DAILY CLIPS

SUNDAY, JANUARY 5, 2020 LOCAL NEWS: Sunday, January 5, 2020

Star Tribune

NFL quarterback club: Chosen few, like Vikings' , can relate to weekly pressures By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/nfl-quarterback-club-chosen-few-like-vikings-kirk-cousins-can-relate-to-weekly- pressures/566723152/

Stakes are high Sunday for the Vikings — and we're not just talking playoffs By Jim Souhan http://www.startribune.com/stakes-are-high-sunday-for-the-vikings-and-we-re-not-just-talking- playoffs/566725652/

Vikings pass defense faces tough test in Saints By Sid Hartman http://www.startribune.com/vikings-pass-defense-faces-tough-test-in-saints/566722882/

Players to watch in Sunday's Vikings-Saints wild-card game By Chris Miller http://www.startribune.com/players-to-watch-in-sunday-s-vikings-saints-wild-card-game/566723102/

The Call: Vikings vs. Saints By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/the-call-vikings-vs-saints/566723092/

Pioneer Press

Vikings’ Kevin Stefanski to interview with Panthers as well as Browns By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/04/vikings-kevin-stefanski-to-interview-with-panthers-as-well-as- browns/

Vikings safety fined $10,257 by NFL By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/04/vikings-safety-andrew-sendejo-fined-10257-by-nfl/

Vikings crank up the volume to prepare for raucous Superdome By Dane Mizutani https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/04/vikings-crank-up-the-volume-to-prepare-for-raucous-superdome/

Key Vikings rookies made their preseason debuts in New Orleans and return when it really counts By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/04/key-vikings-rookies-made-their-preseason-debuts-in-new-orleans- and-return-when-it-really-counts/

Vikings vs. Saints picks: Predicting a tough one in New Orleans By John Shipley https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/04/vikings-vs-saints-charley-walters-predicts-tough-one-in-new- orleans/

Vikings at Saints playoff preview: Vikings to face pass-happy Saints with depleted secondary By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2020/01/04/vikings-to-face-pass-happy-saints-with-depleted-secondary/

SKOR North

Would a win in New Orleans change everything? By Matthew Coller https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2020/01/would-a-win-change-everything/

Report: Vikings offensive coordinator to interview with Browns, Panthers By Judd Zulgad https://www.skornorth.com/vikings-2/2020/01/report-vikings-offensive-coordinator-to-interview-with- browns-panthers/

The Athletic

Vikings playoff preview: Keys to victory vs. Saints, reasons to hope and picks By Chad Graff, Arif Hasan and Jon Krawczynski https://theathletic.com/1508924/2020/01/04/vikings-playoff-preview-keys-to-victory-vs-saints-reasons-to- hope-and-picks/

NATIONAL NEWS: Sunday, January 5, 2020

ESPN

Saints bring high-powered offense against Vikings in NFC wild-card game By ESPN Staff https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/28411416/new-orleans-saints-bring-high-powered-offense-vs- -vikings-nfc-wild-card-game

Sports Illustrated

Kirk Cousins’ Chance to Do Something, Like, Big? Maybe? By Gary Gramling https://www.si.com/nfl/2020/01/05/wildcard-weekend-sunday-preview-breakdown-analysis-coaching- carousel

NFL.com

Browns, Panthers to interview Kevin Stefanski for HC By Andie Hagemann http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000001094222/article/browns-panthers-to-interview-kevin-stefanski- for-hc

Maven Media

Three Reasons to Believe in the Vikings Against the Saints By Will Ragatz https://www.si.com/nfl/vikings/news/three-reasons-to-believe-vikings-against-saints

MULTIMEDIA NEWS: Sunday, January 5, 2020

Warner Explains How Brees Will Look To Attack Vikings Defense By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/warner-explains-how-brees-will-look-to-attack-vikings-defense

Cook to Pelissero: "We're Going To Get This Thing Rolling Again" By NFL Network https://www.vikings.com/video/cook-to-pelissero-we-re-going-to-get-this-thing-rolling-again

PA, Bercich Look Ahead To Vikings-Saints By Vikings Entertainment Network https://www.vikings.com/video/pa-bercich-look-ahead-to-vikings-saints

Mike Maxx Previews Vikings-Saints from Bourbon Street By WCCO http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=e7f01449-e8e7-4202-b6b2-29bf70630e6d

Dawn Mitchell Reports from New Orleans By KMSP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=883490a2-7bfe-499d-9ca9-3e154c929020

Vikings Heavy Underdogs in Wild Card Round By KARE http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=9d50acce-69c6-4c10-ab3c-4c65ce8b24a1

Vikings-Saints Playoff Preview By KSTP http://mms.tveyes.com/PlaybackPortal.aspx?SavedEditID=344af7c1-f321-4b21-88ad-715a470ea73b

VIKINGS ENTERTAINMENT NETWORK: Sunday, January 5, 2020

Final Thoughts: Vikings Pass Defense Crucial to Combat Brees-Thomas Connection By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/final-thoughts-vikings-saints-defense-crucial-combat-brees-thomas- connection

Vikings Offensive Rookies Come Full Circle from Preseason to Playoffs By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-offensive-rookies-come-full-circle-from-preseason-to-playoffs

PUBLICATION: DATE: 1/5/20

NFL quarterback club: Chosen few, like Vikings' Kirk Cousins, can relate to weekly pressures

By Ben Goessling

Beneath the layers of the ’s indomitable entertainment machine — the cameras trained on Kirk Cousins’ every move, the media members parsing each decision, and a cohort of 73,000 fans, most of them actively invested in his failure — there will be exactly three people on the Superdome field Sunday who understand the quarterback’s unique burden.

There will be , the future Hall of Famer and a MVP who has offered Cousins insights from his own journey through the occasional phone call and Pro Bowl conversation. There will be , who four years ago came within inches of his own defining playoff moment for the franchise that now employs Cousins. And there will be Cousins himself, keenly aware of all that has been entrusted to him by a team and a fan base so hungry for success.

“The ball’s in your hand, and the margin for error is so small,” Cousins said. “You know that nobody else is going to have a chance to impact the game in the same way you will. You know that you’re going to go back and watch the film the next day, win or lose, and point to two plays that made the difference. You don’t know which two it’s going to be; you’re going to get anywhere from 60 to 80 cracks at it, and you know when you hold the football, you hold the hopes and dreams of a lot of people in your hands.”

Cousins’ second NFL playoff start, in which the Vikings are 7 ½-point underdogs against a 13-3 Saints team that’s lost one home playoff game in 13 years, doubles as an inflection point for the quarterback’s time in Minnesota, where he is finishing the second season of a three-year, $84 million contract guaranteed to him in hopes he can help deliver the Vikings their long-sought first Super Bowl victory.

When the playoffs began, there were 11 other quarterbacks in 11 other cities — including six on contracts worth at least $23 million a year, and four former first-round picks still on their rookie deals — expected to justify costly investments with exacting precision under withering pressure. Their salaries afford them little public sympathy; this is their chosen profession, after all. But their jobs, as glamorous as they seem, still require them to operate on a precipice.

“What’s the fraternity like? You may shake the guy’s hand after the game, wish him well,” Cousins said. “You may cross paths with him at a conference or two in the offseason. But without saying a word, there’s just an unspoken understanding of what they’re going through, and I would like to think vice versa. So I always try to, when I see a guy, encourage, because I think if they’re anything like me, it can be a grind at times.”

Cousins and a growing group of NFL quarterbacks have bonded through an online devotional group led by pastor Randy Alcorn, who is based in Portland, Ore., and started working with Christian ministry Pro Athletes Outreach (PAO) after getting to know former NFL quarterback Matt Hasselbeck while he spoke at a Seahawks team chapel service. Hasselbeck, now an analyst on ESPN’s “Sunday NFL Countdown,” invited Alcorn to speak to a group of quarterbacks at PAO’s annual February conference for NFL players, and the online community grew out of that. Currently 27 quarterbacks, including 18 active ones, can read the weekly devotionals Alcorn sends the group; Cousins, Alcorn said, is routinely the first to respond.

“You view them as human beings,” Alcorn said. “You think in terms of what they do, because that’s part of who they are and the life that they live. But spiritual counsel is the same for anybody. You take into account their family situation, their job situation and everything else, as you would anyone else. But of course, those things are different for them.”

