be a la Jeff Saturday style? Same question, but replacing Arif on the podcast. Case Cookus.
Nolan Kehler - For Arif's Cheesemonger Corner: when the Lions bite of the kneecaps of a Packer, what kind of cheese do they taste? Do they prefer the soft nature of David Briethiari, or the harder texture of an aged Cheddar Rodgers?
Chris - Does there need to be a separate tournament for all the additional Super Bowl winners thanks to Green Bay this year?
Le Couvosier - Does Norse Code have an official stance on the correct post-win Kirk Cousins alter ego? Kirk-O, 8 Chains, Kirk Shiesty? Also what win total or result would be required for Kirk to wear only chains for the flight home?
Luke Braun - O'Connell is a witch, right? It's time to verify and acknowledge that O'Connell is a witch... right? he has to be a witch
The Real Jak - For Arifs Wicked Witch and/or Wizard and/or Warlock corner, there's been a lot of discussion about the exact source of KOC's magic, including speculation that it came from an eldrich bargain, making him a warlock. Could Arif look into the specific nature of the eldrich bargain KOC has made based on his comments and how the Vikings season has played out thusfar?
Stampede - Another week where Arif's regressionist agenda grows ever weaker, he continues to deny the witchcraft at play here. Given the anti-magicism pushed by arif, when will Norse Code fine, suspend, and push for arif to take magic sensitivity training?
Zero Dark Oconnell Mode - For Arif's Momentum Corner: Is the way the Vikings are winning games sustainable? Also, do you foresee Josh Allen hurdling any unsuspecting Vikings linebackers next weekend?
Tim Rizzo - If I had a random sum of money leftover at the end every month (lets say $8. Totally arbitrary), can you list a few things I should do with those funds for short and long term happiness that do not involve giving it to a broke billionaire?
Don from Ohio - When I win Powerball tonight, how much would it cost me to shut down NorseCode Discord and the podcast to save humanity from this weekly hell?

Key Bits & Lore

Case Cookus referenced in Tommy Gunn's question
Don from Ohio submitted a question about shutting down the podcast and Discord
Live show mentioned for November 17th at Union 32
Threadless pillow merchandise mentioned ("Arif is your Waifu!")

Production Notes

Patreon edit at 7305
Silence noted at 9315
Timestamps: 10920, 11743, 12327
Beth Harrington Patreon acknowledgment
Zadarius Smith salary note: $11.4 million

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