1 00:00:06,440 --> 00:00:09,200 Speaker 1: I think there's every reason to be optimistic. They have 2 00:00:09,360 --> 00:00:12,320 Speaker 1: built up a new young corps without ever having to 3 00:00:12,320 --> 00:00:14,000 Speaker 1: say we're gonna strip it down and we're gonna go 4 00:00:14,000 --> 00:00:18,560 Speaker 1: two and fourteen. I'm excited to see what this offense 5 00:00:18,560 --> 00:00:21,320 Speaker 1: can do. Man, there are so many guys on this 6 00:00:21,400 --> 00:00:24,280 Speaker 1: roster that can make plays, and heading into this offseason 7 00:00:24,320 --> 00:00:26,640 Speaker 1: like there's a lot to build on. Everyone's pretty much 8 00:00:26,640 --> 00:00:34,440 Speaker 1: stayed healthy, which is always good. Hey, Vikings fans, welcome 9 00:00:34,479 --> 00:00:38,800 Speaker 1: to episode seventy five of the Minnesota Vikings podcast. Chris 10 00:00:38,840 --> 00:00:44,239 Speaker 1: Corso here alongside Vikings dot COM's Gabe Henderson and of 11 00:00:44,280 --> 00:00:48,920 Speaker 1: course Jay Nelson. This season was not the season that 12 00:00:48,960 --> 00:00:52,200 Speaker 1: the Vikings thought. It would be a seven and nine 13 00:00:52,400 --> 00:00:54,920 Speaker 1: finish to the season, and we have a lot of 14 00:00:54,920 --> 00:00:57,520 Speaker 1: storylines to talk about with this Vikings team. We want 15 00:00:57,520 --> 00:01:01,160 Speaker 1: to recap the season that was, and we also want 16 00:01:01,200 --> 00:01:04,960 Speaker 1: to talk to NFL Networks Tom Pella Sero, who joined 17 00:01:05,080 --> 00:01:09,000 Speaker 1: this week's episode. He's been reporting on Viking storylines all week, 18 00:01:09,080 --> 00:01:13,240 Speaker 1: from Gary Kubiak to the Vikings salary. Cap very excited 19 00:01:13,240 --> 00:01:16,720 Speaker 1: about that interview today, but obviously, first we have a 20 00:01:16,760 --> 00:01:19,720 Speaker 1: lot to discuss with Gabe and Jay and I think 21 00:01:19,720 --> 00:01:22,360 Speaker 1: the first thing I'm gonna throw at Jay is he's 22 00:01:22,360 --> 00:01:26,880 Speaker 1: been growing out this beard for the entire NFL season 23 00:01:27,319 --> 00:01:30,040 Speaker 1: because of COVID, and now that the season's over for 24 00:01:30,080 --> 00:01:33,320 Speaker 1: the Vikings, Jay has still not shaved his beard, and 25 00:01:33,360 --> 00:01:35,360 Speaker 1: I have to look at it right now. So Jay, 26 00:01:35,640 --> 00:01:38,280 Speaker 1: why don't you explain that to the Vikings fans here 27 00:01:38,319 --> 00:01:41,600 Speaker 1: before we get into this season recap episode. Sure, it 28 00:01:41,720 --> 00:01:45,080 Speaker 1: started off as me being stubborn because back in June, 29 00:01:45,319 --> 00:01:47,680 Speaker 1: after we had been in the pandemic for a couple 30 00:01:47,720 --> 00:01:49,840 Speaker 1: of months, there were some co workers who were giving 31 00:01:49,880 --> 00:01:51,400 Speaker 1: me a hard time. I've always had some sort of 32 00:01:51,400 --> 00:01:53,800 Speaker 1: facial hair for probably longer than some of you have 33 00:01:53,840 --> 00:01:56,320 Speaker 1: been alive. It's been about twenty four years at this point, 34 00:01:56,360 --> 00:01:59,280 Speaker 1: I've had some sort of facial hair, and so, a 35 00:01:59,320 --> 00:02:01,840 Speaker 1: long story longer, After a couple months, people are giving 36 00:02:01,840 --> 00:02:04,280 Speaker 1: me a hard time because I kept shaving and they didn't, 37 00:02:04,800 --> 00:02:06,280 Speaker 1: and I'm just like, all right, if you really want 38 00:02:06,320 --> 00:02:08,000 Speaker 1: to see how this is gonna go, then I'm going 39 00:02:08,040 --> 00:02:10,320 Speaker 1: to let this thing roll. And so we got from 40 00:02:10,400 --> 00:02:13,280 Speaker 1: June until August and the season was starting, and I 41 00:02:13,320 --> 00:02:15,200 Speaker 1: just told people after they were asking me when I 42 00:02:15,240 --> 00:02:16,800 Speaker 1: was going to shave it. I said, I'm letting this 43 00:02:16,840 --> 00:02:18,839 Speaker 1: thing go for the season. Let's see what happened. So 44 00:02:19,160 --> 00:02:22,440 Speaker 1: I've kind of looked at this is my my COVID beard, 45 00:02:22,840 --> 00:02:26,240 Speaker 1: and everyone thinks I look older and more grizzly from it, 46 00:02:26,400 --> 00:02:27,920 Speaker 1: and so I just look at it at this point 47 00:02:27,919 --> 00:02:30,560 Speaker 1: and say, yeah, this is definitely a reminder of what 48 00:02:30,639 --> 00:02:34,000 Speaker 1: twenty twenty turned into. So coming up here very shortly, 49 00:02:34,040 --> 00:02:36,399 Speaker 1: I'll probably be trimming it down. But at the same point, 50 00:02:36,440 --> 00:02:38,280 Speaker 1: it's been kind of a fun little talking point too, 51 00:02:38,320 --> 00:02:41,399 Speaker 1: and everyone's always interested and where's the beard today? So 52 00:02:42,240 --> 00:02:44,679 Speaker 1: as of now, it's the twenty twenty COVID beard, and 53 00:02:45,160 --> 00:02:46,919 Speaker 1: it'll kind of be a good riddance to be able 54 00:02:46,919 --> 00:02:49,120 Speaker 1: to trim some of that stuff back and just see 55 00:02:49,360 --> 00:02:51,800 Speaker 1: the normal size of my face. At this point, well, 56 00:02:51,800 --> 00:02:54,360 Speaker 1: it was not a season to remember for the Vikings 57 00:02:54,440 --> 00:02:56,480 Speaker 1: or a season to remember for the world as a whole. 58 00:02:56,520 --> 00:02:58,919 Speaker 1: She should probably shave that thing off as soon as possible. 59 00:02:58,960 --> 00:03:01,600 Speaker 1: For one scent, I said, at this point, I could 60 00:03:01,919 --> 00:03:04,840 Speaker 1: go ahead and do my casting call for Castaway too 61 00:03:05,160 --> 00:03:08,920 Speaker 1: and see plant Tom Hanks. But after that, the sucker's 62 00:03:08,960 --> 00:03:12,480 Speaker 1: got to go away, all right. Let's get into Vikings 63 00:03:12,480 --> 00:03:15,200 Speaker 1: and Gabe. We talked on the Vikings postgaming report the 64 00:03:15,200 --> 00:03:18,239 Speaker 1: other day with Ben Lieber, and what I really want 65 00:03:18,240 --> 00:03:21,880 Speaker 1: to start off with is a few positives the Vikings offense. 66 00:03:21,960 --> 00:03:25,080 Speaker 1: Man Kirk Cousins wins NFC Offensive Player of the Week 67 00:03:25,360 --> 00:03:28,200 Speaker 1: and a gamer. He had three touchdowns through the air, 68 00:03:28,360 --> 00:03:31,400 Speaker 1: one rushing touchdown as well, where you get to see 69 00:03:31,400 --> 00:03:34,960 Speaker 1: the gritty a little bit from Kirk, which was definitely 70 00:03:35,840 --> 00:03:38,880 Speaker 1: a positive note to end the season. But this was 71 00:03:38,920 --> 00:03:42,440 Speaker 1: a season where they took a huge leaped statistic wise, Gabe, 72 00:03:42,560 --> 00:03:44,680 Speaker 1: And I mean, we can start going through the list 73 00:03:44,680 --> 00:03:48,960 Speaker 1: of Dalvin Cook's season, justin Jefferson's record setting season, Kirk 74 00:03:48,960 --> 00:03:53,480 Speaker 1: Cousins having a career high in touchdown passes, Adam Feeling 75 00:03:53,560 --> 00:03:55,160 Speaker 1: being the threat that he was in the red zone. 76 00:03:55,200 --> 00:03:57,560 Speaker 1: But I just want you to kind of lay out 77 00:03:57,600 --> 00:03:59,600 Speaker 1: what you thought in your first year with the Vikings, 78 00:04:00,040 --> 00:04:03,600 Speaker 1: of the Vikings offense throughout the twenty twenty season. I 79 00:04:03,640 --> 00:04:05,920 Speaker 1: think it was a great year for this offense. I mean, 80 00:04:05,920 --> 00:04:09,480 Speaker 1: you really can't say anything bad about this team other 81 00:04:09,560 --> 00:04:11,720 Speaker 1: than you know that Colts game the second game of 82 00:04:11,720 --> 00:04:14,480 Speaker 1: the season where they only scored eleven points, and you know, 83 00:04:15,560 --> 00:04:17,960 Speaker 1: I guess the first half of the season when Kirk Cousins, 84 00:04:17,960 --> 00:04:20,520 Speaker 1: you know, through ten interceptions, but going through a year 85 00:04:20,560 --> 00:04:22,760 Speaker 1: where you have six thousand, two hundred and ninety two yards, 86 00:04:22,800 --> 00:04:26,320 Speaker 1: which is third most Enfranchise history, two yards shy of 87 00:04:26,440 --> 00:04:29,719 Speaker 1: second most in franchise history three hundred ninety three yards 88 00:04:29,760 --> 00:04:31,799 Speaker 1: a game. I don't think there are many bad things 89 00:04:31,800 --> 00:04:34,840 Speaker 1: to say about this team. I mean, Kirk Cousins four 90 00:04:34,920 --> 00:04:38,760 Speaker 1: thousand passing yards, eight point three yards per throw, which 91 00:04:38,800 --> 00:04:41,440 Speaker 1: is second in the NFL, thirty five touchdown six in 92 00:04:41,440 --> 00:04:44,760 Speaker 1: the NFL. It started with him, and I think we 93 00:04:45,080 --> 00:04:49,320 Speaker 1: saw a resurgence of this Vikings offense post bye week 94 00:04:49,360 --> 00:04:52,560 Speaker 1: after the Atlanta Falcons lost, which was a horrendous loss 95 00:04:52,560 --> 00:04:55,520 Speaker 1: in Week five. But once we saw Kirk being decisive 96 00:04:55,560 --> 00:04:58,760 Speaker 1: with his play calling, with this decision making, I think 97 00:04:58,800 --> 00:05:01,600 Speaker 1: that opened up the one game, opened up the passing game, 98 00:05:01,640 --> 00:05:03,880 Speaker 1: it opened up everything for this Vikings offense. We know 99 00:05:04,000 --> 00:05:06,479 Speaker 1: Dalvin Cook was the workhorse for this Vikings offense. He 100 00:05:06,720 --> 00:05:10,720 Speaker 1: carried us through until Kirk Cousins found you know, his rhythm. 101 00:05:10,880 --> 00:05:13,400 Speaker 1: I mean, if he's not an All Pro, whether that's 102 00:05:13,440 --> 00:05:16,760 Speaker 1: first or second team, I don't know what to tell 103 00:05:16,800 --> 00:05:19,360 Speaker 1: you and then Justin Jefferson. I mean just moving down 104 00:05:19,400 --> 00:05:22,599 Speaker 1: to him. Justin Jefferson's was the lightning bolt on this 105 00:05:22,720 --> 00:05:25,279 Speaker 1: offense because you had Kirk Cousins doing this thing, you 106 00:05:25,279 --> 00:05:28,039 Speaker 1: had Dalvin Cook carrying this offense. But you needed that 107 00:05:28,120 --> 00:05:30,479 Speaker 1: extra spark and we got that from Justin Jefferson. You know, 108 00:05:30,560 --> 00:05:34,360 Speaker 1: setting almost every rookie receiving record Enfranchise history other than 109 00:05:35,000 --> 00:05:37,800 Speaker 1: reception touchdowns for a rookie, you know, breaking Randy Moster's 110 00:05:37,800 --> 00:05:41,000 Speaker 1: record and receptions and reception yards. So there are a 111 00:05:41,080 --> 00:05:44,360 Speaker 1: lot of positives to take away. You mean, Adam Dalen 112 00:05:44,760 --> 00:05:47,880 Speaker 1: another great season, one hundred and twenty five yards, all 113 00:05:47,920 --> 00:05:50,040 Speaker 1: those rand zone touchdowns he had this year. I mean 114 00:05:50,080 --> 00:05:52,000 Speaker 1: it was just I think it was what thirteen in 115 00:05:52,040 --> 00:05:54,800 Speaker 1: the red zone. So I mean it was just a 116 00:05:54,960 --> 00:05:57,839 Speaker 1: great season by the Vikings offense. I mean, if we 117 00:05:57,880 --> 00:06:01,320 Speaker 1: could change anything, you would probably say, hey, let's look 118 00:06:01,360 --> 00:06:03,240 Speaker 1: at this old line and see what we could. You know, 119 00:06:03,520 --> 00:06:06,000 Speaker 1: tweaked there, but in tweak here. But I mean as 120 00:06:06,000 --> 00:06:08,040 Speaker 1: we're Cleveland stepped in. We had a lot of guys 121 00:06:08,080 --> 00:06:10,800 Speaker 1: play a lot of snaps, and I mean you look 122 00:06:10,800 --> 00:06:12,920 Speaker 1: at this offense and you say, hey, this was the 123 00:06:12,960 --> 00:06:16,480 Speaker 1: bright spot of this team. Unfortunately we couldn't get it done, 124 00:06:16,520 --> 00:06:18,840 Speaker 1: but the offense did what they had to do. Yeah, gab. 125 00:06:18,920 --> 00:06:21,240 Speaker 1: When you hear Mike Zimmers say in his season ending 126 00:06:21,279 --> 00:06:23,920 Speaker 1: press conference that in the seven years he's been here 127 00:06:24,120 --> 00:06:27,400 Speaker 1: that this is the most explosive offense that he's had, 128 00:06:27,480 --> 00:06:29,839 Speaker 1: I mean, that's a pretty big statement, but it seems 129 00:06:29,839 --> 00:06:32,400 Speaker 1: like this is one of the best obviously stat wise, 130 00:06:32,440 --> 00:06:35,919 Speaker 1: one of the best seasons for a Vikings quarterback in 131 00:06:36,120 --> 00:06:39,159 Speaker 1: franchise history. And it's pretty amazing because the way the 132 00:06:39,160 --> 00:06:41,320 Speaker 1: season started out for Kirk. He really did not get 133 00:06:41,360 --> 00:06:44,120 Speaker 1: off on the right foot this season, like he had 134 00:06:44,200 --> 00:06:46,200 Speaker 1: so many turnovers. I think he had like ten or 135 00:06:46,240 --> 00:06:50,479 Speaker 1: so turnovers in the first five or six games, like 136 00:06:50,520 --> 00:06:54,160 Speaker 1: eleven touchdowns, ten interceptions, which was crazy exactly, and he 137 00:06:54,240 --> 00:06:57,760 Speaker 1: ends up with thirteen interceptions, which still isn't great for 138 00:06:57,800 --> 00:06:59,839 Speaker 1: the season as a whole. I think that's third worst 139 00:07:00,480 --> 00:07:03,359 Speaker 1: in the NFL this season. But when you start looking 140 00:07:03,360 --> 00:07:07,200 Speaker 1: down the list of the offensive stats, fourth in offensive 141 00:07:07,279 --> 00:07:11,080 Speaker 1: yards per game total, which is I mean, that's probably 142 00:07:11,120 --> 00:07:13,440 Speaker 1: one of the best since Mike Zimmer took over the team, 143 00:07:13,800 --> 00:07:17,520 Speaker 1: fifth in rushing yards per game, eleventh in points