The Viking lost their second consecutive game last night, scoring one touchdown in a 20-10 loss in Chicago. The Vikings, 5-2, still lead the NFC North Division but after the surprising loss to the Bears, now 2-6, Minnesota’s results in their last nine regular season games is worth biting your nails over.
After two road losses the Vikings are at U.S. Bank Stadium to play the 4-4 Lions in another division game next Sunday. The Vikings’ energy and will figures to go up a notch next week but reality is this team is searching for answers—mostly due to a crisis with the offensive line.
Injuries have reshuffled the personnel and the argument is valid this could be the NFL’s worst offensive line. The Vikings haven’t been able to effectively run the ball all season and in the losses to the Eagles and Bears no one could blame Sam Bradford’s relatives for worrying about the quarterback’s safety. Bradford was under almost constant pressure last night, with the Bears making him hurry throws, while deflecting passes and taking him out of his throwing rhythm.
He was sacked five times including multiple times in the first half when the Vikings scored only three points. “I would not want to be Sam Bradford,” said ESPN game analyst Jon Gruden.
The Vikings scored their lone touchdown on a sharp throw by Bradford to Stefon Diggs for 25 yards. Trailing 20-10 with more than five minutes to go, the Vikings had an opportunity to narrow the lead but never got the ball back. The defense, perhaps the NFL’s best, couldn’t stop quarterback Jay Cutler and teammates who for much of the game out played Minnesota.
Today the NFL’s trading deadline ends and perhaps the Vikings can acquire help in the offensive line. With or without a new player, the unit will need to work on improving skills, energy and determination for the Lions. The usual electric atmosphere in U.S. Bank Stadium will help. Probably a lot. …
The 0-2 Timberwolves open their home schedule tonight against the Grizzlies. The team has plenty to prove, but first-year coach Tom Thibodeau and second-year center Karl-Anthony Towns rate high among their peers.
Thibodeau has a chance to build a resume in Minneapolis that eventually could list him as the best coach in Wolves history. For now the forlorn franchise can take comfort that he makes just about anybody’s rankings of the NBA’s top coaches—including Gregg Popovich (Spurs), Rick Carlisle (Mavericks), Erik Spoelstra (Heat), Steve Kerr (Warriors), Doc Rivers (Clippers) and Brad Stevens (Celtics).
Thibodeau led the Bulls to the playoffs in all five of his seasons as head coach in Chicago, including having the best record in the league the first two (2010-2012). Going into this season his .647 winning percentage ranked seventh in NBA history (minimum 200 games).
Towns was the NBA’s Rookie of the Year last season, and NBA authorities believe he’s just getting started. The league’s general managers said in a survey Towns is the player they would most want to start a franchise.
Beyond Thibodeau and Towns, though, things are murky. The Wolves blew leads and couldn’t close out games in road losses last week to the Grizzlies and Kings. The better NBA teams have a player or two who can make big plays and shots late in games. Towns can be a force but he can’t always carry the team in the clutch and make the biggest of shots. Third-year small forward Andrew Wiggins has the skills to be the top candidate to help but he hasn’t reached star status yet.
Power forward Gorgui Dieng, shooting guard Zach LaVine and point guard Ricky Rubio, the team’s other starters, have to play more consistently—just like Wiggins. They won’t be guaranteed starting spots as the season progresses, although the Wolves bench players have plenty to prove, too, including rookie Kris Dunn who fills in for the injured Rubio tonight.
Thibodeau won’t stand for lack of effort and toughness. Less talented players may be on the floor if they provide the most energy and grit. Expect an aggressive start by the Wolves tonight as they try to win their first game on a journey that will be considered a disappointment if they can’t end this season at .500. …
The Wild, playing some of the best hockey in the NHL, has the Sabres at home tonight but then doesn’t have another game at Xcel Energy Center until November 15 against the Flames. Wild goalie Devan Dubnyk shut out the Sabres last week in Buffalo and defenseman Ryan Suter had two points in the 4-0 win. Dubnyk had three shutouts last week—the first goalie in Wild history to accomplish that.
Iowa, the Wild’s affiliate team in Des Moines, was 2-1 in games last week. Iowa center and former Gopher Jordan Schroeder led the team with three points. …
Good news for former Gophers athletic director McKinley Boston who is out of a hospital in New Mexico after having a blood clot on his lung. …
Amir Coffey, the 6-8 freshman guard from Hopkins, makes his college debut Thursday night at Williams Arena when Minnesota plays Bemidji State in an exhibition game. “He is a tremendous passer,” said Gophers coach Richard Pitino.
Although Gophers forward Jordan Murphy almost led the Big Ten in rebound average per game last season, he didn’t receive the notoriety of some other top freshmen in the conference. “I think he has a big chip on his shoulder (going into this season),” Pitino said of Murphy.
The Gophers had a poor shooting performance in their intrasquad game open to the public on October 22. “I think we were just getting the jitters out,” said sophomore Dupree McBrayer who could start at shooting guard and be the backup point guard.
Junior center Reggie Lynch, 6-10, 260, gives the Gophers a low post scorer and shot blocker now that he is eligible after transferring from Illinois State. Three point shooting? Lynch said he attempted one three pointer in practice but has no plans to let one fly in a game.
When 6-9 freshman forward Eric Curry arrived in Minneapolis from Arkansas earlier this year he weighed about 220 pounds. He was told to gain weight and could eat “anything” he wanted. Calories and weight training have him up to 235 pounds. …
St. Thomas is offering $50 season tickets guaranteeing the same seat location for all men’s and women’s home games. …
It’s been a newsmaking fall for Badgers linebackers with Minnesota connections. Yesterday Eden Prairie’s Ryan Connelly was named co-Big Ten Defensive Player of the Week for his career-high 11 tackles against Nebraska on Saturday. Two weeks ago Jack Cichy, a native of Somerset, Wisconsin who attended Hill-Murray School in Maplewood, was honored as Defensive Player of the Week for his career-high 15 tackles against Ohio State. …
Creative Charters is offering an incentive to Gophers football fans who buy a travel package for the Nebraska game before 5 p.m. Wednesday, November 2. Purchase a $399 per person package for the game in Lincoln on Saturday, November 12 and receive a $50 voucher for a trip to Minnesota’s bowl game (site, date and opponent to be determined). Creative’s trip to Nebraska departs Minneapolis via Sun Country November 12 at 10 a.m. and returns following the game. More at Travelingopher.com, or 651-748-0080. …
Murray’s Restaurant owner Tim Murray attended the first two World Series games with friends, paying $160 per night for good seats at Cleveland’s Progressive Field. Murray estimated there were 7,000 or more Cubs fans at each of the games, and while they added excitement to the World Series environment he said there was less “electricity” in Cleveland than other cities where he has watched the series.
Murray, who has visited every stadium in Major League Baseball, has attended World Series games in Minnesota in 1965, 1987 and 1991, and also 1982 in Milwaukee, 1993 in Philadelphia and 2004 in St. Louis. The Indians, who lead the series 3-2, can finish the Cubs tonight in the best of seven games playoffs. “I would like to see the Cubs comeback but I think Cleveland wins one of the next two,” said Murray who is a fan of both teams. …
Derek Falvey, the Twins new top baseball executive who is closing out his front office responsibilities with the Indians, will likely be introduced to the Minneapolis-St. Paul media in the next several days. Falvey, 33, pitched for Trinity College in Hartford, Connecticut where he was an economics major.