DAILY CLIPS

MONDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2018

LOCAL NEWS: Monday, December 10, 2018

Pioneer Press

Charley Walters predicts Seahawks have the momentum over Vikings By Pioneer Press https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/09/vikings-seahawks-pioneer-press-staff-picks/

Vikings’ Holton Hill faces Seattle’s Russell Wilson after growing up a ‘fan of his’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/09/vikings-holton-hill-faces-seattles-russell-wilson-after-growing-up-a-fan/

Vikings, Dalvin Cook fired up to face Seattle in only Monday game this season By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/09/vikings-dalvin-cook-fired-up-to-face-seattle-in-only-monday-game-this-season/

Vikings-Seahawks could be decided by ground game By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/12/09/vikings-seahawks-could-be-decided-by-the-ground-game/

Star Tribune Vikings front four has to lead the charge against the Seahawks and their top-ranked rushing offense By Chip Scoggins http://www.startribune.com/vikings-front-four-has-to-lead-the-charge-against-the-seahawks-and-their-top-ranked-rushing-

offense/502311561/ Dynastic Seahawks defense is history; Vikings face same challenges to stay together By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/dynastic-seahawks-defense-is-history-vikings-face-same-challenges-to-stay-together/502312591/ Vikings vs. Seahawks: Live blog, rosters, game info, depth charts, TV-radio and more By Staff http://www.startribune.com/vikings-packers-border-battle-tv-radio-statistics-depth-charts-prediction/502186411/ The Call: Monday's Vikings vs. Seahawks game By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/the-call-monday-s-vikings-vs-seahawks-game/502313421/ Solid offensive line play is giving Seahawks balance that Vikings don't have By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/solid-offensive-line-play-is-giving-seahawks-balance-that-vikings-don-t-have/502279731/

Vikings.com

Monday Morning Mailbag: Fast Start Critical In Seattle By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/monday-morning-mailbag-fast-start-critical-in-seattle

Final Thoughts: Stretch run is just beginning, but playoff feel is already here By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/final-thoughts-stretch-run-is-just-beginning-but-playoff-feel-is-already-here

NOTEBOOK: Vikings Defense Focused on Containing Elusive Wilson By Eric Smith

https://www.vikings.com/news/notebook-vikings-defense-focused-on-containing-elusive-wilson

VIKING Update

Key matchup: Keeping Chris Carson in check By John Holler https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Keeping-Chris-Carson-in-check-a-total-Vikings-effort-126089297/

Vikings pass defense returning to form, despite injuries By John Holler https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Vikings-pass-defense-returning-to-form-despite-injuries-126136570/

1500 ESPN

5 Vikings whose futures could rest on a strong finish to the season By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/12/5-vikings-whose-futures-rest-strong-finish-season/

The Athletic

Vikings Week 14 preview: Can the Vikings nab a win in a huge game against the Seahawks? By The Athletic Staff https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Keeping-Chris-Carson-in-check-a-total-Vikings-effort-126089297/

Vikings week-by-week picks: A growing sense of urgency on their trip to Seattle By Zack Pierce https://theathletic.com/526391/2018/12/09/vikings-week-by-week-predictions-2018/

NATIONAL NEWS: Monday, December 10, 2018

ESPN

What Kirk Cousins' first 12 games with Vikings tell us By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/27858/what-kirk-cousins-first-12-games-with-vikings-tell-us

Charley Walters predicts Seahawks have the momentum over Vikings By Pioneer Press BOB SANSEVERE Seahawks 24, Vikings 17 The Seahawks are starting to roll and the Vikings, well, they’re not. JOHN SHIPLEY Seahawks 29, Vikings 26 Another game you figure the Vikings could win. Another game you figure they’ll find a way to lose. CHRIS TOMASSON Vikings 24, Seahawks 23 The ghost of Blair Walsh will be eradicated. Well, to an extent. The last time the Vikings played Seattle in a game that counted, Walsh’s botched field goal cost them in a 10-9 loss in the 2015 playoffs. This time, Dan Bailey drills the game-winner at the end. CHARLEY WALTERS Seattle 24, Vikings 17 Vikings’ momentum was halted in New England while Seahawks continue to surge toward playoffs.

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 12/10/18

Vikings’ Holton Hill faces Seattle’s Russell Wilson after growing up a ‘fan of his’ By Chris Tomasson Holton Hill has gone from admiring Russell Wilson to trying to slow him down. When the Vikings rookie cornerback was growing up in Houston, the Seattle quarterback was one of his favorite players. “I was a fan of his growing up just because I liked the style in which played,’’ Hill said. “He was for sure in my top five.’’ On Monday night, Hill will get his second career start at Seattle. He takes over for Trae Waynes, who was ruled out with a concussion suffered in 24-10 loss at New England on Dec. 2. Hill’s first start came Oct. 28, when Xavier Rhodes was out with a foot injury and Hill had a solid outing in a 30-20 loss to New Orleans and Drew Brees. With Waynes having been lost in the second quarter against the Patriots and Rhodes playing reduced snaps, Hill was in for 57 of 74 plays against Tom Brady. So Hill has plenty of experience this season going against elite quarterbacks. “Yeah, but every game is different,’’ Hill said. “I just approach every play like it’s a pass or that the ball is going my way, and if I do that, I should be OK.’’ As for facing Wilson at CenturyLink Field, Hill doesn’t deny it will be special. “Yeah, most definitely,’’ Hill said. “Just from watching him play on TV to actually now being on the same field with him is a nice feeling.’’ HARRIS SHRUGS OFF RANKING Vikings safety Anthony Harris hasn’t gotten caught up in being ranked the No. 2 safety in the NFL by Pro Football Focus. “I don’t really pay much attention to it,’’ he said. “I just go out and try to play football, enjoy it and play at a high level, and do my job and do what the coaches ask me to do, and make plays.’’ Harris, a four-year veteran, didn’t play a snap in the first five games of the season. But after Andrew Sendejo went down with a groin injury Oct. 7 at Philadelphia, Harris eventually became the starter. He has started the past five games, and Sendejo was placed on injured reserve Nov. 27, ending his season. The only NFL safety that Pro Football Focus, an analytics site, ranks ahead of Harris this season is Chicago’s Eddie Jackson. BRIEFLY — Vikings safety Harrison Smith said CenturyLink Field is one of the loudest venues in the NFL, but that doesn’t bother him. “It doesn’t really affect the defense,’’ he said. Smith said it’s sometimes easier for the defense to play on the road because the fans are quiet. It’s harder for me to play a home game as far as communication than an away game.”

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 12/10/18

— With 98 catches, wide receiver Adam Thielen needs two to become the third Vikings player to have 100 in a season and the first since Randy Moss had 111 grabs in 2003. Moss and Cris Carter each had two 100-catch seasons. Thielen is on pace for 131 receptions, which would break the team record of 122 set by Carter in 1994 and 1995. — After the Vikings had six players return kickoffs in the first nine games, they appear to have found an answer in Ameer Abdullah, picked up from waivers from Detroit before their 10th game. In three games, Abdullah has returned four kickoffs for a 29.5-yard average. Special-teams coordinator Mike Priefer said Abdullah has great athletic ability and has “done a great job of acclimating himself.’’

Vikings, Dalvin Cook fired up to face Seattle in only Monday game this season By Chris Tomason Vikings running back Dalvin Cook keeps a board by his locker upon which he places adhesive-backed descriptions next to each game listed on the team’s schedule. He has used phrases this season of “Popcorn Ready Game,’’ “Statement Game” and “Bulletin Board Game.’’ For Monday’s game at Seattle, it reads simply: “MNF Game.’’ Cook grew up watching “Monday Night Football” and made his NFL regular-season debut on that ESPN stage last year, rushing for a career-high 127 yards in a win over New Orleans. The Vikings are heading into their only Monday game this season, and you better believe Cook is ready. “You grew up watching these games and before you go to bed, you tried to watch the whole game and now I’m playing in it,” he said. “If you can’t get ready for this game, you might need to take a step back from the game.’’ Cook could be a key player for Minnesota. After he carried nine times for 84 yards in a 24-10 loss at New England on Dec. 2, head coach Mike Zimmer said the Vikings didn’t run enough. Offensive coordinator John DeFilippo said that “absolutely” more carries are needed for Cook. The game is important for the playoff hopes of Minnesota (6-5-1). With Chicago defeating the Los Angeles Rams 15-6 on Sunday night, the Vikings fell two games behind the Bears (9-4) in the NFC North. They are No. 6 (the final wild-card spot) in the NFC playoff race, a half game behind No. 5 Seattle (7-5). “It’s almost a must-win for us,’’ said linebacker Anthony Barr. Running back Latavius Murray takes it a step further. “We know obviously what’s at stake,’’ he said. “With four games left for us and the situation that we’re in, we got to win them all. … We can’t afford to lose at all, and so it starts Monday night.’’ At least the Vikings might have put their Monday night woes behind them. Entering 2016, they had lost seven consecutive Monday games before beating the New York Giants at home, although they later lost that season at Chicago. Last year, the Vikings went 2-0 on Mondays. That included a 20-17 win at Chicago that broke a streak of six straight road losses on Mondays. “It’s a huge game,’’ said linebacker Eric Kendricks. “I like playing on Monday night. We’re the only ones on TV. The spotlight’s on us, so we got to show up. “Seattle, man, we’re always trading blows with them. They’re a good team. It should be interesting. They’ve got a good quarterback.’’ The Vikings never have beaten a Seattle team led by Russell Wilson, having lost four straight in the regular season and playoffs since he entered the NFL in 2012. In the last meeting, the Seahawks won 10-9 in the 2015 playoffs when Blair Walsh shanked a 27-yard field-goal attempt in the waning seconds at TCF Bank Stadium.

