DAILY CLIPS

TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 13, 2018 LOCAL NEWS: Tuesday, November 13, 2018

Pioneer Press

Newest Viking Ameer Abdullah willing to do ‘anything’ to help By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/12/vikings-rb-ameer-abdullah-willing-to-do-anything-to-help-new-team/

Up next for Vikings: biggest game vs. Bears, and on prime-time TV, too By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/11/12/vikings-use-bye-week-for-extra-preparation-heading-into-big-game- at-chicago/

Star Tribune

Newly acquired Ameer Abdullah looking for a fresh start with the Vikings By Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/newly-acquired-ameer-abdullah-looking-for-a-fresh-start-with-the- vikings/500332051/

Vikings.com

Ameer Abdullah Excited to Join Great Culture, Team and Atmosphere of Vikings By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/ameer-abdullah-excited-to-join-great-culture-team-and-atmosphere-of- vikings

Early Look: Vikings at Bears By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/early-look-vikings-at-bears

Lunchbreak: A Look at NFC North Picture After Vikings Bye By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-a-look-at-nfc-north-picture-after-vikings-bye

Vikings Hall of Fame DT Alan Page to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-hall-of-fame-dt-alan-page-to-receive-presidential-medal-of-freedom

Vikings Connect with Soldiers at Camp Ripley By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-connect-with-soldiers-at-camp-ripley

Monday Morning Mailbag: Areas of Improvement Post-Bye, Murray-Cook Combo Moving Forward, Keys to Beating The Bears By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/monday-morning-mailbag-areas-of-improvement-post-bye-murray-cook- combo-moving-fo

VIKING Update

Bailey discusses kicking factors, expectations By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Vikings-need-Latavius-Murray-Dalvin-Cook-sharp-with- blitz-pickup-vs-Khalil-Mack-124648550/

Kerryon Johnson brings new legitimacy to Lions run game By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Bailey-discusses-kicking-factors-expectations- 124628002

From Lions to Vikings, Abdullah knows ‘amazingly unpredictable’ By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Ameer-Abdullah-embraces-amazingly-unpredictable- NFL-life-124643840/

1500 ESPN

Should be more aggressive? By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/11/kirk-cousins-aggressive/

Where will Ameer Abdullah fit in the Vikings’ backfield? By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/11/will-ameer-abdullah-fit-vikings-backfield/

Vikings have a path to the playoffs, but tough schedule will test their strength By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/11/vikings-path-playoffs-tough-schedule-will-test-strength/

NATIONAL NEWS: Tuesday, November 13, 2018

ESPN

Joining Vikings 'like new beginning' for former Lions RB Ameer Abdullah By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/27651/joining-vikings-like-new-beginning-for- former-lions-rb-ameer-abdullah

USA Today

With Cook back, Vikings ready to run as weather turns cold By AP https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/2018/11/12/with-cook-back-vikings-ready-to-run-as-weather- turns-cold/38490295/

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 11/13/18

Newest Viking Ameer Abdullah willing to do ‘anything’ to help

By Chris Tomasson

When running back Ameer Abdullah arrived at the Vikings’ TCO Performance Center on Monday, there was a surprise waiting for him.

After 3 1/2 seasons with Detroit, Abdullah was claimed off waivers last Wednesday by the Vikings during their bye week. He was given a locker next to tackle Riley Reiff, who helped pave the way for Abdullah during his first two NFL seasons.

“I didn’t expect it,” Abdullah said after Monday’s first practice with his new team. “Obviously, I played with (Reiff) in Detroit, ran behind him for a couple years, and now my locker’s right next to him. He expressed how happy he was to have me on the team, and I’m excited to be here.”

The 5-foot-9, 203-pound Abdullah rushed for 597 yards as a rookie in 2015, missed most of 2016 because of injury and rushed for 552 yards in 2017. However, he had just one carry for one yard in three games with the Lions this season after losing his starting job to rookie and playing behind newcomer LeGarrette Blount.

It’s uncertain how Abdullah will fit in on the Vikings, who have a pair of solid backs in and Latavius Murray and also have intriguing rookie Mike Boone.

“I’m coming in with no expectations,” Abdullah said. “You’ve got to come in and work and you’ve got to live in whatever day you live in. I’m not living for Sunday, I’m living for Tuesday and Wednesday and every day so far.”

Reiff isn’t the only friendly face in the Vikings’ locker room. Abdullah has relationships with Vikings linebackers Anthony Barr and . He trained with both in California during the past offseason.

Abdullah was inactive for Detroit’s 24-9 loss to the Vikings on Nov. 4 at U.S. Bank Stadium. He was waived two days later before being claimed by Minnesota.

“Life is amazing, unpredictable,” he said. “I try not to get surprised by anything because that’s what life is.”

Abdullah said he always will hold the Lions “in my heart” because they drafted him in the second round in 2015 out of Nebraska.

Abdullah has impressed the Vikings on several occasions. He had eight carries for 43 yards against them in 2015 and a career-high 94 yards on 20 attempts in Detroit’s 14-7 win last season at U.S. Bank Stadium.

“He’s an elusive back,” said Vikings defensive end . “I like what he brings to the table. He goes out there and shows agile moves and he bursts through the line of scrimmage.”

Abdullah is eager to help his new team in any way possible. He’s willing to play special teams, an area in which he was solid as a rookie.

“I’m ready to learn, and anything the Vikings ask me to do, I’m willing to just because I so appreciate the opportunity,” Abdullah said. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 11/13/18

Up next for Vikings: biggest game vs. Bears, and on prime-time TV, too

By Chris Tomasson

The Vikings are coming off a bye week, but it wasn’t exactly a vacation. They spent lots of time watching film on the Chicago Bears.

The Vikings play at Soldier Field on Sunday night in what is shaping up to be their biggest game of the season. First place is on the line in the NFC North, and the game has been moved from the afternoon to accommodate a prime-time audience on NBC.

“With the bye week, you just can spend more time on the game plan and watching film, so you just have more confidence going into it with the extra time,” center Pat Eflein said Monday.

They’ll need it against a strong Bears defense anchored by star linebacker Khalil Mack. Chicago acquired Mack from Oakland just before the start of the season and has been a key reason for the team’s turnaround.

The Bears (6-3) already have exceeded their 2017 win total, when they were 5-11. In the NFC North, they have had a half-game lead over the Vikings (5-3-1), with Green Bay (4-4-1) 1 1/2 games back.

“It definitely helps when you have a pass rusher like that who can disrupt plays like he can,” Elflein said of Chicago’s resurgence. “He’s a very explosive player. He’s got a lot of moves in his tool box, so you’ve got to be ready for everything against him.”

Also vital to the Bears’ turnaround has been second-year quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who has thrown for 2,304 yards and 19 . Trubisky has made major strides since his first NFL start last season, when the Vikings won 20-17 in Week 5 at Soldier Field on .

“The quarterback has found himself,” Vikings defensive end Danielle Hunter said. “He does what he needs to do to help his team make points. We see that he makes a lot of plays with his legs, and that’s a big factor.”

The Vikings have won four of their past five games, and the Bears have won three straight. That makes this a big game.

“They’re really clicking on all cylinders,” said Vikings Xavier Rhodes. “It’s one of those games to see who is going to take the lead in the division. We need to keep winning and win our division, and it’s one of the games that’s going to help us do that.”

Hunter called the game a “big deal.” He said the move from a noon start to 7:20 p.m. on Sunday Night Football adds to it.

“We’re all excited about it,” Hunter said. “To be able to go out there and have family see you, friends, people back home, people all over the world, we like to go out and perform in front of people. … We know what’s at stake.”

The Vikings played without four starters in their last game, a 24-9 win Nov. 4 against Detroit, so the bye week came at a good time. Strong candidates to return Sunday are receiver Stefon Diggs (rib), linebacker Anthony Barr (hamstring), who has missed two straight games, and safety Andrew Sendejo (groin), who has sat out four in a row.

Left guard Tom Compton, who played last season for Chicago, has missed the past two games with a sprained right MCL in his knee. His status for Sunday remains uncertain.

“We’ll see how the week goes,” Compton said. “I’ve just got to do what I can and hopefully be back. There’s always a chance, but I’ve got to take it day by day and see what (Vikings coach Mike Zimmer) wants to do.”

Rhodes, who sat out Oct. 28 against New Orleans and got limited snaps against the Lions because of a foot injury, said the bye week helped and he’s “feeling a little better.” The week came in handy for another reason.

