Vikings - Packers

Football is fun. Football is fun. Football is fun. I have to keep telling myself that as there was little fun in yesterday’s Minnesota Vikings loss to the Green Bay Packers. The 23-6 loss included the worst half of Vikings football in recent memory. Perhaps ever. 

The horrible second half started with immense generosity on the Vikings part. Actually, the second half started nicely as the Vikings defense forced a Packers punt on the initial possession. It was on the punt that things went off the rails for the Vikings. Returner Myles Price decided to let the ball bounce rather than fair catch it. For some reason, he decided to scramble for the loose ball rather than getting away from it. The ball hit him and the Packers pounced on it. Just like that, the Vikings gift-wrapped a touchdown and handed it to the Packers. Two plays later, a contested, one-score game was a two-score game. 

The gift touchdown was early in the third quarter. Despite the 17-6 score, there was still nearly 26 minutes to play. That’s plenty of time to make up for a giant mistake. Unfortunately, something seemed to change with the Vikings. Any energy they had before the gift was gone. It looked like the defense forgot how to tackle. I lost count of the number of times a Vikings defender ran right past a Packers ball-carrier in the backfield, Despite this sudden tackling issue, they still kept the Packers out of the end zone the rest of the game. The bigger problem was the offense. 

Vikings second half possessions:

3 plays, 2 yards - punt

3 plays, -12 yards - punt

3 plays, -17 yards - punt

1 play, 0 yards - interception

5 plays, 26 yards - interception

The net of those pathetic possessions is -1 yards. 15 plays and -1 yards. -1 yards. -1 yards. Should yards even be plural when it’s negative? And two turnovers. It might be the worst half of offensive football ever. 

Of course, the great takeaway of the pathetic offensive performance was the continued race to dump quarterback J.J. McCarthy in the “bust” bin. I will never understand this great thirst to label a young quarterback a bust. Pundits, and fans, race to get on that “bust bandwagon.” This game, and the pathetic second half offense, wasn’t solely a McCarthy problem. It was a team problem. From coaches to players, the Vikings essentially left Lambeau Field the moment Myles Price made the decision to chase a bouncing football. This game, and that half, was a team-wide failure. Pundits, and fans, that are putting it on McCarthy are chasing an agenda. Some may have set that agenda the moment the Vikings selected the quarterback in the first round of the 2024 NFL Draft. Singling out a single person for a team failure is just lazy.

It took 12 games for the Vikings to field their five offensive line starters. A priority of the offseason was the rebuild of the interior of the offensive line. Injuries kept the five from taking a snap together before this Packers game. The great, and much anticipated, event lasted for little over a half. The Vikings offense moved the ball when those starters were on the field. All four first half possessions had at least one first down. Two ended in field goals. The best drive was a beauty until it wasn’t. As the first quarter ended and the second quarter opened, the Vikings offense ran eight consecutive plays of at least four yards. Six runs, two passes. The offense bullied their way down the field and into the red zone. The Packers defense was on their heels. With a third-and-1 at the Packers 17-yard line, Kevin O’Connell decided to get cute and called a short-yardage play with T.J. Hockenson under center. I suppose it was a Vikings version of the “tush push.” It’s easy to be critical of a play that didn’t work. Hindsight is a fan’s #1 tool. I didn’t like this play-call in real time. Just keep doing what you’ve been doing. The failed “push” with Hockenson seemed to reverse the momentum that was built with the previous eight plays. The Vikings were on the verge of taking an early 10-7 lead. Instead, that momentum flipped. The Packers stopped the fourth down run and the Vikings best drive of the day ended with zero points. As for the first appearance of the starting offensive line, it lasted just over a half. Left guard Donovan Jackson left in the third quarter with an ankle injury. Left tackle Christian Darrisaw left a little later with a foot injury. McCarthy was sacked five times. Four of those came in the second half. With a two-score lead, the Packers pass rushers were able to tee off on the quarterback with little to no concern for the run. When Jackson and Darrisaw departed, it got even easier. 

While football is fun, this wasn’t a fun game. A 10-7 record can often get a team in the playoffs. At 4-7, 10-7 would require a dream finish. With the way the Vikings played in the second half against the Packers, a single win would be a challenge. Next week, the Vikings travel to play the Seattle Seahawks. It’ll be interesting to see how the Vikings respond after this not-fun game. 