‘What we deal with’

PAO — now run by former Bears quarterback Steve Stenstrom — moves its annual conference to different destinations, from warm-weather getaway spots to mountain retreats, and keeps the location a secret to give players a respite from their celebrity. Pastors from around the country come in to advise players on issues like relationships, finances and handling pressure. Last February, former Vikings quarterback and his wife, Kimberly, shared their struggles with infertility (a month before Kimberly became pregnant with their first son).

“It just hits right to what we deal with,” Cousins said. “You can look around the room and see spouses and their husbands who are players that are like, ‘We’re dealing with this; we’re going through this.’ ”

The community at the conference among players — especially quarterbacks — has meant the most to Hasselbeck. He recalled going to Disney World with Russell Wilson shortly after he succeeded him as the Seahawks’ quarterback and getting lunch at Red Robin while he had time to kill before a flight with Carson Wentz, who responded with a playful, “Thanks, Dad,” after Hasselbeck grabbed the check.

“We’ve all been booed — I don’t care who you are,” Hasselbeck said. “I don’t care if you’re Tom Brady, you’re the greatest quarterback who ever played; we’ve all been booed, we’ve all been celebrated. I can remember [talking about], ‘What are some of the creative things you’ve done to hang out with your wideouts?’ You hear guys’ epic failures, and some awesome things. There was one guy who took his guys deep-sea fishing — and half the boat got sick. It’s like, ‘Hey, well-intentioned, bad idea.’ It’s lighthearted stuff, but the irony is, a lot of times, how the NFL is, you end up becoming friends.”

As Hasselbeck put it, NFL quarterbacks are effectively living the same life in different cities, as young men trying to handle status as the face of a franchise. He prayed with Trent Dilfer — when both were playing for the Seahawks — for a generation of QBs who could lean on one another; the group Alcorn now leads is a step in that direction.

The pastor posts weekly Bible verses, book suggestions and thoughts for the group to consider, and texts with players on an individual basis to counsel them through events happening in their lives. He will accept pictures or game tickets if players offer, but he will never ask for them.

“It’s a violation of trust; you lose all credibility, or at least potentially, when you start asking for things,” he said. “Because if you do, now you have become sort of like everybody else.”

Finding a balance

The Vikings’ game against the Saints, as it relates to Cousins’ status in Minnesota, is a gale-force wind that could blow a sailboat in one of two directions. It could squelch the long-running narrative about his inability to win big games, or it could send him into a contract year without the sort of defining victory that would ensure long-term security.

He is keenly aware of the tension between the value of his NFL success and what it means to his worth as a person.

“My wife will say, ‘Hey, it’s not your identity.’ And I’ll say, ‘No, it isn’t — but it’s pretty close,’ ” he said. “It’s such an important part of my life. And while it’s not my identity, and I know that I stand on the rock, and I’m not building my life on sand, this is something that is still very important.

“People say, ‘Why do you get nervous?’ I get nervous because something matters to me. You’re always kind of checking yourself; has it become too important? When you can’t sleep after a tough loss, you’re like, ‘Where’s the balance here?’ But you also know, if it matters to you, sometimes it is going to affect your sleep. That doesn’t mean it’s your identity. You’re always finding that balance.”

For Cousins, that often means texts from Alcorn with Bible verses on Saturdays and a midfield greeting on Sundays from a counterpart he knows is dealing with the same things.

“I do have a lot of respect for him, the road he’s traveled,” Brees said. “For a guy to come in and really have to earn it every step of the way, I respect that road, what he’s had to earn, the position he’s in. He’s had a great year.”

How the year ends, and what it means for Cousins’ future, is yet to be written. The quarterback believes no matter what happens, there’s a purpose behind it.

PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 1/5/20

Stakes are high Sunday for the Vikings — and we're not just talking playoffs

By Jim Souhan

As he prepared to coach in a game he was favored to lose, a loss that would make him 1-3 in the playoffs in a six- year head coaching career, was rumored to be the target of a trade by America’s richest football team while receiving a vote of confidence from the one for which he works.

What has made the NFL the most popular sport in the history of North America is not the quality of the entertainment it provides but its all-American blend of strategy and violence. Fans think they can call plays; no one in his or her right mind would want to run them.

The NFL has also exploited the structure of its season. The league guarantees fans about 48 hours a year of action — or a few hours a year, if you remove the commercials, timeouts, replays and huddles.

The NFL is mostly about speculation. What will the draft and free agency bring? What will the coach call during the timeout?

This is why the Vikings’ playoff game at New Orleans on Sunday is more fascinating than the sum of its parts.

If the Vikings win, Zimmer will have achieved his most impressive victory as a . If they lose, any and all speculation about Zimmer, General Manager Rick Spielman and the Dallas Cowboys will be justified.

The Vikings have won one playoff game under the team of Spielman and Zimmer, and that victory resulted from a very good player, Saints safety , closing his eyes and whiffing on like a blindfolded toddler at a pinata party.

They have won one playoff game since limped off the Superdome field.

The question Vikings ownership will face if the Vikings lose is: What do you do with a leadership team that succeeds in the regular season but not the playoffs?

Over the past three years, only five NFL teams have more regular-season victories than the Vikings’ 31: New Orleans (37), New England (36), Kansas City (34), Baltimore (33) and the Rams (33).

Zimmer’s winning percentage is .599. That won’t get him into the Hall of Fame, but it’s better than ’s career .596 winning percentage, and not far off ’s .618.

Friday afternoon, Vikings ownership released a statement in support of Spielman and Zimmer.

That didn’t stop national outlets from speculation that Zimmer could be the Cowboys’ next coach, replacing , whose firing appears imminent for failing to produce postseason success. His playoff record was 2-3. If the Vikings lose on Sunday, Zimmer’s will be 1-3, including a 38-7 loss at Philadelphia in his only NFC title game.

Would the Wilfs be wise to trade the rights to Zimmer, or to fire him?

They hastily dumped Mike Tice during their first year in power. They have been patient stewards since, keeping Spielman despite lean years and the drafting of Christian Ponder.

They well could keep Spielman and Zimmer after a loss to the Saints, but then what would the future look like? How many management teams begin winning big after six years together?

Spielman has spent crazily to settle the quarterback position ever since drafting Ponder, culminating in a then-record guaranteed contract for Kirk Cousins, whose big-game failures mimic his new franchise’s. Zimmer’s team looked inept in his biggest game, and now the position at which he has insisted on heavy investment, cornerback, is his team’s primary weakness.

If the Vikings are competitive in a loss at New Orleans, it will be easy for the Wilfs to keep the management team together.

If the Vikings look unprepared or inept, it may be time for the Wilfs to fire away. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings pass defense faces tough test in Saints

By Sid Hartman

One of the biggest difference makers in whether the Vikings will be able to stop the Saints on Sunday in their NFC wild-card game in New Orleans is their pass defense.

Everyone knows the Saints, who ranked seventh in the NFL by averaging 265.2 passing yards per game this season, are going to throw the ball with Drew Brees at quarterback.

The Vikings ranked 15th this season in pass defense, giving up 233.6 yards per game, after ranking third in 2018, second in 2017 and third in 2016.

And while safety Harrison Smith believes the Vikings pass defense made some big adjustments toward the end of the season, there’s no doubt the challenge got even greater this past week with the news that Mike Hughes is out for the season and fellow cornerback Mackenzie Alexander will miss at least the Saints game.

Breaking it down in five-game stretches, from Week 1 to Week 5 this season, the Vikings gave up 204.2 passing yards per game; from Week 6 to Week 10, they gave up 278 passing yards per game; and from Week 11 to Week 16, before the Vikings rested their starters in the meaningless season finale, they gave up 212.6 passing yards per game.

Smith said that stretch in the middle showed some problems in the pass defense, but the way the Vikings performed at the end of the season provides some encouragement.

“There was kind of a rough patch there early to midseason, and we started tightening up on those things,” Smith said. “Some of the pass yards are going to come when you’re up a few scores, they’re going to get a few yards that aren’t that meaningful. I think that we’ve done better.

“We can still play better and break up some balls. We just have to stay on our technique and our details.”

How does he account for those poor games in the middle of the season?

“There were some games where we gave up too many yards, too many points, not as good as we should have been on third downs,” Smith said. “We still can get a lot better on third down, especially third-and-long. So just focusing on the details.”

When it came to the regular season, Smith said the biggest thing he tried to do was stay consistent.

“Like any season there is going to be some adversity, some ups and downs, so I try to stay consistent and contribute to winning ballgames — whether I need to make a bunch of tackles or try to get a turnover,” Smith said. “As long as I execute my job and the other 10 are executing, we have a chance.”