“Pretty much (watched) a good amount of film to get me going,” he said. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 11/13/18

Newly acquired Ameer Abdullah looking for a fresh start with the Vikings

By Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer

Four days after they added Ameer Abdullah to their roster, the Vikings returned from their bye week and practiced for the first time Monday. The former Lions running back adds depth to their backfield while providing the former second-round pick with a fresh start.

Abdullah, whom the Vikings claimed off waivers Nov. 8, comes to the Vikings hoping to reboot his career. He ran for 552 yards a year ago, starting a career-high 11 games and scoring five touchdowns, but became expendable when the Lions used a second-round pick on Kerryon Johnson last spring.

“Life is amazingly unpredictable,” Abdullah said. “It’s a great team, great culture, great atmosphere to be joining. Ironically, it’s in the same division. Everything happens for a reason, so I’m really excited to be here in Minnesota.”

Abdullah, who said he trained with Vikings linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks in the offseason, figures to start by helping to fill the No. 3 running back role after Roc Thomas’ hamstring injury led to his being moved to the practice squad. The Vikings still have Mike Boone on the active roster, and should have a fully healthy Dalvin Cook to pair with Latavius Murray heading into Sunday night’s game in Chicago.

“I’m coming in with no expectations,” Abdullah said. “You’ve got to live in whatever day you’re in.”

New year, new offense

Athleticism is one aspect of second-year Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky’s game that stands out to Vikings safety Harrison Smith. But Trubisky has another weapon in his arsenal that has helped him improve: the Bears’ scheme under first-year coach Matt Nagy, who learned from Andy Reid in Kansas City.

In two losses against the Vikings last season as a rookie, Trubisky completed just 32 of 61 passes (.525) for 306 yards, one , one interception and a lost fumble. On Sunday night, the Vikings are expecting a better-designed Bears attack, one that has averaged 29.9 points per game this season.

“They’re doing a lot of cool things,” Smith said. “Some things that are going around the league, too. Offenses are very explosive this year; creative stuff, getting the ball into their playmakers’ hands.”

Trubisky threw for 355 yards and three touchdowns against Detroit on Sunday.

Morgan may be out

The Vikings offense could be without one of its best blockers Sunday night in tight end David Morgan, who suffered a knee injury against the Lions.

Morgan declined comment Monday. Rookie tight end , who has played 73 snaps on offense (12 percent of the Vikings’ total), likely would see a larger role should Morgan be held out.

The Bears’ defensive front, featuring end Khalil Mack and linebacker Roquan Smith, is considered one of the NFL’s best. Chicago ranks in the top five in points and yardage allowed, specializing in a run defense that surrenders just 3.6 yards per carry.

A poor history

A victory Sunday would give the Vikings back-to-back wins at Soldier Field for the first time since 1999-2000. The Vikings are 3-14 in Chicago during that stretch, including last year’s 20-17 Monday night win.

The Vikings are 2-2 out of the bye week under coach Mike Zimmer.

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 11/13/18

Ameer Abdullah Excited to Join Great Culture, Team and Atmosphere of Vikings

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — Ameer Abdullah still resides in the NFC North, but he’s on a new team for the stretch run of the 2018 season.

Minnesota added the former Lions running back to its roster on Wednesday, shortly before the Vikings had a few days off to rest up during the bye week.

When the team returned to work Monday, Abdullah was the new guy on the team, although he had stood on the sideline at U.S. Bank Stadium eight days earlier as a member of a division rival.

Abdullah expressed his excitement about now being on the 5-3-1 Vikings, a team that is in the hunt for both a division title and a playoff berth.

“Man, life is amazingly unpredictable. I’m excited to be here. It’s a great team, great culture, great atmosphere to be joining,” Abdullah said. “Ironically, it’s in the same division, so everything happens for a reason, and I’m really excited to be here in Minnesota.

“I’m happy to have already built relationships with a lot of guys here. They welcomed me in with a warm welcome and have helped with everything — learning when we need to be here or go there, to different lifts and stuff I haven’t done before,” Abdullah later added. “I really appreciate it, because you never know how it’s going to be changing midseason, especially to a division rival team. It’s everything I would have hoped for.”

Abdullah was a second-round selection by the Lions, who tabbed him with the 54th overall pick in the 2015 NFL Draft. He has 327 career carries for 1,251 yards [3.8 yards per carry] with six rushing touchdowns. Abdullah is also an option out of the backfield with 57 career catches for 420 yards and three scores.

He has joined a running backs room that features Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook along with Mike Boone and fullback C.J. Ham.

Abdullah has also excelled on special teams with 49 career kickoff returns for 1,363 yards, an average of 27.8 yards per return. He has a career-long of 104 yards on a kickoff return against Green Bay in 2015 but was tackled at the 1-yard line.

Abdullah, who led the league in kickoff returns (37) and kickoff return yardage (1,077) in 2015, said he’d be open to any role with the Vikings going forward.

“I sure hope so,” Abdullah said about potentially returning kickoffs. “I’m sure we’ll get more into the nooks and crannies of things as the week progresses, but right now I’m just trying to figure out how I can get into the gate with the code to the door so I won’t be locked out in the cold.

“I’m entering a backfield with a lot of talent [with] Dalvin and Latavius and all of the guys who have been here. Just to come in today and see these guys welcome me the way they have, it’s been amazing,” Abdullah also added. “It does a lot for my confidence and a lot for my focus. I’m ready to work. Anything the Vikings ask me to do, I’m willing to do just because I’m so appreciative of the opportunity.”

Abdullah saw a familiar face right away with the Vikings as his locker is next to left tackle Riley Reiff, who played with Abdullah in Detroit in 2015 and 2016.

“Man, right next to him. I didn’t expect that,” Abdullah said. “Obviously Riley Reiff, I played with him in Detroit and ran behind him for a couple years and now my locker is right next to him. He expressed how happy he was to have me on the team.”

The 25-year-old also noted that he trained with Vikings linebackers Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks in California this offseason.

The Vikings know Abdullah well, as he has played four career games against Minnesota, including home-and-away games in both 2015 and 2017.

He has 40 career carries for 160 yards and a touchdown against Minnesota. Abdullah also has six career kickoff returns for 163 yards (27.2 per attempt) against the Vikings.

Abdullah, who said he was “blown away” by the facilities at Twin Cities Orthopedics Performance Center, said he spent the weekend focusing on the transition to Minnesota.

Now that the week has begun, however, Abdullah said he’s ready to help the Vikings contend for an NFC North title starting with a Week 11 showdown against the Bears in Chicago on Sunday Night Football.

“I’m coming in with no expectations [for playing time],” Abdullah said. “You’ve got to come in and work.” PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 11/13/18

Early Look: Vikings at Bears

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings are fresh off the bye and ready for a first-place showdown in the Windy City.

Minnesota sits at 5-3-1 overall and 1-0-1 in division play as the Vikings currently reside in second place in the NFC North.

The Vikings most-recent win was a 24-9 victory over the Lions in Week 9 in which the defense had 10 sacks.

Chicago is 6-3 after getting a 34-22 victory over Detroit on Sunday at home. The Bears are 1-1 in the division.

Here’s a look at Minnesota’s Week 11 road game at Chicago, which has been flexed to NBC’s Sunday Night Football:

Passing: Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins has excelled in his first season in Purple. He has completed 259 of 363 passes (71.3 percent) for 2,685 yards with 17 touchdowns and five interceptions.

Cousins, who is seventh in the NFL in passing yards, also has a career-high quarterback rating of 102.2.

Bears quarterback Mitchell Trubisky completed 23 of 30 passes for a career-best 355 yards and three touchdowns against the Lions and recorded his first NFC North victory.

Trubisky, who was the second overall pick of the 2017 NFL Draft, has thrown for 2,304 yards with 19 touchdowns and seven interceptions in 2018.

The quarterback has surpassed his passing yardage from 2017, when he started 12 games.

Rushing: The Vikings seem to be trending in the right direction on the ground.

Minnesota ranks 28th in the NFL at 91.7 yards per game (825 total rushing yards) and is tied for 15th with six rushing touchdowns.

Latavius Murray leads the Vikings with 92 carries for 417 yards and five touchdowns. Dalvin Cook, who has played in just four games, has 46 carries for 187 yards.

The Vikings ran for just 252 total yards (63 yards per game) in the first four games of the season, but have run for an average of 114.6 yards per game over the past five weeks.

Chicago ranks 12th in the league with an average of 120.1 rushing yards per game, although the Bears had just 54 yards on 22 carries on Sunday.

Running back Jordan Howard leads Chicago with 460 yards and five touchdowns. Trubisky has 320 rushing yards and three touchdowns. Tarik Cohen has 244 rushing yards and a pair of scores.