scored, 144 00:07:17,560 --> 00:07:20,920 Speaker 1: which is probably the one red color coded thing that 145 00:07:21,040 --> 00:07:24,040 Speaker 1: we see from the offense here from Jay in fourteenth 146 00:07:24,040 --> 00:07:27,760 Speaker 1: and passing yards per game eight point three yards per 147 00:07:27,800 --> 00:07:30,200 Speaker 1: play for Kirk Cousins this year. That was good for 148 00:07:30,320 --> 00:07:33,960 Speaker 1: second in the NFL. Thirty five touchdowns, as we said earlier, 149 00:07:34,000 --> 00:07:36,440 Speaker 1: that was sixth in the NFL and a career high 150 00:07:36,520 --> 00:07:39,880 Speaker 1: for Kirk Cousins game. I mean, what are your just 151 00:07:40,040 --> 00:07:43,400 Speaker 1: your thoughts about this Vikings offense looking into twenty twenty one. 152 00:07:43,600 --> 00:07:46,000 Speaker 1: This Vikings offense is very young when it comes to 153 00:07:46,080 --> 00:07:48,680 Speaker 1: the skill position. I mean, Adam Phalen's thirty years old, 154 00:07:48,720 --> 00:07:52,440 Speaker 1: Justin Jefferson twenty three, Dalvin Cook is in his mid twenties, 155 00:07:53,200 --> 00:07:55,640 Speaker 1: Arson of junior Tyler Cockling. Both of those guys are 156 00:07:55,680 --> 00:07:58,880 Speaker 1: in year three and year two. So there are so 157 00:07:59,320 --> 00:08:02,760 Speaker 1: many things you can build on going into this year. 158 00:08:02,840 --> 00:08:05,360 Speaker 1: But with that said, there's going to be a lot 159 00:08:05,400 --> 00:08:08,440 Speaker 1: more pressure on this Vikings offense to sustain that. So 160 00:08:09,640 --> 00:08:11,520 Speaker 1: I think they're up for the challenge. But at the 161 00:08:11,560 --> 00:08:14,800 Speaker 1: same time, I do think with the success that they 162 00:08:14,840 --> 00:08:17,400 Speaker 1: have this year, I think this sky is the limit 163 00:08:17,440 --> 00:08:19,920 Speaker 1: for what they can do in years to come, especially 164 00:08:19,920 --> 00:08:24,720 Speaker 1: this upcoming season. Pretty much bringing almost everybody back if 165 00:08:24,760 --> 00:08:28,320 Speaker 1: they can with the salary cap issues. I'm excited to 166 00:08:28,320 --> 00:08:30,360 Speaker 1: see what this offense can do. Man, there are so 167 00:08:30,680 --> 00:08:33,640 Speaker 1: many guys on this roster that can make plays, and 168 00:08:33,720 --> 00:08:36,120 Speaker 1: that is what Kirk Cousins is going to do. Heading 169 00:08:36,120 --> 00:08:38,320 Speaker 1: into this offseason like, there's a lot to build on 170 00:08:38,480 --> 00:08:41,480 Speaker 1: and granted, everyone's pretty much stayed healthy, which is always good. 171 00:08:43,000 --> 00:08:46,080 Speaker 1: Subscribe to the official YouTube channel of the Minnesota Vikings 172 00:08:46,080 --> 00:08:48,640 Speaker 1: to get all the latest video content from the Vikings 173 00:08:48,760 --> 00:08:52,280 Speaker 1: Entertainment Network. Watch segments from TV shows such as Vikings 174 00:08:52,360 --> 00:08:56,240 Speaker 1: Game Plan and Vikings Connected. Catch original digital programming like 175 00:08:56,400 --> 00:09:00,359 Speaker 1: The Voyage and Vikings Postgame Live here from players and coaches, 176 00:09:00,400 --> 00:09:06,000 Speaker 1: plus more. Visit Vikings dot com slash YouTube to subscribe today. 177 00:09:07,120 --> 00:09:09,959 Speaker 1: The missing personnel this year you heard it from Mike 178 00:09:10,040 --> 00:09:13,040 Speaker 1: Zimmer in his end of year press conference. He talked 179 00:09:13,040 --> 00:09:16,160 Speaker 1: about the amount of snaps, the amount of starters that 180 00:09:16,240 --> 00:09:19,480 Speaker 1: were missing this season. I'm looking at one, two, three, four, 181 00:09:19,760 --> 00:09:24,400 Speaker 1: five starters that were missing from this team at key 182 00:09:24,440 --> 00:09:27,080 Speaker 1: points in the year. And it all started with Michael 183 00:09:27,120 --> 00:09:29,720 Speaker 1: Pierce opting out of the season due to COVID. The 184 00:09:29,800 --> 00:09:33,120 Speaker 1: big time free agent acquisition from the Baltimore Ravens. He 185 00:09:33,240 --> 00:09:37,719 Speaker 1: obviously was considered a high risk for COVID nineteen and 186 00:09:37,800 --> 00:09:39,800 Speaker 1: he decided at the beginning of the season not to 187 00:09:39,880 --> 00:09:41,840 Speaker 1: be a part of the season this year. And then 188 00:09:41,920 --> 00:09:44,760 Speaker 1: Danielle Hunter goes down before there's even a game for 189 00:09:44,800 --> 00:09:47,440 Speaker 1: the Vikings with that neck injury. So those were two 190 00:09:47,520 --> 00:09:50,960 Speaker 1: huge hits to the defensive line, and we did not 191 00:09:51,080 --> 00:09:53,760 Speaker 1: see the pass rush that we've seen in years past. 192 00:09:54,040 --> 00:09:55,880 Speaker 1: And then you go down the list at the linebacker 193 00:09:55,960 --> 00:09:59,720 Speaker 1: position at the bar, Eric Kendricks, Mike Hughes went down. 194 00:10:00,240 --> 00:10:02,560 Speaker 1: So there were so many big time injuries for this 195 00:10:02,679 --> 00:10:06,160 Speaker 1: Vikings defense. And you also know the fact that we 196 00:10:06,679 --> 00:10:09,280 Speaker 1: lost a bunch of players in free agency this year, 197 00:10:09,320 --> 00:10:13,240 Speaker 1: the Xavier Rhodes, the Trey Waynes, the Mackenzie Alexander, so 198 00:10:13,280 --> 00:10:17,160 Speaker 1: a totally different young defense. But I guess one positive 199 00:10:17,160 --> 00:10:19,600 Speaker 1: that I could take Jay's is the amount of snaps 200 00:10:19,679 --> 00:10:22,520 Speaker 1: that these Vikings rookies were able to get this season 201 00:10:22,559 --> 00:10:25,720 Speaker 1: on the defensive side of the ball, especially the young 202 00:10:25,800 --> 00:10:29,520 Speaker 1: cornerbacks that were able to get big time experience this year. Yeah, 203 00:10:29,520 --> 00:10:31,079 Speaker 1: I think part of it was you had to take 204 00:10:31,080 --> 00:10:33,720 Speaker 1: your lumps this year knowing that there was that much turnover. 205 00:10:33,800 --> 00:10:37,280 Speaker 1: I think there was a lot of eyebrows raised earlier 206 00:10:37,280 --> 00:10:39,960 Speaker 1: in the season when there was discussion when it was 207 00:10:40,120 --> 00:10:41,959 Speaker 1: you know, Zimmer basically saying I've never had a bad 208 00:10:42,040 --> 00:10:44,640 Speaker 1: defense and you know, I don't expect to have one 209 00:10:44,679 --> 00:10:47,360 Speaker 1: now Like that. Attitude's great and everything. At the same point, 210 00:10:47,400 --> 00:10:49,760 Speaker 1: the reality of the situation turned into you just had 211 00:10:49,760 --> 00:10:53,000 Speaker 1: a bunch of young guys who had never had NFL experience, 212 00:10:53,000 --> 00:10:54,880 Speaker 1: and some of them were coming into a new system 213 00:10:54,960 --> 00:10:57,880 Speaker 1: if they were doing free agencies. So it just it 214 00:10:58,240 --> 00:11:01,520 Speaker 1: turned into almost triage where you were just trying to 215 00:11:01,520 --> 00:11:04,199 Speaker 1: get guys ready and it's next man up, and you know, 216 00:11:04,360 --> 00:11:07,640 Speaker 1: sometimes when you're missing some of those key guys, it's 217 00:11:07,679 --> 00:11:09,360 Speaker 1: gonna show. And I think that was part of the 218 00:11:09,360 --> 00:11:10,800 Speaker 1: thing that we all hung our hat on at the 219 00:11:10,800 --> 00:11:12,480 Speaker 1: beginning of the season, was saying, well, at least we 220 00:11:12,520 --> 00:11:14,840 Speaker 1: have a couple of big name guys who've been around 221 00:11:14,920 --> 00:11:17,280 Speaker 1: on the defensive line, and you've still got Barn Kendricks, 222 00:11:17,320 --> 00:11:19,760 Speaker 1: and then you've still got guys like Harrison Smith and 223 00:11:19,800 --> 00:11:21,560 Speaker 1: Anthony Harris on the back end. You know, you have 224 00:11:21,600 --> 00:11:23,760 Speaker 1: these veterans that can help get these young guys ready. 225 00:11:23,800 --> 00:11:26,960 Speaker 1: But when those guys started going down and you started 226 00:11:27,000 --> 00:11:29,360 Speaker 1: losing out on a Daniel Hunter and an Anthony Barr 227 00:11:29,400 --> 00:11:31,599 Speaker 1: early in the season, and then you know, Eric was 228 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:33,839 Speaker 1: kind of the glue hole and everything together, especially on 229 00:11:33,880 --> 00:11:36,960 Speaker 1: the front end in the middle, helping erase mistakes. Once 230 00:11:37,000 --> 00:11:38,960 Speaker 1: he went down, you definitely saw on the back end 231 00:11:38,960 --> 00:11:41,400 Speaker 1: of the season how crucial he was on this team. 232 00:11:41,440 --> 00:11:44,600 Speaker 1: So for me, it, yeah, it was frustrating, and you 233 00:11:44,640 --> 00:11:48,040 Speaker 1: saw a bunch of issues that way, and the statistically, 234 00:11:48,040 --> 00:11:50,720 Speaker 1: the numbers all all dropped, you know, drastically from the 235 00:11:50,760 --> 00:11:54,360 Speaker 1: season before. But at the same point, I think kind 236 00:11:54,360 --> 00:11:55,960 Speaker 1: of like we were talking about an offense, what you 237 00:11:55,960 --> 00:11:58,560 Speaker 1: can build on for the future. Guys like Danceller and 238 00:11:58,559 --> 00:12:00,840 Speaker 1: Gladney are definitely getting some refs this year that's going 239 00:12:00,880 --> 00:12:02,800 Speaker 1: to help for the future. And just think about how 240 00:12:02,840 --> 00:12:05,120 Speaker 1: talented they were as rookies. Now you're going to talk 241 00:12:05,160 --> 00:12:08,160 Speaker 1: about an actual offseason coming up working with Zimmer, that's 242 00:12:08,160 --> 00:12:10,560 Speaker 1: gonna be huge, And I just think those guys in 243 00:12:10,640 --> 00:12:14,120 Speaker 1: year two, it just it's gonna be a huge leap 244 00:12:14,160 --> 00:12:16,800 Speaker 1: frog forward. It reminds me and I brought it up before, 245 00:12:16,880 --> 00:12:19,040 Speaker 1: but I'm just gonna harp on it again. Reminds me 246 00:12:19,080 --> 00:12:20,520 Speaker 1: of the year that Aaron Rodgers went up for the 247 00:12:20,520 --> 00:12:23,160 Speaker 1: Packers and they had guys like Kevin King came in 248 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:25,520 Speaker 1: as rookies and they got picked on all that season. 249 00:12:25,559 --> 00:12:28,040 Speaker 1: In the following year when Rodgers was back and healthy, man, 250 00:12:28,360 --> 00:12:31,320 Speaker 1: those guys were absolute studs on those defenses. So I 251 00:12:31,400 --> 00:12:32,920 Speaker 1: kind of look at it same thing for us. As 252 00:12:32,960 --> 00:12:34,720 Speaker 1: long as those young guys got these refs this year, 253 00:12:34,760 --> 00:12:36,559 Speaker 1: it's going to help them leaps and bounds next year 254 00:12:36,559 --> 00:12:38,960 Speaker 1: in year two. Picking off what j just said, like 255 00:12:39,200 --> 00:12:43,000 Speaker 1: the biggest jump an NFL player has in his careers 256 00:12:43,040 --> 00:12:45,800 Speaker 1: from year one to year two, So saying what these 257 00:12:45,800 --> 00:12:47,679 Speaker 1: guys can do in year two is going to be 258 00:12:48,440 --> 00:12:50,160 Speaker 1: very exciting to watch it. I mean, what we had 259 00:12:50,240 --> 00:12:53,480 Speaker 1: thirteen rookies play this year, that says a lot about 260 00:12:53,760 --> 00:12:56,240 Speaker 1: the trajectory of a team when you have all those 261 00:12:56,320 --> 00:12:59,560 Speaker 1: rookies playing in a year and playing meaningful snaps and 262 00:12:59,600 --> 00:13:01,840 Speaker 1: then moving forward to year two and seeing what they 263 00:13:01,840 --> 00:13:04,160 Speaker 1: can do there. I think this guy's a limit for 264 00:13:04,600 --> 00:13:06,920 Speaker 1: a lot of those guys, but more so for what 265 00:13:07,000 --> 00:13:09,680 Speaker 1: you just said, Jay Cameron, Danseler and Jeff Gladney, like, 266 00:13:10,120 --> 00:13:12,600 Speaker 1: I'm looking forward to that also, I know Gabe is 267 00:13:12,640 --> 00:13:15,800 Speaker 1: super high on Jeff Gladney and what he did this year. 268 00:13:15,840 --> 00:13:19,320 Speaker 1: I mean, going from nine snaps Week one against the 269 00:13:19,360 --> 00:13:22,320 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers to pretty much being the Vikings number 270 00:13:22,360 --> 00:13:26,440 Speaker 1: one cornerback all year, pretty amazing what he and Cameron 271 00:13:26,520 --> 00:13:30,160 Speaker 1: Danceler did. Those two guys are definitely positives. Looking at 272 00:13:30,160 --> 00:13:32,600 Speaker 1: some of the other positives. Eric Wilson was the one 273 00:13:32,600 --> 00:13:35,720 Speaker 1: guy who's there like all year man for the Vikings linebackers. 274 00:13:36,200 --> 00:13:38,600 Speaker 1: He played in every game he was able to start, 275 00:13:38,640 --> 00:13:41,319 Speaker 1: He was able to get a few interceptions, a few sacks. 276 00:13:41,800 --> 00:13:44,040 Speaker 1: Big step for him this year, that's for sure. And 277 00:13:44,080 --> 00:13:46,439 Speaker 1: then obviously the things that Eric Kendricks did this year 278 00:13:46,520 --> 00:13:49,559 Speaker 1: before he was injured. Sixty nine tackles this year. I mean, 279 00:13:50,440 --> 00:13:52,960 Speaker 1: we all know what he means to this Vikings defense 280 00:13:53,000 --> 00:13:54,960 Speaker 1: and the fact that he probably would have been in 281 00:13:55,040 --> 00:13:57,240 Speaker 1: All Pro for the second year in a row if 282 00:13:57,240 --> 00:14:00,959 Speaker 1: he didn't go down with that injury. Just going downst here. Obviously, 283 00:14:01,000 --> 00:14:04,080 Speaker 1: Harrison Smith, some people said he's gonna fall off a 284 00:14:04,080 --> 00:14:06,959 Speaker 1: little bit this year. He ends the season with five interceptions, 285 00:14:07,000 --> 00:14:09,839 Speaker 1: tied for fourth in the NFL. Definitely had a good 286 00:14:09,920 --> 00:14:13,559 Speaker 1: year at the safety position, and we definitely saw Anthony 287 00:14:13,559 --> 00:14:15,920 Speaker 1: Harris take a little bit of a step back from 288 00:14:15,920 --> 00:14:19,640 Speaker 1: his six interceptions, which were first in the NFL last season. 