Flea Flicker Week 8 Predictions

It’s already Week 8. Here are guesses at the games. 

Byes: Detroit Lions, Las Vegas Raiders, Los Angeles Rams, Arizona Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Jacksonville Jaguars

Nearly 20% of the teams aren’t playing this week.

Miami Dolphins @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Falcons

Here are two teams heading in different directions. 

New York Jets @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Bengals

Jets are still looking for that first win. 

Cleveland Browns @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

Patriots are looking for their fifth consecutive win.

New York Giants @ Philadelphia

Pick: Eagles

The Eagles put the upstart Giants in their place. 

Buffalo Bills @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Bills

After two consecutive losses, the Bills finally win again. 

Chicago Bears @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Ravens

The Ravens continue to dig out of the hole they dug. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Houston Texans

Pick: 49ers

The 49ers continue to find a way.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Buccaneers

The Buccaneers roll.

Dallas Cowboys @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Cowboys

Rematch of Super Bowl XII. Same outcome.

Tennessee Titans @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

The Colts roll.

Green Bay Packers @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Packers

The Packers thrash their old friend.

Washington Commanders @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

How did the Chiefs lose to the Jaguars?

Minnesota Vikings Week 8 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings clearly weren’t ready for a game on two days rest and a travel day. Their 37-10 destruction by the Los Angeles Chargers was arguably the worst played game in Kevin O’Connell’s three-plus years as the head coach. As a result of the horribly played game in all phases, finding superlatives is a difficult task. 

Offensive Player of the Game

Justin Jefferson, WR

Even in the most difficult games, Justin Jefferson often shines.

7 catches

74 yards

Carson Wentz played his worst game in his five games as the Vikings starter. His accuracy was hit-and-miss, mostly miss. Jefferson was routinely open. So were Jordan Addison, T.J. Hockenson, and the rest of the Vikings pass catchers. Wentz either couldn’t hit them or find them. It was a rough game. It wasn’t all on Wentz. A depleted offensive line allowed some easy rush lanes for a modest Chargers front. 

Defensive Players of the Game

Jonathan Greenard, OLB

Jalen Redmond, DL

Josh Metellus

The Chargers moved the ball with ease all night so there weren’t a lot of Vikings defensive standouts. It’s a stretch to anoint any with superlatives. However, I did like the play of the above three players. Like Justin Jefferson, Jonathan Greenard is always an impact player. He’s relentless. Chargers excellent, young offensive tackle John Alt returned from injury for this game. Greenard gave him fits. A sack and three tackles for loss were the standout plays. Alt often relied on holding to slow Greenard. It was rarely called. Jonathan Greenard was relentless all game and has been all season. 

Jalen Redmond is an emerging defensive line star. I believe he tipped the pass that Josh Metellus intercepted. Metellus makes the list for his first interception of the season.

Special Teams Player of the Game

Myles Price, Returner

Four losses in seven games is the most annoying aspect of the Vikings season. The next most annoying aspect is the silly number of special teams penalties. Is it coaching? Is it simply mind-numbing decisions by the players? Who knows? It must stop. Myles Price opened the game with a 46-yard return. Tyler Batty was called for holding. Instead of starting the game at the 46-yard line, the Vikings started the game at their own 16-yard line. A 30-yard loss. With the Chargers scoring so often, Price had five return opportunities without penalties. He returned those five kicks for 135 yards. A 27-yard average. I’m convinced that Price will return a kick or punt for a score this season. Hopefully, more than one. He’s been one of the bright spots in a wildly inconsistent start to the season. 

***

It’s easy to come out of this game with a sour attitude. This isn’t about a single game. Thursday night games are a horrible idea. Three days, two days if one is a travel day, simply isn’t enough time for players to recover from the previous game and get ready for the next game. I don’t care about the massaged injury data the league uses to support these games. The quick turnaround is a tough deal for healthy players. It’s nearly impossible for players dealing with injuries. If Thursday’s game against the Chargers was a Sunday game, Vikings left tackle Christian Darrisaw would’ve played the entire game rather than nine plays. Right tackle Brian O’Neill would’ve played. Both players are navigating knee injuries. It’s manageable with a normal week of recovery. It isn’t on two days. The league’s ridiculous infatuation with Thursday night games and clear greed helped decide this game before it started. There’s so much proof that the league values money over the health, present and long term, of the players. Thursday night games are easily the most obvious examples. 

If the league really wants to create a competitive balance in these ridiculous Thursday night games, maybe they should have the home team travel the week before. While the Vikings had to spend one of their three recovery days traveling halfway across the country, the Chargers had been comfortably sitting at home since October 12. 11 days of ease. 

Vikings - Chargers

The Minnesota Vikings were rolled by the Los Angeles Chargers, 37-10. It really wasn’t that close. 

The Vikings simply didn’t look ready to play an NFL game. One might even say that they looked disinterested in playing an NFL game. This is the sort of thing that occasionally happens with these ridiculous Thursday night games. Two days of rest and a day of travel isn’t enough time for players to recover between games. Human bodies, no matter how finely tuned, do not respond that way. It’s even more difficult for players working their way through injuries. Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill, working through a knee injury from a few weeks ago, couldn’t rebound in time. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw, working through his return from last year’s torn ACL, gave it a go but left the game after only nine plays. In perfect health, playing on a short week is a tough deal. In less than perfect health, it’s nearly impossible.  Since the NFL puts money above all else, these Thursday night games aren’t going away. Even shitty games are giant paydays for the league. At the very least, the league should make the home team travel the Sunday before the game. The Chargers have been resting easy at home since October 12. 

Carson Wentz has probably thrown his last pass for the Vikings. He’s been the starter since J.J. McCarthy came out of the Week 2 game against the Atlanta Falcons with an ankle injury. With a 2-3 record, Wentz hasn’t been terrible but he hasn’t been good. Granted, he’s been placed in a tough spot with the injuries throughout the offensive line. Against the Chargers, backup tackles Justin Skule and Walter Rouse couldn’t keep the edges safe. With the one-sided score, depleted offensive line, and no concern for the Vikings running game, the Chargers pass rushers could tee-off on a spot and target Wentz. With five sacks and consistent pressure, Wentz was battered in this game. Nursing a left shoulder injury, he was sore coming into the game. He was more sore coming out of the game. Through his run as the Vikings starter, his accuracy has been inconsistent. Through the first four games, he’d have enough on-target throws to keep the Vikings offense frisky. That wasn’t the case last night. The Vikings offense was rarely frisky. The only touchdown was sent up by a Josh Metellus interception at the Chargers 26-yard line. Even with excellent field position, the Vikings needed a couple Chargers penalties to get enough shots to finally put the ball in the end zone. 

The Vikings were terrible against the Chargers. This loss rivals the 40-3 loss to the Dallas Cowboys in 2022 as the worst in the three-plus years Kevin O’Connell has guided the team as the head coach. Here are the Vikings offensive possessions against the Chargers.

1. 6 plays, 25 yards - punt

2. 3 plays, -9 yards - punt

3. 9 plays, 35 yards - field goal

4. 3 plays, 8 yards - punt

5. 5 plays, 24 yards - missed field goal

6. 5 plays, 12 yards - punt

7. 6 plays, 26 yards - touchdown

8. 2 plays, 12 yards - interception

9. 4 plays, 2 yards - downs

10. 6 plays, 34 yards - end of game (thankfully)

The Vikings offense was terrible. The defense rarely slowed the Chargers offense. Things were so easy for the Chargers offense that they never punted. Their only non-scoring possessions ended with a missed field goal and the Metellus interception. About the only positive in the game for the Vikings was that they were even in the turnover margin and +4 in points off of turnovers. Nice!

The best thing about this sad Thursday night game is that the Vikings now have 10 days to recover before their Week 9 game at the Detroit Lions. Hopefully, that game brings the return of J.J. McCarthy, a fully healthy offensive line, and the return of outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel. 

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings visit the Los Angeles Chargers tonight. I’ll be in those SoFi Stadium stands. Skol! The Chargers have an interesting history. They started in Los Angeles in 1960 as an original member of the American Football League. After a single season in Los Angeles, the team moved to San Diego and stayed there until their recent return to Los Angeles. The Chargers were an immediate AFL power with legendary coach Sid Gillman. They played in the 1960, 1961,1963, and 1964 AFL title games, winning in 1963. The Don Coryell-led Chargers of the late 1970s and early 1980s were fun, explosive teams. While their lone Super Bowl appearance was in the 1990s (the San Francisco 49ers took them apart in Super Bowl XXIX), the Chargers best days were those early AFL days, the Coryell years, and the 2000s with Philip Rivers, LaDanian Tomlinson, and Antonio Gates. Despite the lack of an NFL title, the Chargers have a strong, fun history. Here are some of the best players in Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers franchise history. 

Los Angeles/San Diego Chargers All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

Dan Fouts

Running Back

LaDanian Tomlinson

Fullback

Keith Lincoln 

Wide Receivers

Lance Alworth

Charlie Joiner

Tight End

Kellen Winslow 

Offensive Tackles

Ron Mix

Russ Washington

Offensive Guards

Walt Sweeney

Ed White

Center

Nick Hardwick

Defense

Defensive Ends

Leslie O’Neal

Joey Bosa

Defensive Tackles

Ernie Ladd

Gary Johnson

Linebackers

Junior Seau

Chuck Allen

Shawne Merriman 

Cornerbacks

Gill Byrd

Speedy Duncan

Safeties

Eric Weddle

Derwin James

Special Teams

Kicker 

John Karney

Punter

Darren Bennett

Returner

Darren Sproles

Some Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore Fun

It’s strange that big mountain carvings in South Dakota have become a thing in pop culture. It’s probably how some now know about that tourist attraction. Mount Rushmores are a fun sports debate. It’s fun to pick and debate the four best of anything. It’s tough to pick only four. Here are swings at some Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmores. 