Flea Flicker Week 12 Predictions

It’s Week 12. Here are some guesses at the games.

Byes: Denver Broncos, Miami Dolphins, Los Angeles Chargers, Washington Commanders

Minnesota Vikings @ Green Bay Packers

Pick: Vikings

The last two games were must-win games for the Vikings. They lost both. This is a must-win game. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Chicago Bears

Pick: Steelers

The Bears have lucked into seven wins. That luck is bound to run out.

New England Patriots @ Cincinnati Bengals

Pick: Patriots

The Patriots continue their run through the easiest schedule in the league.

New York Giants @ Detroit Lions

Pick: Lions

The Lions rebound from their loss to the Eagles.

Seattle Seahawks @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Seahawks

The Seahawks get a break before they get thrashed by the Vikings. 

Indianapolis Colts @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

If they want to catch the Broncos, the Chiefs need to go on a run.

New York Jets @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Ravens

It’s still a little shocking that the Chiefs and Ravens are a combined 10-10. The Ravens should make quick work of the Jets.

Cleveland Browns @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: None

This might be the least interesting game of the week.

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Jaguars

The Jaguars find a way.

Philadelphia Eagles @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Cowboys

The Cowboys stun the Eagles.

Atlanta Falcons @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Falcons

It wasn’t too long ago that this was one of the most entertaining rivalries in the league. It’s still fun.

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Los Angles Rams

Pick: Rams

The Rams are only a few plays away from an undefeated season. 

Carolina Panthers @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Panthers

This might be a sneaky entertaining game. 

Green Bay Packers All - Time Team

The Minnesota Vikings travel to Green Bay this weekend for tomorrow’s big game against the Packers. The Packers have a long, often glorious, NFL history. They have the most NFL titles (13). Four of those titles are of the Super Bowl variety. On the eve of the big game, here’s a team of some of the best players in Packers franchise history. 

Offense

Quarterback

Bart Starr

Running Back

Johnny Blood

Fullback

Clarke Hinkle

Wide Receivers

Don Hutson

Sterling Sharpe

Tight End

Ron Kramer

Offensive Tackles

Forrest Gregg

Cal Hubbard

Offensive Guards

Mike Michalske

Jerry Kramer

Center

Jim Ringo

Defense

Defensive Ends

Reggie White

Willie Davis

Defensive Tackles

Henry Jordan

Kenny Clark 

Linebackers

Dave Robinson

RayNitschke

Clay Matthews

Cornerbacks

Herb Adderley

Charles Woodson

Safeties

Willie Wood

LeRoy Butler

Special Teams

Kicker 

Ryan Longwell

Punter

Craig Hentrich 

Kick Returner

Travis Williams

The First Big Game

The University of  California and Stanford take the field Saturday for the 128th playing of the Big Game. The Battle for the Axe. Cal is seeking to keep it. Stanford is trying to get it back. They can't have it. 

The Big Game is one of the great rivalries in college football. It's two games behind Oregon-Oregon State as the most played rivalry in the west and the 13th most played rivalry in the nation. Cal and Stanford started their football rivalry on March 19, 1892. The Big Game name didn't land on the game until the one that was played in 1900.

The very first football game played on the Berkeley campus was in 1881. That's when the class of '81 challenged the class of '80. The class of '80 prevailed in a game that more closely resembled rugby than the game that most considered American Football. This game sparked an interest in the sport and games with teams outside the campus. From 1882-85, Cal played a game that resembled English rugby against various club teams from San Francisco. They were 8-1-2 in these games. It was a fine time but everything changed when Oscar Shafter Howard appeared on the scene. A Californian, he played football at Harvard and graduated in 1885. When he returned to the west coast he brought American Football with him. He sold Cal on the sport and volunteered to coach them and any rugby club in San Francisco who would convert to this new game. What followed was the birth of American Football on the west coast.

Over the next six seasons Cal's football team posted a 20-4-1 record against club team competition. It's all that they had. Stanford decided to change that. Leland Stanford Jr. University was established in 1891. Some Stanford students were interested in starting a football team immediately. In that first fall term those students approached John R. Whittemore seeking his help in organizing a team. Whittemore had attended school in the east and played at Washington. He agreed to help and became the playing coach and captain of Stanford's first football team.

