Happy Thorsday, and welcome to Skoloholics. The Vikings return to work today, The injury report will be out later today. As I expected Aaron Jones Sr and Brian O’Neal are both on the injury list, for their knees. Along with them is backup guard Joe Huber, also with a knee issue. Joe and Aaron are both DNP, while Potato was LP.
Still no news on the trade deadline watch.
The Vikings may be the worst undefeated team, but they are also the best undefeated team this year.
QOTD:
Since it was brought up this week, are the Vikings a good QB away from being superb owl contenders?
Let us know in the comments.
Vikings News:
https://www.vikings.com/news/lions-injury-report-week-8-2026-nfl-season
lunchbreak-blake-cashman-incredible-stretch-espn-quantifies-defense
The 6-0 Vikings Might Be the BIGGEST FRAUDS the NFL Has Ever Seen
adrian-peterson-career-football-journey-history-running-back-ring-of-honor
adrian-peterson-career-football-journey-high-school-east-texas-legend
adrian-peterson-epic-football-journey-oklahoma-sooners-phenom
adrian-peterson-epic-football-journey-minnesota-legacy
NFL News:
NFL news, live updates: Colts trade Pro Bowl guard Quenton Nelson to Seahawks, send DeForest Buckner to 49ers in reunion
Media Selection:
Vikings offensive rankings under KOC
2022. 7th
2023. 10th
2024. 12th
2025. 28th
2026. 32nd
Well on the bright side, when you hit bottom you can’t go any lower.
Moving on up!
How many different quarterbacks in that span? Still has 48 wins to 25 losses during all that. Get this guy a QB that can run his system and watch this offense take off. Watch the all 22 from last week. Jefferson open all day. Need a QB that can execute KOC’s offense.
Is that just total scoring offense?
I went with total yards.
🤣 😆 😂
Mortgage it all and go all in baby!!
FTP…..
I hope the pukers get crushed and get embarrassed on national TV…..
He should pair up with KOC and take show on the road.
I’m getting closer to thinking this.
Doubt the Vikings trade for Taylor, new GM isn’t going to use a bunch of draft capital on a one and a half year rental aging RB, maybe he’ll make a move but it’ll likely be something more modest
RIP Captain Picard
You beat me to it.
Bald guys give me the willies.
and willies are bald and sometimes spit
Now I very much like a strong running game and a good back.
But if we don’t get the QB situation squared away, the RB is kind of a secondary issue in my opinion.
I thought about that and then about the oline and is the investment in a top tier RB worth it but honestly if you’re not trying to get better then what the hell are you doing? There’s a balance for sure can’t just go for it all the time but an elite RB who demands the defenses attention can make pass protection off play action better, open zones in the passing game better, the QB better so it’s a little hide tide lifts all boats dynamic.
Nice to have you back!
And you are correct, strong running helps open up the passing game some. But damn, Jefferson is really expensive, very talented, and is 44th in the league for yardage. That is downright pitiful.
Now, I believe even with our existing running game, if Cousins, Darnold or even Nick Mullins was the QB, Jefferson would be in the top five of the league. We are wasting his talent, not to mention Addison’s too.
I’ll bet Brucie could get more throws to Jefferson…..
Live look at what Nolan Teasley is reading right now:
“And so we’ll be active you just won’t always know about it,” Teasley concluded with a coy smile.
Reminds me of “I’m Invisible Boy…….but only when you’re not looking at me.”
Congrats to the Brewers. My wife and I both had people we work with that flew to Tampa to take in a World Series game. The crowd seemed as loud or louder for the Brewers than for the Rays. Now it is our turn to break the curse and have the Vikings win their first Super Bowl.
Yes, congrats to the Brewers! They were a fun team to watch.
i would put money on there being more brewers fans at the games in tampa, than tampa fans in all of the US
Freezey, hope you didn’t miss my PSA on the prostate, yesterday.
oh shoot, i’m super bummed i missed it!
I know you like my lengthy discourses!