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 12/10/18

Wilson led the NFL with 34 touchdown passes last season and is fourth this year with 29. He will go against a Minnesota secondary that is missing cornerback Trae Waynes, out with a concussion. But it could come down to which team runs the ball better. The Seahawks are averaging an NFL-best 148.8 yards per game on the ground, with Chris Carson having rushed for 704 yards. “Stop the run and get them in third-and-long situations,’’ Barr said of the key Monday. On offense, the Vikings have quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has thrown for 3,490 yards and 23 touchdowns. But it could come down to what Cook can do on the ground against a Seattle defense that is giving up an NFL-most 5.1 yards per carry. And, yes, he’s fired up. “If you can’t get ready for that game, football ain’t your sport,’’ Cook said. “It’s that simple.’’

Vikings-Seahawks could be decided by ground game By Chris Tomasson

The Vikings have lost four straight to the Seahawks, including a 10-9 home playoff loss after the 2015 season. The Vikings haven’t won in Seattle since 2006, having dropped two in a row. The game could be decided by which team runs the ball better. Seattle leads the NFL with an average of 148.8 yards per game on the ground, and Chris Carson has 704 on the season. But the Seahawks give up an average of 116.8 yards per game, and their 5.1 yards per carry they allow is the NFL’s worse. The Vikings want to give more carries to Dalvin Cook, who had nine attempts for 84 yards in a 24-10 loss at New England on Dec. 2. Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins leads the NFL in completions with 350 and has thrown for 3,490 yards and 23 touchdowns. But Cousins has thrown two interceptions in two of the past three games, and Minnesota lost both. Seattle’s Russell Wilson is fourth in the NFL with 29 touchdown passes and will go against a Minnesota secondary without Trae Waynes, who suffered a concussion against the Patriots. With 245 yards, Wilson is running less than he did last season, when he had 586 yards on the ground. VIKINGS (6-5-1) AT SEAHAWKS (7-5) Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. Monday Where: CenturyLink Field TV: ESPN; Joe Tessitore, Jason Witten, Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters Radio: KFXN-FM 100.3; Paul Allen, Pete Bercich, Greg Coleman Referee: Brad Allen Series: Seahawks lead 10-5 Line: Seahawks by 3

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 12/10/18

Vikings front four has to lead the charge against the Seahawks and their top-ranked rushing offense By Chip Scoogins

John DeFilippo’s game plan Monday night will be monitored only slightly less fervently than NORAD’s Santa Tracker app on Christmas Eve. Will the Vikings offensive coordinator call more running plays? Too many? Or just the right amount to make Mike Zimmer smile and give a thumbs-up? While the run-pass ratio served as an easy-pickings debate last week, the outcome of a critically important game in Seattle hinges less on the number of times the Vikings run the ball and more on their ability to stop the run. Well, that and being able to contain some guy named Russell Wilson. “We have a full plate,” defensive end Stephen Weatherly said. Full like a trip through the buffet line. The roadmap to victory is clear: The Vikings need their best position group — the heralded and highly compensated defensive line — to be their best players in a game that could determine their playoff fate. Everything starts there. Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter and Sheldon Richardson and Linval Joseph. When they are swarming and relentless in their pass rush, offenses look claustrophobic, tentative, disrupted. That front four can dictate the flow of an entire game. “Those games are usually fun,” Richardson said. And successful. And that’s what the Vikings need more than anything: a smothering performance from their D-line, because the Seahawks can wear down opponents by slow drip or with Wilson’s brilliance. The Seahawks lead the NFL in rushing. That’s their identity. They are the only NFL team that has called more runs than pass plays this season, bucking a leaguewide shift in philosophy that encourages passing to set up more passing. The Seahawks had 32 rushing attempts in eight of their previous 10 games. They topped 150 rushing yards in seven consecutive games during one stretch, a team record. They don’t try to fool anyone. Seattle’s leading rusher, Chris Carson, leads the league in broken tackles with 42, according to Football Outsiders. His 704 rushing yards include 545 after contact, per ProFootballFocus. Translated from analytics to English: He’s tough to bring down. “He may be the best, one of the best backs in the league, the way he runs,” Zimmer said. That sounds like a strong case of opposing coach flattery, but Carson is a priority because if the Vikings don’t stop the run, nothing else will matter. The Seahawks would be able to do whatever they desire. Run, pass, sip espresso.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 12/10/18

“We have to earn the right to rush,” Richardson said. The D-linemen recite that phrase often. It’s their mantra, Earn the right to rush. It means if they stop the run, they earn the right to rush the quarterback in passing downs, which is their favorite part of the job. That’s their reward for handling the dirty work. Of course, rushing Wilson is no picnic, not with the way he pivots and pirouettes in the pocket. He plays the position like Harry Houdini. He somehow wiggles out of the tightest jams. “He’s kind of all over the place,” Griffen said. “He’ll do anything to not get sacked.” Wilson has never lost to the Vikings. He has beaten them three times in the regular season and once in the playoffs in a game that no Minnesota fan needs to be reminded of. He has posted an absurd 142.0 passer rating in regular-season meetings by completing 72 percent of his passes for 677 yards and eight touchdowns with no interceptions. The Vikings have sacked him only three times in three games. Wilson doesn’t rattle easily, and rushing him requires discipline because sometimes he scrambles to run and sometimes he scrambles merely to buy time for receivers to get open. “In order to get to him,” Hunter said, “you’ve got to stop the run [first].” The Vikings haven’t shied away from discussing the importance of this game in terms of playoff ramifications. Not even Zimmer, who admitted the circumstances have created a playoff vibe. “Crunch time,” Richardson said. Winning in crunch time can take many forms. A masterpiece by the defensive line would give the Vikings their best shot.

Dynastic Seahawks defense is history; Vikings face same challenges to stay together By Andrew Krammer The Seattle Seahawks’ “Legion of Boom” secondary was at the height of its powers, just eight months removed from a Super Bowl win, when current Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins came to town with the Washington Redskins on a Monday night in 2014. Cousins, in his seventh NFL start, fell in a loss like many quarterbacks did against a Seahawks defense on its way to another Super Bowl appearance. “I don’t know that any of that secondary will be playing on Monday night,” Cousins said. Just four years later, Cousins and the Vikings offense won’t exactly look up at Goliath during Monday night’s pivotal NFC matchup in Seattle. Nearly the entire Seahawks defense has undergone a transformation that can happen in a few blinks in the NFL. In its bid to be the league’s next model of consistency, the Vikings defense is fighting some of the same natural forces that shredded the Seahawks’ fabric. Not playing for the Seahawks are the three All-Pros, Richard Sherman, Kam Chancellor and Earl Thomas, before either turned 31 years old in Seattle’s secondary, which now starts three 23-year-old prospects and a sixth-year journeyman. The only one still on the roster, Thomas, was last seen flipping the bird at his own sideline after a contract dispute ended in his season-­ending injury. Injuries, contracts and free agency are the primary threats to a dynastic defense. The Vikings — sixth in yards allowed and 14th in scoring this season — have so far put up a shaky encore to last year’s No. 1 rankings. Seattle Seahawks fan Kristie Bond cheers before the NFL football NFC Championship game against the Green Bay Packers Sunday, Jan. 18, 2015, in Seattle Live: Follow the Vikings-Seattle game with Access Vikings But their points of emphasis remain sharp. The Vikings defense is still No. 1 on third downs. It’s the only NFL defense forcing more field goals than touchdowns in the red zone. And, while allowing an NFL-low 15 passing touchdowns, the Vikings defense is on pace to be the first to surrender the fewest passing touchdowns in back-to-back seasons since the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1998-99. That kind of premier-level consistency is fleeting, as coach Pete Carroll knows after his Seahawks achieved the rare four consecutive seasons with the No. 1 scoring defense from 2012-15. “It does take a commitment by the franchise to keep your guys together,” Carroll said. “Because free-agency guys are coming and going a lot. You have to stick with your guys if you’re going to hope to develop the kind of chemistry that allows you to really get good playing together.” Vikings General Manager Rick Spielman has made that commitment. Six foundational Vikings defenders — safety Harrison Smith, cornerback Xavier Rhodes, defensive end Danielle Hunter, linebacker Eric Kendricks, nose tackle Linval Joseph and defensive end Everson Griffen — have signed multiyear extensions in the past 30 months. “The Vikings have had that over the years,” Carroll said. “I know [Andrew] Sendejo isn’t playing, but it’s been there. You can see the benefit of it in the great play that they have.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 12/10/18

