Category: Commentary

PFF provides optimism about the Minnesota Vikings in 2024

Pro Football Focus gave a reason as to why fans should be optimistic about the Vikings’ 2024 season and it stems from their rookie QB.

Pro Football Focus already gave one reason why the Vikings wouldn’t make the playoffs in 2024. Now PFF will give a reason why fans should be optimistic about the Vikings’ chances in 2024.

Both revolve around rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy.

When McCarthy was selected tenth overall in the ’24 NFL Draft, he was one of the most talked-about quarterbacks in the draft for a variety of reasons. He came from Michigan, a run-oriented team, but he possesses a ton of skill, and his ceiling is extremely high as an NFL prospect. He also comes to Minnesota, which has an abundance of talent around the young signal caller.

Pro Football Focus believes the environment is just right for McCarthy to succeed as a rookie.

J.J. McCarthy was one of the most polarizing players in this year’s draft class. Even those who doubt his talent can’t deny the talent around him in Minnesota. Justin Jefferson, with a contract extension in hand, Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, Aaron Jones and a top-10 offensive line is as good a supporting cast as a rookie quarterback can have.

Add in that the Vikings got an elite pass-rushing talent, Dallas Turner, in the draft and picked up two other solid edge players, Andrew Van Ginkel and Jonathan Greenard, in free agency, and you have a quietly ascending defense under Brian Flores’ leadership. There is absolutely a world where McCarthy leads Minnesota to the postseason in his first year at the helm.

The Vikings will likely opt to start veteran Sam Darnold in Week One against the New York Giants. But depending on how Darnold looks as the weeks go on and how McCarthy grows as a rookie — there is a chance fans will see the rookie playing sooner than expected.

Do the Vikings really care about wins and losses in 2024?

A reporter believes the Vikings don’t care if they win or lose in 2024 and are playing to win it all in 2025.

If you’re not one who buys into tanking or likes to talk tanking, this won’t make you happy.

According to Michael Rand of The Star Tribune via Access Vikings, the Vikings don’t really care about what happens in 2024, and their main focus is to win in 2025 and beyond. He believes the Vikings wouldn’t be upset if Sam Darnold doesn’t pay off, and they would start Nick Mullens, go 5-12 and get a top-10 pick.

“Like, if they’re being honest, they don’t really care if they win this year. Right? Don’t you think? Like, they want to win this year, but they’ve bought themselves some time by drafting the rookie QB. If McCarthy’s not ready, but Darnold isn’t very good, they can just play Mullens, it would not be the worst thing in the world for them to go 5-12 and have another top 10 draft pick. It would slow their momentum a little bit or whatever the kind of trajectory they want to be on, but it’s not about this year. It really isn’t.”

It’s hard to side with this thinking after the Vikings signed Justin Jefferson to a $35 million-per-year contract. Jefferson wants to win, and head coach Kevin O’Connell definitely wants to win.

Are the Vikings more set up to win in 2025? Probably so. However, don’t count out Minnesota trying to win every game it can during the 2024 season.

Somewhere, ex-Steelers WR Diontae Johnson is smiling

The Steelers traded Diontae Johnson and now they’re scrambling.

Omar Khan may still affectionately be known as the “Khan Artist” to most of Steelers Nation, but that greatness is starting to tarnish with the lack of movement in the veteran wide receiver department.

It’s hard to imagine a scenario in which Khan would’ve traded wide receiver Diontae Johnson without a plan. And now, with OTAs less than three weeks away, it’s haunting them. Did something go awry?

In early April, The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly reported that the Steelers “low-balled” the Cincinnati Bengals in a trade offer for Tyler Boyd. Could that be what the big plan was to adequately replace the talented but disgruntled Johnson? Why would the Bengals even entertain trading any productive player to their biggest rival for anything less than a first-round pick (and we know Boyd isn’t quite worth that)?

I get it. With one year left on Johnson’s contract, the Steelers wanted to get something for him while they could. But he was still the team’s leading receiver, responsible for 4,363 yards and 25 touchdowns since he was drafted in 2019. Not having something firmly in place seems very un-Khan Artist.