I just found out today that one of my daughter-in-laws was watching the game at Miller Park on the big screen. That must have been fun. We will see her tomorrow for lunch and I’m sure she will tell us all about it. My son, her husband, is out west mule deer hunting.
Bears just traded for Jeffery Simmons from the Titans. Tinsley better make a move on Taylor or we aren’t going anywhere in the NFC.
Welcome back Skolly…..
lol…this isn’t that greenhorn skolly or at least the person that used that user name here.
How much would you be willing to give for him?
This is what the Panthers got from the Niners for McCaffrey:
That is probably around what would need to be put on the table. We have the extra picks and have a team in position. You’re either trying to win a ring or you’re not. Hedging you bets when you don’t even know who your QB is next year does not make much sense.
He’ll be 28 in January but he’s got a lot of mileage. I’m not sure I’m comfortable giving that much. Change that second to another third and I’ll take it.
I agree the above is just a gauge since they were both in the same age window and are both super dynamic elite RB’s.
I would offer:
or
Neither scenario is probably good enough at this time.
It is interesting how RB value is maybe coming back around. A couple seasons ago, it was like “Don’t spend a high draft pick on an RB.”
Now it’s like, “Trade multiple draft picks for an RB…”
But that is the way the game bounces around.
I have been saying it for years and called it. It’s from how defenses start structuring themselves. When the NFL switched to HEAVY passing, part of the reason was the big thumper prototype linebackers, so spreading teams out and forcing those guys to cover was a liability… then you saw the switch to Eric Kendricks style athletic linebackers that can cover but not so much thumpers… so now you are seeing taking advantage of that and pounding the rock again.
The Bears got FLEECED in that trade. Wow!
Did Ben Johnson overpay so now the Colts (with no 1st rd pick) are saying ok you want J. Taylor it is going to cost you a 1st since the market is overpaying.
Deep breaths, deep breaths
You would you guys want to pick up to address our woeful QB play (assuming Murray again kind of sucks this weekend)?
Kirk Cousins or Daniel Jones?? We could probably get either and they both know our offense.
Wonder what Richardson would cost……….
I’ll take the bait. The offensive issues aren’t Murray. He’s the best QB we’ve had since Kirko.
Darnold is better lol no. I won’t even mention the other two they don’t deserve it.
If you look at pure production over the past 2 weeks, JJMcCarthy was the best QB we’ve had since Kirko……
Yes, lets see if that holds up.
The past two weeks lol….give him a max deal now!
Well, let’s break it down.
JJMc goes to a new team, gets thrust into the game with 1 week of learning the playbook, throws for about 250 yards in the 4th quarter alone, and nearly leads them to a comeback victory. Following week he starts the game and guides them to victory with only 2 weeks of a new system under his belt.
Meanwhile, Murray, who has had the benefit of almost a full offseason and a full preseason learning the playbook and practicing with the team is averaging 162 yards per entire game.
KOC and Teasley are looking more stupider every game JJMc plays.
Kyler just needs time in the offense and he’ll be fine. It’s KOC’s fault for not giving him 100% of the practice reps in the spring and training camp.
If I had to pick between the two…
Maybe Kirk. He seems to have a more flat curve of consistency than Jones. Plus, Kirk really dialed up the athleticism this year. Maybe he did the famous Favre core work over the offseason…
He was pacing himself in that drill….
Jefferson is 44th in the league. Where do you think he wold be or end up if Cousins was here?
By the way, I like Jones but whatever reason he is not playing well and sort of looks like the old Jones.
neither.
Wentz is here, and he can do what both of those guys have been doing this year.
Draft another failure next spring, repeat.
Bears trading for Jeff Simmons.
Chicago defense just got better
I hate this. Especially against our interior offensive line.
At least it wasn’t cheap, two 1st and a 4th
wow, definitely wasn’t cheap
Yeah that was a massive over pay but Simmons teamed with Jenkins is a hell of a DT tandem. Good thing we switched to the outside zone running scheme.
Who needs picks?