Franchise all-time great

Smith finished the 2019 regular season with 85 tackles, his most since 2016. He had two QB hits, four tackles for loss, a sack, three forced fumbles, 11 pass deflections, three interceptions and two fumble recoveries.

This will be his fifth playoff game in eight pro seasons, and the Vikings are going to need him at his very best.

His lone postseason victory came against the Saints in 2018 at U.S. Bank Stadium, but he has been just as consistent in the postseason as he has in the regular season. He has averaged just over five tackles per game to go along with four tackles for loss, two pass breakups and one sack in those four playoff contests.

The fact is, Smith is building a career to go along with the best safeties in Vikings history, and he has been acknowledged by the NFL with his fifth consecutive invitation to the Pro Bowl.

“It’s always great to be recognized from players, fans and coaches, and it’s good for the Vikings,” Smith said. “But it’s a team game so a lot of the good things that I get to do is because good things are happening around me from all the other players on our team.”

Pro Football Focus put together its list of the best safeties in the NFL in 2019, and both Smith and Saints safety Marcus Williams made it.

PFF called Smith the “Master of Disguise & Coverage” and wrote, “For Harrison Smith, there really are no weak areas in his overall game, but he especially excels in pass coverage.”

That’s why he will be a key part of the Vikings’ success at New Orleans.

Still, Smith said when it comes to accolades like that, he tries to focus on what his coaches see in his play to figure out if he’s making the right decisions on the field.

“Again, it’s cool to get recognized, but at the end of the day all I care about is what my coaches are telling me and if I’m playing things appropriately,” Smith said. “Really, they’re the only ones that know.”

No one believing in Vikings

This is going to be an interesting game. At their best, the Vikings can play with anyone, but around the country no one is believing they can top the Saints in New Orleans.

The game opened in the Las Vegas books with the Saints as seven-point favorites and quickly jumped to eight.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he’s aware of the reputation of his team heading into Sunday.

“I don’t think anybody believes that we can win this game, so we go in there and we slug it out,” he said. “All I really care about is that 53 guys believe.”

JOTTINGS

• Vikings defensive coordinator George Edwards on the challenge of stopping Michael Thomas, who easily led the NFL with 1,725 receiving yards and 149 catches this season. “He’s catching everything around him,” Edwards said. “You see people doubling him, you see people tripling him, and he still finds a way to get the football.”

• Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski on recent fumbled snaps between center Garrett Bradbury and quarterback Kirk Cousins: “Every day we have a center-quarterback exchange period, even this late in the season. It’s something that you continue to work on. You never take for granted, and I think Garrett and Kirk just continue to bank reps together, I think [that] can only help.”

• Former Vikings players on the Saints include quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, center Nick Easton, fullback and running back .

• The Gophers started only two seniors on offense in their Outback Bowl victory over Auburn: running back Rodney Smith and wide receiver Tyler Johnson. On defense only three underclassmen started: sophomore Thomas Rush at linebacker, junior Coney Durr and sophomore Antoine Winfield Jr. at defensive back.

• Brian Dutcher, the son of former Gophers men’s basketball coach Jim Dutcher, has No. 13 San Diego State at 15-0 after a 77-68 victory at Utah State on Saturday night. The Aztecs are one of two undefeated teams remaining in Division I.

• Amir Coffey became the first Gophers product to play in the NBA since Kris Humphries in 2017 when he took the court for the Clippers on Tuesday.

• Spotrac currently has the Twins with the 16th-highest payroll in baseball for 2020 at $103 million, with estimates for arbitration-eligible players such as Eddie Rosario, Miguel Sano, Jose Berrios, Taylor Rogers and Byron Buxton. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 1/5/20

Players to watch in Sunday's Vikings-Saints wild-card game

By Chris Miller

In the NFL playoffs, the star players step up in the spotlight. Here’s a look at the key players at six positions in Sunday’s Vikings-Saints matchup.

QUARTERBACKS KIRK COUSINS, DREW BREES

• Brees is the most accurate passer (. 676) in NFL history and has won a Super Bowl. Cousins has none of Brees’ accolades and has been saddled with the reputation of not being ready for prime time. Still, he has a 133.2 passer rating in three games against New Orleans.

RUNNING BACKS DALVIN COOK,

• Kamara had a forgettable year thanks to shoulder and knee injuries, but the rushing and receiving threat is back to full health. Cook’s shoulder and chest injuries kept him on the sidelines for the final two weeks of the season. He led the NFL in rushing through the first half of the season.

WIDE RECEIVERS STEFON DIGGS, MICHAEL THOMAS

• Thomas set an NFL record with 149 receptions, while Diggs was fourth in yards per catch (17.9). And let’s not forget Diggs’ Miracle reception decided the teams’ playoff meeting after the 2017 season. A key for the Vikings will be limiting the number of quick-hitting passes from Brees to Thomas.

EDGE DEFENDERS ,

• Jordan (15½) and Hunter (14½) were third and fourth in the NFL in sacks and were 1-2 among defensive linemen. Brees played in only 11 games because of injury but was sacked only 12 times. Cousins is less active in the pocket, but his sack total (28 in 16 games) was not overly concerning.

LINEBACKERS , DEMARIO DAVIS

• Kendricks finally broke through with an All-Pro nod in 2019. Davis was also an All-Pro. Kendricks will have a crucial role in pass coverage, especially against Kamara, after leading NFL linebackers in passes defensed. Davis is a one- man wrecking crew who had 87 solo tackles during the season.

WILD CARDS DEONTE HARRIS,

• Harris led the NFL in punt return yardage (9.37) and is an All-Pro. The challenge will be for Vikings punter Britton Colquitt, who did not have a touchback this season, to somehow avoid giving Harris a chance to shine. Thielen had only 30 catches in 10 games for the Vikings but still could be a game-changer. PUBLICATION: STAR TRIBUNE DATE: 1/5/20

The Call: Vikings vs. Saints

By Ben Goessling

Can this version of the Vikings defense slow down Drew Brees, and can Kirk Cousins direct a productive offense in the Superdome? The Vikings might need to answer both of those questions in the affirmative to beat a 13-3 Saints team that’s been awfully tough at home in the playoffs.

TWO BIG STORY LINES

All eyes on Cousins

Cousins will start his second career playoff game — and his first for Minnesota — at the end of his second year with the team. A big game for Cousins in the Superdome would boost the quarterback’s résumé and potentially counter some of the narratives about whether he’s good enough to win in the playoffs. If Brees gets the Saints off to a fast start, the Vikings will need a strong day from Cousins.

Running game at full strength

The Vikings rested Dalvin Cook for the final two weeks of the regular season and should benefit from the running back’s presence after he recovered enough from chest and shoulder injuries to practice in full all week. Alexander Mattison was also a full participant after missing two games with an ankle injury, and the Vikings will count on both of them against a run defense than ranks 17th in the league in yards allowed per attempt.

TWO KEY MATCHUPS

Vikings’ secondary vs. WR Michael Thomas

Thomas set an NFL record with 149 receptions, and he’ll face a secondary in flux. The Vikings will be without Mackensie Alexander and Mike Hughes; Thomas should see plenty of time lined up outside against and , but the Saints could test the Vikings’ depth at nickel corner with Thomas in the slot.

Vikings’ offensive line vs. Saints DE Cameron Jordan

The five-time Pro Bowler has 15½ sacks this season; the Saints primarily line him up at left defensive end, where he’d face Vikings right tackle Brian O’Neill, but they’ve given Jordan a handful of snaps on the right side in games this season. Keeping him away from Kirk Cousins will be one of the Vikings’ big priorities on Sunday.

ONE STAT THAT MATTERS

6-1 The Saints’ record in home playoff games since 2006, when became head coach and Brees became the quarterback. New Orleans’ only playoff loss at the Superdome was last year’s controversial NFC Championship Game.

THE VIKINGS WILL WIN IF…

They can take advantage of a Saints defensive front that’s missing Marcus Davenport and because of injury, utilize Cook in a way that keeps some pressure off Cousins and avoid giving up the kinds of big plays to Thomas and Alvin Kamara they’ve allowed for much of the season.

THE SAINTS WILL WIN IF…

Brees’ quick release allows him to get the ball to playmakers like Thomas, Kamara and Jared Cook before the pass rush gets to him, while the Saints contain Dalvin Cook and force Cousins to test such defenders as and Marcus Williams in coverage.

Prediction: Saints, 34-28

Win Probability: 40 percent PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings’ Kevin Stefanski to interview with Panthers as well as Browns

By Chris Tomasson

NEW ORLEANS — Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski has another interview lined up for a head-coaching position.