Favorite Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore

Alan Page 

Cris Carter

John Randle

Justin Jefferson

These are my favorite players in Vikings franchise history. Alan Page has been my favorite Vikings football player since my first day as a Vikings fan. He may even have been the reason this little kid from California became a Vikings fan. He was certainly a big reason for my falling for the team. Perhaps the worst day in all my days as a Vikings fan was the day that Page was waived. I didn’t understand it then. I don’t understand it now. The first NFL game and first Vikings game I ever attended was later in that 1978 season. I dreamed of seeing Alan Page in person. I dreamed of seeing all of those Vikings players and coaches in person but especially Page. Instead of playing the Raiders in Oakland, he had played the day before in Washington for the Chicago Bears. Sad. Very, very sad. 

I’ve always been particularly fond of receivers. It was the position I played. It’s the position that routinely draws my attention. I’d been a huge fan of Cris Carter since his Ohio State days. It was his hands. I’ve never seen better hands. I hoped that the Vikings would select him in the Supplemental Draft. I was very disappointed when they didn’t. I was thrilled when they grabbed him off of waivers from the Philadelphia Eagles. I’ve never been more ecstatic over a Vikings waiver claim. I can’t imagine I ever will be. Carter was a fantastic receiver. I attended a Vikings-49ers Monday Night game in 1995. As a fan of receivers, the game was a dream pass-catching duel between Carter and Jerry Rice. The 49ers jumped all over the Vikings from the start. It was 21-0 after the first quarter. Sitting in the stands, it felt like Carter then put the team on his back and hauled them back into the game. It was 27-20 at the half. Sadly, the 49ers held on for a 37-30 win. With Steve Young throwing to Rice and Warren Moon throwing to Carter, it really was a pass-catching dream. The crazy thing was the final receiving numbers. This truly felt like a duel between two of the best to ever catch a football. Carter vs Rice. It was 1995. It was long before everybody had a computer in their hand. It was even before fantasy football took over as a passion parallel to the real game. Statistics weren’t blasted to everyone in the stands. I had no idea what sort of numbers Carter and Rice were posting. It truly felt like Carter and Rice were doing a bit of “anything you can do I can do better.” So, I was stunned to see the game statistics in the Tuesday morning newspaper. 

Cris Carter:

12 catches

88 yards

2 TDs

Jerry Rice:

14 catches

289 yards

3 TDs

I learned a lot about statistics that night. Watching the game from the stands, I never would’ve guessed that Rice had gained 200 more yards than Carter. It did not feel like the one-sided receiving duel found in the statistics. That’s because every one of Carter’s catches meant so much to the team. Every catch moved the chains. The Vikings had to really grind for every yard they gained. Every Carter catch was crucial. For the 49ers, defending Super Bowl champs, everything came so much easier. Anyway, other than the score, it was a beautiful night for a fan of receivers. That night, Cris Carter joined Alan Page as my favorite players in franchise history. 

John Randle also became a franchise favorite of mine while watching a prime time game from the stands. I was in the Oakland Coliseum stands in 1996 for a Sunday Night game against the Raiders. In a game the Vikings would win in overtime, John Randle took over the game in the fourth quarter. It felt like he was in the Raiders backfield as often as Jeff Hostetler. Randle had two sacks in the game. He harassed Hostetler with such frequency that it felt like he had 10 sacks. Randle was so easy to like. He’s probably a favorite of every Vikings fan that lived through the 1990s. His social media presence today only enhances his appeal. I looked forward to his “Purple Friday” posts. 

I never thought a Vikings receiver could ever approach Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Then along came Justin Jefferson. Everything about his first five years in Minnesota has been ridiculous. So ridiculous that I still can’t believe that he’s already one of my four favorite Vikings in franchise history. Instead of rationalizing it, I’m just going to sit back and enjoy his ridiculous Vikings career. 

More Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore Fun:

Greatest Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore

Alan Page

Randall McDaniel

Randy Moss

Adrian Peterson

Other than the first one, all of these Mount Rushmores are going to be very subjective. Alan Page, Randall McDaniel, Randy Moss, and Adrian Peterson are in the conversation for the best to ever play their respective positions. That helps me in selecting each as the greatest players in Vikings franchise history. Fran Tarkenton, Carl Eller, Paul Krause, Ron Yary, Mick Tingelhoff, Joey Browner, Chris Doleman, Cris Carter, John Randle, Steve Hutchinson, and Justin Jefferson are in the conversation but I’m sticking with the above four.

Most Important Minnesota Vikings Rushmore

Jim Marshall

Bud Grant

Jim Finks

Fran Tarkenton

I often include this “Most Important Minnesota Vikings Mount Rushmore” so I can have Jim Marshall on it. He wasn’t the best player on the Super Bowl teams. He wasn’t the best player on the defense. He wasn’t the best player on the defensive line. He wasn’t even the best defensive end on the team. However, he was the most important player. He was the heart and soul of those great teams. He was their leader. That’s why his Hall of Fame omission is such a sensitive issue for Vikings fans. 

Bud Grant. That’s all that really needs to be said about the best coach in Vikings history. It would take a coach actually winning a Super Bowl to challenge Grant for that title. 

Jim Finks was the architect of the great Vikings teams of the late 1960s and 1970s. The only negative to his great career as a general manager is that he left the Vikings for the Bears and built a Super Bowl champion in Chicago. Finks was the second general manager to be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame. He made it before the introduction of the Contributor category. So, he made it while being in voting competition with players. 

Fran Tarkenton had a weird Vikings career. It’s weird because he had two distinct and significant stints as the Vikings quarterback. He was an exciting and fun young quarterback for an expansion team from 1961-66. He was also an exciting and fun old quarterback for an annual Super Bowl contender from 1972-78. During the first stint, he had a rocky relationship with head coach Norm Van Brocklin. It was so rocky that he demanded a trade after the 1966 season. The Vikings obliged and traded him to the New York Giants. Strangely, Tarkenton still wanted out of Minnesota even though Van Brocklin resigned about a month before the trade. Grant was named the new head coach three days after Tarkenton was traded. While he was with the Giants, Finks and Grant built and molded the Vikings into one of the best teams in the league. They just needed a quarterback and in 1972 they brought Tarkenton back to Minnesota. Two of the picks the Vikings received from the Giants were used to select tackle Ron Yary and guard Ed White. Those two would form an impenetrable right side to protect a now older Tarkenton. I only got to see the older, post-Giants sabbatical Tarkenton. He was great. As a naive little kid I thought that he’d always be the Vikings quarterback. I didn’t think that he’d ever retire. I didn’t think any of those Vikings greats would retire. Fortunately, I did get to see Tarkenton play from the Oakland Coliseum stands in his last regular season game. He was a great quarterback. 

Some positional Mount Rushmores:

Minnesota Vikings Quarterback Mount Rushmore

Fran Tarkenton

Tommy Kramer

Daunte Culpepper 

Kirk Cousins

This feels pretty straightforward. 

Since their first season in 1961, the Vikings have selected five quarterbacks in the first round of the NFL Draft. 

Tommy Kramer (1977)

Daunte Culpepper (1999)

Christian Ponder (2011)

Teddy Bridgewater (2014)

J.J. McCarthy (2024)

It’s an understatement to say that the Vikings have had a frustrating quarterback history since Fran Tarkenton retired after the 1978 season. Tommy Kramer was selected in the first round to be the team’s next quarterback. He was a fun gunslinger. Over his first four years as the Vikings starting quarterback he only missed three starts. Injuries peppered his next seven years in Minnesota. His is a quarterback story of what might’ve been. Daunte Culpepper was on an upward trajectory until a knee injury ended his time in Minnesota. Christian Ponder was drafted in the first round to be a quarterback that he never had the talent to be. As with Culpepper, a horrible knee injury ended whatever future Teddy Bridgewater might’ve had with the Vikings. Each of the four quarterbacks was drafted to be the next great Vikings quarterback. Two showed great potential, one had potential, and the fourth was Ponder. 

Since the Dennis Green years, the Vikings have often relied on bringing in old-timers to quarterback the team. When it’s worked, the results have been exciting. Three of the best, most fun seasons of the past 26 years have been guided by old Randall Cunningham (1998), old Brett Favre (2009), and journeyman Case Keenum (2017). Unfortunately, all three seasons ended painfully, one game short of the goal. Even the old Warren Moon years of the mid 1990s were fun. Moon threw such a beautiful ball. 

Hopefully, J.J. McCarthy cracks this Mt. Rushmore.

Minnesota Vikings Receiver Mt. Rushmore

Cris Carter

Randy Moss

Justin Jefferson

Anthony Carter

The Vikings have a tremendously rich receiver tradition. It’s probably the league’s best. Cris Carter and Randy Moss are easy picks. Justin Jefferson’s five years are already enough to join them. He has a Gold Jacket in his future. There’s certainly debate for the fourth. I’m going with Anthony Carter. For a few of his nine years in Minnesota, he was arguably the second best receiver in the league to Jerry Rice. There was one particular day in which he was the best receiver on the field and Rice was on that field. Carter should be in the team’s Ring of Honor. There are many contenders for that fourth spot. Gene Washington, John Gilliam, Sammy White, Ahmad Rashad, Jake Reed, Percy Harvin, Adam Thielen, and Stefon Diggs. 

If receiver isn’t the Vikings greatest position tradition, it’s the defensive line. It’s so strong that I’ve separated it into ends and tackles. 

Minnesota Vikings Defensive End Mount Rushmore

Carl Eller

Jim Marshall

Chris Doleman

Jared Allen

Three of the four have busts in Canton. There’s an easy argument that Jim Marshall should join them. Danielle Hunter is a very strong Honorable Mention on this Mount Rushmore. 