But they gave up waaaayyyy too much for him.
They gave up a lot, but he’s not a rental. He’s signed through the 2030 season so he’ll be there for a while.
Simmons. JK Simmons. Played the Spiderman editor. He’s ripped.
“Longevity Secrets” = AI
my dislike for the state of Wisconsin is well-documented, no need to rehash.
that said, good for Milwaukee.
Bob Uecker is smiling today. I loved Bob.
might feel differently if they were the ‘Green Bay Brewers’
i have come to the realization the only dislike i have of wisconsin is the packers.
it’s a beautiful state, has some fun places to visit, and some decent people…..
but the packers ruin it all
The 1926 Kansas City Cowboys had 5 TDs in a 5-game winning streak.
The 2026 Minnesota Vikings have 5TDs in their last 5 games (all wins).
zero other teams in those 100 years can say this
At least we know what we are…
Do not believe we need elite QB play to win the division. If we can get “Darnold” level play we can win the SB.
We had Darnold level play a couple years ago and got embarrassed by the Lions in the final week of the regular season, and again by the Rams in the wild card game
Is this team (outside of QB) that much better than the 2024 team?
Our defense is much better and last year’s Darnold level. If you don’t like Darnold, just good QB play will I believe work.
I like Darnold fine, but he absolutely wilted in his last two Vikings games. Case Keenum turned into a pumpkin, too. We have Cinderella QBs. I want someone tougher, and I want better play-calling and clock management
He didn’t wilt last year. But we just need to get more out of offense and that is driven by better QB play.
In the playoffs teams like the Rams and Niners will score some on our defense so we need more offensive points.
He did a bit. Darnold didn’t do all that much to help last year. He somewhat rode a better team, better play-calling.
so i just want to make sure, throwing for 4k yards and 25td’s DIDN’T help the seahawks……
14 interceptions? 27 sacks? Not contradicting you, just context. He did what he needed to, and they won when it mattered. He also had a running back that had an unreal year, and is on his way to another.
27 sacks? what’s that, less than 2 a game? i’d take that in a heartbeat from a qb…
this is just MY opinion, but it’s ok for a qb to not have to carry his entire team, to be considered a good qb and a big help to their team….superbowl winning teams TYPICALLY have all 3 facets of the game going for them, good qb, good defense, good run game
Was getting ready to say the running game helped a LOT and then the defense putting you in great spots to play freely yeah not surprised he had 4k and 25. You have to be “good” to do that sure but put him in a pressure gotta have it and he folds like a lawn chair.
Just like Kirko
I was talking about during the playoffs. he played well, but he did not carry the team by any stretch
GOTD:
no, this team hasn’t shown they can reliably move the ball, so they are an offense away from being a legit SB contender.
QOTD
That’s pretty close. Maybe yes.
I think if Baker Mayfield were starting and had the same contract situation as Kyler Murray, we’d be worried about RB or KOC’s playcalling skills as the top concern.
This team feels like one and done in the playoffs. This team with Mayfield feels like they’ve got a shot to get to the NFCCG.
This team with Joe Burrow or Josh Allen? It’d be a disappointing to not at least make it to the owl.
Maybe it’s me or you or all of us. Definitely me that I’m pretty sure of.
Lifer!
Hey dude. 🙂
What’s up PPB?!? Thought I would check in on the best thread in the world of Vikings fandom and see how the fellas are handling the 6-0 start. It’s such an odd team dynamic and style and really has caught the entire football world by surprise. I know one thing they all hate us cause they ain’t us.
Ha! Yeah. The consensus isn’t all that off. Crazy defense, but can we keep it up? Sputtering offense, but will it gel?
Hey, Lifer is back.
How is the golf game?
