Minnesota Vikings Roster

This week’s weekly tweaking of the Minnesota Vikings’ roster focused on the cornerback position. Mark Fields II was promoted from the practice squad. Again. Chris Jones was claimed off waivers from the Detroit Lions. Jones was signed by the Lions as an undrafted free agent in 2018, didn’t make the team, signed by the Arizona Cardinals, spent the 2018 and 2019 bouncing between the active roster and practice squad, made three starts, the Lions signed him off the Cardinals practice squad in September. Now, he’s in Minnesota. The addition of two corners to the active roster is due to the injury issues of Mike Hughes and Holton Hill. Hughes is dealing with a neck injury and was placed on injured reserve yesterday. He’s now out for at least three weeks. Hill has been dealing with a foot injury for about a month. To further stress the Vikings’ cornerback situation, Cameron Dantzler was placed on the COVID reserve list this week. Rumor has it that it’s for contact tracing rather than a positive test. Hopefully, he clears the necessary hurdles and can play tomorrow. Otherwise, it’s Jeff Gladney, Kris Boyd, Harrison Hand, and Mark Fields against Aaron Rodgers, Davante Adams, and friends. 

Linebacker Todd Davis scored a positive COVID test and is now on that reserve list. 

The Vikings also designated guard Pat Elflein and linebacker Troy Dye to return from injured reserve. Both returned to practice this week. They can be activated at any time. If they are game-ready, they could play tomorrow. Dye might even start in base defense in place of Todd Davis. 

Safety Curtis Riley was signed off the Cardinal practice squad. He provides a veteran presence at the position after George Iloka was lost for the season with a torn ACL. 

Center Brett Jones was released and signed to the practice squad. 

The Vikings play @ Green Bay Packers, Detroit Lions, and @ Chicago Bears the next three weeks. As division games, each is a must-win game. After a 1-5 start to the season, every game is a must-win game. The Vikings must get this season on track and it starts with the Packers. Here’s a look at Minnesota’s roster in advance of the first of 10 must-win games. 

Minnesota Vikings Roster

Offense (25 Players)

Quarterbacks (2)
 8 Kirk Cousins
 4 Sean Mannion

Running Backs (4)
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Alexander Mattison

31 Ameer Abdullah
23 Mike Boone

Fullbacks (1)
30 C.J. Ham

Receivers (7)
19 Adam Thielen
18 Justin Jefferson
81 Olabisi Johnson
12 Chad Beebe
11 Tajaé Sharpe
17 K.J. Osborn
85 Dan Chisena

Tight Ends (3)
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin

Offensive Tackles (4)
71 Riley Reiff
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
74 Oli Udoh

Guards (3)
78 Dakota Dozier

73 Dru Samia
72 Ezra Cleveland

Centers (1)
56 Garrett Bradbury

Defense (23 Players)

Defensive Ends (4)
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo
57 D.J. Wonnum

90 Jalyn Holmes

67 Jordan Brailford

Defensive Tackles (4)
93 Shamar Stephen
96 Armon Watts
94 Jaleel Johnson
66 James Lynch

Linebackers (4)
54 Eric Kendricks
50 Eric Wilson

57 Ryan Connelly

47 Hardy Nickerson Jr.

Cornerbacks (7)
20 Jeff Gladney
24 Holton Hill
27 Cameron Dantzler
29 Kris Boyd
38 Harrison Hand

32 Mark Fields II

26 Chris Jones

Safeties (4)
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris

44 Josh Metellus

     Curtis Riley

Special Teams (3 Players)

Kicker
 5 Dan Bailey

Punter
 2 Britton Colquitt

Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting

Practice Squad

  3 Jake Browning, QB
  7 Nate Stanley, QB
15 Alexander Hollins, WR
86 Brandon Dillon, TE
40 Jake Bargas, FB

61 Brett Jones, G/C
76 Aviante Collins, G/T
68 Kyle Hinton, G
64 Blake Brandel, T

52 Eddie Yarbrough, DE 

51 Hercules Mata’afa, DT

66 Abdullah Anderson, DT

48 Blake Lynch, LB

     Marcus Sayles, CB

35 Luther Kirk, DB

  7 Chase McLaughlin, K

Here are the players that have been placed on the various reserve lists: 

Reserve Lists

Reserve/Injured; Designated to Return

65 Pat Elflein, G

45 Troy Dye, LB

Reserve/Injured

99 Danielle Hunter, DE

55 Anthony Barr, LB

21 Mike Hughes, CB

79 Kenny Willekes, DE

43 George Iloka, S

46 Myles Dorn, S

Reserve/COVID-19
40 Todd Davis, LB

Reserve/Physically Unable to Perform

42 Ben Gedeon, LB

Reserve/Non-Football Illness
59 Cameron Smith, LB

Reserve/Opt-Out
98 Michael Pierce, DT

Black College Hall of Fame Class of 2021 Finalists

The Black College Football Hall of Fame announced the 25 finalists for the Hall of Fame Class of 2021. The 25 finalists (22 players and 3 coaches) were selected from 150 nominees. 

The Hall of Fame Class of 2021 will be announced November 19. 

PLAYER FINALISTS (22 Players)   

• Joe “747” Adams (QB, Tennessee State University, 1977-1980)
• Coy Bacon (DL, Jackson State University, 1964-1967)
• Verlon Biggs (DE, Jackson State University, 1962-1965)
• Dwaine Board (DE, North Carolina A&T State University, 1975-1978)
• Ben Coates (TE, Livingstone College, 1987-1990)
• Greg Coleman (P, Florida A&M University, 1972-1975)
• Clem Daniels (RB, Prairie View A&M University, 1956-1959)
• Kevin Dent (S, Jackson State University, 1985-1988)
• Donald Driver (WR, Alcorn State University, 1995-1998)
• Jimmie Giles (TE, Alcorn State University, 1973-1976)
• Winston Hill (OL, Texas Southern University, 1960-1963)
• Richard Huntley (RB, Winston-Salem State University, 1992-1995)
• Henry Lawrence (OL, Florida A&M University, 1970-1973)
• Albert Lewis (DB, Grambling State University, 1979-1982
• Tyrone McGriff (OL, Florida A&M University, 1976-1979)
• John “Big Train” Moody (RB, Morris Brown College, 1939-1941)
• Nate Newton (OL, Florida A&M University, 1979-1982)
• Elijah Pitts (RB, Philander Smith College, 1958-1961)
• Jake Reed (WR, Grambling State University, 1987-1990)
• Johnnie Walton (QB, Elizabeth City State University, 1965-1968)
• Sammie White (WR, Grambling State University, 1972-1975)
• Roynell Young (DB, Alcorn State University, 1976-1979)

COACH FINALISTS (3 Coaches) 

• Willard Bailey (Head Football Coach, Virginia Union 1971-1983 and 1995-2003; Norfolk State 1984-1992; St. Paul’s 2005-2010; Virginia-Lynchburg 2011-2013)
• Rudy Hubbard (Head Football Coach, Florida A&M University 1974 – 1985)
• William “Billy” Nicks (Head Football Coach, Morris Brown College 1930 to 1935, 1937 to 1939, 1941 and 1942; Prairie View A&M 1945 to 1957 and 1952 to 1965)

                                            ***

As a Minnesota Vikings fan I’d like to see Sammie White, Greg Coleman, and Jake Reed announced as members of the Class of 2021. White was one of my first favorite receivers. He faces stiff competition as there are lot of terrific college football players among the 22 finalists. 

Throwback Thursday: Where’s The Thorp?

This Flicker was originally posted on September 26, 2019. Perhaps because the Minnesota Vikings are traveling to Green Bay this weekend I’ve been thinking about the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy. 

Before there was a Lombardi, there was a Thorp. As the NHL has the Stanley Cup, the NFL once had a traveling trophy. The Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was awarded to each NFL Champion from 1934 to 1967. It was supposed to have been awarded to the Baltimore Colts in 1968 and the Minnesota Vikings in 1969 but the Green Bay Packers hacked up the process. Typical.

