Vikings
Defense Folds Late as Cowboys Rally Past Vikings, 31-28
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 22, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
Vikings Mailbag: Special Teams Woes, End-of-Half Aggression & 2020 Redraft
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 20, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
The Rise of the Vikings Underdog Defensive Line
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 19, 2020
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 […]
Daniel Oturu Ends the 16-Year Gophers Draft Drought
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 19, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
Vikings’ Use of Motion in Chicago Was Clever and Effective
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 18, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
FOOTBALL MACHINE: Reassessing Two Big Trades, Previewing the Cowboys & 2015 v. 2020 Draft Classes
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 18, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
FOOTBALL MACHINE: An Ugly Win, A Playoff Pathway, Jefferson’s Excellence & Scuffling Special Teams
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 17, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
The Vikings are Suddenly a Tough Football Team
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 17, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
Vikings Grind Out a 19-13 Win at Soldier Field
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 16, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
The Ingredients to a Vikings Win in Soldier Field
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 16, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
Jeff Gladney and Kris Boyd’s Texas Football Connection
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 14, 2020
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 […]
Vikings
The Vikings Are Due For a Play-Action Explosion
By Sam Ekstrom - Nov 12, 2020
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 […]