Category: Vikings

Jared Goff to start against Green Bay Packers

Jared Goff gets the call with John Wolford inactive in the Divisional round

Los Angeles Rams coach Sean McVay didn’t wait until the weekend to let everyone in on the team’s quarterback situation for Saturday’s Divisional playoff game against the Green Bay Packers.

The Rams will go with Jared Goff and John Wolford, who started against Seattle but was injured will be inactive.

That sets up an interesting depth chart for the Rams as their backup will be … Blake Bortles.

Goff came off the bench to lead the win over the Seahawks despite having had surgery on his broken right thumb 12 days earlier.

Goff was 9-of-19 for 155 yards and a touchdown against Seattle.

Bortles played in three games as a backup for the Rams in 2019. He was 1-of-2 passing for three yards.

He was with Denver on the practice squad for much of this season before being signed by the Rams Dec. 29.

2021 NFL draft order: Jaguars are on the clock at No. 1

2021 NFL draft order: Jaguars are on the clock at No. 1

Watch: Justin Jefferson sets mark for most receiving yards by a rookie

Justin Jefferson broke Randy Moss’ receiving mark for a Minnesota rookie

In the rare trade that has worked out splendidly for both teams, the Minnesota Vikings continue to reap rewards for sending Stefon Diggs to Buffalo in exchange for the Bills’ No. 1 pick in the 2020 NFL Draft.

That pick turned into LSU WR Justin Jefferson and on Sunday against the Detroit Lions, he set the Vikings’ mark for receiving yards by a rookie. He later added the receiving mark for a rookie overall.

Jefferson is the NFL record-holder for receiving yards in a rookie season in the Super Bowl era. Anquan Boldin’s record of 1,377 yards stood for 16 seasons, but Jefferson just surpassed it.

Jefferson honored the man whose mark he broke, Randy Moss, via cleats.

Dalvin Cook to miss Vikings’ finale due to father’s death

Dalvin Cook will miss the Vikings’ last game against the Lions due to the death of his father

Minnesota Vikings running back Dalvin Cook will not be with the team as it finishes the season Sunday against the Detroit Lions. Cook’s father, James, passed away suddenly at the age of 46.

Cook leads the NFL in total yards from scrimmage (1,918) and scrimmage yards per game (137) and scored 17 touchdowns this season. He is second in  in rushing yards with 1,557 behind Tennessee Titans star Derrick Henry (1,577).

Cook joined Adrian Peterson and Robert Smith as the only players in Vikings history to rush for 1,500 yards in a single season.

Former teammate Stefon Diggs offered condolences.

Michael Irvin puts Randy Moss on blast over Jerry Rice ranking

Michael Irvin questioned whether Randy Moss had something wrong with his mind for questioning whether Jerry Rice is the G.O.A.T.

There’s a full-blown, raging battle going on between Hall of Fame wide receivers.

Randy Moss’ comments on the Terrell Owens podcast that he was the greatest wideout of all-time and T.O. was second rankled Jerry Rice. Now, Dallas Cowboys Hall of Famer Michael Irvin has jumped into the fray, basically questioning Moss’ sanity.

“Jerry Rice is the greatest of all time,” Irvin said on 95.7 The Game’s “Damon, Ratto and Kolsky” show. “If anybody says anything other than that, they need to see some kind of doctor to examine his cranium. Period.”

Irvin is on firm turf as Rice’s statistics and resume stand far above those posted by any other wideout in NFL history.

“You gotta pay homage to what this man has done. … This shouldn’t even be a discussion,” Irvin said. “I got Jerry Rice up there with the greatest player ever, period. I don’t wanna hear wide receiver. I’m talking about period, of all time.

“This discussion should not be a discussion.”

So long as diva wide receivers have mouths, there is going to be a discussion, no matter how off-base their opining might be. It is what they do because their personalities are nothing short of art forms.

 

Drew Brees passes another milestone, has thrown for more than 80,000 yards

Drew Brees went over the 80,000-yard mark in passing during the Saints’ win on Christmas

Engulfed in Alvin Kamara’s six-touchdown performance as the New Orleans Saints downed the Minnesota Vikings, 52-33, on Christmas was another milestone hurdled by Drew Brees.

The Saints’ quarterback went over the 80,000-yard mark in passing for his career while going 19-of-26 for 311 yards with a pair of picks.

Brees came into the contest with 79.846 passing yards. He exited the victory with 80,157. He is 1,700 yards ahead of Tom Brady, whose Tampa Bay Buccaneers play the Detroit Lions on Saturday.

Brees began this season as the all-time leader in touchdown passes but missed time due to injury and fell behind Brady. Brady has 573 TD passes to Brees’ 568.

Watch: All 6 touchdowns scored by Saints’ Alvin Kamara

Alvin Kamara equaled an NFL mark Ernie Nevers set on Thanksgiving in 1929

The New Orleans Saints’ Alvin Kamara accomplished on Christmas Day what Ernie Nevers did on Thanksgiving in 1929: scored six rushing touchdowns.