A source Saturday confirmed an ESPN report that Stefanski will interview this coming week with the Carolina Panthers. A source previously had confirmed a Cleveland Plain Dealer report that Stefanski will interview with the .

The Vikings face New Orleans on Sunday at the Superdome to open the playoffs. If the Vikings lose, there will be little difficult in setting up interviews with Stefanski.

If the Vikings win, NFL rules would allow Stefanski to interview at some point prior to their next game. It would be a short week since a win would advance them to play at San Francisco next Saturday.

Stefanski, 37, is considered a hot coaching candidate. He had two interviews for the Browns job last year and was one of two finalists. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo fined $10,257 by NFL

By Chris Tomasson

NEW ORLEANS — Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo was fined $10,257 by the NFL for unsportsmanlike conduct in last Sunday’s game against Chicago, a source said Saturday.

Sendejo was penalized for unsportsmanlike conduct in the second quarter in a 21-19 loss to the Bears in the regular- season finale.

Sendejo has a history being fined with the Vikings. He was docked $53,482 for a penalized hit in 2018 on Green Bay wide receiver Devante Adams. In 2017, he was $24,309 for a helmet hit on Tampa Bay tight end Cameron Brate and suspended for one game for a hit on Baltimore wide receiver Mike Wallace.

Vikings tackle Oli Udoh was not fined after being penalized last Sunday for unnecessary roughness in the third quarter. And defensive lineman Ifeadi Odenigbo was not fined for punting the ball into the stands in celebration in the fourth quarter after he thought he had returned a fumble 23 yards for a touchdown before it was nullified because his knee was down.

The Vikings play at New Orleans on Sunday to open the playoffs. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings crank up the volume to prepare for raucous Superdome

By Dane Mizutani

Whether it was the Metrodome back in the day or U.S. Bank Stadium now, the Vikings have long understood the importance of home-field advantage.

A noisy crowd has a way of making nearly impossible to communicate in the moment while simultaneously burrowing its way into the subconscious of opposing players for the rest of the game.

Which is precisely why coach Mike Zimmer cranked up the volume in practice this week as the Vikings prepared to take on the at the Superdome.

While it’s the same thing the Vikings did before they played the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium, and the Seattle Seahawks at CenturyLink Field, a handful of players, like fullback C.J. Ham, noted how the decibel level this week was on another level.

“You can barely hear yourself think in there and that’s kind of the point,” Ham said. “We really try to make it like the game. It is what it is. Just have to roll with it.”

Still, it’s impossible to fully recreate what it will be like inside the Superdome over the weekend, as the Saints boast arguably the best home-field advantage in the league.

“We know it’s coming,” offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski said. “We know that it has to be hyper-focus for all the guys in the huddle and on the sideline. We also know that it’s going to be a 60-minute affair of crowd noise. I think it’s first and foremost being out (at practice) and working through it and getting comfortable with those reps.”

Meanwhile, rookie center Garrett Bradbury downplayed the notion that the Superdome will be louder than any other road environment.

“It’s an away game in the NFL so it’s going to be loud like a lot of stadiums we’ve played in this season,” Bradbury said. “Just another opportunity for us.”

With that opportunity comes a chance for the Vikings to play spoiler on a day when many aren’t giving them much of a chance.

“We know going into it that it’s going to be a noisy place,” Ham said. “It’s the playoffs. No matter where we were going to go play it was going to be loud, so we aren’t really thinking about that part. We are just going to go out there and play ball. They have a great fan base and it’s our job to go out there and quiet them down.” PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 1/5/20

Key Vikings rookies made their preseason debuts in New Orleans and return when it really counts

By Chris Tomasson

Five months ago, a bunch of eager rookies made their NFL debuts in a preseason game at the Superdome. To some, it seems even longer ago than that.

The Vikings opened the preseason with a 34-25 win at New Orleans on Aug. 9. On Sunday, Minnesota again will play the Saints on the road with much more at stake in a playoff opener.

“It definitely seems like a different season now,’’ rookie center Garrett Bradbury said. “But it’s pretty cool kind of coming full circle that we get to play there again. It will obviously be a different vibe.’’

Bradbury is one of four Vikings rookies to have emerged from that game to become significant contributors on offense. Taken with the No. 18 pick in the first round, he started all 16 regular-season games and will start again Sunday.

Tight end Irv Smith, a second-round pick, caught 36 passes for 311 yards during the season. That broke Minnesota’s rookie record for a tight end, which had been 35 by Andrew Jordan in 1994.

Running back Alexander Mattison, a third-round pick, rushed for 462 yards on 100 carries for a 4.6 average. He missed the final three games with a high right ankle sprain but will be ready to go Sunday.

Wide receiver Bisi Johnson, a seventh-round pick, was the biggest rookie surprise. Johnson, who played a larger role when Adam Thielen missed five games with a hamstring injury, had 31 catches for 294 yards.

“That does seem like ages ago, but each one of those guys has come so far and it’s a credit to them and it’s a credit to their position coaches,’’ said offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski.

As much as the game in August, Stefanski remembers the “wild” outfit Smith wore that day on his 21st birthday.

“I was sitting on the bus, and he came out, had a poncho on and there were like things hanging off the coat,’’ Stefanski said. “It was interesting.’’

Smith is a New Orleans native. So he considers it extra special returning there for his first playoff game.

“Just making the playoffs first off was a dream come true, and now it being in New Orleans just adds on top of it,’’ Smith said.

In the preseason game, Smith had three catches for 21 yards, Johnson had two receptions for 35 yards, including an 18-yard touchdown, and Mattison carried nine times for 30 yards.

Now, the stats really will count.

“There’s always going to be nerves,’’ Johnson said of making his playoff debut. “But you’re a professional athlete, so you have to know how to hone those nerves and put them in your game, and that’s what I’m doing. … Going through 16, 17 weeks of professional games (during the regular season), I’m up for the challenge.’’

Mattison said his ankle is much improved. He’s looking forward to backing up Dalvin Cook in his postseason debut.

“It’s a blessing just to be in this position as a rookie,’’ he said. “It’s something that doesn’t happen a lot. It’ll be fun.’’ PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings vs. Saints picks: Predicting a tough one in New Orleans

By John Shipley

BOB SANSEVERE Vikings 27, Saints 24: If the Gophers can beat Auburn, why can’t the Vikings beat the Saints? They’ve got the talent to do it.

JOHN SHIPLEY Saints 31, Vikings 13: Not sure ceding the regular-season finale was the right choice, especially considering they’re now going to be without secondary must-haves Mackenzie Alexander and Mike Hughes, anyway. The Vikings are walking into an ambush.

CHRIS TOMASSON Saints 27, Vikings 16: Two years ago, the Saints lost in the playoffs to the Vikings on the Minnesota Miracle. Last year, they were robbed by a late non-call on obvious pass interference against the Rams. This time, the Saints will make sure it’s not a one-possession game at the end.

CHARLEY WALTERS Saints 31, Vikings 21: Vikings end season with three straight losses. Changes forthcoming.

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings at Saints playoff preview: Vikings to face pass-happy Saints with depleted secondary

By Chris Tomasson

VIKINGS (10-6) AT SAINTS (13-3) Kickoff: 12:05 p.m. Sunday Where: Superdome TV: KMSP-Channel 9; , , , Radio: KFXN-FM 100.3; Paul Allen, Pete Bercich, Greg Coleman Series: Vikings lead 22-12 Line: Saints by 7½ The Vikings face the Saints in the playoffs for the fifth time, and first since they won 29-24 in a divisional game two years ago at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings needed a Minnesota Miracle, a 61-yard pass from Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs on the final play.

The teams meet in the playoffs for the first time at the Superdome since the 2009 NFC Championship Game. The Saints won that one in overtime, 31-28, and went on to win Super Bowl XLIV.

The Vikings’ defense has been up and down all season and now they will be without two key cornerbacks. Mackensie Alexander (knee) was ruled out on Friday, and Mike Hughes (neck) was placed on injured reserve. That will make it even more of a challenge against Saints quarterback Drew Brees and wide receiver Michael Thomas, who set an NFL record with 149 receptions.

The Vikings at least will have running backs Dalvin Cook, who missed the final two regular-season games with a shoulder injury, and Alexander Mattison, who sat out the last three with an ankle injury. When both were out, opponents had much less respect for the run.

The game could be important for the long-term future of quarterback Kirk Cousins, who has one year left on his contract. If the Vikings pull an upset, they would advance to play at San Francisco next Saturday. PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 1/5/20

Would a win in New Orleans change everything?