Minnesota Vikings Defensive Tackle Mount Rushmore

Alan Page

John Randle

Kevin Williams

Keith Millard

For me, this one’s easy. Alan Page and John Randle are Hall of Famers. Kevin Williams should be. He has the All-Decade, All-Pro, Pro Bowl, performances, and numbers to get there. I fear that he might have a ridiculous, Carl Eller-like wait. After Richard Seymour made it a few years back, I thought that Williams would be next. I’ve always thought that Seymour and Williams had similar careers. The only difference being that Seymour has Super Bowl rings. That’s why he probably deserved to go first. I believe that Williams will eventually get the bust that he deserves. Keith Millard would have a bust if injuries hadn’t cut his career short. His best years were as good as any defensive tackle I’ve ever seen. He was unstoppable in 1988. He was even better in 1989. That year, he was named Defensive Player of the Year and was third in the MVP voting. Millard was incredible. Like Anthony Carter, he should be in the Vikings Ring of Honor.

That’s enough Mount Rushmore fun. For now. 

Minnesota Vikings Week 7 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings were their biggest opponent in a Week 7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a self-inflicted loss in too many ways. Through it all, a few players did some good things in the loss. 

Offensive Player of the Week 

Jordan Addison, WR

It’s so great to have Jordan Addison back from suspension. It’s been three games and if this game against the Eagles is any indication, he’s regained the comfort in the offense that he had throughout training camp.

9 catches

128 yards

He was routinely running free through the Eagles secondary. It helps to have the gravitational pull that is Justin Jefferson on the field but Addison is a menace for defenses on his own

Defensive Player of the Week

Vikings Run Defense

It was clear that stopping Saquon Barkley and the Eagles running attack was a priority. 

Saquon Barkley:

18 carries

44 yards

2.4 yards/carry

Eagles:

23 carries

45 yards

2.0 yards/carry

That’s beautiful work. Unfortunately, the Vikings couldn’t get a handle on Jalen Hurts and the Eagles passing attack.

Special Teams Player of the Week

Will Reichard, K

The Vikings inability to score touchdowns while in the shadow of the Eagles goal posts forced Will Reichard to kick field goals. 

Reichard was good from 59, 34, 28, 35, and 29 yards. The 59 yarder probably would’ve been good from 70. That bomb was needed because Blake Brandel had snapped the ball over the head of Carson Wentz on the play before. Otherwise, all five of the field goals would’ve been snapped from inside the Eagles 20-yard line. Swapping touchdowns for field goals is always a net loss so seeing Reichard provide so much of the team’s scoring is frustrating. Still, it’s great to have him. Will Reichard has been awesome this season. 

Vikings - Eagles

The Philadelphia Eagles outlasted the Minnesota Vikings, 28-22. 

There are games in which the Vikings repeatedly make things difficult for themselves. This was one of those games. 

The Vikings frustrations against the Eagles can be summed up with this little nugget:

Red Zone appearances:

Vikings: 6

Eagles: 1

The only time the Eagles took a snap inside the Vikings red zone was on their final possession of the game. The Vikings, on the other hand, repeatedly drove the field. They took more than two dozen red zone snaps. Instead of touchdowns, the Vikings “settled” for five field goals. Things could’ve been so much better if they had managed touchdowns rather than field goals when they threatened the Eagles end zone.  The Vikings did have two touchdowns taken away by the officials. The first was an atrocious, fourth down holding call on center Blake Brandel. The Eagles defensive lineman dove to the ground after being stopped on his pass rush by Brandel. The officials bought the diving act as an indication of a forced takedown. Instead of a Jalen Nailor touchdown catch, the Vikings had to settle for a field goal. The second touchdown taken away by the officials was a diving catch in the end zone by T.J. Hockenson. It was one of those catch questions involving the ball touching the turf while still being controlled by the receiver. It was a coin flip catch and it’d be nice if the officials had stool with the call on the field. As the rule book states if there isn’t overwhelming evidence to reverse the call. There wasn’t overwhelming evidence. 

The Vikings had more first downs, more yards, and a greater time of possession. There was the red zone discrepancy. The Eagles punted three times. The Vikings punted once. The Vikings lost because of too many self-inflicted mistakes. They did far more to get in their own way than their opponent. Vikings quarterback Carson Wentz was intercepted twice on illegal-advised throws. One of those was returned for a touchdown. The Eagles played perhaps their best game of the season and it got them a six-point margin. Ultimately, it doesn’t matter how close this game was to a Vikings win. In the end, the Vikings scored fewer points than the Eagles. It’s a loss and the Vikings are now 3-3. 

Next up is a Thursday night game against the Chargers in Los Angeles. I’ll be in the Sofi stands. Skol!

Flea Flicker Week 7 Predictions

The Minnesota Vikings are finally back on the field. That’s a very good thing for the league’s Week 7 slate of games. Here are guesses at the games. 

Byes: Buffalo Bills, Baltimore Ravens

Philadelphia Eagles @ Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings are the next team to contribute to the demise of the 2024 champs. 

Los Angeles Rams @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Rams

How did the Jaguars score enough to beat the Chiefs? 

New Orleans Saints @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Bears

The Bears should handle the Saints.

Miami Dolphins @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Dolphins

Is it possible for both teams to lose this game?

New England Patriots @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Patriots

The Patriots are in a tight race with the Colts for the league’s surprise team of the year. 

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

The Chiefs roll.

Carolina Panthers @ New York Jets

Pick: Panthers

The Panthers are on a winning streak!

New York Giants @ Denver Broncos

Pick: Broncos

Super Bowl XXI rematch. This time the Broncos win.

Indianapolis Colts @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Colts

The surprising Colts continue their surprising play.

Washington Commanders @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Commanders

The Cowboys can only beat the New York teams.

Green Bay Packers @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Cardinals

The Cardinals stun the Packers.

Atlanta Falcons @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: 49ers

The injury-decimated 49ers continue their surprising run.

The NFL is again jamming two games into the limited prime time window of Monday night. It’s so tiresome. The appeal to for teams for playing in prime time games is the focus on one game. The league trashes that special opportunity for two teams in their chase for a few more dollars. And 4:00 pm is a horrible game time for the west coast. But it’s better than a 7:30 pm start for the east coast. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Buccaneers

The Buccaneers stun the Lions.

Houston Texans @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Texans

The Texans stun the Seahawks.

Philadelphia Eagles All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings host the Philadelphia Eagles tomorrow. The Eagles have a long, confusing, interesting history in the league. They’ve collected five league titles (1948, 1949, 1960, 2017, and 2024). On the eve of the big game, here’s a look at some of the best players in Philadelphia franchise history. 

Philadelphia Eagles All - Time Team

Offense

Quarterback

Norm Van Brocklin

Running Back

Steve Van Buren

Fullback

Keith Byars 

Wide Receivers

Tommy McDonald

Harold Carmichael

Tight End

Pete Pihos 

Offensive Tackles

Jason Peters

Al Wistert

Offensive Guards

Evan Mathis

Brandon Brooks

Center

Jason Kelce

Defense

Defensive Ends

Reggie White

Clyde Simmons

Defensive Tackles

Fletcher Cox

Jerome Brown

Linebackers

Chuck Bednarik

Maxie Baughan

Seth Joyner

Cornerbacks

Eric Allen 

Troy Vincent

Safeties

Brian Dawkins

Bill Bradley

Special Teams

Kicker 

David Akers

Punter

Donnie Jones

Kick Returner

Timmy Brown

Minnesota Vikings Injured List

The Minnesota Vikings really needed their Week 6 bye. Not only were they returning from a ridiculous 10-day stay in Ireland and England, they had a load of players that needed some time to get healthy. The last time they were on the field for NFL action, the Vikings offensive line looked like this:

LT2

LG3

C3 

RG1

RT3

Thank goodness for right guard Will Fries. He was the only offensive line starter that was on the field in London for the game-wining drive against the Cleveland Browns. Fries and a mix-and-match of healthy and available linemen were tasked with keeping Carson Wentz safe against one of the league’s best defensive lines. 

The Vikings have injuries scattered across the roster but the offensive line has been particularly hard hit. It’s tough to get anything going offensively when there’s a constant scramble to field five healthy players up front. A big reason for any preseason optimism for the Vikings was due to the rebuilt offensive line. The projected five starters have yet to take a snap together. 

The injuries that have peppered the first five games of the season have been frustrating. Return from the Week 6 bye has brought some good news on the injury front. As the Vikings prepare for Sunday’s big game against the Philadelphia Eagles, every injured player not on injured reserve has taken part in this week’s practices. 

Wednesday

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL (Hip) - Limited

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Limited

Brian O’Neill, T (Knee) - Limited

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Limited

Tyler Batty, OLB (Knee) - Full

Brian Cashman, LB (Hamstring) - Full

Donovan Jackson, G (Wrist) - Limited

Michael Jurgens, C (Hamstring) - Full

Carson Wentz, QB (Shoulder) - Full

Thursday

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL (Hip) - Limited

J.J. McCarthy, QB (Ankle) - Limited

Brian O’Neill, T (Knee) - Limited

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB (Neck) - Limited

Tyler Batty, OLB (Knee) - Full

Brian Cashman, LB (Hamstring) - Full

Donovan Jackson, G (Wrist) - Full

Michael Jurgens, C (Hamstring) - Full

Carson Wentz, QB (Shoulder) - Full

Since everything football revolves around the quarterback position, it’s probably best to start there. It looks like Carson Wentz is going to start his fourth game. Head coach Kevin O’Connell has said that he wants to see J.J. McCarthy go through a full week of practice before he’s reinserted as the team’s starter. He hasn’t gotten that complete week this week. The NFL schedule won’t allow him to get that next week as the Vikings play the Los Angeles Chargers on Thursday. In that case, it looks like the earliest McCarthy might return is the Week 9 game against the Detroit Lions. 