Lol…well it’s interesting since I was last here. So the old trend was I couldn’t break 90 and I did that shooting in the low 80’s and mid to high 80’s on average the past few years. So big brain here thought it was time to take some lessons fix the last few flaws that were keeping me from being a single handicap. Got a recommendation from a buddy who’s a good golfer he uses and bought a package of lessons. Started off ok some basic things, fuller turn back, stop wrist early extension and closing of the club etc…then it just destroyed any consistency I had and now I’m back in the high 90’s and can’t finish a round. There is always a time after lessons getting comfortable with the changes but this has not been enjoyable so I’m back to trying to keep a little of what I learned and just ranging it every few days to find a swing I can play with again.
So basically yeah…normal shit with golf lol. How about you, play much this year?
Lifer, good to hear you are alive and well.
Regarding golf, since we are not professionals have found it’s best to just learn to “own” the swing I’ve got that.
Appreciate that good to catch up with you as well.
That is the truth. I really wasn’t going for a complete swing overhaul just some tweaks to get better consistency but that’s not how it works in your brain and neuro system. It’s feel and being comfortable and by that sticking to what has worked is usually best.
As we have talked, scoring and ball striking are different things. If one wants to score better, get better with three clubs – driver, putter and wedge play. Requires very little in swing changes but can really improve scoring.
100% correct. I do like what I learned from my lessons and it will make me a better golfer but drive, wedge and putts is what will determine the score.
I had a similar experience with running. I used to just run. Then I decided to do things “right” and injuries piled up directly related to the changes. I got so crippled up, I have not done a road run in more than 6 weeks, and I’m still not that close to getting back.
I’m not ready to completely ditch the new techniques, yet, but I for sure need to adjust them to my personal physical quirks if I am going to continue with them.
But, it did teach me that I MUST add in more strength training.
I did not play a single game of golf this year. This year got away from me big-time, slippery as whale poo on an ice floe…
Good luck with the recovery you’ll get there the body will heal and go back to what worked before just takes time.
I really enjoyed golf this season. Best round was 41 on the front 9 of a pretty tough course, then the back 9 happened. 51. EW
Still never broken 90, but I always walk, and was consistently in the low 40s for 9 holes.
Welcome back!
Kirk still sucks.
I had so many rounds just like that lol…41 front 53 back. I did a bunch of research on bad second nines and found it’s mental focus fatigue really not a physical tired issue.
Lifer!
KOC was one and done with 13 and 14 win teams. He could probably even Harrison Bergeron both Burrow and Allen…
Rec for the Kurt Vonnegut reference.
That story should be required reading. Instead all the
coolstupid kids are after Democratic Socialism.Here it is, and it is a very quick read.
https://archive.org/stream/HarrisonBergeron/Harrison%20Bergeron_djvu.txt
At this point if they don’t win the North and win two playoff games eject KOC into the sun.
Eh…I think the bench Murray, fire KOC calls are a bit premature. KOC is a good coach managing the personnel and the culture. Play caller is a different story and honestly there is so much going on, on the field with the complexity of the game I think average fans like us think he’s just inept at it but it is so complex he might be a lot better than we think and good results are a by product of a lot of other uncontrollable factors like players executing the plays correctly etc…It’s complicated I don’t know what to think at this point but it may come down to simply results.
Ok then it comes down to results and yes this is a results league at the end of the day. Win a Playoff game or hit the bricks.
Why wait?
Get your picks in for Pick ‘Em League before tonight’s game, losers!
Labeling everyone “losers” is not an insult in this case. It is an objective statement of fact. Since I am done with harvest, I devoted more than 20 hours to scientifically making my picks, which ensures that you will all lose to me.
It’ll be fun to see how many more points your 20 hours can manage against my 20 seconds, haha
LOL, I love this gif
It is one of my favorites. Any opportunity to bring it out, I will take!
I do my part and try to say things that will have you bring out that gif.
LOL
me too
FTP
FT*
F Gregg Williams, Jonathan Vilma, and butthole mouth ™
Also, happy Thursday and good morning. It’s a great day to be a Panthers fan!
It is Charlotte is buzzing about tonight. Panthers bring a trend in to this game that I think bodes well……
The Carolina Panthers have notable trends regarding how they perform in games following major or blowout losses: