Category: Minnesota Vikings

Vikings Wee 15 game vs. Chargers moved from SNF to afternoon

The Chargers have less than a one percent chance to make the postseason.

The Vikings have one less primetime game in their final five games of the season.

Their Week 15 battle against the Chargers in Los Angeles has been moved from a Sunday Night Football game to a Sunday afternoon game (3:05 p.m. CT start).

This has to do with the fact that the Chargers just aren’t as good as we probably thought they would be at the beginning of the season. After their loss to the Broncos on Sunday, the Chargers fell to 4-8 and have less than a one-percent chance to make the postseason.

Randle, Page make NFL’s all-time roster

The Vikings will have at least two players on the NFL’s top-100 list.

To celebrate the NFL’s 100 season, the league is putting together a top-100 list of the best to do it.

So far, the NFL has announced its picks for running back, linebacker, defensive end and defensive tackle.

The Vikings had two representatives in the defensive tackle category with Alan Paige and John Randle.

Randle, a seven-time Pro Bowler and six-time All-Pro, spent 11 seasons with the Vikings, amassing 114 sacks with Minnesota and 137.5 overall. He was inducted to the Hall of Fame in 2010. The fact that he went undrafted in 1990 is pretty remarkable.

Page, who was part of the original Purple People Eaters, was with the Vikings from 1967-78. He made nine Pro Bowls, six All-Pro teams and was even named the league’s MVP in 1971. Page was named to the Hall of Fame in 1988.

The NFL will release its selections for cornerback, safety, punter, kicker and returner on Monday, Dec. 2.

Packers and Rams put pressure on Vikings with wins

The Packers took down the Giants 31-13 in snowy conditions in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon. That improved the Packers to 9-3 on the season. They now hold a half game lead over the Vikings, who play on Monday Night Football against the Seahawks. …

The Packers took down the Giants 31-13 in snowy conditions in New Jersey on Sunday afternoon.

That improved the Packers to 9-3 on the season. They now hold a half game lead over the Vikings, who play on Monday Night Football against the Seahawks.

Green Bay is 1-0 against Minnesota this season, but the Vikings can even that up in Week 16 at home.

The Vikings also have to worry about the 7-5 Rams, who dominated the Cardinals and could be just a game back from the Vikings if they were to fall to the Seahawks.

Per FiveThirtyEight, the Vikings still have a 91 percent chance to make the playoffs and a 42 percent chance to win the division. The Packers have a 94 percent chance to make the playoffs and a 58 percent chance to win the division. The Rams have just a 19 percent chance to make the playoffs.

We’ll know more about what the playoff picture looks like after Monday’s game between the Vikings and 9-2 Seahawks in Seattle.

Lions sign former Vikings QB Kyle Sloter

Sloter could face off against his former team in Week 14.

With Matthew Stafford and Jeff Driskel both dealing with injury, the Lions have signed former Vikings quarterback Kyle Sloter to their roster.

Sloter was with the Vikings from 2017-18. He was released this offseason much to the dismay of fans. With that being said, Sloter didn’t find a home on an active roster. Instead, he signed with the Cardinals practice squad.

By signing with the Lions, Sloter is now on track to face off against the Vikings in Week 14 at U.S. Bank Stadium. Right now, David Blough is the team’s starter. We’re not sure what Driskel’s status is as he’s recovering from a hamstring injury.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen out vs. Seahawks

It will mark Thielen’s fourth missed game after suffering the injury in Week 7 against the Lions.

After being limited this week in practice, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen was listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the Seahawks.

On Sunday afternoon, Thielen was officially downgraded to out.

It will mark Thielen’s fourth missed game after suffering the injury in Week 7 against the Lions.

We’ll see more of Stefon Diggs and Bisi Johnson with Thielen’s absence.

Seahawks DE Jadeveon Clowney on track to play vs. Vikings

Clowney grades as Pro Football Focus’ fifth-best edge player this season.