289 00:14:19,680 --> 00:14:21,880 Speaker 1: He had zero this year. So I still think it 290 00:14:22,280 --> 00:14:25,200 Speaker 1: was a pretty solid season for Anthony Harris. And the 291 00:14:25,280 --> 00:14:28,160 Speaker 1: big area game where I thought the Vikings were lacking 292 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:32,120 Speaker 1: this year was the pass rush. There was really not 293 00:14:32,280 --> 00:14:34,880 Speaker 1: a game where I could remember that the Vikings had 294 00:14:34,920 --> 00:14:37,280 Speaker 1: that pass rush that they've had in years passed. It's 295 00:14:37,320 --> 00:14:40,360 Speaker 1: pretty amazing the performance of some of these young cornerbacks 296 00:14:40,840 --> 00:14:44,120 Speaker 1: when there was really no dominating pass rush that were 297 00:14:44,200 --> 00:14:48,480 Speaker 1: used to in this Vikings defense with Mike Zimmer game. Yeah, 298 00:14:48,520 --> 00:14:51,560 Speaker 1: I think a stat that just stands out that pretty 299 00:14:51,600 --> 00:14:54,520 Speaker 1: much solidifies what you just said is the sack total. 300 00:14:54,600 --> 00:14:58,480 Speaker 1: Like Daniel Hunter fourteen and a half sacks in twenty nineteen, 301 00:14:58,600 --> 00:15:01,240 Speaker 1: as a team in twenty twenty, the Vikings had twenty three, 302 00:15:01,560 --> 00:15:03,880 Speaker 1: You got twenty three sacks, you had fourteen and a half. 303 00:15:03,920 --> 00:15:06,440 Speaker 1: You got thirty seven and a half sacks. So, I 304 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:09,000 Speaker 1: mean that says a lot when you talk about pass rushing, 305 00:15:09,080 --> 00:15:11,560 Speaker 1: and I mean when you look at games like the 306 00:15:11,640 --> 00:15:13,520 Speaker 1: Green Bay Packers in Week one, you don't get a 307 00:15:13,520 --> 00:15:17,240 Speaker 1: pass rush on Aaron Rodgers. That affects the outcome of 308 00:15:17,280 --> 00:15:19,840 Speaker 1: the game. There were so many games Atlanta Falcons game 309 00:15:19,880 --> 00:15:22,440 Speaker 1: and it just came down to, like you just said, 310 00:15:22,520 --> 00:15:26,400 Speaker 1: like we didn't have our core guys coming into this year. 311 00:15:26,440 --> 00:15:29,920 Speaker 1: We knew during the preseason that you'll have your Eric 312 00:15:30,000 --> 00:15:32,920 Speaker 1: Kendricks and Anthony Barrs the Neil Hunters before we knew 313 00:15:32,960 --> 00:15:35,840 Speaker 1: they would get injured, especially the Neil Hunter. But you 314 00:15:35,920 --> 00:15:38,440 Speaker 1: take out those three guys or just let's just say 315 00:15:38,440 --> 00:15:40,520 Speaker 1: two guys, the Neil Hunter and Anthony Barr two guys 316 00:15:40,600 --> 00:15:42,640 Speaker 1: right there that make a lot of plays for this 317 00:15:42,760 --> 00:15:45,200 Speaker 1: Vikings defense. That mean a lot to this Vikings defense. 318 00:15:45,560 --> 00:15:47,880 Speaker 1: On top of the turnover that we had just had 319 00:15:47,880 --> 00:15:50,480 Speaker 1: this offseason, that says a lot right there when it 320 00:15:50,480 --> 00:15:53,400 Speaker 1: comes to the production value that you're going to get 321 00:15:53,400 --> 00:15:55,480 Speaker 1: on the field. Granted, you know a lot of these 322 00:15:55,520 --> 00:15:58,120 Speaker 1: young guys were putting in some tough situations. I mean, 323 00:15:58,120 --> 00:16:00,600 Speaker 1: you're telling DJ want them to rush off the end 324 00:16:00,640 --> 00:16:03,320 Speaker 1: against David Baktiri, Like I was gonna say, that's a 325 00:16:03,440 --> 00:16:06,160 Speaker 1: welcome to the NFL rookie moment. You know, it's like, hey, 326 00:16:06,240 --> 00:16:08,600 Speaker 1: you want to be up here at the big boys congratulations, 327 00:16:08,600 --> 00:16:10,520 Speaker 1: you get David Bactieri today, which is going to be 328 00:16:10,520 --> 00:16:13,360 Speaker 1: a meal for the entire game exactly. And just from 329 00:16:13,360 --> 00:16:16,360 Speaker 1: talking to DJ want Him earlier this year, I mean, 330 00:16:17,120 --> 00:16:19,680 Speaker 1: he talked about that progression, just you know, having to 331 00:16:19,760 --> 00:16:22,720 Speaker 1: learn different moves, different techniques, like you can't use the 332 00:16:22,760 --> 00:16:25,120 Speaker 1: same move that you used in college, and it only 333 00:16:25,160 --> 00:16:28,080 Speaker 1: resulted in you know him, you know, progressing throughout this 334 00:16:28,240 --> 00:16:30,160 Speaker 1: Vikings defense. End of the year with I think two 335 00:16:30,160 --> 00:16:33,000 Speaker 1: and a half sacks, three sacks and those are you know, 336 00:16:33,240 --> 00:16:35,720 Speaker 1: big sacks like that that you're you're saying a lot 337 00:16:35,840 --> 00:16:39,720 Speaker 1: for a rookie defensive end who needs to gain some 338 00:16:39,760 --> 00:16:42,360 Speaker 1: weight to come in and make immediate plays like that. 339 00:16:42,400 --> 00:16:44,840 Speaker 1: So not the best year, but a lot of positives 340 00:16:44,880 --> 00:16:47,280 Speaker 1: moving forward. Yeah, I'm definitely looking forward to what DJ 341 00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:49,560 Speaker 1: Wantam can do. I mean, one, you know, you have 342 00:16:49,640 --> 00:16:51,640 Speaker 1: to think of the play that he made it in 343 00:16:51,680 --> 00:16:54,200 Speaker 1: the game at lambeau Field against the Green Bay Packers. 344 00:16:54,360 --> 00:16:56,760 Speaker 1: I think when he took down Aaron Rodgers to seal 345 00:16:56,840 --> 00:16:59,440 Speaker 1: the game. That was one of the biggest plays in 346 00:16:59,480 --> 00:17:03,160 Speaker 1: the Viking season and a play that really had the 347 00:17:03,240 --> 00:17:05,800 Speaker 1: Vikings go on that run where we win five in 348 00:17:05,800 --> 00:17:09,359 Speaker 1: a row. On that streak, So that was definitely one 349 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:11,320 Speaker 1: of the biggest plays in the season, and he's a 350 00:17:11,359 --> 00:17:14,439 Speaker 1: player that I will definitely look forward to on the 351 00:17:14,560 --> 00:17:18,000 Speaker 1: Vikings defensive line. A Fadio Dnibo three and a half 352 00:17:18,000 --> 00:17:21,879 Speaker 1: sacks this year definitely not anything eye opening from a 353 00:17:21,960 --> 00:17:24,240 Speaker 1: jump that maybe we expected from him, but we know 354 00:17:24,280 --> 00:17:27,480 Speaker 1: what he can bring as a secondary pass rusher to 355 00:17:27,600 --> 00:17:29,879 Speaker 1: this Vikings defensive line. And then obviously you need to 356 00:17:29,920 --> 00:17:32,760 Speaker 1: get Michael Pierce back, and you get to Neil hunterback, 357 00:17:32,840 --> 00:17:35,040 Speaker 1: and I think a lot of things will fall into place, 358 00:17:35,080 --> 00:17:38,040 Speaker 1: hopefully a few draft picks at that position for Andre 359 00:17:38,160 --> 00:17:41,280 Speaker 1: Patterson to work with, but I would expect the Vikings 360 00:17:41,359 --> 00:17:44,560 Speaker 1: defensive line to be much improved heading into the twenty 361 00:17:44,600 --> 00:17:47,440 Speaker 1: twenty one season. Another area that needs to improve on 362 00:17:47,480 --> 00:17:51,280 Speaker 1: this Vikings team is the special teams unit. Marjuan Maloof 363 00:17:51,440 --> 00:17:55,240 Speaker 1: will not be back as the special team's coordinator, according 364 00:17:55,280 --> 00:17:58,520 Speaker 1: to Mike zimmer And in his end of season press conference. So, Jay, 365 00:17:58,800 --> 00:18:00,720 Speaker 1: why don't you run us through some of the notes 366 00:18:00,760 --> 00:18:03,399 Speaker 1: youff here on the Vikings special teams unit In the 367 00:18:03,440 --> 00:18:06,359 Speaker 1: year of twenty twenty we were sixteenth and kick return 368 00:18:06,480 --> 00:18:09,879 Speaker 1: yards per game this year, which was identical to twenty nineteen. 369 00:18:10,200 --> 00:18:12,640 Speaker 1: We just had thirty three more attempts. At the same point, 370 00:18:12,640 --> 00:18:14,679 Speaker 1: our average actually went down to twenty one point nine 371 00:18:14,760 --> 00:18:17,680 Speaker 1: yards per kick return average. So it's one of those 372 00:18:17,680 --> 00:18:20,119 Speaker 1: when you're sixteenth in the league and you're kind of 373 00:18:20,160 --> 00:18:22,119 Speaker 1: smack dab right in the middle. It's it's nothing to 374 00:18:22,160 --> 00:18:23,880 Speaker 1: write home to mom about. But at the same point, 375 00:18:23,960 --> 00:18:26,760 Speaker 1: it was something that we held pat on that one 376 00:18:26,760 --> 00:18:30,080 Speaker 1: where everything else seemed to trend downwards. We were last 377 00:18:30,080 --> 00:18:32,159 Speaker 1: in putt return yards per game, we were last in 378 00:18:32,200 --> 00:18:34,399 Speaker 1: percent of field goals made this season, and we were 379 00:18:34,400 --> 00:18:37,080 Speaker 1: twenty ninth and extra points made. So there was a 380 00:18:37,080 --> 00:18:39,280 Speaker 1: lot of focus on Dan Bailey. He went through some 381 00:18:39,359 --> 00:18:41,240 Speaker 1: rough patches this season and then he kind of brought 382 00:18:41,240 --> 00:18:44,320 Speaker 1: it back together at the same point. You know, I 383 00:18:44,359 --> 00:18:47,199 Speaker 1: think the thing that's the most frustrating about this across 384 00:18:47,320 --> 00:18:50,200 Speaker 1: the board for the season was we went into the 385 00:18:50,240 --> 00:18:52,720 Speaker 1: season saying, for the first time in a long time, 386 00:18:52,760 --> 00:18:54,760 Speaker 1: we don't have to worry about special teams, and then 387 00:18:54,800 --> 00:18:57,120 Speaker 1: by the end of the season it still turned into 388 00:18:57,160 --> 00:19:00,200 Speaker 1: a headache for the head coach and for the team. 389 00:19:00,280 --> 00:19:02,840 Speaker 1: I just think they want to find consistency so bad 390 00:19:03,359 --> 00:19:05,879 Speaker 1: that they're going to do everything they can this offseason. 391 00:19:05,920 --> 00:19:08,440 Speaker 1: I mean, they switched out the long snapper at the 392 00:19:08,560 --> 00:19:12,000 Speaker 1: end of at the beginning of December. It's something that 393 00:19:12,040 --> 00:19:14,080 Speaker 1: they're going to continue to search for it. And maybe 394 00:19:14,080 --> 00:19:16,040 Speaker 1: if they get another fresh set of eyes here coming 395 00:19:16,040 --> 00:19:18,520 Speaker 1: in as a new special teams coordinator, it'll give him 396 00:19:18,560 --> 00:19:20,880 Speaker 1: a fresh outlook on things. But I think in general, 397 00:19:21,200 --> 00:19:22,880 Speaker 1: the head coach is going to look at this and say, 398 00:19:23,359 --> 00:19:26,040 Speaker 1: just fix it. Whether it's making your extra points and 399 00:19:26,119 --> 00:19:28,040 Speaker 1: hitting your field goals or flipping the field in the 400 00:19:28,040 --> 00:19:30,960 Speaker 1: punting game, those are all key pieces that this team 401 00:19:31,000 --> 00:19:34,520 Speaker 1: needs to consistently get better for twenty twenty one. Looking 402 00:19:34,600 --> 00:19:38,160 Speaker 1: at some of the key members of this special teams unit, obviously, 403 00:19:38,240 --> 00:19:40,800 Speaker 1: Dan Bailey did not have the season that we're accustomed 404 00:19:40,800 --> 00:19:43,639 Speaker 1: to being one of the best kickers in NFL history. 405 00:19:43,680 --> 00:19:47,600 Speaker 1: He was fifteen of twenty two the percentage was last 406 00:19:47,640 --> 00:19:51,480 Speaker 1: in the NFL, and his extra point percentage thirty seven 407 00:19:51,520 --> 00:19:54,280 Speaker 1: of forty three was also last in the NFL, which 408 00:19:54,680 --> 00:19:57,919 Speaker 1: definitely is not what you're accustomed to seeing with Dan Bailey. 409 00:19:57,960 --> 00:20:00,920 Speaker 1: And then obviously what happened at the long snapper position. 410 00:20:01,560 --> 00:20:05,840 Speaker 1: We had a guy from Rutgers Andrew DePaolo pick up 411 00:20:05,880 --> 00:20:09,520 Speaker 1: for Austin Cutting, who had a bunch of struggles at 412 00:20:09,560 --> 00:20:11,439 Speaker 1: the early point in the season. He picked up for 413 00:20:11,560 --> 00:20:14,959 Speaker 1: him on December first. The Vikings had to cut ties 414 00:20:15,680 --> 00:20:19,000 Speaker 1: with a former draft pick, so that definitely was not 415 00:20:19,080 --> 00:20:22,760 Speaker 1: a position where we had any stability either. Probably the 416 00:20:22,800 --> 00:20:25,520 Speaker 1: one spot at the kicking position that we had some 417 00:20:25,560 --> 00:20:30,080 Speaker 1: sort of stability was the punter. But still Britain coquit 418 00:20:30,160 --> 00:20:33,560 Speaker 1: had only had eleven punts inside the twenty this year, 419 00:20:33,640 --> 00:20:36,680 Speaker 1: which this is definitely a group that you're gonna have 420 00:20:36,760 --> 00:20:39,320 Speaker 1: a new guy in charge at this special teams unit. 421 00:20:39,359 --> 00:20:42,960 Speaker 1: We had some stability in years pass with Mike Preefer. 422 00:20:43,520 --> 00:20:46,119 Speaker 1: There's definitely gonna be a lot of changes at the 423 00:20:46,280 --> 00:20:50,720 Speaker 1: Special Teams unit looking forward. We will get to looking 424 00:20:50,720 --> 00:20:53,280 Speaker 1: ahead to the twenty twenty one season here with Gabe, 425 00:20:53,520 --> 00:20:57,879 Speaker 1: but first join Adam Feeling and the Salvation Army in 426 00:20:58,040 --> 00:21:02,640 Speaker 1: providing food, shelter and for our neighbors in need. Tech 427 00:21:02,800 --> 00:21:08,520 Speaker 1: scoal to two, four, three, six five to donate today. 