For most of my life as a fan of the Vikings and of the NFL, I was forced to believe that the Vikings had lost the Ed Thorp Memorial Thorp. There were many that believed that the Vikings were cursed for losing the trophy. I mean, how else could the Vikings have possibly lost those four Super Bowls? I'm not one to believe in such nonsense but I never much liked the thought that "my" Vikings could be so careless with something of such great historical significance. For more of the story of the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy I turn to this article by Minneapolis Star Tribune writer, and Hall of Fame voter, Mark Craig.

About that ’69 title: Evidence is lacking

The Ed Thorp Trophy never quite made it to Minnesota

Who was Ed Thorp and how in the world is he connected to this weekend’s 50th anniversary celebration of the Vikings’ 1969 NFL championship team?


Good question.

“Ed who?” asked Gary Larsen, one of the famed front four forever known as the Purple People Eaters.

Ed Thorp. A friend to several NFL owners in the early ’30s. A referee. Ran a sporting goods store. The league loved him so much it created the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy upon his death in 1934.

Much like the Stanley Cup in hockey, the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy was supposed to be a traveling trophy first awarded to the Giants in 1934. Presumably it should have been awarded to the Vikings, who beat the Browns 27-7 at Met Stadium in the final NFL Championship Game before the AFL-NFL merger in 1970.

“I ain’t never seen it,” said Lonnie Warwick, the leading tackler on that 1969 team.

You’re in good company, Lonnie.

“I don’t even know what you’re referring to,” said Bud Grant, the Hall of Fame coach who took the Vikings to four Super Bowls in eight seasons from 1969 to 1976.

For years, it was assumed the Vikings had misplaced the trophy or lost it after the merger. But there was no visual evidence of the Vikings ever receiving the trophy.

“We’d have people calling us wanting to know if it was in a closet somewhere at Winter Park,” said Bob Hagan, Vikings vice president, football and media communications. “But no one around here has ever seen it.”

There’s a reason for that. According to Packers historian Cliff Christl, who set out to solve the mystery for an article he wrote last year, the trophy never made it out of Green Bay after the Packers won it for the record eighth time in 1967. The Packers’ Hall of Fame discovered in 2015 that it had the trophy, which is now on display in the Packers Hall of Fame.

“Maybe they’ll loan it to us,” Grant joked, kind of. “We got a trophy room now in our new Vikings Museum.”

Or at least call off the supposed Super Bowl curse that Thorp’s ghost was said to have cast upon the Vikings when it was rumored the team had lost the trophy. In fact, not only didn’t the Vikings receive the trophy, they’re one of three teams whose names aren’t on the trophy.

The 1960 Eagles aren’t on the trophy, although there’s a spot where they were supposed to have been listed. The 1968 Colts and 1969 Vikings are the other missing teams, which further suggests the trophy never made it out of Green Bay.

Meanwhile, in Minneapolis, the celebration will go on. The Vikings are hosting 124 former players at their annual Legends Weekend. The 1969 team will be honored at halftime of Sunday’s game against the Raiders at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“My favorite memory isn’t a very good one because we didn’t win the Super Bowl,” said Warwick, referring to the 23-7 loss to Kansas City in Super Bowl IV.

“But that was one great team,” Larsen said. “We really came together that year and were a different team over the next decade.”

NFL Films once named the 1969 Vikings as one of the five best teams not to win a Super Bowl.

In the franchise’s ninth season and third year under Grant, the 1969 team featured six future Hall of Famers while boasting the league’s best defense and highest-scoring offense.

Led by the Purple People Eaters of Jim Marshall, Larsen and Hall of Famers Alan Page and Carl Eller, the defense gave up just 133 points, a record then. Meanwhile, with blue-collar quarterback Joe Kapp, two future Hall of Fame linemen in Ron Yary and Mick Tingelhoff, and hard-nosed running backs Bill Brown and Dave Osborn, the offense scored 379 points.

“People forget how many points we scored that year,” Larsen said. “Joe Kapp doesn’t get enough credit.”

In their 59-season history, the Vikings have scored 50 or more points six times. Three of them came in 1969, when they beat Pittsburgh 52-14, Baltimore 52-14 and Cleveland 51-3 in what remains a team record for biggest margin of victory.

“I remember getting three interceptions in that win over Cleveland,” said cornerback Bobby Bryant, who had eight interceptions before a season-ending knee injury in the ninth game. “One of them was against [Hall of Fame receiver] Paul Warfield. We both went up for the ball. I have three pictures of that play. We’re upside down, but there’s a white hand holding the ball. That’s my hand. After that, Warfield didn’t like me that much.”

The Vikings went 12-2, beat the Rams 23-20 for the Western Conference title, plowed through the Browns and were 13-point favorites vs. Kansas City.

Warwick admitted the Chiefs confused the Vikings defense with motion out of multiple formations. Meanwhile, the Vikings’ vaunted running game was stonewalled by a five-man line that put massive Curley Culp, a future Hall of Famer, directly across from Tingelhoff.

But the Vikings did actually win an NFL championship. And there actually was a trophy that went with it. Sort of.

“Maybe we can borrow it [from Green Bay],” Grant joked. “We should at least have it for a year if you say it was a traveling trophy.”

***

Considering all of the facts, it seems to me that the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy should be on display in the Minnesota Vikings museum. They are the current and permanent holders of the trophy. They were the last to win it and they were never given the opportunity to even hold it. Damn, dirty Packers. Actually, the Ed Thorp Memorial Trophy should ultimately be on display at the Pro Football Hall of Fame. On it’s travel to Canton maybe it can spend a few weeks with the Vikings. One place that the trophy shouldn’t be is in Green Bay. 

USA Today’s College Football Rankings 1-127

USA Today ranks every FBS team. That’s a tough task during a normal college football season. A global pandemic has made this season just about everything but normal. A global pandemic can’t stop USA Today. Here’s their ranking of all 127 FBS teams. 

1.   Clemson

2.   Alabama

3.   Ohio State

4.   Georgia 

5.   Notre Dame

6.   Oklahoma State

7.   Cincinnati 

8.   Michigan

9.   Oregon

10. Texas A&M

11. USC

12. Florida 

13. Wisconsin

14. Kansas State

15. BYU

16. Miami (Fla)

17. North Carolina

18. Marshall

19. Boise State

20. Louisiana-Lafayette

21. SMU

22. Coastal Carolina

23. Iowa State

24. Indiana

25. Penn State

26. Cal

27. Oklahoma 

28. Liberty 

29. Washington

30. Memphis

31. Utah

32. Arkansas

33. Army

34. Stanford 

35. Texas

36. Central Florida

37. Appalachian State

38. Auburn

39. Alabama-Birmingham 

40. North Carolina State

41. Boston College

42. Nevada

43. Arizona State

44. Purdue

45. Missouri

46. LSU

47. Wake Forest 

48. Virginia Tech

49. Northwestern

50. Tulsa

51. Kentucky

52. Tennessee

53. Iowa

54. Houston

55. South Carolina

56. UCLA

57. Nebraska

58. Minnesota

59. San Diego State

60. TCU

61. Mississippi 

62. Toledo

63. Texas Tech

64. Pittsburgh 

65. San Jose State

66. West Vitginia

67. Baylor

68. Georgia Southern

69. Air Force

70. Wyoming

71. Navy

72. Oregon State

73. Florida Atlantic 

74. Texas- San Antonio

75. Louisville 

76. Virginia

77. Louisiana Tech

78. Mississippi State

79. Ohio

80. Hawaii

81. Georgia Tech

82. Florida State

83. Rutgers

84. Buffalo

85. Miami (Ohio)

86. Arkansas State

87. Georgia State 

88. Troy

89. Utah State 

90. Central Michigan

91. Arizona

92. Western Michigan 

93. Temple

94. Tulane

95. Kent State

96. Charlotte

97. Washington State

98. Illinois

99. Colorado State

100. Fresno State

101. Maryland

102. Colorado

103. Duke

104. Eastern Michigan 

105. South Alabama

106. Texas-El Paso

107. Michigan State

108. Northern Illinois 

109. Vanderbilt 

110. Ball State

111. East Carolina 

112. North Texas

113. Middle Tennessee 

114. Rice

115. Syracuse 

116. New Mexico

117. UNLV

118. South Florida

119. Texas State

120. Akron

121. Western Kentucky 

122. Southern Mississippi 

123. Bowling Green

124. Florida International

125. Kansas

126. Massachusetts 

127. Louisiana-Monroe  

                                                ***

#26 Cal! Go Bears! In recent years, Cal was often found in the bottom half of a ranking this deep. 