Erosion happens. Stars get older. Young overachievers leave, trying to maximize paychecks in free agency. Injuries, which the Vikings’ 2017 horseshoe prevented, ruin plans. The Vikings defense has already missed a combined 26 games from key contributors because of injury this season, including safety Sendejo and cornerback Mike Hughes to injured reserve. That’s compared to only three games a year ago. Above the field, the Vikings front office will face more questions this offseason. In the secondary alone, three safeties — Sendejo, Anthony Harris and George Iloka — can hit restricted or unrestricted free agency, and cornerbacks in Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander are set to enter contract seasons in 2019. Linebacker Anthony Barr and defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson are the heavy hitters set to become free agents this spring. The Vikings’ attempts to keep the right players are the precursors to year-over-year success against opposing quarterbacks. “I think that has a lot to do with it,” coach Mike Zimmer said. “It all goes so much hand in hand. You get a bunch of guys on the defensive line hurt, you can’t rush the quarterback. Linebackers are not … I mean there’s a lot of different things, not just the secondary.” At each level of the defense, Spielman has boasted about the Vikings’ ability to practically “clone” the types of players they target — from wingspans and agility down to personality traits — and even the Vikings’ attempts to quantify a young man’s determination and love for football. The talent search is increasingly important for the Vikings. High-end consistency demands finding diamonds in the rough behind expensive starters. The latest safety next to Smith — Anthony Harris — was an undrafted signing in 2015. He’ll start his sixth game on Monday night, tied for the team lead with three interceptions while earning a $705,000 salary. “Obviously, you’re going to have a couple new faces come in and out,” Harris said. “But it’s important the type of players you bring in. You got guys [here] with really high IQs that can pick up things a little bit faster.” Harris is the example of the Vikings’ philosophy to develop homegrown talent. But in a blink, he’s positioned to leave should another NFL front office offer him a contract the Vikings don’t match in his restricted free agency this spring. Such is the ongoing pursuit of winning every season, which Harris said is his focus as opposed to upcoming free agency. “Nah, I’m focused on the season right now. Enjoying these guys, enjoying the opportunity to continue to go out and play football,” Harris said. “I’m enjoying myself right now.”

Vikings vs. Seahawks: Live blog, rosters, game info, depth charts, TV-radio and more By Staff The Vikings' playoff chances could get a major boost Monday night in Seattle, combined with results of other NFL games this weekend. Here's a look at what to follow and how to follow it. Gameview: Statistics and game play-by-play Kickoff: 7:15 p.m. How's the weather? Keep up on our Live Blog Television: ESPN, Ch. 4 Radio: 100.3 FM, Sirius Ch. 61; XM 80, 226; Streaming Ch. 819, Vikings Radio Network

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 12/10/18

The Call: Monday's Vikings vs. Seahawks game By Ben Goessling

The Vikings will have a chance to take this one if they can slow down Seattle’s top-ranked run game, but it’ll be tough against a Seahawks team that appears to be finding its stride. A team that rarely loses at home will prevail over one that’s had trouble beating quality opponents on the road. THREE BIG STORY LINES Playoff positioning at stake The Seahawks entered Week 14 as the NFC’s top wild-card team, a half-game ahead of the Vikings. The winner will be in strong position for a wild-card berth; the loser will be in a crowded group of teams trying to sneak into the playoffs. Wilson a menace for Vikings Seahawks quarterback Russell Wilson is 4-0 in his career against the Vikings, having thrown for eight touchdowns without an interception in three regular-season victories. He also rallied Seattle from a 9-0 deficit in the Seahawks’ famous wild-card playoff victory against the Vikings in January 2016. Lockett Richardson returns to Seattle Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson spent the 2017 season in Seattle, before choosing a one-year, $8 million deal with the Vikings over what he considered to be an unacceptable offer from the Seahawks to return. He’ll face his former team in the middle of a resurgent season that has included 3½ sacks. TWO KEY MATCHUPS Vikings CB Xavier Rhodes vs. Seahawks WR Tyler Lockett Rhodes has been a full participant in practice all week after dealing with a hamstring injury that caused him to rotate series with Marcus Sherels against the Patriots. If the Vikings are comfortable enough with his health — and comfortable enough with their other options, given Trae Waynes was ruled out with a concussion — Rhodes could wind up shadowing Lockett, who has 44 catches for 713 yards and nine touchdowns this season. Vikings run D vs. Seahawks ground game Seattle is the only team in the NFL that runs the ball more often than it passes; if the Seahawks stick with their run-heavy approach, they’ll try to get the better of a run front that’s ranked seventh in the NFL, but gave up 148 and 160 rushing yards in losses to the Bears and Patriots, respectively. ONE STAT THAT MATTERS 18-4 The Seahawks’ record in night games at CenturyLink Field since 2006. Only two road teams in that time — the Saints in 2007 and the Falcons last year — have won a night game in Seattle after traveling two or more time zones west.

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 12/10/18

THE VIKINGS WILL WIN IF… They’re able to win a battle of wills up front, as the Seahawks try to establish the run, and they can rediscover their downfield passing game against a secondary that doesn’t exactly compare to the Legion of Boom; Seattle has allowed 44 plays of 20 yards or more through the air this season. THE SEAHAWKS WILL WIN IF… They’re able to duplicate the Bears’ and Patriots’ success running the ball against the Vikings, give Wilson time to make plays against a secondary that is again dealing with injury issues, and coax a turnover or two from the Vikings. Goessling's prediction: Seahawks, 23-20 Win probability: 40 percent

Solid offensive line play is giving Seahawks balance that Vikings don't have By Mark Graig The key to a happy, harmonious team, fan base, front office and coaching staff usually rests on the ability of their offensive line to consistently dominate the other team’s big fellas. Before we knighted Sean McVay for reinventing the game of football last season, the Rams rebuilt the young man’s offensive line into one of the top two or three units in the league. The Rams are a league-best 11-1, winning 54-51 shootouts, averaging 9.1 yards per pass and 4.8 per run. Yes, Sean’s 32-year-old offensive mind could prove to be historically sharp. But that kind of balance can’t be found — by any play-caller — behind a line that lacks continuity or top-line talent and strength. In Kansas City, where the Chiefs are an AFC-best 10-2, Andy Reid’s brilliant, rejuvenated mind has skill players going every which way in a symphony of three-way misdirection. Patrick Mahomes reads the defense’s confusion and flicks the ball left or right, back or forth, short or long. Try doing all that fancy, futuristic movement with defenders crashing through the front door at the snap of the ball. It wouldn’t work. In Minnesota, an ongoing story line features old-school head coach Mike Zimmer vs. new-school offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. Zimmer is open about wanting more commitment to the run. DeFilippo accepts the boss’ evaluation as having some merit but also expresses his opinion that bosses aren’t always right. “Balance to me is going to be different each week,” DeFilippo said. “If you just go in with the same plan to attack an opponent each week, I don’t think that’s going to give you the best chance for success.” Their problem isn’t communication. It’s not the age of the school of football they attend. It’s the fact their offensive line hasn’t played well enough to satisfy either one’s approach consistently. And that makes offensive line the team’s No. 1 priority heading into the offseason. Meanwhile, the situation up front in Seattle sits at the other end of the spectrum. Pete Carroll wants to run the ball, and, by gosh, run the ball they have. It started with Carroll firing offensive coordinator Darrell Bevell and Tom Cable, his line coach and run game coordinator, after Seattle missed the playoffs last season. “We needed to do some things a little differently,” said Carroll, whose team plays host to the Vikings on Monday night. “Take advantage of the personnel we had and the style of offensive linemen we were able to get.”