428 00:21:09,320 --> 00:21:12,120 Speaker 1: All right, Gabe, Well, now that we've gone through some 429 00:21:12,200 --> 00:21:14,600 Speaker 1: of the positives on the offensive side of the ball 430 00:21:14,880 --> 00:21:18,800 Speaker 1: and some of the negatives on defense, and special teams. 431 00:21:19,119 --> 00:21:22,000 Speaker 1: What is your number one key um looking forward to 432 00:21:22,080 --> 00:21:25,520 Speaker 1: twenty twenty one? Like, what what's the biggest storyline that 433 00:21:25,600 --> 00:21:28,600 Speaker 1: you're looking forward to here as we enter the off 434 00:21:28,680 --> 00:21:30,800 Speaker 1: season and watch a bunch of other teams play in 435 00:21:30,800 --> 00:21:34,240 Speaker 1: the playoffs, Like I'm really looking forward to seeing how 436 00:21:34,280 --> 00:21:38,440 Speaker 1: we attack this this offseason. I mean, we know there 437 00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,400 Speaker 1: are some contracts expiring, we know there are some things 438 00:21:41,440 --> 00:21:44,760 Speaker 1: we need to replace as far as position wise, but 439 00:21:44,840 --> 00:21:47,880 Speaker 1: it's more so you know, are we going to find 440 00:21:47,880 --> 00:21:51,760 Speaker 1: another pass rusher? Are we going to um try to 441 00:21:51,800 --> 00:21:53,879 Speaker 1: fill a hole on the offensive line? Like what are 442 00:21:53,880 --> 00:21:56,000 Speaker 1: we going to do to attack this offseason? What are 443 00:21:56,000 --> 00:21:58,280 Speaker 1: we going to address in free agency versus the draft? 444 00:21:58,320 --> 00:22:02,520 Speaker 1: And saying how all that shakes up will be interesting. 445 00:22:02,720 --> 00:22:05,560 Speaker 1: We know we have the weapons at a lot of positions. 446 00:22:05,600 --> 00:22:07,840 Speaker 1: There are only you know, a few holes here and 447 00:22:07,880 --> 00:22:10,880 Speaker 1: there that can really set us apart when when we're 448 00:22:10,880 --> 00:22:12,960 Speaker 1: talking about making a run in the playoffs in twenty 449 00:22:13,040 --> 00:22:15,320 Speaker 1: twenty one, So seeing how we do that will be 450 00:22:15,560 --> 00:22:17,719 Speaker 1: fun and exciting to see. And I'm sure Rick Spilman 451 00:22:17,760 --> 00:22:20,639 Speaker 1: and those guys have a plan in place when it 452 00:22:20,680 --> 00:22:24,120 Speaker 1: comes to attacking this offseason. Jay what's your biggest storyline 453 00:22:24,119 --> 00:22:25,879 Speaker 1: heading into the off season. I think it's going to 454 00:22:25,960 --> 00:22:29,840 Speaker 1: be whatever the turnover stability is going to be. You know, 455 00:22:29,840 --> 00:22:32,600 Speaker 1: if if we've already seen that maloof is not coming 456 00:22:32,640 --> 00:22:34,480 Speaker 1: back this year, and then I think for me, the 457 00:22:34,480 --> 00:22:37,119 Speaker 1: biggest lynchpin on this thing is the Kubiak piece. Like 458 00:22:37,440 --> 00:22:40,320 Speaker 1: if Kubiak does decide to leave and then we're looking 459 00:22:40,359 --> 00:22:43,639 Speaker 1: for another coordinator here for what six and six years 460 00:22:43,720 --> 00:22:46,800 Speaker 1: kind of a deal? You know, is that something where 461 00:22:46,920 --> 00:22:49,439 Speaker 1: where Clint takes over or is this something where they 462 00:22:49,440 --> 00:22:51,919 Speaker 1: bring somebody in from outside again and they have to 463 00:22:51,960 --> 00:22:53,600 Speaker 1: go through and kind of get used to that again. 464 00:22:53,640 --> 00:22:55,960 Speaker 1: Like the stability part is the part for me that 465 00:22:56,080 --> 00:22:58,600 Speaker 1: is the biggest question mark. Now, if you're telling me 466 00:22:58,680 --> 00:23:00,560 Speaker 1: that you know, Clint takes over and it's going to 467 00:23:00,640 --> 00:23:03,680 Speaker 1: be similar to what Stefanski did and what his dad did, 468 00:23:03,840 --> 00:23:07,520 Speaker 1: then great. You should assume that the offense is gonna 469 00:23:07,560 --> 00:23:10,920 Speaker 1: take another step forward and if that happens, then defensively, 470 00:23:11,160 --> 00:23:12,840 Speaker 1: that is the thing you have to focus on. You 471 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:16,080 Speaker 1: know that that was our biggest headache this season. Now, 472 00:23:16,359 --> 00:23:18,720 Speaker 1: like we just talked about, all those guys had extra 473 00:23:19,040 --> 00:23:21,879 Speaker 1: time this season to be able to get some experience 474 00:23:21,920 --> 00:23:24,000 Speaker 1: for the young guys and hopefully the old dogs come 475 00:23:24,040 --> 00:23:26,720 Speaker 1: back and get healed. If that's the case, then that, 476 00:23:27,080 --> 00:23:29,680 Speaker 1: for me, that is what you're focusing on. But if 477 00:23:29,720 --> 00:23:31,800 Speaker 1: all of a sudden you have a new offensive coordinator 478 00:23:31,800 --> 00:23:33,560 Speaker 1: come in with a whole new scheme and a whole 479 00:23:33,560 --> 00:23:36,919 Speaker 1: new system, then that turns into the instability part. So 480 00:23:37,000 --> 00:23:39,680 Speaker 1: I guess for me, it's kind of a it's kind 481 00:23:39,680 --> 00:23:41,760 Speaker 1: of a if A stays the same, that we're going 482 00:23:41,840 --> 00:23:44,760 Speaker 1: to go to be. Otherwise it's going to be, you know, 483 00:23:45,119 --> 00:23:47,439 Speaker 1: fruit basket upset again and everyone's picking up the pieces 484 00:23:47,480 --> 00:23:50,400 Speaker 1: and saying, Okay, what do we got Now? Sim's your guy, 485 00:23:50,440 --> 00:23:51,960 Speaker 1: he's your leader, he's the one that's going to help 486 00:23:51,960 --> 00:23:53,520 Speaker 1: set the tone for what he really wants out of 487 00:23:53,520 --> 00:23:56,320 Speaker 1: these guys. But still, if they can get a normal offseason, 488 00:23:56,400 --> 00:23:58,880 Speaker 1: then it just turns into getting comfortable with who you're 489 00:23:58,880 --> 00:24:01,640 Speaker 1: working with and addressing the issues that we know were 490 00:24:01,840 --> 00:24:05,520 Speaker 1: issued during the twenty twenty season. And that's so important, right, 491 00:24:05,560 --> 00:24:09,200 Speaker 1: I mean before this season started, Kirk says, before this 492 00:24:09,280 --> 00:24:12,120 Speaker 1: year he had had a different person in his heir 493 00:24:12,440 --> 00:24:15,040 Speaker 1: the six years, like the last six years leading up 494 00:24:15,040 --> 00:24:17,119 Speaker 1: to this year, So Gary Kubiak was in his there 495 00:24:17,200 --> 00:24:19,639 Speaker 1: last year, Rick Kevin Stefanski, and then Gary Kubiak was 496 00:24:19,680 --> 00:24:23,000 Speaker 1: here this year. So that continuity was huge for Kirk 497 00:24:23,040 --> 00:24:24,480 Speaker 1: and we saw it in his stats this year where 498 00:24:24,480 --> 00:24:27,160 Speaker 1: I guess it stats the past two seasons. So that's 499 00:24:27,160 --> 00:24:29,560 Speaker 1: going to be huge, man, seeing what Gary Kubiak does, 500 00:24:29,600 --> 00:24:34,600 Speaker 1: because we've seen what Kirk can do if he has consistency, 501 00:24:34,640 --> 00:24:37,240 Speaker 1: and I think that's what we're learning is Kirk needs 502 00:24:37,280 --> 00:24:39,600 Speaker 1: to know where everything is going to be, when it's 503 00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:43,640 Speaker 1: going to be there. So having Gary Kubiak back will 504 00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:45,720 Speaker 1: be huge. But like you said, Jay, we'll just have 505 00:24:45,760 --> 00:24:48,760 Speaker 1: to see because that continuity is huge not only for 506 00:24:48,880 --> 00:24:51,720 Speaker 1: Kirk but just in the NFL. Well, the Gary Kubiak 507 00:24:51,800 --> 00:24:55,280 Speaker 1: storyline is quite the thing to follow. So why not 508 00:24:55,600 --> 00:24:59,160 Speaker 1: here from Tom pella Sero from NFL Network, who broke 509 00:24:59,240 --> 00:25:02,080 Speaker 1: the news out the Gary Kuback story. Let's go to 510 00:25:02,119 --> 00:25:06,399 Speaker 1: the interview with Tom Pellisero right now. What is up? 511 00:25:06,480 --> 00:25:09,560 Speaker 1: Vikings fans? Welcome back to the Minnesota Vikings podcast, and 512 00:25:09,640 --> 00:25:13,320 Speaker 1: this week's guest, it's Tom Pellisero of the NFL Network. 513 00:25:13,400 --> 00:25:16,600 Speaker 1: You've been covering the Vikings this season has been insane 514 00:25:16,720 --> 00:25:19,639 Speaker 1: with COVID protocols, with everything going on in the NFL, 515 00:25:20,080 --> 00:25:22,320 Speaker 1: so is it's safe to say this has been the 516 00:25:22,400 --> 00:25:25,960 Speaker 1: craziest year of your career covering the NFL. It's definitely 517 00:25:25,960 --> 00:25:29,000 Speaker 1: been the most unique year. And my first year covering 518 00:25:29,040 --> 00:25:31,960 Speaker 1: the NFL was two thousand and three with the Vikings, 519 00:25:32,359 --> 00:25:34,879 Speaker 1: And I was reminded of that recently when I was 520 00:25:35,000 --> 00:25:37,920 Speaker 1: covering a Dolphins game where Exhibi and Howard had a 521 00:25:38,000 --> 00:25:41,080 Speaker 1: chance to match the record for most consecutive games with 522 00:25:41,160 --> 00:25:43,920 Speaker 1: an interception, and I asked our research department, so who 523 00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:47,080 Speaker 1: has the record? The answer was Brian Russell two thousand 524 00:25:47,080 --> 00:25:50,080 Speaker 1: and three Vikings. I went, oh, yeah, I throwing it back. 525 00:25:51,680 --> 00:25:55,200 Speaker 1: I mean, that is a full generation of players ago. 526 00:25:55,840 --> 00:25:59,040 Speaker 1: But I would certainly say just the amount of challenges 527 00:25:59,520 --> 00:26:02,240 Speaker 1: the team have had to overcome when you're talking about 528 00:26:02,320 --> 00:26:05,640 Speaker 1: COVID nineteen, the pandemic really rewind all the way back 529 00:26:05,640 --> 00:26:08,240 Speaker 1: to the collective bargaining stuff that was going on through 530 00:26:08,480 --> 00:26:12,680 Speaker 1: the course of the twenty nineteen season, continued through the postseason, 531 00:26:12,960 --> 00:26:15,639 Speaker 1: really came to a head around combined time, and the 532 00:26:15,800 --> 00:26:20,680 Speaker 1: Players Association voted to approve the CBA right before COVID 533 00:26:20,840 --> 00:26:24,199 Speaker 1: really hit and upended so much of things. And we 534 00:26:24,200 --> 00:26:27,320 Speaker 1: went straight from CBA and labored around the clock in 535 00:26:27,400 --> 00:26:31,240 Speaker 1: mid March two. Okay, now we're into a global pandemic. 536 00:26:31,920 --> 00:26:33,760 Speaker 1: You know. The one kind of thread through the entire 537 00:26:33,800 --> 00:26:36,919 Speaker 1: thing is the NFL has found a way you go 538 00:26:36,960 --> 00:26:39,560 Speaker 1: back to free agency. While everyone's going free agency's gonna 539 00:26:39,600 --> 00:26:41,480 Speaker 1: be delayed. It has to be delayed. And listen, there's 540 00:26:41,480 --> 00:26:44,600 Speaker 1: a lot of general managers who wanted that too. Nope, 541 00:26:44,960 --> 00:26:47,080 Speaker 1: you're doing this. It's going to be different, but we're 542 00:26:47,119 --> 00:26:49,480 Speaker 1: doing it. We went through a week of free agency, 543 00:26:49,520 --> 00:26:51,560 Speaker 1: you know, around the clock on NFL network, and then 544 00:26:51,600 --> 00:26:54,639 Speaker 1: it was okay, now we're back. The draft has to 545 00:26:54,640 --> 00:26:57,800 Speaker 1: be pushed back. Nope, it was we're gonna find ways. 546 00:26:57,840 --> 00:26:59,439 Speaker 1: We're gonna it was, you know, we're gonna move you 547 00:26:59,520 --> 00:27:01,200 Speaker 1: to an offside location. No, now you can't do that. 548 00:27:01,200 --> 00:27:03,119 Speaker 1: Now we're gonna be at home. Everyone's going none of 549 00:27:03,160 --> 00:27:04,560 Speaker 1: this is going to work. And they found a way 550 00:27:04,560 --> 00:27:07,160 Speaker 1: in the draft. Even the people who were really concerned 551 00:27:07,160 --> 00:27:09,399 Speaker 1: logistically about whether or not this was going to be 552 00:27:09,440 --> 00:27:13,159 Speaker 1: doable ended up you know, saying afterwards, you know what, 553 00:27:13,240 --> 00:27:16,439 Speaker 1: that that went pretty well. It was pretty smooth, you know, 554 00:27:16,520 --> 00:27:19,320 Speaker 1: Obviously none of this is ideal. Losing your OTAs, losing 555 00:27:19,359 --> 00:27:22,600 Speaker 1: training camp, all the revenue challenges. You're talking about a 556 00:27:22,640 --> 00:27:25,800 Speaker 1: multibillion dollar revenue shortfall that is going to impact the 557 00:27:25,840 --> 00:27:28,359 Speaker 1: salary cap in twenty twenty one and potentially beyond. You 558 00:27:28,680 --> 00:27:31,159 Speaker 1: that's a big deal. That's a really big deal. But 559 00:27:31,480 --> 00:27:34,080 Speaker 1: to play two hundred fifty six games in seventeen weeks 560 00:27:34,119 --> 00:27:37,200 Speaker 1: amidst the global pandemic that we saw, you know, obviously 561 00:27:37,200 --> 00:27:40,200 Speaker 1: at different stages, but it stopped the NBA, it stopped 562 00:27:40,200 --> 00:27:42,199 Speaker 1: the NHL. Those leagues had to bubble up to come 563 00:27:42,240 --> 00:27:45,920 Speaker 1: back and resume for their playoffs. Baseball had substantial disruptions, 564 00:27:45,920 --> 00:27:48,240 Speaker 1: you know, the Marlins shutting down their season. The NFL 565 00:27:48,280 --> 00:27:52,440 Speaker 1: really had two outbreaks the whole season. It was Tennessee 566 00:27:52,720 --> 00:27:55,520 Speaker 1: and it was Baltimore. You of course had cases everywhere 567 00:27:55,560 --> 00:27:59,040 Speaker 1: because COVID is everywhere except Seattle. They didn't have a 568 00:27:59,040 --> 00:28:02,360 Speaker 1: positive test the entire season, which is still absolutely remarkable, 569 00:28:02,359 --> 00:28:05,240 Speaker 1: But everybody else was dealing with this throughout the course 570 00:28:05,280 --> 00:28:07,680 Speaker 1: of the season. So to get a very long way 571 00:28:07,720 --> 00:28:09,679 Speaker 1: to answer to your question, yes, this has been a 572 00:28:09,760 --> 00:28:12,200 Speaker 1: very unique season. We're not out of the woods yet, 573 00:28:12,400 --> 00:28:15,639 Speaker 1: but two hundred fifty six down, thirteen to go, and 574 00:28:15,680 --> 00:28:17,879 Speaker 1: we're one month away. Here in a day as we 575 00:28:17,880 --> 00:28:20,840 Speaker 1: recorded this from Super Bowl fifty five happy in the Tampa. 