Cal got wind of Stanford's little football team and issued a challenge to meet on Thanksgiving Day for a game. Whittemore knew that there was no way that he could get the Stanford team ready in time and declined the challenge but left the door open for a game in the spring. When the progress of his team met his approval, Whittemore looked to arrange the game. Cal eagerly agreed and a game was scheduled for March 19, 1892 on the Haight Street grounds in San Francisco.

One of the most frequently told stories of the first Big Game was that of Stanford's team manager Herbert C. Hoover. Future President of the United States Herbert C. Hoover. When both teams showed up for the game neither team showed up with a football. The fault for this little issue has always been placed on Hoover. While placing the blame of this significant snafu on a future President might make the story a little more interesting it's not entirely accurate. Why isn't Cal manager Herbert Lang blamed? Or the official, Jack Sherrard? Or anyone from either team? Anyway, there was still the problem of no football. David Goulcher, the owner of a sporting goods store in downtown San Francisco, volunteered to remedy the problem. He set off on horseback and returned with a ball an hour later. The first Big Game kicked off at 4:11 p.m.

Here are the lineups for that first game in this long series.

California
Walter H. Henry, left end
John H. White, left tackle
Newton Wachhorst, left guard
J.C. Pierce, center
Alfred Dubbers, right guard
Henry Hay, right tackle
Arthur H. Mau, right end
Raymond H. Sherman, left half
George H. Foulkes, right half-captain
Guy R. Kennedy, quarterback
Loren E. Hunt, fullback

Stanford
Charles H. Hogg, left end
Ellsworth L. Rich, left tackle
Stewart D. Briggs, left guard
Arthur H. Barnhisel, center
Charles C. Adams, right guard
Claude S. Downing, right tackle
Milton D. Grosh, right end
John R. Whittemore, left half-captain
Paul M. Downing, right half
Thomas K. Code, quarterback
Carl C. Clemans, fullback

Stanford was apparently a real quick study in this new game of football. Or Whittemore was an excellent teacher. It was probably a little bit of both. Cal had been playing this game for about six years. Stanford had been playing it for a few months. Stanford won the first Big Game 14-10.

The second Big Game was also played in 1892. December 17, 1892. That game ended in a 10-10 tie. Those two games kicked off 133 years of football fun.

It would be a lot more fun if Cal could even the all-time series. It currently stands at 65-51-11 in Stanford's favor. That has to change. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Semifinalists

The Pro Football Hall of Fame’s nine-person Seniors “Blue-Ribbon Committee” has whittled the list of Senior candidates for the Class of 2026 from 34 to nine semifinalists. 

Pro Football Hall of Fame Senior Semifinalists

Ken Anderson

Roger Craig

Henry Ellard

L.C. Greenwood

Joe Jacoby

Eddie Meador

Stanley Morgan

Steve Tasker

Otis Taylor

I wish that it was a mystery as to how the semifinalist list doesn’t include Lavvie Dilweg and Al Wistert. It’s the same reason the list of 34 didn’t include Verne Lewellen. The committee has closed the Hall of Fame doors on any player that played the bulk of their career before 1950. Dilweg, Wistert, and Lewellen should’ve earned a bust in Canton decades ago. Rather than correct that mistake, the voters continue to make it. Wistert’s continued omission would be like the voters taking a pass on Lane Johnson five years after his retirement and continue passing on him for decades. Perhaps forever. Wistert and Johnson were the best offensive linemen of their respective eras. Both helped guide their team, same team, to two NFL titles. Unlike Johnson, Wistert was also one of the league’s best defensive linemen. How does a Hall of Fame voter ignore such a player? Imagine Lane Johnson waiting his entire life for that Hall call. It feels impossible. That was Wistert’s post-career life. Any Hall voter that shuts the door on decades of NFL history shouldn’t be a Hall voter.

This should be about the nine players that are semifinalists for the 2026 Pro Football Hall of Fame Class. To be honest, it’s difficult to look at the list without seeing the players that aren’t on it. Of the nine semifinalists, Otis Taylor stands out. There was a time when I often had to confirm that he wasn’t in the Canton. Maybe I’d mix him up with Charley Taylor. Who knows? Perhaps it was the way he helped take apart the Minnesota Vikings in Super Bowl IV but I always thought Otis Taylor was one of the best receivers of his era. He’s probably my #1 of the nine semifinalists. 