Receiving: opened the season with eight straight 100-yard games and is on pace for one of the top receiving seasons in franchise history.

Thielen is tied with Saints wide receiver Michael Thomas for the league lead with 78 catches and is third with 947 yards. His seven receiving touchdowns are tied for the third-most in the league.

Stefon Diggs, who missed the Week 9 game against the Lions, has 58 receptions for 587 yards and four scores. Kyle Rudolph has 34 catches for 349 yards and a pair of touchdowns.

Laquon Treadwell has 27 catches for 253 yards and a touchdown, while Aldrick Robinson has had a nose for the end zone with three touchdowns on just seven catches for 115 yards.

Bears wide receiver Allen Robinson, an offseason free-agent acquisition, had six catches for 133 yards and two touchdowns on Sunday, and rookie Anthony Miller had five receptions for 122 yards and a score.

Cohen and Taylor Gabriel lead the Bears with 37 receptions apiece. Cohen has a team-high 435 yards and Gabriel has 426 yards.

Tight end Trey Burton has 33 receptions for 411 yards and has a team-high five receiving scores. Robinson [418 yards] and Miller [332 yards] each have four touchdowns this season.

Chicago has four players with three or more touchdowns catches so far in 2018.

Defense: Minnesota once again has one of the league’s meanest defenses, even in a season where the unit has had some ups and downs.

Minnesota ranks fifth in yards allowed per game (322.2) and is 11th in points allowed per game (22.7). The defense had a shaky start but has rebounded well to help the Vikings win four of five games.

Defensive end Danielle Hunter ranks second in the NFL with 11.5 sacks, which is one off of his career high. Safety Harrison Smith leads the Vikings with three interceptions.

The Vikings defense could have benefitted the most from the bye week as linebacker Anthony Barr, safety Andrew Sendejo and cornerback Xavier Rhodes were all banged up prior to the break.

Chicago’s defense ranks fourth in yards allowed per game (319.6) and is tied for fourth in points allowed per game (19.4).

Cornerback Kyle Fuller leads the Bears with four interceptions, and pass rusher Khalil Mack has a team-high 7.0 sacks.

The Bears are tied for the league lead with four defensive touchdowns.

Special Teams: Vikings kicker Dan Bailey has made 12 of 15 field goals with Minnesota on the season. Punter Matt Wile averages 44.5 yards per punt and has a long of 70 so far this season.

Marcus Sherels is averaging nine yards per punt return, and Holton Hill has averaged 28.3 yards per kickoff return.

Bears kicker Cody Parkey is 13 of 18 on field goals this season. Punter Pat O’Donnell averages 44.9 yards per punt.

Chicago has allowed a kickoff return for a score in 2018, while the Vikings have given up a blocked punt for a touchdown this season.

Over The Years

The Vikings are 60-52-2 all-time against the Bears, which includes a loss by Minnesota in the franchise’s only postseason meeting.

Minnesota has had the upper hand of late, winning six of the past seven total matchups, including two of the past three at Soldier Field. The Vikings swept the season series in 2015 and 2017 en route to winning the NFC North each season.

Each team has a six-game winning streak in the history of the series, something Chicago has done twice and the Vikings once.

The lone playoff meeting between the Vikings and Bears was in January of 1995.

Last meeting: Vikings 23, Bears 10, Dec. 31, 2017, in Minneapolis

The Vikings closed out one of the most successful seasons in franchise history with a win over a division rival.

Murray ran for a pair of 1-yard touchdowns in the first 20 minutes to give the Vikings an early cushion.

The Bears then ran a trick play on a punt return that went for a 59-yard score, but the Vikings recorded a safety when Trubisky was called for intentional grounding in the end zone late in the second quarter.

Diggs had a 15-yard touchdown catch late in the third quarter before Chicago capped the scoring with a 55-yard field goal in the fourth quarter.

Minnesota’s defensive performance marked the sixth time the Vikings had allowed 10 or fewer points in the 2017 season. Minnesota ended the year allowing 15.8 points per game, the lowest average in the NFL last season.

The Vikings also finished with the fewest yards allowed per game (275.9) after giving up just 201 total yards to Chicago’s offense.

The double-digit victory gave Minnesota a 13-3 record and a first-round bye in the playoffs as the No. 2 seed in the NFC. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 11/13/18

Lunchbreak: A Look at NFC North Picture After Vikings Bye

By Lindsey Young

While the Vikings enjoyed a bye week to rest and recharge, their NFC North rivals all played on Sunday.

As a reminder, Minnesota sits at 5-3-1 entering Week 11, which is good enough for second in the division.

The Vikings will travel to Chicago to face the Bears (6-3), who sit atop the NFC North after notching a third consecutive win. The Bears defeated the Lions 34-22 on Sunday, dropping Detroit to 3-6 on the season.

ESPN’s Jeff Dickerson delved into the Bears current situation. He highlighted quarterback Mitchell Trubisky, who shined in Sunday’s victory. The second-year passer recorded 355 passing yards with three touchdowns and zero interceptions. Trubisky, who added a rushing score of his own, logged a quarterback rating of 95.7 in his first career win over a divisional opponent. Dickerson wrote:

Trubisky has endured periodic lapses in accuracy during the season, but he was dialed-in from the opening drive. Even when forced to throw off schedule, Trubisky's passes found the mark, including balls to wide receivers Allen Robinson (six catches for 133 yards and two TDs in his first game back from injury) and rookie Anthony Miller (five catches for 122 yards and a touchdown).

[…]

Now it’s up to Trubisky to routinely perform at this level.

An NFC North title depends on it.

Dickerson compared the Bears and Vikings remaining schedules and said Chicago is in “prime position” to pull ahead in the division but that a lot will rest on Trubisky’s outings from here on out.

Dickerson said the “division will likely come down to the Bears and Vikings.”

The two teams will have their first matchup of the season this weekend on Sunday Night Football. They will meet again for the regular-season finale, when the Vikings host the Bears on Dec. 30.

Rounding out the division, the Packers are in third place at 4-4 after defeating the Dolphins 31-12 Sunday afternoon. Next up for Green Bay is this week’s Thursday Night Football contest at Seattle. The Vikings will play the Seahawks on Monday Night Football on Dec. 10.

Vikings Honor Salute To Service The Vikings honored Salute to Service during Sunday's game against the Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. In a recent panel of 10 football writers for the , Vikings safety Harrison Smith was voted the NFL’s top player at his position, which should bode well for his consideration as an All-Pro for the second consecutive season.

The AP’s Dennis Waszak, Jr., wrote about the recognition and quoted Minneapolis-based _AP_ writer Dave Campbell, who said the following:

“The independent analysts at Pro Football Focus rated Smith’s performance in 2017 the highest by any player at any position in the league. This year, the three-time Pro Bowl pick has three interceptions and three sacks in nine games. No player in the NFL hit both of those marks over the entire 2017 season.

“With Earl Thomas out for the year, it’s easy to see Smith as the top safety in the league.”

Waszak wrote:

The AP voters overwhelmingly agreed. Smith received 97 points in a 10-points-to-one-point system, garnering eight of 10 first-place votes. He finished second on one ballot and third on the other to easily outdistance the New York Giants Landon Collins, who had 69 points.

Waszak also included a quote from New York-based writer Barry Wilner, who said that Smith is “probably Minnesota’s most valuable defensive player.”

Smith finished second in last year’s voting, with Thomas winning. The injured Seahawks star, who’s out for the season with a broken left leg, had 59 points — and received one first-place vote, from Bay Area-based Josh Dubow — to finish third this year.

[…]

There were 28 players who received at least one vote, but Smith and Collins were the only safeties to appear on all 10 ballots.

Uptick on defense has made all the difference for Vikings

The Vikings have seen a number of improvements on defense over the past five weeks.

In that span, during which Minnesota has won four of its past five contests, John Shipley of the Pioneer Press said that the Vikings defensive performance has made all the difference. Shipley wrote:

But the Vikings offense has been more than adequate, averaging 24.6 points a game with the NFL’s sixth-best passing game (374.3 yards a game) behind new quarterback Kirk Cousins. The difference the past five games has been most apparent on defense, and the biggest reason might be schematic adjustments.

[…]

In their first four games, the Vikings gave up nine plays of 35 yards or more; in the five games since, four — and the Lions never gained more than 18 yards (twice) on any play from scrimmage.

Shipley referenced Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer, who told media members recently that he and the coaching staff go “back through the season and look at plays that hurt us and kind of see if there’s a pattern going on.”

