Minnesota Vikings Information and Hyperlinks: Blissful New 12 months!

The division title comes down to at least one recreation! If I’d have instructed you earlier than the season started that the Vikings can be 14-2 and enjoying for the division title within the last recreation of the season, you’d have instructed me to place the pipe down, ease up, go it bro. However, right here we’re after having fun with (most of us) a improbable common season! Positive we now need to win the division and get to the NFC Championship Recreation and presumably even the Tremendous Bowl. A few of the most damaging followers can be bitter if they don’t attain these targets. However we’re within the gravy proper now. Taking part in with home cash. The stress is on the Lions. The Vikings have over achieved this season. There’s nothing to be ashamed about. What they do to get higher can be fascinating and profession defining for Kwesi Adofo Mensah.

I’ll say that the Vikings offense goes to need to be on level to beat the Lions. I see the Lions offense scoring no less than 24 factors. They’re too good. The Vikings are going to want to attain 30 plus factors to have an opportunity. I consider they’ll do it too. It is perhaps time for the Lions to have a let down.

Minnesota Vikings Information and Hyperlinks

Is Vikings-Lions finale the best matchup in NFL regular-season historical past?

The NFL caught an enormous break when the Vikings held on to beat the Inexperienced Bay Packers in Week 17. That ensured the Vikings’ Week 18 recreation on the Lions can be for the NFC North title and the No. 1 seed within the convention. It needed to be the simplest flex resolution within the historical past of the league. The NFL moved the sport to Sunday night time, and there’s certain to be a playoff-level viewers for it.

There aren’t many common season matchups ever that may examine to what we’re going to see. Begin with this: The matchup will function probably the most mixed wins for any regular-season recreation in NFL historical past.

The winner of Sunday night time’s recreation will change into simply the ninth group in NFL historical past to complete an everyday season with 15 or extra wins. The loser may have probably the most wins of any wild-card group in historical past. The document was held by the 1999 Tennessee Titans, who had 13 wins. Even with the seventeenth recreation having been added to the schedule in 2021, that historical past being made by each groups is outstanding. It’s even tougher to consider they occur to satisfy one another within the final recreation of the season.

It’s unprecedented for 2 groups with data this good to satisfy so late within the season. The truth that they’re divisional rivals and occurred to be scheduled in opposition to one another for the ultimate recreation of the common season makes it an ideal storm.

The final time two groups met within the regular-season finale with the No. 1 seed on the road was 1993 between the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, an time beyond regulation Cowboys win that turned well-known for Emmitt Smith placing up 229 yards on 42 touches regardless of a separated shoulder.

The matchup isn’t simply fascinating due to the data for every group. The stakes for the sport are uncommon. One group will get a division title, the No. 1 seed and per week off. The dropping group has its Tremendous Bowl path get a lot harder.

The distinction between the No. 1 seed and the No. 5 seed, which the dropping group will drop to, is immense. The No. 1 seed would be the solely group within the convention with a bye and can be two dwelling wins from a Tremendous Bowl. The No. 5 seed should go on the street in wild-card weekend, doubtless in opposition to an explosive Tampa Bay Buccaneers group, then maybe need to play the Eagles (at present 13-3) within the divisional spherical earlier than a street matchup in opposition to the No. 1 seeded NFC North champ.

For a pair of groups which have by no means received a Tremendous Bowl between them — the Lions have famously by no means even been to at least one — what occurs on Sunday night time might finally be the distinction between a fast playoff exit and a historic run to the Tremendous Bowl.

On high of all of it, these two groups have already performed top-of-the-line video games of this season. Again in Week 7, the Lions gave away a 28-17 fourth quarter lead, however drove downfield trailing 29-28 and kicked a game-winning area objective with 15 seconds left to get a key 31-29 win. That’s certainly one of two Vikings losses all season.

Listed here are the entire attainable playoff situations for the Vikings

How it will be the Rams

The Rams have clinched the NFC West and might declare the No. 3 seed by beating the Seahawks at dwelling on Sunday. If the Rams lose to Seattle, they’ll nonetheless clinch the No. 3 seed if the Buccaneers lose at dwelling to the Saints.