The probable return of guard Donovan Jackson and Michael Jurgens is great news for the offensive line. Jackson was improving every game before wrist surgery sidelined him for the two international games. If their one game together is any indication, Christian Darrisaw and Jackson will form a dynamite left side now and into the future. Blake Brandel’s play at center against the Browns was eyeopening. It was his first time ever playing the position. Brandel and Jurgens are solid options as Ryan Kelly recovers on injured reserve from a pair of concussions. Brian O’Neill’s availability for the Eagles is the biggest question of the offensive line. If he can go, the Vikings will have as close to their top line as they’ve had all season. 

On defense, Blake Cashman’s return is huge. A hamstring injury in the season-opener against the Chicago Bears landed him on injured reserve. He’s the defensive signal-caller and heart of the Vikings defense. His versatility was missed for five-plus games. Eric Wilson was solid in his place but Cashman is a real-time problem-solver for the defense. 

Andrew Van Ginkel’s availability is the biggest injury question on defense. He’s missed most of the first five games with a neck issue. Like Cashman, he’s a versatile problem-solver. His stat line for the Week 3 Cincinnati Bengals is perhaps the best example of his potential impact on any game. In that game, he played only eight snaps. With those eight snaps, he had two sacks. He’s a difference-maker. He’s been missed and his return is near. Hopefully, that return is this week. 

Each week this season, the Vikings injury report has been peppered, at times dominated, by DNPs. DID NOT PRACTICE. This week, only Christian Darrisaw had a DNP and that was for his weekly rest day as he solidifies his return for last season’s torn ACL. Hopefully, a few more of the limited participants (O’Neill and Van Ginkel) become full participants in today’s final practice in advance of Sunday’s game against the Eagles. 

Throwback Thursday: All - Time HBCU Team

The NFL's history is filled with players from Historically Black Colleges and Universities. The talent that's come out of these schools rivals, even exceeds, that of the "big time" conferences. Some of the best of that talent can be seen in this All-Time NFL Team of players from HBCUs. If not for the racism that closed the NFL to blacks for decades and slowed their integration and appreciation for decades more, the talent on this team would probably be even more ridiculous than it already is. 

Quarterback

Steve McNair, Alcorn State

Running Backs

Walter Payton, Jackson State
Leroy Kelly, Morgan State

Receivers

Jerry Rice, Mississippi Valley State
John Stallworth, Alabama A&M

Tight End

Shannon Sharpe, Savannah State

Offensive Line

Roosevelt Brown, Morgan State
Art Shell, Maryland-Eastern Shore
Jackie Slater, Jackson State
Rayfield Wright, Fort Valley State
Larry Little, Bethune-Cookman

Defensive Line

Deacon Jones, South Carolina State/Mississippi Valley State
Willie Davis, Grambling State
Buck Buchanan, Grambling
Michael Strahan, Texas Southern

Linebackers

Robert Brazile, Jackson State
Willie Lanier, Morgan State
Harry Carson, South Carolina State

Defensive Backs

Willie Brown, Grambling State
Mel Blount, Southern

Ken Houston, Prairie View A&M

Donnie Shell, South Carolina State

***

The talent on this team is ridiculous.

22 players. 21 are honored in Canton.

The one player not in the Pro Football Hall of Fame is the quarterback. Steve McNair.

Black colleges have sent an abundance of talent to the NFL at all positions but quarterback. That has more to do with racism than a lack of talent. The league's coaches and owners were unwilling for so long to give a black quarterback a shot. Many think that Warren Moon was the first great black quarterback. Even he was forced to start his throwing career in Canada due to the racial prejudices of the league’s white decision-makers. Doug Williams and James Harris had some fine moments. Maybe they would've had more if their path was less rocky. Maybe Parnell Dickinson could've been the first great black quarterback if he'd been given a chance. Joe Gilliam? Eldridge Dickey? Charlie Brackins? Willie Thrower? None had the opportunities routinely and repeatedly given to modestly talented white quarterbacks.

HBCUs have sent even more football talent than the above All-Time Team to the NFL. Here are some of the players that I had to reluctantly leave on the bench.

Lem Barney
Elvin Bethea
Richard Dent
Bob Hayes
Charlie Joiner
Emmitt Thomas

Aeneas Williams

Ken Riley

That's eight Pro Football Hall of Famers sitting on the bench. The talent doesn't end there. Here are a few players that have a strong case for Canton induction.

Roger Brown
L.C. Greenwood
Otis Taylor
Everson Walls

Just silly with talent. The talent was at these "small" schools because it wasn't welcome at the "big" schools. The smart NFL teams sent scouts to these schools in the 1960s and early 1970s. The 1960s Kansas City Chiefs benefited greatly. So did the 1970s Pittsburgh Steelers. It's really no surprise that the rise in the scouting of the HBCUs coincided with the escalating AFL-NFL wars. There were more professional teams and it resulted in a hotly contested race for talent. The AFL had the edge at these long-neglected schools and it helped catch the NFL and force a merger in only seven years. Despite being loaded with talented players and greatly impacting the NFL the Historically Black Colleges and Universities have long been over there on the periphery of college and professional football. It's well past time to celebrate these schools and the players that played there. The Black College Football Hall of Fame has been inducting players since 2010. It's a grassroots effort that's slowly gaining traction and now they're getting support from the Pro Football Hall of Fame. They deserve more support and attention. Just look at the players. So much talent. Just silly with talent.

Minnesota Vikings Great Receiver Tradition

The Minnesota Vikings have a great receiver tradition. It can rival that of any team in the league. In only his sixth season, Justin Jefferson has added greatly to that tradition. If he eliminates off-field, knuckle-head stunts, Jordan Addison will further add to it. Perhaps Jalen Nailor and Tai Felton will make their own contributions. The tradition started with 1963 Rookie of Year Paul Flatley. Sammy White won that award in 1976. Randy Moss did the same in 1998. Percy Harvin did as well in 2009. Jefferson was robbed of the Rookie of the Year award in 2020. He did take home Offensive Player of the Year honors after his third season. The Vikings receivers through 65 years are a great, fun group. 

Minnesota Vikings Receiver Tradition

Paul Flatley

Gene Washington

John Gilliam

Sammy White

Ahmad Rashad

Anthony Carter

Cris Carter

Jake Reed

Randy Moss

Nate Burleson

Sidney Rice

Percy Harvin

Adam Thielen

Stefon Diggs

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

That’s 16 receivers that were among the best in the league during the time they played. There are a handful more that had solid careers and contributed to the Vikings receiver tradition.

Jerry Reichow

John Henderson

Leo Lewis

Terry LeCount

Hassan Jones

Bernard Berrian

Jarius Wright

The Vikings great receiving tradition is highlighted by Cris Carter and Randy Moss. Both have a bust in Canton. Both are in the argument for best receivers to ever play. Moss is easily in that argument. In my opinion, so is Carter. No one ever caught the ball as well. No one!

I never thought another receiver could challenge Moss and Carter. Both were so damn great. Then Justin Jefferson arrived in Minnesota. He’s done more in five years than any receiver in league history. He’s unbelievable. He just has to get in the end zone more. Put his statistics next to Moss and touchdowns is the only stat that easily leans Moss’ way. In Jefferson’s touchdown defense, he’s had a few called back and spotted on the goal line. He’s had several more catches get the Vikings inside the five-yard line. Justin Jefferson’s work often turned into Dalvin Cook’s glory.

An underrated member of the Vikings great receiver tradition is John Gilliam. He was in Minnesota from 1972-75. During those four years he was the league’s best deep threat. His yard per catch averages were ridiculous.

1972: 22.0

1973: 21.6

1974: 22.2

1975: 15.5

Over 20 yards per catch is a rarity these days. It was in the 1970s as well. Gilliam was named to the Pro Bowl each season. The drop in 1975 was partly due to a bit more conservative offense that revolved around versatile running back Chuck Foreman. Gilliam’s 50 catches that season was his best total for the Vikings. I never understood his departure during the 1976 offseason. The arrival that same offseason of Sammy White in the draft and Ahmad Rashad in a trade helped explain it. 

The trades/departures of Randy Moss, Sidney Rice, Percy Harvin, and Stefon Diggs were some of the most painful moments of my Vikings life. At least the Diggs trade led directly to the selection of Jefferson in the 2020 NFL Draft. 

Jordan Addison has the talent to join the great Vikings receiver tradition. With his smooth route-running and sticky hands, he can easily be confused with Jefferson. The Jefferson-Addison duo is the best in the league. Addison must stop going astray off the field. Jalen Nailor is likely playing the 2025 with a 2026 free agency payday in mind. As a third-round pick in the 2025 NFL Draft, Tai Felton’s Vikings future is in front of him. 

It’s been so fun watching the Vikings great receiver tradition all these years. With Justin Jefferson leading the way, the future looks as fun as the past has been. 

