Staff
Sam Ekstrom
Sam Ekstrom is an executive producer and host at Locked On Sports Minnesota. He's previously covered the Vikings for 105 The Ticket, Zone Coverage, Purple Insider, and the Associated Press. He grew up in Vermillion, S.D. rooting for the USD Coyotes (not SDSU) and graduated from Dordt (not "dork") University in Sioux Center, Iowa.
Get the Latest News and Updates
Vikings
FOOTBALL MACHINE POSTGAME: Sam Podcasts From His Car
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 31, 2018
As he drives to TCO Performance Center for locker cleanout day, Zone Coverage beat reporter Sam Ekstrom provides his thoughts on the Vikings’ season-ending loss and the […]
Vikings
Three Telling Stats From the 2018 Vikings Season
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 31, 2018
With the 2018 season complete, we can now look at the full 16-game sample size to see what story the stats tell us. Here are three areas […]
Vikings
Bears Played to Win, and Rightfully Dominated Vikings in Decisive Moments
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 31, 2018
One look at the out-of-town scoreboard might have told the Chicago Bears they had nothing for which to play. Their attempt to snag the No. 2 seed […]
Vikings
Kirk Cousins Enters Offseason Under Scrutiny After Week 17 Dud
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 30, 2018
One-third of the way into his ground-breaking fully-guaranteed contract with the Minnesota Vikings, Kirk Cousins sees value — however hollow — in Minnesota’s non-playoff season that ended […]
Vikings
LOCKER ROOM VIDEO: Vikings React to Season-Ending Loss
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 30, 2018
Hear from a somber Minnesota Vikings locker room following their 24-10 loss to the Chicago Bears that knocked them out of the playoffs. KYLE RUDOLPH KIRK COUSINS […]
Vikings
RAPID REACTION: Ugly Showing Against Bears Eliminates Vikings From Playoff Hunt
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 30, 2018
Given a Week 17 home game with a chance to punch their playoff ticket, the Minnesota Vikings started flat, finished flat and watched their postseason dreams evaporate […]
Vikings
PREDICTION: Vikings vs Bears
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 30, 2018
It’s time to make a pick on for the Minnesota Vikings’ Week 17 win-and-in tilt with the Chicago Bears. But first, a look at all of Zone […]
Vikings
“The Roughest Six Weeks of My Life”: Mike Hughes is Back on His Feet Following Knee Surgery
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 28, 2018
Rookie corner Mike Hughes was seen throughout the months of October and November driving around the Minnesota Vikings practice facility on a scooter. By day, he couldn’t […]
Vikings
Establishing the Run Will Be More Important — and More Difficult — Against Chicago
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 28, 2018
The thing the Minnesota Vikings want to do the most on Sunday may prove to be the most challenging against a tough Chicago Bears defense, yet it […]
THE MINNESOTA LINE: Week 17 Picks
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 27, 2018
Our trio is off for a holiday break, but here are the updated standings after a decisive week for our leader Colton. Colton: $1484 (3-0 in Week […]
Vikings
Vikings Still Seeing Linval Joseph’s Impact Despite Drop in Production
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 27, 2018
It has surely been tempting for Minnesota Vikings fans to take nose tackle Linval Joseph for granted since he signed with the team in 2014. In his […]
Vikings
Football Machine: Hour 2 — Playoff Picture, Super Bowl Predictions, and Rhodes… Under Construction?
By Sam Ekstrom - Dec 26, 2018
A special post-Christmas edition of The Football Machine! Sam Ekstrom is our host, alongside Luke Inaman and Yinka Ayinde to talk Xavier Rhodes, the Bears, the Bears […]