By Matthew Coller

EAGAN — There’s a famous Twilight Zone episode where everyone thinks the world is ending and only one family has a bomb shelter.

As you might expect, the neighbors — that this family thought were their friends — quickly go into every-man-for- themselves mode and take over the shelter. They find out a few minutes later that reports of their demise were inaccurate and the world will keep on spinning. The neighbors just awkwardly leave knowing that nobody will ever look at each other the same after that incident.

That’s how Sunday’s playoff game between the and New Orleans Saints is going to feel if Mike Zimmer and Kirk Cousins pull off an upset in the Superdome.

Usually the stories leading up to a playoff game surround things like key matchups, injury reports and if you’re lucky a little bullion-board material. But the days between the Vikings’ Week 16 loss to the Green Bay Packers and Sunday’s noon kickoff have been dominated by speculation about the future of, well, just about everyone in the Vikings’ organization.

Prior to Week 17, when the Vikings rested their starters, there was a report from NFL Network that the Dallas Cowboys could consider trying to trade for Zimmer. When news came out late Thursday that Jason Garrett would not be returning as head coach, it added fuel to that fire. Cowboys owner Jerry Jones has said that his biggest mistake was not interviewing Zimmer for the head coaching job in Dallas and Zimmer is known to be close friends with Jerry Jones’ son.

ESPN’s Dan Graziano wrote:

“I’m keeping an eye on Sunday’s Vikings-Saints game. If the Vikings lose, there are people around the league who wouldn’t be surprised to see Jones take a run at coach Mike Zimmer, a former Cowboys defensive coordinator for whom Jones feels a strong affinity. Zimmer has a year left on his Vikings contract, so it’s possible that the Cowboys would have to trade a draft pick for him in this scenario, but don’t rule it out. If the Saints lose, Allen could be a possibility, as could assistant head coach , who played for the Cowboys from 2003 to ’05 and had a brief stint as interim head coach of the Dolphins in 2015.”

Speaking of fuel, Vikings owner Mark Wilf attempted to quell the talk of a coaching change on Friday by releasing a short statement on Zimmer and Rick Spielman’s status.

“We value Mike and Rick’s leadership and we have every intent of Mike continuing as the head coach of the Minnesota Vikings and Rick leading our football operations, next year and beyond,” Wilf said.

Of course, they call it the “dreaded vote of confidence” for a reason.

Considering Zimmer is one of the winningest coaches in the NFL despite an uphill battle at the quarterback position, it feels strange to be questioning his status after a 10-6 season. He’s lost his potential franchise quarterback twice to knee injury, reached the NFC title game with a backup QB and bounced back to the playoffs each time the team missed the postseason.

Zimmer was hired to be a defensive mastermind and with the tools given to him via the draft, he’s schemed his team into the top 10 in points allowed each year. Throughout 2019 there was heavy scrutiny of a defense that appeared weak at times but at year’s end they were fifth in points allowed.

And let’s not ignore the obvious: Making a decision on someone’s future based on whether you get beaten badly in one game is crazy. In a sport of small samples where bad teams routinely end up in the playoffs and good teams miss and where the best coaches win 3-of-5 and we see even Tom Brady and ’s teams get blown out once or twice a year, it doesn’t make the slightest bit of sense to decide whether to keep or fire a coach based on a single playoff game.

But the black cloud over Zimmer’s tenure is the lack of wins in games like Sunday’s in New Orleans — the true tests. They lost in the Wild Card round to the Seahawks in 2015 and while they beat the Saints in the Minneapolis Miracle game the Vikings’ defense came apart at the seams in Philadelphia the following week. In the two years Kirk Cousins has been under center, the Vikings have won two games against teams with winning records — both times against beaten-up Eagles clubs who aren’t nearly as good as they were in ’17.

The Monday Night Football loss against the Packers was a final-straw type of game. Even if Zimmer’s defense did the job, forcing three turnovers and allowing 23 points despite an injury to Team MVP Eric Kendricks, it was another L to throw in the pile of disappointments on National TV.

You could point to the number of times the Vikings have shown up to a gun fight with a knife at the quarterback position as the explanation for losing important games and you wouldn’t be wrong but at some point that line of reasoning wears thin. Fans and decision makers start to wonder if the team has peaked with his current coach. Vikings’ ownership expected to at least return to the NFC title game in 2018 after signing Cousins to an $84 million deal. They might end up with zero playoff wins in two years.

All of that explains why a change at head coach could be considered if the Vikings do not have a good showing against the Saints, who rank third in the NFL in scoring behind their all-time great quarterback.

What is harder to say is how everyone will react if the Vikings pull an upset.

The noise has been far too loud to block out.

There have been rumors that people in the front office are making phone calls trying to set up their next jobs just in case. There has been talk that Kevin Stefanski could take over if the Vikings move on from Zimmer. How about Cousins? If the Vikings lose they will be looking very closely at first-round quarterbacks and he knows it.

If they win by a touchdown, does that all disappear into thin air?

Does the years of being harsh on players — sometimes through the media in cases like Anthony Barr and Xavier Rhodes — not still take its toll? Does Zimmer’s unwillingness to back Cousins go unnoticed? Does the QB forget that his head coach said “you’ll have to ask him,” when asked about Cousins’s big-game failures? Will the issues with keeping an OC go away? Do the sideline meltdowns by his team (a la Rhodes in Seattle) go ka-poof? Does the belief internally that Stefanski could be a great head coach just leave the minds of those making the final call?

Does the hope for a Super Bowl go up exponentially with two more difficult road games on the way?

The Vikings absolutely have a team strong enough to win against the Saints and in some ways ownership and fans are scared of that outcome. That makes all the decisions much harder. The Vikings could still move on the way the Tennessee Titans did after Mike Mularkey’s squad upset the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round two years ago but that move would not go over well with fans.

If they stun the Saints it won’t be easy to move forward with everyone knowing how close they were to pressing the red button.

This is the nature of the beast. Before winning two Super Bowls, Tom Coughlin was being shredded by his former players for being a controlling, out-of-touch maniac. You have to wonder how many coaches just needed a little more time. Maybe if was given one more chance in San Diego they would have a ring or if the Tampa Bay Bucs had stuck with Tony Dungy things would have fallen into place in 2002 rather than getting a ring there.

Maybe we will be thinking about the same things with Zimmer someday soon.

Or maybe they will win and we’ll be asking: “What now?” PUBLICATION: SKOR North DATE: 1/5/20

Report: Vikings offensive coordinator to interview with Browns, Panthers

By Judd Zulgad

Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski will interview with the Browns and Panthers this week for their head coaching openings, according to Tom Pelissero of NFL Network.

Stefanski, who is in his first full season as the Vikings’ coordinator, was a finalist for the Cleveland job last offseason but lost out to . Kitchens was fired after the Browns went 6-10. The Panthers are looking for a replacement for longtime coach , who was fired during the season and already has been hired by Washington.

If the Vikings’ beat the Saints on Sunday in their wild card game, Stefanski’s week will be a busy one with preparation for a second-round game. A loss by the Vikings would give the 37-year-old Stefanski plenty of time to meet with teams.

Stefanski has been with the Vikings since 2006, when he served as an assistant to . Stefanski also has coached quarterbacks, running backs and tight ends during his time in Minnesota. PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings playoff preview: Keys to victory vs. Saints, reasons to hope and picks

By Chad Graff, Arif Hasan and Jon Krawczynski

There’s not much public faith in the Vikings on Sunday. Vegas has them as eight-point underdogs for their wild-card playoff showdown in New Orleans. NFLpickwatch.com — which collects picks from experts around the internet — has recorded 108 picks for the Saints out of 109 total as of this writing (MMQB’s Conor Orr is the lone dissenter).

None of that will matter much once the ball is kicked on Sunday. What will matter is trying to stop Drew Brees and Michael Thomas, only the NFL’s most prolific passing duo this season. Mike Zimmer — fresh off a vote of confidence from ownership as rumors began to swirl about his future — and his defense will have their hands full.

Can the Vikings do enough to slow the New Orleans offense? Will Kirk Cousins make it a game with all his skill- position players on the field? Our Vikings crew of Chad Graff, Arif Hasan and Jon Krawczynski previews the game.