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 12/10/18

In doing so, the hope, Carroll said, was to elevate quarterback Russell Wilson’s “awareness of what’s going on in the game.” Carroll hired fellow run-game enthusiasts Brian Schottenheimer and Mike Solari as offensive coordinator and line coach, respectively. Solari then talked massive right guard D.J. Fluker into following him from the Giants to Seattle. “I’m really grateful that it’s worked out,” Carroll said. “Russell is more in command than he ever has been.” Wilson is on pace for a career low in interceptions and career highs in passer rating and touchdowns. And no other team in the league averages more runs per game (31.7) than Seattle. Of course, there was that two-game hiccup to start the season. Seattle started 0-2 with 12 sacks allowed. They had thrown the ball 69 times and run it 38. As an organization, Seattle recommitted to the run. Since then, the Seahawks have run the ball 326 times and passed it 257 while averaging 164.8 rushing yards per game, going 7-3 and climbing to the NFC’s fifth playoff spot. Of course, it helps that Fluker returned from a hamstring injury in Week 2. He won’t play Monday because of that hamstring, but undrafted rookie Jordan Simmons stepped in for him against the Rams in Week 10 and played well. It also helps that guard J.R. Sweezy returned from Tampa Bay this season and has started all 12 games. That right tackle Duane Brown has proved he was worth trading for last year. That center Justin Britt has been durable. That right tackle Germain Ifedi was a first-round pick in 2016. “Things have fit well,” Carroll said. “Those guys up front have done a good job kind of setting the tone for how we play our football.” And therein lies the key to NFL happiness or the lack thereof.

Monday Morning Mailbag: Fast Start Critical In Seattle By Mike Wobschall It seems that we come out flat and the early play calling is suspect. Then we spend the game playing catch up! How can the team come out with some fire? -- Bruce Taylor Vining, MN Coming out with fire and energy is especially important this week because the players will have to wait all day in the team hotel before kickoff at 5:15 p.m. PT and because the Seahawks have a tremendous home-field advantage that will give the home team an extra pep in its step. Coming out sharp is a function of a few things, including the ability of the coaching staff to motivate and the responsibility the players bear to play hard. There’s no question in my mind the Vikings know what’s at stake in this game and there’s also no question most of the Vikings roster understands the challenge of playing at CenturyLink Field. I do not foresee coming out sharp and with energy being an issue for the Vikings tonight. With Trae Waynes being listed as out, will we see more of George Iloka or Jayron Kearse? -- Robert Kava @TheRobertKava My sense is Holton Hill will see the biggest increase in work due to Waynes being out. I do think the Vikings will use Kearse a bit more than usual tonight, though, and it’s because the Seahawks are unafraid to run the ball even in traditional passing situations and out of sub packages. So it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Vikings use the “big nickel” look on Monday night. Does running the ball help the offensive line work together better because it makes them focus on blocking schemes and on play action passing? -- Allen Becker Minot, ND A lot of benefits are gained by running the ball well. It helps the entire team, not just the offense, forge an identity of physicality. It can also lead to more complementary football because it helps the offense control the clock and give the defense a longer break between series. Running the ball well also neutralizes pass rushers because they have to think twice about pinning their ears back to get after the quarterback when they know a running back may be whizzing past them. And finally, running the ball well leads to more red zone and goal line success and it really opens up play action and bootleg concepts for the offense, which is a strength of Kirk Cousins’. The Vikings should be able to score more than ten points on the NFL’s 21st ranked defense (New England). What do the Vikings have to do to improve this? -- John Hunn I know it’s a low-hanging fruit answer, but running the ball efficiently more often would help the Vikings score more points for the reasons mentioned in the previous answer, and most particularly because it typically leads to more success in the red zone.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 12/10/18

I'm liking what I'm seeing from Stephen Weatherly. Would it make sense to line Anthony Barr and Danielle Hunter up in the A gaps every now and then when Weatherly rotates in? It might be a nice blitz package. Bring on the Seahawks! -- Paul Pecukonis Seattle, WA Sure, that would be an interesting look. In that scenario, you could have Everson Griffen, Sheldon Richardson, Tom Johnson and Weatherly as the four down linemen with Barr and Hunter mugging the A gaps. Then you could get creative with alignments and assignments for Mackensie Alexander, Eric Kendricks and Harrison Smith. This would constitute a wrinkle in sub package strategy and wouldn’t be anything used regularly, but it would be an interesting look and it would present some potential problems for offense’s in terms of designing protections.

Final Thoughts: Stretch run is just beginning, but playoff feel is already here By Mike Wobschall The Vikings and Seahawks each have a quarter of their season to play and will each be in the thick of the playoff chase even with another loss this week. But those facts have done nothing to diminish the sense of urgency for both teams as they prepare to battle at CenturyLink Field on Monday night. Coaches avoid hyperbole like the plague. Coaches always promote the “each game is 1/16th of the schedule” mantra. But when asked this week if his team’s upcoming game against the 7-5 Seahawks had that playoff feel to it, Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer couldn’t help but acknowledge that it did. “I think going on the road with that crowd and the type of football team that they are, I think yeah, a little bit,” Zimmer said. “These next four games will determine what we do and where we go and how we perform in the clutch. Yeah, I guess you could say that.” And Vikings fans should feel good that their head coach is willing to accept the significance of this week’s game. Even though the playoffs are still well within reach if the Vikings lose on Monday night, a win on the road against a battle-tested team such as the Seahawks would be a huge boost to a Vikings team looking to straighten things out and begin an ascent to peak play in the final month of the season. While the Vikings have run out of time to better or equal last season’s 13-3 regular season record, they have not run out of time to achieve all of their goals for 2018 – winning the division, making the playoffs, winning the NFC and winning the Super Bowl. A big first step toward those goals would be a big win in Seattle on Monday night. Key for Vikings defense: Win on early downs The Vikings defense is the NFL’s best on 3rd downs, where they are holding opponents to a conversion rate of 29.9%. Last week, though, the New England Patriots solved the 3rd down riddle versus the Vikings, completing seven of 14 (50%) attempts. The key was New England’s flexibility in play calling, as they used runs and screens in addition to traditional drop backs. The Patriots were able to do that because they had relatively short to-go distances on 3rd downs – an average of only 4.5 yards to go. So in order to do a better job on 3rd downs against Seattle this week, the Vikings have focused on performing better on 1st and 2nd down. “We’ve got to do a good job on first and second down to where we can make those longer situations where they’re not in third and two to four, running the football and those kind of things,” Vikings Defensive Coordinator George Edwards said. “This team is very similar in third and two to four, or when you get in longer yardages, they’ll run the football. We got to do a good job of putting ourselves ahead of the sticks on first and second down too.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 12/10/18

Matchup of the Game: Vikings Offensive Tackles vs. Frank Clark The most disruptive player on Seattle’s defense is edge rusher Frank Clark. He has 10.0 sacks and three forced fumbles on the season, which only slightly illustrates his true impact on each game. Clark has the aforementioned production, but it’s his versatility and constant threatening of pass protections that impacts the game. Clark can line up on either side, he’s good against the run as well as good in pass-rush situations and he’s become a leader of the defense. The ability of the Vikings offense, specifically the offensive tackles, to identify Clark’s whereabouts and block him on a snap-to-snap basis will be a huge factor in this game. Mailbag It seems like no matter what happens, Kirk Cousins never gets the respect he deserves. But when we lose and he throws one interception, then all you hear is negativity. Why do you think that is? And do you honestly think we will make the playoffs? Not looking too good at the moment. -- Darryl Jones That is life in the NFL, especially for coaches and quarterbacks. They shoulder most of the blame when things go wrong and they also are the recipients of much of the praise when things go the right way. Fair or unfair, that’s how it goes in the NFL. It goes with the territory of occupying the two most important spots on a NFL team – head coach and starting quarterback. As for making the playoffs, yes, I do think the Vikings will make it and I disagree that things don’t look good at the moment. Entering Week 14, the Vikings were nearly certain to make the playoffs with three-plus wins in their last four games and they were likely to make it with two wins in their final four games. Remember, that tie on the Vikings record means they get the nod over any team if they finish with the same amount of wins as that team. This means that for another team to get the nod over the Vikings, they must finish with more wins. For the Vikings to miss the playoffs after winning eight games, two of these three team would have to finish with nine wins: Carolina, Philadelphia, Washington. It could happen, no doubt. And it will get tight if the Vikings lose on Monday night. But there’s a long way to go, the Vikings control their own destiny and the key will be taking it one game at a time. Quotable There was a lot of talk this week about the Vikings abandoning the run in the second half last week in New England and about the potential correction of that issue this week during practice leading up to the Monday night game in Seattle. Vikings Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo, who has said previously that no one wants to run the ball well more than him, broached the topic of offensive balance this week while meeting with reporters. His several-sentence input was an illustration that he appreciates the need for balance and has given it a lot of thought as he designs and calls the Vikings offense. “Here is the way I view balance. To me, I think each game is different. I really do. I am a firm believer in that. Each way you attack an opponent is different. I think if you just go in with the same plan to attack an opponent each week, I don’t think at times that is going to give you the best chance for success. I think you try to exploit the weakness whatever you view that defense is and find different ways to exploit that part of the defense. Just like the way the defenses do against the offense. If you are struggling against the blitz, they are going to blitz you. If you are