If the Rams lose to the Seahawks and the Buccaneers beat the Saints, the Bucs can be the No. 3 seed and the Rams would fall to No. 4 and host the Vikings or Lions on Wild Card Weekend.

How it will be the Buccaneers or Falcons

If the Rams beat the Seahawks and the Bucs beat the Saints, the Bucs would be the No. 4 seed.

The one different attainable final result is that Atlanta beats Carolina and Tampa Bay loses to the Saints. In that situation, the Falcons would clinch the NFC South and the No. 4 seed.

If the Vikings get the No. 1 seed…

Because the No. 1, the Vikings would host the bottom remaining seed within the Divisional Spherical.

The wild-card spherical would function Washington or Inexperienced Bay at Philadelphia, Washington or Inexperienced Bay at Los Angeles or Tampa Bay, and Detroit at Tampa Bay, Los Angeles or Atlanta. The bottom remaining seed after these video games would journey to Minneapolis within the second spherical.

Kevin O’Connell on Significance of Week 18, Impacts of Sam Darnold & Jordan Addison vs. Packers

O’Connell’s tried-and-true 1-0 method has stoked the flames for the largest check of the yr: A shot for Minnesota to avenge certainly one of its two losses this season and earn the one bye within the NFC Playoffs.

“In the back of our minds, we knew we had to win a lot of football games to keep pace with a team that really has been, if not the best, one of the top two teams in the league for most of the year,” O’Connell mentioned. “I’m not sure how unique, as far as the historical precedent. I just know they’re a damn good team.”

The winner-takes-the-division recreation at Detroit on Sunday Evening Soccer will mark the fifth divisional tilt prior to now 25 seasons to function groups with eleven-plus wins every. The final such assembly occurred not too long ago – strive lower than one full spin of the Earth in the past (we’re sorry for the snark, it’s Week 18 and we’re pumped!) when the Vikings topped the Packers.

The Lions (13-2) are wrapping Week 17 at San Francisco (6-9) on Monday Evening Soccer.

Yeah, the distinctiveness factor is off the charts. And the implications are monumental.

“I don’t want to undersell it, but at the same time this is just a football game this week, and we’re going to do it and throw everything we’ve got at it and play 60 minutes and maybe then some to go try to win the division. But at the same time, there’s still the tournament that we’re all in this for,” O’Connell mentioned. “It’s definitely something that I’m thinking about from a standpoint of how to mentally prepare our team and physically prepare our team – because the season does not end Sunday, regardless of the outcome.”

3. Phenomenal safety

O’Connell mentioned it’s most likely not been talked about sufficient.

That’s how effectively Minnesota’s offensive line has performed since dropping Christian Darrisaw.

On Sunday in opposition to a unit that entered with one fewer sack on the season (43) than the Vikings vaunted protection, Darnold was sacked as soon as – it occurred with 19 seconds left within the first half. In any other case, he was in a position to maneuver in a clear pocket, generally changing throws on his third and fourth progressions.

“That was one thing that jumped out watching the tape last night and then with the staff this morning,” O’Connell instructed reporters. “I thought the protection was phenomenal against a really good active front.”

The Packers mustered solely a handful of hits on Darnold over his 43 makes an attempt.

Stable safety prolonged to aggressive run-game blocking, as effectively.

O’Connell sounded off on the affect: “Even on a night where maybe our yards per carry wasn’t huge, wasn’t a big number, just the attempts and kind of being able to stay balanced enough that it wasn’t just a pure chuck-it-60-times kind of game – and there’s going to be some games like that with how you match up, and things like that – but to still be able to stay balanced enough, I thought, was critical.”

Sam Darnold soaks in ‘pretty special’ locker room scene after Vikings thwart Packers

“I didn’t know what to do with my hands in that situation — so, Ricky Bobby style,” Darnold joked, referencing the 2006 movie Talladega Nights, by way of the group’s web site. “It was an fascinating second, however a enjoyable second, to be embraced by your teammates like that.

“That was pretty special.”

Darnold was fairly particular on Sunday afternoon. The quarterback generated a career-high 377 passing yards with three touchdowns and one interception. It marked his sixth recreation with three-plus go TDs in 2024; he had 4 such video games in his six earlier seasons.