Among PAC-12 teams, only Oregon and USC currently rank above Cal. 

#34 is rather lofty for Stanford. 

It feels weird to see defending champ LSU at #46. 

The Top 4 look familiar. 

Cincinnati stands out among the top teams. 

Flea Flicker Week 7 Power Rankings

Here’s one look at how the 32 teams rank after seven games. 

1.   Kansa City Chiefs (6-1)

2.   Baltimore Ravens (5-1)

3.   Pittsburgh Steelers (6-0)

4.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers (5-2)

5.   Green Bay Packers (5-1)

6.   Seattle Seahawks (5-1)

7.   Tennessee Titans (5-1)

8.   Buffalo Bills (5-2)

9.   Los Angeles Rams (5-2)

10. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)

11. Arizona Cardinals (5-2)

12. New Orleans Saints (4-2)

13. San Francisco 49ers (4-3)

14. Cleveland Browns (5-2)

15. Chicago Bears (5-2)

16. Las Vegas Raiders (3-3)

17. Carolina Panthers (3-4)

18. New England Patriots (2-4)

19. Miami Dolphins (3-3)

20. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

21. Detroit Lions (3-3)

22. Philadelphia Eagles (2-4-1)

23. Los Angeles Chargers (2-4)

24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-5-1)

25. Houston Texans (1-6)

26. Atlanta Falcons (1-6)

27. Washington Football Team (2-5)

28. Dallas Cowboys (2-5)

29. Denver Broncos (2-4)

30. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-6)

31. New York Giants (1-6)

32. New York Jets (0-7)

Until next week. 

The NFC North At Week 7

The Minnesota Vikings didn’t play yesterday. They were sitting out Week 7 due to their scheduled bye week. Not all bye weeks are scheduled this year. Since the Vikings didn’t play yesterday there’s no real football to discuss today. So here’s a snapshot the NFC North after seven weeks of the 2020 NFL season. 

NFC North At Week 7

1. Green Bay Packers (5-1)

2. Chicago Bears (5-1)

3. Detroit Lions (3-3)

4. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)

The Chicago Bears play the Los Angeles Rams tonight so this isn’t so much a snapshot of the NFC North at Week 7 as it is an in-progress sort of thing. In my opinion, the Bears winning five of their first six games is the biggest surprise of the season. This isn’t about the Bears. It’s about the Minnesota Vikings and their fight to get the season right. 

The standings look upside down to me. The Vikings 1-5 start has been brutal to watch. Teams can’t hand gifts to opponents and expect to win more than they lose. The Vikings have been their toughest opponent. The bad is that they started 1-5. Big hole. The good is that they have 10 games to fix things. Big opportunity. The Vikings play the Packers, Lions, and Bears over the next three weeks. It’s a string of division games that can really change things. They have to win all three. They’d probably still be 2-3 games back of the division-leaders. Starting 1-5 creates a steep climb. Every game is a must-win game when you start 1-5 and fancy the playoffs. After the three division opponents, the Vikings get the Dallas Cowboys, Carolina Panthers, and Jacksonville Jaguars. All at home. Maybe there will be fans at those games. It’s the most winnable three-game stretch of the season. The Vikings must be 7-5 with the final quarter of the season to play. 

@ Tampa Bay Buccaneers 

Chicago Bears

@ New Orleans Saints

@ Detroit Lions

Hopefully, the momentum gained through a six-game win streak can carry the Vikings through a difficult final four games.  

And there’s a look at the NFC North at Week 7 and the recipe for the Vikings turning a 1-5 start into an 11-5 playoff appearance. Playoffs!

Flea Flicker Week 7 Predictions

 Is it really an NFL Sunday without a Minnesota Vikings game? Here are guesses of the outcomes that are being played. 

Byes: Minnesota Vikings, Baltimore Ravens, Indianapolis Colts, Miami Dolphins 

Detroit Lions @ Atlanta Falcons 

Pick: Falcons

Neither has won very many games but each is coming off big wins. 

Cleveland Browns @ Cincinnati Bengals 

Pick: Browns

The Browns are the better team in this battle of Ohio. 

Pittsburgh Steelers @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Steelers 

The Titans should’ve lost to the Vikings before they threatened the season with COVID stupidity. The Steelers are one of the best teams in the league. 

Carolina Panthers @ New Orleans Saints 

Pick: Saints

I needed a coin for this game. It came up Saints. 

Buffalo Bills @ New York Jets 

Pick: Bills

The Bills have lost two straight. It would be beyond stunning if the Jets made it three. 

Dallas Cowboys @ Washington

Pick: Cowboys

The NFC East is a mess. Maybe the four teams should combine into one team for the division champ. 

Green Bay Packers @ Houston Texans

Pick: Packers

The Packers get back on track. 

Tampa Bay Buccaneers @ Las Vegas Raiders

Pick: Buccaneers 

The Buccaneers are hitting their stride. The Raiders beat the Chiefs in their last game. This could be a fun game. 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Denver Broncos 

Pick: Chiefs 

The Chiefs should roll. 

San Francisco 49ers @ New England Patriots 

Pick: Patriots

The 49ers should win but this feels like a game that the Patriots win. 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Los Angeles Chargers 

Pick: Chargers

Justin Herbert’s offense scores a bit more than Gardner Minshew’s. Unlike that 2018 Oregon-Washington State game. 

Seattle Seahawks @ Arizona Cardinals

Pick: Cardinals

So much is expected of this game that it was moved to Sunday Night. I’m going against Seattle more than with Arizona. 

Chicago Bears @ Lis Angeles Rams 

Pick: Rams 

The Bears at 5-1 is the biggest surprise of the season. 

Viking Rookies

The Minnesota Vikings have had a terrible start to the 2020 NFL season. A 1-5 start entering their Week 7 bye. Only the truly optimistic sees a post-bye turnaround that earns a postseason shot. Anything’s possible and 10-6, or even 11-5, is one of those possibilities. Who knows? I don’t. I sure didn’t think that a 1-5 start to the season was possible and that happened. There aren’t a lot of positives that can be pried from the Vikings’ 1-5 start. One of the few positives has been the play of rookie receiver Justin Jefferson. He’s played so well that comparisons to Randy Moss’ ridiculous 1998 rookie season have been made. I never thought that I’d see another rookie receiver that could spark memories o Moss. It’s been a small sample of games but Jefferson looks like a special player. 

Justin Jefferson’s numbers:

28 catches

537 yards

3 TDs

And he didn’t start, or see many targets, until Week 3. Considering what he’s done and when he started doing it, Jefferson’s on about an 80-catch, 1500-yard, 12-TD sort of rookie pace. Yes, he’s a bright spot in an otherwise terrible start to the 2020 season. 

Jefferson’s been the top Vikings’ rookie. He hasn’t been the only rookie to play like he belongs in the league. Jeff Gladney and Cameron Dantzler have emerged as the team’s top corners. Each has had some rookie moments but both have shown tremendous potential. I’d take both over the “celebrated” corners that departed from Minnesota in the offseason. I’d take them as rookies. I’d definitely take their potential. Ezra Cleveland got his first NFL start at right guard last week. It was an up and down game for him. I’m hoping that he’ll have the opportunity to build on it moving forward. 

Jefferson, Gladney, Cleveland, and Dantzler were the Vikings’ first four of 15 picks in the 2020 NFL Draft. That was the most picks ever made by a team in a seven-round draft. 

2020 Minnesota Vikings Draft Picks

1. Justin Jefferson

1. Jeff Gladney

2. Ezra Cleveland

3. Cameron Dantzler

4. D.J. Wonnum

4. James Lynch

4. Troy Dye

5. Harrison Hand

5. K.J. Osborn

6. Blake Brandel

6. Josh Metellus

7. Kenny Willekes

7. Nate Stanley

7. Brian Cole

7. Kyle Hinton

Brian Cole is the only one of the 15 not on the Vikings’ roster in some fashion. 