Shipley pointed out that the Rams in Week 4 posted plays of 31, 36, 47, 56 and 70 yards, but in the games since, the Vikings have given up just four plays of 35-plus yards – and none as long as 50. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 11/13/18

Vikings Hall of Fame DT Alan Page to Receive Presidential Medal of Freedom

By Lindsey Young

Justice Alan Page has quite the list of honors to his name.

The former Vikings defensive tackle is in the Pro Football Hall of Fame as well as the Hall of Fame. Page was the first African-American judge to serve on Minnesota’s Supreme Court. In 2017, a Minneapolis school changed its name to Justice Page Middle School after a student-led campaign.

Now, Page has been named one of seven Presidential Medal of Freedom recipients.

The White House announced Saturday that President Donald Trump will bestow the United States’ top civilian honor in a ceremony on Nov. 16.

In addition to Page, other figures to be recognized are Hall of Fame pitcher Babe Ruth, Hall of Fame quarterback Roger Staubach, Sen. Orrin G. Hatch, Miriam Adelson, rock-and-roll legend Elvis Presley and late Supreme Court Associate Justice Antonin Scalia, who passed away in 2016.

According to Emily Cochrane of the New York Times, the practice was established in 1963 by President John F. Kennedy, who “sought to broaden the Medal of Freedom to include the arts or athletic and academic accomplishments and to allow only the president to confer it.”

Page, who played for the Vikings from 1967-78 and was part of the feared “Purple People Eaters,” accepted the award in true Page fashion, deflecting the honor from himself and instead crediting many others for their roles in his accomplishments, including his late wife, Diane Sims Page, who passed away Sept. 29.

The following are excerpts of Page’s letter on the Page Education Foundation website:

It is an honor to have been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. But as I have said on a number of occasions in the past, I’m never quite sure that I am worthy of such recognition.

When I look at the list of the Medal’s previous recipients, I ask myself, how did my name come to be included with icons of the civil rights movement like Rosa Parks or people like Dr. Robert Coles who spent his life documenting the effects of poverty on children? I conclude the honor is not really about me.

It is about the things that Diane and I have believed in and fought for during our lives. It is about creating educational opportunity for all children. It is about trying to create equal justice under law, a promise that we, as a nation have not always kept.

It is about trying to be people of good character: being honest, telling the truth, saying what we mean and meaning what we say, treating others with respect and respecting ourselves all while trying to figure out the difference between right and wrong and then doing what is right.

It is about understanding that truth and honesty are inextricably intertwined with trust and that without trust we, as a people, have nothing.

It is about trying to fight invidious discrimination in all of its forms and treating people fairly, without regard to their immutable characteristics. It is about creating hope and opportunity for a better tomorrow for everyone.

It is also about leading an intentional life.

Page went on to credit “those known and unknown, on whose shoulders I have been allowed to stand.”

“That includes those who came to this country in the belly of slave ships,” Page wrote, “some of whom were my ancestors and whose labor was used to make the bricks used to construct the original White House.”

Page thanked his parents and family members as well as significant civil rights activists who helped pave the way before him, as well as former Vikings teammates Jim Marshall, Carl Eller, Gary Larsen, Paul Dickson, former Vikings and Bears General Manager Jim Finks and former Executive Director of the NFLPA Ed Garvey “and a host of others from my football life who made it possible for me to achieve in the athletic arena.”

And it includes the organization, which has generously supported the Page Education Foundation from its inception.

It includes more than 7,000 Page Scholars whose service is creating hope and changing the future and who are my heroes, as well as the children of Justice Page Middle School who give me hope for the future.

Most important, it includes Diane Sims Page, the love of my life and life partner, a woman whose quest for racial, gender, and social justice knew no bounds and who encouraged, lifted, and allowed me to become more than I might otherwise have been. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 11/13/18

Vikings Connect with Soldiers at Camp Ripley

By Eric Smith

LITTLE FALLS, Minn. — and were in awe at the teamwork in action at Camp Ripley during a staged mission that required a mix of vision, brains and brawn.

The Vikings defensive linemen listened in as the eyes of the operation, soldiers on the ground a few miles away, tracked a mock target. They then relayed the information to the brains, a group of soldiers in a tent labeled the Fire Direction Center, who analyzed where to launch a projectile based on distance, weather patterns and the weight and temperature of the round.

All of that data was then radioed to the muscle of the unit, a handful of soldiers who prepped and launched the projectile from an M777 Howitzer, a long-distance weapon that can hit a target more than 10 miles away.

It was just another day of training for the 151st Field Artillery Battalion, which is part of the Minnesota Army National Guard.

“The closest thing it could come to is when you have been practicing all week,” Weatherly explained in football terms. “You know this team runs this one particular play, and your coach installs one play where you get a chance to stop it and you have been practicing all week and you get the interception in practice.

“Then that play comes in the game, and you are like ‘Oh it is about to go down,’ and then they run it,” Weatherly added. “You get it right in the lane, and you catch an interception … that’s the closest thing to it.”

Added Holmes: “You had to trust in the next person that they were going to do their job. Everybody had to do their assignment to the best of their abilities. You’ve got five people in different places to make sure everything goes to perfection.”

Weatherly and Holmes spent a day in mid-July with the unit at Camp Ripley, a 53,000-acre training facility for the Minnesota Army National Guard that is located roughly 100 miles northwest of Minneapolis.

The trip was organized by the United Heroes League, an organization that helps military children stay healthy and active in sports while their parents are deployed. Shane Hudella, the president and founder of United Heroes League, created the organization in 2008.

In addition to Weatherly and Holmes, other athletes such as former Twins star and 2006 American League MVP Justin Morneau, former Gophers hockey player Erik Westrum and Hunter Miska, a Minnesota native who is currently a goalie in the Arizona Coyotes organization, participated.

The day started at the Minneapolis-St. Paul International Airport, where the group hopped on a quick flight to Camp Ripley. The chartered plane was provided free of charge by Best Jets International.

Weatherly, Holmes, Hudella and others in the group met with Charles Hollenback, the battery commander and rank captain for the 151st battalion, for a debriefing of the day’s events.

They then trudged out into the rain and wind for an in-depth look at the training regimen by the men and women who are headquartered in Montevideo, Minnesota.

The group met each facet of the unit — the eyes, brains and brawn — getting up-close interactions with each group.

While the first stop included observing maps and computers inside the Fire Direction Center, the highlight occurred in the field when Weatherly and Holmes were each able to pull the mechanism that fires the M777 Howitzer.

Weatherly described the rush of the tactical team getting the information on where to launch the projectile and firing it off less than a minute later, as well as actually being the one to trigger the weapon.

“Just crazy, being able to do that. To have all that power come out as soon as you pulled it, [it’s] nothing like going shooting at a range or something like that,” Weatherly said. “Just seeing all of the different steps, you start it in the tent, when they process all the information to make sure it lands in the right spot.

“And going out and seeing the guys actually grab the ammunition, make sure it is verified, throw it in there, with the gun powder, with the charge, close it, and then wait for the field captain to say ‘fire,’ ” Weatherly added. “From the time they get the call to the time the gun goes off, it’s 45 seconds, so everyone is working smooth, fast and in a hurry. That was crazy. They let me pull it, and I was like, ‘I’ve got to try it at least once.’ I was glad I was able to have that opportunity.”

The visiting group then spent time with the soldiers who are normally in close proximity to the enemy. The soldiers relay critical information so the other groups can determine when and where to fire the projectile.

Hollenback said his unit was in the middle of a vigorous eight-day training exercise and appreciated the interactions.

“It provides my guys with a much-needed break and takes their minds off being in the field for this many days,” Hollenback said. “Plus, it’s just a blast to get to meet these guys and ask them questions. It’s a moral uptick for us.”

Weatherly, Holmes and the other athletes then signed autographs and interacted with hundreds of soldiers and their families on the grounds.

Clint Ebsen, a soldier at Camp Ripley, said the base was buzzing with the news that Vikings players were visiting.

“We appreciate what they do for our kids. And we can tell they appreciate what we do as well,” Ebsen said. “It is nice to have them come out here and see us and get to see what we get to do, too.

“We just really appreciate the athletes coming and seeing us, and showing support to us,” Ebsen added. “It is nice that we can show our kids what happens when good people come and do these things for us.”

Amanda Gjerde chatted with the players along with her two children, Margaret and August. Gjerde’s husband, Troy, is currently deployed in Kuwait.

“We made the trip out here so that the kids could see some of the sports players and get some autographs,” Gjerde said. “We were able to come up here to Camp Ripley where their dad normally works … and make that connection between what Dad does and the wonderful players who came out.”