What I’m watching Graff: Dalvin Cook. After a breakout season, the running back sat out the team’s final two games because of two different injuries. He played through the first, a chest injury, but had to try to fall a certain way when getting tackled, which led to the latest injury on his shoulder. When he’s healthy, the whole Vikings offense clicks. And with Zimmer, the Vikings will surely rely on the running game plenty even if they trail early. So is Cook healthy enough to carry that load?

Hasan: Michael Thomas. There’s a lot to keep track of, but I don’t think the Vikings lose if they contain Thomas in some way. Whether that’s with schematic pressure or better play from Xavier Rhodes, Thomas might be the key.

Krawczynski: Cook. If he can get back closer to 100 percent than he was before he missed the last couple of weeks, that will give the Vikings their best chance to pull the upset. He is dynamic. He makes people miss. He takes pressure off the offensive line and off Cousins. If he’s up and running like he did earlier in the season, the Vikings can put points on the board.

Give me one reason to hope Graff: This should be the first time since Week 6 that the Vikings have Adam Thielen and Cook healthy for an entire game. Perhaps that gets the offense back to looking like it did in October.

Hasan: Zimmer has been uniquely good at restricting Brees’ offense. While those statistics were products of better defenses, it does seem like he’s got a better pulse on that offense than most. And if he slows them down, the offense can keep up.

Krawczynski: Recently, the defense has looked more like the difference-making unit it has been in the past. The defense has been strong over the last four games, putting pressure on the quarterback and forcing turnovers. If the unit can get to Brees and generate a couple of turnovers, the Vikings will have a chance. Also, the game is indoors on turf, which is where this defense is most effective.

The Vikings win if … Graff: The play-action game works for Cousins and he’s able to roll out of the pocket, buy time and let deeper routes develop for Stefon Diggs and Thielen. When he can do that, it’s one of the most explosive offenses in the NFL. But that didn’t happen much in the second half of the season.

Hasan: They convert their opportunities. The Saints don’t make many mistakes, so when they do, the Vikings need to pounce, whether that’s against blown coverage or making sure not to drop a potential pick.

Krawczynski: Cook’s presence opens up the play-action game for Cousins. He has been one of the most effective deep-ball throwers in the league this season. If Cousins can hit Diggs down the field for a few big plays, the Vikings can get some momentum.

Quote of the week “I tend to steal stuff from him because he’s so good.” — Adam Thielen on Saints WR Michael Thomas

Name the third act of this trilogy In 2009, we had Bountygate. In 2017, the Minneapolis Miracle. As the Vikings and Saints meet in the playoffs for the third time in 11 seasons, give us a catchy name for Episode III of this trilogy along with a game prediction.

Graff: “Bummer off Bourbon.” Like many after a night in New Orleans, I think the Vikings’ offense comes out sluggish and it’s a slow game to start. Both offenses pick it up in the second half, but Cousins isn’t able to keep pace with Brees and the Saints move on. Pick: Saints 28, Vikings 21

Hasan: “Revenge of the Saints.” It’s not often an overwhelming favorite can cast itself as the aggrieved party — and maybe the Saints are wrong too — but they’ll likely win to avenge the Minneapolis Miracle and claim they have the moral high ground while doing it. Pick: Saints 35, Vikings 28

Krawczynski: “The Dark Night.” I, for one, would not be shocked to see the Vikings win this game. I think they have the talent on the roster to compete with any team in the NFC … if they’re playing well. That said, I still think the Saints’ strengths align with the Vikings’ weaknesses a little too much. Pick: Saints 29, Vikings 24

Playoff picks For the first time all season, all three of our pickers are going against the Vikings. In fact, we had two of them pick against the Vikings in the same week only three times all season — one of them being the throwaway Week 17 game against Chicago. Who do you think will win? Head over to our poll to let us know. — Zack Pierce PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 1/5/20

Saints bring high-powered offense against Vikings in NFC wild-card game

By ESPN Staff

(6) Minnesota Vikings at (3) New Orleans Saints Sunday, 1:05 p.m. ET | Fox Matchup rating: 88.2 | Spread: NO -8 (50)

What to watch for: Saints quarterback Drew Brees is playing some of the best football of his career at age 40. He threw 15 touchdown passes and zero interceptions in December and finished the season with a career-best passer rating of 116.3 despite missing five games earlier in the year because of thumb surgery. On the flip side, the Saints have quietly had the NFL's No. 1 run defense over the past two seasons but will face a formidable matchup against a healthy Dalvin Cook. -- Mike Triplett

Bold prediction: Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins will shatter the notion that he can't play well in big-time games. With his full core of offensive starters available and healthy, Cousins will have his best game of the season, passing for 300 yards and three touchdowns. But it won't be enough to outduel Brees and the NFL's highest- scoring offense (36.3 points per game since Week 10). -- Courtney Cronin

Stat to know: Using ESPN's coverage metrics powered by NFL Next Gen Stats, Brees is the only qualified quarterback since Week 11 to complete at least 70% of his passes when facing both zone and man coverage. And he's also the only QB in that time to post at least an 80 QBR against both coverage schemes.

Key matchup: Saints running back Alvin Kamara in the passing game vs. the Vikings' linebackers. With the Vikings leaning on split-safety zone schemes, New Orleans coach Sean Payton can scheme up matchups for Kamara out of the backfield. This will allow the Saints to isolate underneath zone defenders in coverage to create a one-on-ones with Kamara in space. Read more.

Betting nugget: In his career, Cousins is 0-15 outright and 1-13-1 ATS against teams that finished with at least 12 wins in a season (the Saints won 13 this year). The outright winning percentage is the worst by any quarterback in the Super Bowl era. Meanwhile, New Orleans is 11-3 ATS since Week 3, the best mark in the NFL. Read more.

Officiating nugget: Referee Carl Cheffers' regular-season crew called the league's second-most total flags for offensive holding (68), more than twice the crew with the lowest total (Bill Vinovich, 32).

Cronin's pick: Saints 33, Vikings 24 Triplett's pick: Saints 30, Vikings 23 FPI prediction: NO, 63.2% (by an average of 4.5 points) PUBLICATION: DATE: 1/5/20

Kirk Cousins’ Chance to Do Something, Like, Big? Maybe?

By Gary Gramling

1a. There’s been plenty of talk about Kirk Cousins’s performance—or lack thereof—in big games (even if Monday Night Football doesn’t qualify as a big game anymore). The volume on that criticism gets turned up in light of his contract, and it will reach a crescendo as he makes his postseason debut for the Vikings. But he has a chance to rewrite some narratives on Sunday.

We’ve seen Minnesota's offense unable to function against great pass rushes, and Cam Jordan is capable of wrecking this game singlehandedly. But with Marcus Davenport and Sheldon Rankins out there’s really no one else in the New Orleans pass rush who the Vikings shouldn’t be able to handle. Dennis Allen dials up some well-timed blitzes, but Cousins has been excellent against the blitz all year. The issues have been against teams the create pressure without the extra rusher.

It’s not easy to go into New Orleans in January, but for Cousins, it’s really not a bad matchup, especially with Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook presumably back in full and the Saints thin in the secondary. And if the stage starts to feel too big for Cousins, my advice is to just picture everybody in their underwear.

1b. If it was Michael Thomas versus the Xavier Rhodes of two years ago, it would be a monster matchup. But right now, it’s a mismatch. The fact that the Vikings probably don’t have the bodies to deal with Thomas and Alvin Kamara (and Jared Cook) is probably why the Saints roll to a comfortable victory in their own building.

1c.

* * *

2a. If you’ve ever dreamed of expanded NFL playoffs that retain bye weeks for top seeds and therefore pit 7-9 teams against each other on the first weekend, consider Eagles-Seahawks a look into the wonderful future.

We’ll start with the Seahawks, who, even before a rash of injuries, were one of the most suspect success stories of the 2019 season. On the year they ranked third in opposing kicker luck (expected points by opposing kickers based on league averages on under 50, 50-plus and PATs vs. actual points scored by opposing kickers), something almost entirely out of a team’s control. They also ranked 10th in points above expected red-zone performance, a volatile stat every year. They finished 14th in point differential (+7), and if you smooth out opponent kicker and red-zone rates, they would have finished 20th in point differential.

And that doesn’t even factor in the turnovers, oh the turnovers! Teams that have a lot of takeaways typically have either a great pass rush that forces opponents into playing too fast and making mistakes, and/or a secondary with a ballhawk or two. The Seahawks have neither of those things, yet they managed a mind-bending 32 takeaways on the season. None of it makes sense. Like a performance that only could have taken place within the Twin Peaks universe, and probably would have involved the backward-talking guy tipping off Pete Carroll, or at least giving Carroll good news about his gum.