Nevers, by the way, also kicked four PATS for 40 points in the game.

www.imag

Here is Kamara’s parade in reverse order:

Others recognized his work:

Watch: Alvin Kamara and Dalvin Cook off and running for Saints and Vikings

The Saints’ ALvin Kamara and the Vikings’ Dalvin Cook have found paydirt

Two great running backs were off and on their way early on Christmas Day as the New Orleans Saints played host to the Minnesota Vikings.

Alvin Kamara and New Orleans were out of the blocks first as the former Tennessee star ran one in from 40 yards to give the Saints a 7-0 lead.

Dalvin Cook found paydirt from 15 yards and after the PAT, things were tied at 7.

Kamara added another one on a short run as neither defense was present and accounted for early in the Christmas game.

Who does Randy Moss think are the top 2 WRs in NFL history?

Who did Randy Moss say is the best receiver of all-time?

Well, Randy Moss has never been shy about pushing himself when it comes to a spot in all-time wideouts.

Put diva wide receivers together and controversy will certainly be generated, Guesting on Terrell Owens’ podcast, guess who the Pro Football Hall of Famer feels is the best wide receiver of all-time?

Himself, of course.

“I’ll put myself first, I’ll put T.O. second,” Moss said. “I would put Jerry probably third or fourth. I’m talking about dominating the game and changing the game of football. I don’t live on statistics because if you live on statistics and live on championships that’s all political. You’ve seen guys released or cut from a team just by a couple words in the media. You’ve seen guys given contracts or you’ve seen guys not given contracts just because of the color of their skin. You’ve got to throw politics out of the game of football, and look at the impact of what each individual was able to make in the game of football.”

Placing Jerry Rice behind one, let alone two didn’t sit well with the former San Francisco 49er great’s son. Remember, Rice is regarded as the G.O.A.T.

Some numbers were provided on social media:

“I don’t want the fans and the people watching your podcast to get it messed up that we dislike or discredit anything Jerry Rice was able to do or ever accomplish,” Moss said. “I don’t want people to think myself and T.O. is slandering or bashing anything Jerry did, because Jerry was at the top.”

What do you think? Rice gets this vote.

NFL reveals Week 15 announcers’ schedule

The Week 15 assignments are out for NFL games. What announcers will be where?

We’re down to three weeks of the regular season. The stakes rise for teams trying to make the playoffs. What announcers have gotten the prime calls on games that could impact the postseason?

Here’s your coverage map to see what games will be in your region.

Thursday, 8:20 p.m.

Los Angeles Chargers at Las Vegas Raiders

FOX/NFL Network/Amazon

Announcers: Joe Buck (play-by-play), Troy Aikman (analyst), Erin Andrews (reporter), Kristina Pink (reporter)

Saturday, 4:30 p.m.

Buffalo Bills at Denver Broncos

NFL Network

Announcers: Adam Amin (play-by-play), Mark Schlereth (analyst), Lindsay Czarniak (reporter)

8:15 p.m.

Carolina Panthers at Green Bay Packers

NFL Network

Announcers: Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Kurt Warner (analyst), Melissa Stark (reporter)

Sunday, 1 p.m.

New England Patriots at Miami Dolphins

CBS

Announcers: Ian Eagle (play-by-play), Charles Davis (analyst), Evan Washburn (reporter)

San Francisco 49ers at Dallas Cowboys

CBS

Announcers: Kevin Harlan (play-by-play), Trent Green (analyst), Melanie Collins (reporter)

Houston Texans at Indianapolis Colts

CBS

Announcers: Greg Gumbel (play-by-play), Rich Gannon (analyst), Jay Feely (reporter)

Jacksonville Jaguars at Baltimore Ravens

CBS

Announcers: Andrew Catalon (play-by-play), James Lofton (analyst), Sherree Burruss (reporter)

Detroit Lions at Tennessee Titans

(CBS)

Announcers: Spero Dedes (play-by-play), Adam Archuleta (analyst)

Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Atlanta Falcons

FOX

Announcers: Kevin Burkhardt (play-by-play), Daryl Johnston (analyst), Pam Oliver (reporter)

Seattle Seahawks at Washington Football Team

Announcers: Kenny Albert (play-by-play), Jonathan Vilma (analyst), Shannon Spake (reporter)

Chicago Bears at Minnesota Vikings

FOX

Announcers: Chris Myers (play-by-play), Greg Jennings (analyst), Jennifer Hale (reporter)

Sunday, 4:05 p.m.

New York Jets at Los Angeles Rams

FOX

Announcers: Kevin Kugler (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Laura Okmin (reporter)

Philadelphia Eagles at Arizona Cardinals

FOX

Announcers: Brandon Gaudin (play-by-play), Brock Huard (analyst), Sara Walsh (reporter)

4:25 p.m.

Kansas City Chiefs at New Orleans Saints

CBS

Announcers: Jim Nantz (play-by-play), Tony Romo (analyst), Tracy Wolfson (reporter)

Sunday, 8:20 p.m.

Cleveland Browns at New York Giants

NBC

Announcers: NBC: Al Michaels (play-by-play), Cris Collinsworth (analyst), Michele Tafoya (reporter)

Monday, 8:15 p.m.

Pittsburgh Steelers at Cincinnati Bengals

ESPN

Announcers: Steve Levy (play-by-play), Brian Griese (analyst), Louis Riddick (analyst), Lisa Salters (reporter)