Active Roster

Justin Jefferson

Jeff Gladney

Ezra Cleveland

Cameron Dantzley

D.J. Wonnum

James Lynch

Harrison Hand

K.J. Osborn

Josh Metellus

Practice Squad

Blake Brandel

Nate Stanley

Kyle Hinton

Injured Reserve

Troy Dye

Kenny Willekes

From the undrafted pool the Vikings further supplemented their rookie population with Dan Chisena, Jake Bargas, and Myles Dorn. Chisena is listed as a receiver but made the active roster for his play on special teams. Bargas is on the practice squad as a fullback project. Dorn, a safety, is on injured reserve. 

From the Vikings’ jumbo 15-member draft class they have three players that have already established themselves as starters:

Justin Jefferson 

Jeff Gladney

Cameron Dantzler 

Another that has perhaps started his first of many:

Ezra Cleveland

Thursday’s trade of defensive end Yannick Ngakoue to the Baltimore Ravens might’ve opened up a starting opportunity for a fifth draft pick:

D. J. Wonnum

When healthy, K. J. Osborn is the returner. 

James Lynch, Harrison Hand, Josh Metellus have earned rotational or special teams roles. Lynch could be in line for an even bigger role in the defense. 

It’s been a terrible start to the season. There’s nothing that can be done about that except grow from it. Get better. Start winning games instead of giving them away. Several of the rookies from the Vikings’ 2020 Draft Class will have opportunities to get this season back on track. A few have already shown that they can help the team as rookies. One is already creeping towards star status. I believe that others, Cleveland and Wonnum in particular and possibly Lynch, will join their fellow rookies in helping the Vikings win some games. This season. 

A New Vikings D

Yesterday, the Minnesota Vikings traded the pass rusher that they acquired in August. Yannick Ngakoue is heading to Baltimore. Danielle Hunter is heading to season-ending surgery. The loss of both defensive ends strips the Vikings of the defense that they never had. Toss in defensive tackle Michael Pierce opting out due to COVID concerns and linebacker Anthony Barr’s season-ending injury, the defense that the Vikings send against the Green Bay Packers on November 1 won’t be recognizable to the average fan. Here’s a look at what might be the new Vikings D. 

DE Ifeadi Odenigbo

DT Jaleel Johnson

NT Shamar Stephen

DE D. J. Wonnum

LB Eric Wilson

LB Eric Kendricks

LB Todd Davis

CB Cameron Dantzler

CB Jeff Gladney

   S Harrison Smith

   S Anthony Harris

That’s a defense with maybe two players known to the average fan. Eric Kendricks? Harrison Smith? Aaron Rodgers is going to feast! I’m not so sure. The defensive line probably won’t scare many quarterbacks. The linebackers could surprise. The secondary could be the biggest surprise of all. 

Rather than the “fire sale” that’s being tossed about by the media and many fans, I think that a reason for the trade of Yannick Ngakoue is the emergence of the rookie D. J. Wonnum. That sort of reason isn’t as spicy as a trade deadline selling spree. I like Wonnum. I like his play. I like saying his name. Wonnum! He’s made an increasing impact with each game. Perhaps he’s ready for a full-time role. The Vikings need more from the interior of the defensive line but they needed that before they thought they had Hunter and Ngakoue on the edges. The loss of Michael Pierce before anything started hurt. It changed everything that was expected or assumed on defense. 

This new Vikings defense isn’t the defense that we expected but it is the defense that we have now. I love the potential of the secondary. Rookie corners Cameron Dantzler and Jeff Gladney are growing with each game. I can’t wait to see where they take their talents. The linebackers are solid. The line is an in-season work in progress. I like Wonnum a lot. Ifeadi Odenigbo is a good end. Jordan Brailford, plucked from the Washington practice squad, is an intriguing pass rushing talent. Maybe he can round into the the rotation soon. I’m still hoping that defensive tackle Armon Watts makes the impact that I expected him to make this season. Maybe rookie James Lynch becomes the interior pass rusher he was drafted to be. The Vikings defense is new. Unfortunately, it’s getting started in Week 8. 

Poor Starts

The Minnesota Vikings are sitting at 1-5 as they enter their Week 7 bye. Despite some significant defensive changes in the offseason, this was supposed to be a potentially promising season. The start has been about everything but promising. While I don’t think that the Vikings’ talent matches their record you can’t explain away this 1-5 record. It’s a poor start. Just for “fun” here’s a look at equally poor starts in the franchise’s 60 years.

1961: 1-5

Finished: 3-11

1962: 1-5

Finished: 2-11-1

1990: 1-5

Finished: 6-10

2002: 1-5

Finished: 6-10

2011: 1-5

Finished: 3-13

2013: 1-5

Finished: 5-10-1

2020: 1-5

Finished: ?

1-5 hasn’t happened often but it sure sucks when it does. 

Norm Van Brocklin and Leslie Frazier each coached two of the 1-5 starts. Jerry Burns and Mike Tice coached the other two. 

Even the disastrous Les Steckel year (1984) didn’t start 1-5. It started 2-4. 

There were a couple 1-4-1 starts (1966 & 1967).

In 1999 the Vikings started 2-4 and made the playoffs. Something like that could happen again. 

Flea Flicker Week 6 Power Rankings

  Here's one look at how the 32 teams rank after the sixth week of the 2020 NFL season.

1.   Kansas City Chiefs (5-1)
2.   Baltimore Ravens (5-1)
3.   Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
4.   Pittsburgh Steelers (5-0)
5.   Tennessee Titans (5-0)
6.   Green Bay Packers (4-1)
7.   Buffalo Bills (4-2)
8.   Tampa Bay Buccaneers (4-2)
9.   Los Angeles Rams (4-2)
10. Indianapolis Colts (4-2)
11. Las Vegas Raiders (3-2)
12. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
13. San Francisco 49ers (3-3)
14. Arizona Cardinals (4-2)
15. Chicago Bears (5-1)
16. Cleveland Browns (4-2)
17. Carolina Panthers (3-3)
18. New England Patriots (2-3)
19  Miami Dolphins (3-3)
20. Minnesota Vikings (1-5)
21  Detroit Lions (2-3)
22. Dallas Cowboys (2-4)
23. Philadelphia Eagles (1-4-1)
24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-4-1)
25. Houston Texans (1-5)
26. Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-5)
28. Atlanta Falcons (1-5)
29. Denver Broncos (2-3)
30. New York Giants (1-5)
31. Washington Redskins (1-5)
32. New York Jets (0-6)

Until next week.

Falcons-Vikings

That was terrible. Just terrible. 

Did the Minnesota Vikings start their bye week a week early? Did they underestimate an 0-5 Atlanta Falcons that had just fired their head coach and spent a day or two dealing with a COVID scare? Who knows? I don't. I do know that this was one of the worst, most depressing Vikings performances since a late season no-show against the Indianapolis Colts in 2016. It was terrible. 

Falcons 40 

Vikings 23

There really isn't much to recap or analyze with this game. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins threw an interception on the first play of the game. Football becomes a pretty easy game when an offense only has to deal with about thirty yards of the 100-yard field. The Vikings' defense was on their heels from the start and stayed on their heels as Cousins threw two more interceptions before the first half was done. Each interception gave the Falcons offense a very short field and 17 easy, breezy points. Those easy points were the bulk of the points in the Vikings' 20-0 halftime deficit. 

The second half opened with the potential for the sort of break that the Vikings desperately needed. The Vikings forced a fumble on the return of the second half kickoff. The ball bounced right into the hands of Dan Chisena. If he catches it cleanly he might stroll into the end zone for the Vikings' first touchdown of the day and only seconds off the second half clock. Instead the ball ends up in the hands of the Falcons. It was that sort of game. The Vikings couldn't buy a break and the Falcons couldn't avoid them.

Justin Jefferson was great. 

9 catches, 166 yards, and two touchdowns.

This game got out of hand from the first snap and continued to get out of hand with each Cousins interception. The loss isn't all on Cousins throwing to the wrong team. Those three throws aren't as simple as that. One the first one, he clearly didn't see linebacker Deion Jones drift back into his passing lane. He has to see Jones. He simply can't miss that read. On the second one, he forced a third-and-nine throw to Jefferson. Falcons rookie corner A.J. Terrell managed to hold onto the ball despite it hitting each of his four limbs multiple times. It was one of those juggling catches that ends up on the ground nine out of ten times. Not on this day. On the third one, the ball was batted as Cousins threw it. The three miscues "gifted" the Falcons easy opportunities for points. 17 points. In a game that was ultimately decided by 17 points. 