struggling against cover-two, they are going to play cover-two. It is very similar back and forth between the offense and the defense in terms of each week is different. Balance to me is going to be different each week.” – Vikings Offensive Coordinator John DeFilippo on offensive balance Stat of the Week The Vikings have allowed the third-fewest rushes of four-plus yards (150) and Seattle has generated the most rushes of four-plus yards (188) in 2018 There has been a lot of focus on the Vikings rushing offense this week. But don’t forget about Seattle’s rushing offense. They lead the league in rushing attempts and have run 54% of the time during their current three-game winning streak. Broadcast Information National TV: ESPN Play-by-Play: Joe Tessitore Analyst: Jason Witten Sideline: Booger McFarland, Lisa Salters National Radio: Westwood One Sports Play-by-Play: Kevin Harlan Analyst: Kurt Warner Sideline: Scott Kaplan Local Radio: KFAN-FM 100.3/KTLK-AM 1130 Play-by-Play: Paul Allen Analyst: Pete Bercich Sideline: Greg Coleman, Ben Leber

NOTEBOOK: Vikings Defense Focused on Containing Elusive Wilson By Eric Smith EAGAN, Minn. — There are plenty of plays that stick out from the Vikings 10-9 loss to the Seahawks in the Wild Card Round of the 2015 playoffs. But there is just one snap that sums up the wizardry of Russell Wilson. Minnesota led by nine points early in the fourth quarter at the University of Minnesota when the Seahawks had the ball at the Vikings 39-yard line. The Seattle quarterback was in the shotgun and wasn’t ready when the ball was snapped. The pigskin glanced off his left shoulder pad and rolled all the way back to Seattle’s 45-yard line. Wilson slid to the ground, gathered the ball and smoothly picked it up in a seamless motion. He then rolled to his right, eluding a handful of nearby Minnesota defenders before launching a pass downfield to Tyler Lockett that the wide receiver took down to the 4-yard line. The play went down as a 35-yard pass in the box score, but it was more than that, as the sequence showed off an athleticism that the Vikings are preparing for on Monday night. “Ha, that’s Russell being Russell,” said Vikings defensive tackle Tom Johnson, who was on the field on the play. “By far one of the best quarterbacks in the league at rolling out of the pocket. That’s what he’s known for. For him to make a play like that, that’s not uncharacteristic for Russell, you know? “That’s one of the things you have to know about him, and you have to contain him,” Johnson added. “He’s capable of making all those throws on the run and is an accurate thrower on the run. That’s something you have to be expecting in certain situations.” Wilson ranks ninth among NFL quarterbacks with 245 rushing yards, which means he is averaging a hair over 20 yards on the ground per game. And he doesn’t have any rushing touchdowns so far this season, even though Wilson had tallied at least one rushing score in each of his previous six seasons. But the Vikings know that it’s more about Wilson’s elusiveness than the fact that he’s going to rack up yardage on the ground. If the quarterback can get outside of the pocket, he can extend plays and hit a teammate for a deep gain, much like he did in that playoff game. “[He’s dangerous with] his legs,” said Vikings cornerback Mackensie Alexander. “He’s able to extend plays, and he throws great deep balls. “That’s going to be vital for us,” Alexander added. “We have to be very disciplined and get to him and get him on the ground and make sure we eliminate big plays against him.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 12/10/18

Added Vikings safety Harrison Smith: “He’s an athletic guy. Not that he can’t run, but he throws the deep ball really well. His athleticism allows him to create, and he’s great at that.” The Vikings defense knows that they have the tough task of pressuring Wilson but also trying to contain him in a bubble of sorts as well. “I think you have to mix it up on him,” said Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer. “They have some movement passes where they get out of the pocket. Then they have some scrambles and they have some normal play action drop backs.” Added Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen: “He’s kind of all over the place. He’ll back up, he’ll shuffle, he’ll do anything to get out of the way and not get sacked.” Besides being on the field against Wilson in that Wild Card game, Johnson was with the Seahawks all offseason and to start the 2018 campaign before he was released and eventually re-signed with Minnesota. The defensive tackle has been both part of the opposition and teammates with Wilson, so he’s had an up-close view of what to expect Monday night. “It’s extending the downs,” Johnson said. “It’s having them in third-down situations and him being able to make plays to get that first down and move the chains. “Those runs that he does have, those rolling out plays and making DBs stick to the coverage … it’s a task and something they do well, but something we’re going to have to defend,” Johnson added. Rudolph reacts to ‘Dear Kyle’ video You aren’t alone if you’ve shed a tear or two while watching the “Dear Kyle” video that showcases Kyle Rudolph’s involvement in the community and at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital. The video, which can be seen here, highlights Rudolph’s nomination as the Vikings nominee for 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. It has drawn thousands of emotions, including from the Vikings tight end himself. Rudolph summed up what the video meant to him and the reactions he has received. “A lot of responses to the video with how powerful it was,” Rudolph said. “That’s just a testament to the guys down at [Vikings Entertainment Network] and our PR department, my wife … everyone that got together and put the effort forth to get the letters. “For our video department to have the creativity to format it that way, it was really cool for me to hear from people I don’t hear from that often. A little more uncomfortable since I’m not used to being emotional,” Rudolph added. “I said it in the press conference … well, my wife said it … but I didn’t cry at our wedding. She knows I don’t cry very often, so it was definitely a little uncomfortable seeing that. But you don’t hear from those people that often, so to hear from them was really special.”

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@Vikings He cried. You cried. We cried. The 'Dear Kyle' letters show how strong @KyleRudolph82's impact has been on local children's hospital patients and their families.#WPMOYChallenge Rudolph

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2,721 11:50 AM - Dec 8, 2018 705 people are talking about this Twitter Ads info and privacy Rudolph, who was also up for the award in 2017, said he would be honored if he eventually won the award. The recipient of the 2018 Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award at the NFL Honors awards show in Atlanta the night before Super Bowl LIII. “It would be cool. I mentioned it the other day, obviously, the accolades and awards aren’t why we do the things we do,” Rudolph said. “And to be quite honest, it’s a little uncomfortable at times when people are telling you what a great thing it is that you’re doing because we just want to help people out and make their lives a little better. “We feel fortunate to have the platform that we have to go out and do better and make it for that,” Rudolph added. “Obviously, you look at past winners … Cris Carter winning it here with the Vikings … the award getting named after Walter Payton, some say it’s the most prestigious award in our sport. It would definitely mean a lot.” Praise for Seattle’s O-line The Seahawks rank first in the NFL with 148.8 rushing yards per game as the Seattle offensive line as paved the way for the league’s best ground game. That unit has also allowed 37 sacks, which is tied for the eighth-most in the NFL, but the Vikings say the Seahawks o-line has established itself as one of the top units in the league. “From what we’ve seen in the preseason ‘til now, they’ve been running the ball more, so they’re more aggressive that way instead of passing the ball,” said Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter. “They run the ball 32 times a game or something like that, so that’s one thing we have to focus on.” Added Zimmer: “I think they’re using [it] to their advantage [that] they are running the football a lot. They have a really good zone scheme that they do. They have a few traps, a little bit of crack toss. They’re tough, physical guys that come off the ball and get some double teams and try to remove you off the football.”