Weatherly and Holmes said they both already had an appreciation for the military but gained a greater understanding on the operations after their visit.

“No doubt. I mean, they are doing something, they are training for something,” Weatherly said. “At any point in time they could be called upon to make the ultimate sacrifice just to make sure that I have the opportunity to do something that I love on a daily basis.

“It is very difficult. It is very taxing for people’s families,” Weatherly added. “Just to see people’s families come out and share in a good laugh and brighten everyone’s day, if it was only for 45 minutes to an hour toward the end there, it is definitely worth it. It’s definitely worth it to do it again.”

Added Holmes: “It is always appreciated, the military and the sacrifices they make for us. Their families also make sacrifices. I am glad I got to experience this, and I am appreciative of everything they do for us.”

Hudella said he hoped to organize another trip based on the success of this one.

“It was a win all around,” Hudella said. “The field artillery is a very technical profession and is very necessary in today’s world. It’s something that most people don’t get a chance to experience, and I know the soldiers of 151 were incredibly appreciative of the athletes coming out to see and learn what they do.” PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 11/13/18

Monday Morning Mailbag: Areas of Improvement Post-Bye, Murray- Cook Combo Moving Forward, Keys to Beating The Bears

By Mike Wobschall

What is the number 1 phase of our game do you think needs to be improved in the second half of the season to make playoffs and why. -- Jason Schweisthal

Turnover margin. It’s clichéd and it’s low-hanging fruit, but that doesn’t make it less valid. The Vikings are +1 in turnover margin, so it’s not as if this is a major issue for the team. But with how the defense has turned things around and with how many points the offense can score when it’s clicking, the biggest hurdle that stands in the way for the Vikings is self-inflicted mistakes.

I don't see the upside in releasing Roc Thomas and adding Ameer Abdullah. Please enlighten me. -- Nicholas Balkou

The first thing to keep in mind is that the Vikings have both players under contract; Abdullah was claimed on waivers and is on the active roster while Thomas was released but was signed to the practice squad. I like Thomas. Obviously, the Vikings coaches do, too, because he was signed to the practice squad rather than being released and never heard from again. Abdullah adds value in a couple areas. He’s been a featured back in the NFL, with 327 carries and 35 games played for the since 2015. So if the Vikings see more injuries at the running back position, they know they can turn to Abdullah and the moment won’t be too big for him. Secondly, I won’t be surprised if Abdullah is considered as an option at kickoff returner. He averaged 29.1 yards per return on 37 tries as a rookie in 2015 and he’s had 12 kickoff returns since his rookie season.

Do you see a backfield and set of plays to include both Latavius Murray and Dalvin Cook? I love the combination and the power running game. This could be a solid way to use both of their talents. With the offensive line looking more athletic and able, maybe we could include some runs with traps and counters. Skol Vikings! -- Larry Lujan

Yes. In fact, we saw this a time or two in the win over Detroit. On top of being an effective look in the running game, there are also interesting things the Vikings can do in the passing game with both Cook and Murray on the field at the same time. This type of personnel grouping is more likely to be an occasional tactic, thought, and not one the team would use as its base personnel grouping.

Throughout the season, our receiving corps has been a key part to our success. How do you think John DeFilippo will work the group to keep them as a consistent threat as the second half of the season starts? -- Graham Engrav

There’s an element of “If it isn’t broken, don’t fix it” when it comes to this question. At the same time, coaches are obsessed with finding ways to improve, so I’m sure DeFilippo will have a new wrinkle or two up his sleeve for the final seven regular season games. To me, the biggest thing is to remain versatile on offense. If a defense tries to take away Adam Thielen, then the Vikings must still be able to move the ball through the air. If a defense tries to clamp down on the run, then the Vikings must be able to rely on their passing game, and vice versa.

If Stefon Diggs is healthy for the Bears game, do the Vikings have to cut and place him on the practice squad? Or are there other options? -- Terry T. Youngstown, OH

No, they don’t have to cut Beebe to make room for Diggs to play because both players are already on the active roster. I anticipate Beebe will remain on the active roster for now. He could be one of the players declared inactive on game day, but I think he’ll remain on the active roster and it actually wouldn’t surprise me if he was one of the 46 active players on game days going forward.

What are the keys to beating the Bears this week? -- Dustin West

On defense, the Vikings must be mindful of quarterback Mitch Trubisky’s ability to make plays with his legs. Whether it’s designed runs or scrambles, Trubisky can extend drives and really make life tough for the defense because of his mobility. On offense, the Vikings must block Khalil Mack and take care of the ball. The Bears lead the League in takeaways and points off takeaways, and the presence of Mack as an edge rusher is a big reason why.

PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 11/13/18

Murray, Cook need to be sharp with blitz pickup

By Tim Yotter

The Minnesota Vikings could be keying on one defender on the Chicago Bears defense more pointedly than they have been in this NFC North series in a long time.

Khalil Mack has wrecked plenty of game plans for opposing offensive coordinators the Bears have faced since they acquired him from the Oakland Raiders this season. In seven games played, he has seven sacks, one interception return for a touchdown, four forced fumbles and one fumble recovery.

What that means for the Vikings is stressing they know where Mack will attack at all times. Likely, no one player will be accounting for him, but Latavius Murray has had a strong season picking up blitzing, earning a strong 78.1 pass-protection grade from analytics site Pro Football Focus.

“I think for me, I knew once I got to college – high school football, it’s just line up, let’s play, let me get as many yards as I can, everybody can look at you and hopefully I can get a scholarship and play somewhere. Once you get to college and you get around a coach that can teach you the game, help you understand how important protection is, keeping a quarterback clean, I think I understood that young,” Murray said. “It helped me as I got to the NFL, knowing who I have to block and then the technique part of it, I think I’ve improved mainly because I always knew I had the size, but I knew I could be better technique-wise.”

According to PFF, Murray has had 60 snaps as a pass protector and has allowed four pressures – one sack, one quarterback hit and two hurries.

“I kind of picked up on that [skill] and I give a lot of credit to Coach [Kennedy] Polamalu for helping me on that technique,” Murray said. “… You’ve got to take pride in it. Yeah, we run the ball and want to catch the ball out of the backfield, but doing your job when you don’t have the ball is just as important.”

With Kirk Cousins the most pressured quarterback in the NFL, the Vikings know that all too well.

Although Dalvin Cook hasn’t had as many opportunities this year after missing five games due to injury, he, too, has graded out nicely with his pass blocking. In 17 such snaps, he has given up one sack and one hurry but earned an overall grade of 74.6 from PFF.

Mack, however, presents a different challenge.

The 6-foot-3, 252-pound edge rusher and former fifth overall draft pick of the Oakland Raiders was traded out of Oakland for a series of draft picks, including two first-rounders, as Jon Gruden looked to rebuild in his first year back in coaching. He has been roundly criticized for the move and added fuel to the fire when he said just weeks after the trade that it is hard to find good pass rushers.

He had one of the best in the NFL and let him go.

In addition to Mack’s incredible athleticism, he moves from one side of the defense to another and can be equally as difficult. According to PFF, he has 37 snaps at left defensive end, 28 at right defensive end, 176 snaps at left outside linebacker and 114 at right outside linebacker.

Figuring out where Mack is before the snap the will be the least of the challenges for the Vikings. Figuring out what he is doing during the most important downs will be primary to their success.

So how does Murray, who played with Mack in Oakland, decipher where the blitz is originating?

“I think it’s hard if you don’t’ do your due diligence. If you’re not reading the safeties, if you’re not looking at the front, if you haven’t really studied much. If you haven’t really looked at your opponent and understand what’s their M.O,” he said. “Every now and then you can get caught off guard with an unscouted look. For the most part, you’ve seen film and you understand what a defense is going to do, you kind of know what things may be coming and at least that gives you some sort of awareness. And then it allows you play fast and pick up whatever they bring.”

In seven games with the Bears, Mack has 30 pressures – seven sacks, one hit and 22 hurries.

If Cook is the man getting more plays in the backfield as he returns from injury, he’ll have to be sure his blitz-recognition and pass-blocking skills are up to the challenge.

“When we first came into this thing last year together and I know I was hurt, I was very impressed [with Cook] as a rookie,” Murray said. “That college playbook is decently big; that NFL playbook is huge. I thought he did a really good job of picking that up really fast and picking up protections. I was really impressed. … I know for me, it was even tough. I think he’s done a good job in protection. We didn’t get much pressure [against the Lions]. I think they went the coverage route. I think Dalvin, he did a good job. His technique, he’s a shorter back and I think he did a good job.”