If I had to make a guess as to who the committee might select as the three finalists, I’d have to go with the players that played most recently. Isn’t that what they do?

Henry Ellard

Steve Tasker

Roger Craig 

For me, I guess the following are my picks for the finalists.

Ken Anderson

Eddie Meador

Otis Taylor

As a Vikings fan, my hopes are fading fast for Jim Marshall and Chuck Foreman one day making it to Canton. Of the two, I’ve always felt that Foreman is most deserving. During his peak years, he was the most versatile running back in the league. There were a couple years in which he was arguably the league’s best back. If his peak years were a bit longer, he’d have that bust. Foreman’s peak years were Hall of Fame worthy. 

The finalists will be revealed in early December. 

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Draft Picks

I try to avoid Minnesota Vikings draft thoughts in the middle of a season. While this season hasn’t gone as hoped, or dreamed, it’s far from over. At 4-6 and looking up at all three division rivals, there’s about zero room for further stumbles. The Vikings website recently posted the team’s 2026 current draft picks. Due to general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s willingness to trade, it’s often difficult to keep track of the Vikings draft picks. Even in the middle of the season, it was interesting to see the current draft pick status.

Minnesota Vikings 2026 Draft Picks

First Round

Second Round

Third Round

Fifth Round (from Eagles in the 2025 Sam Howell trade)

Sixth Round (from Colts in the 2025 Mekhi Blackmon trade)

Seventh Round

Seventh Round (from Texans in the 2024 Cam Akers trade)

Seventh Round (from Panthers in the 2025 Adam Thielen trade)

The Vikings currently hold eight picks in the 2026 NFL Draft. By comparison, the team entered the 2025 NFL Draft with four draft picks (1st, 3rd, 5th, and 6th). 

The picks in 2026 will be further supplemented by at least one compensatory pick. There was a time when it looked the Vikings could receive as many as three compensatory picks. That’s faded a bit with the playing time of some players. Daniel Jones winning the quarterback job of the Colts initially put a pick in the Vikings pocket. Apparently, Eric Wilson’s playing time in Minnesota has canceled out that pick. Not being a compensatory pick specialist, this is puzzling to me. Jones has a $14 million contract. Wilson has a $2.6 million contract. Jones has been a revelation as the Colts starter. Wilson has been terrific as a rotational/situational linebacker. Contract and pay, there’s nothing about Wilson’s pay and play that should cancel out Jones. It’s a mystery. With that apparent cancellation, the Vikings are down to a single additional pick. They will get the first compensatory pick at the end of the third round for losing Sam Darnold. That added pick will give the Vikings nine picks and fill the current fourth-round hole in the 2026 NFL Draft. 

Now, back to the 2025 NFL season. 

Minnesota Vikings Week 11 Superlatives

After a loss, it can be difficult to pick players of the game. The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Chicago Bears on Sunday. In 50 seconds, a 17-16 win flipped to a 19-17 loss. It was a very disappointing final 50 seconds. Here are some of the players that did good things in a frustrating loss. 

Offensive Players of the Game

Aaron Jones Sr., RB

Jordan Mason, RB

Aaron Jones Sr.:

16 carries 

70 yards

Jordan Mason

6 carries

45 yards

1 TD

The Vikings ran the ball well. They would’ve run the ball even better if the passing efficiency was where it should be. The receivers were routinely wide open. Through misfires and drops, the passing game did not complement the efficient running. 

Defensive Players of the Game

Andrew Van Ginkel, OLB

Dallas Turner, OLB

The Vikings defense played well. A couple turnovers would’ve been nice. The defense was highlighted by a pass rush that had Caleb Williams on the run for the entire game. Andrew Van Ginkel and Dallas Turner were the only pass rushers that got Williams on the ground. Each did so once. With Jonathan Greenard out, the Vikings needed Turner to step up. He did. 

Special Teams Player of the Game

Myles Price, Returner

Other than last week against the Baltimore Ravens, Myles Price has been a revelation this season. His 43-yard, fourth quarter punt return against the Bears ignited the Vikings and led to the team’s first touchdown.  Before this season is done, Price is going to take a return to the end zone. Hopefully, much more than one.