PUBLICATION : VIKING Update 12/10/18

Key matchup: Keeping Chris Carson in check By John Holler There are some NFL redemption stories that become the making of legend. Fans of the Minnesota Vikings know about the rise of Adam Thielen from an undrafted practice squad candidate to special teams player to part-time starter to Pro Bowl receiver. In Seattle, the Seahawks have a similar story in running back Chris Carson, who has come from nothing to something and is this week’s matchup to watch against the front seven of the Vikings defense. To understand how big a turnaround the Seattle run game has made, you have to go back to 2017. With a banged-up offensive line, the Seattle run offense hit bottom. Quarterback Russell Wilson had almost as many rushing yards (586) as the top three Seattle running backs combined. Mike Davis led that way with just 240 yards as six running backs all had their shot at being the featured back at some point – Davis, Carson, J.D. McKissic, Eddie Lacy, Thomas Rawls and C.J. Prosise. The season began with Lacy expected to be the lead back, but he was woefully out of shape. Rawls, who was returning from injury, never regained his form. Prosise was the top candidate coming in and injuries kept him to just 11 carries. Carson flashed talent early on, but played just four games after suffering a broken leg. The Seahawks running backs were as bad as it gets. The group rushed 301 times for just 994 yards – a woeful 3.3-yard average – and none of them was able to step up, although Carson was the most effective before being lost for the season in Week 4. He had to start over to reclaim his starting job this season because not only was Davis back to compete for the starting job he held the final five games of the season, the Seahawks used their first-round draft pick on running back Rashaad Penny, whom most draft analysts viewed as a second- or third-round draft prospect. While the Seahawks still have a group approach in the backfield, this time around they’re averaging 149 yards a game (161 in the last 10 games) and Carson has taken over the top spot, leading the way with 154 carries for 704 yards to lead the way. Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Carson has quickly become one of the best running backs he’s seen on tape and his defensive players agree. “He is a decisive runner who sticks his foot and hits the hole hard,” linebacker Eric Kendricks said. “He’s an aggressive runner and doesn’t go down too often when first contact is made.” How different is the 2018 run game of the Seahawks than it was in 2017? A year after the group rushed 301 times for 994 yards in 16 games, through 12 games, Seattle running backs have rushed 324 times for 1,469 yards – a 4.5-yard average – and have averaged more than 160 yards a game over the last 10 games. “Things have changed with more passing in the league this year, but teams that run the ball well are still going to win games,” safety Harrison Smith said. “If you can run the ball well, you set up everything else. We need to pinch in to stop the run and that’s when play-action and deep passes can kill you.”

One of Carson’s teammates throughout the offseason and into the start of the 2018 regular season – defensive tackle Tom Johnson – had a firsthand look at what damage Carson could do and he was convinced that he was primed for a big year before the season even started. “He runs with a mean streak,” Johnson said. “He knows how to find a seam and hit it hard. You don’t get him down with arm tackles. He does a lot of things well. He can pound the ball up the middle and has the speed to take it to the outside. The first time I saw that kid, I was like ‘Wow! He’s got talent.’ I think anyone who has watched him this year sees what the rest of us saw.” The Seahawks running backs are interchangeable – in the two games Carson has missed, Davis ran for 100 yards in one of them and Penny rushed for 100 yards in the other. But, when he’s in the lineup, Carson has been the featured back leading the NFL’s top rushing attack. It won’t be a one-man job to keep him contained. It will be the front seven and, in some cases, players from the secondary shooting the gaps to keep Carson from doing damage, which is why this is a logical key matchup with the Vikings’ playoff hopes potentially hanging in the balance.

PUBLICATION : 1500 ESPN DATE: 12/10/18

5 Vikings whose futures could rest on a strong finish to the season By Matthew Coller The Minnesota Vikings are entering the final quarter of the 2018 season and while they are in the thick of the playoff hunt, the final four games will also have implications on the 2019 season and beyond. There are a number of players whose futures are up in the air and while the story is three-quarters written on their seasons, the final stretch will leave a lasting impression that could influence offseason decisions. For a variety of reasons, here are the five players who we will be watching closely down the stretch… Linebacker, Anthony Barr 2019 contract status: Free agent The Vikings’ 2014 first-round pick is currently playing on his fifth-year option, which is worth $12.3 million on the cap. He was the only former draft pick left unsigned to a long-term deal this offseason when the Vikings wrapped up Stefon Diggs, Danielle Hunter and Eric Kendricks to contract extensions. While the Vikings have said they want to sign Barr to a new deal, they also have to balance the salary cap and determine whether a linebacker in today’s game is worth his type of price tag. So far this year, Barr has been consistently solid aside from one bad night in Los Angeles, which was likely caused more by scheme issues than his play. Outside of the Rams debacle, Barr has allowed just eight catches into his coverage for 41 yards, per Pro Football Focus. He is one of the least targeted linebackers in the NFL and has had success when asked to rush the passer with 13 QB pressures on 65 rushes. Head coach Mike Zimmer has also said that Barr’s intelligence allows him to dial up a number of different looks without any concern over whether his linebacker will be able to handle them. The Vikings should know what they have already in Barr, but if they are on the fence about spending top dollar or franchise tagging him, a dominant final four games could seal the deal. However, over the last two years, Barr has leaned much more toward solid and predictable than dominant. After scoring an 89.6 PFF grade in 2015, he’s produced scores of 50.5, 64.7 and 67.7, putting him in the middle of the pack among LBs. PFF gives him high marks on pass rushing and tackling, but it’s become clear he will never be a pass-rush specialist under Zimmer. Defensive tackle, Sheldon Richardson 2019 contract status: Free agent There’s no other way to put it: Sheldon Richardson has been fantastic as a Viking. He ranks in the top 10 in QB pressures among interior defensive linemen and has been sound against the run. At one time there would have been concerns about his off-field activity and consistent efforts, but there have been no sign of those problems since he left the New York Jets. It makes sense that the Vikings would want to keep a key cog in their dominant defensive line in place. The price tag is another story. Richardson may seek upwards of $15 million per year to match other highly-regarded DTs, which would be difficult for the Vikings to afford without a number of significant restructures and/or cuts.

Of course, he continues to hammer opposing quarterbacks over the final stanza of the season, it would be difficult for the Vikings to let him walk. Defensive end, Everson Griffen 2019 contract status: $11.9 million cap hit Prior to the 2017 season, the Vikings signed Griffen to an extension that left the door open for them to walk away if his play dropped off around age 30, as so many pass rushers have over the years. If the Vikings release him this offseason, they will only take on $1.2 million in cap hit. Griffen dealt with a mental health issue earlier this year causing him to miss five games. The Vikings may view his drop in production as a product of a tumultuous year, but the reality is he’s rated 75th among edge rushers by PFF and has had three games without a single QB pressure since he returned. Restructuring his deal makes the most sense unless the Vikings feel young pass rusher Stephen Weatherly is ready to take on the full-time role. If Griffen returns to his dominant self over the final four games, they would not have much of a case for him to restructure and would have to keep him in place as their star defensive end for at least another year. Wide receiver, Laquon Treadwell 2019 contract status: $3.1 million cap hit The 2016 first-round pick has not taken the step forward that his team hoped in Year 3. Treadwell has 31 receptions on 47 targets and averages just 9.0 yards per catch. As a result, the Vikings have been lacking a No. 3 receiver behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. While they would only save around $600,000 by cutting him next year, they would open up a spot in the receiving corps that could be filled by a playmaker. Trendy well hasn’t shown any flashes that would indicate he can be a consistent weapon and the final four games of this season might be his last chance to make a case that he belongs for another year. Right guard, Mike Remmers 2019 contract status: $6.4 million cap hit It’s hard to blame Remmers for his situation, but it’s clear that moving him from tackle to guard has not worked out. He’s allowed the third most pressures of any guard in the NFL this season and hasn’t succeeded in run blocking. Remmers is set to make $6.4 million next season with a dead cap hit of only $1.8 million. The Vikings desperately need to draft a guard but they will have needs on both ides of the line unless they expect Nick Easton to return to full strength and take back the left guard position next year. That leaves the door open to Remmers staying if he shows progress at the position. At this point, that might be too much to ask for a player who was a lifetime tackle and belongs at that spot.

