The Gophers’ Flaws Were Exposed in 92-65 Loss to No. 13 Illinois
The Golden Gophers survived numerous scares in their first six games, all of which they were favored at home. Heading to Champaign, Ill., for their first Big Ten battle against a bigger, faster...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Bailey Stays, Slow Tempo and Trubisky vs. Foles
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan discuss the latest with the Minnesota Vikings: -Was it correct to hang onto Dan Bailey after his four misses? -Does Mitch Trubisky give the Bears a better chance to win? -Why...
View ArticleWho’s Had the Better Season: Gladney or Dantzler?
After a trying start to the season in which the Minnesota Vikings secondary was the biggest liability on defense, things have taken a positive turn, and the Vikings have their rookies to thank. With...
View ArticleChris Jones is the Vikings Corner You’ve Never Heard Of
Imagine being as unfamiliar with Mackensie Alexander, Terence Newman or Captain Munnerlyn as you are with the current third corner on the Minnesota Vikings depth chart. Mike Zimmer has always relied on...
View ArticleVikings Mailbag: Andre Patterson’s Future, Draft Priorities & Defensive End...
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 ArticlePorous Defense Dooms Vikings in 33-27 Loss to Bears
In a battle to stay alive in the NFC playoff race, the Minnesota Vikings defense failed to show up and the Chicago Bears won a shootout, 33-27. The loss drops them to 6-8 and essentially ends the...
View ArticleVikings’ Demise is Frustrating But Shouldn’t Be Surprising
If Sunday’s loss is the one that ends up driving the dagger into the Minnesota Vikings’ playoff hopes — and there’s a great chance it was — it was an effort indicative of the way the season has gone....
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: The Vikings Kept it Interesting, But They Never Took the...
Sam Ekstrom and Tom Schreier dissect the latest Vikings loss that likely eliminates them from playoff contention: -Should the offense be held to a higher standard since they have more veterans? -The...
View ArticleThe Vikings Need to Be More Aggressive On Second Down
In Week 14, the Minnesota Vikings garnered the unfortunate distinction of losing for a second time in 2020 despite possessing the ball for over 39 minutes. They are the only team this season to...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Vikings-Saints Nostalgia, Nothing or Something,...
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan discuss the latest with the Minnesota Vikings: -What are their memories of the two Vikings’ playoff wins over the Saints, and what made them special for fans? -Nothing or...
View ArticleIt Didn’t Have to Be This Way at Guard For the Vikings
There are 17 quarterbacks in the NFL that have dropped back at least 480 times this year, and Kirk Cousins has been pressured at a higher rate than any of them. Behind an offensive line that the...
View ArticleVikings Defense Disappears in 52-33 Loss to Dash Postseason Hopes
It seemed like a low point when the Minnesota Vikings allowed 40 points to the winless Atlanta Falcons in Week 6, but they might’ve found a new low in New Orleans. The Saints moved the ball at will on...
View ArticleThe Vikings Really Missed Michael Pierce This Year
If there’s any caveat, any hollow consolation to explain away the worst defensive performance of the Mike Zimmer era and one of the worst in Minnesota Vikings’ history, it’s that Zimmer and Co. would...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: A Defensive Embarrassment, Upgrading the O-Line and Mad...
Sam Ekstrom and Tom Schreier discuss the Vikings’ 52-33 loss on Christmas Day and what happens next as the offseason nears: -Mike Zimmer calls out his “bad defense” -A deep dive into Ernie Nevers, the...
View ArticleThe Gophers Finally Have a Clutch-Time Assassin
The Gophers’ overtime upset of No. 4 Iowa will likely go down in the annuls as The Brandon Johnson Game, named for the grad transfer who canned a career-best 8-of-9 three-pointers, including four in...
View ArticleLooking at 5 Key Players Who Could Be Gone After the Lions Game
For just the second time in six seasons, the Minnesota Vikings will enter Week 17 with no playoff aspirations, meaning Sunday’s meeting with the Detroit Lions could mark the end of the road for...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Vikings Resolutions, 5 Key Roster Moves & the Case to Keep...
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan are joined by Chris Schad to break down the latest with the Minnesota Vikings: -What should their New Year’s resolutions be? -Does Mike Zimmer have a low ceiling as a coach?...
View ArticleShould Kirk Cousins Be Satisfied With His 2020 Offensive Production?
“I don’t see him taking a step back. I see him continuing to ascend.” That was Mike Zimmer speaking on Kirk Cousins‘ after his extension that tied him to the Minnesota Vikings through 2022. As a team,...
View ArticleWhich Announcers Bring the Vikings the Worst Luck?
Let’s get this out of the way right now: Nobody ever asked for this story to be written, and in all likelihood, nobody ever would have. If you’re reading this, perhaps you’re a dork like the author who...
View ArticleVikings Mailbag: Who to Play vs. Detroit, Jefferson vs. AP & the Best...
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...
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