576 00:28:21,040 --> 00:28:23,439 Speaker 1: It's amazing the way you have such a pulse on 577 00:28:23,480 --> 00:28:25,400 Speaker 1: the league at this point in your career, I mean, 578 00:28:25,720 --> 00:28:29,320 Speaker 1: covering from covering COVID protocols to just about every single 579 00:28:29,359 --> 00:28:32,520 Speaker 1: storyline in the league. You just had a great answer 580 00:28:32,600 --> 00:28:35,159 Speaker 1: kind of bringing that all together here as we wrapped 581 00:28:35,200 --> 00:28:37,720 Speaker 1: up Week seventeen. But you spoke about those challenges that 582 00:28:37,760 --> 00:28:40,200 Speaker 1: all these teams are going through and us with the Vikings, 583 00:28:40,240 --> 00:28:42,880 Speaker 1: we know about the daily testing for the players and 584 00:28:43,400 --> 00:28:45,960 Speaker 1: the obviously the COVID reserve list, and all the injuries 585 00:28:45,960 --> 00:28:47,920 Speaker 1: that the Vikings had to deal with this year. So 586 00:28:48,040 --> 00:28:51,040 Speaker 1: looking at the Viking season as a whole, it's over now, 587 00:28:51,120 --> 00:28:53,920 Speaker 1: seven and nine on the season, they don't make the playoffs. 588 00:28:54,080 --> 00:28:56,200 Speaker 1: What are your overall thoughts and just what the Vikings 589 00:28:56,200 --> 00:28:58,640 Speaker 1: had to deal with this year and how it ended 590 00:28:58,720 --> 00:29:00,680 Speaker 1: up for the Vikings. Well, I think Mike Zimmer said 591 00:29:00,680 --> 00:29:03,240 Speaker 1: it well the other day that maybe he remember the 592 00:29:03,280 --> 00:29:06,000 Speaker 1: exact word but miscalculated a little bit about when he 593 00:29:06,080 --> 00:29:08,440 Speaker 1: upended so much of the defense and how quickly they 594 00:29:08,440 --> 00:29:11,120 Speaker 1: can bring that together. You know, they also when they're 595 00:29:11,120 --> 00:29:13,840 Speaker 1: talking about making some of those hard decisions on guys 596 00:29:13,840 --> 00:29:17,200 Speaker 1: like Xavier Rhodes and not resigning Trey Waynes, not resigning 597 00:29:17,280 --> 00:29:22,400 Speaker 1: McKenzie Alexander and listened. Alexander and Trey Waynes got paid 598 00:29:22,400 --> 00:29:24,240 Speaker 1: a lot more money than the Vikings were going to anyway. 599 00:29:24,240 --> 00:29:26,400 Speaker 1: But you had to make some of those calls. And 600 00:29:26,640 --> 00:29:28,960 Speaker 1: you know, Zimmer, who's never to this year had a 601 00:29:29,000 --> 00:29:31,480 Speaker 1: bad defense, was thinking I'm gonna be able to pull 602 00:29:31,520 --> 00:29:33,680 Speaker 1: it together. You know, you didn't know at that point 603 00:29:33,680 --> 00:29:35,120 Speaker 1: you weren't going to have any time you working at 604 00:29:35,160 --> 00:29:37,040 Speaker 1: preseason games. You we're gonna have a true training camp, 605 00:29:37,080 --> 00:29:39,640 Speaker 1: You're gonna have anything in the offseason. Those all added 606 00:29:39,680 --> 00:29:41,520 Speaker 1: to the challenge and that's not unique to the Vikings. 607 00:29:41,520 --> 00:29:43,920 Speaker 1: I think that what was unique to the Vikings is 608 00:29:43,960 --> 00:29:47,000 Speaker 1: how hard they were hit on defense. When you had 609 00:29:47,440 --> 00:29:50,800 Speaker 1: Michael Pierce opt out, which everybody kind of forgets about, 610 00:29:50,800 --> 00:29:53,640 Speaker 1: but that was the big free agent signing that they 611 00:29:53,680 --> 00:29:56,560 Speaker 1: made to solidify the interior with Limmall Joseph moving on, 612 00:29:57,000 --> 00:30:00,920 Speaker 1: Pierce ops out. Then you have Anthony Barr season ending injury, 613 00:30:01,120 --> 00:30:03,320 Speaker 1: the Neil Hunter has what initially was just you thought 614 00:30:03,360 --> 00:30:04,840 Speaker 1: was a tweak in his nack key ends of not 615 00:30:04,960 --> 00:30:08,000 Speaker 1: playing the entire season. Then you lose Eric Kendricks, and 616 00:30:08,040 --> 00:30:10,120 Speaker 1: on top of that, you're trying to bring along a 617 00:30:10,160 --> 00:30:12,240 Speaker 1: really young group of corners. You know, they won a 618 00:30:12,240 --> 00:30:14,480 Speaker 1: game in Green Bay earlier this year with three guys 619 00:30:14,520 --> 00:30:16,080 Speaker 1: who has names. I had to look up on the 620 00:30:16,080 --> 00:30:18,640 Speaker 1: flip car. I mean, that's that's really a rare thing. 621 00:30:18,680 --> 00:30:20,520 Speaker 1: And then DJ Waldam was the guy who goes and 622 00:30:20,600 --> 00:30:22,160 Speaker 1: makes the big hit at the end of the game 623 00:30:22,920 --> 00:30:25,080 Speaker 1: to seal the victory. You know that it is, you know, 624 00:30:25,440 --> 00:30:27,320 Speaker 1: on some of them. It's amazing that they even got 625 00:30:27,360 --> 00:30:29,320 Speaker 1: to I believe they finished seven and nine. It's amazing 626 00:30:29,320 --> 00:30:31,880 Speaker 1: they even got that far because the defense had so 627 00:30:31,920 --> 00:30:33,880 Speaker 1: many challenges through the course of the season, and in 628 00:30:33,920 --> 00:30:36,320 Speaker 1: the end it wasn't enough. Everybody saw the game against 629 00:30:36,320 --> 00:30:40,480 Speaker 1: the Saint Sun Christmas, it wasn't good enough. Offensively, They've 630 00:30:40,480 --> 00:30:42,560 Speaker 1: got the capability to be really explosive, and I think 631 00:30:42,560 --> 00:30:45,600 Speaker 1: that they showed that. You'd liken some of those in 632 00:30:45,720 --> 00:30:48,240 Speaker 1: the game situations two minute, you get the ball back 633 00:30:48,240 --> 00:30:49,600 Speaker 1: with a minute to go, and you want to make 634 00:30:49,600 --> 00:30:52,680 Speaker 1: a big drive good offense is mounted drive, and there 635 00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:55,000 Speaker 1: were too many times the Vikings had those opportunities and 636 00:30:55,040 --> 00:30:57,080 Speaker 1: couldn't even get off the ground. Whether it's because somebody 637 00:30:57,160 --> 00:30:59,320 Speaker 1: was in Kirk's face or just you know they were 638 00:30:59,440 --> 00:31:02,920 Speaker 1: they didn't make plays. That's something that was an issue 639 00:31:02,960 --> 00:31:04,600 Speaker 1: for him through the course of the season. But when 640 00:31:04,600 --> 00:31:07,080 Speaker 1: you talk about coming back in twenty twenty one with 641 00:31:07,320 --> 00:31:09,920 Speaker 1: a healthy delvit Cook, who probably had its healthiest season 642 00:31:10,000 --> 00:31:12,920 Speaker 1: that he's really had set a one game against the Falcons, 643 00:31:13,640 --> 00:31:15,720 Speaker 1: you know that was you probably could have played in 644 00:31:15,760 --> 00:31:17,880 Speaker 1: if it were a bigger game or game. You know 645 00:31:17,920 --> 00:31:19,520 Speaker 1: that was you know, critical at the end of the season, 646 00:31:19,560 --> 00:31:20,840 Speaker 1: but they just wanted to get him healthy with the 647 00:31:20,840 --> 00:31:22,600 Speaker 1: buy coming up, and then since I want the end 648 00:31:22,640 --> 00:31:25,000 Speaker 1: of the year after the tragic passion of his father. 649 00:31:25,440 --> 00:31:27,520 Speaker 1: But Dalvin was really productive when he was on the field, 650 00:31:27,520 --> 00:31:29,960 Speaker 1: So you bring him back a healthy feeling who missed 651 00:31:29,960 --> 00:31:34,040 Speaker 1: a game because of COVID protocols. You bring back Justin Jefferson, 652 00:31:34,080 --> 00:31:36,920 Speaker 1: who had one of the i mean greatest rookie seasons 653 00:31:36,920 --> 00:31:40,320 Speaker 1: by a receiver in NFL history. That's a pretty good 654 00:31:40,440 --> 00:31:43,280 Speaker 1: nucleus to be building around. And then on top of that, 655 00:31:43,400 --> 00:31:46,640 Speaker 1: Kirk Cousins having what was probably his best season. You know, 656 00:31:46,680 --> 00:31:48,480 Speaker 1: you got to do some things with the offensive line. 657 00:31:49,000 --> 00:31:51,680 Speaker 1: They're not that far away, ez youre, Cleveland looks like 658 00:31:51,720 --> 00:31:53,960 Speaker 1: he's going to be a difference maker for him. That's huge. 659 00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:58,000 Speaker 1: They have invested in that position with Garrett, Bradberry, Brian O'Neill. 660 00:31:58,200 --> 00:31:59,880 Speaker 1: You know, they've just gotta they've got to get that 661 00:32:00,040 --> 00:32:01,960 Speaker 1: group together and get them playing at a little bit 662 00:32:02,040 --> 00:32:03,920 Speaker 1: higher level. And you got some tough decisions and guys 663 00:32:03,920 --> 00:32:06,160 Speaker 1: like Kyle Rudolph coming up. But there's I think there's 664 00:32:06,160 --> 00:32:10,040 Speaker 1: every reason to be optimistic as you move forward here. 665 00:32:10,080 --> 00:32:11,479 Speaker 1: You know, you've got a ton of picks because Rick 666 00:32:11,480 --> 00:32:14,360 Speaker 1: Spielman always has a ton of picks, and he'll your 667 00:32:14,600 --> 00:32:17,240 Speaker 1: wheel and deal further before the draft, so you've got 668 00:32:17,240 --> 00:32:20,680 Speaker 1: opportunities to make further upgrades. You have some tough decisions 669 00:32:20,680 --> 00:32:23,160 Speaker 1: to make, you know, potentially with some of those other 670 00:32:23,240 --> 00:32:25,600 Speaker 1: veterans as well. But you know, they're they're set up 671 00:32:25,640 --> 00:32:27,800 Speaker 1: really well in terms of the young nucleus, and I 672 00:32:27,840 --> 00:32:29,280 Speaker 1: think that's one thing that's a credit to what the 673 00:32:29,360 --> 00:32:32,160 Speaker 1: Vikings front office has done, is they have built up 674 00:32:32,480 --> 00:32:35,680 Speaker 1: a new young core on that team. On both sides 675 00:32:35,720 --> 00:32:37,800 Speaker 1: of the ball without ever having to say we're going 676 00:32:37,880 --> 00:32:39,760 Speaker 1: to strip it down and we're gonna go two and fourteen. 677 00:32:39,960 --> 00:32:42,520 Speaker 1: He said, this was a rebuilt season. Let's call it 678 00:32:42,560 --> 00:32:45,560 Speaker 1: what it was, not the quarterback position, but defensively it 679 00:32:45,600 --> 00:32:48,160 Speaker 1: was a total rebuild. And offensively you were going, well, 680 00:32:48,160 --> 00:32:49,920 Speaker 1: are we really gonna get justin Jefferson playing in a 681 00:32:49,960 --> 00:32:52,160 Speaker 1: high level as we're Cleveland really going to step in? 682 00:32:52,280 --> 00:32:55,000 Speaker 1: The answer was yes. In both those cases a rebuild 683 00:32:55,080 --> 00:32:57,560 Speaker 1: year you went seven to nine. There should be absolutely 684 00:32:57,560 --> 00:33:00,520 Speaker 1: optimism about a bounce back season in twenty one, that's 685 00:33:00,560 --> 00:33:03,680 Speaker 1: for sure. Tom and thirteen rookies played snaps for the 686 00:33:03,760 --> 00:33:06,480 Speaker 1: Vikings this year, so obviously they had to go to 687 00:33:06,520 --> 00:33:10,000 Speaker 1: the bottom of the barrel one go yeah exactly. I 688 00:33:10,120 --> 00:33:12,000 Speaker 1: definitely can't. And you look at a guy like Jeff 689 00:33:12,040 --> 00:33:14,880 Speaker 1: Gladen who plays nine snaps Week one against the Green 690 00:33:14,920 --> 00:33:17,080 Speaker 1: Bay Packers, and then he's playing just about every single 691 00:33:17,120 --> 00:33:19,200 Speaker 1: snap for the last eight weeks of the season. So 692 00:33:19,880 --> 00:33:21,440 Speaker 1: I want to ask you about all these things on 693 00:33:21,480 --> 00:33:24,280 Speaker 1: the Viking side, defense, on offensive side of the ball, 694 00:33:24,320 --> 00:33:26,800 Speaker 1: but you touch on some of the successes on offense 695 00:33:26,840 --> 00:33:30,640 Speaker 1: from Jefferson, Kirk Cousins has his career high in touchdowns 696 00:33:30,680 --> 00:33:33,000 Speaker 1: this season. A lot of that is because of Gary 697 00:33:33,040 --> 00:33:36,440 Speaker 1: Kubiak calling the plays and Kirk Cousins have having some 698 00:33:36,520 --> 00:33:40,640 Speaker 1: sort of consistency from the year prior with Kubiak staying 699 00:33:40,680 --> 00:33:43,640 Speaker 1: along on the offensive staff. You broke a big story 700 00:33:43,680 --> 00:33:47,720 Speaker 1: this week about Kubiak potentially looking into retirement, So can 701 00:33:47,760 --> 00:33:49,560 Speaker 1: you give us a little update of what you're hearing 702 00:33:49,600 --> 00:33:52,320 Speaker 1: there and kind of maybe some names that you're hearing 703 00:33:52,320 --> 00:33:56,440 Speaker 1: that the Vikings would look at at the offensive coordinator position. Well, 704 00:33:56,440 --> 00:34:00,360 Speaker 1: the Vikings certainly believe that Gary Kubiak is leaning forward 705 00:34:00,440 --> 00:34:02,520 Speaker 1: retirement at this point. It would not be a surprise, 706 00:34:02,600 --> 00:34:04,520 