The past two games Vikings' miscues have "gifted" their opponents with short fields of  29, 40, 46, 15, and 29 yards. The Seahawks and Falcons took advantage of those opportunities and scored 31 points. It's tough to win games in the NFL when giving teams so damn many easy points. 

There's no explaining away this terrible game. The Vikings are now 1-5. There's no explaining away that record. They are now on their bye week. That means that they have two weeks with this terrible performance as their last performance. That doesn't seem like a pleasant two weeks. 

Flea Flicker Week 6 Predictions

The NFL is on to Week 6. Here's a guess of the games. 

Byes: Seattle Seahawks, Los Angeles Chargers, New Orleans Saints, Las Vegas Raiders

Atlanta Falcons @ Minnesota Vikings

Pick: Vikings

Three of the Vikings' four losses are to teams without a loss. That isn't consoling as they are 1-4 no matter how or who they played. The Vikings have to win this game and go into their bye week with something. 

Houston Texans @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Titans

The Titans stretched logic by turning their COVID blunders into "everybody hates us" motivation. Will it work for a second week?

Cincinnati Bengals @ Indianapolis Colts

Pick: Colts

The Colts have to rebound from a poor showing against the Browns.

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

This game is finally being played. It feels like it's been on and off a dozen times. . 

Washington @ New York Giants

Pick: Giants

The Giants were feisty against the Cowboys last week. Washington looked lost against the Rams.

Baltimore Ravens @ Philadelphia Eagles

Pick: Ravens

The Ravens beat the Bengals by 24 and people wonder what's wrong with the team.

Cleveland Browns @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Steelers

This should be a fun one. 

Chicago Bears @ Carolina Panthers

Pick: Panthers

It's early but I like what Matt Rhule is building in Carolina. 

Detroit Lions @ Jacksonville Jaguars

Pick: Lions

Here are two teams that can be fun and competitive one week and terrible the next. Which one are we going to get?

New York Jets @ Miami Dolphins

Pick: Dolphins

I don't know if the Dolphins are as great as they were last week but I do know that the Jets are terrible. 

Green Bay Packers @ Tampa Bay Buccaneers

Pick: Buccaneers

I'm going with the Buccaneers simply because the Packers need a loss. 

Los Angeles Rams @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: Rams

This game has dipped from what it was supposed to be. Injuries have dismantled the 49ers roster but a win here will have them a single game back. Right now, I don't see that happening. 

Kansas City Chiefs @ Buffalo Bills

Pick: Chiefs

Both teams are coming off their first loss of the season. I'm going with the Chiefs as the team that responds best. 

Arizona Cardinals @ Dallas Cowboys

Pick: Cardinals

This game could turn into a track meet. I don't think that either defense can slow their opposing offense. 

Minnesota Vikings Roster

 The week's tweaking of the Minnesota Vikings' roster focused on the defensive line. The biggest move was the poaching of defensive end Jordan Brailford off of Washington's practice squad. The 2019 seventh-round pick out of Oklahoma State will be an interesting project for defensive line coach Andre Patterson. He's 6'2" 252 with quickness/speed. With Yannick Ngakoue, Ifeadi Odenigbo, and emerging rookie D.J. Wonnum as the only real edge pass rushing threats, there's no downside to taking a look at Brailford's potential. Defensive tackle Hercules Mata'afa was released to make room for Brailford. The Vikings signed Mata'afa and recently released Eric Yarbrough to the practice squad.

Hercules Mata'afa is an interesting football player. He's been on my radar since the night I watched him shoot past Cal offensive linemen so consistently that he played damn near the entire game in the Golden Bear backfield. In college, he wrecked offensive gameplans. He also looked like he'd walked off a junior high school field and into the Washington State huddle. He looked out of place on a Pac-12 defensive line because he was about 6'2 and 250 lbs. Despite being a speck of an interior defensive lineman Mata'afa could do some special things. His college football deeds were first round worthy. His size caused him to go undrafted. I was thrilled when the Vikings signed him after the 2018 NFL Draft. I was also curious as to whether a player with his unique size could do in the NFL what he did in college. From John Randle to Geno Atkins to Aaron Donald there have been some incredible interior defensive lineman that have defied their size to dominate in the NFL. Coming out of college, Mata'afa was much smaller than those players were when they made their mark in the league. It took a bit but Randle went from a 250-pounder with a dim chance in the league to a 290-lb Hall of Famer. Can Hercules Mata'afa follow a similar career path? A torn ACL during his first OTAs felt like an odd blessing as it gave him a year to rehab, gain strength and size, and be around the pro game. He came back bigger in 2019. He came back even bigger this year. According to his own social media, Mata'afa was tipping the scales at near 290 lbs in the spring. Can he pull a Randle? Who knows? As long as he's in the league his dreams are alive. I'm glad that he's on the practice squad. Whenever I think of Hercules Mata'afa I think of the night that he took apart the Cal offense. I also think of the possibility of him doing that for my team and not against it. 

Offense (26 Players)

Quarterbacks (2)
 8 Kirk Cousins
 4 Sean Mannion

Running Backs (4)
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Alexander Mattison

31 Ameer Abdullah
23 Mike Boone

Fullbacks (1)
30 C.J. Ham

Receivers (7)
19 Adam Thielen
18 Justin Jefferson
81 Olabisi Johnson
12 Chad Beebe
11 Tajaé Sharpe
17 K.J. Osborn
85 Dan Chisena

Tight Ends (3)
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin

Offensive Tackles (4)
71 Riley Reiff
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
74 Oli Udoh

Guards (3)
78 Dakota Dozier

73 Dru Samia
72 Ezra Cleveland

Centers (2)
56 Garrett Bradbury
61 Brett Jones

Defense (24 Players)

Defensive Ends (5)
91 Yannick Ngakoue
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo
57 D.J. Wonnum

90 Jalyn Holmes

67 Jordan Brailford

Defensive Tackles (4)
93 Shamar Stephen
96 Armon Watts
94 Jaleel Johnson
66 James Lynch

Linebackers (5)
54 Eric Kendricks
50 Eric Wilson

40 Todd Davis
57 Ryan Connelly

47 Hardy Nickerson Jr.

Cornerbacks (6)
21 Mike Hughes
20 Jeff Gladney
24 Holton Hill
27 Cameron Dantzler
29 Kris Boyd
38 Harrison Hand

Safeties (4)
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris

43 George Iloka

44 Josh Metellus

Special Teams (3 Players)

Kicker
 5 Dan Bailey

Punter
 2 Britton Colquitt

Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting

Practice Squad

  3 Jake Browning, QB
  7 Nate Stanley, QB
15 Alexander Hollins, WR
86 Brandon Dillon, TE
40 Jake Bargas, FB
76 Aviante Collins, G/T
68 Kyle Hinton, G
64 Blake Brandel, T

52 Eric Yarbrough, DE

51 Hercules Mata'afa, DT

66 Abdullah Anderson, DT

48 Blake Lynch, LB

49 Cale Garrett, LB

32 Mark Fields II, CB

35 Luther Kirk, DB

  7 Chase McLaughlin, K

Here are the players that have been placed on the various reserve lists:

Reserve Lists

Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform
42 Ben Gedeon, LB

Reserve/Injured

99 Danielle Hunter, DE

55 Anthony Barr, LB

65 Pat Elflein, G

45 Troy Dye

79 Kenny Willekes, DE

46 Myles Dorn, S

Reserve/COVID-19
None!

Reserve/Non-Football Illness
59 Cameron Smith, LB

Reserve/Opt-Out
98 Michael Pierce, DT

Cal Football 2021 Commits

 I haven't followed Cal's football recruiting too closely this year. I've seen scholarship offers going out to high school players. I've seen a few of those offers accepted. I just haven't looked at the Golden Bear recruiting, as a whole, as closely as years past. As with just about everything else, this has been a different sort of year. College football here and there. High school football here and there. Where college football hasn't been is in Berkeley. That'll change in about a month. It's been a different sort of year but college football recruiting, in general, and Cal football recruiting, in particular, has somehow continued. How does a high school football player commit to a college during a time with a very uncertain future? Some have. 19 high school players, so far, have verbally committed to play football at the most glorious college in the land, the University of California at Berkeley. 