Players Returning

The first five games of the Minnesota Vikings 2025 season has been an up-down ride. The win-lose-win-lose-win pattern of those games is a reflection of that. If one was so inclined to dig into reasons for the inconsistency, it wouldn’t take long to land on injuries. A look at those injuries must start with the offensive line. A big reason for pre-season optimism was a rebuilt offensive line. With standout tackles Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill already in place, the Vikings focused on overhauling the interior. It was a clear priority of the offseason. Center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries were targeted and signed in free agency. Guard Donovan Jackson was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. Second-year quarterback J.J. McCarthy was going to be protected brilliantly by this offensive line. Running backs Aaron Jones Sr. and Jordan Mason were going to run through gaping holes. It was going to be so beautiful. Through five games, the five starting offensive linemen have yet to take a single snap together. Coming back from the ACL injury that ended early his 2024 season, left tackle Darrisaw was eased onto the field. His first start was Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals. It shouldn’t surprise that game was the Vikings best of the first five games. The offense just looked different with Darrisaw on the field. Rookie left guard Jackson improved with each game but injured his wrist against the Atlanta Falcons in Week 2 and had surgery the Monday following the Bengals game in Week 3. Center Ryan Kelly was placed on injured reserve after his second concussion of the season. His situation is the most concerning as two concussions in as many weeks isn’t a good thing. Player and team must be careful moving forward. Kelly’s replacement, second-year center Michael Jurgens injured his hamstring at some point in the same game that Kelly left with a concussion. That forced Blake Brandel to play center in the Week 5 London game against the Cleveland Browns. It was the first time he’d played center in his football life. Right tackle Brian O’Neill sprained his MCL on the first possession of the Week 4 Dublin game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Right guard Will Fries is the only offensive lineman to start every game. The Vikings often had to dig so deep into the offensive line depth that tight end Josh Oliver was on call. 

While the offensive line was particularly hard hit by injuries, it wasn’t the only position that had to scramble to replace starters. On defense, linebacker Brian Cashman left the Week 1 game against the Chicago Bears with an injured hamstring. Those can be tricky and the Vikings took no chances and placed him on injured reserve. Outside linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel has been dealing with an injured neck since training camp. He played against the Bears, sat against the Falcons, and played a bit against the Bengals. Somehow, he had two sacks in only a handful of snaps in that game. He hasn’t played since. Put simply, in Brian Flores’ aggressive, unpredictable defense, Cashman and Van Ginkel solve problems in real time. In many ways, the defense is built on the versatility of those two players. When they aren’t on the field, the Vikings defense isn’t quite the Vikings defense. 

If the quarterback is involved, any injury concerns starts with the position. J.J. McCarthy suffered an ankle injury in the Week 2 game against the Bears. Carson Wentz started the next three games. His veteran experience seemed to bring some stability to the offense. The highlight of the three games he played was the last possession of the last game. He was excellent and the offense was brilliant in the gotta-have-it drive that won the Week 5 game in London against the Cleveland Browns. 

McCarthy wasn’t the only offensive playmaker that came out of the Week 2 game against the Bears with an injury. Starting running back Aaron Jones Sr. left the game with a hamstring injury. Jones was immediately placed on injured reserve. That opened the door for Jordan Mason to be the team’s lead back. 

So, the Vikings managed the five pre-bye games with six offensive starters and two defensive starters missing multiple games with injuries. Seven of those eight players entered the bye week on the sidelines with injuries. There’s some good injury news. Several of those players could return as soon as this week. At his appearance in front of the media yesterday, head coach Kevin O’Connell revealed that the following players will practice this week in advance of the Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

J.J. McCarthy

Brian O’Neill

Donovan Jackson

Michael Jurgens

Blake Cashman

The optimist in me wouldn’t be surprised if all of the above are on the field against the Eagles. Or the following Thursday against the Los Angeles Chargers. 

The Rest of the Schedule

After their Week 6 bye, the Minnesota Vikings return to football action in Week 7. A week 6 bye is usually a bit early for a 17-game season. With a 10-day overseas trip and a load of injuries, the early bye week couldn’t have come at a better time. The Vikings needed a break. They needed players to get healthy. The post-bye schedule is a demanding one. 

Week 7:   Philadelphia Eagles

Week 8:   @ Los Angeles Chargers (Thursday night)

Week 9:   @ Detroit Lions

Week 10: Baltimore Ravens

Week 11: Chicago Bears

Week 12: @ Green Bay Packers

Week 13: @Seattle Seahawks

Week 14: Washington Commanders

Week 15: @ Dallas Cowboys (Sunday night)

Week 16: @ New York Giants

Week 17: Detroit Lions (Thursday - Christmas Day)

Week 18: Green Bay Packers

When the NFL Schedule was released in the spring, the immediate takeaway was that the Vikings schedule was going to be much easier pre-bye than post-bye. The most demanding part of the post-bye schedule was, and probably still is, the Philadelphia Eagles - Los Angeles Chargers - Detroit Lions - Baltimore Ravens gauntlet that’s now right in front of the Vikings. That was one of the reasons I hoped that the Vikings would have a sparkling 5-0 record at this point in the season. Unfortunately that didn’t happen. At 3-2, they have a winning record. That’s a good thing. Losing very winnable games to the Atlanta Falcons and Pittsburgh Steelers isn’t such a good thing. 

A lot has changed since the start of the season. As things currently stand, the post-bye, four-game gauntlet doesn’t look as daunting as it once did. After scorching starts, the Philadelphia Eagles and Los Angeles Chargers have struggled recently. The defending champion Eagles are on a two-game losing streak. Can the Vikings make it three? The Chargers followed three wins with two losses. Like the Vikings, the Chargers have had their strong offensive line disrupted by injuries. A suspect offensive line can wreck an otherwise talented team. The Detroit Lions are a dynamite team when they can play their game. The Green Bay Packers and Kansas City Chiefs have shown the way to get the Lions out of their game. Week 1 and Week 6 losses to the Packers and Chiefs, respectively, definitely showed the Lions to be a beatable team. When healthy, the Baltimore Ravens boast one of the most talented rosters in the league. The roster has been blasted by injuries and the Ravens are sitting at 1-5. With Lamar Jackson likely back next week, the Ravens have very winnable games against the Chicago Bears and Miami Dolphins. The Ravens could be a very different 3-5 team when they come to Minnesota in Week 10. I’m hoping that the Vikings are, at worst, 3-1 over the upcoming four-game gauntlet. If they have to lose one game, I’m hoping that it’s a healthy Ravens. The Vikings need to win the NFC games and the Chargers game. I’ll be at SoFi so an in-person win would be nice. 6-3 after Week 10 would nice as the Vikings prepare to rip through the final eight games of their schedule. 

The Vikings can win any game. It’s been that way since Kevin O’Connell and Brian Flores joined forces in 2023. They can win any game. They’ve also shown they can lose any game. They’re a good team with the potential to be great. Too often, the Vikings get in their own way and flip winnable games into disappointing losses. They must avoid the injuries that were a serious problem through the first five games. They must get their #1 offensive line on the field. That offensive line might not include center Ryan Kelly. His concussions have become too troublesome. For his future, team and player must be very careful moving forward. Right now, Blake Brandel might be the team’s top center. Surround him with Christian Darrisaw, Donovan Jackson, Will Fries, and Brian O’Neill and keep those five on the field for the next 12+ games. Protect J.J. McCarthy and give him a legit chance. If that happens, the Vikings offense should start cruising. The defense needs Andrew Van Ginkel back on the field and to stay on the field. If that happens, the Vikings defense should become a big-play menace. 

A 3-2 start is disappointing because it could so easily be 5-0. The Vikings team that rolled the Bengals in Week 3 would’ve easily beaten the Falcons and Steelers. The Vikings only had three losses last season and this team is much more talented than that team. If they avoid injuries and play to their talent, the next 12+ games should be fun. 

Flea Flicker Week 6 Predictions

The Minnesota Vikings have the week off. That’s a great void for the league. Here’s a guess at the Week 6 games.

Byes: Minnesota Vikings, Houston Texans

Denver Broncos “@“ New York Jets (in London)

Pick: Broncos

After the Vikings 10-day stay overseas, I like these international games even less. I didn’t think that was possible.

Arizona Cardinals @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

If not for Adonai Mitchell’s stupidity, the Colts would probably be undefeated. Even with a single loss, they are probably the surprise team of the season.

Los Angeles Chargers @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Dolphins

With a decent offensive line, the Chargers were 3-0. With an offensive line jumbled by injuries, the Chargers are 0-2. If they can’t figure out a way to keep quarterback Justin Herbert safe, the Chargers are going to have a hard time winning games.

New England Patriots @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Patriots

The Patriots stunned the Bills in Week 5. They should be able to handle the Saints in Week 6.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Browns

The Vikings spent their overseas trip playing these two teams. Now, they play each other. It’s the Browns only because I like seeing Aaron Rodgers lose. 

Dallas Cowboys @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Cowboys

The Panthers have a Jekyll and Hyde thing going on. After topping the Dolphins last week, I fear a Hyde game. 

Seattle Seahawks @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Seahawks

The Seahawks rebound from their heartbreaker against the Buccaneers.

Los Angeles Rams @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Rams

The Ravens need to get Lamar Jackson healthy before the season is too far gone. 

Tennessee Titans @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Raiders

It took a lot of lucky breaks for the Titans to get their first win of the season last week against the Cardinals. I don’t see the Titans getting lucky again in Las Vegas.

Cincinnati Bengals @ Green Bay Packers

Pick: Packers

The Packers lost to Joe Flacco in Week 3 when he was with the Browns. Now, they face him in Week 6 as the new quarterback of the Bengals. I see it going the Packers way this time. 

San Francisco 49ers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: 49ers

The 49ers somehow continue their stunning run with a roster decimated by injuries. 

Detroit Lions @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

The Chiefs rebound from their stunning loss to the Jaguars.

The league has again jammed two games into Monday night. Either would be a nice Monday night game on their own. Together is such a waste. 

Buffalo Bills @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Bills

The Bills rebound from their stunning loss to the Patriots.

Chicago Bears @ Washington Commanders

Pick: Commanders

It’s the Commanders in a fun game. 

Minnesota Vikings All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings have Week 6 off as they rest and recover from their 10-day “business trip” to Dublin and London. With no game this week, this is a fine time to look back at the team’s past. 

