Everson Griffen is Upset With Mike Zimmer Over “Good Player” Comment
Two cornerstones of the 2015 Vikings met with reporters Thursday wearing Honolulu blue: Adrian Peterson and Everson Griffen, two veterans divorced from their original franchise where they toiled for 10...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Dalvin’s Dominance & A Path to the Playoffs
Sam Ekstrom and Tom Schreier react to Minnesota’s 34-20 over Detroit. –Dalvin Cook rushes for over 200 yards -There are some serious 2012 vibes to the current offense -Mike Zimmer has kept things...
View ArticleRanking the Vikings’ 2020 Draft Picks at the Halfway Point
Normally we publish a preseason power ranking that orders how well each Minnesota Vikings draft pick is performing, but because of a shortened training camp and no preseason games, we opted to hold off...
View ArticleVikings Mailbag: Elflein’s Future, 2021 Draft & Cost-Saving Moves
For years the listeners of our Football Machine Vikings podcast have sent in amazing Twitter questions, and far too often we’ve had to leave many of them on the cutting room floor because of time. No...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Dalvin Cook, Midway Superlatives, Gameplan vs. the Bears
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan are joined by guest Luke Braun to discuss the latest with the Minnesota Vikings: -What has led to Dalvin Cook‘s unreal surge? -What defensive adjustments have been made to...
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The Vikings Are Due For a Play-Action Explosion
For one quarter last Sunday, it looked like the Minnesota Vikings were back to their old play-action tricks that had confounded defenses throughout 2019. First attempt: A 22-yard hit to Kyle Rudolph....
View ArticleJeff Gladney and Kris Boyd’s Texas Football Connection
Matthew Stafford wasted no time challenging the Minnesota Vikings secondary last Sunday, firing a deep shot down the left sideline for Marvin Hall Jr.. Kris Boyd, making his second start of the season,...
View ArticleThe Ingredients to a Vikings Win in Soldier Field
In their first game post-9/11, the Minnesota Vikings traveled to Soldier Field to face the Chicago Bears with much of the same team that made the NFC Championship Game the year prior. The Three Deep...
View ArticleVikings Grind Out a 19-13 Win at Soldier Field
If you’re into aesthetically-pleasing football, this game wasn’t for you. But the Minnesota Vikings clawed their way to a win against an abysmal Chicago Bears offense that only gained two first downs...
View ArticleThe Vikings are Suddenly a Tough Football Team
Seriously, what happened during the Minnesota Vikings bye week? Minnesota limped into Week 7 at 1-5 without a game to play or any place to go. COVID protocols required them to shelve the family...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: An Ugly Win, A Playoff Pathway, Jefferson’s Excellence &...
Sam Ekstrom and Tom Schreier react to the Vikings’ 19-13 win over Chicago: -It was ugly for the Vikings, but imagine being a Bears fan -Minnesota hung tough to overcome obstacles –Justin Jefferson is...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Reassessing Two Big Trades, Previewing the Cowboys & 2015...
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan are joined by guest Eric Thompson to discuss the latest with the Vikings. -“Woos and Boos” from Monday’s win against the Bears -Could the Vikings make a change at special...
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Vikings’ Use of Motion in Chicago Was Clever and Effective
There’s nothing groundbreaking about pre-snap motion. NFL teams use it between one-third to two-thirds of the time, to the point where it’s essentially white noise to the viewer. Sometimes we forget,...
View ArticleDaniel Oturu Ends the 16-Year Gophers Draft Drought
The 16-year drought is over. The Golden Gophers have an NBA draft pick. After coming close with fringe prospects Vincent Grier (2006), Trevor Mbakwe (2013) and Amir Coffey (2019), Daniel Oturu became...
View ArticleThe Rise of the Vikings Underdog Defensive Line
Injuries, trades and free agent departures have forced the Minnesota Vikings’ defensive line to adapt to a new norm: Performing without star power. As Yannick Ngakoue struggles in Baltimore, Everson...
View ArticleVikings Mailbag: Special Teams Woes, End-of-Half Aggression & 2020 Redraft
For years the listeners of our Football Machine Vikings podcast have sent in amazing Twitter questions, and far too often we’ve had to leave many of them on the cutting room floor because of time. No...
View ArticleDefense Folds Late as Cowboys Rally Past Vikings, 31-28
In a game they absolutely needed, the Minnesota Vikings defense lost a pair of fourth-quarter leads and dropped a 31-28 decision to the Dallas Cowboys. HOW’D THE OFFENSE DO? With a chance to drive the...
View ArticleThe Vikings Offense Shouldn’t Be Let Off the Hook in Loss to Cowboys
All three phases deserve blame in the Minnesota Vikings’ back-breaking 31-28 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The brunt, though, will go to the defense, which reverted back to its early-2020 form and...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Divvying Up the Blame in Vikings’ Loss to Dallas
Sam Ekstrom and Tom Schreier react to Sunday’s 31-28 Vikings loss: -The offense deserves some heat, too –Dalvin Cook is taking some serious punishment –CeeDee Lamb and Justin Jefferson are going to be...
View ArticleThe Biggest Questions Facing the 2020-21 Golden Gophers Basketball Team
Believe it or not, Gophers basketball season has arrived, and it’s only about three weeks delayed. Richard Pitino’s group takes on Green Bay in Wednesday night’s season opener. Williams Arena won’t...
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