DAILY CLIPS

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 18, 2018 LOCAL NEWS: Tuesday, September 18, 2018

Star Tribune

Vikings release kicker Daniel Carlson, targeting Dan Bailey By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/vikings-release-kicker-daniel-carlson-after-meltdown-vs-packers/493505911/

Vikings GM Rick Spielman had no choice but to move on from Daniel Carlson By Chip Scoggins http://www.startribune.com/vikings-gm-rick-spielman-had-no-choice-but-to-move-on-from-daniel- carlson/493540341/

Aaron Rodgers was in rare form Sunday, and Vikings' pass rush had mixed results By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/aaron-rodgers-was-in-rare-form-sunday-and-vikings-pass-rush-had-mixed- results/493476231/

Three big takeaways from Vikings vs. Packers that don't involve Daniel Carlson By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/three-big-takeaways-from-vikings-vs-packers-that-don-t-involve-daniel- carlson/493526701/

NFL hitting defensive players like Eric Kendricks, Sheldon Richardson in their pockets By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/nfl-hitting-defensive-players-like-eric-kendricks-sheldon-richardson-in-their- pockets/493523831/

Vikings sign receiver Aldrick Robinson By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/report-vikings-sign-receiver-aldrick-robinson/493504331/

Pioneer Press

Matt Wile looks to bounce back from first Vikings punt blocked since 2014 By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/17/matt-wile-looks-to-bounce-back-from-first-vikings-punt-blocked- since-2014/

Vikings remain baffled by NFL’s new roughing-the-passer rule By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/17/vikings-remain-baffled-by-nfls-new-roughing-the-passer-rule/

Vikings waste no time in dropping kicker Daniel Carlson By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/17/vikings-waive-kicker-daniel-carlson-expected-to-sign-dan-bailey/

Vikings.com

NOTEBOOK: Brian O’Neill Recaps 1st Action of NFL Career By Vikings.com Staff https://www.vikings.com/news/notebook-brian-o-neill-recaps-1st-action-of-nfl-career

Presser Points: Zimmer Says Vikings Bringing Bailey in for Physical By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/presser-points-zimmer-says-vikings-bringing-bailey-in-for-physical Early Look: Vikings vs. Bills By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/early-look-vikings-vs-bills

5 Things to Know about Vikings WR Aldrick Robinson By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/5-things-to-know-about-vikings-wr-aldrick-robinson

Lunchbreak: Takeaways from Border Battle Include Vikings Air Attack By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-takeaways-from-border-battle-include-vikings-air-attack

3 Stats That Stood Out: Vikings at Packers By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/3-stats-that-stood-out-vikings-at-packers

VIKING Update

Defenders struggling with new roughing, ‘strike zone’ rules By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Defenders-struggling-with-new-roughing-strike-zone- rules-122047524/

Zimmer: Releasing kicker Carlson ‘pretty easy’ By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Releasing-kicker-Carlson-pretty-easy-Vikings-coach- Mike-Zimmer-says-122036257/

Barr hopes in-game talk with Rodgers cleared the air By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Anthony-Barr-hopes-in-game-talk-with-Aaron-Rodgers- cleared-the-air-122020366/

Mistakes and breaks both part of 29-29 tie By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Mistakes-and-breaks-both-part-of-29-29-tie- 122010214/

1500 ESPN

Exploring the what-if moments and ripple effects from Vikings-Packers By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/exploring-moments-ripple-effects-vikings-packers/

Game-changing roughing calls have Vikings shaking their heads By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/game-changing-roughing-calls-vikings-shaking-heads/

Zulgad: Vikings make right move in cutting Carlson but it never should have come to this By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/09/zulgad-vikings-make-right-move-cutting-carlson-never-come/

Vikings add a veteran receiver after Treadwell drops the ball and drops it again and again By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/09/vikings-reportedly-will-add-veteran-receiver-treadwell-drops-ball/

The Athletic

Daniel Carlson’s missed field goals cost the Vikings a win, and cost him his job By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/530592/2018/09/17/daniel-carlsons-missed-field-goals-cost-the-vikings-a-win-and- cost-him-his-job/

NATIONAL NEWS: Tuesday, September 18, 2018

ESPN

Vikings banking on Dan Bailey to finally solve kicking woes By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/27139/vikings-banking-on-dan-bailey-to-finally- solve-kicking-woes

Vikings release kicker Daniel Carlson following 0-for-3 day By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24713649/minnesota-vikings-release-kicker-daniel-carlson-add-free- agent-dan-bailey

CBS

Vikings cut rookie kicker, reportedly sign second most accurate kicker in NFL history By John Breech https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/vikings-cut-rookie-kicker-reportedly-sign-second-most-accurate- kicker-in-nfl-history/

NFL Week 3 early odds: Vikings open as monstrous favorites over hapless Bills By John Breech https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/nfl-week-3-early-odds-vikings-open-as-monstrous-favorites-over- hapless-bills/

Sports Illustrated

Packers-Vikings Tie Leaves the NFC North Rivals Understandably Frustrated By Kalyn Kahler https://www.si.com/nfl/2018/09/16/packers-vikings-tie-nfl-week-2-aaron-rodgers-kirk-cousins

PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings release kicker Daniel Carlson, targeting Dan Bailey

By Andrew Krammer

The Vikings have pinpointed a new kicker.

Eighth-year veteran Dan Bailey is expected to sign with the Vikings pending a physical, according to coach Mike Zimmer, after the team waived rookie kicker Daniel Carlson on Monday. Carlson, a fifth-round pick, missed three field goals during the Vikings’ 29-29 tie in Green Bay on Sunday, including a game-winning 35-yard attempt during the closing seconds of overtime.

The team’s decision to waive Carlson after two regular season games was “pretty easy,” according to Zimmer.

“Did you see the game?” Zimmer asked rhetorically.

The Vikings cut the cord with Carlson after he made just 5 of 10 field goal attempts, including his uneven preseason. The 23-year-old kicker made his only field goal from 48 yards away during the Week 1 win against San Francisco. He then missed all three attempts against the Packers from 35, 48 and 49 yards — two in overtime.

The Vikings’ kicker saga continues. Pending Bailey’s physical, he’ll be the Vikings’ fourth kicker in Zimmer’s fifth season. Blair Walsh signaled his exit with the infamous 27-yard, game-winning miss in the NFC Wild-Card playoff against the Seahawks in January 2016. He was released midway through the following season.

General Manager Rick Spielman then traded up in this spring’s draft to spend the franchise’s most valuable pick on Carlson, taken 167th overall out of Auburn, to replace veteran Kai Forbath.

The Vikings released Carlson less than five months later.

“Yeah, well, that’s life,” Zimmer said. “It’s hard to figure out. You think you got a guy for a while and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But, you know, things happen I guess.”

Bailey, 30, was released by the Cowboys on Sept. 1 in a move that saved Dallas a few million dollars by keeping a Canadian Football League journeyman, Brett Maher, over him. Bailey is currently the second most accurate field goal kicker in NFL history having converted 88.1 percent of his career attempts, behind only Baltimore’s Justin Tucker (90.3 percent).

Zimmer was asked Monday if he felt fortunate a veteran like Bailey was still available. Bailey reportedly turned down offers from four other NFL teams after his release from Dallas.

“Well we haven’t signed him yet,” Zimmer said. “So, I don’t know if I feel fortunate yet or not.”

Bailey is coming off a down ending to his 2017 season, during which he missed four games due to a groin injury. He returned and made 8 of 13 field goal attempts in the Cowboys’ final five games. Bailey also missed the first two extra points of his seven-year career after returning from the injury.

He has kicked in three playoff games, making 4 of 6 field goal attempts and all eight extra points. One of his misses, in a 2014 NFC Divisional Round loss to the Packers, was blocked.

A new kicker spearheads the Vikings’ focus this week on special teams after an overall poor effort against the Packers. The Vikings had a punt blocked in the end zone for a touchdown, whiffed on some fair catches on punt return and Carlson, aside from his misses, also botched a kickoff that set up the Packers at their own 31-yard line in the fourth quarter.

Special teams coordinator Mike Priefer took a level-headed approach to Monday’s meeting, according to Stephen Weatherly, the defensive end who contributes to many special teams phases.

“We had some good things on return phases, we didn’t do so well on kicking phases,” Weatherly said. “[Priefer said] let’s talk about what we did well, what we need to work on and let’s apply it to next week. That’s exactly how we went through it.”

Receiver Stacy Coley also nearly fumbled a fourth-quarter kick return when he, without kneeling for a touchback, fielded the kickoff and flipped the ball to an official. After the official avoided the ball, Coley recovered before it turned into a Packers touchdown.

“We’re going to have to clean it up,” Zimmer said. “I’ve talked to the team about some things that I’ll keep within ourselves, but we’ve got to do a better job there.” PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings GM Rick Spielman had no choice but to move on from Daniel Carlson

By Chip Scoggins

Rick Spielman gambled and lost.

In terms of Sunday’s outcome, a tie felt like a loss, and the Vikings general manager had no choice but to admit he screwed up his kicker situation and had to fix it before more damage was done.

Spielman released rookie kicker Daniel Carlson on Monday after two games and one of the worst meltdowns imaginable in a 29-29 tie at Green Bay.

Carlson missed three field-goals attempts, including a potential game-winner from 35 yards as time expired in overtime. Carlson admitted that his confidence was shaken after his first two misses, and he might as well have packed his bags and headed home at that point.

His career with the Vikings was done.

Actually, this outcome was foreshadowed in the preseason when coach Mike Zimmer became so exasperated with Carlson after a missed field goal against Seattle that he opted for a two-point conversion following a touchdown.

Veteran Dan Bailey is expected to sign once he passes a physical, ending a failed experiment.

Chalk this up as a notable draft bust by Spielman and special teams coordinator Mike Priefer, who presumably gave his recommendation before the organization drafted Carlson in the fifth round, the highest pick used on a kicker in team history.

The Vikings grew tired of Kai Forbath’s penchant for missing extra points so they rolled the dice on Carlson and it backfired spectacularly. The team pretended to hold a kicker competition in training camp but that was merely a ruse. As long as Carlson showed up with two legs, he had the job.

Spielman and coaches raved about Carlson’s strong leg, but they couldn’t account for his inability to handle pressure or failure.

The quick hook was Spielman’s only recourse because the Vikings are expected to contend for a championship, and the NFC is too formidable to not maximize every opportunity. The Vikings squandered a big one on the road against a division opponent.

Carlson’s teammates supported him publicly but that had to feel deflating watching a kicker choke away a winnable game at Green Bay with so much at stake. The team couldn’t move forward with a skittish rookie potentially ruining their season. Zimmer’s tone Monday showed how little patience he has in that area.

The fact that Spielman opted to go with a rookie kicker on a team loaded with established stars seemed risky from the start. He couldn’t let Carlson’s draft status serve as his guiding force in deciding whether to cut bait after two games. Spielman had to admit he made a mistake, fix it and move on.

Spielman also seemed to send a message in a separate move. It certainly didn’t seem like coincidence that the team signed veteran receiver Aldrick Robinson one day after Laquon Treadwell had a nightmare outing.

Three seasons into his career and the former first-round pick still can’t be trusted. The team should put Treadwell on notice after his error-filled performance included an egregious drop that resulted in an interception late in regulation.

Treadwell was targeted a career-high six times and caught his first career touchdown pass. But he also dropped three passes and appeared to run the wrong route on another. So four of his six targets went haywire because of a lack of focus, or something.

Cutting Treadwell would be popular with fans, but the Vikings should try a different tactic in case that position encounters injuries at some point.

The team should demote Treadwell on the depth chart. Make him inactive on game day or give others playing time at the No. 3 receiver spot. Maybe that’s Stacy Coley, Brandon Zylstra or the new guy, Robinson.

It’s no secret that first-round picks are granted more runway in the cutthroat nature of NFL business because of ego and investment, but the Vikings can’t reward Treadwell with blind faith if this is the result after him being largely invisible his first two seasons.

Sunday’s tie was a missed opportunity. The Vikings reacted accordingly a day later. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/18/18

Aaron Rodgers was in rare form Sunday, and Vikings' pass rush had mixed results

By Ben Goessling

The working theory about Aaron Rodgers — who is now signed with the Green Bay Packers until age 40 and has said he plans to play that long — is that he’ll have to cut back on the number of plays he attempts to make outside the pocket and resort to a heavier diet of quick passes as he ages, much as Tom Brady has done.

The 34-year-old Rodgers played that way on Sunday not because of his age, but because of the bulky brace he wore on his sprained left knee. If what the Vikings saw Sunday was a preview of what they’ll get from Rodgers in future years, it represented a stark difference from what they’re used to seeing.

According to Pro Football Focus, Rodgers took an average of just 2.24 seconds before throwing on Sunday, down from his 2.65-second average in Week 1 and his 2.55-second average last year. He completed 21 of his 23 passes when he released the ball in 2.5 seconds or less, posting a passer rating of 105.4 on those throws.

It seemed likely the Packers would resort to quicker throws against the Vikings on Sunday, to help Rodgers protect his knee, and he was sacked only once in the first half. Even though the Vikings got to him three times in the second half, Rodgers found room to throw when he was blitzed.

According to ESPN Stats and Information, Rodgers was 9 of 9 for 87 yards when he was blitzed on Sunday (though the Vikings did sack him to end the Packers’ lone overtime drive on a blitz from Mackensie Alexander).

“I felt like we could be better,” defensive tackle Linval Joseph said. “Every week, we’re trying to just get better and better. One leg or two legs, Aaron Rodgers is still a magic quarterback. Just to get a tie, and finish the way we finished was big today.”

The Vikings’ front four had more success in the second half, as Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter shared a third-quarter sack and Sheldon Richardson (who finished with a half-sack and three QB hits) started to get through the line. Stephen Weatherly also got a third-quarter shot on Rodgers on a 2nd-and-4.

Overall, though, it’s worth noting that the Vikings had to bring extra heat after Rodgers in the second half, and how effective he was when they did. Things figure to get easier next week at home, against rookie Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills.

Here are some other notes and observations from Sunday’s game:

–In an odd sequence at the end of the first half, Rodgers completed an eight-yard pass to Adams and turned back toward referee Tony Corrente to signal timeout. The problem was, though, that the Packers had already spent their final timeout of the first half, which meant Rodgers was trying to call a timeout he didn’t have. The quarterback ran to the line just in time to snap the ball and hit Adams again, setting up a Mason Crosby field goal after Adams got out of bounds. The NFL changed its rulebook in 2016 to “make it a delay of game foul when a team attempts to call a timeout and it is not permitted to do so,” which meant Rodgers should have been flagged on Sunday (though a flag would have stopped the clock, at least momentarily). In any case, the penalty wasn’t called, and after Rodgers’ completion to Adams put the Packers at the Vikings’ 19, Crosby hit a 37-yard field goal to end the first half.

–Linebacker Ben Gedeon made one of the Vikings’ biggest defensive plays of the day on Sunday, running step-for-step with Jimmy Graham as Rodgers tried to hit him on a deep ball down the left sideline in the first half. Rodgers’ throw went off Graham’s left hand, and if Graham had been a step ahead, he might have caught the pass in stride for a touchdown. As it was, Gedeon appeared to hook his right arm on Graham’s right hand a split-second early, drawing the ire of the Lambeau Field crowd once it saw a replay. At full speed, though, it was the kind of subtle move that wasn’t going to draw a penalty, and by keeping pace with Graham, Gedeon made what might have been one of the biggest plays of the game.

–Stefon Diggs’ second touchdown on Sunday — a 75-yard fourth-quarter bomb from Kirk Cousins to pull the Vikings within two — was the most explosive play of the game by either team, but his first score of the day was the product of a clever play design from offensive coordinator John DeFilippo. Diggs motioned in from a three-receiver set to the right of Kirk Cousins, with Tramon Williams following him. The receiver broke back to the right, then cut back to the left, sprinting toward the left sideline as Cousins snapped the ball. His motion helped him beat Williams to the corner, and he caught a three-yard scoring pass from Cousins to pull the Vikings within six in the fourth quarter. Diggs’ motion on the play looked like the short shuttle drill players do at the NFL scouting combine, and the Vikings essentially bet that he’d make a better cut than the 35-year-old Williams in man coverage. They were right.

–After right tackle Rashod Hill left the game with an ankle injury, second-round pick Brian O’Neill entered the game and appeared to turn in a solid debut. According to Pro Football Focus, O’Neill allowed only one hurry in 25 pass-blocking snaps, as the Vikings rallied to tie the game. It’s worth noting that the rookie’s work came when the Vikings were throwing on almost every play, which might have simplified things for O’Neill somewhat. But the Vikings felt good enough about O’Neill to keep Mike Remmers at right guard, rather than sliding him out to tackle and putting Danny Isidora at right guard. It’s worth watching how the Vikings use O’Neill going forward, especially if Hill’s ankle becomes a concern. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/18/18

Three big takeaways from Vikings vs. Packers that don't involve Daniel Carlson

By Ben Goessling

1. Thielen uses "late hands" on late TD

Kirk Cousins' last-minute touchdown strike to Adam Thielen — which put the Vikings in position to tie the game on a two-point conversion — saw Thielen pull the ball in behind two Packers defenders that had their back to the ball. The catch, Thielen said, was a product of him having "late hands" — waiting as long as he could to put his hands up for the ball, so as not to tip defenders off that they should attempt to deflect it. The skill, Thielen said, is the product of countless practice reps, including drills where corners are staring at him and not the ball.

2. Vikings see a different version of Rodgers

Rather than trying to extend plays by throwing on the run and operating outside the pocket, Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers had to play differently with his sprained left knee in a brace. According to Pro Football Focus, Rodgers released the ball in an average of just 2.24 seconds on Sunday, completing 21 of his 23 passes where he released the ball in less than 2.5 seconds. Coach Mike Zimmer, it should be noted, said after the game the Packers' offensive linemen got away with holding throughout the game.

3. Vikings benefitted from Packers' puzzling clock management

When the Packers got the ball at the Vikings' 13 with 2:04 to go after Ha Ha Clinton-Dix's interception, the game appeared all but over. The Vikings were able to come back, however, because of some dubious decisions from Packers coach Mike McCarthy. He called for a run play on first down, which only took four seconds off the clock before the two-minute warning, and threw for the end zone on second and third down. Up by just five, the Packers needed a touchdown, but rather than throwing on first down and running later, McCarthy's play-calling sequence drained just 19 seconds off the clock before a Mason Crosby field goal. PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/18/18

NFL hitting defensive players like Eric Kendricks, Sheldon Richardson in their pockets

By Mark Craig

Sheldon Richardson welcomed both friend and foe to the growing list of NFL defensive players who have or will be fined thousands of dollars by the NFL for hits they believe were legal and good faith attempts to obey the league's efforts to protect quarterbacks.

The Vikings defensive tackle was asked about the two questionable roughing-the-passer penalties in Sunday's 29-29 tie at Green Bay. The first was on Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks. The second was on Packers linebacker Clay Matthews.

Richardson, who was fined $20,054 for a similar hit in Week 1, sympathized with both of his defensive brethren.

"I know the feeling," he said. "I told [Kendricks] to shake it off. Just be expecting [a fine letter] on Thursday."

Asked if that was a tough check to write, Richardson said, "It's payroll deduct. I don't even see it leave my bank account. It's the truth. They cut out writing the check.

"What can I say," he added. "Every year, they make a rule change, and it's always something the defense got to do. The fine system itself is for the defensive players, I believe."

Coach Mike Zimmer said he thinks the roughing calls are playing a role in scoring being "way up" this year.

"Apparently, that's what they want," he said. "It's an offensive league."

Vikings add a sixth receiver

In signing 29-year-old Aldrick Robinson, the Vikings reached back into Kirk Cousins' past to bolster a receiving corps shaken by Laquon Treadwell's costly drops on Sunday.

Robinson and Cousins were together in Washington from 2012 to 2014. Cousins made nine starts in those three seasons, while Robinson started three times while posting a 20.3-yard average with five touchdowns on 30 catches with the Redskins.

"Cousins really liked him," Zimmer said. "He's a fast guy. Makes some deep-ball plays. And Kirk throws a great deep ball, as you saw the other day."

This is Robinson's fifth team in seven seasons. He played for the 49ers last season, catching 19 passes for 260 yards and two touchdowns in 16 games with one start.

16 ½-point favorites?!

The Vikings opened this week as a 16 ½-point favorite over the visiting Bills, who are 0-2 and starting a rookie quarterback in Josh Allen.

"That's an NFL team, bro," Richardson said when asked about the point spread. "We prepare for them as if they're 2-0. Just what it is. We're not taking them lightly."

According to the Buffalo News, the Bills have been an underdog of 16 or more points only four times since 1980. They're 0-4 against the spread and have been outscored 160-24 in those games.

The Bills were 18-point underdogs at Miami in 1985. They lost 28-0.

The paper also researched the league's largest point spreads since 1980. No. 1 was Denver as a 26 ½-point favorite against Jacksonville in 2013.

Not-so-special teams

Monday's release of rookie kicker Daniel Carlson doesn't cure all that currently ails the Vikings' special teams.

"We're going to have to clean it up," Zimmer said. "I've talked to the team about some things that I'll keep within ourselves.

"But we've got to do a better job there. We can't get a punt blocked. We did have some good returns in the game. We should have fair caught a couple punts that we didn't. We lost about 10 yards on each one. So we've got to do a better job there." PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings sign receiver Aldrick Robinson

By Andrew Krammer

A day after Vikings receiver Laquon Treadwell dropped a critical pass in the 29-29 tie against the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings have signed another pass-catcher: speedster Aldrick Robinson.

The signing was first revealed by NFL.com and confirmed by the Star Tribune.

Robinson played last year for the San Francisco 49ers. He caught 19 passes for 260 yards — an average of 13.7 yards per catch.

The 5-foot-10 receiver from Southern Methodist started out in Washington, where he played from 2011 to 2014. He then spent one season in Atlanta and one with the 49ers.

For his career he has 69 catches for 1,191 yards and nine touchdowns.

The Vikings have not officially announced the signing, but did release maligned kicker Daniel Carlson only minutes later.

Treadwell’s status as the third receiver, along with Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs, is in jeopardy. On Sunday, the Vikings turned briefly to Stacy Coley and also have Brandon Zylstra is an immediate option for that role.

Treadwell has four catches so far this season for 41 yards. He caught 20 balls in 2017. PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/18/18

Matt Wile looks to bounce back from first Vikings punt blocked since 2014

By Chris Tomasson

Entering Sunday, it had been nearly four years since the Vikings had a punt blocked.

That changed early in the first quarter of a 29-29 tie at Green Bay. Geronimo Allison blocked Matt Wile’s punt and Josh Jackson recovered it in the end zone for a touchdown.

“I just know right when I was making contact with the ball, it was, ‘Huh, well, there’s someone there,’ ’’ Wile said Monday about what happened. “But after that punt, I just was focused on coming back and hitting good punts for rest of the game.’’

The Vikings had most recently had a punt blocked on Dec. 21, 2014, at Miami, when Jeff Locke’s punt was blocked out of the end zone for a safety with 41 seconds left and the Vikings lost 37-35.

Locke punted for the Vikings from 2013-16 and Ryan Quigley had the job in 2017. So Wile, who was claimed on waivers Sept. 2 as Quigley was released, is Minnesota’s third punter in three seasons.

Wile’s first two games have been up and down. He is averaging 43.4 yards per punt gross and 38.2 net. But, in addition to the blocked punt, he shanked one that went just 29 yards in the Sept. 9 opener against San Francisco and had a touchback on a 58-yard punt against the Packers from the Minnesota 42.

“It felt like I’ve hit the ball pretty well,’’ Wile said. “Of course, I would have liked to have had that 29-yard punt back in the first game and that one from the 42. I would have liked to have gotten the ball a little more to the sideline or a little higher so that we could have covered it in the field of play.’’

The Vikings had a number of breakdowns Sunday on special teams. Daniel Carlson missed three field goals and was waived Monday. And Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said there were issues on punt returns in which fair catches weren’t called.

“We’re going to have to clean it up,” Zimmer said of special teams. “I’ve talked to the team about some things that we’ll keep within ourselves. But we’ve got to do a better job.”

HILL ON THE MEND

It remains to be seen if tackle Rashod Hill, who suffered a sprained right ankle in the third quarter against the Packers, will be able to play Sunday against Buffalo at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Zimmer said after the Green Bay game the injury isn’t serious and Hill on Monday concurred. Hill said it’s too early to say if he will miss any game time.

“I’m taking it day by day,’’ said Hill, who had a wrap on the ankle.

Hill departed after being in for 41 plays. Rookie Brian O’Neill played the last 32 snaps at right tackle.

“He did pretty good,’’ Zimmer said. “I thought he played well.’’

Also not believed to be serious is a chest injury suffered Sunday by cornerback Marcus Sherels. After being hurt, he was replaced in the third quarter by Mike Hughes as the punt returner.

BRIEFLY

— The Vikings on Sunday played their first overtime game since Nov. 8, 2015, against St. Louis. It was their first in a 10-minute overtime period since the rule change last year. “I do think you have a chance to have more ties,’’ said Zimmer, whose overtime record in five seasons is 3-0-1. “I would say a little less number of plays that you are out there (in overtime), the less opportunity there is for guys to get hurt.’’

— Tight end Kyle Rudolph considered the tie more of a positive than a negative. That’s because the Vikings were on the road and could win a potential tiebreaker against their NFC North rivals at home on Nov. 25. “We’ve just got to hold court at home,’’ Rudoph said. “If we take care of our business at home, it’s definitely a positive.’’

— The Vikings rotated defensive linemen Sunday much less than they did in the opener. Defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said he was equally tired after both games. “I was tired in the opener, too,” he said. “When you play hard, you play hard. I have yet to see a guy play a game and not be tired.” PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings remain baffled by NFL’s new roughing-the-passer rule

By Chris Tomasson

Because his father was a big fan of Deacon Jones, Sheldon Richardson grew up watching old films of the legendary pass rusher.

Jones coined the term “sack,” and used such tactics as the head slap on opposing offensive linemen. Richardson, a Vikings defensive tackle, can only imagine what he could accomplish if the NFL allowed him the same leniency as Jones had in the 1960s.

“You remember how Deacon Jones used to get sacks and stuff like that?” Richardson said Monday. “I’m pretty sure it’s a way lot different now.”

It sure is.

The NFL this season has changed the way it interprets roughing the quarterback, and as a result, defensive players are drawing more flags — and are more confused than ever about what constitutes a rules infraction.

Richardson was penalized in the Sept. 9 opener against San Francisco and was fined $20,054 by the NFL. Linebacker Eric Kendricks was flagged in Sunday’s 29-29 tie at Green Bay.

“I told him, ‘Shake it off, I know the feeling,’ ” said Richardson, who plans to appeal his fine. “Just be expecting (a fine).”

According to the penalty tracker at nflpenalties.com, there have been 21 roughing-the-passer penalties through two weeks, the Packers leading the way with four for minus-52 yards.

The Vikings benefited from one of them on Sunday. With 1:45 left in regulation and Minnesota trailing 29-21, Kirk Cousins threw an interception that would have essentially sealed a Packers victory only to have it negated by a roughing-the-passer call on linebacker Clay Matthews.

Matthews said it was a “terrible call.” Even Cousins, in an interview with Peter King’s Football Morning in America, said it was “probably a generous call, and two or three year ago, it probably doesn’t get flagged.”

After the game, referee Tony Corrente told a pool reporter Matthews was flagged because he “lifted (Cosuins) and drove him to the ground.” Officials also have been penalizing tacklers for putting their full body weight on quarterbacks rather than rolling off after a hit.

So what’s a defender to do?

“There’s adjustments we have to be making on defense, but I’m going to keep playing by the rules and playing hard,” Kendricks said. “But is it only going to be the defense getting fined, penalized?”

Vikings safety Harrison Smith, who avoided penalty on a sack against the 49ers, said rushing the passer has become more difficult.

“It’s a conversation going on in every locker room around the league right now,” he said. “It’s really hard, especially with how good these quarterbacks are. Maybe keep a foot on the ground and roll to the side. It’s a lot harder to do in real life than it is to talk about.”

Despite the rules crackdown, Smith doesn’t blame the officials.

“The refs are in a hard spot, too, because I know that’s what they’re told to call,” he said. “It’s a tough game for us, it’s a tough game for them. I think most defensive players don’t like it, but it is what it is, you’ve got to learn how to play within it.”

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer believes one reason scoring is up through two weeks is the emphasis being placed on protecting the quarterback. Zimmer, though, has been mystified by some of the penalties.

“They’re making it really difficult on defenders, because you have to hit him in a certain spot and then you hit him and they start to go backwards,” Zimmer said. “Your momentum is going to carry you. I’ve even seen guys as they start going to the ground, they put their hands out and they still call it.”

The rules are different than last season, and certainly much different than in the days of Jones earned seven Pro Bowl selections as an end with the Los Angeles Rams. Sacks didn’t become an official statistic until 1982, but Pro Football Weekly once reported that Jones had three seasons of 20 or more sacks in the 1960s.

So how many sacks does Richardson believe he would get if he could play by the same rules as Jones?

PUBLICATION: Pioneer Press DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings waste no time in dropping kicker Daniel Carlson

By Chris Tomasson

The Vikings wasted no time in dropping Daniel Carlson.

The rookie kicker was waived Monday, a day after he missed three field goals — including the potential game-winner on the last play of overtime — in a 29-29 tie at Green Bay.

When asked why, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer answered, “Did you see the game?”

Zimmer said the Vikings will bring veteran kicker Dan Bailey in for a physical. A source said Bailey, the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history, is expected to be signed ahead of Sunday’s game against the Buffalo Bills at U.S. Bank Stadium.

To take Carlson’s place on the roster, the Vikings signed wide receiver Aldrick Robinson. Signing Bailey would require the Vikings to clear another spot on the 53-man roster.

Bailey kicked for Dallas from 2011-17 before being released in a surprise move on Sept. 1. Bailey, who made the Pro Bowl in 2015, has made 88.2 percent of his NFL field-goal attempts. Only Jason Tucker (90.3) has been better.

A fifth-round pick in April, Carlson beat out Kai Forbath for the Vikings’ kicking job in camp but on Sunday was 0 for 3 on field goals, any one of which would have meant victory for Minnesota. He missed attempts from 48 yards in the first quarter, and 49 and 35 in overtime.

“It’s hard to figure out,” Zimmer said. “You think you’ve got a guy for a while, and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But things happen, I guess.”

During Zimmer’s third season in 2016, the Vikings cut kicker Blair Walsh after he missed four field goals and four extra points in nine games. That, of course, followed Walsh’s miss on a potential game-winning, 27-yard field goal in the playoffs the previous season against Seattle.

Zimmer met Monday with Vikings general manager Rick Spielman to discuss Carlson, and said special teams coordinator Mike Priefer was not involved in the process. The head coach shrugged off having traded two sixth-round selections to move up and select Carlson in the April draft.

“That’s water off a duck’s back,” he said. “We’ll get some more sixth-rounders next year.”

Robinson, who turns 30 next Monday, becomes Minnesota’s oldest receiver and will add experience to a young position group. The speedy Robinson, in his seventh season, has 69 career catches for 1,191 yards for an average gain of 17.3 yards.

Robinson, who worked out Sept. 7 with the Vikings, spent last season with San Francisco, catching 19 passes for 260 yards. He played for Washington from 2012-14, when Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins was with the Redskins.

“We’re going to see how he does and how he performs in practice and go from there,” Zimmer said. “Cousins was with him before and he really liked him. He’s a fast guy who makes some deep-ball plays and Kirk throws a great deep ball.’’

Robinson could challenge Laquon Treadwell, Minnesota’s No. 3 receiver, for playing time. Treadwell, a third-year man, scored his first NFL touchdown in the first quarter Sunday but later dropped three passes in key situations.

“I think he was trying to run before he caught the ball,” Zimmer said.

Robinson could provide much-needed depth at receiver. The Vikings have two receivers on the roster in second-year man Stacy Coley and rookie Brandon Zylstra; neither has caught a pass in a regular-season game. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/18/18

NOTEBOOK: Brian O’Neill Recaps 1st Action of NFL Career

By Vikings.com Staff

EAGAN, Minn. — Brian O’Neill made his NFL debut on Sunday, playing 32 snaps at historic Lambeau Field as the Vikings earned a 29-29 tie with Green Bay.

It was certainly a long way from the college game, or even where the Vikings rookie right tackle was a few months ago in spring practices.

O’Neill said after Sunday’s game that he would have to watch the game back to truly evaluate his performance. But the initial impression was positive.

”First thoughts, yeah, I thought I came a long way,” O’Neill said. “But there’s still miles to go.

“I have so many million details I have to worry about to get better and try and improve,” O’Neill said.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer on Monday said he liked what he saw from the 2017 second- round draft pick out of Pittsburgh.

“Yeah, he did pretty good,” Zimmer said. “I thought he played well.”

O’Neill entered the game late in the third quarter when right tackle Rashod Hill suffered an ankle injury.

Minnesota trailed 20-7 at the time, but O’Neill’s protection helped Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins lead the comeback charge to send the game to overtime.

With O’Neill in the game, Cousins completed 17 of 24 passes for 270 yards and three touchdowns.

“You could tell he was firing on all cylinders at that point because we’ve practiced that, and it carried over from practice to the game,” O’Neill said.

O’Neill credited his preparation during the week for helping him keep Cousins clean in the pocket.

“For me that was refreshing to have prepared for something, and then being out there and the first play happening and being like, ‘Alright, this is what I prepared for,’ ” O’Neill said.

He also praised center Brett Jones and right guard Mike Remmers for helping him with communication against Green Bay.

“Big credit to Mike [Remmers] and Brett [Jones], their communication to me in the game was spot on. It made it so much easier,” O’Neill said. “Mike was in my ear. He was like: ‘This is where we’re at, this is what we’re doing, this is when we’re going.’

“Having Mike next to me really, really helped,” O’Neill said. “I couldn’t ask for more and thank him enough.”

Zimmer said after the game that he didn’t think Hill’s ankle injury was serious. But if O’Neill has to play Sunday against Buffalo, he will now have some experience under his belt.

A ‘bizarre’ feeling

The Vikings and Packers wrapped up the 116th edition of the Border Battle on Sunday at Lambeau Field.

But for only the third time in the history of the rivalry, the game ended in a tie.

A day after the unique ending, Vikings players said they were still trying to process the emotions of not winning and not losing.

“I don’t know how to feel, honestly,” said Vikings wide receiver Adam Thielen. “It feels like a loss kind of, but I think we did a lot of good things.”

“When you fight that hard and leave it all on the field and it ends in a tie, it almost feels like, ‘Man, what did I sacrifice all that for? That’s probably the hardest part,” Thielen later added. “At least when you lose, you lose. I don’t know how to feel. Am I happy? Am I sad? Am I mad? Am I angry? I don’t know. I’ve never really experience this before.”

Vikings safety Harrison Smith echoed Thielen’s thoughts.

“It’s a weird thing. When you don’t win, it’s not the same,” Smith said. “It’s kind of bizarre, but you learn from it like a win or a loss. You watch the tape and move forward.”

Ups and downs

The Vikings had a disappointing start to the game as Matt Wile’s first punt of the game was blocked and returned for a touchdown.

On Monday, Wile explained the play and how Minnesota’s punting unit responded.

“It’s hard to know what was happening. It was like, ‘Well, uh, there is someone there.’ After that punt, I was just focused on coming back and hitting good punts for the rest of the game,” Wile said. “I trusted the guys and knew they were going to protect me. I never noticed guys getting close to me or anything like that.”

Wile had four punts after the initial one, and averaged 51 yards per punt with two that landed inside the 20-yard line. He also had a 58-yard boot that went into the end zone for a touchback.

“I felt like I’ve hit the ball pretty well,” Wile said. “In the last game, that one long one from the 42(- yard line) … I would have liked to have gotten the ball more to the sideline or a little higher so that we could have covered it in the field of play.

“But otherwise I’ve hit the ball pretty well,” Wile added. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/18/18

Presser Points: Zimmer Says Vikings Bringing Bailey in for Physical

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. – The Vikings on Monday waived Daniel Carlson and are pursuing another kicker.

Carlson was released after missing three field goals – 48, 49 and 35 yards – at Green Bay on Sunday, including two in overtime.

When asked directly about reports that the Vikings would be signing former Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey, Vikings Head Coach Zimmer responded, “We’re bringing him in for a physical. We’ll see if we sign him or not.”

Zimmer said it was disappointing that things didn’t work out with Carlson.

“It’s hard to figure out,” Zimmer said. “You think you got a guy for a while, and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But things happen, I guess.”

Here are four other topics covered by Zimmer during his Monday afternoon session with Twin Cities media:

1. ‘Feels like a loss’

Zimmer was asked his feelings on the Vikings-Packers tie a day removed from the Border Battle.

Minnesota battled back from a two-score deficit to send the game into overtime and prohibited Green Bay from scoring. A missed 35-yard field goal as time expired, however, left the teams with 29 points apiece.

“It feels like a loss,” Zimmer said. “I’m sure [the Packers] probably feel the same way. I don’t know, you’d have to ask them. But there were so many things that happened there, and you got a chance to kick it and win it, and we don’t get it done.

“It feels like a loss,” Zimmer reiterated. “It obviously is way better than a loss, but we play to win. We didn’t get that part of it.”

2. Special teams focus

In addition to Carlson’s rough outing, the Vikings had a punt blocked early in the game that resulted in a Packers touchdown and quick 7-0 lead.

Zimmer was pleased with solid kickoff returns by Mike Hughes (46 yards) and Holton Hill (28 yards) but said special teams need to be tightened.

“We’re going to have to clean it up. I’ve talked to the team about some things, and that I’ll keep within ourselves, but we’ve got to do a better job there,” Zimmer said. “We can’t get a punt blocked. We did have some good returns in the game. We should have fair caught a couple punts that we didn’t – lost about 10 yards on each one. We’ve got to do a better job there, yeah.”

3. Cousins is a competitor

Zimmer spoke highly of Cousins’ second regular-season performance in Purple. The quarterback finished the division matchup 35-of-48 passing for 425 yards, four touchdowns and one interception for a passer rating of 118.8.

Zimmer was asked if Cousins showed anything “from a competitive standpoint” in the fourth quarter – during which he threw three touchdown passes and a 2-point conversion – that he hadn’t seen before.

“I know he’s a competitor,” Zimmer said. “He played outstanding last week, and everybody was saying he was 0-for-6 in the fourth quarter, and this week he’s 14-of-20 and [three] touchdowns, or whatever it is. Everything is a week-to-week thing.

“I know everybody gets all excited about ‘what this guy didn’t do this week’ or ‘what this guy did this week,’ [but] he’s always been a competitor to me,” Zimmer added. “I thought he played great.”

4. Thielen’s late show of hands

On the late-game touchdown pass to Adam Thielen that set up Minnesota for a 2-point conversion to send the game into overtime, Thielen was able to wait until the last second to “show his hands” and still make the catch.

Zimmer explained how Thielen’s ability to keep his hands low and just in front of him makes it difficult on the defensive back.

“It’s hard, especially you’re running with your back from the quarterback, which a lot of times you are [as a DB],” Zimmer said. “That is something a lot of the good receivers do. It was a great play, great throw, great catch. Kirk got hit pretty close to the knee, even though that is not [legal], either. He made a great throw, and Thielen made a great catch.”

PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/18/18

Early Look: Vikings vs. Bills

By Eric Smith

EAGAN, Minn. — After a weird, wild and wacky tie against the Packers on Sunday, the Vikings now turn their attention to their first interconference game of the 2018 season.

Minnesota will host Buffalo on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium. Kickoff is at noon (CT).

The Vikings staged a furious rally at the end of regulation against Green Bay but neither team could score in overtime as the game ended in a 29-29 tie.

Minnesota is now 1-0-1 on the season as it prepares to welcome winless Buffalo to town.

The Bills are 0-2, and both losses have come by double digits.

Here’s a look at Minnesota’s Week 3 home game against Buffalo:

Passing: Kirk Cousins produced one of the best games of his career — and in Vikings history — in the stalemate against the Packers.

The quarterback completed 35 of 48 passes for 425 yards with four touchdowns and an interception. The 425 yards tied with Daunte Culpepper (at New Orleans, Oct. 17, 2004) for eighth-most in a game in Vikings history.

Cousins passer rating of 118.8 was the 10th-highest of his career when attempting at least 15 passes in a game. He also had his fourth-most passing yards in a regular-season game. It was the fourth time he’s thrown four touchdown passes in a game.

Buffalo started rookie Josh Allen, the 10th overall pick in the 2018 NFL Draft, for the first time in Week 2.

Allen completed 18 of 33 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and two interceptions. He had a passer rating of 63.3.

Rushing: The Vikings ran for 68 yards on 18 plays as they trailed most of the game and had to rely on the air attack.

Dalvin Cook led the Vikings with 38 yards on 10 carries, while Latavius Murray had 19 yards on four attempts. Each running back had a long of nine yards.

Bills running back LeSean McCoy had nine carries for 39 yards against the Chargers but left the game with an injury. Allen had 32 yards on eight attempts.

Marcus Murphy and Chris Ivory are also on the roster in Buffalo.

Receiving: Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs each surpassed the 100-yard mark in a game for the first time since they became teammates.

Thielen had 12 catches for 131 yards and a fourth-quarter score with 31 seconds left, while Diggs had nine receptions for 128 yards and two touchdowns. Diggs’ scores were on 3- and 75-yard passes, and he also caught a 2-point conversion pass.

Kyle Rudolph added seven catches for 72 yards, and Cook had three catches for 52 yards. Laquon Treadwell had two catches for 23 yards, including an 11-yard touchdown, his first in the NFL.

The Vikings added to their wide receivers room Monday with the signing of Aldrick Robinson.

Bills wide receiver Zay Jones led Buffalo with two catches for 63 yards. Ivory had one catch for 30 yards. McCoy and tight end Charles Clay each had 29 receiving yards.

Defense: Minnesota’s defense had an up-and-down day against the Packers and quarterback Aaron Rodgers.

The Vikings allowed 351 yards of offense but limited Green Bay to just one offensive touchdown and five field goals.

Danielle Hunter, Mackensie Alexander and David Parry had sacks for the Vikings, while Everson Griffen and Sheldon Richardson split a sack for the second straight week.

The Vikings did not force a turnover against the Packers, but held Green Bay to just for of 13 conversions on third down.

Buffalo allowed 31 points to the Chargers, and has given up 78 points through the first two weeks of the season, which is tied for last in the league with the Lions.

Lorenzo Alexander and Jerry Hughes had sacks against the Chargers, but Buffalo did not have an interception. In a unique move, Bills cornerback Vontae Davis retired at halftime in Week 2.

Special Teams: The Vikings special teams unit struggled at Lambeau Field. Rookie kicker Daniel Carlson missed three field goals, including two in overtime. His 35-yard try on the final play of overtime went wide right.

The Vikings released Carlson on Monday, and Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said the team will bring in kicker Dan Bailey for a physical.

Minnesota also had a punt blocked for a touchdown that gave the Packers an early 7-0 lead.

On a positive note, rookie Mike Hughes had a 46-yard kickoff return that set up a first-quarter score for Minnesota.

Bills kicker Steven Hauschka made both of his field goal attempts on Sunday. Punter Corey Bojorquez averaged 44.6 yards on five punts.

Over The Years

The Vikings are 8-5 all-time against Buffalo, a team Minnesota now plays once every four years. The schedule rotation began in 2002.

The Bills have had the upper hand of late by winning three of the past four matchups, although each of three Vikings losses have come by a touchdown or less.

Last meeting: Bills 17, Vikings 16, Oct. 29, 2014, in Buffalo

The Vikings couldn’t hold a late lead in Zimmer’s first season in Minnesota.

The Vikings led 16-10 but Buffalo scored with just a single second remaining as Sammy Watkins caught a 2-yard touchdown pass from Kyle Orton to give the Vikings a crushing loss.

Minnesota built up 13-10 halftime lead thanks to a touchdown pass from Teddy Bridgewater to Cordarrelle Patterson and two field goals from Blair Walsh.

The kicker added another field goal early in the fourth quarter to give the Vikings a six-point lead, but Minnesota’s defense couldn’t hold on late as the Vikings dropped to 2-5 on the season.

Harrison Smith, Everson Griffen, Chad Greenway and Jasper Brinkley forced fumbles for the Vikings, with Anthony Barr recovering two of them and Robert Blanton falling on the other. Blanton also had Minnesota’s lone interception of the day.

Griffen had 3.0 sacks on the day. Linval Joseph, Tom Johnson and Sharrif Floyd also got to the Buffalo quarterback. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/18/18

5 Things to Know about Vikings WR Aldrick Robinson

By Lindsey Young

EAGAN, Minn. — The Vikings announced Monday that they have signed wide receiver Aldrick Robinson.

Robinson most recently played for the 49ers, whom he signed with as a free agent during the 2017 offseason. In 2017, he played in all 16 games, making one start, and recorded 19 catches for 260 yards and two touchdowns.

During the 2018 preseason, Robinson had two catches for 68 yards, including a 35-yard reception against the Colts in San Francisco’s third preseason game.

Robinson was initially selected by Washington in the sixth round (178th overall) of the 2011 NFL Draft. He has also spent time with the Ravens (2014-15) and the Falcons (2016).

Here are five things to know about the newest Vikings wide receiver:

1. Connection with Cousins

Robinson spent two-plus seasons (2012-14) in Washington while Cousins was the backup quarterback to Robert Griffin III.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer said during his Monday afternoon podium session that the background with Cousins is beneficial.

“Cousins was with him before, and he really liked him,” Zimmer said. “He’s a fast guy, makes some deep ball plays. Kirk throws a great deep ball, as you saw the other day.”

2. Stretching the field

Over the past two seasons, Robinson has played all 16 games for Atlanta and San Francisco, respectively, and made one start with each team.

Robinson totaled 39 catches for 583 yards (14.9 yards per catch) and four touchdowns over that time. His longest catches of those seasons were 59 yards and 45 yards for the Falcons and 49ers, respectively.

3. Native of Lone Star State

Robinson’s hometown is Waxahachie, Texas, making him the sixth player on the Vikings 53-man roster to call the Lone Star State home.

He joins Holton Hill (Houston), Danielle Hunter (Katy), George Iloka (Houston), David Morgan (Marble Falls) and Andrew Sendejo (San Antonio).

4. SMU Standout

Robinson was a standout at Southern Methodist University, where as a senior in 2010 he led the Mustangs with 1,301 receiving yards and finished second in program history with 3,314 career receiving yards.

His 181 career receptions, including five during the Armed Forces Bowl, are the fourth-most in SMU history.

Robinson teamed with Cole Beasley to combine for 2,361 receiving yards in 2010.

5. Small but speedy

Listed at 5-foot-10 and 185 pounds, Robinson isn’t the biggest receiver out there but likely is among the fastest.

Robinson tied for the fourth-fastest time in the 40-yard dash at the 2011 NFL Scouting Combine. He clocked in at 4.43 seconds along with Leonard Hankerson and Torrey Smith. Falcons receiver Julio Jones finished just ahead at 4.39.

A former track star, Robinson also finished in the top 10 in the vertical jump (40 inches), broad jump (10 feet, 6 inches), 3-cone drill (6.65 seconds), and 20-yard shuttle (4.09 seconds). PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/18/18

Lunchbreak: Takeaways from Border Battle Include Vikings Air Attack

By Lindsey Young

A lot went on in the Vikings-Packers duel that ended in a 29-29 tie Sunday afternoon.

In a roundtable article reviewing all of the day’s games, NFL.com’s Nick Shook offered three takeaways from the Border Battle, including Minnesota’s passing game led by Kirk Cousins. Shook wrote:

It might sound tired by now, but the Packers decided to make the Vikings beat them by the air, and it was once again the Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen show. Never was it more present than on Minnesota’s final drive of regulation, when Cousins completed an unlikely touchdown pass thanks to an incredible catch made by Thielen in traffic at the front corner of the end zone. Needing two to tie, Cousins then turned to the other side of the field for a fade thrown to Diggs, who ran an excellent route to the back pylon for the successful conversion. The two combined for 21 catches, 259 yards and three touchdowns, all of which being very necessary for Minnesota to overcome a 13-point deficit with a furious, 22-point fourth quarter. All of this was achieved with very little of a running game, thanks to Green Bay’s commitment to stopping Dalvin Cook. Should the Vikings get these things going earlier (and creep closer to a balanced attack), they will be a fearsome offense for opponents all season long.

Shook’s other two observations from the Vikings road game were the three missed field goals by rookie kicker Daniel Carlson and Green Bay’s defensive approach. Shook said that the Packers heavy use of its base defense “paid off through two quarters” but that the team changed its strategy in the second half.

Green Bay shifted to calling five-plus defensive back groupings for most of the second half (understandable, considering the Vikings essentially abandoned the run out of necessity in the fourth) and struggled as the Vikings clawed their way back into the game through the air.

Rodgers resorted to ‘heavier diet’ of quick passes against Vikings

The Vikings defense contained the Packers late in the game, but Aaron Rodgers still proved he could do some damage despite the knee injury he suffered the previous week.

Ben Goessling of the Star Tribune said that the “working theory” about Rodgers is that he may have to scale back on outside-the-pocket throws and transition to “a heavier diet of quick passes” as he continues to get older, and Minnesota saw a sample of that style of play. Goessling wrote:

The 34-year-old Rodgers played that way on Sunday not because of his age but because of the bulky brace he wore on his sprained left knee. If what the Vikings saw Sunday was a preview of what they’ll get from Rodgers in future years, it represented a stark difference from what they’re used to seeing.

According to Pro Football Focus, Rodgers took an average of just 2.24 seconds before throwing on Sunday, down from his 2.65-second average in Week 1 and his 2.55-second average last year. He completed 21 of his 23 passes when he released the ball in 2.5 seconds or less, posting a passer rating of 105.4 on those throws.

Goessling pointed out that Rodgers was sacked once in the first half and found room to throw when blitzed, “even though the Vikings got to him three times in the second half.”

Goessling referenced ESPN Stats and Information, which said that Rodgers was 9 of 9 for 87 yards when blitzed (“though the Vikings did sack him to end the Packers lone overtime drive on a blitze from Mackensie Alexander”).

Overall, though, it’s worth noting that the Vikings had to bring extra heat after Rodgers in the second half, and how effective he was when they did. Things figure to get easier next week at home, against rookie Josh Allen and the Buffalo Bills. PUBLICATION: Vikings.com DATE: 9/18/18

3 Stats That Stood Out: Vikings at Packers

By Craig Peters

The Vikings and Packers tied at 29 on Sunday in the 116th Border Battle, causing a mix of emotions.

It was just the third tie in the series and the first time in NFL history for teams to finish a game with that score.

A spirited comeback showed the grit of the team and prevented a loss, despite Minnesota going into the fourth quarter down 20-7.

Kirk Cousins passed for 425 yards and four touchdowns, and Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen delivered clutch catches in the fourth quarter and overtime period.

Minnesota’s defense allowed just 12 points in the final 40 minutes of the game, including three on a possession that started at the Vikings 13-yard line.

Here are three stats that stood out.

1. Cousins connects with Thielen & Diggs when it counts

Cousins’ 425 passing yards on the day tied with Daunte Culpepper for the eighth-most by a Vikings player in one game. The quarterback totaled 21 completions for 259 yards and three scores to Thielen and Diggs.

In the fourth quarter and overtime, Cousins was a perfect 9-of-9 passing for 160 yards and three touchdowns and a maxed-out NFL passer rating of 158.3.

When facing a deficit, the Vikings obviously turned to the aerial attack to catch up. Minnesota earned 20 of its 24 first downs on passes and just three on rushes (one was awarded after a penalty), which contrasted the Packers, who also had 24 first downs (nine rushing, 11 passing, four via penalties).

All seven first downs by the Vikings in the first half were earned through the air, compared to five rushing, four passing and two via penalties for the Packers.

2. 9 QBHs and 0 PDs

This same stat combination was mentioned in recapping Minnesota’s Week 1 win over San Francisco. The Vikings racked up nine quarterback hits and nine passes defended against the 49ers.

On Sunday, however, press box statisticians did not award a pass defended to the Vikings (although many could argue that Eric Kendricks had one on a second-and-10 throw into the end zone in the fourth quarter).

Aaron Rodgers was 30-of-42 passing for 281 yards with a touchdown and passer rating of 97.4.

Playing through an injured left knee, Rodgers turned to quick passes quite often to prevent Minnesota’s front four and blitzers from getting to him. The Vikings still totaled 4.0 sacks and nine quarterback hits.

He, however, handled the pressure and avoiding putting the football in harm’s way.

3. 15.8 per catch by Graham

Packers offseason addition Jimmy Graham averaged 15.8 yards per reception against the Vikings. The tight end caught six passes for 95 yards on eight targets.

Graham’s day included receptions of 34 and 27 yards that were the two longest completions by Rodgers. He also had a 12-yard touchdown nullified by a holding penalty.

The Packers also had a gain of 31, but it was a combination of a 16-yard reception and a 15-yard penalty.

Vikings Head Coach Mike Zimmer expressed his disappointment in giving up the big plays to Graham, who caught two passes for eight yards against the Bears in his Packers debut the previous week.

In Week 1, the Vikings allowed 49ers tight end George Kittle five catches for 90 yards (18.0 per reception). PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 9/18/18

Defenders struggling with new roughing, ‘strike zone’ rules

By Tim Yotter

Rushing the passer in the NFL is a different demon these days. Penalties are being called, players and coaches are disagreeing on the severity of the hits and fines are being levied.

Welcome to the 2018 NFL.

If the offseason and preseason saw an emphasis on the lowering of the helmet to initiate contact, the regular season is seeing penalties enforced and ensuing fines issued that leave players confused about how to hit the quarterback – whether it’s before he releases the ball or immediately after – without drawing a penalty.

Case in point were two key plays between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, who played to a 29-29 tie on Sunday.

Late in the second quarter, Vikings linebacker Eric Kendricks appeared to be in a spy position on Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. But when Rodgers pump-faked inside the pocket and moved to his left, Kendricks came in and put a hit on him just as the quarterback released an incomplete pass with 1:32 left in the first half.

Kendricks grabbed Rodgers around the waist and brought him to the ground, with Kendricks’ body weight landing on the ground, not on Rodgers. It was very different with the hit that fellow Vikings linebacker Anthony Barr put on Rodgers last year – that one wasn’t penalized, but it created an offseason change in the rules that placed the onus on the tackler to not put all or most of his body weight on a quarterback as they go to the ground.

Kendricks didn’t, but he and the Vikings were penalized 15 yards anyways and the Packers were in Vikings territory.

“I know the feeling,” said Vikings defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson, who was penalized for roughing 49ers QB Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 1 and issued a $20,054 fine. “I told him, ‘Shake it off, I know the feeling. Just be expecting [a fine] Thursday.”

Kendricks didn’t hit Rodgers in the head or below the waist, and the hit wasn’t late.

“It’s difficult. They’re making it really difficult on defenders because you have to hit him in a certain spot and then you hit him and they start to go backwards. Your momentum is going to carry you,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “I’ve even seen guys as they start going to the ground, they put their hands out and they still call it. I don’t know.”

Despite all the confusion over how to tackle a quarterback without drawing a penalty, Zimmer said he believes there is enough replay in today’s game, indicating he doesn’t want that penalty reviewed during a game.

Coaches generally agree with trying to make the game safer and most of them teach “heads-up tackling.” But defenders that know they can’t hit the quarterback in the head or knees, or land on them with most of their weight, still aren’t exactly sure how to approach hits to the quarterback anymore.

“I think it’s a conversation going in every locker room around the league right now. I think we know what they’re calling, right, but it’s just really hard to do,” safety Harrison Smith said. “Both teams it happened to, and it happens across the league, too. It’s really hard, especially with how good these quarterbacks are. Maybe keep a foot on the ground and roll to the side. It’s a lot harder to do in real life than it is to talk about.”

The Packers were also called for roughing Minnesota QB Kirk Cousins.

With 1:45 left in the fourth quarter, the Vikings were trying to mount a touchdown drive as they trailed 29- 21. On the first play of the series, Cousins launched a deep pass for Stacy Coley that was intercepted by Jaire Alexander.

However, as Cousins released the ball, he was hit by linebacker Clay Matthews, who was flagged for roughing the passer. As with Kendricks’ hit in the second quarter, Matthews’ hit on Cousins wasn’t late and was in the waist area. But, as he and Cousins went to the ground, Matthews appeared to drive his shoulder into Cousins.

“When he hit the quarterback, he lifted him and drove him into the ground,” referee Tony Corrente explained after the game.

Cousins said he appreciated the protection as a quarterback, but he admitted that penalty probably wouldn’t have been called a couple years ago.

Richardson reacted to that call on Monday much like he did with Kendricks’ penalty, saying he knows the feeling. Not surprisingly, Matthews did not agree with the call after the game.

“It’s a difficult call to call. You see how it changed the game. I know there’s an emphasis on protecting quarterbacks but it’s gotten out of control,” Matthews said. “I don’t know what else to do. It’s frustrating because Jaire’s intereception, that’s game, right?”

But do all the new regulations on hitting the quarterback take the fun out being a defender?

“Has its ups and downs. What can I say? Is it fair that every day they make a rule change that is always on the defensive guy to do? That’s just what it is,” Richardson said. “The fine system itself is for the defensive players, I believe.”

Smith had a similar comment, saying, “There’s not a lot of consequences for offenses anymore.”

Zimmer said he believes that’s why offenses are scoring more points. According to Pro Football Reference, through less than two full weeks (before Monday night’s game), scoring is up almost two points per team over the full 2017 season – 23.6 points per team this year, 21.7 points last year. However, in 2013 the average was 23.4 points.

But on Sunday, there was some irony that the Vikings and Packers were both penalized for hits that seem to fall under the revised rule that some refer to the “Rodgers Rule.”

Smith didn’t want to expand too much when asked if certain quarterbacks are protected more than others.

“That’s a good question. I don’t even want to touch that one,” he said. “I think you’ve seen some rules created for certain reasons.” PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 9/18/18

Zimmer: Releasing kicker Carlson ‘pretty easy’

By Tim Yotter

Minnesota Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said releasing rookie kicker Daniel Carlson wasn’t a difficult decision after Carlson missed all three of his field goal attempts Sunday against the Green Bay Packers.

Two of those kicks came in overtime, including a 35-yard attempt that went wide right – like the others – as time expired in overtime to give the Vikings a 29-29 tie against their NFC North rivals.

“Did you see the game?” Zimmer said of the decision to release Carlson, adding later: “Yep, pretty easy.”

Carlson’s big leg was an attraction to the Vikings in this year’s draft and they moved up in the fifth round of the draft to select him. Using the 167th pick in the draft on Carlson made him the highest the Vikings have ever drafted a kicker and they gave up two sixth-round picks to select him.

“That’s water off a duck’s back. We’ll get some more sixth-rounders next year, I’m not worried about that,” Zimmer said. “Plus, we got three undrafted free agents on the roster, too, so it’s probably better than having those sixth-rounders.”

Zimmer said after Sunday’s game he would discuss the move with general manager Rick Spielman on Monday, but Zimmer said they didn’t include special teams coordinator Mike Priefer in the discussion.

Instead, the Vikings are bringing in veteran kicker Dan Bailey for a physical and likely will sign him if he passes that. Bailey had a groin injury in 2017, so that will certainly be part of the evaluation.

“We’ll see if we sign him or not,” Zimmer said.

Bailey, who reportedly turned down four previous offers to join an NFL team after the Dallas Cowboys released him, is the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history with a make percentage of 88.152.

In 2017, Bailey hit 15 of 20 field goals for 75 percent accuracy. But before last year, when he played in only 12 games, his previous low was 84.4 percent, when he was 27-for-32 in 2016.

The Vikings will have to make another roster move to make room for their new kicker because the corresponding roster move with Carlson cut was to sign veteran receiver Aldrick Robinson. The Vikings had worked him out 10 days ago.

“We’re going to see how he does and how he performs and go from there,” Zimmer said. “[Kirk] Cousins was with him before and he really liked him. And then he’s a fast guy. Makes some deep-ball plays. And Kirk throws a great deep ball as you saw the other day.”

Cousins connected with Stefon Diggs for a 75-yard touchdown on Sunday and with Adam Thielen for a 22-yard touchdown in a tight spot with 31 seconds left in regulation.

However, former first-round pick Laquon Treadwell had two dropped passes, including one that resulted in a costly interception – Cousins’ first with the Vikings – and Stacy Coley also had a ball go through his hands.

“I talked to the whole team, but I haven’t talked to [Treadwell] individually,” Zimmer said. “I talked to some guys individually.”

Zimmer said he thought Treadwell was trying to run before he caught the ball on his dropped passes. PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 9/18/18

Barr hopes in-game talk with Rodgers cleared the air

By Tim Yotter

Anthony Barr had a brief meeting with Aaron Rodgers, but it wasn’t one loaded with controversy.

At one point during Sunday’s 29-29 tie between the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers, Barr chased a scrambling Rodgers to the sideline but was sure to pull up and avoid contact as Rodgers stepped out of bounds, well aware of the controversy that has followed him for 11 months. Last year, Barr hit Rodgers after he released a pass and landed on the quarterback on a hit that broke the quarterback’s collarbone. It essentially ended Rodgers’ season, as the quarterback was placed on injured reserve and returned for one late-season contest.

Barr wasn’t penalized on the play and wasn’t fined by the NFL after the hit, but Barr was vilified by Packers fans, labeled as a dirty player.

In the second quarter of Sunday’s game between possessions, Barr and Rodgers were shown talking with helmets close to each other after a play. FOX’s broadcast crew said Rodgers approached Barr.

“That’s a conversation between us,” Barr told VikingUpdate.com. “Just talking for a second – clear the air or whatever. So it’s all good.”

Barr said last week that he wasn’t going to seek out Rodgers prior to the game and would treat it like any other game. As it turned out, they played to a stalemate and neither Barr nor Rodgers made any plays that were too splashy.

“We started out a little rocky. They went down and got a touchdown on us. The offense did a great job all day keeping us in it,” Barr said. “I think defensively after that first drive we kind of got tightened up a little bit or our second, third drive, whatever it was when they went down and scored. They’re a great opponent. I’m just proud of the way we fought, proud of the way we came back. Bittersweet having to tie. I’ve never been a part of [a tie]. So mixed emotions, but it’s better than a loss.”

The Vikings trailed 20-7 entering the fourth quarter, but Barr still thought the Vikings should have won and they had their opportunities with two missed field goals in overtime.

“I think we should have won,” he said. “I think we put ourselves in the position to win.”

Rodgers finished the game completing 30 of 42 passes for 281 yards and one touchdown. He was sacked four times – none by Barr – but called the protection “fantastic.”

Barr finished the game with six tackles but no pressures or quarterback hits.

Despite his brief talk with Rodgers, Barr wasn’t sure if it ended with Rodgers being satisfied that last year’s incident was behind them.

“I don’t know,” Barr said. “[The air] has been cleared, in my opinion. The opportunity was there [to talk], took it and moving on.”

He said the conversation was cordial. PUBLICATION: VIKING Update DATE: 9/18/18

Mistakes and breaks both part of 29-29 tie

By Tim Yotter

The Minnesota Vikings had their mistakes and their breaks by the lake, leaving the impression that a 29- 29 overtime tie with the Green Bay Packers was justice for both teams.

Vikings players weren’t quite sure how to take the tie. They had fallen into a 20-7 deficit late in the third quarter thanks to a game of gaffes to that point.

There were missed kicks – three of them for the Vikings. There were untimely penalties – eight penalties against Minnesota for 70 yards. There were blown assignments and dropped passes that had players temporarily pulled.

There were also their fair share of breaks and “timely” penalties that took the Vikings from the abyss to jubilation to a sense of not quite sure how they felt about it ending in a tie. They had chances to win it and chances to lose it, good luck that gave them the opportunity and bad luck that kept them from winning it.

Kirk Cousins was a star, throwing for 425 yards, four touchdowns, one interception that wasn’t his fault and a 118.8 rating. Adam Thielen (131 yards) and Stefon Diggs (128 yards) each surpassed 100 yards receiving for the first time as a Vikings duo.

“I thought Cousins played outstanding. Threw for 425 yards, 119 quarterback rating,” Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said. “I thought he made some outstanding throws, made good decisions. I thought he made some really good plays.”

He did, especially a 75-yard heave of a touchdown to Diggs that brought the Vikings back to within two points midway through the fourth quarter after trailing 20-7 to start the quarter.

But there were also dropped passes from Laquon Treadwell after he experienced the high of his first NFL touchdown, and kicker Daniel Carlson was the goat of the game.

“I had plays on the field I should have made and it could have cost us the game, but it’s a team sport. The defense rallied,” Treadwell said. “They kept fighting. Kirk came and said I’m fine, just keep playing. I didn’t let it affect the rest of the game. They still had me out there. I was still making my blocks and I was still doing everything I could to help my team.”

The mistakes started early when the Vikings’ first drive was ended by a sack and punctuated with the exclamation point when Geronimo Allison blocked Matt Wiles’ punt and Josh Jackson recovered in the end zone. It gave the Packers quick momentum with a 7-0 lead midway through the first quarter.

“We almost had a punt blocked last week; we did this week. So we’re going to be cranking on the special teams good now,” Zimmer said. “The guy lined up on the outside, twisted inside and he grabbed our center and pulled him to the ground, which they’re not supposed to do.”

It was one of several calls that Zimmer bemoaned, but he and the Vikings were also the beneficiary of the biggest questionable call of the game (more on that later).

The Vikings answered quickly when Treadwell scored his first career touchdown to tie the game on the ensuing drive. However, after the special-teams gaffe, the defense found its trouble spot.

The Packers rushed for 34 yards to moved across midfield on the normally stout run defense and then Mackensie Alexander’s holding penalty on third-and-2 allowed the Green Bay march to continue. Two straight completions to Davante Adams allowed the Packers to retake the lead, 14-7.

On the next drive, the Vikings had an illegal formation penalty and Cousins overthrew Diggs on third-and- 5.

Just when it appeared the Vikings would settle in, special teams got back on the mistake train as Carlson missed a 48-yard field goal wide right with 1:37 left in the half. It allowed the Packers to start from their own 38-yard line.

Eric Kendricks allowed the ball to move across midfield with a roughing call when he hit Aaron Rodgers late. Zimmer said Kendricks hit Rodgers in the waist area and thought the quarterback still had the ball.

That penalty put the ball across midfield and two completions to Davante Adams moved Mason Crosby into position to kick a 37-yard field goal for a 17-7 Green Bay lead at the half.

On the Packers’ first drive of the second half, Mackensie Alexander allowed tight end Jimmy Graham to easily get behind him on third-and-3. He was pulled for Mike Hughes, at least temporarily. Hughes was later pulled after he missed a tackle on Graham.

“We turned the tight end loose twice when the quarterback was holding the ball,” Zimmer said. “We looked back and that guy went up [field]. I mean, that’s simple stuff.”

Instead of a punt from inside their 20-yard line, the Packers were across midfield. A 16-yard pass to Adams had another 15 yards tacked on when Andrew Sendejo was flagged for hitting a defenseless receiver.

The Vikings finally got a holding call that Zimmer said was a regular occurrence. That wiped out a 12-yard touchdown pass to Graham and the Packers settled for a 20-7 lead more than halfway through the third quarter.

A third-down drop by Treadwell led to an exchange of punts before the offense found a rhythm. The Vikings marched 71 yards on nine plays, capped by a 3-yard pass to Diggs to pull within six points, 20-14, less than a minute into the fourth quarter.

The Packers responded with a 31-yard field goal by Crosby, but on the second play of the ensuing drive, Cousins threw a perfect deep ball to Diggs, who beat Davon House for the 75-yard touchdown and Minnesota was within two points.

Another Crosby field goal was followed up by an interception from Packers safety Ha Ha Clinton-Dix, an opportunity that came only because the ball went off Treadwell’s hands.

“That was the first time I’ve been in that situation and I flipped it as fast as I could and I tried to stay positive and I did that and I finished the game blocking well and doing everything I could do to help the team win,” Treadwell said. “The emotions were high. We started off down and we fought back and they fought back. It was punch after punch. We were all preaching 60 minutes from the jump.”

Turned out they would need 70 minutes to end in a tie.

The interception set up a fifth Crosby field goal and a 29-21 Packers lead.

But for all of Zimmer’s angst over the officiating, the Vikings were biggest beneficiary of it, too. On the first play of their next drive, Cousins fired deep for Stacy Coley, who was replacing Treadwell and overshot him. Rookie Jaire Alexander came away with the interception, but it was negated by a late hit on Clay Matthews.

Referee Tony Corrente said Matthews picked up Cousins and drove him into the ground.

“I think the little bit I saw on the screen in the stadium, I think it’s one of those things that I don’t think that’s flagged a couple years ago,” Cousins said. “I think they’re trying to protect the quarterback. As a quarterback, I appreciate it. But I’m sure that’s a call the Packers are saying, ‘Well, that’s one of those plays where if it goes our way the game is over.’ That’s why both teams would say there were plays that could have ended the game on both sides.”

The Vikings took advantage, with Thielen catching a 22-yard touchdown in between two defenders and Diggs tying the game with an over-the-shoulder two-point conversion.

Zimmer’s well-timed timeout at the end of regulation came just before the ball was snapped and Crosby hit a 52-yard. Crosby missed the reloaded kick and the Vikings got overtime.

That only set up two more Carlson kicks that sailed wide right – a 49-yarder that would have given the Vikings the lead with the opening drive and a 35-yarder that would have given them the win with no time left.

“In some ways, I’m ticked off that we didn’t win the game. In some ways, I’m thinking maybe this tie will help us down the road. It’s way better than a loss,” Zimmer said. “But you come on the road, you play a really good football team. The guys played their rear ends off. You have a chance to win at the end and you don’t get it done.”

PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/18/18

Exploring the what-if moments and ripple effects from Vikings- Packers

By Matthew Coller

One day after the Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers played one of the wildest games in the history of the rivalry, a 29-29 tie at Lambeau Field, the Vikings were still walking around with blank looks, not knowing whether they should be happy about coming back from down 13 points against Aaron Rodgers or be angry they missed an opportunity to take an early lead in the NFC North.

“It feels like a loss,” head coach Mike Zimmer said. “I’m sure they probably feel the same way. I don’t know, you’d have to ask them. But there was so many things that happened there, and you got a chance to kick it and win it, and we don’t get it done. It feels like a loss. It obviously is way better than a loss, but we play to win. We didn’t get that part of it.”

For now, the Vikings and Packers are both reminding themselves that there’s a long way to go before we start talking about playoff scenarios. They also know that the tie could play a huge role in deciding things like the wild card, home field advantage and the winner of the NFC North.

In any NFL game, there will be what-ifs. In the Packers’ remarkable Week 1 win over the Chicago Bears, cornerback Kyle Fuller dropped an Aaron Rodgers pass that would have ended the game rather and never allowed Rodgers’ comeback to happen.

But Sunday’s game between the Vikings and Packers had a remarkable number of swings. Just look at ESPN’s Win Probability chart:

When we get to the end of the regular season, there is a very good chance we will be re-living Week 2’s crazy contest and asking all sorts of what-if questions. Let’s have a look at a few of them, the impact they could have and how the swings in Vikings-Packers will shape the narratives going forward…

What if there’s no penalty called on Clay Matthews?

With 1:45 remaining, the Vikings had the ball at their own 25 with the Packers up 29-21. Quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a prayer up to Stacy Coley, who has zero career receptions, and was intercepted by rookie Jaire Alexander. The play was called back because of a highly questionable flag on Clay Matthews for roughing the passer. Following that flag, Cousins led a 75-yard touchdown drive and ultimately two potential game-winning drives in OT.

Cousins threw for 146 yards and a touchdown after the penalty, which would have essentially ended the game. He walked away from Green Bay as the QB who went into Lambeau and stood up to Rodgers on the road rather than having come up short because the offense sputtered for the entire first half.

“He played outstanding last week and everybody was saying he was 0-for-6 in the fourth quarter and this week he’s 14 out of 20 and two touchdowns or whatever it is, everything is a week-to-week thing,” Zimmer said. “I know everybody gets all excited about what this guys didn’t do this week or what this guy did this week, so he’s always been a competitor to me. I thought he played great.”

While Zimmer was even-handed about the impact of his performance, Cousins very likely gained belief among his teammates. He made big-time throws in a difficult environment and put his team in a position to win. Passes like his touchdown to Thielen or 75-yard bomb to Diggs are the types of plays that separate him from 2017 QB Case Keenum and the Vikings got to see that up close. Without the penalty, the perception of Cousins’ day would have been that he made a Keenum-like risky throw in the big moment for a key pick that caused them to lose.

What if Crosby hits the 52-yard field goal at the end of regulation?

The Vikings defense came away from Sunday’s game looking pretty good. They made a number of key third down stops, most notably following a late Cousins INT with just over two minutes remaining. Forcing a field goal kept the Vikings alive. But the defense did not come up big in the final moments when Rodgers hit on a 27-yard pass to tight end Jimmy Graham and a quick out that put Crosby in a spot to win.

Had Crosby made the kick, we would have seen the Vikings’ loss at Lambeau as similar to the 2016 defeat at the hands of the Detroit Lions, who quickly moved to mid-field with only seconds remaining to set up a game-tying field goal from Matt Prater. We might have been questioning whether they could be beaten by good offenses on the road, especially on grass a la Philadelphia.

Of course, this would have also won the game for the Packers, putting them in the driver’s seat going forward in the NFC North. Aside from a September 30 game versus Buffalo, the Packers’ upcoming opponents are all tough. They go to Washington D.C., then play the Lions, 49ers, Rams and Patriots. It would have given them a small cushion to work with in the North race.

What if Daniel Carlson made the game-winning kick?

Clearly the Vikings would have been in great shape in the North race with their remaining regular season game against the Packers coming later in the season at US Bank Stadium, where they have beaten Green Bay in both contests since the stadium opened. The question is whether the Vikings would have held onto Carlson. He missed two field goals earlier in the game — one very wide right — but the fifth-round pick might have kept his job had he made the 35-yarder as time expired.

It’s possible the Vikings saved themselves future heartbreak with Carlson’s miss because they were forced to waive him and sign Dan Bailey. It’s also possible the missed kick will cost them the division.

What if overtime was 15 minutes?

You have to wonder if the Vikings would have been able to slow Rodgers one more time after giving him good field position after Carlson’s third miss. Either way, if the game had ended with someone scoring rather than a tie, we wouldn’t have any conversations about overtime in the NFL. Now there could be some momentum toward some type of college-style shootout when there’s no score after 10 minutes because absolutely no one wanted to see that game end 29-29. PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/18/18

Game-changing roughing calls have Vikings shaking their heads

By Matthew Coller

The Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers’ 29-29 tie on Sunday had as many game-changing moments as Wisconsin has types of cheese. Two of them involved roughing calls that are being emphasized more this year by the NFL and both flags left the Vikings and Packers scratching their heads.

With under two minutes remaining in the second quarter, linebacker Eric Kendricks was flagged after hitting Packers QB Aaron Rodgers. The penalty came on an incompletion that would have set up second- and-10 at the Green Bay 38. Instead the Packers were set up with first-and-10 at the Minnesota 47 and ultimately ended the drive with a field goal to go up 10 points at halftime.

“The one on Eric it didn’t look like he puffed him up or anything,” Zimmer said. “I don’t know…I think that’s why scoring is way up too, because of the things that they’re calling. But.. it’s an offensive league.”

In the fourth quarter, it appeared the Packers put the dagger in the Vikings’ chances when quarterback Kirk Cousins threw a deep interception, but the play was negated by a penalty on Clay Matthews. Down 29-21, Cousins then led his team to a game-tying touchdown and two-point conversion.

“They’re making it really difficult on defenders,” Zimmer said. “You have to hit them in a certain spot and then you hit them and they start to go backwards and your momentum is going to carry you. I’ve even seen guys as they start going to the ground they put their hands out and they still call it.”

The NFL is apparently doubling down on the Matthews call.

Players have tried to quell their frustrations publicly, while also indicating that the application of the rules has not been effective.

“I think it’s a conversation going on in every locker room around the league right now,” Smith said. “I think we know what they’re calling right now. It’s really hard to do. Both teams it happened to and I know it happens across the league too. It’s really hard, especially with how good these quarterbacks are. You just gotta try to keep a foot on the ground or roll to the side. It’s a lot harder to do in real life than it is to talk about.”

“There’s not a lot of consequences for offenses anymore,” Smith added.

The NFL has created a “strike zone” where quarterbacks can be hit, but hitting them in the body seems to result in defenders’ body weight coming down on the QB.

“Now it does, actually, which is kind of ironic,” Smith said. “You’re going to be more body on body. It’s a catch-22 almost. I don’t know.”

“If they see you coming, they dip the strike zone and then you hit them in the head,” defensive tackle Sheldon Richardson said. “Just gotta be aware of it.”

Richardson was flagged for hitting 49ers quarterback Jimmy Garoppolo in Week 1.

“I know the feeling,” Richardson said. “I told [Kendricks] to shake it off, I know the feeling. Just be expecting [a fine] Thursday.” PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/18/18

Zulgad: Vikings make right move in cutting Carlson but it never should have come to this

By Judd Zulgad

Just how dreadful of day did Daniel Carlson have on Sunday at Lambeau Field?

That question was answered on Monday when the Vikings placed the rookie kicker on waivers and reportedly moved toward signing veteran Dan Bailey. On one hand, this seems like a no-brainer after Carlson’s hat trick of misses in a 29-29 tie with the Packers. This included two overtime miscues, with the last one coming from 35 yards as time expired.

But as obvious as it seemed that Carlson had to be gone, there remained this thought: “Will Rick really do it? Will he jettison his guy after only two games.”

Rick, of course, is Rick Spielman and while he has made some savvy moves during his time as the Vikings’ general manager, he also has struggled to admit to high-profile mistakes in the draft. Carlson wasn’t the only example of this on Sunday.

Laquon Treadwell, the Vikings’ first-round pick in 2016, saw enough playing time that he was able to drop three of the six Kirk Cousins passes thrown to him. Treadwell also caught a touchdown but the fact that it was the first one of his NFL career says all you need to know. Treadwell has shown nothing to prove that he deserves to be third on the Vikings’ depth chart at wide receiver behind the brilliant Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen. Yet, Treadwell has continued to get opportunities.

The decision to move up into the fifth round to take Carlson in last April’s draft was an immediate head- scratcher. Carlson was a young guy with a big leg who might someday be good, but the Vikings have been in this exact place before and, one would have thought, they had learned their lesson.

Blair Walsh was taken in the sixth round in 2012 after a rocky final season at an SEC school (Georgia). While he got off to a great start with the Vikings, he eventually became unplayable and was released. Carlson also had a rocky final season at an SEC school (Auburn) and it was clear he wasn’t going to get off to a smooth start when he missed a pair of 42-yard attempts in the Vikings’ third preseason game.

Veteran Kai Forbath had some issues with extra-point attempts during his time with the Vikings, but if Spielman wanted to make a move why didn’t he find another veteran kicker to sign? Why tempt fate? Especially with a team that has designs on being one of the best in the NFC and getting to its first Super Bowl since 1977.

The Carlson experiment looked destined to fail, but no one could have predicted failure would come this quickly. A second-quarter miss wide right from 48 yards. An overtime miss wide right from 49 yards. And then, as time expired, that 35-yard miss that also sailed wide right.

As Matthew Coller and I made the drove home from Green Bay on Sunday night, we debated if the Vikings would make this move. Spielman’s hubris has gotten in the way before and there was no denying that could have been the case again. Except one thing had struck me as odd in the aftermath of the tie.

Mike Zimmer, the Vikings’ coach, appears to have no time for kickers. He’s an old-school, defensive-first football guy and the fact that a skinny guy can come in and decide a game by kicking a ball probably makes him sick to his stomach. Zimmer made it very clear after Carlson’s struggles in the preseason game against Seattle that he wasn’t happy.

But on Sunday, Zimmer was measured in his answers and appeared almost at peace with what had just happened. Zimmer spoke in a small press conference room at Lambeau Field and when asked about a possible change with Carlson, he said he and Spielman hadn’t had time to talk yet. Spielman sat in the back of the room.

There was a feeling that even if the discussion had yet to take place, you knew exactly how it was going to go. Zimmer knew he wouldn’t have to continue to deal with this nonsense.

Zimmer and Spielman also had to know there was no way to sell Carlson’s presence to the locker room. This team just jettisoned an incredibly popular veteran in Brian Robison in the name of developing players and winning games and now they were going to try to tell them that Carlson had a place on the roster?

It’s one thing to keep a backup defensive linemen who can eventually contribute, but Carlson had just cost his team, one with an eye on making the Super Bowl, what would have been a huge comeback victory against their arch-rivals on the road. Kirk Cousins, the Vikings’ $84 million investment at quarterback, had just given you your money’s worth and yet a kicker had been your downfall.

That left the Vikings with a 1-0-1 record, instead of a 2-0 mark, with a victory over the Packers in Green Bay.

Spielman deserves credit for cutting Carlson, but he also deserves plenty of heat for the decision to go with him in the first place. Carlson never should have been at Lambeau Field on Sunday.

Unfortunately, he was and as a result only time will tell if Spielman’s attempt to get cute with the kicker position will continue to haunt the 2018 Vikings. PUBLICATION: 1500 ESPN DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings add a veteran receiver after Treadwell drops the ball and drops it again and again

By Judd Zulgad

Laquon Treadwell might be headed down the Vikings’ depth chart after his performance on Sunday in Green Bay.

The Vikings signed former 49ers receiver Aldrick Robinson on Monday in a move that comes as no surprise. Robinson could provide a better option at the third wide receiver spot behind Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen.

Treadwell, the 23rd-overall pick in the 2016 draft, caught a 14-yard pass from Kirk Cousins on Sunday to open the scoring for the Vikings in a 29-29 tie with the Packers at Lambeau Field but he also dropped three of the six passes directed his way.

This included a late fourth-quarter pass from Cousins that deflected off Treadwell’s hands and into the arms of Green Bay’s Ha Ha Clinton-Dix. That gave Green Bay the ball at the Vikings’ 13 with a five-point lead and 2 minutes, 4 seconds left in regulation. The Packers ended that drive with a 36-yard field goal from Mason Crosby to go ahead 29-21.

Robinson, who was drafted by Washington in 2011, played in 16 games for San Francisco last season, catching 19 passes for 260 yards with two touchdowns. He was let go at the end of the preseason this year. Robinson spent four years with Washington and one season in Atlanta.

The 29-year-old has 69 receptions for 1,191 yards and nine touchdowns in his six-year career. PUBLICATION: The Athletic DATE: 9/18/18

Daniel Carlson’s missed field goals cost the Vikings a win, and cost him his job

By Chad Graff

At times, Mike Zimmer has felt snake bit at kicker. He had come to the Vikings in 2014 and turned a downtrodden team into a playoff participant just in his second year. But that postseason berth didn’t last long, thanks to the right leg of placekicker Blair Walsh and the now infamous 27-yard attempt.

Zimmer stood by the defiant kicker even after it was apparent his confidence was shot, eventually leading to Walsh’s release in the middle of the 2016 season. They replaced Walsh with Kai Forbath, an unassuming veteran without a huge leg. Still, Forbath made 89 percent of his kicks, even if his eight missed extra points with the Vikings maddened Zimmer.

So Zimmer and Vikings general manager Rick Spielman swung for the fences in April’s draft. Forbath was fine and all, but in a season with Super Bowl expectations, they drafted Auburn’s Daniel Carlson in the fifth round, higher than any other kicker drafted in the history of a Minnesota franchise that’s seemingly cursed at the position. They stuck by him even though special teams coordinator Mike Priefer said his success rate in camp was very similar to Forbath’s. They stuck by him even after two preseason misses prompted Zimmer to grumble that he wanted to send Carlson a message and go for a two-point conversion in a meaningless exhibition game.

They did it all because they thought this would be the end of their search for a kicker. Finally, they thought, they had someone they could rely on for years to come.

Now a mere five months after they drafted him (two weeks and one day since the season began), the Vikings cut Carlson on Monday after he missed all three of his field goal attempts Sunday, including a potential 35-yard game-winner as the clock expired in a 29-29 tie to the Packers.

“I don’t know,” Zimmer said. “It’s hard to figure out. You think you got a guy for a while and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But things happen I guess.”

It was a move necessitated by Sunday’s debacle at Lambeau Field. There was little explanation needed for why the Vikings cut their rookie kicker two weeks into his NFL career.

“Did you see the game?” Zimmer said.

Was it an easy decision?

“Yeah,” Zimmer said. “It was pretty easy.”

Now, the Vikings will roll with 30-year-old veteran Dan Bailey, who just has to clear a physical before attempting to become the latest to stabilize an important position for Minnesota. Bailey spent seven seasons with the Cowboys before a groin injury in 2017 caused a dip in his performance and led to his release. Still, even with a disappointing 15 for 20 campaign, Bailey has a career field goal position slightly better than 88 percent. And the only two extra points he’s missed in the 278 he has attempted came when he was kicking through that injury last season.

All of that made Bailey a commodity two weeks into this NFL season, where missed kicks already cost multiple teams. Carlson’s two overtime misses Sunday were part of four overtime missed field goals around the league. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, four other teams had already expressed interest in Bailey before the Vikings did, but he declined all of them.

The Vikings, however, present what few other teams can for a kicker of Bailey’s stature, someone who once made 30 of 32 field goals in a season (2015) and has made 27 kicks of 50 yards or longer. With the Vikings, Bailey gets to join a good team that has high expectations. Plus, he gets to kick indoors, as he did with the Cowboys. He’s made 90 percent of his kicks indoors throughout his career and 85 percent of his kicks outdoors.

There were many mistakes that got the Vikings to this point with a strange 1-0-1 record and a new kicker ready come in for a Week 3 game. Among them is the fact the Vikings didn’t just draft a kicker, they traded up to do it, shipping off a pair of sixth-rounders because they were so confident in Carlson. Now, he’s gone two weeks after the season began.

“That’s water off a duck’s back,” Zimmer said of the draft picks. “We’ll get some more sixth-rounders next year. I’m not worried about that.”

What he’s worried about is a season that could potentially march on with the same expectations hanging overhead and a home game against arguably the league’s worst team looming as the likely debut for Bailey on Sunday against the Bills.

There are no guarantees, of course, for how a 30-year-old with a recent groin injury will perform. But Zimmer is done looking for the long-term fix to a problem that has plagued him.

He just wants a kicker who can make some kicks. PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings banking on Dan Bailey to finally solve kicking woes

By Courtney Cronin

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings' experiment with a rookie kicker lasted all of two weeks.

Five months after trading up into the fifth round to draft Daniel Carlson while foregoing two picks in the process, Minnesota cut ties with the rookie after he missed three field goals at Green Bay, including two in overtime.

Vikings coach Mike Zimmer said he doesn't regret giving up two sixth-round picks, in part because the Vikings were later able to sign three undrafted free agents, nor does he necessarily view himself as snakebitten when it comes to having success with kickers.

"Yeah, well, that's life," Zimmer said with a laugh. "I don't know. It's hard to figure out. You think you got a guy for awhile and then he goes out and misses three in a big game. But things happen, I guess."

That's been the story for Zimmer his entire time as a head coach. The Vikings are set to sign former Cowboy Dan Bailey, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter, making him the fourth kicker to play for Zimmer since he arrived in Minnesota in 2014.

Sunday's game against the Packers ending in a 29-29 tie "feels like a loss" for Zimmer. Had Carlson made his field goals, especially the would-be game-winner at the end, the Vikings would be in a different situation.

Now, they're putting all their trust in Bailey, hoping the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history will be able to solve their woes in the kicking game.

Bailey's journey took an interesting turn two weeks ago. After seven seasons with the Cowboys, who signed him as a rookie free agent in 2011, Dallas released Bailey during roster cuts, opting to keep Brett Maher, who at the time had not kicked in a regular-season game.

Dan Bailey has made 88.2 percent of his career field goals, making him the second-most accurate kicker in NFL history behind Justin Tucker (90.2), but the Cowboys cut him loose. George Walker/Icon Sportswire The move was similar to the one that played out with Kai Forbath, who re-signed with Minnesota on a one- year deal in free agency, a month before the Vikings made Carlson the highest drafted kicker in franchise history.

Carlson and Forbath competed throughout the spring offseason program and training camp before the kicking competition ended with the veteran being released on Aug. 20.

Bailey connected on 88.2 percent of field goals throughout his career. All of his home games in Dallas, like the ones he'll play in Minnesota, took place indoors. Bailey has a 91.7 field-goal percentage in a dome and has not missed an extra point at home in 145 career attempts.

He's coming off the worst season of career after missing four games because of a groin injury. Bailey connected on 15-of-20 field-goal tries and missed the first two extra points of his career, all of which came after he was injured.

Bailey certainly won't get any public sympathy from his new head coach if things go wrong.

Carlson missed two field goals from 42 yards out in the Vikings' third preseason game against Seattle. After his first attempt sailed wide left, Zimmer opted to go for a two-point conversion after scoring early in the second quarter instead of bringing Carlson out to kick the extra point.

Why?

"Just let him (Carlson) know that if he's going to miss them (field goals), I'm going to go for two," Zimmer said in August.

Forbath, the eighth-most accurate kicker in NFL history, booted a career-high 32 field goals in 2017, which included six from 50 yards or further. He scored 130 points during the regular season and hit three field goals against the Saints to send the Vikings to the NFC Championship, including a 49- and 53-yarder in the fourth quarter.

But Forbath also struggled with extra points, going 34-of-39 on such kicks. His five misses were the most in the NFL in 2017. There was no third season for Forbath in Minnesota.

After scoring all nine of the Vikings' points in the 2015 NFC wild card game, Blair Walsh sailed a 27-yard game-winning field goal wide left and was blamed for the loss.

"It's a chip shot," Zimmer said postgame. "He's got to make it."

The Vikings are banking that a veteran presence in the kicking game will help them in a season with Super Bowl expectations. Bailey turned down four offers since the start of the season before deciding on Minnesota. If he can come through in the areas Carlson and others before him couldn't, Minnesota might finally solve its kicking woes.

PUBLICATION: ESPN DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings release kicker Daniel Carlson following 0-for-3 day

By Courtney Cronin

EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings cut ties with kicker Daniel Carlson on Monday, one day after he went 0-for-3 on field goals against Green Bay. Minnesota is replacing the rookie with veteran kicker Dan Bailey, a source told ESPN's Adam Schefter.

The Vikings also announced the signing of wide receiver Aldrick Robinson, whom Minnesota brought in for a workout on Sept. 7.

Carlson missed field goals from 48, 49 and 35 yards in the Vikings' 29-29 overtime tie against the Packers. After his first field goal attempt in OT sailed wide right, Minnesota went back to Carlson to kick a 35-yard would-be winner.

Kicker Daniel Carlson says his third miss of Sunday's tie, which would have given the Vikings a win over the Packers, "was probably more just confidence after missing twice early. That's frustrating. That shorter one I should never miss."

Coach Mike Zimmer called the decision to release Carlson "very easy."

"Did you see the game?" Zimmer responded Monday, when asked about waiving the former Auburn kicker.

Carlson lamented postgame that nerves likely played a role in missing his final kick.

"It feels terrible. Obviously I let my team down," Carlson said. "That last one was probably more just confidence after missing twice early. That's frustrating. That shorter one I should never miss like that."

Minnesota traded up into the fifth round of the draft to select Carlson with the 167th pick in April, giving up two draft picks in the process. He was the highest-drafted kicker in team history. The rookie competed with former Vikings kicker Kai Forbath during the spring and throughout the first two weeks of training camp. The kicking competition effectively ended on Aug. 20 when Minnesota released Forbath after two seasons.

Despite cutting ties with Carlson five months after he was drafted, Zimmer says he's not concerned about the picks Minnesota gave up in the process.

"Nah, that's water off a duck's back," Zimmer said. "We'll get some more sixth-rounders next year, I'm not worried about that. Plus we got three undrafted free agents on the roster, too, so it's probably better than having those sixth-rounders."

Bailey, the second-most-accurate kicker in NFL history, was released by the Cowboys during roster cuts. Dallas opted to stick with Brett Maher, who had never kicked in a regular-season NFL game.

Bailey made 91.2 percent of his kicks in indoor/domed stadiums and has never missed a point after attempt in 145 tries at home. He was with Dallas from 2011-17.

Robinson, a seventh-year veteran, was released by San Francisco after joining the 49ers as a free agent in 2017. He was drafted in the sixth round in 2011 by Washington and totaled 69 catches for 1,191 yards and nine touchdowns in 68 games with the Redskins, Ravens, Falcons and Niners.

Robinson and Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins were teammates in Washington.

"Cousins was with him before and he really liked him," Zimmer said. "And then he's a fast guy. Makes some deep-ball plays. And Kirk throws a great deep ball, as you saw the other day." PUBLICATION: CBS DATE: 9/18/18

Vikings cut rookie kicker, reportedly sign second most accurate kicker in NFL history

By John Breech

Life in the NFL can be brutal for a kicker, which is something that Vikings rookie Daniel Carlson found out the hard way this week.

The team announced on Monday that they've decided to cut ties with Carlson in a move that comes less than 24 hours after the kicker's disastrous 0-for-3 performance in Green Bay on Sunday. During the 29-29 tie, Carlson missed two kicks in overtime, including a 35-yard attempt as time expired that would have given the Vikings the win at Lambeau Field. Carlson also missed a field goal in the first half from 48 yards away.

Following the tie, it became pretty clear that Minnesota probably wasn't going to keep Carlson. During his postgame press conference, Vikings coach Mike Zimmer didn't exactly give Carlson a vote of confidence when asked if the rookie would stay on as kicker.

"I don't know. It's too early. [General manager Rick Spielman] and I have barely talked yet. Rick and I will sit down and we'll talk about it," Zimmer said, via the Minneapolis Star-Tribune.

The rookie, who beat out Kai Forbath for the kicking job during training camp after being selected in the fifth round of the 2018 NFL Draft, is now headed for the NFL unemployment line after just two career games.

PAID CONTENT BY CHARLES SCHWAB Portfolio Hygiene: Why Rebalancing Is So Important Rebalancing is a key concept in investing--and while it's easy to understand, it can be hard to execute. Zimmer was asked on Monday to explain why the Vikings decided to cut Carlson, and let's just say, he got kind of blunt with his answer.

To replace Carlson, the Vikings are planning to add one of the best kickers in NFL history. According to NFL.com, Minnesota is expected to add former Cowboys kicker Dan Bailey.

Bailey is on the free agent market because the Cowboys surprisingly decided to release him back on Sept. 1 and keep journeyman kicker Brett Maher.

The reason it was a surprising move is because Bailey has been one of the best kickers in the NFL over the past few years. Since his rookie season in 2011, Bailey has hit 88.15 percent of his field goals, which makes him the second most accurate kicker in NFL history, behind only Justin Tucker (90.31 percent).

Bailey had offers from multiple teams over the weekend, including the Browns, but likely decided on the Vikings because they're a contender and they play indoors, which is a huge advantage for a kicker. The one tiny red flag with Bailey is his injury history. During his time in Dallas last season, Bailey missed four games after suffering a groin injury in Week 7 and never really seemed to recover from it. All five of Bailey's misses last season came after he returned from the injury. The kicker went 7 of 7 before the injury, but just 8 of 13 after it. PUBLICATION: CBS DATE: 9/18/18

NFL Week 3 early odds: Vikings open as monstrous favorites over hapless Bills

By John Breech

We're only two weeks into the NFL season and it looks like oddsmakers have already completely given up on the Buffalo Bills.

For their Week 3 game in Minnesota, the Bills have opened up as a 16.5-point underdog.

If that sounds like a monstrous point spread, that's because it is. This game will mark just the second time since 2014 that a team not named the Patriots was favored to win a game by 16 points or more. Besides New England, the Saints are the only other team that's been favored to win a game by that big of margin, and that came last year when New Orleans was favored by 16.5 points in a Week 15 game against the Jets. Although the Saints won that game 31-19, they didn't cover the point spread.

The good news for the Vikings is that if history is any indication, they're basically a lock to win. Over the past 10 seasons, there have been 20 teams that have been favored to win by 16 or more points and those teams have gone 20-0 straight-up. However, covering the spread is a completely different story.

In those 20 games, the favorite has gone just 8-11-1 against the spread (ATS).

This game marks just the third time since 1990 that the Vikings have been favored by 16 or more points. In the two other games (2009 vs. Lions, 1998 vs. Bears), the Vikings went 2-0 straight-up and 1-0-1 ATS. On the Bills' end, this is the biggest point spread they've faced since 2007 when they were a 16.5-point underdog to the undefeated Patriots. The Bills ended up losing that game 38-7.

This game is about as close as you can get to a worse-case scenario for the Bills. For one, their rookie quarterback (Josh Allen) will be making his first career road start. Not to mention, he'll be playing behind an offensive line that's already surrendered 11 sacks through two weeks. That number might double with the Bills going up against the Vikings defense. Maybe the Bills should start Nathan Peterman just to make sure Allen survives and doesn't have any crazy thoughts, like quitting the team at halftime.

The Bills are the only double-digit underdog of Week 3. However, there are plenty of interesting point spreads, including two undefeated teams that are both underdogs this week.

Alright, let's get to the Week 3 odds.

NFL Week 3 early odds (All lines from Westgate Las Vegas SuperBook, all games on Sunday unless noted)

Jets (1-1) at Browns (0-1-1), Thursday Opening line: Browns, -3 points

In 2017, betting on the Browns basically meant throwing your money away, and that's because Cleveland was an NFL-worst 4-12 against the spread. However, that's not the case this season. Through two weeks, the Browns are 2-0 ATS, which is tied for the best mark in the NFL. To cover this spread though, they're actually going to have to win, which they haven't done since December 2016. Betting on the Browns in primetime usually isn't a good idea, with the team going 0-3 both straight-up and ATS since 2015. The Jets have won five straight against the Browns, including two wins over Hue Jackson (2016 and 2017). If there's one thing weird about this game, it's the fact that the Browns are a favorite. This marks just the second time in 35 games that Cleveland has been favored. The last time it happened came in 2017 when the Browns lost 31-28 to the Colts as a 1-point favorite.

Saints (1-1) at Falcons (1-1) Opening line: Falcons, -3 points

The NFC South sent three teams to the playoffs in 2017, and shockingly, all three of those teams are tied for last place after two weeks, staring up at the 2-0 Tampa Bay Buccaneers. The Falcons have won three of the past four in this rivalry, including the past two games in Atlanta. This game will actually mark the Saints first road game of the season, which we're only noting because the Saints always seem to struggle in their road opener. Since 2011, the Saints have gone 1-6 both straight-up and ATS in their first road game. Road or not, betting on New Orleans has been a risky move this year, with the Saints 0-2 ATS through two weeks.

49ers (1-1) at Chiefs (2-0) Opening line: Chiefs, -5.5 points

If there's one person you don't want to bet against right now, it's probably Patrick Mahomes. Through the first two weeks of the season, Mahomes has thrown 10 touchdown passes, which is the most of any quarterback ever through two weeks. Mahomes and the Chiefs are 2-0 ATS, which is even more impressive when you consider that both games came on the road. This Week 3 game against the 49ers will be the Chiefs' home opener. The 49ers might not win this game, but it wouldn't be a shock to see them cover. In Kyle Shanahan's first season as coach last year, the Niners went 5-2 ATS as a road underdog. That being said, the 49ers haven't won in Kansas City since 1982 and they're just 3-12 straight-up in their past 15 games that kicked off at 1 p.m. ET.

Raiders (0-2) at Dolphins (2-0) Opening line: Dolphins, -4.5 points

It's too bad the Raiders don't play all their games in Florida, because that's the one state in the Eastern Time Zone where they actually play well. Since the beginning of the 2013 season, the Raiders have played 16 games in eastern time. In those games, they've gone 2-11 outside of Florida, but 3-0 inside of Florida, including a 27-24 win over the Dolphins last season in a game where Oakland was a three-point favorite. However, you should probably think twice before betting against the Dolphins and that's because Ryan Tannehill has turned into a covering machine. Over his past 10 starts, Tannehill is 9-1 straight-up and 8-2 ATS, including 2-0 this year. On the flip side, since his rookie year in 2014, Derek Carr has covered more games as a road underdog (16-11) than any other quarterback in the NFL over that span.

Bills (0-2) at Vikings (1-0-1) Opening line: Vikings, -16.5 points

If there's one team you probably don't want to bet on right now, it's the Bills. Through two games, the Bills are 0-2 ATS and they haven't really come close to covering the spread. Bills quarterback Josh Allen will be making the first road start of his career and he'll be doing it against a Vikings defense that has been known to destroy quarterbacks. Not to mention, the Vikings have been one of the safest bets in the NFL under Mike Zimmer. Since he took over in 2014, the Vikings have gone 13-3 ATS against AFC teams, which is the best mark in the NFL over that span. The Vikings have also gone 25-10 ATS at home in that same timeframe, including the playoffs, which is also the best record in the NFL over that span. Oh, and the Bills are averaging just 4.3 points per game in their past three September road games.

Colts (1-1) at Eagles (1-1) Opening line: NO LINE

This is one of just two games in Week 3 that doesn't have an opening line and that's because oddsmakers aren't sure who's going to be playing quarterback for the Eagles. Although Nick Foles has been under center through the first two weeks, multiple reports have suggested that Carson Wentz could finally be cleared to play this week. No matter who the quarterback is, the Eagles could be a smart bet here. Not only are they 9-1 straight-up in their past 10 home games, but they're also 6-3 ATS against AFC teams since Doug Pederson took over as coach in 2016. Of course, betting against Andrew Luck might not be the best idea. Luck is 4-0 straight-up and 4-0 ATS in his past four games against the NFC and the impressive part is that the Colts were underdogs in all four of those games, including Indy's Week 2 win over the Redskins.

Packers (1-0-1) at Redskins (1-1) Opening line: Packers, -2.5 points

For the second straight week, we could be getting a daily dose of Aaron Rodgers health updates and that's because the Packers quarterback apparently has an injury that could take up to two months to heal. If Rodgers is practicing with an injured knee, there's always a chance he could experience a setback, which is why this will be a fascinating point spread to watch throughout the week. This game will actually serve as the Packers' road opener and let's just say, if there's one time to bet against the Packers' it's in their road openers. Since 2012, Green Bay has gone just 2-4 straight-up in their road opener.

Bengals (2-0) at Panthers (1-1) Opening line: Panthers, -3 points

After two weeks of the season, there are only seven teams left that are 2-0 ATS and the Bengals are one of them (The Bears could become the eighth team if they cover against the Seahawks on Monday). To get to 3-0, the Bengals are going to have to do something they've had some trouble with lately: Cover the spread against an NFC team. Since 2016, the Bengals have gone 3-5 ATS against the NFC and just 2-5-1 straight-up. On the flip side of that, the Panthers have gone 10-3 straight-up in their past 13 games against AFC teams, a record that includes five wins in a row.

Titans (1-1) at Jaguars (2-0) Opening line: NO LINE

There's no line for this game yet and that's because oddsmakers don't have any idea if Marcus Mariota is going to play. After injuring his elbow in Week 1, it looked like Mariota was going to play in Week 2, but then the Titans decided to hold him out and let Blaine Gabbert start in his place. No matter what the line is here, the Titans might be worth a bet and that's because they've been one of the best teams in the NFL at covering divisional games. Since beginning of the 2017 season, the Titans have gone 6-1 ATS, which is tied for the best divisional mark in the NFL over that span. The injury to Mariota isn't the only thing you should keep an eye on if you plan to bet this game. Jaguars running Leonard Fournette could be returning to the field after missing Week 2 due to a hamstring injury.

Broncos (2-0) at Ravens (1-1) Opening line: Ravens, -5.5 points

At 2-0 on the season, the Broncos might seem like a safe bet, but that simply hasn't been the case this year: Denver is the only 2-0 team that hasn't covered the spread yet. The Broncos are 0-1-1 ATS, a record might not improve this week, and that's mainly because the Broncos have done a horrible job of covering as a road underdog over the past few years. Since 2016, the Broncos are 2-7 ATS as a road underdog, which is tied with the Cardinals for the worst mark in the NFL. The Broncos have actually been pretty horrid on the road no matter what the situation. The team has gone 1-9 straight-up and 2-8 ATS in their past 10 road games. Of course, if you like the Ravens, you might not want to bet on them to cover the spread. Since 2014, the Ravens have been favored by five or more points a total of 18 times and they've gone just 6-12 ATS (11-7 straight-up).

Giants (0-2) at Texans (0-2) Opening line: Texans, -3.5 points

There are only six teams left in the NFL that are 0-2 ATS this year and these are two of them, so you might want to think twice before betting on this game. If you're looking for a reason to take the Texans, then you'll like the fact that Bill O'Brien is 6-2 both straight-up and ATS against NFC teams at home since taking over as coach in 2014. The Texans also have never started a season 0-3 under O'Brien (The Texans haven't started 0-3 since 2008). You know what, the safest bet in this game might just be the under and that's because the under has hit in eight of the Giants' past nine games.

Chargers (1-1) at Rams (2-0) Opening line: Rams, -7 points

The battle for Los Angeles officially kicks off this week with the Rams hosting the Chargers and if Sean McVay's career is any indication, it might be smart to take the Rams in this one. Since taking over as coach in 2017, McVay's Rams have been favored by five or more points a total of six times and in those games, they've gone 6-0 straight-up and 5-1 ATS. McVay is also 5-0 all-time against AFC teams (4-1 ATS). As for the Chargers, this will mark the first time since 2015 that L.A. has been an underdog of seven or more points. In 2015, the Chargers went 3-0 ATS in three such games, but 0-3 straight-up.

Bears (0-1) at Cardinals (0-2) Opening line: Bears, -4.5 points

This game marks the first time since 2012 that the Bears have been a road favorite of four or more points. Coincidentally, the last time it happened also came against the Cardinals in a game the Bears covered with a 28-13 win. As for the Cardinals, if there's one team that hasn't come close to covering the spread this year, it's Arizona. They lost 24-6 in Week 1 as a two-point favorite, then followed that up in Week 2 with a 34-0 loss as a 12.5-point underdog. How bad is it do score just six points through two weeks? This bad: The Cardinals are the first team to pull that off since 2006.

Cowboys (1-1) at Seahawks (0-1) Opening line: Seahawks, -3 points

If there's one lock in the NFL, it's betting on the Seahawks to win their home opener, and unfortunately for the Cowboys, this will be Seattle's home opener. Since 2009, the Seahawks have gone 9-0 straight-up in home openers and 7-2 ATS. The crazy thing is that's arguably not even the impressive part. The impressive part is that Pete Carroll has NEVER lost a September home game since taking over as coach in 2010. During Carroll's career, the Seahawks have gone 13-0 straight-up in September and 11-2 ATS. Of course, the Cowboys won't be intimidated. Since Dak Prescott's rookie year in 2016, the Cowboys have gone 12-5 in road games and 10-6-1 ATS in those same games.

Patriots (1-1) at Lions (0-2) Opening line: Patriots, -7 points

If there's any team you want to bet on after a loss, it's the New England Patriots. Since the beginning of the 2016 season, the Patriots have gone 5-0 both straight-up and ATS following a loss. If you need a another reason to take the Patriots, then just consider the fact that they're 8-2 straight-up (7-3 ATS) in their past 10 appearances on Sunday Night Football. Bill Belichick will also be coaching against one of his former assistants, which is something that never seems to work out too well for the former assistant.

Steelers (0-1-1) at Buccaneers (2-0), Monday Opening line: Steelers, -3 points

After leading the Buccaneers to two upset wins through the first two weeks, Tampa now needs Ryan Fitzpatrick to do the impossible: Beat the Steelers in primetime. In their past 10 night games, the Steelers are 10-0 straight-up and 7-3 ATS. On the other hand, the Buccaneers have been known to struggle under the lights. In their past 10 night games, the Bucs are just 3-7 straight-up and 5-5 ATS. Basically, if the Bucs pull off a win, we should seriously think about changing Fitzpatrick's nickname from Fitzmagic to Fitzmiracle. ___ PUBLICATION: Sports Illustrated DATE: 9/18/18

Packers-Vikings Tie Leaves the NFC North Rivals Understandably Frustrated

By Kayln Kahler

Everson Griffen mumbled an expletive as he walked to his locker after the game.

Eric Kendricks, normally a social guy, spoke in short, pained sentences. “This feels terrible, honestly,” the Vikings’ linebacker told The MMQB. “It’s weird. We play for wins. This is my first tie ever. In my life.”

Across the stadium, things weren’t going much better in Green Bay’s locker room. “It crushed us just knowing that we did a good job out there and it just sucks that we don’t have [the win],” said Packers linebacker Nick Perry. “I look at it as a loss because we didn't get the win. It’s a different feeling knowing that you didn't really win or lose a game, it’s a stalemate.”

Sunday’s Week 2 game between the two NFC North favorites had it all—Aaron Rodgers scrambling for a first down on one good leg, two controversial roughing-the-passer penalties, four total missed field goals, a blocked punt for a touchdown, a 75-yard touchdown and an overtime period.

Well, everything except a winner and a loser.

Get the full Sunday breakdown from Andy Benoit and Gary Gramling on The Monday Morning NFL Podcast. Subscribe to The MMQB Podcasts now and it will be in your feed first thing Monday morning

One Vikings player was a little more easygoing about the 29–29 tie, given the overall weirdness of the game. “This was just a fun game altogether,” said defensive tackle Linval Joseph. “You got a chance to see both sides of it—[behind the Packers], come back, overtime, tie. I’ve been playing football for awhile and this is my first time I’ve ever experienced something like this.”

“After all the crazy stuff that went on today, I was like, you know what, maybe this [tie] is what it’s supposed to be,” Joseph said.

Despite not practicing all week with an “unusual” knee injury sustained in last week’s comeback win over the Bears, Rodgers was declared active on Sunday and played the entire game. He wore a large brace on his left knee, proving to be more mobile than he was last week when he played immediately after getting hurt. On second-and-seven in the Packers second drive of the first quarter, Rodgers scrambled up the middle for a first down. It wasn’t pretty, but it got the job done, and showed the Vikings defense that he wasn’t just going to sit in the pocket all day. The Packers QB ended the day completing 30 of 42 pass attempts for 253 yards.

Rodgers worked exclusively from shotgun or pistol, like he did last week, in order to accommodate his knee and encourage quick throws to avoid the Vikings pass rush. But the Packers quarterback showed a glimpse of his mortal side this week. He was sacked three times for 21 yards, the first of which he leaned into, going down to protect his knee before he was actually hit, which minimized the force of the sack itself. The old Rodgers, the one with two good legs, would typically try everything possible to avoid that sack.

And in overtime, Rodgers had an uncharacteristic fumble on second-and-one. He faked a handoff to Jamal Williams and was pulling the ball back when he dropped the ball and fell on it to recover. “If I pull that one without fumbling it—Jamaal didn’t know I was fumbling it, he was trying to grab it for a bit—but if I had been stronger in pulling it, both the end and Harrison Smith were flying over the top. I’m definitely getting a first down and we’re inside 50-yard field goal range, so that’s disappointing.”

In his post-game press conference, Rodgers said he hopes to keep playing all season and that his knee won’t continue to be an issue, but also admitted it’s not going to be cured overnight. “We’ll see,” he said. “It’s the type of thing that could linger for awhile.

On the Vikings side of the ball, Kirk Cousins and the offense were fortunate to get a roughing-the-passer call on Clay Matthews late in the fourth quarter, which negated a Cousins’ interception and extended that game-tying drive. Later in that drive Cousins dropped a dime in a teensy window to a double-covered Adam Thielen at the right pylon to bring the Vikings within two points.

Thielen said his route was just to get to the pylon any way he could, because Cousins would be throwing to that spot. “I knew that if I could just be really late with my hands, that the ball was going to drop right in there,” Thielen said. “I was just trying to not show my hands so they couldn't their hands up and knock it down. It just shows how accurate Kirk can be, especially in those critical situations.”

Cousins went on to get the Vikings in field goal range twice in overtime, but kicker Daniel Carlson missed both his chances. The QB ended the day completing 35 of 48 pass attempts for 412 yards, four touchdowns and an interception.

Although the Vikings were forced to settle on a tie because of special teams failures, this game proved that Cousins was worth the money. He outperformed Rodgers, which is exactly what Minnesota signed him to do.

“It gives us a lot of confidence in saying, Hey, we’re never out of a game with our weapons we have, with Kirk as our leader, and our defense, we’re never out of a game and this game just gives us confidence in that,” Thielen said.

With a tie between the top two teams, the NFC North standings got a lot more interesting. This game could come back to haunt these teams later on this season. Their next meeting is a Week 12 Sunday Night Football matchup on Nov. 25. It’s too early to tell how this will all play out, but that could be the game to decide the division. The Bears, the sleeper team of the NFC North, has to be excited knowing they are currently technically just a half-game back.