California 2021 Football Commits

J. Michael Sturdivant, WR, 6-3.5/185, Marcus, (Flower Mound, TX)

Jermaine Terry, TE, 6-4, 235, Kennedy (Richmond, CA)

Mavin Anderson, WR, 6-0/195, Mission Viejo (Mission Viejo, CA)

Kai Millner, QB, 6-2/188, Higley (Gilbert, AZ)

Akili Calhoun, DE, 6-4/245, Liberty (Brentwood, CA)

Derek Wilkins, DE, 6-4/250, Santa Margarita Catholic (Rancho Santa Margarita, CA)

Kaleb Elarms-Orr, DE, 6-3/222, Moreau Catholic (Hayward, CA)

Kaleb Higgins, CB, 6-2/196, Folsom (Folsom, CA)

Bastian Swinney, OT, 6-6/275, Edina (Minneapolis, MN)

Moses Oladejo, OLB, 6-2/225, Cosumnes Oaks (Elk Grove, CA)

Hunter Barth, S, 6-2/200, Queen Creek (Queen Creek, AZ)

William Reed, OT, 6-6/280, Eastside Catholic (Sammamish, WA)

Myles Williams, DE, 6-3/250, Bishop Alemany (Mission Hills, CA) 

Patrick Hisatake, OLB, 6-4/240, Westview (Portland, OR)

Keleki Latu, TE, 6-6/205, Jesuit (Carmichael, CA)

Ryan Lange, OT, 6-6/330, Pittsburg (Pittsburg, CA)

Lu-Magia Hearns, CB, 5-10/160, De La Salle (Concord, CA)

Fatuvalu Iosefa, S, 6-0/170, Mililani (Mililani, HI)

Dylan Jemtegaard, OG, 6-4/270, Yelm (Yelm, WA)

***

Some Cal Recruiting Facts

Four-Star Players

J. Michael Sturdivant

Jermaine Terry

Mavin Anderson

Kai Millner

Akili Calhoun

Three-Star Players

Everyone else

As further proof that the star-system of college football recruiting doesn't mean much, Minnesota Vikings rookie receiver Justin Jefferson was a lowly two-star recruit coming out of high school. 

 

Position Breakdown

QB: 1

WR: 2

TE: 2

OL: 4

DE: 4

OLB: 2

CB: 2

S: 2

Loading up on pass rushers and blockers. 

National rank: 20

Pac-12 rank: 4

Both rankings are among the highest rankings that I can recall Cal achieving. The Golden Bears are usually middle of the pack, or lower. 

Some Cal Recruiting Thoughts

Due to Sonny Dykes' ridiculous offense, Justin Wilcox inherited a football team with no tight ends. Cal has been recruiting and offering tight ends in numbers. Jermaine Terry could be the answer. 

Bastian Swinney is the first player I've ever seen Cal pull from Minnesota. 

With Ryan Lange in mind, it amazes me to see high school football players around or over 300 pounds. During my high school football days, the heaviest player on our team was about 240. We were smaller than many of our opponents but I still can't recall any opponents that weighed more than about 270. Then again, there weren't many 300-lb offensive linemen in the NFL in those days either.

It's good to see Cal once again recruiting the local high schools. 

Speaking of recruiting locally, every year I hope that Cal can get players from annual power De La Salle. The likes of D.J. Williams, Aaron Taylor, Amani Toomer, Maurice Jones-Drew, Derek Landri, T.J. Ward always got away. Cal did receive a commit from Lu-Magia Hearns this year. 

Throwback Thursday: Minnesota Vikings Career Interception Leaders

This Flicker was originally posted on July 11, 2020. I bring it back today simply because I was thinking that the Vikings could really use some interceptions. 

 My stroll through the statistical history of the Minnesota Vikings moves to the defensive side of the ball. Interceptions. This is a fun one since the NFL's all-time interception leader is a Viking. Hall of Fame safety Paul Krause. His 81 interceptions is a league record that may never be broken. Since Krause spent the first four years of his career with that team in Washington, only 53 of those 81 interceptions came while in a Vikings uniform. A few of my favorite players in Vikings history populate the interception leader list. 

Minnesota Vikings Career Interception Leaders

Rank	Player	Interceptions
1	Paul Krause	53
2	Bobby Bryant	51
3	Ed Sharockman	40
4	Joey Browner	37
5	Nate Wright	31
6	Carl Lee	29
7	Harrison Smith	23
8	Orlando Thomas	22
9	John Turner	22
10	Antoine Winfield	21
11	Karl Kassulke	19
12	Audray McMillian	19
13	Darren Sharper	18
14	Robert Griffith	17
15	Matt Blair	16
16	Tom Hannon	15
17	Earsell Mackbee	15
18	Willie Teal	15
19	Corey Chavous	14
20	Vencie Glenn	14

Paul Krause is the only Vikings defensive Hall of Famer that didn't play on the defensive line. Joey Browner should get Hall of Fame discussion. He's right with Ronnie Lott and Kenny Easley as the best safeties of their era. Lott and Easley are in Canton. Browner could/should join them. Harrison Smith should've been on the 2010s All-Decade team and should get Hall of Fame attention five years after he retires. Antoine Winfield was so much fun to watch play football. He played the corner position like no other player I've ever seen. If he'd been 6' and still played like he did at 5'9" he would've received multiple All-Pro nods and already be in Canton. 

Matt Blair is the only linebacker among the Top 20. Six Pro Bowls. One All-Pro. While he played his first few years with Alan Page, Carl Eller, Jim Marshall, Krause, etc., Blair's best years were the years between the Purple People Eaters and the great Vikings defenses of the late 1980s. Despite being in the team's Ring of Honor and among the 50 Greatest Vikings, I don't think that he's remembered as well as he should be remembered. In general, the early 1980s are something of a blindspot for many long-time Vikings fans. Blair was a terrific football player. It was probably during the lead-up to Super Bowl XI that I heard that he could leap and snatch a quarter off the top of a basketball backboard. That little bit of trivia fascinated me then and continues to fascinate me. 

Five of the defensive backs on the 1969 NFL Championship team are among the Top 20 interceptors:

Safeties:

Paul Krause

Karl Kassulke

Corners:

Bobby Bryant

Ed Sharockman

Earsell Mackbee

Bryant bumped Sharockman from the starting lineup during the season. 

Half of the Top 20 interception leaders in Vikings franchise history played safety:

Paul Krause

Joey Browner

Harrison Smith

Orlando Thomas

Karl Kassulke

Darren Sharper

Robert Griffith

Tom Hannon

Corey Chavous

Vencie Glenn

Orlando Thomas looked like he was going to be an all-timer. His nine interceptions as a rookie in 1995 led the league. He played for seven years but injuries throughout those seven years chipped away at his talent. 

Tom Hannon had the unfortunate task of playing safety for the Vikings after Krause. Hannon played strong safety while Krause played a roving free safety but he was always in the shadow of the guy that collected 81 interceptions. I thought that Hannon was a very underrated player. He and Blair were my favorites on those "forgotten" Vikings defenses of the early 1980s. 

Carl Lee was probably the Vikings first shut-down corner. He was great. The pass rush that he had in front of him helped. He helped them as well. The duo of Lee and Browner was as great a corner-safety combo as the Vikings have ever had. The peak 2.5 years of Xavier Rhodes and Harrison Smith come close. 

Flea Flicker Week 5 Power Rankings-Part 2

I jumped the gun when posting the Flea Flicker Power Rankings yesterday seeing as there was still a game to player. And it was a game that involved two teams in the top third of the rankings. So, here's a revised look at how the 32 teams rank after the fifth week of the 2020 NFL season.