The Bears appear to mix it up more on defense. They had six sacks against the Lions on Sunday and three of those came on a blitz. They also got one of their two interceptions on a five-man rush.

Mack accounted for two of those sacks and he will be the primary player for which the Vikings will need to account in their pass-protection plan in Soldier Field Sunday night. PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 11/13/18

Bailey discusses kicking factors, expectations

By Tim Yotter

When Dan Bailey signed with the Minnesota Vikings before Week 3, he was the second-most accurate kicker in the history of the NFL. In a ranking where hundredths of a percentage point matters, Bailey is now fourth overall.

All six of the most accurate kickers in the NFL history are still active, and eight of the top 10.

Baltimore’s Justin Tucker leads the way at 90.08 percent with a relatively healthy cushion of more than 2 percent. The next five are all within 1 percentage point of each other – Pittsburgh’s Chris Boswell (87.736), Buffalo’s Steven Hauschka (87.687), Bailey (87.611), New England’s Stephen Gostkowski (87.561) and San Francisco’s Robbie Gould (87.277).

Expectations are higher than ever in the NFL kicking world, but are they unreasonably high, given how much kickers have improved?

“I don’t think the expectations are too high. For me, I would much rather have that than low expectations. Set the bar high,” Bailey said. “Even if you do fall below the bar, you’re up there higher.”

Since joining the Vikings, Bailey has connected on 80 percent of his attempts, 12 of 15, which is slightly better than 2017 in Dallas, when he was struggling with an injury and made 75 percent, 15 of 20. Prior to that, Bailey had never dipped below 84 percent in his first six years in the league.

When Bailey was asked what percentage would make him feel he is performing well, he focused on the process, not the percentage.

“You want to perform on Sunday and help the team, and hopefully statistically over time it’s good stats that help the team,” he said. “To me, it’s also about practice. Not to bring it up again or that it’s an excuse, but you look at the one against the Jets and it goes down as a miss – I’m disappointed I didn’t make it, but at the same time, if I had that kick nine more times, I’d do the exact same thing. You have to look at it that way. I think for me, it’s more about that, how did I do today? At the end of the week, analyze that. And then after the game, what kind of game did I have and then hopefully you’re able to stack those together and the stats back up how you’re feeling.”

After going through numerous kickers since drafting Blair Walsh in 2012 – including fifth-round pick Daniel Carlson, who was released after three misses in Week 2 – special teams coordinator Mike Priefer has been happy with the performance of the more experienced Bailey. After joking that 100 percent or 98.9 percent would be acceptable, Priefer also pointed to different circumstances that determine what was a successful game or season kicking.

“I think it depends on the distance. Like you say, he’s a veteran kicker, he [was] number two all- time in accuracy, so Dan is a very good kicker,” Priefer said. “The more the kicker, snapper and holder work together, the better they’re going to be, the more successful they’re going to be, the more consistent they’re going to be. Anything inside of 50 [yards], I think Dan is going to make. Anything outside of 50, if you’re over 60, 70 percent – I know those are lofty expectations, but Dan is a good enough kicker to make those types of kicks, and that’s what we expect from him.”

The subject of kickers is especially relevant this week.

The Vikings will be heading to Chicago on Sunday, when it is supposed to be about 30 degrees with winds around 10 miles per hour. Wind and cold both affect the kicking game as much as any aspect in football.

“It’s interesting because cold air is actually less dense than warm air, so it should actually travel further, but I think the X factor there is the temperature of the ball and not being able to compress it,” Bailey said.

He estimated somewhere between 2 to 5 yards would be lost on kicks on a 30-degree day versus 70 degrees.

Gould used to be the uncanny reliable kicker for the Chicago Bears, but now it is Cody Parkey, who endured a Sunday that was reminiscent of some of the worst days Vikings kickers have had. Carlson was fired after missing all three of his field goal attempts for the Vikings in Green Bay on Week 2. Parkey won’t lose his job, Bears coach Matt Nagy said, after hitting the upright on four missed kicks Sunday in a win against the Detroit Lions.

Parkey hit the right upright on a first-quarter extra-point try, then hit the left upright on a second- quarter PAT try. In the third quarter, he hit the right upright on field goal attempts of 34 and 41 yards.

His two missed PATs were the first ones of the season and he is now 13-for-18 on field goal attempts.

Nagy said there is “zero chance” that Parkey would be released this week. Earlier this season, Packers kicker Mason Crosby missed four field goals and an extra point in a 31-23 loss to Detroit, then the following week was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week in a 33-30 win over San Francisco after going 4-for-4 on field goals, including a 51-yarder in the third quarter and a 27-yard game-winner as time expired.

As for Bailey, he’s been solid for the Vikings this year, but the kick that seems to stand out the most for him is a 42-yarder that got hung up in the wind and carried off to the left at MetLife stadium on Oct. 21. According to the forecast, he won’t have to deal with that type of wind at Soldier Field, but he tries not to let wind-affected misses affected his approach.

“Say you get a windy day out here in practice, you might be hitting the ball great, but some of them just aren’t going in. It’s not that you can really do anything differently. The wind,” he said. “The Jets game the other week is the perfect example. You do everything you can and it’s just not going to happen. … Those are just the outliers in the data that you kind of have to take that into account.”

It’s been rare when the Vikings have had the more accomplished and more veteran kicker when facing the Bears in the Mike Zimmer era, but this time around they do. PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 11/13/18

From Lions to Vikings, Abdullah knows ‘amazingly unpredictable’

By Tim Yotter

Ameer Abdullah found out just how quickly the NFL can change a player’s life. His career restart with the Minnesota Vikings late last week started only a day after his release from the Detroit Lions.

“Life is amazingly unpredictable. I’m excited to be here,” he said. “It’s a great team, great culture, great atmosphere to be joining. Ironically, it’s in the same division. I’m really excited to be here.”

The last game Abdullah was with the Lions was a 24-9 loss to the Vikings. With the Vikings on bye on Sunday, he used the extra time to move his belongings to Minnesota.

He was released before the Lions’ 34-22 loss to the Chicago Bears on Sunday, but his first game with the Vikings will be against the Bears.

“I’m happy I’ve already built a relationship with a lot of the guys here. They welcomed me in, warm welcome. Been helping me with everything,” Abdullah said.

“I really appreciate it because you never know how it’s going to be switching midseason to a division-rival team. It’s everything I would hope for.”

He arrived in Minnesota familiar with at least three players. He trained this past offseason with Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks in California. And his locker in Minnesota is right next to another former Detroit Lion, left tackle Riley Reiff.

Abdullah said he didn’t expect to have his locker right there, but he also didn’t discredit the Lions, who now seem to be in a downward funk after trading away their leading receiver, Golden Tate, have minus-42 net points, are 3-6 and have lost three games in a row.

“Detroit is the team that drafted me, the team that I will also hold in my heart. I don’t really like to talk in the past too much. The situation there is what it is,” he said. “All I can do is handle what I have here right now. I’d rather not speak about what they’re going through, what’s going on.”

Abdullah has no set expectations about what his role might be with the Vikings. This year with the Lions, he received only one carry, caught two passes and returned four kicks, averaging 26.8 yards per return.

As a second-round draft pick in 2015, he had 143 carries, a 4.2-yard average, and caught 25 passes for 183 yards. He played only two games in 2016, then last year had 165 carries, a 3.3- yard average and caught 35 passes.

Initially, the carries may be hard to come by with Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray the top two backs in Minnesota.

“I’m entering a backfield with a lot of talent. Dalvin, Latavius and all the guys that have been here, to come here and just to see how the guys are working has been amazing to me,” he said. “It does a lot for my confidence, does a lot for my focus. I’m ready to work. Anything the Vikings ask me to do I’m willing to do, just because I’m so appreciative of the opportunity.”

The Vikings lost first-round pick Mike Hughes with a torn anterior cruciate ligament for the season. In addition to contributing on defense, Hughes was the main kickoff returner. That’s a role that Abdullah could quickly assume.

“I’m not sure. I hope so,” he said. “I’m sure we’ll get more into the nooks and crannies of things as the week progresses, but right now I’m just trying to figure out how I can get into the gate, what’s the code to the doors. I don’t want to be locked out in the cold.”

That’s essentially what had already happened in Detroit.

But, whatever is asked of him initially in Minnesota, he sounds happy to get an opportunity to jumpstart his career after his contributions had stagnated in Detroit since new head coach Matt Patricia arrived.

“I’m coming in with no expectations. You’ve got to live in whatever day you’re in. I’m not living for Sunday, living for Tuesday and every day so far,” he said.