The 27-year-old quarterback has tortured defenses, exhibiting the flexibility to keep away from stress and make the precise reads. When Justin Jefferson was slowed early Sunday, Darnold unfold the ball round, discovering Jalen Nailor (5/81/1), Jordan Addison (6/68/1) or T.J. Hockenson (5/68) till the highest receiver broke free for a game-high 92 yards on eight catches. Darnold hit eight totally different targets in opposition to Inexperienced Bay.

“I’m so happy for Sam,” Jones mentioned. “Outside of these walls, nobody really believed in him, nobody really gave him a chance, but he’s proven everybody wrong, and I’m just so happy for him.”

“Just to see how he’s ultimately been able to maximize everything about his opportunity, our football team loves him for it,” coach Kevin O’Connell mentioned. “I’ve had an absolute blast coaching him.”

“We can be aggressive, but he’s still going to be a great decision-maker,” O’Connell mentioned. “He’s playing quarterback at a very, very high level.”

Vikings’ Aaron Jones Calls Out Critics: They Mentioned We’d Win 6 Video games and End Final

Minnesota Vikings operating again Aaron Jones is savoring how a lot the group has defied its preseason expectations.

“Nobody really believed in us,” he mentioned to The MMQB’s Albert Breer. “They were saying you’re going to win six games and finish last in the division. Everything we did was done in the dark, but it was never dark in that facility. It was always fun to come to work. We always believed in each other. [Head coach Kevin O’Connell] told us we would be right where we are right now.”

Jones joked he believes O’Connell “can see the future if you ask me.”

Russini’s what I’m listening to: Vikings need Darnold again in 2025, Watson’s new deal, Brady’s large function

First, let’s declare Darnold the “Story of the Year”

“$10 million for Sam Darnold?!” That’s the textual content I acquired from an NFL basic supervisor when the Minnesota Vikings signed Darnold in March, after Kirk Cousins left for the Atlanta Falcons. Quick-forward 9 months, and Darnold is having the very best season of his profession, main the Vikings to a 13-2 document. They spent a first-round choose on J.J. McCarthy final spring and Darnold is in for an enormous payday in March. Regardless of that, after conversations with a group supply, one factor is obvious: The Vikings need Darnold again in Minnesota for 2025.

Whereas the unique plan was for McCarthy to slowly turn into the beginning quarterback whereas Darnold was there to carry the rookie’s place, McCarthy’s damage modified issues. Now, the Vikings have an issue — Darnold has been virtually too good (not in a foul manner, however in a “this is now complicated” manner). McCarthy hasn’t performed since August, and realistically he received’t be totally within the combine till spring on the earliest. He’s across the constructing and with the group always however he hasn’t been medically cleared.

Schefter: ‘We know how’ Vikings will deal with Sam Darnold’s future in Minnesota

“They haven’t talked but the price is rising every single day,” Schefter mentioned throughout Monday’s episode of the Get Up present. “What would some team be willing to give up to get Sam Darnold? The Vikings obviously want to wait and see how the season plays out, but we see how it’s playing out: They’re playing Sunday night for the No. 1 seed against the Detroit Lions; winner wins the NFC North; winner gets the No. 1 seed; winner gets a bye. There is a lot on the line, and Sam Darnold has played at an elite level this year. So it’s left the Vikings in a situation where, I don’t know if you say how are they going to handle it, because I think we know how they are going to handle it: They have to keep Sam Darnold.”

Vikings snap counts and notable PFF grades from win over Packers

Prime 5 PFF grades on offense (min. 20 snaps)

1. Nailor — 78.6

2. Risner — 75.9

3. Jefferson — 75.8

4. Robinson — 74.1

5. Addison — 72.5

All three of the Vikings’ broad receivers cracked the highest 5 after combining for 242 yards and two touchdowns. Nailor caught all 5 of his targets for a career-high in receptions and a season-high 81 yards, highlighted by the sport’s first landing. T.J. Hockenson, who had 68 yards of his personal, was proper behind them when it comes to PFF grade. So was Darnold, who was the person distributing the ball. It was an unimaginable recreation on the stat sheet for Darnold, however he did throw an interception and had a pair different balls that weren’t probably the most correct, which dinged his grade a bit.