Speaker 1: and so naturally you're going to have to have some 707 00:34:04,600 --> 00:34:07,840 Speaker 1: backup plants. The logical option on staff would be Clint 708 00:34:07,920 --> 00:34:11,320 Speaker 1: Kubiak if you were you felt like he was ready 709 00:34:11,320 --> 00:34:14,200 Speaker 1: to step in. But there's other other people who know 710 00:34:14,520 --> 00:34:16,440 Speaker 1: that same scheme. I don't know. The scheme is not 711 00:34:16,480 --> 00:34:18,640 Speaker 1: going to change if you take Mike Zimmer what he 712 00:34:18,640 --> 00:34:20,440 Speaker 1: said at face value, which I have no reason in 713 00:34:20,440 --> 00:34:22,400 Speaker 1: this case not to. They want to stick with that 714 00:34:22,520 --> 00:34:25,520 Speaker 1: wide zone, outside zone type of a scheme just because 715 00:34:25,600 --> 00:34:27,719 Speaker 1: that's how you set up the play action, the bootlegs, 716 00:34:27,760 --> 00:34:30,200 Speaker 1: the deep shots, which are the things that Kirk Cousins 717 00:34:30,320 --> 00:34:33,719 Speaker 1: is best at. You remember the blocking rules in terms 718 00:34:33,760 --> 00:34:36,239 Speaker 1: of assistant coaches, even if they're under contract. They're far 719 00:34:36,360 --> 00:34:39,280 Speaker 1: more liberalized now in terms of if you were taking 720 00:34:39,320 --> 00:34:44,120 Speaker 1: a true offensive coordinator job, you can go. It used 721 00:34:44,160 --> 00:34:46,279 Speaker 1: to be if you were under contract, as let's say 722 00:34:46,320 --> 00:34:48,680 Speaker 1: the running backs coach, you couldn't go to an OC 723 00:34:48,840 --> 00:34:51,319 Speaker 1: job unless the other team lets you out. That doesn't 724 00:34:51,320 --> 00:34:54,359 Speaker 1: exist anymore because that was part of the NFL's push 725 00:34:54,440 --> 00:34:57,279 Speaker 1: to promote people of color to be able to have 726 00:34:57,320 --> 00:35:00,319 Speaker 1: opportunities to advance, which was that was a restrict that 727 00:35:00,360 --> 00:35:02,600 Speaker 1: was holding people back. It really applies to all coaches 728 00:35:02,640 --> 00:35:05,360 Speaker 1: of all colors. So you've got guys like Mike McDaniel, 729 00:35:05,760 --> 00:35:09,080 Speaker 1: for instance, in San Francisco, who's a brilliant run game mind. 730 00:35:09,120 --> 00:35:12,000 Speaker 1: He's been a Kyle Shanahan assistant forever. They run kind 731 00:35:12,000 --> 00:35:14,000 Speaker 1: of a you know, I don't want to say updated 732 00:35:14,040 --> 00:35:15,920 Speaker 1: in a bad way. Become an updated version or a 733 00:35:15,920 --> 00:35:20,000 Speaker 1: permutation of that saying Gary Kubiak Mike Shanahan offense out 734 00:35:20,000 --> 00:35:21,920 Speaker 1: there in San Francisco. You know that would be a 735 00:35:21,960 --> 00:35:23,799 Speaker 1: guy who would be a logical target if you were 736 00:35:23,800 --> 00:35:25,640 Speaker 1: seeing if you were trying to bring someone in. And 737 00:35:25,840 --> 00:35:27,439 Speaker 1: he's not the only coach. I mean, there's other guys 738 00:35:27,440 --> 00:35:29,520 Speaker 1: out there who would know that type of the system. 739 00:35:29,600 --> 00:35:32,680 Speaker 1: So if Gary Kubiak is done, I would expect them 740 00:35:32,719 --> 00:35:36,160 Speaker 1: to have several different contingency plan and you're probably looking 741 00:35:36,200 --> 00:35:40,120 Speaker 1: to whether it's the forty nine Ers staff, the Rams staff, 742 00:35:40,400 --> 00:35:45,160 Speaker 1: the Packers staff, even places where they run that similar scheme, 743 00:35:45,320 --> 00:35:47,440 Speaker 1: probably looking to plug somebody else from that if you 744 00:35:47,440 --> 00:35:49,040 Speaker 1: don't go with the in house option, which would be 745 00:35:49,040 --> 00:35:52,560 Speaker 1: Clint Kubiak. Looking forward to the NFL Draft, I know 746 00:35:52,600 --> 00:35:55,080 Speaker 1: it's super early, but the Vikings now know that they 747 00:35:55,160 --> 00:35:59,359 Speaker 1: have the number fourteenth overall pick. What position could you 748 00:35:59,400 --> 00:36:02,400 Speaker 1: see them going with there? I know Mike Zimmers probably 749 00:36:02,480 --> 00:36:06,040 Speaker 1: gonna want to go of defense, but interior offensive line, 750 00:36:06,280 --> 00:36:08,000 Speaker 1: I mean, there's a couple of places where you can go. 751 00:36:08,120 --> 00:36:11,520 Speaker 1: So what would you kind of predict at this point 752 00:36:11,560 --> 00:36:14,040 Speaker 1: in the offseason. Well, the dressed interior offensive line pretty 753 00:36:14,080 --> 00:36:15,680 Speaker 1: high in the draft the past couple of years. You know, 754 00:36:15,719 --> 00:36:17,759 Speaker 1: Ezra Cleveland could eventually, of course be a tackle, but 755 00:36:17,760 --> 00:36:20,080 Speaker 1: they've played on a guard in Garrett Bradbury. The year before. 756 00:36:21,200 --> 00:36:23,080 Speaker 1: You know, I would certainly think that you have to 757 00:36:23,120 --> 00:36:25,680 Speaker 1: be thinking edge rusher, and I don't know the draft 758 00:36:25,680 --> 00:36:27,839 Speaker 1: board well enough in terms of who's coming. Nobody knows 759 00:36:27,960 --> 00:36:30,239 Speaker 1: at this point who's coming out because that deadline still 760 00:36:30,239 --> 00:36:33,200 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks away. But that's a position. That's 761 00:36:33,239 --> 00:36:35,960 Speaker 1: just it's so important to the Vikings defense. That's why, 762 00:36:36,320 --> 00:36:38,160 Speaker 1: you know, with when the Neil Hunter was out and 763 00:36:38,200 --> 00:36:40,480 Speaker 1: they brought in Yanike and Goaqway, you know, they were 764 00:36:40,480 --> 00:36:42,520 Speaker 1: trying to find options. It just didn't work out on 765 00:36:42,600 --> 00:36:45,319 Speaker 1: Hunter never got back, they trade away in Gockway. They're 766 00:36:45,320 --> 00:36:47,200 Speaker 1: still gonna be looking for answers at that spot. So 767 00:36:47,600 --> 00:36:50,439 Speaker 1: that's probably the number one thing. Plus, you know, free 768 00:36:50,480 --> 00:36:53,239 Speaker 1: agency is always an option, but very few elite pass 769 00:36:53,320 --> 00:36:56,880 Speaker 1: rushers get to free agency. Usually you end up paying 770 00:36:56,880 --> 00:36:59,680 Speaker 1: seventeen million dollars for Robert Quinn or Dante follow or 771 00:36:59,680 --> 00:37:03,000 Speaker 1: somebody was available for a reason. If you have those guys, 772 00:37:03,800 --> 00:37:06,040 Speaker 1: you know, and they're highly productive, you generally don't let 773 00:37:06,080 --> 00:37:07,480 Speaker 1: them go, or if you do, you get two first 774 00:37:07,560 --> 00:37:09,719 Speaker 1: round picks and return like the Raiders did for Khalil Mack. 775 00:37:10,040 --> 00:37:12,040 Speaker 1: You want to find those guys in the draft. Usually 776 00:37:12,040 --> 00:37:14,319 Speaker 1: you have to draft him pretty high as much as 777 00:37:14,320 --> 00:37:15,840 Speaker 1: they've got guys like one of them who they like. 778 00:37:16,160 --> 00:37:18,640 Speaker 1: I would certainly think that would be a logical position. 779 00:37:18,719 --> 00:37:21,000 Speaker 1: But as Rick Spielman will surely tell you on ten 780 00:37:21,080 --> 00:37:23,759 Speaker 1: podcasts between now in April, he will take the best 781 00:37:23,760 --> 00:37:27,240 Speaker 1: player available regardless of position. Yeah, he's pretty good at 782 00:37:27,320 --> 00:37:30,040 Speaker 1: doing that when it comes to the offseason, that's for sure. 783 00:37:30,680 --> 00:37:33,239 Speaker 1: Looking at the playoffs, there's so many good games this week. 784 00:37:33,239 --> 00:37:35,440 Speaker 1: We talk about it on this show, just going through 785 00:37:35,480 --> 00:37:37,600 Speaker 1: the list of games obviously in the AFC, I mean, 786 00:37:37,640 --> 00:37:40,839 Speaker 1: the competition is unbelievable. But what is your number one 787 00:37:40,880 --> 00:37:43,560 Speaker 1: game you're watching this week heading into the playoffs? But 788 00:37:43,640 --> 00:37:45,799 Speaker 1: one I'm at, which is the Ravens Titans game. I'll 789 00:37:45,800 --> 00:37:49,680 Speaker 1: be down there in Nashville. I think that's it's just 790 00:37:49,719 --> 00:37:52,040 Speaker 1: a fascinating type of a matchup. When you look at 791 00:37:52,080 --> 00:37:54,200 Speaker 1: the history between these teams a couple times that they 792 00:37:54,239 --> 00:37:57,399 Speaker 1: have met recently, including in the playoff game last year. 793 00:37:58,080 --> 00:37:59,880 Speaker 1: There's there's more at stay. I mean, there's a lot 794 00:37:59,920 --> 00:38:01,439 Speaker 1: of state for both teams, but I I would say there's 795 00:38:01,520 --> 00:38:04,720 Speaker 1: let's say more pressure on the Ravens and specifically Lamar 796 00:38:04,800 --> 00:38:07,200 Speaker 1: Jackson because all they've heard is for all the success, 797 00:38:07,440 --> 00:38:08,960 Speaker 1: they haven't won a playoff game and lost of the 798 00:38:09,000 --> 00:38:11,879 Speaker 1: Chargers two years ago, lost the Titans last year at home. 799 00:38:12,920 --> 00:38:15,640 Speaker 1: You know, now you go to Tennessee, you're playing your 800 00:38:15,640 --> 00:38:18,040 Speaker 1: best football. I mean, the Ravens have been red hot, 801 00:38:18,560 --> 00:38:21,839 Speaker 1: really since Lamar got back from the COVID list after Thanksgiving, 802 00:38:22,320 --> 00:38:24,520 Speaker 1: and you're facing the Titans team that you know, has 803 00:38:24,560 --> 00:38:26,600 Speaker 1: been a little bit more of a mixed bag than 804 00:38:26,600 --> 00:38:30,000 Speaker 1: you might have expected this year. They've struggled defensively. They've 805 00:38:30,040 --> 00:38:31,759 Speaker 1: you know, they've played guys, they had to bring up 806 00:38:31,760 --> 00:38:34,200 Speaker 1: some practice squad guys playing them in the secondary. They 807 00:38:34,320 --> 00:38:36,360 Speaker 1: bet on a couple of edge rushers and Vic Beasley 808 00:38:36,400 --> 00:38:39,560 Speaker 1: and JADVII and Clowney speaking of that in free agency 809 00:38:39,600 --> 00:38:42,960 Speaker 1: that didn't work out. So they've they've got some challenges defensively. 810 00:38:42,960 --> 00:38:46,240 Speaker 1: How do they come back that very diverse run scheme 811 00:38:46,320 --> 00:38:49,360 Speaker 1: that the Ravens deployed with Lamar Jackson. And then on 812 00:38:49,360 --> 00:38:50,879 Speaker 1: the other side of it, you know, you've got Derreck 813 00:38:50,960 --> 00:38:54,719 Speaker 1: Henry who's once again somehow getting stronger. It seems like 814 00:38:54,760 --> 00:38:57,680 Speaker 1: as the season goes on, facing a Ravens defense that 815 00:38:58,320 --> 00:39:01,399 Speaker 1: probably as fewer frontline name then they might have had 816 00:39:01,520 --> 00:39:05,200 Speaker 1: in the past, but certainly still a really aggressive unit 817 00:39:05,239 --> 00:39:08,640 Speaker 1: with a really good defensive coordinator in Wink Martindale. I 818 00:39:08,680 --> 00:39:11,200 Speaker 1: just think on both sides the ball, It's one of 819 00:39:11,239 --> 00:39:13,280 Speaker 1: those games where going into it, I have no idea 820 00:39:13,320 --> 00:39:15,080 Speaker 1: if it's going to be a thirteen to ten game 821 00:39:15,160 --> 00:39:17,400 Speaker 1: or forty four to forty one game, you know what 822 00:39:17,400 --> 00:39:20,440 Speaker 1: I mean, Like it could be either directions. A high 823 00:39:20,480 --> 00:39:22,680 Speaker 1: scoring game and the play. It was twenty eight to 824 00:39:22,760 --> 00:39:25,640 Speaker 1: twelve last year, so that one was you know, even 825 00:39:25,640 --> 00:39:27,200 Speaker 1: that I considered to be a low scoring game with 826 00:39:27,239 --> 00:39:30,279 Speaker 1: those two teams on the field. You know, but you 827 00:39:30,400 --> 00:39:32,440 Speaker 1: look at the defenses right now, especially Tennessee in the 828 00:39:32,440 --> 00:39:35,120 Speaker 1: way they've struggled. You know, if Lamar can throw the ball, 829 00:39:35,160 --> 00:39:37,160 Speaker 1: which is always the question because everybody gears up to 830 00:39:37,160 --> 00:39:39,160 Speaker 1: stop the run kind of dares him to throw, you know, 831 00:39:39,239 --> 00:39:41,160 Speaker 1: he's gonna have some favorable matchups on the back end. 832 00:39:41,160 --> 00:39:43,239 Speaker 1: Can they come back then and can Lamar exploit them? 833 00:39:43,360 --> 00:39:45,600 Speaker 1: I think it's a great game all around. Will be 834 00:39:45,640 --> 00:39:48,719 Speaker 1: live on game day morning both days because this is 835 00:39:48,760 --> 00:39:53,600 Speaker 1: the Super wild Card weekend in the NFL, which means 836 00:39:53,640 --> 00:39:55,720 Speaker 1: three games instead of two with the two additional playoff 837 00:39:55,719 --> 00:39:58,480 Speaker 1: spots now, so three games Saturday, three games Sunday will 838 00:39:58,520 --> 00:40:01,000 Speaker 1: be live from eight am to noon both days on 839 00:40:01,080 --> 00:40:04,279 Speaker 1: Inful Network. Absolutely well, thank you so much for giving 840 00:40:04,320 --> 00:40:06,840 Speaker 1: us some of your time, good luck covering the playoffs 841 00:40:06,920 --> 00:40:10,240 Speaker 1: and obviously the game against the Ravens against the Tennessee 842 00:40:10,280 --> 00:40:13,280 Speaker 1: Titans this week. We appreciate it, Tom, you got it. Absolutely. 