After missing Week 12 with a core injury, Seahawks defensive end Jadeveon Clowney looks like he’s on track to play on Monday Night Football against the Vikings.

Clowney has been impressive in his first season with the Seahawks after being traded from Houston. In 10 games, Clowney has 25 tackles, three sacks and two fumble recoveries. Pro Football Focus has him ranked as the league’s fifth-best edgue rusher with a grade of 89.4.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen questionable vs. Seahawks

After being limited all week in practice with a hamstring injury, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is officially listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the Seahawks. Thielen injured in the hamstring in Week 7 against the Lions and …

After being limited all week in practice with a hamstring injury, Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen is officially listed as questionable for Monday night’s game against the Seahawks.

Thielen injured in the hamstring in Week 7 against the Lions and re-injured it in Week 9 against the Chiefs.

The team cut Josh Doctson earlier in the week, so the prospects look good for Thielen to play, but he did say that he would not play if he was not 100 percent, which is the right play.

If Thielen can’t play, we’ll continue to see more of rookie Bisi Johnson.

To round out Minnesota’s injury report, linebacker Ben Gedeon (concussion) is out.

Nose tackle Linval Joseph (knee), safety Harrison Smith (hamstring), safety Anthony Harris (groin) and defensive tackle Shamar Stephen (knee) are all questionable.

We’ll get the official status of these players at 5:50 p.m. CT on Monday. Stay tuned.

Not many experts have Vikings beating Seahawks on MNF

The Vikings go into the game as the No. 6 seed in the NFC while the Seahawks are No. 5.

The 8-3 Vikings are Vegas underdogs against the 9-2 Seahawks in Week 13 on Monday Night Football.

Along with that, only 25 percent of NFL experts think the Vikings will earn the win in Seattle in a game with huge playoff implications, per NFLPickWatch.

The Vikings go into the game as the No. 6 seed in the NFC while the Seahawks are No. 5. It’s in play for both teams to earn a first-round bye, but both teams will need some help.

Vikings WR Adam Thielen unsure if he’ll play vs. Seahawks

In eight games this season, Thielen has 27 catches for 391 yards and six touchdowns. 

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen has been dealing with a lingering hamstring injury since Week 7, and he’s not sure if he’ll be able to play in Week 13 against the Seahawks on Monday Night Football.

Per Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press, Thielen doesn’t know yet. Of course, the Vikings still have two more days, so a lot could change.

Thielen participated in Friday’s practice, which seems like a good sign.

Having Thielen would be a huge boost for the Vikings, especially in a game with so many playoff implications. But at the same time, we saw Thielen come back too early in Week 9 against the Chiefs, and that led to where we are now.

In eight games this season, Thielen has 27 catches for 391 yards and six touchdowns.

The Vikings released Josh Doctson this week in a move that many thought hinted that Thielen was almost a lock to be back from the injury.

Can Vikings slow down a healthier Tyler Lockett?

On the season, Lockett has a career-high 63 catches to go with 831 yards and six touchdowns.

Seahawks receiver Tyler Lockett is feeling back to himself after suffering a bone bruise three weeks ago against the 49ers.

That’s good new for him and the Seahawks, but not so much for a Vikings secondary that has struggled this season.

Minnesota and Seattle face off on Monday Night Football in a game that has all of the playoff implications.

A big factor in the game could come down to how the Vikings face off against Lockett.

Lockett is a shifty receiver with plenty of speed. That makes it unlikely we’ll see someone like Xavier Rhodes shadow him. Rhodes has struggled this season, especially with smaller and faster receivers.

On the season, Lockett has a career-high 63 catches to go with 831 yards and six touchdowns. He had five catches for 45 yards in last year’s game between the two teams. Seattle won that game 21-7.

Pro Football Focus has Lockett ranked as the league’s 13th receiver with a grade of 80.8.

A spot ahead of him?

Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen, who is also starting to feel better after an injury.