Additionally, how good have Risner and Robinson been? These two stepped in for Ed Ingram and Christian Darrisaw (for various causes) in the course of the season and have helped stabilize the Vikings’ offensive line. Risner has recorded a go blocking grade above 70 in three consecutive weeks and 4 of the final 5.

Prime 5 PFF grades on protection (min. 20 snaps)

1. Phillips — 80.5

2. Cashman — 79.5

3. Greenard —71.1

4. Bynum — 68.2

5. Smith — 65.8

Van Ginkel simply narrowly missed this record. Cashman is quietly having a Professional Bowl-caliber season as one of many higher center linebackers within the NFL. The Vikings are 13-0 when he’s within the lineup. Greenard had 8 pressures, his second-highest whole in a recreation this season, and he’s second within the league with 77 of them in 2024. This protection has been an impressive mesh of newcomers like these two and holdovers like Phillips, Bynum, Smith, Metellus, and Murphy.

Decrease grades on this recreation went to Tillery, Gilmore, Griffin, Tempo, and Bullard.

Vikings have to make one roster transfer to fortify their future and Kevin O’Connell hinted at it on Monday

Vikings ought to add Daniel Jones to the lively roster

The opposite angle in relation to the thought of a aggressive rebuild is constantly taking low-cost alternatives so as to add to the roster. They did so when quarterback Daniel Jones was signed to the observe squad. It was an enormous win for what the Vikings are doing, and reveals that Jones has purchased into what they’re doing.

Now that we’re about to enter the ultimate recreation, a call must be made about Jones being added to the lively roster. In the event that they do earlier than Sunday’s recreation, he can be eligible for the compensatory choose components.

Most analysts would let you know that Jones is a greater quarterback than the present third quarterback in Brett Rypien which might find yourself mattering within the Vikings’ resolution. O’Connell was requested about the potential of signing Jones and gave a glowing reply concerning the quarterback room.

“Yeah, we’re gonna, you know, we’re gonna have some dialog about that. As far as the timing of it, Daniel’s been quietly behind the scenes, putting in some phenomenal work, and probably, as I told him the other day, more excited now than even as excited as I was to get him in here day one, just by what he’s shown us already. And so that’s definitely something we’re gonna talk about. I feel so fortunate to have, with JJ, really back full speed in those meetings. I mean, you walk in there, you got five NFL quarterbacks sitting there and, you know, and Josh, sometimes, if I blink and look at him, you can probably say, six. I’m not going to give Grant that kind of love. But I’m sure Josh can still sling it.”

‘Last team I would want to play in the NFC’: Chris Lengthy has ‘man crush’ on Vikings

“Your team is f***** awesome,” former NFL defensive lineman Chris Lengthy mentioned to Vikings followers on his Inexperienced Gentle podcast Sunday. “I’ve never thought they were frauds this year. This was a game that I thought Green Bay would play better and I thought Green Bay could win this game, and they didn’t.”

“Maybe the Christian Watson injury loomed larger than we thought. Like, if they can’t stretch the field with his speed the same way, Love’s not going to see it. I think it’s more of a product of Brian Flores and a master class by this pass rush by the defensive play caller,” Lengthy mentioned.

“I would say, right now, it’s the last team I would want to play in the NFC,” Lengthy continued. “Minnesota’s playing as good as anybody in the NFC right now and [the Packers game] was the biggest test, to me, because they were dealing with a team that really wanted to prove they could win a big game going into the playoffs.”

“This team, top to bottom, I can’t give them enough credit. Brian Flores is a f***** G, dude. I played for him, I love the guy, I hope he gets to be a head coach again in this league. His players love him. The players in Miami, they don’t like anybody. They didn’t like Vic Fangio like Brian Flores. Guess what, they both left and they’re both great,” Lengthy added. “Just a tour de force by Minnesota. Wild story, man. Wild story.”

Lengthy famous the excellent play of first yr Vikings edge rushers Jonathan Greenard and Andrew Van Ginkel, in addition to free agent cornerback Stephon Gilmore. He referred to as the Vikings “as complete as any team in the NFL.”

“Not to mention nailing the quarterback and seeming to have drafted a quarterback that makes the decision harder than it should be. Sam Darnold’s your guy right now and I don’t know what I’d have to see in the playoffs for him not to be my guy,” mentioned Lengthy. “I got a f***** man crush on an entire organization. They continue to impress.”

NFL Rumors: Kevin O’Connell Vikings Contract Extension ‘Could Happen Soon’

Amid a surprisingly profitable season, Kevin O’Connell is reportedly in line for a contract extension.

Per The Athletic’s Dianna Russini, an extension for the third-year head coach “could happen soon.” O’Connell, who the Vikings employed forward of the 2022 season, is below contract by means of the tip of subsequent season and would doubtless area loads of affords ought to Minnesota forgo extending him.

The story behind ‘Straight Cash, Homie’

When the Minnesota Vikings first opened TCO Efficiency Heart in 2018, KARE-11 net content material creator Dana Thiede went to the brand new facility to do a narrative on its debut. Whereas he was working contained in the truck, KARE social media supervisor Bea Chang got here operating up excitedly with a random Vikings fan by her aspect.

“There he is!” she instructed the fan, whereas pointing at Thiede. “That’s the guy who made your shirt possible.”

The fan, who had pushed all the best way from Ohio to see TCOPC and absorb a Vikings observe, had a shirt with three phrases on it: “Straight Cash, Homie.”

Thiede took a photograph with the fan and instructed him about how he was answerable for Randy Moss’s well-known catchphrase.

“Everyone’s standing around and all the sudden I looked at [Monica] and I say, ‘you know he’s not going to come out this door, right? He’s not coming out this door,’ Thiede told Purple Insider over the phone. “It’s not rocket science. How could Randy get out of the building? The loading dock. Duh!”

Thiede and Hanson walked down the ramp that led as much as the locker room door and went round to the loading dock, which was perhaps 100 toes away.

“It was the edge of the afternoon and it’s really bright and there’s lots of shadows and all of the sudden I’m looking up at the dock and the door opens and here comes a very tall, thin man with a the hood drawn around his head,” Thiede mentioned. I checked out [Monica] and mentioned, ‘here we go!’ She rolled it.”

As Moss approached his truck, Thiede referred to as out to Moss. Right here was the alternate:

THIEDE: “Write the check yet, Randy?”

MOSS: “When you’re rich, you don’t write checks.”

THIEDE: “How do you pay, man?”

MOSS: Huh?

THIEDE: “If you don’t write checks, how do you pay these guys?”

MOSS: “Straight cash, homie.”

Increase. Iconic. However why ask Moss the query that manner?

“One thing I learned about Randy is that you didn’t deal with him the same way you dealt with other people,” Thiede mentioned. “You were playful and had fun because he couldn’t stop himself. He was a fun guy. God, he was a fun guy to cover. I always found in the interactions that I had with him, he always responded a lot differently and was a lot more engaging when you had fun with him. That was the intent.”

Yore Mock
Commerce Recap
Minnesota Receives:
2025: Spherical 2, Decide 38
2025: Spherical 3, Decide 95
New York Receives:
2025: Spherical 1, Decide 30
…
Minnesota Receives:
2025: Spherical 4, Decide 104
2025: Spherical 5, Decide 139
Tennessee Receives:
2025: Spherical 3, Decide 95
…
Minnesota Receives:
2025: Spherical 4, Decide 112
2025: Spherical 6, Decide 186
San Francisco Receives:
2025: Spherical 4, Decide 104
…
Minnesota Receives:
2025: Spherical 6, Decide 177
2025: Spherical 6, Decide 215
Cleveland Receives:
2025: Spherical 5, Decide 165
…

38. Nick Emmanwori S South Carolina 6’3” 227

97. Dylan Sampson RB Tennessee 5’11” 201

112. Jared Ivey EDGE Mississippi 6’6” 285

Picture by James Gilbert/Getty Photos

139. Tyler Cooper IOL Minnesota 6’6” 310

Picture by Ric Tapia/Getty Photos

140. O’Donnell Fortune CB South Carolina 6’1” 185

Picture by Kevin C. Cox/Getty Photos

177. Jack Bech WR TCU 6’2” 215

186. Eli Stowers TE Vanderbilt 6’4” 235

Picture by Carly Mackler/Getty Photos

215. Jordan Phillips DL Maryland 6’3” 320

Picture by Roger Wimmer/ISI Photographs/Getty Photos

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