1.   Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
2.   Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
3.   Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
4.   Green Bay Packers (4-0)
5.   Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)
6.   Tennessee Titans (4-0)
7.   Los Angeles Rams (4-1)
8.   Cleveland Browns (4-1)
9.   Buffalo Bills (4-1)
10. New England Patriots (2-2)
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
12. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
13. Oakland Raiders (3-2)
14. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
15. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
17. Chicago Bears (4-1)
18. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
19  Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
20. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
21  Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
22. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
23. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1)
24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1)
25. Houston Texans (1-4)
26. Detroit Lions (1-3)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)
28. Atlanta Falcons (0-5)
29. Denver Broncos (1-3)
30. Washington Redskins (1-4)
31. New York Giants (0-5)
32. New York Jets (0-5)

Until next week. 

Congratulations to the Tennessee Titans on defeating the Buffalo Bills during hacked-up times. It was an impressive showing. As for Titans players pissing and moaning over recent criticism, they earned every bit of that criticism. They are the reason that the game was played on a Tuesday night. They are the reason for these hacked-up times. Their stupidity in handling their COVID responsibilities put the Minnesota Vikings at risk, themselves at risk, their families at risk, the NFL season at risk. The Titans had over 20 players and personnel test positive. No other team has had more than two at one time since the start of training camp. The Titans failed to follow protocols. They deserve every bit of the criticism. 

Flea Flicker Week 5 Power Rankings

 Here's one look at how the 32 teams rank after the fifth week of the 2020 NFL season.

1.   Kansas City Chiefs (4-1)
2.   Baltimore Ravens (4-1)
3.   Seattle Seahawks (5-0)
4.   Green Bay Packers (4-0)
5.   Buffalo Bills (4-0)
6.   Pittsburgh Steelers (4-0)
7.   Los Angeles Rams (4-1)
8.   Cleveland Browns (4-1)
9.   New England Patriots (2-2)
10. Tennessee Titans (3-0)
11. Tampa Bay Buccaneers (3-2)
12. Carolina Panthers (3-2)
13. Oakland Raiders (3-2)
14. New Orleans Saints (3-2)
15. Indianapolis Colts (3-2)
16. Arizona Cardinals (3-2)
17. Chicago Bears (4-1)
18. Minnesota Vikings (1-4)
19  Los Angeles Chargers (1-4)
20. San Francisco 49ers (2-3)
21  Dallas Cowboys (2-3)
22. Miami Dolphins (2-3)
23. Philadelphia Eagles (1-3-1)
24. Cincinnati Bengals (1-3-1)
25. Houston Texans (1-4)
26. Detroit Lions (1-3)
27. Jacksonville Jaguars (1-4)
28. Atlanta Falcons (0-5)
29. Denver Broncos (1-3)
30. Washington Redskins (1-4)
31. New York Giants (0-5)
32. New York Jets (0-5)

Until next week. 

Vikings-Seahawks

The one-win Minnesota Vikings lost to the undefeated Seattle Seahawks last night. 27-26.

This was a frustrating one. 

It was frustrating because the Vikings probably hit all of the objectives that the coaches set for this game. They dominated the time of possession. They kept blindingly bright star Russell Wilson off the field for long stretches. They kept him in check when he was on the field. Nearly all of his usual heroics were limited to the final drive. Beating the Seahawks always entails effectively handling Wilson. The Vikings did that last night. Unfortunately, the one time they didn't was when they had to. 

The Vikings didn't lose this game on Mike Zimmer's aggressive decision to go for the first down from the five-yard line with two minutes to play rather than kick the field goal. He took winning the game by gaining a few inches over giving his team an eight-point lead. He coached to win the game rather than coach to not lose the game. I liked the decision at the time. I didn't like it much when Alexander Mattison was stopped for no gain. I liked it even less when the Seahawks drove 94 yards for the game-winning score. I didn't like how things turned out but I agree with the decision that Zimmer made. Win the game when you have a chance to win it. Mattison gets the first down and probably scores if he takes his carry about a yard or two further right. The best thing that the Vikings’ offense did all night was keep Wilson and the Seahawks’ offense off the field. Zimmer’s aggressive decision was in line with that strategy. 

The Vikings lost this game in the three minutes of the third quarter after Dalvin Cook limped off the field with a groin injury. In those three minutes of gut punches the Seahawks scored three touchdowns. All on Vikings' miscues. A missed tackle on a punt return set the Seahawks up with terrific field position. Wilson took advantage. Two turnovers made the next scores even easier. The Seahawks only needed three plays and 46 seconds to score 14 more points. It doesn't get much easier than that. 

In a blink, the Vikings' 13-0 halftime lead turned into a 21-13 deficit. 

The Vikings controlled everything that came before those three minutes of the third quarter. They controlled everything that followed those three minutes. Until that damn 94-yard drive. 

That damn 94-yard drive nearly ended before it got started. On 4th-and-10 from their 23-yard, Wilson heaved a pass to DK Metcalf. Rookie corner Cameron Dantzler had the coverage but appeared to be tracking a pass that was about 10 yards further than the one that was thrown. Perhaps he lost the ball in the night sky. Who knows? I do know that if he tracked that ball properly he's in position to make a play on it. Wilson did his usual thing of tossing the ball in the air and hoping for the best. It worked and his desperation drive was alive. 

Wilson only completed four of 12 passes on the game-winning drive. While he was ultimately heroic it was a significant struggle for him. 

This was a frustrating one. 

This was a frustrating game because there was so damn much good in it. Other than the stumbles after Cook's injury, the offense moved at will. Mattison effectively stepped in for Cook and had the first 100-yard game of his career. Kirk Cousins played well. The Vikings ran well. The Vikings passed well. They moved the ball at will. Irv Smith Jr. broke out. The defense finally played well. They had Wilson contained and frustrated for the entirety of the first half. This depleted, injured, young defense was expected to struggle this year and they did struggle in each of the previous four games. They stepped up last night. They faced one of the league's best quarterbacks with one of the league's most explosive offenses and contained them. Despite giving up 27 points and a 94-yard game-winning drive, the Vikings' defense played well. If this is the start of what's to come, I like it. 

If not for those three minutes of stumbles, this game's a breezy win for the Vikings. 

Right guard Dru Samia was a problem last night. If he wasn't getting beat, he was getting flagged for trying not to get beat. He was making his third start in his second year so some difficulties can be expected. Original starter Pat Elflein had his own difficulties before he was injured but those were a dream compared to how Samia played last night. I've been hoping to see second-round pick Ezra Cleveland get a shot but he's been working at left guard. At least that's where he was playing during training camp. Do the Vikings play Cleveland at left guard and move Dakota Dozier to the right side? I'd like to see that mostly to see Cleveland but I'm not sure about making changes at two positions. 

A loss is a negative in every way. So, it's silly to dig positives out of a loss. It's a loss no matter the margin or how the team played. The Seahawks were supposed to roll over the Vikings. In every way but the final score the Vikings rolled over the Seahawks. It's still a loss. The Vikings are 1-4 and there's no way to paint that into a pretty picture. 

But 12-4 is still possibility. The road to that starts next week against the Atlanta Falcons.

Flea Flicker Week 5 Predictions

It's Week 5. 

Minnesota Vikings @ Seattle Seahawks

Pick:Vikings

Mike Zimmer finally gets a win over the Seahawks. 

Carolina Panthers @ Atlanta Falcons

Pick: Falcons

Will the Falcons find another way to lose a game?

Las Vegas Raiders @ Kansas City Chiefs

Pick: Chiefs

If the Raiders are healthy they might be able to hang with the Chiefs for a little while.

Arizona Cardinals @ New York Jets

Pick: Cardinals

The Jets are a grand team to be playing when you're trying to end a losing streak. 

Philadelphia Eagles @ Pittsburgh Steelers

Pick: Steelers

I'm guessing that the Steelers will be fine after their forced Week 4 bye.

Los Angeles Rams @ Washington

Pick Rams

Who knows? Maybe a quarterback change will spark Washington and this game won't be as one-sided it appears to be. 

Cincinnati Bengals @ Baltimore Ravens

Pick: Ravens

Joe Burrow has made the Bengals a fun watch. The Ravens should be able to handle the rookie. 

Jacksonville Jaguars @ Houston Texans

Pick: Texans

Will the Texans play freer after finally being free of Bill O'Brien. 

Miami Dolphins @ San Francisco 49ers

Pick: 49ers

The 49ers get their quarterback back.

Indianapolis Colts @ Cleveland Browns

Pick: Colts

This game looks like a fun one. It's a coin toss game for me and the coin came up Colts. 