Other than winning the final, big game, the Minnesota Vikings have a strong history. Once they stepped away from their initial expansion team days, they have avoided having more than two consecutive losing seasons. That’s not a real high bar but it shows that they have avoided being woeful. It’s actually the opposite. Far more often than not, they are contenders. Their winning percentage since the NFL-AFL merger is among the best in the league. They have 16 Hall of Fame busts. A handful more deserve a spot. For a team with a history of 30-40 fewer years than many of their peers, that’s a very robust number. The Vikings just need a Super Bowl, preferably several. 

The Vikings have no shortage of players to populate the 27 positions on this Minnesota Vikings All - Time Team. Other than tight end, the offensive positions are mostly taken by Hall of Famers, soon-to-be Hall of Famers, or should-be Hall of Famers. Other than the line, the defensive positions are mostly wide open. Here’s a look at some of the best players in Vikings franchise history.

Minnesota Vikings All-Time Team

Offense

Quarterback 

Fran Tarkenton

Running Back

Adrian Peterson

Fullback

Chuck Foreman

Typically, I think of Bill Brown as the Vikings best fullback. Chuck Foreman lined up as a fullback his first couple years in the league. He had a career worthy of the Hall of Fame. At his peak, he was arguably the best back in the league. He was definitely the most versatile back in the league. It’s fun to think of Adrian Peterson and Chuck Foreman in the same backfield. Peterson will receive his Hall of Fame bust in a few years. 

Wide Receivers

Cris Carter

Randy Moss

Justin Jefferson

Due to the supreme talent available, I must go with three receivers. The Vikings second-team would be the first-team for many franchises. 

Tight End

Steve Jordan

Steve Jordan vs Kyle Rudolph. Both had excellent Vikings careers. If T.J. Hockenson has several seasons like his first season-plus with the Vikings, he will join the Vikings All-Time tight end argument.  

Tackles

Gary Zimmerman

Ron Yary

Guards

Randall McDaniel

Steve Hutchinson

In doing these teams, I try to keep the players in the position that they played on the field. Randall McDaniel and Steve Hutchinson are the two best guards in Vikings franchise history. Both played left guard. I can’t leave either off this team. I just can’t. On this team, Hutchinson flips to the right side. The best right guard in Vikings franchise history? That would be Ed White. 

Center

Mick Tingelhoff

Defense

Defensive Ends

Carl Eller

Chris Doleman

Jared Allen

Welcome to the Pro Football Hall of Fame, Jared Allen! Just picking the team’s Hall of Famers is lazy. If I had to go with only two? Today, the choice is probably Carl Eller and Allen.

Defensive Tackles

Alan Page

John Randle

Alan Page and John Randle are the best defensive tackles in franchise history. Kevin Williams was damn great as well. They all played essentially the same position. If I were to put a run-stuffing nose tackle-type player on this team, then there’s a difficult debate. Henry Thomas, Pat Williams, and Linval Joseph. I’d probably have them in that order. 

Linebackers

Matt Blair

Eric Kendricks

Anthony Barr

It’s tough to leave out Chad Greenway, Jeff Siemon, and any of the Vikings first great trio of Wally Hilgenberg, Lonnie Warwick and Roy Winston. 

Cornerbacks

Antoine Winfield

Bobby Bryant 

Antoine Winfield is easy. The second corner spot comes down to Bobby Bryant, Carl Lee, and Xavier Rhodes. Maybe Nate Wright as well. Today, the choice is Bobby Bryant. His long, underrated career finally earned him a spiffy purple jacket and a spot in the team’s Ring of Honor.  

Safeties

Paul Krause

Harrison Smith

Not having Joey Browner on this team is a crime. In terms of skill/ability/talent, Harrison Smith and Browner are probably the best safeties in franchise history. Paul Krause intercepted an NFL record 81 passes. On a list of league records least likely to be broken, that’s at the top. He has to be on this team. So does Smith. 

Special Teams

Kicker

Ryan Longwell

Punter

Chris Kluwe

Kick Returner

Cordarrelle Patterson

Punt Returner

Marcus Sherels

Special Teams

Joey Browner

Joey Browner first made his mark on special teams. At least, it gets him on this team. He’s one of the greatest players in franchise history. 

Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster

The Minnesota Vikings are resting and recuperating from their 10-day, two-game, overseas business trip. They are on their Week 6 bye. With a ridiculously long list of injuries, it’s a much needed break. Normally, a Week 6 bye is way too early. This year, it’s perfect. When the Vikings return to the field, J.J. McCarthy, Brian O’Neill, Donovan Jackson, and Blake Cashman might be back. Aaron Jones Sr. and Andrew Van Ginkel should soon follow. The injuries through the season’s first five games forced some roster juggling. A curiosity of the juggling is that there are currently only 14 players on the practice squad. There’s room for two players. 

As the Vikings rest this week, here’s a look at the team’s current roster. 

2025 Minnesota Vikings 53-Man Roster

Offense (26)

Quarterbacks (3)

J.J. McCarthy

Carson Wentz

Max Brosmer

Running Backs (3)

Jordan Mason

Zavier Scott

Cam Akers

CJ Ham - FB

Receivers (6)

Justin Jefferson

Jordan Addison

Jalen Nailor

Adam Thielen

Tai Felton

Myles Price

Tight Ends (3)

T.J. Hockenson

Josh Oliver

Ben Yurosek

Offensive Line (10)

Christian Darrsisaw

Donovan Jackson

Blake Brandel

Will Fries

Brian O’Neill

Justin Skule

Walter Rouse

Michael Jurgens

Joe Huber

Henry Byrd

Defense (24)

Defensive Line (6)

Jonathan Allen

Javon Hargrave

Jalen Redmond

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins

Levi Drake Rodriguez

Elijah Williams

Outside Linebackers (5)

Jonathan Greenard

Andrew Van Ginkel

Dallas Turner

Bo Richter

Chaz Chambliss

Inside Linebackers (4)

Ivan Pace Jr.

Eric Wilson

Kobe King  

Austin Keys

Cornerbacks (4)

Byron Murphy Jr.

Isaiah Rodgers

Jeff Okudah

Dwight McGlothern

Safeties (5)

Harrison Smith

Josh Metellus

Theo Jackson

Jay Ward

Tavierre Thomas

Special Teams (3)

Kickers (1)

Will Reichard

Punter (1)

Ryan Wright

Long Snapper (1)

Andrew DePaola

Practice Squad (14)

Dontae Fleming, WR

Tyrek Funderburk, CB

Jonathan Harris, DL

Jeshaun Jones, WR

Corey Kiner, RB

Vershon Lee, G

Fabian Moreau, CB

Gabriel Murphy, OLB

Bryson Nesbit, TE

Taki Taimani, DL

Sione Takitaki, LB

Nick Vannett, S

Zemaiah Vaughn, CB

K’Von Wallace, S

Reserve/Injured

Blake Cashman, LB

Ty Chandler, RB

Zeke Correll, C

Aaron Jones, Sr., RB

Ryan Kelly, C

Rondale Moore, WR

Matt Nelson, OL

Reserve/Injured; Designated for Return

Tyler Batty, OLB

Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform

Gavin Bartholomew, TE

Throwback Thursday: All - Time NFC North Team

The NFC North has been an NFL division since the league’s realignment in 2002. Here's a look at the best players to play each position in the short history of this thrilling division.

Offense

Quarterback
Aaron Rodgers, Green Bay Packers

Running backs
Adrian Peterson, Minnesota Vikings
Matt Forte, Chicago Bears

Fullback
John Kuhn, Green Bay Packers

Receivers
Calvin Johnson, Detroit Lions
Randy Moss, Minnesota Vikings

Justin Jefferson, Minnesota Vikings 

Moss only played in the NFC North for three seasons (2010 doesn't count). That's enough for me. His three years were that fantastic.

Tackles
Christian Darrisaw, Minnesota Vikings

Penei Sewell, Detroit Lions

Guards
Steve Hutchinson, Minnesota Vikings
Kyle Long, Chicago Bears

Center
Matt Birk, Minnesota Vikings

Defense

Defensive ends 
Jared Allen, Minnesota Vikings
Julius Peppers, Chicago Bears/Green Bay Packers

Defensive tackles
Ndamukong Suh, Detroit Lions
Kevin Willaims, Minnesota Vikings

Linebackers
Anthony Barr, Minnesota Vikings 
Brian Urlacher, Chicago Bears
Lance Briggs, Chicago Bears

Cornerbacks
Charles Woodson, Green Bay Packers
Antoine Winfield, Minnesota Vikings

Safeties
Harrison Smith, Minnesota Vikings
Nick Collins, Green Bay Packers

Kicker
Ryan Longwell, Green Bay Packers/Minnesota Vikings 

Punter
Nick Harris, Detroit Lions

Returner
Devin Hester, Chicago Bears

Minnesota Vikings Pre-Bye Superlatives

After an unprecedented 10-day, two-country, two-game business trip, the Minnesota Vikings have a Week 6 bye. They have a week off to rest, recuperate, and get healthy. The Vikings were very much up-and-down over the first five weeks of the season. The manner in which they arrived at their 3-2 record shows that. Win-Lose-Win-Lose-Win. Over the final 12 weeks of the season, the Vikings must shatter that pattern. They must play with better consistency. They must avoid the injuries that have disrupted the roster and completely dismantled the offensive line. That’s post-bye week stuff. This is a look at the pre-bye games and some of the players that helped the Vikings win more than they lost. 

Most Valuable Player

Justin Jefferson, WR

Stat-wise, Justin Jefferson has been a player of note to most football observers (fantasy football aficionados) for just the past couple games. He broke the 120-yard barrier in each of the overseas games. Those were his first and second 100-yard games of the season. Seeing as he makes that mark routine, some have had the ignorant thought that he’s having a down season. Jefferson has been the player and, most importantly, the leader he’s always been. Jefferson is the Vikings best player and he’s played and acted like it. As great as he’s always been, the best is still always out there. 