PUBLICATION : The Athletic DATE: 12/10/18

Vikings Week 14 preview: Can the Vikings nab a win in a huge game against the Seahawks? By The Athletic Staff Even if the Vikings have wins in only half of their 12 games, they still remain in a playoff position. But Monday night’s game in Seattle will go a long way toward determining whether they’re back in the postseason for the third time in four years or whether they’ll follow their NFC Championship appearance with a dud. The Vikings are still searching for their first win over a team with a winning record as they head to the notoriously loud CenturyLink Field in Seattle. Our Vikings crew of Chad Graff, Arif Hasan, and Jon Krawczynski previews Week 14. What I’m watching Graff: The Vikings’ play-calling. That’s been the hot button issue all week as the pressure has amplified on first-year offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. It’s been a strange year in Minnesota for the offense. The team added DeFilippo and quarterback Kirk Cousins, hopeful that – combined with an elite defense – it would be a recipe for a Super Bowl. It hasn’t been. Head coach Mike Zimmer has criticized DeFilippo several times, including after the Vikings’ most recent loss, in New England. All the while, DeFilippo remains one of the hottest names for teams looking to fill a head-coaching vacancy. With all of that in consideration, it’ll be fascinating to see how DeFilippo’s offense responds in a huge game. Hasan: Despite the loss of Sheldon Richardson and Tom Johnson, the Seahawks’ interior defensive line has been playing well, especially when paired with Frank Clark. The Vikings offensive line will have tough tasks in pass protection and run stuffing. Besides that, the Vikings defensively will have to contend with yet another runner at quarterback in Russell Wilson. They struggled early against Josh Allen and Mitchell Trubisky, so seeing if the Vikings will put a spy on the quarterback or otherwise account for the rushing ability of the passer will give us some insight into how the Vikings want to approach this game. Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen have favorable matchups, so the Vikings may want to lean on them instead of pushing for the running game, despite Zimmer’s best efforts. The cornerback-receiver matchup on the other side of the ball may be more meaningful given the Vikings’ injuries there and the underrated nature of the Seahawks’ receiver corps. Krawczynski: John DeFilippo. The attention has been ramping up on him for several weeks, thanks in part to Zimmer’s comments about what he would like to see the offense do differently. Zimmer was complimentary of his offensive coordinator earlier this week, but DeFilippo will have to find a way to get the running game going a little more, and stay with it once it does start producing, to help the Vikings get what would be a key road win in Seattle. Dalvin Cook appeared to be well-positioned for a big game early against the Patriots last week, but the Vikings stayed with the passing game as the featured portion of the offense. More balance could aid a beleaguered offensive line. The Vikings win if … Graff: Cousins and the passing offense are successful. For as much angst as the running game has provided, both in its struggles and the team’s lack of attempts, it’s clear that this is a pass-first team. And while the numbers haven’t been horrible there, they haven’t been nearly good enough. After an incredible start, Thielen has cooled off thanks to constant double coverage. But if Cousins can get that connection going on Monday, the Vikings can sneak out of Seattle with a win.

Hasan: If they play with discipline. The Seahawks are a somewhat inverse version of the Vikings, where they run the ball quite a bit before unleashing a pass, and they generally do a great job of both. The Seahawks’ passing game centers around explosiveness more than short gains, so they’ll have to make sure that they don’t overcorrect when stopping the frequent runs. Krawczynski: Their performance matches their talent. Their skill is evident on both sides of the ball, but as Cousins said earlier this week, the team has underachieved in some areas. Now that the season has turned to December, it’s time for a team that started the season with championship aspirations to start showing that it can beat the big boys. It’s time for that signature win. Playoff meter Graff: Barring a run these final four games, I get the sense of apathy around the fan base. For many, a playoff appearance at this point feels like it just delays the inevitable. If the Vikings can’t beat good teams, what’s the point? This is a final chance to flip that narrative. Hasan: Lukewarm. The Vikings have better-than-even odds of making the playoffs, but the Seahawks serve as an important litmus test. Win and the Vikings’ odds shoot upward of 80 percent. Lose and the odds drop to half that. Krawczynski: The meter is still going fairly strong, but that’s more because of the parity and mediocrity below the Rams and Saints in the NFC than anything else. The Vikings missed a chance to make up some ground last week when they lost against the Patriots. While Monday night may not technically be a “must-win” game in the truest sense of the term, a loss would deal a serious blow to their postseason hopes. Game predictions Graff: Seahawks 21, Vikings 17. This season will quickly feel like a lost one if the Vikings can’t come home with a victory. But nothing they’ve shown this season offers evidence that they’ll go to Seattle and nab a primetime win over a hot Seahawks team. Lest we forget, the Vikings still haven’t beaten a team with a winning record this season. Hasan: Seahawks 27, Vikings 21. The Vikings certainly have the talent to win the game, but until it coheres, it’s difficult to give it to them against a somewhat evenly matched opponent that is much more in sync and benefits from a famously good home field advantage. Krawczynski: Seahawks 23, Vikings 20. Sorry, but the Vikings are going to have to show they can beat an actual good team before I can pick them to go into one of the toughest environments in the league on a Monday night and win. They have all the pieces to do it. But they’ve moved into the “prove it” category at this point. Week-by-week picks We finally have a sole leader in the clubhouse thanks to the Patriots’ win a season ago. This week, our Vikings crew predicts a tough finish in Seattle. What do you think? Head over to our Twitter poll to let us know.

PUBLICATION : The Athletic DATE: 12/10/18

Vikings week-by-week picks: A growing sense of urgency on their trip to Seattle By Zack Pierce Chad stepped into the lead last week after correctly picking the Patriots to beat the Vikings, while Jon’s optimism got the better of him and dropped him back into a second-place tie with Arif. On to Week 14, where a brutal four-game stretch comes to an end Monday night in Seattle, and the Vikings are in dire need of a win against a quality opponent. Still without a victory this season over a plus-.500 team, Minnesota’s grasp on a playoff spot is slipping, and a win over the Seahawks would help rejuvenate the hopes. But for just the second time this year, our entire panel doubts their chances. Chad, Arif and Jon all are going with Seattle in this one. What do you think? Head over to our Twitter poll to let us know. Our full game preview lands Monday. Check out Chad, Arif and Jon’s picks below. Week 14 predictions explained Graff: Seahawks 21, Vikings 17. This season will quickly feel like a lost one if the Vikings can’t come home with a victory. But nothing they’ve shown this season offers evidence that they’ll go to Seattle and nab a primetime win over a hot Seahawks team. Lest we forget, the Vikings still haven’t beaten a team with a winning record this season. Hasan: Seahawks 27, Vikings 21. The Vikings certainly have the talent to win the game, but until it coheres, it’s difficult to give it to them against a somewhat evenly matched opponent who is much more in sync and benefits from a famously-good home field advantage. Krawczynski: Seahawks 23, Vikings 20. Sorry, but the Vikings are going to have to show they can beat an actually good team before I can pick them to go into one of the toughest environments in the league on a Monday night and win. They have all the pieces to do it. But they’ve moved into the “prove it” category at this point.

PUBLICATION : 1500 ESPN DATE: 12/10/18

What Kirk Cousins' first 12 games with Vikings tell us By Courtney Cronin EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings' brain trust -- coach Mike Zimmer, offensive coordinator John DeFilippo, quarterbacks coach Kevin Stefanski, general manager Rick Spielman, assistant GM George Paton and VP of football operations Rob Brzezinski -- spent two days in February poring over film of all three Vikings quarterbacks from 2017 and several free-agent options. They came to a unanimous decision: The Vikings would move on from Case Keenum, who led them to the NFC Championship Game, as well as Teddy Bridgewater and Sam Bradford, and try to land Kirk Cousins, a soon-to-be free agent who played his first six seasons with the Washington Redskins. Perhaps no one understood what was at stake more than Zimmer, who has had a different starting quarterback each year since he arrived in Minnesota in 2014. "If you go with the right one and he does like you anticipate, then everything is good," Zimmer said at the NFL combine. "If you pick the wrong one, it’s hard to win in this league without a quarterback. If you pick the wrong one, this whole thing can go downhill. "It’s important for myself and Rick and the organization to pick the right guy that is going to help us continue to move forward. If we don’t do that, then I’ll probably be fired." On March 15, Cousins signed a three-year, fully-guaranteed deal worth $84 million, setting the Super Bowl-or-bust conversation in motion. And entering Week 14, those lofty expectations have been met with reality. Twelve games in, Cousins has a 6-5-1 record as the Vikings head to Seattle for Monday Night Football (ESPN, 8:15 p.m. ET). Cousin has had to navigate through growing pains in the Vikings' offense while having his performance evaluated based on his price tag. The Vikings knew the decision would be dissected the second they went all-in on Cousins. Zimmer warned he didn’t want the Vikings to "go crazy" on spending on a quarterback, but that’s exactly what Minnesota did, in large part because the market demanded it. The Vikings invested $84 million in guaranteed money over three years in Kirk Cousins over the offseason. Adam Glanzman/Getty Images Only twice since the salary-cap era began in 1994 had proven veteran quarterbacks nearing or in their prime hit the open market in free agency: Drew Brees in 2006 and Peyton Manning in 2012. Both went on to win Super Bowls with their new teams. With four games remaining in the regular season and the playoffs still within reach, the Vikings would be hard-pressed to evaluate their decision based on less than a full season of Cousins. But eventually the Vikings will have to reflect and ask themselves, are they getting their money’s worth? How Cousins stacks up Based off guaranteed money, the $84 million Cousins will earn on his deal is the fifth most among quarterbacks. Only Matt Ryan ($100 million guaranteed), Aaron Rodgers ($98.2 million), Matthew Stafford ($92 million) and Andrew Luck ($87 million) are earning more guaranteed money. Traditional stats, like Cousins’ 64.0 Total QBR, 23-9 TD-INT ratio and 3,490 passing yards, don’t tell the whole story about whether a quarterback is living up to his salary. A big reason the league’s highest-paid QBs have commanded those deals is because of their ability to perform in critical situations.

That applies in areas like tight-window throws, where Luck leads the NFL in attempts (84), completions (32) and passing touchdowns (eight) going into Week 14. Comparatively, Cousins is 26-of-63 for four touchdowns on such throws, which is sixth among the 10 highest-paid QBs. A big financial investment does not always result in wins. Five of the 10 highest-paid QBs are on teams with losing records. Eli Manning (457), Stafford (437), Derek Carr (402) and Ryan (378) lead the top-10 list in the number of snaps taken when trailing this season, one reason their passing numbers are so high but don’t correlate to wins. Cousins, who has thrown 14 of his 23 touchdowns while his team has been playing from behind, ranks sixth (343) in this category. How The Top-Paid QBs Have Fared Here's a look at the 2018 seasons for the 10 highest-paid quarterbacks in terms of guaranteed money (minimum of four games played). San Francisco 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo, who has $74.1 million in guarantees, is not included because he played in three games before getting injured. QUARTERBACK TEAM GUARANTEED $ TOTAL QBR TD-INT PASS YDS TEAM W-L Matt Ryan Falcons $100M 68.3 28-6 4,076 4-9 Aaron Rodgers Packers $98.2M 57.3 23-1 3,700 5-7-1 Matthew Stafford Lions $92M 50.6 18-11 3,187 5-8 Andrew Luck Colts $87M 69.3 34-13 3,759 7-6 Kirk Cousins Vikings $84M 64.0 23-9 3,490 6-5-1 *Alex Smith Redskins $71M 50.0 10-5 2,180 6-7 Derek Carr Raiders $70.2M 51.1 18-8 3,434 3-10 Philip Rivers Chargers $65M 73.3 29-6 3,638 10-3 Eli Manning Giants $65M 49.7 18-8 3,460 5-8 Ben Roethlisberger Steelers $64M 72.9 28-13 4,227 7-5-1 *Injured on Nov. 18 However, Cousins leads the NFL in fumbles since 2015 and has committed six this season, which puts him No. 1 among the highest-paid QBs. And he has yet to lead a game-winning drive in 2018. The same goes for Ryan and the Redskins' Alex Smith ($71 million guaranteed) before he suffered a season-ending injury. Cousins’ 1-3 record in prime-time games this season consists of a win over a nosediving Green Bay team at home and losses to the Rams, Saints and Bears. In Los Angeles and New Orleans, Cousins performed well, posting two of his five highest passer ratings, despite losing. "I do think that we can point to some times throughout the year where we’ve underachieved, not because we weren’t giving effort or preparation, but we just haven’t been able to sustain the level of potential in this locker room, play in and play out," Cousins said. Quarterbacks earning Cousins’ salary are expected to win critical games, but the Vikings have yet to beat a team with a winning record. They have the chance Monday night as Cousins aims to erase another blemish on his record as one of three QBs in NFL history to lose his first six starts on Monday Night Football. Cousins vs. Keenum Two days before Cousins signed in Minnesota, Keenum inked a two-year deal with Denver worth $36 million ($25 million guaranteed). It was a far cry from the money he made bouncing around the NFL as a career backup since entering the league in 2012, the same year as Cousins. The most subjective part of the argument about whether Cousins is worth what Minnesota is paying him has to do with Keenum. This is where much of the fan base is divided, wondering if Minnesota would have the same record now if the QB who led them to a game shy of the Super Bowl was still around.

The Vikings believed an upgrade at quarterback was needed to take them to the next level. Zimmer voiced concerns over Keenum’s ability to sustain what he had done in 2017. Kirk Cousins vs. Case Keenum Keenum went from third-string QB to helping the Vikings to the NFC Championship Game last season, but Minnesota opted for Cousins and his $84 million contract in 2018. Here's a look at how Keenum, who signed with the Broncos, and Cousins have fared this season (through Week 13): COUSINS STAT (NFL RANK) KEENUM $23 million Guaranteed salary in 2018 $12 million 3,490 (6th) Pass yards 2,953 (16th) 23 (10th) TD passes 14 (T-22nd) 9 (T-16th) Interceptions 10 (T-19th) 71.3 (2nd) Completion pct. 62.3 (24th) 99.1 (12th) Passer rating 85.1 (26th) 64.0 (14th) Total QBR 47.0 (29th) 6.35 (20th) Yards/dropback 6.31 (22nd) 7.11 (22nd) Pass yards/attempt 7.18 (21st) 6-5-1 Record 6-6 "Is he the guy when he was at Houston or the Rams or is he the guy who played for us?" Zimmer asked at the combine. "Is it because he had a good team around him? Bradford, his record wasn’t great, is it because he didn’t have a good team around him? Did he play with a good defense? All those things enter into it." It’s the reason they decided not to put the franchise tag on Keenum, which would have come with a $23.189 million cap hit, about $1 million less than Cousins’ count against the cap in 2018. That move made it clear: the Vikings did not want to invest in Keenum in the short-term, nor did they want to work out a long-term deal. The magnitude of Cousins’ contract was questioned in relation to the Vikings' long-term roster health. Minnesota had over $54 million in cap space this offseason and were able to sign Eric Kendricks, Danielle Hunter and Stefon Diggs to extensions. But signing Cousins likely will limit how active they’ll be in free agency in the coming years. The boost Sheldon Richardson has given at defensive tackle could lead Minnesota to prioritize re-signing him in free agency. That might be as big of a splash as they make. The Vikings also have pending decisions with Anthony Barr and whether to pick up Trae Waynes' fifth-year option. A handful of contracts of current players (Kyle Rudolph and his $7.6 million cap hit, in particular) likely will have to be restructured regardless given the stress Cousins’ deal puts on the salary cap. On paper, with near-identical records and similarities in several statistical categories, it’s difficult to differentiate between the two QBs. Looking at certain areas of their game provides a clearer perspective of what the Vikings have versus what they’re missing. One area Keenum excelled in Minnesota was his ability to go off-script. That's allowed him to work around the issues he has with his offensive line in Denver, similar to what Cousins faces. Cousins has completed 66.1 percent of his passes under pressure this season, according to ESPN Stats and Information. That would be the highest rate by any player in a season in the last decade. Going into Week 14, Keenum was completing 52 percent of his passes outside of the pocket this season for 411 yards and has a 4-0 TD-INT ratio. In that same category, Cousins is completing more of his passes (68 percent) for fewer yards (333), but has thrown two touchdowns and two interceptions. Cousins' biggest validation lies ahead

Kirk Cousins has completed 71.3 percent of his passes this season, good for second in the NFL behind Drew Brees. Craig Lassig/EPA-EFE/REX/Shutterstock The Vikings brought Cousins in to win a championship. How close they get to that goal will ultimately decide whether it was the right decision to sign him. Cousins led Washington to the playoffs once during his three-year run as the starter, which resulted in a loss in the 2015 NFC wild-card round. Despite putting up some career numbers in 2016 with a strong supporting cast around him on offense, the Redskins’ bottom-tier defense hindered his ability to get them back to the postseason. Washington finished 8-7-1 that year. Quarterbacks are ultimately judged by what they do in the postseason. Eli Manning, who won eight of 11 playoff games from 2005-11, signed a four-year, $84 million extension days before the 2015 season. Since then, the Giants have had one trip to the playoffs: a loss to Green Bay in a wild-card game. Among the list of highest-paid QBs (in terms of guaranteed money), Cousins is not alone in his quest for a first playoff victory. Neither Stafford nor Carr has won a playoff game. The Vikings bestowed Cousins with a paradigm-shifting contract because they believe he’ll make them consistent postseason contenders. Putting expectations on Cousins to get Minnesota to the Super Bowl in Year 1 may be unrealistic, but a price tag like his suggests that anything less than a championship at some point during his tenure won’t cut it. His biggest test is still ahead, and he’ll have to do more than just get Minnesota to the playoffs. He’ll have to win.