843 00:40:14,680 --> 00:40:19,279 Speaker 1: The Voyage delivers unprecedented access to fans who will be 844 00:40:19,320 --> 00:40:22,280 Speaker 1: able to get inside the office of coach Mike Zimmer 845 00:40:22,400 --> 00:40:26,120 Speaker 1: and have an insider's look and listen during his talks 846 00:40:26,120 --> 00:40:30,240 Speaker 1: with the team. Viewers also here directly from current Vikings 847 00:40:30,400 --> 00:40:34,000 Speaker 1: who will be writing outcomes of games through their play 848 00:40:34,040 --> 00:40:37,600 Speaker 1: on the field. Watch bi weekly during the NFL season 849 00:40:37,800 --> 00:40:42,160 Speaker 1: on the Vikings digital and social channels, including Vikings dot com, 850 00:40:42,200 --> 00:40:47,240 Speaker 1: the Vikings Mobile app, Vikings Now, the team's connected TV app, YouTube, Facebook, 851 00:40:47,280 --> 00:40:50,320 Speaker 1: and Twitter. Watch today and find out more at Vikings 852 00:40:50,360 --> 00:40:57,040 Speaker 1: dot com Slash Voyage. Thanks to Tom Pellicero for giving 853 00:40:57,120 --> 00:41:00,560 Speaker 1: us some time when he is awfully busy heading into 854 00:41:00,600 --> 00:41:03,880 Speaker 1: the NFL playoffs. We're gonna talk about a breakdown of 855 00:41:03,920 --> 00:41:06,719 Speaker 1: what the playoff picture looks like as it's locked in. 856 00:41:07,280 --> 00:41:10,960 Speaker 1: But first It's Game Day any day play new Vikings 857 00:41:10,960 --> 00:41:14,040 Speaker 1: scratch game from the Minnesota Lottery with a top prize 858 00:41:14,040 --> 00:41:17,879 Speaker 1: of one hundred thousand dollars. Are you game? Just say 859 00:41:18,040 --> 00:41:24,320 Speaker 1: I'm in. Get more from mn lottery dot com. All right, guys, 860 00:41:24,840 --> 00:41:28,520 Speaker 1: it's time to look forward to the NFL playoffs. We 861 00:41:28,520 --> 00:41:30,680 Speaker 1: were talking before the show. I mean, if you're a 862 00:41:30,680 --> 00:41:33,600 Speaker 1: fan of the NFL, this is one of the most 863 00:41:33,640 --> 00:41:37,600 Speaker 1: exciting years to watch these games. Gabe, why don't you 864 00:41:37,640 --> 00:41:40,560 Speaker 1: tell us what some of your favorite matchups are this 865 00:41:40,600 --> 00:41:43,320 Speaker 1: weekend as we get ready to watch all these games. 866 00:41:43,520 --> 00:41:45,880 Speaker 1: I mean, the big game is that I'm pretty much 867 00:41:45,880 --> 00:41:49,480 Speaker 1: watching this the Pittsburgh Stillers versus the Cleveland Browns. We 868 00:41:49,480 --> 00:41:51,759 Speaker 1: were talking a little bit off air. This is a 869 00:41:51,800 --> 00:41:55,719 Speaker 1: hot take, but I honestly don't see Pittsburgh beating Cleveland 870 00:41:55,760 --> 00:41:59,400 Speaker 1: at all. Wow. I was watching film on Baker Mayfield's 871 00:41:59,480 --> 00:42:02,480 Speaker 1: just before mons against Pittsburgh this past Sunday, and he 872 00:42:02,520 --> 00:42:06,600 Speaker 1: played like almost horrendous, Like some of the throws weren't there, 873 00:42:06,680 --> 00:42:10,000 Speaker 1: Like he wasn't hitting his targets. Granted, Jay said, Ben 874 00:42:10,080 --> 00:42:13,440 Speaker 1: Roethlisberger didn't play. You gotta think Mason Rudolph played against 875 00:42:13,480 --> 00:42:17,040 Speaker 1: backup corners on this Cleveland Browns defense. I mean, Denzel 876 00:42:17,040 --> 00:42:20,680 Speaker 1: Ward didn't play, Kevin Johnson didn't play. The Pittsburgh Stellers 877 00:42:20,719 --> 00:42:23,759 Speaker 1: scored on two of their last three drives, which made 878 00:42:23,760 --> 00:42:26,480 Speaker 1: it a two point game at the end. They basically 879 00:42:26,640 --> 00:42:29,160 Speaker 1: got it to the last drive of the game, and 880 00:42:29,239 --> 00:42:31,920 Speaker 1: basically I just couldn't finish it. But long story short, 881 00:42:32,080 --> 00:42:34,560 Speaker 1: it was twenty four to seven for a while during 882 00:42:34,600 --> 00:42:36,960 Speaker 1: that game, and if both teams play a perfect game, 883 00:42:37,000 --> 00:42:41,160 Speaker 1: I just can't see Pittsburgh winning that game. With Cleveland's 884 00:42:41,160 --> 00:42:44,680 Speaker 1: pass rush, with Cleveland's defense and just getting pressure on 885 00:42:44,760 --> 00:42:48,799 Speaker 1: Ben's I think they win this game. I wouldn't say convincingly, 886 00:42:48,920 --> 00:42:52,399 Speaker 1: but they win this game without a doubt. Vikings fans 887 00:42:52,400 --> 00:42:54,520 Speaker 1: are definitely gonna be tuned in to what the Cleveland 888 00:42:54,560 --> 00:42:58,040 Speaker 1: Browns are doing. Obviously with Kevin Stefanski. He did test 889 00:42:58,080 --> 00:43:00,799 Speaker 1: positive for COVID nineteen this week, so that will be 890 00:43:00,800 --> 00:43:03,720 Speaker 1: a storyline to follow. Taking the Browns of the playoffs 891 00:43:03,760 --> 00:43:06,000 Speaker 1: for the first time in eighteen years. Like I shot 892 00:43:06,040 --> 00:43:08,560 Speaker 1: a bunch of those guys texts this week, just just 893 00:43:08,640 --> 00:43:13,359 Speaker 1: congratulating them because that was quite the accomplishment. What they're 894 00:43:13,360 --> 00:43:16,080 Speaker 1: able to do over there. But Jay, what is your 895 00:43:16,160 --> 00:43:19,320 Speaker 1: AFC game of the week. With all of these matchups, 896 00:43:19,360 --> 00:43:21,840 Speaker 1: what are you looking forward to? Everyone's on the Bill's 897 00:43:21,880 --> 00:43:24,960 Speaker 1: Colts game because of the high flying Buffalo Bill's offense, 898 00:43:25,000 --> 00:43:27,319 Speaker 1: But honestly, for me, I am more intrigued by the 899 00:43:27,320 --> 00:43:30,680 Speaker 1: Tennessee Titans versus the Ravens. I think that one has 900 00:43:30,719 --> 00:43:34,239 Speaker 1: the ability to be complete fireworks because as of now, 901 00:43:34,280 --> 00:43:37,319 Speaker 1: the Tennessee offense is averaging thirty point seven points a game, 902 00:43:37,680 --> 00:43:40,520 Speaker 1: Baltimore being the number two defense only allowing eighteen point 903 00:43:40,600 --> 00:43:43,560 Speaker 1: nine points a game. If you've got Derrick Henry, who's 904 00:43:43,600 --> 00:43:46,360 Speaker 1: the rushing champ for the season, going up against that 905 00:43:46,480 --> 00:43:49,160 Speaker 1: Baltimore defense, to me, that's gonna be absolute fireworks. The 906 00:43:49,200 --> 00:43:52,239 Speaker 1: criticism across the board has been can Lamar get it 907 00:43:52,280 --> 00:43:54,560 Speaker 1: done in the playoffs? Yeah, he's running all over the 908 00:43:54,560 --> 00:43:58,000 Speaker 1: field and he's setting records for rushing and passing in 909 00:43:58,040 --> 00:44:00,080 Speaker 1: a season. But now you get to play with the 910 00:44:00,080 --> 00:44:03,719 Speaker 1: big boys. You're going to Tennessee, and to me, this 911 00:44:03,760 --> 00:44:05,920 Speaker 1: is the one that is the complete coin flip for 912 00:44:06,000 --> 00:44:08,600 Speaker 1: me on the entire weekend for the FC side. So 913 00:44:08,800 --> 00:44:11,440 Speaker 1: I'm really looking forward to that Tennessee Titans versus Ravens game. 914 00:44:12,080 --> 00:44:14,319 Speaker 1: If you stop Derek Henry, you got a chance to 915 00:44:14,360 --> 00:44:16,600 Speaker 1: win that game. Like Baltimore's run defense is eighth in 916 00:44:16,640 --> 00:44:19,600 Speaker 1: the NFL. They give up about one hundred yards a game, 917 00:44:20,000 --> 00:44:23,560 Speaker 1: so you would assume Derek Henry would rush for a hundred. 918 00:44:23,560 --> 00:44:27,280 Speaker 1: I mean, but I'm sure the Ravens are seeing nightmares 919 00:44:27,320 --> 00:44:30,839 Speaker 1: from last year's playoff game against the Tennessee Titans. So man, 920 00:44:30,880 --> 00:44:32,680 Speaker 1: I don't know, we got we gotta see a Nevil Lamar. 921 00:44:32,800 --> 00:44:36,480 Speaker 1: Like Lamar still hasn't won a playoff game, So canny 922 00:44:36,520 --> 00:44:38,200 Speaker 1: win the big one. That's what I was saying. It's 923 00:44:38,200 --> 00:44:40,360 Speaker 1: just like, you know, it's all gonna hange on Lamar 924 00:44:40,400 --> 00:44:43,960 Speaker 1: for Baltimore because it just reminds me. Tennessee reminds me 925 00:44:44,000 --> 00:44:46,560 Speaker 1: of one we had the Adrian Peterson insane seasons and 926 00:44:46,600 --> 00:44:48,279 Speaker 1: everyone's like, all right, we're gonna stack a guys in 927 00:44:48,320 --> 00:44:50,840 Speaker 1: the box and say good luck. And you know, the 928 00:44:50,920 --> 00:44:53,080 Speaker 1: one thing that they do have is Tannehill. Still, he 929 00:44:53,760 --> 00:44:55,880 Speaker 1: is a good quarterback and he can make you pay 930 00:44:56,080 --> 00:44:58,680 Speaker 1: with those whiteouts on the outside and even with John 931 00:44:58,880 --> 00:45:02,160 Speaker 1: Smith running up seem like you know, they have other weapons. 932 00:45:02,200 --> 00:45:04,239 Speaker 1: But it's going to be the Derrick Henry Show versus 933 00:45:04,280 --> 00:45:06,640 Speaker 1: Lamar Jackson Show. And let's see what the defenses due 934 00:45:06,640 --> 00:45:08,560 Speaker 1: to stop both of them. While we're talking, we might 935 00:45:08,560 --> 00:45:11,160 Speaker 1: as well round out all of the AFC games. There 936 00:45:11,239 --> 00:45:13,719 Speaker 1: is one more game on the docket. That's the Buffalo 937 00:45:13,840 --> 00:45:18,360 Speaker 1: Bills as the two seed against the Indianapolis Colts. The 938 00:45:18,400 --> 00:45:22,600 Speaker 1: Bills have the number three passing offense in the league, 939 00:45:23,080 --> 00:45:26,160 Speaker 1: obviously led by former Viking Stefan Diggs, who was the 940 00:45:26,320 --> 00:45:31,880 Speaker 1: receiving yards champion this season, led the NFL in receiving yards, 941 00:45:32,200 --> 00:45:34,560 Speaker 1: and the Colts defense, which the Vikings were able to 942 00:45:34,560 --> 00:45:38,360 Speaker 1: see earlier this season, the number eight passing defense in 943 00:45:38,400 --> 00:45:41,800 Speaker 1: the league. So this is a game where a seven 944 00:45:41,880 --> 00:45:44,439 Speaker 1: seed could definitely come in and be the two seed. 945 00:45:44,600 --> 00:45:47,080 Speaker 1: In my opinion, I know Buffalo's hot, they've won like 946 00:45:47,160 --> 00:45:50,960 Speaker 1: five in a row, but I wouldn't sleep on those Colts. 947 00:45:51,560 --> 00:45:53,960 Speaker 1: They pretty much can do it across the board, Like 948 00:45:54,000 --> 00:45:57,440 Speaker 1: I mean, there is really no weakness on their d 949 00:45:57,560 --> 00:46:01,000 Speaker 1: line in their secondary, So you gotta Xavier Rhodes is 950 00:46:01,040 --> 00:46:04,040 Speaker 1: gonna you know, shadow Stefine Dicks no matter where he goes. 951 00:46:04,040 --> 00:46:06,840 Speaker 1: I mean, just well practicing gets him in Minnesota in 952 00:46:06,840 --> 00:46:09,560 Speaker 1: the past few years. You gotta think he knows everything 953 00:46:09,560 --> 00:46:13,640 Speaker 1: Stefane Dix is gonna do. Think about what Xavier Rhodse 954 00:46:13,680 --> 00:46:15,440 Speaker 1: did Adam Filling when we played him. I mean, he 955 00:46:15,480 --> 00:46:18,280 Speaker 1: knew literally every single trick he had up with Sleeven. 956 00:46:18,880 --> 00:46:20,920 Speaker 1: We had no answer for it. So you gotta think 957 00:46:20,920 --> 00:46:24,200 Speaker 1: the Coats are gonna lean that way. I think Philip 958 00:46:24,280 --> 00:46:26,560 Speaker 1: Rivers is going to have a day, man. I really 959 00:46:26,560 --> 00:46:30,400 Speaker 1: think that's gonna be a really close knit game. Obviously, 960 00:46:30,440 --> 00:46:32,520 Speaker 1: the Kansas City Chiefs are the number one seed. They 961 00:46:32,520 --> 00:46:35,440 Speaker 1: will have to buy in the AFC, so they are 962 00:46:35,480 --> 00:46:39,640 Speaker 1: the favorite on that side heading into this this year's playoffs, 963 00:46:39,760 --> 00:46:43,040 Speaker 1: and it's gonna get a little sour talking about some 964 00:46:43,080 --> 00:46:46,040 Speaker 1: of these NFC games. I mean to see the Chicago 965 00:46:46,120 --> 00:46:49,720 Speaker 1: Bears as the number seven seed taking on the Saints 966 00:46:50,200 --> 00:46:52,719 Speaker 1: we were able to upset last year in the playoffs 967 00:46:53,040 --> 00:46:55,840 Speaker 1: the two verse seven seed. I don't even want to 968 00:46:55,840 --> 00:46:58,960 Speaker 1: watch that game, Like it's just gonna kill me. Jay. 969 00:46:59,200 --> 00:47:01,920 Speaker 1: The Saints had an insane season in which they lost 970 00:47:02,000 --> 00:47:03,480 Speaker 1: Drew Brees for a good chunk of games and they 971 00:47:03,480 --> 00:47:05,160 Speaker 1: still got it done. So I mean the fact that 972 00:47:05,160 --> 00:47:07,400 Speaker 1: they're sitting here at a number two seat is just incredible. 973 00:47:07,920 --> 00:47:11,120 Speaker 1: So I look at this one. The Bears are resurgent, 974 00:47:11,160 --> 00:47:14,319 Speaker 1: They're coming through. Trubisky has been playing better, Montgomery is 975 00:47:14,360 --> 00:47:17,640 Speaker 1: doing what he's doing defensively, they're they're healthy, yer, But 976 00:47:17,760 --> 00:47:20,720 Speaker 1: what I saw was a lot of mistakes this last weekend, 977 00:47:20,800 --> 00:47:23,319 Speaker 1: even in the game versus the Packers, where they should 978 00:47:23,320 --> 00:47:26,200 Speaker 1: have had three interceptions on Rogers and they just you know, 979 00:47:26,280 --> 00:47:28,680 Speaker 1: ham handed them and dropped them. So for me, I 980 00:47:28,719 --> 00:47:31,080 Speaker 1: just feel like New Orleans being at home, being comfortable, 981 00:47:31,160 --> 00:47:33,120 Speaker 1: they're going to get that thing done. You know, they 982 00:47:33,160 --> 00:47:35,000 Speaker 1: already beat them once this year in Week eight, twenty 983 00:47:35,000 --> 00:47:37,480 Speaker 1: six to twenty three. So for me, I just feel 984 00:47:37,480 --> 00:47:38,880 Speaker 1: like the Saints are going to get it done here 985 00:47:38,880 --> 00:47:41,040 Speaker 1: against the Bears again and they're just they're they're going 986 00:47:41,080 --> 00:47:43,120 Speaker 1: to be too much for him. And there was the 987 00:47:43,160 --> 00:47:45,279 Speaker 1: discussion as well that they're going to get some of 988 00:47:45,320 --> 00:47:49,319 Speaker 1: their weapons back off ir, including Thomas. So if that's 989 00:47:49,360 --> 00:47:51,879 Speaker 1: the case, then look for the Saints team to have 990 00:47:51,920 --> 00:47:54,200 Speaker 1: some guys that are arrested and ready to go against 991 00:47:54,200 --> 00:47:57,080 Speaker 1: this Bears defense. Looking at some of the other matchups 992 00:47:57,080 --> 00:48:01,400 Speaker 1: in the NFC, the Seattle Seahawks taking on the Rams. 993 00:48:01,480 --> 00:48:03,880 Speaker 1: The Seahawks are the three seed, the Rams are the 994 00:48:03,960 --> 00:48:07,399 Speaker 1: sixth seed. I like Russell Wilson in a playoff game game. 995 00:48:07,480 --> 00:48:09,960 Speaker 1: I don't know about you. If Jared Goff doesn't play, 996 00:48:10,360 --> 00:48:13,600 Speaker 1: Seattle wins this game convincingly. If he does, I think 997 00:48:13,600 --> 00:48:18,480 Speaker 1: it's a tighter game. Seattle's offense playing against LA's defense, 998 00:48:19,360 --> 00:48:22,600 Speaker 1: I think Russell Wilson is going to have some problems there. 