“I try not to get surprised by anything because that’s what life is about. Life is a process; it’s always going to change. You can wake up one day and be healthy and wake up the next day and not be healthy.”

Or, in his case, he can be released one day in Detroit and be claimed on waivers the next day in Minnesota. PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 11/13/18

Should Kirk Cousins be more aggressive?

By Matthew Coller

Through the first nine weeks of the Kirk Cousins era in Minnesota, the Vikings are mid-pack or above average every relevant passing category.

They rank 16th in Pro-Football Reference’s “Expected Points” category, 13th in Adjusted Yards per Attempt (which is yards per attempt factoring sacks and interceptions) and seventh in team quarterback rating.

Where things get statistically interesting for the Vikings is in the stats that tell us about the type of passing offense they have used this season.

The Vikings sit 28th in yards per completion and Kirk Cousins has the fifth lowest air yards per passing attempt. He is also the third least aggressive quarterback in the NFL, according to NextGen stats that measure the percentage of passing attempts thrown into tight coverage. Cousins has thrown into tight coverage just 12.4 percent of the time. He has thrown 45 passes behind the line of crimmage, gaining just 5.5 yards per attempt.

None of these numbers are necessarily bad. Pat Mahomes, Drew Brees and Aaron Rodgers have similar aggressiveness numbers and Brees averages even fewer yards per attempt. With the Saints running a highly-effective screen game with running back Alvin Kamara, Brees has an outrageously high 77.3 completion percentage. He also lands haymakers down field with incredible accuracy.

In Cousins’ best career season, 2016, he was the second least aggressive quarterback in the NFL.

NextGen has invented a system using player tracking to determine what a quaterback’s odds are of completing a given pass and compares it to the QB’s actual completion percentage. Despite the quick passes for Brees and Cousins, they make up No. 1 and 2 in completion percentage above the expected mark.

They are followed by Matt Ryan, Carson Wentz, Cam Newton and Russell Wilson.

So you could reasonably conclude that the Vikings’ plan to have Cousins throw quick passes to open receivers has been mostly successful and that he’s made exceptional throws this season.

But it’s worth asking if the Vikings could have even more success with Cousins throwing downfield more often and targeting receivers who aren’t exactly wide open.

For starters, per Pro-Football Reference, Cousins ranks 21st in attempts traveling more than 15 yards in the air, but has the fourth highest quarterback rating on such throws, only behind Brees, Phillip Rivers and Russell Wilson. He’s completed 23-of-47 for 652 yards with eight touchdowns and one interception.

According to Pro Football Focus, the Vikings’ quarterback is excelling on intermediate throws, going 43-for-61 with a 114.9 rating.

Cousins has the weapons to occasionally force the ball into coverage. Last season, Stefon Diggs led the NFL in contested catch percentage, according to PFF.

Last year 44.4 percent of targets toward Diggs traveled more than 10 yards. So far this season he has only been targeted 28 times down field on 78 targets (35.9 percent).

Fellow receiver Adam Thielen ranked sixth in contested catch percentage in 2017. Over the past three seasons, balls traveling over 15 yards have landed in Thielen’s hands 59.5 percent of the time and an assortment of QBs has totaled a 121.6 rating when working the ball down field to the team’s top receiver.

In some cases, play-actions and bootlegs set up down field throws with a high level of effectiveness. Cousins ranks 15th in percentage of drop backs using play-action and averages 8.8 yards per attempt with a 76.0 completion percentage (7.0 YPA when not using play-action). An improved running game with Dalvin Cook’s return may push the Vikings to use play-action even more often.

Throwing shorter isn’t always less dangerous. Cousins has struggled when throwing short over the middle. Per PFF, on throws between 0-10 yards in the middle, he has averaged just 6.3 yards per attempt with one touchdown and four interceptions.

Of course, there are concerns about working the ball into coverage or deeper downfield. Cousins already leads the NFL in fumbles and the Vikings grade as the 31st ranked offensive line by Pro Football Focus. Opponents are also using double teams in attempts to take away deep throws to Thielen and Diggs.

So while there is a case for Cousins taking a few more shots down field or into coverage toward Thielen and Diggs, the key may to be more continue to produce at a high rate when shots are taken and be more effective in the short passing game. Cook’s return has the potential to break things open if he remains healthy down the stretch. PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 11/13/18

Where will Ameer Abdullah fit in the Vikings’ backfield?

By Matthew Coller

EAGAN, Minn. – The Minnesota Vikings come out of the bye week with a new face in the locker room — one who could make a difference as a role player down the stretch. Last week, they added running back Ameer Abdullah, who spent the past four years with the Detroit Lions.

Abdullah, a 2015 second-round pick, was the Lions’ feature back in 2015 and 2017, but spent the 2016 season and most of this year battling injuries.

The team elected to move on with the rise of Kerryon Johnson as their top runner.

“Life is amazingly unpredictable,” Abdullah said Monday. “Excited to be here. It’s a great team, great culture, great atmosphere. Ironically in the same division. Everything happens for a reason and I’m really excited to be here in Minnesota.”

When healthy, Abdullah has proven to be a multi-talented back, who can catch the ball and kick return.

In ’15 and ’17, he combined for 50 receptions and created first downs on half of those catches. Last season Pro Football Focus graded him as the 13th best receiving running back in the NFL, just behind Jerick McKinnon and just ahead of New England’s versatile back James White.

Abdullah was occasionally moved to different positions within the Lions’ offense last season, taking 20 snaps as an outside receiver and six snaps in the slot. It’s possible he could see more of those types of looks under the Vikings, who have become fond of sending Dalvin Cook out as a receiver and even used Cook and Latavius Murray on the same play during last week’s win over Detroit.

“I’m entering a backfield with a lot of talent with Dalvin and Latavius and all of the guys who have been here,” Abdullah said. “Just to come in today and see these guys welcome me the way they have, it does a lot for my confidence, it does a lot for my focus. I’m ready to work. Anything the Vikings ask me to, I’m willing to do.”

Last week, Cook gained 89 yards on 10 carries and caught four passes for 20 yards. Murray also rushed 10 times and caught one pass against the Lions.

Making an impact after joining a team mid-season may be challenging for Abdullah, who is behind two starting-caliber backs — not to mention he has never seen his new team’s playbook before this week. So it would be a lot to expect Abdullah to fit into the offense much more than on an occasional basis to start, but one area where he can make an immediate impact is on special teams.

In ’15, he returned 37 kicks at an impressive 29.2 yards per return. This year he has four returns for 107 yards (26.8 per return). Asked if he might want to get back into the returning game, the Vikings’ new running back said, “I hope so.”

With Mike Hughes sidelined for the rest of the year, returning duties have been split up. Rookie Holton Hill has three returns for 85 yards, Marcus Sherels has two returns for 34 yards, and Aldrick Robinson, Roc Thomas and Brandon Zylstra have each returned one kick with little success.

Wherever he fits in, Abdullah is looking to catch on quickly. He said the transition will be helped by the fact that he works out with Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks in the offseason and has familiarity with other players like Riley Reiff, a former teammate in Detroit.

“I’m happy that I’ve already built a relationship with a lot of guys here who have welcomed me in, warm welcome,” Abdullah said. “They’ve helped me with everything from learning when we need to be here, when we need to go there to different lifts that I haven’t done before. I really appreciate it because you never know how it’s going to be mid-season especially with a division rival team, but it’s everything I hoped for.”

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 11/13/18

Vikings have a path to the playoffs, but tough schedule will test their strength

By Matthew Coller

Outside of the NFC North, the 5-3-1 Minnesota Vikings had a pretty good bye week.

While the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears came away with easy victories over the Miami Dolphins and Detroit Lions, many teams that will be battling for wild card spots lost.

Starting on Thursday night, the Carolina Panthers, the current leaders for the first wild card spot, were crushed by the Pittsburgh. On Sunday, Seattle dropped to 4-5 with a loss to Los Angeles, the Falcons (4-5) were stunned by the Browns and Dallas defeated Philadelphia, bringing both clubs to 4-5 records.

Heading into the unofficial second half of the season, the Vikings are ahead in the wild card by 1.5 games over Seattle, Atlanta, Philadelphia and Dallas and are one game up on Green Bay. As they get set to match up with the Bears, they trail Chicago by 0.5 games for the division lead.

The Vikings will head on the road for Sunday Night Football this week as winners of four of their last five. They have played spectacular defense over the past five weeks with a grand total of zero quarterbacks eclipsing 300 yards against them and an average of 18.8 points allowed during those games.