Offensive Player of the Pre-Bye

Will Fries, G

Vikings fans approached this season with a lot of optimism. Much of that optimism was due to the Vikings decision-makers finally making the improvement of the offensive line a priority. With excellent tackles in Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill already in place, the Vikings overhauled the interior. Center Ryan Kelly and guard Will Fries were signed as free agents. Guard Donovan Jackson was selected in the first round of the 2025 NFL Draft. With Darrisaw returning from a torn ACL that ended his 2024 season, the Vikings were cautious and eased him into the lineup. That meant holding him out of the first two games and keeping him on a snap count over the next three games. Center Ryan Kelly has missed more than half of the first five games due to two concussions. He’s now on injured reserve over serious concerns over those concussions. Donovan Jackson had wrist surgery following the Week 3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals. Brian O’Neill suffered a sprained PCL at the end of the opening drive against the Pittsburgh Steelers. As a result of those injuries, the rebuilt Vikings offensive line has yet to take a snap together. That’s been a major factor in the offense’s inconsistencies. The only offensive lineman to play every game and take every snap is Will Fries. For that reason, he’s the Offensive Player of the Pre-Bye games.

The good news on the offensive line injury front is that Brian O’Neill and Donovan Jackson could return as soon as the Week 7 game against the Philadelphia Eagles.

Defensive Player of the Pre-Bye

Isaiah Rodgers, CB

Isaiah Rodgers was a free agent target for Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores. As a result, Rodgers was signed within hours of the start of the NFL’s tampering window. As the season approached, many Vikings beat-writers and national pundits targeted the team’s cornerbacks as a position of great concern. The lack of further corner additions was an indication the Vikings didn’t share those concerns. They really liked their Isaiah Rodgers-Byron Murphy Jr. corner pair. Through five games, Flores and the Vikings were right and the outsiders were wrong. Rodgers has been excellent. The highlight of his first five games was the Week 3 game against the Cincinnati Bengals. He had one of the best games ever played by a corner. It’s arguably one of the best games ever played by any defensive player. His first big play was a pick-6. His second big play was a forced fumble with a targeted punch, a recovery of the fumble, and a touchdown return off of that recovery. Those two defensive scores were the start of what turned into a 48-10 demolition of the Bengals. The big plays were the highlights of his big day but they were really just the start. He had another punch out that fellow corner Jeff Okudah recovered. That turnover was immediately turned into more Vikings points. Rodgers also knocked away a potential touchdown toss to Bengals receiver Tee Higgins. In coverage on the day, Rodgers allowed only one catch for two yards. For his brilliant play through five games, Isaiah Rodgers is an easy choice for Defensive Player of the Pre-Bye games. 

Special Teams Player of the Pre-Bye

Will Reichard, K

The kicker has only one job. Many people say that to minimize the difficulty of football’s kicking position. Through five games, other than a London kick that was deflected by a camera wire, Will Reichard has been perfect. 

PAT: 11/11

FGs: 8/8

Official NFL stats will have Reichard at 8/9 on field goals. His 51-yard attempt against the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in London was deflected by a camera wire. He should’ve had another shot at it but the deflection was missed the officials on the field. It was apparently only discovered later. Prior to the wire-deflection, Reichard was 3/3 from more than 50 yards. One of those was from 62 yards. It’s a damn shame that his perfect start to the 2025 season isn’t “officially” perfect. 

Comeback Player of the Pre-Bye

Christian Darrisaw, OT

There’s really only one player up for this award. Christian Darrisaw’s return from the torn ACL that ended his 2024 season has been remarkable. Even the offseason’s most optimistic hopes didn’t have Darrisaw ready for training camp, let alone, the start of the 2025 season. The easing of Darrisaw into the lineup was frustrating because of how remarkable his recovery had been. When he’s on the field, the offense operates at a whole other level. Hopefully, the snap count that he’s currently on is coming to an end. As long as it doesn’t jeopardize his future availability. 

Minnesota Vikings Week 5 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings defeated the Cleveland Browns on Sunday in London, 21-17. The Vikings needed to close their two-week overseas trip with a win. Here are some of the players that made the big win possible. 

Offensive Player of the Week

Carson Wentz, QB

The Vikings first touchdown was a pass. It was thrown by running back Cam Akers rather than quarterback Carson Wentz. This award goes to Wentz partly for his scrappy play throughout the game. With only two starters and three backups blocking one of the league’s best defensive front, he had to be scrappy. It wasn’t quite the beating that he took against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Week 4 but he was harassed a bit and sacked three times by the Browns. Wentz gets this award mostly for his heroic play on the game-winning touchdown drive. With 3:05 to play, he directed the offense 80 yards in 2:40. His 12-yard touchdown toss to Jordan Addison provided the game’s winning margin. 

On that drive:

9/9

71 yards

12-yard TD

Defensive Player of the Game

Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins, DL

For most of the game, the Vikings played solid team defense. On a couple of the possessions, they had some issues with the Browns run game. A variety of players made plays that kept the Browns from sustaining drives. It’s difficult to pick one player above the rest. Rookie defensive tackle Tyrion Ingram-Dawkins gets the nod for collecting the first sack of his career. 

Special Teams Player of the Week

Ryan Wright, P

Ryan Wright punted five times for 286 yards. A 57.2 average. That’s pretty good. He’s the Vikings Week 5 Special Teams Player of the Week for the 77-yard punt that pinned the Browns at their own one-yard line. It was a beautiful punt with a beautiful bounce that was beautifully downed by Tavierre Thomas. 

Vikings - Browns

Jordan Addison missed the first quarter for knucklehead reasons but he was there for his team at the end. His 12-yard scoring catch with 25 seconds on the clock provided the difference in the Minnesota Vikings 21-17 win over the Cleveland Browns. 

The game wasn’t pretty. Football isn’t going to be pretty when a team is starting their third-string left guard, third-string center, and second-string right tackle. The Vikings offensive line has been a weekly question of “who’s next?” The London game provided the latest edition. This time it was against one of the best defensive lines and best defenses in the league. The Browns present a significant challenge against the best offensive lines. It can be a devastating deal against a team struggling to field five players with a pulse. Somehow, the Vikings offense managed 97 rushing yards, 252 passing yards, and 349 total yards. That makeshift line was even more makeshift in the fourth quarter. Christian Darrisaw is still on a snap-count as he’s returning from the ACL that ended his 2024 season in October. He hit that snap as the Vikings offense entered the fourth quarter. With the game in the balance, sticking to that plan was daring against the Browns. 

The Vikings offensive line in the fourth quarter:

Justin Skule - LT2

Joe Huber - LG3

Blake Brandel - C3

Will Fries - RG1

Walter Rouse - RT3

Three third-stringers and a second-stringer. Thank goodness for Will Fries! That offensive line was at its best on the final drive. With 3:05 to play, Carson Wentz was 9/9 for 71 yards as the Vikings drove 80 yards in 2:40. Wentz to Addison for the game-winning 12-yard touchdown. When the offensive line was needed most, they provided Wentz time and room to operate. 

Justin Jefferson was great. As always. 7 catches for 123 yards. 

The Browns entered the game with a quarterback change. Joe Flacco had started the team’s first four games. He was benched in favor of third-round rookie Dillon Gabriel for this game. The Vikings entered this game as fairly easy favorites. With all of the injuries, no game should be considered easy for the Vikings. Gabriel managed things but not much was asked of him. Handing off to rookie running back Quinshon Judkins was his main duty. He did attempt 33 passes, completing 19, but most were within five yards of the line of scrimmage. Judkins was the Vikings biggest problem. It felt like the first tackler always failed in getting him to the ground. Other than Judkins, the Browns main weapon was often starting possessions with terrific field position. Two Vikings fumbles twice gifted the Browns the ball around midfield. One was cashed in for a touchdown. When they were tasked with traveling the bulk of the field, the Browns usually ended up punting. The Browns third quarter-touchdown drive of 13 plays and 69 yards was their only possession of real substance. On that drive, their offensive line dominated the defensive front of the Vikings. It gave the Browns a 17-14 lead with just over 18 minutes to play. Fortunately the Vikings defense rebounded as they spent those remaining 18 minutes repeatedly getting the ball back for the offense. The offense finally did something on their final opportunity. 

The difference between the two teams in this game can be seen in what it took on their respective scoring drives:

Browns Scoring Drives:

TD: 7 plays, 47 yards

FG: 14 plays, 53 yards

TD: 13 plays, 69 yards

Vikings Scoring Drives:

TD: 8 plays, 82 yards

TD: 8 plays 71 yards

TD: 10 plays, 80 yards

Throughout the game, the Browns had a decided advantage in field position. It was starting to get annoying. Even when the Vikings put themselves on the right side of the 20-yard line with a productive kick return, a penalty put them back on the other side. They must stop with the special teams penalty. This game brought another three. The special teams penalties this season have been ridiculous. 

The Vikings completed their ridiculous 10-day international commitment with a win. After last week’s disappointing loss to the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, this was a must-win game. It was only a Week 5 game but it was a must-win Week 5 game. Now, the Vikings have their bye week. It’s a much-needed bye week as they need a host of players to get healthy. The post-bye schedule is brutal and it starts with the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 7. 

Flea Flicker Week 5 Predictions

It’s on to Week 5 and the Minnesota Vikings are still overseas. Here are some guesses at the games. 

Byes start this week. Week 5 is way too early for some time off. Here are the unfortunate teams skipping this week.

Byes: Atlanta Falcons, Chicago Bears, Green Bay Packers, Pittsburgh Steelers

Minnesota Vikings “@“ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Vikings

The Vikings must start playing better and more consistently from start to finish. 

Las Vegas Raiders @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

The Colts rebound from their stunning loss to the Los Angeles Rams.