Now the Steelers are stuck with one of the weakest receiving corps in the NFL—all after making two shrewd moves for talented quarterbacks — while teams around them make moves to solidify their rosters.

If Khan doesn’t do something quickly, No. 1 George Pickens will be tripled-teamed all season, and his bigger-than-Steelers attitude will turn the locker room toxic. Then it won’t be long before Pickens is another casualty of Pittsburgh’s drafting selfish players.

I’m sure Roman Wilson will be great and could turn out to be the Steelers’ next Antonio Brown. But until Wilson gets his feet under him with the speed of the NFL, the brunt falls on Calvin Austin III, Van Jefferson, Quez Watkins and Denzel Mims (as far as true wide receivers go)—all good depth but of zero threat to defenders.

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Steelers Wire picks AFC/NFC conference championship game winners

We have our picks for the NFC title matchups.

Despite the fact that the Pittsburgh Steelers aren’t in the playoffs, we are all watching this week’s conference championships with a keen eye. In the AFC, the Baltimore Ravens square off against the Kansas City Chiefs and on the NFC side the Detroit Lions are going against the San Francisco 49ers. Here are our picks for this week’s conference championship game.

AFC

Chiefs

It is impossible for me to bring myself to actively root for the Ravens, even though they were my Super Bowl pick before the start of the season. This will be a showdown between the two best quarterbacks in the NFL in Patrick Mahomes and Lamar Jackson but I feel like it will come down to the defenses in this one. Baltimore always has a good defense but the Chiefs are doing something special on that side of the football and I think they make a play late to pull off the win. – Curt Popejoy, Managing Editor

Ravens

Lamar Jackson is playing MVP football, and the Ravens have the fiercest defense of the final four, nearly flawless. After a rocky 1-3 stretch in the middle of their second half of the season, Patrick Mahomes and the Chiefs came alive to finish the season. Kansas City routed the Miami Dolphins and squeaked out a win over the Buffalo Bills, but I think Baltimore’s defense will prove too much for the Chiefs to get enough going offensively to pull off a win. – Allison Koehler, Contributor

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NFC

Lions

The San Francisco 49ers will be tough to beat, but I’m going with the underdog here. The Niners are coming into this matchup a little cocky, and having been in this position before, they may have the attitude that they’ve got it won even before kick-off. The Lions will have to play mistake-free, balanced football, but if any team can do it, it’s Dan Campbell’s squad. – Allison Koehler, Contributor

Lions

You can’t help but think the Lions are the team of destiny this season. This group is physical, and confident and they really are an underrated team in terms of talent. Like the AFC showdown, this one will come down to the defense but Detroit will channel the energy of head coach Dan Campbell and earn that trip to the Super Bowl. – Curt Popejoy, Managing Editor

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CNN interview reveals Kevin O’Connell leads through love and empathy

In an interview with CNN, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell gave some insights into his journey through the NFL and his mentality

In a recent interview with CNN anchor and Minnesota native Poppy Harlow, Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell reflected upon his journey through the NFL ranks and towards becoming a head coach in the league. One of the biggest takeaways from the interview was his mentality on leadership, stating that love and empathy are at the forefront for him.

“It’s really what I view as the standard” is how O’Connell put it when asked by Harlow if it’s fair to say his goal is to lead the team with love and empathy, stating that he believes the players can sense they’re getting the “real, authentic” him and respect him for it.

Perhaps the greatest example of O’Connell putting his words into action came earlier this season through the acquisition of former Cardinals quarterback Josh Dobbs. Dobbs was acquired in a mid-season trade and was almost immediately thrust into action for the team.

Prior to Dobbs seeing his first action with the team, O’Connell let the quarterback know “No matter what happens these next two-and-a-half hours, I’m gonna be with ya, every step of the way.” That confidence in his quarterback let Dobbs come in and lead the Vikings to two straight victories under incredible circumstances.

The season didn’t end how Dobbs, O’Connell, or Vikings fans would have wanted, but during a season where the team faced extreme adversity, it was O’Connell’s principles of empathy and leadership through vulnerability that kept the team together and in the playoff hunt until the very end.