That’s the rosy way of looking at it. The more skeptical view could be shaped by this fact: The combined record of teams the Vikings have beaten this year is 14-25 and they do not have a win against a team that currently has a winning record.

In the second half of the season, Minnesota’s opponents have a combined record of 35-29 and five of their seven games come against clubs with a .500 record or better.

Soldier Field will be the first proving ground for the Vikings. While Chicago isn’t far ahead in the standings, they are way up in point differential. The Bears have outscored opponents by 94 points, which ranks fourth in the NFL only behind Kansas City (plus-113), Los Angeles (plus-104) and New Orleans (plus-98).

The Bears’ young quarterback Mitch Trubisky has seen his stock rise under new head coach Matt Nagy. Trubisky has bumped his quarterback rating to an impressive 101.6 after a 23-for-30, 355- yard, three-touchdown performance against the Lions.

Chicago is also fourth in points allowed and fifth in yards allowed on defense.

After their matchup in the Windy City, the Vikings will see Aaron Rodgers, Tom Brady and Russell Wilson over the following three weeks. They have two winnable games against Miami and Detroit before finishing the season at home against the Bears.

Rodgers and the Packers have had a bumpy road this year, but still rank seventh in the NFL in yards per game and 13th in points — one spot ahead of the Vikings.

Seattle gave everything the Rams could handle, coming up short 36-31 on Sunday. The Seahawks are 15th in points scored and have the ninth fewest points allowed, even after giving up a big day to the powerhouse L.A. offense.

New England shockingly lost to Tennessee on Sunday. Still the Patriots are top 10 in points and yards.

A closer look at Chicago and Green Bay’s schedules reveals that the Vikings will not have much room for error, assuming things go the way you might expect. The Bears get Detroit again in two weeks and have games against the struggling Giants and 49ers — though they also have a matchup against Los Angeles, too.

The Packers have to travel to Seattle this week, but will have extremely winnable games against the Cardinals, Jets and Lions down the stretch.

The bye week came at the right time for the Vikings, who will likely get Stefon Diggs back from an injury to his ribs, Xavier Rhodes back to full strength after battling an ankle injury and have Dalvin Cook and Everson Griffen back for the final stanza of the season.

They will need all hands on deck to navigate a difficult track to the postseason. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 11/13/18

Joining Vikings 'like new beginning' for former Lions RB Ameer Abdullah

By Courtney Cronin

EAGAN, Minn. -- Ameer Abdullah chipped away at emptying the two large boxes situated in front of his locker Monday afternoon, unpacking items from his old life while getting set up in his new one.

In between practice and meetings, several players stopped by to strike up a conversation with their newest teammate, from backup quarterback Trevor Siemian to defensive end Stephen Weatherly, both located within an earshot of the running back’s locker.

Abdullah was cut by the Detroit Lions last Tuesday, the team that spent a second-round pick to draft him in 2015. The following afternoon, the running back found out he was heading to a division rival after being claimed by the Minnesota Vikings.

While the rest of his new teammates found time to unwind during the Vikings’ Week 10 bye, Abdullah was in the process of transitioning to his new life. The whirlwind finally started to subside at the start of the week as Minnesota began preparations for its Sunday night showdown in Chicago.

“I try not to get surprised by anything because that’s what life is about,” Abdullah said. “Life is a process. It’s always going to change. You can wake up one day and be healthy, wake up the next day and not be healthy. I think that’s what I really love about life -- the unpredictability about it. It really challenges you. Challenges you to bring the same attitude each and every day, to live with integrity and never be divided. That’s what this process has taught me and I love it. It’s like a new beginning for me and I’m excited.”

Abdullah was Detroit’s leading rusher in 2017 but saw his role diminish considerably this season after the Lions drafted Kerryon Johnson and signed LeGarrette Blount in free agency. The 25- year-old had one carry for 1 yard and two receptions for 18 yards this season. He also had a critical fumble against Seattle in Week 8 on a kick return and lost that job to rookie Brandon Powell when the Lions played the Vikings in Week 9.

Former Lions running back Ameer Abdullah will switch jerseys in this NFC North rivalry. Nick Wosika/Icon Sportswire “Detroit is the team that drafted me, team that I’ll always hold in my heart,” he said. “I don’t like to talk in the past too much. The situation there is what it is. All I can do is handle what I have here now.”

Viewing Minnesota as a place to jump-start the next phase of his career, Abdullah says he entered the week with no expectations about what his role will be among a crowded stable of running backs but noted the way his situation worked out was everything he hoped for.

“I’m entering a backfield with a lot of talent with Dalvin (Cook), Latavius (Murray) and all the guys who have been here,” Abdullah said. “Just to come in today and to see these guys welcome me the way they have has been amazing for me and it does a lot for my confidence, does a lot for my focus. I’m ready to work. Anything the Vikings ask me to do, I’m willing to do, just because I’m so appreciative of the opportunity.”

While Abdullah also presents Minnesota with a pass-catching threat out of the backfield, with 57 receptions for 420 yards and three touchdowns over his four years in the NFL, one area he does aim to contribute is on kickoff returns. As a rookie, Abdullah led the league in return yardage on 37 kickoff returns and has a career average of 27.8 yards per return. Minnesota's depth on its return teams was tested regularly its first nine games after rookie Mike Hughes suffered a torn ACL and his replacement, Holton Hill, was called upon to play more snaps on defense due to injuries in the secondary.

“I sure hope,” Abdullah said of an opportunity as a kick returner. “I’m sure we’ll get more into the nooks and crannies of things as the week progresses. Right now I’m just trying to figure out how I can get into the gate, what’s the code to the door so I won’t be locked out in the cold.” PUBLICATION: USA Today DATE: 11/13/18

With Cook back, Vikings ready to run as weather turns cold

By AP

EAGAN, Minn. (AP) — Dalvin Cook's rush through the left side of the line for 70 yards last week was the longest gain of his professional career, an early game boost for the Minnesota Vikings in an important victory over Detroit before their bye.

That was the type of big running play that has been missing in most of Minnesota's games this year, a 22.05 mph burst that was clocked by the NFL's Next Gen Stats as the fastest in the league in 2018.

That also demonstrated what the Vikings will need more of down the stretch with a daunting schedule ahead.

Cook's return from a hamstring injury that kept him out of five games was one of the most important developments of the season.

"When you go to the zoo and you want to see a white tiger and they say, 'He's not coming out today, you're disappointed and you're like, 'That's why I bought the ticket, to see the white tiger," quarterback Kirk Cousins said after the Vikings beat the Lions 24-9 on Nov. 4. "That's Dalvin. When you get him, he's special."

Though Latavius Murray has 439 total yards and five touchdowns over the past five games, Cook's return will be vital toward continuing the revival of a running game that ranks 28th in the league with an average of 91.7 yards per game.

The Vikings (5-3-1) play at NFC North-leading Chicago (6-3) on Sunday night in a game for control of the division. That's one of three games over the next four for the Vikings that will be on the road and outdoors in northern cities.

"I do think with some of these games as it starts to get colder, it is going to be more of a factor," coach Mike Zimmer said. "I think we're getting better at a lot of the areas in the running game. We have to continue searching for more ways to pound the ball."

When Cook was healthy in the season opener against San Francisco, the Vikings had 116 rushing yards. They then went four straight games with fewer than 20 rushing attempts and 77 rushing yards or fewer, until Murray produced a 155-yard performance on 24 carries in a victory over Arizona on Oct. 14 .

Cook and Murray combined for 120 rushing yards against the Lions. The Vikings have averaged 124 rushing yards over the past four games, up from 65.8 yards per game on the ground over the first five weeks.

"He has got a chance to hit home runs," Zimmer said of Cook. "I think it was really good for him to get out there and get some game time action. When you haven't played in six weeks and you haven't practiced all that much, I think he will continue to get better."

The Vikings also claimed running back Ameer Abdullah last week after he was waived by the Lions. Abdullah, a second-round draft pick in 2015, only appeared in three games this year and carried the ball once. He averaged 3.8 yards per attempt in three seasons as the primary ball carrier, when he wasn't injured, before being replaced by rookie Kerryon Johnson this season.

"I'm entering a backfield with a lot of talent, Dalvin, we have Latavius and all the guys who've been here," Abdullah said after practice on Monday. "Just coming in today and seeing these guys welcome me the way they have has been amazing for me. It does a lot for my confidence. It does a lot for my focus."

Abdullah will also be an option as a kickoff returner.

"I'm ready to work," he said. "Anything the Vikings ask me to do, I'm willing to do just because I'm so appreciative of the opportunity."