New York Giants @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints

The Saints get their first win.

Dallas Cowboys @ New York Jets

Pick: Cowboys

If the Cowboys can tie the Packers, they should dismantle the Jets.

Denver Broncos @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Eagles

The Eagles roll.

Miami Dolphins @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Dolphins

The Dolphins are on a winning streak!

Houston Texans @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Texans

The Texans should have enough to edge Derrick Henry. 

Tennessee Titans @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Cardinals

The Titans are still looking for their first win.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick: Buccaneers

In this matchup of 1976 expansion teams, the Buccaneers rebound from their disappointing loss to the Eagles.

Detroit Lions @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Lions

It’s amazing that the Bengals were 2-0 two weeks ago. Their punchless play shows how important Joe Burrow is to the team.

Washington Commanders @ Los Angeles Chargers

Pick: Chargers

The Chargers rebound from their first loss.

New England Patriots @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Bills

The Bills continue to roll.

Kansas City Chiefs @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Chiefs

The Chiefs continue their rebound from an 0-2 start. 

Cleveland Browns All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings “visit” the Cleveland Browns tomorrow in London. The Browns have a hacked-up history. The Browns franchise that formed in 1946 as a member of the All-America Football Conference are today’s Baltimore Ravens. Today’s Browns team is an expansion team. They are an expansion team that got their start in 1999. Today’s Ravens team have a better connection to the Browns great past than today’s Browns. It’s a hacked-up history. Plowing through that hacked-up history, here’s an All-Time Team of the Cleveland Browns. It’s an excellent team. The new Browns did place two players on this team.  

Offense

Quarterback

Otto Graham

Running Back

Jim Brown

Fullback

Marion Motley

Both Jim Brown and Marion Motley played fullback. Picking one over the other for a single position is a tougher decision than many might realize. My father saw Motley play a few times against the San Francisco 49ers at Kezar Stadium. I loved my father’s football stories of those times. He said that Motley was the best back he’d ever seen. I prefer placing both great fullbacks in the same great backfield to picking one over the other.

Wide Receivers

Dante Lavelli

Paul Warfield

Tight End

Ozzie Newsome

Tackles

Joe Thomas

Lou Groza

Guards

Gene Hickerson

Jim Ray Smith

Center

Frank Gatski

Defense

Defensive Ends

Len Ford

Myles Garrett

Defensive Tackles

Bill Willis

Jerry Sherk 

Linebackers

Clay Matthews

Walt Michaels

Chip Banks

Cornerbacks

Hanford Dixon

Frank Minnifield

Safeties

Thom Darden

Eric Turner

Special Teams

Kicker

Phil Dawson

Punter

Horace Gillom

Returners

Bobby Mitchell

Josh Cribbs

Pro Football Hall of Fame: 52 Seniors Advance

As soon as a Pro Football Hall of Fame Class is inducted in early August the attention turns to the next Class. It’s a never ending cycle. Some movement in the process has taken place with the Seniors candidates for the Pro Football Hall Class of 2026. The Seniors Screening Committee has whittled 162 nominees to 52 candidates. The Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee (that’s the group’s actual title) will reduce the list of 52 to 25, then again to nine, in balloting that will occur over the next several weeks. They will then meet virtually to discuss those nine Semifinalists and will choose three Finalists for the Class of 2026. The members of the Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee also serve on the full Hall of Fame Selection Committee. 

Players enter the seemingly endless Seniors Pool 25 years after they last played and after their Hall of Fame merits have been debated for 20 years. It’s a frustrating deal because many of these players should’ve been inducted decades ago. With some voters refusing to acknowledge any players that played before their time covering football, it’s actually infuriating for anyone that care about the game’s history. Those posers as voters should refresh themselves on the Hall’s mission. “Honor the Greatest of the Game. Preserve its History. Promote its Values. Celebrate Excellence Together.” 

Anyway, here are the 52 candidates that will now have their great careers debated by the Seniors Blue-Ribbon Committee. 

Quarterbacks (5):

Ken Anderson

Charlie Conerly

Roman Gabriel

Jack Kemp

Don Meredith

Running Backs (6):

Ottis Anderson

Larry Brown

Roger Craig

Chuck Foreman

Cecil Isbell

Paul “Tank” Younger

Wide Receivers/Tight Ends (9):

Mark Clayton

Isaac Curtis

Lavvie Dilweg

Henry Ellard

Harold Jackson

Billy “White Shoes” Johnson

Stanley Morgan

Art Powell

Otis Taylor

Offensive Linemen (11):

Jay Hilgenberg

Chris Hinton

Joe Jacoby

Mike Kenn

Bob Kuechenberg

Marvin Powell

Dick Schafrath

Jerry Sisemore

Walt Sweeney

Jim Tyrer

Al Wistert

Defensive Linemen (4):

L.C. Greenwood

Ed “Too Tall” Jones

Jim Marshall

Harvey Martin

Linebackers (8):

Carl Banks

Maxie Baughan

Mike Curtis

Larry Grantham

Lee Roy Jordan

Clay Matthews Jr.

Matt Millen

Tommy Nobis

Defensive Backs (8):

Dick Anderson

Bobby Boyd

Pat Fischer

Lester Hayes

Albert Lewis

Eddie Meador

Lemar Parrish

Everson Walls

Special Teams (1):

Steve Tasker

This is a fine list. It’d be an even finer list if Green Bay Packers do-everything back Verne Lewellen was on it. He probably should’ve been inducted in one of the first dozen, or so, Classes. Seeing as he played from 1924-32, he’s waited as long as anyone. He’s waited too long. I’m also surprised that Detroit Lions offensive lineman Ox Emerson isn’t on this list. Despite those issues, it’s a fine list. There’s at least 20 that have a serious case to be among the Final 3. My Minnesota Vikings bias leads me to Chuck Foreman and Jim Marshall. It hurts but the historian in me puts those two just out of reach of the Final 3. The Pro Football Hall of Fame voters must finally do their jobs and put the following where they’ve long belonged. 

Lavvie Dilweg

Al Wistert

Both were among the very best of their era. Both won multiple titles. Both should have busts in the Hall. 

After Lavvie Dilweg and Al Wistert, it’s a tough choice but it’s probably Maxie Baughan. 

More Minnesota Vikings Offensive Line Juggling

This is getting ridiculous.

The Minnesota Vikings are playing the Cleveland Browns in London on Sunday. It’s the fifth game of the season. After their Week 4 game against the Pittsburgh Steelers in Dublin, the Browns game is also the Vikings second consecutive game on the other side of the Atlantic Ocean. From afar, the Vikings have had to do some juggling of their offensive line. Far too much juggling. 

Against the Steelers, the Vikings offensive line was as close to the projected starting five as it’s been all season. Only first-round left guard Donovan Jackson was missing. He had wrist surgery earlier in the week and is expected to be out until after the team’s Week 6 bye. Solid and experienced, Blake Brandel filled in for Jackson at left guard. The offensive line was so close to being whole and the one dreamed about for months. It was going to be beautiful. Instead of beautiful, right tackle Brian O’Neill suffered a sprained MCL while blocking for the field goal that capped the first possession. Center Ryan Kelly exited at halftime with a concussion, his second of the season. The Vikings started the Steelers game so, so close to their ideal offensive line. They finished the game with only two of their projected starters on the field, left tackle Christian Darrisaw and right guard Will Fries. 

I’m not sure when it happened. Sometime between the time that he replaced Ryan Kelly in the Steelers game and the initial practice of the week, center Michael Jurgens suffered a hamstring injury. He’s yet to practice this week. With each missed practice, it’s looking less likely that he’ll be available for Sunday’s game against the Browns. Practices this week in preparation for Sunday’s regular season game has looked like a July training camp practice when it comes to the center position. It’s a “what-have-we-got” deal as Blake Brandel, Joe Huber, Henry Byrd, and Vershon Lee have been seen taking center snaps. When I first heard that Jurgens might miss the game, I imagined undrafted free agent Vershon Lee stepping up from the practice squad. It was knee-jerk thought simply because I was impressed with his play in a couple preseason games. Those games were fringe roster players vs. fringe roster players. An undrafted rookie jumping from the practice squad to starting against a talented Browns defensive line is a tough deal. I imagine that Brandel is the next man up at center. He’s a solid, versatile offensive lineman. A sixth-round pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, he came to the Vikings as a tackle. He was a swing-tackle his first three seasons and was effective in five starts. He was the starting left guard last season. If the Vikings hadn’t selected Donovan Jackson in the first round, Brandel would’ve been the starting left guard this season. I always hate seeing teams messing with two positions on the offensive line to replace one. It’s never made sense to me but I’m a fan on a couch. What do I know? Of the candidates for the Vikings center position, Brandel is the best and most experienced offensive lineman. He has taken center snaps in practice over the years but he has no game experience at the position. If Brandel is the choice at center, undrafted rookie Joe Huber is expected to start at left guard against the Browns. That would give the Vikings the following offensive line.

LT Christian Darrisaw

LG Joe Huber

  C Blake Brandel 

RG Will Fries

RT Justin Skule

At least Christian Darrisaw is out there. Teams often try to put their five best offensive linemen on the field together with little regard to the positions they’ve played. That sort of tinkering is usually done in training camp. Due to injuries, the Vikings are being forced to do it in preparation for a Week 5 game. Injuries are an unfortunate but inevitable aspect of football. Even the most pessimistic among us wouldn’t have predicted a run of injuries that would force the Vikings to field a third-string left guard, a third-string center, and a second-string right tackle in a Week 5 game. The team is real close to having tight end Josh Oliver on the ready for offensive line snaps. With all that in mind, the above five offensive linemen are the five best offensive linemen currently available to the Vikings. For that reason, I do get the decision to mess with two positions to replace one.