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Vikings legend doubts Kirk Cousins will return in 2024

A Vikings legend doesn’t believe that Cousins will return to the team in 2024

Former Minnesota Vikings defensive end and 2024 Pro Football Hall of Fame semifinalist Jared Allen doesn’t think quarterback Kirk Cousins will be back with the team in 2024. On an appearance on Up and Adams with Kay Adams, Allen was asked for his thoughts on what the Vikings do with Cousins next year after his Achilles injury.

Allen questioned whether or not you can commit that much money to him, and whether Cousins will be able to make a full recovery, stating it’s “a young man’s game” among other comments you can hear below.

Cousins, 35, is coming off a ruptured Achilles suffered in Week 8 against the Green Bay Packers. Much has been made about Cousins and his future in Minnesota, as he is scheduled to be a free agent after the season.

In his absence, the Vikings have had to turn to Josh Dobbs, who has struggled recently and may be on the verge of losing his starting job to Jaren Hall, who originally took over for Cousins before suffering a concussion early in Week 9 versus the Falcons.

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6 things Pittsburgh Steelers fans should be thankful for this Thanksgiving

On this Thanksgiving holiday, we celebrate and give thanks for everything we have — including our struggling Steelers.

Happy Thanksgiving, Steelers Nation! On this holiday, we celebrate and give thanks for everything we have — including our struggling Steelers.

Here are six things we should be thankful for this Thanksgiving:

Kirk Cousins named one of 2023’s most underrated players

Kirk Cousins is starting to get more recognition among national media

Ross Tucker of the 33rd Team labeled Minnesota Vikings quarterback Kirk COusins as one of the top ten most underrated players heading into the 2023 season.

Cousins has never been the flashiest of quarterbacks. Even his persona on Netflix’s “Quarterback” series showcased a family man that does his job to the best of his ability, comes home and repeats the cycle. With that lack of flash comes a sense of boredom with the narrative around Cousins.

“I know, I know. Kirk Cousins is not Patrick Mahomes but guess what, who is?

In a society where some think you are either elite or you stink, Cousins has been incredibly consistent. During the past eight years since he became the starter in Washington, Cousins hasn’t missed a single game with an injury and has provided top-15 quarterback play.

Do you know how many franchises would sign up right now to get top-10 or top-15 quarterback play every week for the next eight years?”

That consistency will be Cousins’ calling card as his contract expires at the end of the 2023 season.

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1 bold prediction for each Vikings draft pick

Not every draft pick will find immediate playing time, but if they do, @TheKevinFielder offers one hot take on their performance as a rookie.

Although the Minnesota Vikings did not have a lot of draft picks, general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah was active during the three-day event.

The Vikings wasted no time finding a partner-in-crime for Justin Jefferson, selecting USC wide receiver Jordan Addison in the first round.

Then, the Vikings began upgrading their secondary with the selections of Addison’s college teammate Mekhi Blackmon and LSU safety Jay Ward.

In total, the Vikings selected six rookies over the three days. While all of those rookies won’t get immediate playing time, there is at least a pathway for each to get onto the field.

Examining each rookie’s immediate impacts will be challenging, but it’s worth examining their ceilings as rookies through bold predictions and hot takes.

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Private memorial set for former Vikings head coach Bud Grant

The family of the late Bud Grant has announced that they will be holding a private memorial service for the former Minnesota #Vikings coach

The family of the late Bud Grant has announced that they will be holding a private memorial service for the former Minnesota Vikings coach, who passed away on March 11th at the age of 95. The family has also revealed that there will be a public celebration of Grant’s life at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis, although a date for the event has not yet been set.

Grant is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches in NFL history, having led the Vikings to four Super Bowl appearances and 11 division championships during his tenure from 1967-1983. He is also a member of the Pro Football Hall of Fame, inducted in 1994.

In lieu of flowers, the Grant family has requested that memorials be made to either the Minnesota Vikings Foundation or the DAV (Disabled American Veterans) Foundation. Both organizations align with Grant’s passion for supporting veterans and their families.