The drying up of the takeaways has been an issue for the Seahawks of late; they didn’t force a turnover in season- ending losses to the Cardinals and 49ers. In fact, in the seven games when they didn’t have multiple takeaways (or, more appropriately, receive multiple giveaways), they went 3-4, with the victories coming against the Steelers the week Mason Rudolph came on in relief, the Cardinals, and the Bucs in overtime. They got five turnovers against the Eagles in the teams’ Week 12 meeting, and they only won 17-9.

2b. The Eagles, of course, have issues of their own, even if things look a little better after a four-game winning streak over NFC East opponents to close out the year (they went 4-6 outside the division in 2019). The issues with the receiving corps have been well-documented and they might be without Zach Ertz for a second straight week, meaning that Carson Wentz will have to stand on his head in his playoff debut if they fall behind early.

But the bigger issue might be a group of cornerbacks that have taken a collective step back this season. Tyler Lockett and DK Metcalf are a handful, and it’s not difficult to picture Russell Wilson and his receivers dunking on the quartet of Mills-Douglas-Maddox-Jones, not unlike what Ryan Fitzpatrick did in putting up 37 points on this defense in the Eagles’ last loss: Chuck it up there and trust your guy is going to get it against these Philly corners.

2c. Considering the state of their receiving corps, will the Eagles try to take advantage of a crummy Seahawks pass defense? Seattle is one of the teams that still keeps three linebackers on the field the majority of the time, but they lost one in Mychal Kendricks, meaning rookie Cody Barton slides into a prominent role (unless Quandre Diggs returns to the lineup, in which case they might resort to three safeties with Delano Hill staying on the field). Either way, you’d think there’s an opportunity for the Eagles to get the run game going against a lighter Seahawks box.

* * *

3. The Panthers should hire Eric Bieniemy and never look back. should just take the Giants job—the quarterback is in place, plus you don’t want to run a war room off the bat anyway, and if things continue to go wrong the GM is already set up as the fall guy. The Cowboys should go get —the flavoring he put in the Seattle-style Cover-3 would fit perfectly with Dallas’s defensive personnel—and keep Kellen Moore on as the offensive coordinator/de facto offensive head coach. I don't want to advocate for anyone losing his job, but the Jaguars should really reconsider this Doug Marrone thing. The Browns should hire Mike McCarthy, if not now then in 20 months when they fire the head coach and general manager they hire this time around. McCarthy molded a young Aaron Rodgers into the quarterback he became and could fix a young Baker Mayfield. Someone should give Jason Garrett a hug. But mostly, everyone should be happy that Chan Gailey is back to wreck AFC East defenses.

* * *

4. Ladies and gentlemen ...... And You Will Know Us by the Trail of Dead! PUBLICATION: NFL.com DATE: 1/5/20

Browns, Panthers to interview Kevin Stefanski for HC

By Andie Hagemann

Vikings offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski has a pair of interviews lined up.

The timing of the interviews, however, is dependent upon the result of Sunday's wild-card game against the New Orleans Saints, per Pelissero.

The Browns bringing in Stefanski for an interview is no surprise. The OC was a finalist for the Browns' head coaching gig last year until the team ultimately chose to hire Freddie Kitchens.

Stefanski returned to Minnesota where he assumed OC duties full time for the 2019 campaign. He previously served as an interim play-caller after the Vikings jettison then-OC John DeFilippo with three games remaining in the 2018 season.

In his 14th season with the Vikings, Stefanski is popular among players and has become a name to watch amongst the coaching carousel at just 37 years old. PUBLICATION: Maven Media DATE: 1/5/20

Three Reasons to Believe in the Vikings Against the Saints

By Will Ragatz

Simply put, no one thinks the Vikings will upset the Saints on Sunday afternoon.

They're 8-point underdogs, but that doesn't tell the whole story. When Mike Zimmer said earlier this week that no one was picking the Vikings, he was spot on. Of the 78 experts to make a pick for this game, only two have taken the Vikings. Many expect it to be an easy, blowout win for the Saints.

But there's still a game to be played. And in their purple on purple uniforms, the Vikings will take the field at the Superdome believing they can win it. Let's take a look at three reasons to be optimistic in the face of long odds.

1. Dalvin Cook and Adam Thielen are healthy The number one thing the Vikings have going for themselves is this: for the first time since Week 6 against the Eagles, they have a fully healthy offense. The return of Thielen coincided with Cook's second upper-body injury, so this will be their first game together in months.

Cook being available changes the game for a Vikings offense that looked horrific without him against the Packers a couple weeks ago; his big-play ability as both a runner and a receiver is crucial to the explosiveness of the offense as a whole. The Vikings are hoping he's as close to 100 percent as possible. Cook hasn't had 100 yards from scrimmage in nearly two months, and it's unlikely the Vikings win this game if he doesn't reach that mark. And don't forget about Alexander Mattison, who is also healthy for this game.

As for Thielen, I believe he's the Vikings' X-factor for this game. He hasn't done much since returning from his hamstring injury. That has to change for the Vikings to have a chance. If he can get going and Kirk Cousins can find Stefon Diggs for a couple big plays, the Vikings will be able to move the ball. Add in the running game, and Vikings have the recipe to keep up with the Saints in a high-scoring game. It'll take an incredible performance from Kirk Cousins and a creatively called game from Kevin Stefanski, but the weapons are there.

2. Mike Zimmer's history against Drew Brees In four games against the Vikings since Zimmer took over as head coach, Drew Brees has been held to just seven touchdown passes with three interceptions, and hasn't surpassed 300 passing yards in any of those games. He was picked off twice in the Minneapolis Miracle game, and was held to 120 passing yards with another INT in the 2018 regular season meeting.

I'm not suggesting Zimmer has Brees figured out, but he and defensive coordinator George Edwards should have a good plan for how to limit the Saints' future Hall of Fame quarterback. That plan will require a lot of attention towards Michael Thomas. Whether or not it succeeds is another story.

Another reason for optimism on defense: Eric Kendricks is back. The Vikings will need their lone first team All-Pro selection to play like he has all season. In Anthony Harris, Danielle Hunter, and Harrison Smith, the Vikings have no shortage of game-changing playmakers on the defensive side of the ball. Any chance 2017 Xavier Rhodes magically shows up?

3. Sports are weird I'll let the Star Tribune's Mark Craig explain:

With everyone counting the Vikings out and preparing for Saints-Packers at Lambeau Field next week, I just have a weird feeling that the Vikings might pull off the improbable. Probably not, but who knows? Sports are weird. Let's see what happens.

PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 1/5/20

Final Thoughts: Vikings Pass Defense Crucial to Combat Brees- Thomas Connection

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. – It likely goes without saying: playing complementary football will be crucial for Minnesota this weekend.

The Vikings are traveling today to New Orleans for tomorrow’s Wild Card matchup against the Saints. Kickoff is scheduled for 12:05 p.m. (CT).

But while it’s important for all phases to execute at a high level, defending against future Hall of Famer Drew Brees feels especially significant. In a poll posted earlier this week in “Filtered by the Fan,” 50 percent of the nearly 18,000 fans who weighed in believe that pass defense is the biggest key to upsetting the Saints.

Minnesota Vikings ✔ @Vikings What will be the biggest key to getting a win in New Orleans on Sunday?

25%Pass Offense 20%Rush Offense 50%Pass Defense 5%Rush Defense 18,150 votes•Final results 234 2:42 PM - Dec 31, 2019 Twitter Ads info and privacy 226 people are talking about this Brees presents a number of difficulties for opposing offenses. The 19th-year passer has incredible accuracy, topping the NFL for the 2019 regular season with a completion percentage of 74.3 percent. He also has a knack for getting the ball out quickly.

Among passing qualifiers in 2019, Brees’ time to throw averaged 2.57 seconds, which was the third-fastest in the NFL behind Andy Dalton (2.51) and Mitchell Trubisky (2.56).

Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter said it’s imperative to “have the right move” immediately in order to have a shot against Brees, but he also emphasized the importance of the front seven and secondary working together to buy more time.

“Your first move has to work because he gets rid of the ball so quickly,” Hunter said. “Basically, if our DBs do what they need to do … then he’ll be able to hold the ball a little bit longer. Let’s say he’s holding the ball a little bit longer and our first move doesn’t work, then we can go to our second move and we’ll be able to get to him.”

Vikings cornerback Xavier Rhodes also was asked about Brees’ ability to unleash throws so quickly.