Due to COVID there will be three post-Sunday games in Week 5. 

Denver Broncos @ New England Patriots

Pick: Patriots

The Patriots could get their quarterback back. The Broncos won't be getting their quarterback back.

Los Angeles Chargers @ New Orleans Saints

Pick: Saints

Even though they haven't played like it the Saints still feel like one of the best teams in the league. 

Buffalo Bills @ Tennessee Titans

Pick: Bills

Due to the sort of COVID stupidity that has dismantled this country the Titans forced a Week 4 bye on the Steelers and a Tuesday night game on the Bills. Titans safety Kevin Byard doesn't think that people are being fair to the Titans. Well, the Titans haven't been fair to the 31 other teams in the league, their own families, their community, etc. Follow the damn rules. Do your part. This season doesn't get played if one team is so damn stupid about the situation. It's a months-long tight-rope walk and the Titans aren't walking it. 

 

Minnesota Vikings Roster

 Not much has changed on the Minnesota Vikings roster in the past week. The roster juggling tends to settle down as the season progresses. It also helps that were no significant injuries in the Week 4 win over the Houston Texans. It helps even more that the Vikings dodged the COVID infestation that took apart the Tennessee Titans, their Week 3 opponent. 

The Receivers

In recent seasons the Vikings' receiver group was a top-heavy one with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs at the top. Changes were in store when Diggs was traded to the Buffalo Bills in the offseason. Due to the emergence of rookie Justin Jefferson the past two weeks, it's looking like the Vikings will continue to have a top-heavy receiver group. Jefferson has been terrific and it feels like he's only scratching the surface of his receiving talent. While Thielen and the rookie will see the majority of Kirk Cousins' passes there should still be opportunities for Olabisi Johnson, Chad Beebe, and Tajaé Sharpe. As well as the tight ends and running backs. As long as the Vikings offense converts first downs and maintains possession of the football there will be opportunities for everyone to make plays. There will be opportunities for a receiver group that's looking more each week like the top-heavy one that it's been for a while. 

Here's a look at the Vikings roster in advance of their Week 5 Sunday Night game at the Seattle Seahawks. Something feels a little not right about playing a prime time game at Seattle three years in a row. At least that streak ends next year with the Seahawks scheduled to visit Minnesota. 

Offense (26 Players)

Quarterbacks (2)
 8 Kirk Cousins
 4 Sean Mannion

Running Backs (4)
33 Dalvin Cook
25 Alexander Mattison

31 Ameer Abdullah
23 Mike Boone

Fullbacks (1)
30 C.J. Ham

Receivers (7)
19 Adam Thielen
18 Justin Jefferson
81 Olabisi Johnson
12 Chad Beebe
11 Tajaé Sharpe
17 K.J. Osborn
85 Dan Chisena

Tight Ends (3)
82 Kyle Rudolph
84 Irv Smith Jr.
83 Tyler Conklin

Offensive Tackles (4)
71 Riley Reiff
75 Brian O'Neill
69 Rashod Hill
74 Oli Udoh

Guards (3)
78 Dakota Dozier

73 Dru Samia
72 Ezra Cleveland

Centers (2)
56 Garrett Bradbury
61 Brett Jones

Defense (24 Players)

Defensive Ends (4)
91 Yannick Ngakoue
95 Ifeadi Odenigbo
57 D.J. Wonnum

90 Jalyn Holmes

Defensive Tackles (5)
93 Shamar Stephen
96 Armon Watts
94 Jaleel Johnson
51 Hercules Mata'afa
66 James Lynch

Linebackers (5)
54 Eric Kendricks
50 Eric Wilson

40 Todd Davis
57 Ryan Connelly

47 Hardy Nickerson Jr.

Cornerbacks (6)
21 Mike Hughes
20 Jeff Gladney
24 Holton Hill
27 Cameron Dantzler
29 Kris Boyd
38 Harrison Hand

Safeties (4)
22 Harrison Smith
41 Anthony Harris

43 George Iloka

44 Josh Metellus

Special Teams (3 Players)

Kicker
 5 Dan Bailey

Punter
 2 Britton Colquitt

Long Snapper
58 Austin Cutting

Practice Squad

  3 Jake Browning, QB
  7 Nate Stanley, QB
15 Alexander Hollins, WR
86 Brandon Dillon, TE
40 Jake Bargas, FB
76 Aviante Collins, G/T
68 Kyle Hinton, G
64 Blake Brandel, T

66  Abdullah Anderson, DT

48 Blake Lynch, LB

49 Cale Garrett, LB

32 Mark Fields II, CB

35 Luther Kirk, DB

  7 Chase McLaughlin, K

Here are the players that have been placed on the various reserve lists:

Reserve Lists

Reserve/Physically Unable To Perform
42 Ben Gedeon, LB

Reserve/Injured

99 Danielle Hunter, DE

55 Anthony Barr, LB

65 Pat Elflein, G

45 Troy Dye

79 Kenny Willekes, DE

46 Myles Dorn, S

Reserve/COVID-19
None!

Reserve/Non-Football Illness
59 Cameron Smith, LB

Reserve/Opt-Out
98 Michael Pierce, DT

Daniel Jeremiah's First Quarter Rookie Rankings

 NFL Draft Analyst Daniel Jeremiah is a busy man. With his terrific Move the Sticks podcast with Bucky Brooks to his radio work with the Los Angeles Chargers to his day job scouting college football prospects, there isn't much time for silly things like ranking the rookies through the first four games of the 2020 NFL season. He found that time. Here are his Top 25 NFL Rookies at the quarter mark of the season.

1.   Joe Burrow, QB, Cincinnati Bengals

2.   Justin Herbert, QB, Los Angeles Chargers

3.   Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

4.   Justin Jefferson, WR, Minnesota Vikings

5.   Mekhi Becton, OT, New York Jets

6.   Chase Young, DE, Washington Football Team

7.   CeeDee Lamb, WR, Dallas Cowboys

8.   James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

9.   Tristan Wirfs, OT, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

10. Clyde Edwards-Helaire, RB, Kansas City Chiefs

11. Patrick Queen, LB, Baltimore Ravens

12. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears

13. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

14. Jedrick Wills, OT, Cleveland Browns

15. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

16. Jerry Jeudy, WR, Denver Broncos

17. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

18. Kenneth Murray, LB, Los Angeles Chargers

19. Jeremy Chinn, S, Carolina Panthers

20. C.J. Henderson, CB, Jacksonville Jaguars

21. Brandon Aiyuk, WR, San Francisco 49ers

22. Javon Kinlaw, DT, San Francisco 49ers

23. Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills

24. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

25. Mike Onwenu, OG, New England Patriots

***

A lot of first round picks populate Jeremiah's 1st quarter rookie ranking. It's expected that players selected in the first round will perform well early. That's why they are in the selected in the first round. It just doesn't always work out that way. So many of the above are first round selections that it's easier to list the players that aren't. 

3.   Antoine Winfield Jr., S, Tampa Bay Buccaneers

8.   James Robinson, RB, Jacksonville Jaguars

12. Jaylon Johnson, CB, Chicago Bears

13. Jonathan Taylor, RB, Indianapolis Colts

15. Laviska Shenault Jr., WR, Jacksonville Jaguars

17. Tee Higgins, WR, Cincinnati Bengals

19. Jeremy Chinn, S, Carolina Panthers

23. Gabriel Davis, WR, Buffalo Bills

24. Antonio Gibson, RB, Washington Football Team

25. Mike Onwenu, OG, New England Patriots

The 2020 NFL Draft was so strong that Antoine Winfield Jr., Jaylon Johnson, Jonathan Taylor, Laviska Shenault Jr., Tee Higgins, and Jeremy Chinn would've been first round picks in just about any other draft. 

James Robinson is the surprise of this list and as a result the surprise rookie of the season. He's been terrific and he wasn't drafted at all. 

Justin Jefferson is ranked way too low.

Here's hoping that Jeff Gladney, Cameron Dantzler, and possibly Ezra Cleveland are part of Jeremiah's midseason rookie ranking. I'll thrown in D.J. Wonnum as well. Maybe his first NFL sack last week was the start of something grand.