999 00:48:22,640 --> 00:48:25,520 Speaker 1: So if he can't score and Jared Goff can score, 1000 00:48:25,560 --> 00:48:27,359 Speaker 1: of course that's the name of the game. Score more 1001 00:48:27,360 --> 00:48:29,560 Speaker 1: points than the other team. I think LA wins. But 1002 00:48:30,040 --> 00:48:35,600 Speaker 1: if LA doesn't have Jared Goff, there's no way Seattle 1003 00:48:35,680 --> 00:48:38,920 Speaker 1: loses this game. I mean, Seattle's past defense is you know, 1004 00:48:38,960 --> 00:48:42,080 Speaker 1: one of the worst in the NFL, and if they 1005 00:48:42,080 --> 00:48:44,720 Speaker 1: don't have a challenge this week, I think Russell Wilson 1006 00:48:44,760 --> 00:48:47,560 Speaker 1: figures a way out to beating this LA Rams team. 1007 00:48:47,880 --> 00:48:52,120 Speaker 1: Another interesting game in the NFC is the Washington football team. 1008 00:48:52,160 --> 00:48:55,279 Speaker 1: Who gets the four seed? Did you ever think that 1009 00:48:55,400 --> 00:48:59,360 Speaker 1: was what would be the case? I knew this Washington 1010 00:48:59,360 --> 00:49:03,680 Speaker 1: football team defense would eventually, you know, poke their head 1011 00:49:03,719 --> 00:49:05,279 Speaker 1: up and say like hey, like we're here to stay. 1012 00:49:05,320 --> 00:49:08,160 Speaker 1: It was more so the Washington football team, finding the 1013 00:49:08,239 --> 00:49:11,440 Speaker 1: quarterback and just being there the past two years, Alex 1014 00:49:11,480 --> 00:49:13,759 Speaker 1: Smith was the perfect quarterback for that offense. Like you 1015 00:49:13,760 --> 00:49:17,040 Speaker 1: don't need somebody that's gonna throw for three hundred yards, 1016 00:49:17,080 --> 00:49:19,520 Speaker 1: like you just need somebody who's gonna game manage, and 1017 00:49:19,560 --> 00:49:22,920 Speaker 1: that's pretty much what Alex has done. I think Tampa 1018 00:49:22,960 --> 00:49:25,879 Speaker 1: Bay will win this game whether Alex plays or not. 1019 00:49:25,960 --> 00:49:29,239 Speaker 1: But at the same time, if Alex Smith plays, the 1020 00:49:29,320 --> 00:49:32,279 Speaker 1: game is a lot closer. But I'm giving Tampa Bay 1021 00:49:32,320 --> 00:49:34,959 Speaker 1: the edge. But going back to your question, I didn't 1022 00:49:35,000 --> 00:49:37,799 Speaker 1: think Washington will make the playoffs this soon. Man, Like 1023 00:49:37,840 --> 00:49:40,600 Speaker 1: this is, this is miraculous to watch, but like, like, 1024 00:49:40,800 --> 00:49:44,000 Speaker 1: like I said a few weeks back, Roger Goodell should 1025 00:49:44,040 --> 00:49:45,880 Speaker 1: have stepped in and said, no team from the NFC 1026 00:49:46,000 --> 00:49:48,560 Speaker 1: East is allowed to play in the playoffs the next 1027 00:49:49,080 --> 00:49:52,080 Speaker 1: two seasons. A team seven and nine making the playoffs 1028 00:49:52,080 --> 00:49:55,400 Speaker 1: like that, that is it's fun to watch, but it's like, dude, 1029 00:49:55,680 --> 00:49:58,280 Speaker 1: like you got so many other teams with better records 1030 00:49:58,280 --> 00:50:00,279 Speaker 1: that could have made it. But we'll see it. We'll 1031 00:50:00,320 --> 00:50:02,520 Speaker 1: see and they got a home game at that. I 1032 00:50:02,560 --> 00:50:05,800 Speaker 1: agree with that, Gabe, And it definitely is a note 1033 00:50:05,840 --> 00:50:09,000 Speaker 1: that Bruce arians said in his press conference this week. 1034 00:50:09,640 --> 00:50:12,920 Speaker 1: This Washington football team has been a different team since 1035 00:50:12,920 --> 00:50:15,359 Speaker 1: Alex Smith took over. I mean, he's five and one 1036 00:50:15,960 --> 00:50:20,040 Speaker 1: as the starter since Dwayne Haskins was benched by the team. 1037 00:50:20,120 --> 00:50:22,560 Speaker 1: So it's pretty amazing what he's been able to do 1038 00:50:22,719 --> 00:50:25,520 Speaker 1: coming back from that injury that he had. I don't 1039 00:50:25,520 --> 00:50:27,520 Speaker 1: know if you guys have seen that documentary, but it's 1040 00:50:27,560 --> 00:50:30,200 Speaker 1: unbelievable what he's been able to do. And I'm sure 1041 00:50:30,239 --> 00:50:33,760 Speaker 1: you knew him pretty well, Gabe, So definitely a great 1042 00:50:33,800 --> 00:50:36,640 Speaker 1: story there. And I'm always rooting against Tom Brady, so 1043 00:50:36,719 --> 00:50:39,920 Speaker 1: I hope that the Washington football team can pull the 1044 00:50:40,040 --> 00:50:43,839 Speaker 1: upset Jay Washington versus Tampa, it's it's the number two 1045 00:50:43,840 --> 00:50:46,560 Speaker 1: pass defense versus never two passing offense. So something's got 1046 00:50:46,560 --> 00:50:49,160 Speaker 1: to give, Like Gabe was saying in general, for me, 1047 00:50:49,280 --> 00:50:51,080 Speaker 1: just looking at how this whole thing is seated and 1048 00:50:51,120 --> 00:50:53,399 Speaker 1: how it goes, I just think I think Tampa gets 1049 00:50:53,440 --> 00:50:55,000 Speaker 1: it done too, and they're going to play the Packers 1050 00:50:55,000 --> 00:50:57,200 Speaker 1: in round two, and I think for me, it's going 1051 00:50:57,239 --> 00:51:00,400 Speaker 1: to be the Saints versus Seahawks, and ultimately when it 1052 00:51:00,400 --> 00:51:02,440 Speaker 1: comes down to you know, we don't like doing predictions 1053 00:51:02,520 --> 00:51:04,239 Speaker 1: or anything. In general, but since this is the last 1054 00:51:04,239 --> 00:51:06,960 Speaker 1: one for twenty twenty, I think it's going to be 1055 00:51:07,040 --> 00:51:11,560 Speaker 1: a Seattle Green Bay NFC Championship, and I think it's 1056 00:51:11,600 --> 00:51:16,719 Speaker 1: gonna be probably the Chiefs versus the Bills and in there, 1057 00:51:16,760 --> 00:51:18,239 Speaker 1: and I hate to say it, but I think it's 1058 00:51:18,280 --> 00:51:20,000 Speaker 1: going to be a chalk. I think it's going to 1059 00:51:20,080 --> 00:51:22,800 Speaker 1: be a Packers versus chief super Bowl down to Tampa. 1060 00:51:22,840 --> 00:51:25,760 Speaker 1: I think Tampa's gonna have their hearts broken here. Luckily 1061 00:51:25,960 --> 00:51:28,080 Speaker 1: for them, it's not going to be the NFC championship 1062 00:51:28,120 --> 00:51:31,000 Speaker 1: game like it was for us in seventeen, but um yeah, 1063 00:51:31,040 --> 00:51:33,239 Speaker 1: it'll be be funky for them to see that going 1064 00:51:33,239 --> 00:51:34,880 Speaker 1: on in their home stadium. If they don't make it. 1065 00:51:35,000 --> 00:51:37,400 Speaker 1: Here's the thing. If somehow the Bucks get out of 1066 00:51:37,400 --> 00:51:40,120 Speaker 1: this one and they actually beat the Packers, then good luck, man, 1067 00:51:40,160 --> 00:51:43,520 Speaker 1: because that is going to be insane motivation for them 1068 00:51:43,600 --> 00:51:45,680 Speaker 1: to get get to that super Bowl at home. Down 1069 00:51:45,680 --> 00:51:49,920 Speaker 1: to Tampa. Gable, what's your super Bowl prediction? My heart 1070 00:51:49,920 --> 00:51:53,680 Speaker 1: goes with Kansas City in the AFC, But I really 1071 00:51:53,719 --> 00:51:59,600 Speaker 1: think like Baltimore or Cleveland could could upset a team 1072 00:51:59,600 --> 00:52:01,960 Speaker 1: like could could really make a could make a run. 1073 00:52:02,040 --> 00:52:05,040 Speaker 1: I guess Kansas City, Like my heart goes with them. 1074 00:52:05,040 --> 00:52:08,719 Speaker 1: On the NFC side, it's hard not to go with 1075 00:52:08,800 --> 00:52:11,799 Speaker 1: New Orleans Man, like it really is. I mean, just 1076 00:52:12,000 --> 00:52:15,359 Speaker 1: with everything they've been through, it's just like, all right, well, 1077 00:52:16,520 --> 00:52:18,080 Speaker 1: this year is going to be the year, Like this 1078 00:52:18,160 --> 00:52:19,840 Speaker 1: year is going to be the year that they figure 1079 00:52:19,840 --> 00:52:22,439 Speaker 1: it out. But green Bay right now is the best team. 1080 00:52:22,440 --> 00:52:24,719 Speaker 1: They got the number one seed, and you're you're going 1081 00:52:24,800 --> 00:52:28,319 Speaker 1: to have to go to a snowy lambo and beat 1082 00:52:28,440 --> 00:52:32,319 Speaker 1: Green Bay in a snowy, empty lambo to say you're 1083 00:52:32,360 --> 00:52:34,880 Speaker 1: the NFC winner. But if you look at our schedule, 1084 00:52:35,880 --> 00:52:38,759 Speaker 1: seven of our nine losses came against playoff teams this year. 1085 00:52:38,840 --> 00:52:41,239 Speaker 1: So I think you can hold your heads high on that. 1086 00:52:41,360 --> 00:52:43,960 Speaker 1: And I think, you know, it gives us a little 1087 00:52:43,960 --> 00:52:48,359 Speaker 1: bit more happiness watching the playoffs this year, knowing that, hey, 1088 00:52:48,400 --> 00:52:52,200 Speaker 1: at least we didn't lose to just some slap team, right. 1089 00:52:52,560 --> 00:52:54,839 Speaker 1: I think there's something special is going on with this 1090 00:52:54,880 --> 00:52:57,719 Speaker 1: Buffalo Bills team. I mean, heading into the playoffs. I 1091 00:52:57,719 --> 00:53:00,000 Speaker 1: think it's all about who's hot at the right time. 1092 00:53:00,000 --> 00:53:03,239 Speaker 1: I'm five wins in a row. The points that they're 1093 00:53:03,239 --> 00:53:06,560 Speaker 1: putting up on offense, I think is just a plus 1094 00:53:06,640 --> 00:53:09,880 Speaker 1: to the defense that they have over there in Buffalo. 1095 00:53:09,960 --> 00:53:12,040 Speaker 1: I think they are the team that has a chance 1096 00:53:12,760 --> 00:53:14,560 Speaker 1: to upset the Chief. So I'm gonna go a little 1097 00:53:14,600 --> 00:53:18,320 Speaker 1: bold in the AFC and in the NFC. It's really 1098 00:53:18,360 --> 00:53:20,720 Speaker 1: hard for me to go against the Saints. Like you said, 1099 00:53:20,760 --> 00:53:23,480 Speaker 1: like I just think the Saints what they have and 1100 00:53:23,520 --> 00:53:26,480 Speaker 1: how it's all coming together at the right time for 1101 00:53:26,560 --> 00:53:29,239 Speaker 1: them with Drew Brees coming back, and how they were 1102 00:53:29,280 --> 00:53:31,839 Speaker 1: able to hold it together all season. I think that's 1103 00:53:31,880 --> 00:53:34,000 Speaker 1: a team that that's gonna get out of the NFC. 1104 00:53:34,080 --> 00:53:38,319 Speaker 1: So I'm going Buffalo Bills against New Orleans Saints, and 1105 00:53:38,360 --> 00:53:41,640 Speaker 1: I'm going to have to unfortunately say that I think 1106 00:53:41,640 --> 00:53:43,799 Speaker 1: the Saints are gonna win the Super Bowl. The five 1107 00:53:43,920 --> 00:53:47,319 Speaker 1: Falls of Buffalo. Wow, that's that's that's my pick. But 1108 00:53:48,320 --> 00:53:50,720 Speaker 1: it's definitely been a fun season doing all these shows 1109 00:53:50,760 --> 00:53:53,920 Speaker 1: with you guys, and thank you obviously for si Ominson 1110 00:53:54,000 --> 00:53:57,279 Speaker 1: as well to all the Vikings fans for listening all 1111 00:53:57,400 --> 00:54:00,840 Speaker 1: season long. Um continue to check ut on all social 1112 00:54:00,840 --> 00:54:04,680 Speaker 1: media platforms. Will be covering all the breaking news this offseason, 1113 00:54:05,200 --> 00:54:08,759 Speaker 1: from free agency to the draft to just about everything 1114 00:54:09,040 --> 00:54:12,919 Speaker 1: that you need to know. Gabe Henderson will obviously be 1115 00:54:13,280 --> 00:54:17,840 Speaker 1: interviewing players, analysts, just about everybody we can get to 1116 00:54:17,880 --> 00:54:20,279 Speaker 1: give us some sort of insight on the key storylines 1117 00:54:20,360 --> 00:54:23,440 Speaker 1: heading into the off season. Now that the season has 1118 00:54:23,440 --> 00:54:25,600 Speaker 1: officially come to a close, we're gonna take a little 1119 00:54:25,600 --> 00:54:29,240 Speaker 1: bit of a break here as the playoffs will ensue. 1120 00:54:29,280 --> 00:54:32,000 Speaker 1: We'll let you guys enjoy that. We're gonna enjoy it 1121 00:54:32,040 --> 00:54:35,080 Speaker 1: as well after a long season here with the Vikings 1122 00:54:35,160 --> 00:54:37,640 Speaker 1: Entertainment Network, so we'll probably pick it up here in 1123 00:54:37,680 --> 00:54:41,160 Speaker 1: a couple of weeks to start our offseason. Addition of 1124 00:54:41,200 --> 00:54:43,960 Speaker 1: the Minnesota Vikings Podcast and some of our other shows, 1125 00:54:44,000 --> 00:54:46,959 Speaker 1: we have a lot planned for the offseason this year. 1126 00:54:47,000 --> 00:54:50,600 Speaker 1: But until next time, we will see you soon and 1127 00:54:50,760 --> 00:54:54,120 Speaker 1: Scoal Vikings and let's just hope that twenty twenty one 1128 00:54:54,120 --> 00:54:56,440 Speaker 1: will be a better year than twenty twenty