Justin Jefferson Sets Rookie Yardage Record in Vikings’ 37-35 Win
It was a virtually meaningless game, but the Minnesota Vikings and Detroit Lions did their best to entertain. A back-and-forth affair went Minnesota’s way, 37-35. They finish the season 7-9, ending a...
View ArticleMinnesota Needs to Maximize Justin Jefferson’s Greatness Next Year
The man known for The Griddy was giddy in the final postgame press conference of his rookie season. Justin Jefferson stands alone as the only NFL rookie receiver in history to record 1,400 yards....
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Week 17 Gameplan, Jefferson Sets the Record & Filling...
Sam Ekstrom and Tom Schreier react to the Vikings’ final game, a 37-35 win in Detroit: -It was the offensive gameplan they should’ve had all season: Embrace shootouts –Justin Jefferson set the rookie...
View ArticleWhat Zimmer Revealed About the Offseason in His Season-Ending Press Conference
An honest Mike Zimmer filled up his Zoom rectangle for a final time this season and held court for over 20 minutes as he reflected on a subpar 2020 campaign that matched his worst record as a head...
View ArticleLiam Robbins Has Stepped Up For the Gophers
The Gophers’ last two wins — blowout victories over two ranked teams, Michigan State and Ohio State — have started in identical fashion. Minnesota won the tip and worked its way into the half-court...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Gary Kubiak Replacements & Revisiting Preseason Predictions
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan are joined by Luke Braun to start discussing the Minnesota Vikings offseason: -Who were the Week 17 winners and losers? -Are the in-house candidates good replacements for...
View ArticleThere is Ambiguity at Safety For First Time in the Zimmer Era
For over half a decade, the Minnesota Vikings have essentially had three starting safeties thanks to smart acquisitions, strong player development and some good fortune. That makes their current...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: Goodbye, George Paton, Wild Card Review & National...
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan discuss the latest with the Minnesota Vikings and National Football League: -George Paton takes a job with the Denver Broncos. What is the impact on the Vikings? -Best...
View ArticleRick Spielman is Losing His “Sounding Board” in George Paton
More than 20 years ago, when Rick Spielman was leaving the Chicago Bears to become the vice president of player personnel in Miami, he made a point of bringing George Paton with him. When Spielman...
View ArticleWhat’s Up With the Gophers’ Home-Road Splits?
There have been myriad off-the-court challenges in an unorthodox season of college basketball being played through a pandemic. But for Minnesota, especially, the tests on the court have been just as...
View ArticleWhat Can Minnesota Take Away From the NFL’s Final Four Teams?
There was only one “upset” in the divisional round of the NFL playoffs, and the winner of that game was Tom Brady. Otherwise, both top seeds and the second-seeded Buffalo Bills advanced, leaving a...
View ArticleVikings Mailbag: The Future at Safety, Money Allocation & Imitating the 49ers
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: Playoff Talkers, Vikings Free Agent Watch, Ex-Viking Updates
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan discuss the latest with the Purple and the NFL playoffs: -What was compelling about the divisional round? -Who will neutral fans be cheering for in Sunday’s Bucs-Packers...
View ArticleWho Will Be the Vikings’ Backup Quarterback in 2021?
For all the warts that critics lump on Kirk Cousins, the quarterback has held up his end of the bargain in at least one area during his three years with the Minnesota Vikings: Durability. Having missed...
View ArticleThe Gophers Finally Have an Adequate Bench
It took all 20 Big Ten games in 2019-20 for the Golden Gophers to reach 150 bench points — total — in Big Ten play, and they wouldn’t have accomplished it without a drubbing of Nebraska in the season...
View ArticleMinnesota May Be the Only NFC North Team to Keep Their Quarterback
A Minnesota Vikings fan could have woken up on Saturday morning, took inventory of the NFC North quarterback landscape, and arrived at the following conclusions: Aaron Rodgers is back to his old self,...
View ArticleLess is More For Dalvin Cook Going Forward
Dalvin Cook proudly displayed his 2020 hardware on a Zoom call Wednesday with Twin Cities reporters. Not typically one to boast about individual accolades, Cook was happy to show off this particular...
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Is Justin Jefferson’s “No Drops in 2021” Promise Realistic?
Justin Jefferson wasn’t shy in setting lofty 2020 goals. The Minnesota Vikings’ first-round pick pledged to himself that he’d catch 60 balls for 1,000 yards and six touchdowns. Turns out the mark was...
View ArticleFOOTBALL MACHINE: QB Trade Rumors, Super Bowl Jeopardy & Farewell
Sam Ekstrom and Arif Hasan team up for their final Football Machine. As Sam moves on to a new opportunity, the Football Machine is appreciative for your years of loyal listenership. What a fun ride....
View ArticleWhat Could the Vikings Do If They Shed QB Money?
After a two-decade-long dynasty, the New England Patriots used 2020 as a reset. Forging ahead without Tom Brady was never going to be easy, and the Pats seemingly weren’t all that interested in putting...
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