“We’ve got to give guys opportunities, like Danielle [and ] to get to him. We know they’re going to eat,” Rhodes said. “Just go out there and do what they need to do to get the quarterback, sack the quarterback. Once we give them time to get to the quarterback, the sky’s the limit.”

Equipment Staff Readies Uniforms For Sunday See photos of the Vikings equipment staff readying the team's uniforms for Sunday's Wild Card showdown with the Saints.

Rhodes knows he has another tall task ahead of him, too – literally.

Saints receiver Michael Thomas measures 6-foot-3 and is known for his physicality.

“As you can see on film, he’s pretty aggressive. He’s what you call a ‘bully’ out there on the field,” Rhodes told Twin Cities media members on Thursday. He’s a great player. He runs great routes. Pushes off at the right time in his routes so the referee can’t see it or won’t see it. He’s crafty. He’s really crafty in his routes.”

Thomas has been a force to be reckoned with so far this season, leading the league in yards (1,725) and receptions (149). The next-closest is Panthers running back Christian McCaffrey, who had 116 catches during the regular season.

Vikings Defensive Coordinator George Edwards said that Thomas seems to catch “everything around him” on game day.

“You see people doubling him, you see people tripling him, and he still finds a way to get the football,” Edwards said. “His catch radius has been very strong and consistent throughout the course of the year, but we’ve got to do some things matchup-wise to work different combinations of things that they’ll try to do situationally.

“Our guys will go out and compete, and we’ll look forward to the opportunity,” Edwards added.

It remains to be seen if Rhodes will be assigned to a matchup with Thomas; regardless of the Vikings approach, keeping the ball out of his hands will be a focus.

“We know that’s their guy; everyone knows that’s their guy. He’s a great player,” Rhodes said. “They have a great offense. [We have to] go out there and play fast, play physical, eliminate the big plays, be on our Ps and Qs and stop Drew from being Drew.”

Injury Report

The Vikings on Friday ruled out Mackensie Alexander (knee) for Sunday’s game. They also announced that cornerback Mike Hughes (neck) was added to Injured Reserve.

Ifeadi Odenigbo (hamstring) is questionable.

Linebacker Eric Kendricks, who suffered a quadriceps injury in the Vikings Week 16 game against the Packers, was a full participant in Friday’s practice session and should be good to go.

DE Stephen Weatherly (illness), S Andrew Sendejo (illness), S Jayron Kearse (foot), RB Alexander Mattison (ankle), CB Xavier Rhodes (ankle), RB Dalvin Cook (shoulder) and DT Shamar Stephen (knee) did not receive statuses on Friday’s report.

The Saints ruled out FB Zach Line (knee) and CB Eli Apple (ankle).

Saints S (knee), S Marcus Williams (groin), Thomas (hand) and RB Dwayne Washington (knee) were full practice participants and did not receive a designation.

Fan Mail

Why are the Vikings pass rushers so opposed to getting their hands up when not being able to get to the quarterback? With a short quarterback like Brees, getting the hands up [will] definitely throw off his game.

– Vinny

Thanks for writing in. I think that getting the hands up could be a good approach to try to take away some of the quick passes by the Saints.

We saw in Seattle what that can do when Armon Watts knocked a pass by Russell Wilson, who then accidentally batted it right to Anthony Harris for the pick-six.

I’ve kind of been amazed generally at how skilled Brees and Wilson are at finding windows to get the passes over and around the trees up front.

Hands are so critical in winning against an offensive lineman on a pass rush that rushers can’t do the hand-fighting and get their arms up, but if they realize they’re not going to get home to a QB in time, then hands up could be the next-best thing.

Quotable

“It starts up front on both sides of the ball. The offensive line and defensive line, we have to dominate on the front end. Push the pocket on Brees and get around his feet and do the things we know can affect him. Stop the running game. Just make things happen, but we have to do it for 60 minutes.”

– Vikings DE Everson Griffen on keys to success against Saints

Stat of the Week

It’s no secret that teams want to start fast and get an early edge on their opponent.

But it’s also interesting to look at the numbers and Minnesota’s success rate then the team does just that. The Vikings went 7-2 this season when scoring first; when the opponent has scored first , the Vikings have gone 3-4.

In the 2019 regular season, the Vikings ranked 10th in the NFL with 88 points scored in the first quarter; the Saints were tied for eighth with 89.

Additionally, Minnesota is 8-2 when leading at the half and 9-0 when entering the fourth quarter. In games where the Vikings were behind after the third quarter, they are just 1-6.

Vikings Roster in Photos View photos of the Vikings 53-man roster for the 2019 season.

Broadcast Info

TV BROADCAST

Nationwide: FOX (KMSP FOX 9 in the Twin Cities)

Play-by-Play: Joe Buck

Analyst: Troy Aikman

Sideline Reporter: Erin Andrews & Chris Myers

LOCAL RADIO

KFAN (100.3-FM/KTLK 1130-AM in Minneapolis/St. Paul)

Play-by-Play: Paul Allen

Analyst: Pete Bercich

Sideline Reporters: Greg Coleman & Ben Leber

Radio Pre-game Show: Mike Mussman | 10 a.m. (CT)

KFAN and KTLK serve as the flagship stations for the five-state Vikings Radio Network.

NATIONAL RADIO

Westwood One

Play-by-Play: Kevin Kugler

Analyst: Jason Taylor

Sideline Reporter: Scott Kaplan

SATELLITE RADIO

Sirius: MIN 226; NO 225

XM: MIN 226; NO 225

ADDITIONAL OPTIONS

Click here for the full bevy of options that include over-the-air, cable, satellite, over-the-top and streaming methods. PUBLICATION: Vikings Entertainment Network DATE: 1/5/20

Vikings Offensive Rookies Come Full Circle from Preseason to Playoffs

By Craig Peters

EAGAN, Minn. — The first NFL season for Vikings rookies has come full circle, much like the roof of the Mercedes- Benz Superdome.

Minnesota will have the distinction of starting the 2019 preseason and ensuing postseason in New Orleans.

Side note: This is the third time in Minnesota’s 30 total postseason appearances that the Vikings have opened on the road in the same venue where they started a preseason. The other two were 1977 (against the Rams in Los Angeles) and 1987 (against the Saints in New Orleans).

While there is some commonality between the underdog status of the 1987 Vikings and 2019 Vikings, we’ll focus on the newbies.

Equipment Staff Readies Uniforms For Sunday See photos of the Vikings equipment staff readying the team's uniforms for Sunday's Wild Card showdown with the Saints.

Center Garrett Bradbury, tight end Irv Smith, Jr., and running back Alexander Mattison each started the preseason opener, and receiver Bisi Johnson also logged significant snaps.

Mattison scored the Vikings first touchdown of the preseason, handling a 1-yard pass from Kirk Cousins, and Johnson reeled in the second score, gathering an 18-yard pass from Sean Mannion.

Smith finished with three catches 21 yards, which was fitting since it was the New Orleans native’s 21st birthday. He also made an off-the-field impact on Offensive Coordinator Kevin Stefanski that evening.

Asked how the four rookies that logged the most time on offense this season have developed since the preseason opener, Stefanski started with Smith’s attire.

irv-smith-3-2560 “That was Irv’s (Smith Jr.) birthday, I think,” Stefanski said. “Did he turn 21? I remember Irv’s outfit from the game, pregame, was kind of wild.

“We have some really conscientious young players,” Stefanski pivoted. “They’re smart and they’re tough, which I think fits the mold of what this team is all about. That does seem like ages ago, but each one of those guys has come so far, and it’s a credit to them and it’s a credit to their position coaches.”

Bradbury became the first Vikings rookie to start all 16 games of a season at center, Smith set a franchise record for a rookie tight end with 36 receptions, Mattison rushed 100 times for 462 yards and a score, and Johnson caught 31 passes for 294 yards and three scores.

Smith said he’s tried to have the mindset of not being a rookie after the first game, embodying an approach proposed by Stefanski. Smith knows the significance of a postseason berth because his father, who was drafted by the Saints in 1993, only got to play in one postseason game (with San Francisco at the end of the 1998 season).

“It really is crazy. Talking to my dad, he didn’t make it to the playoffs until his sixth year,” Smith said. “For me, as a rookie, coming in my first year and making it to the playoffs, it’s amazing. I’m excited. It’s going to be a lot of fun.”

Mattison also is aware of the unique opportunity.

“It’s not something that happens often. I’m blessed to be in a position where I’m surrounded by a great group of guys and an amazing team,” Mattison said. “We have a chance to do something special, so I’m looking forward to the opportunity.”