DAILY CLIPS FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 28, 2018 LOCAL NEWS: Friday, September 28, 2018 Star Tribune Vikings can't catch up to big-play Rams in 38-31 loss By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/vikings-can-t-catch-up-to-big-play-rams-in-38-31-loss/494573811/ A defensive collapse in Vikings loss By Jim Souhan http://www.startribune.com/vikings-rapid-reaction/494573541/ Vikings' Everson Griffen vows to return as 'improved player and person' By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/vikings-everson-griffen-vows-to-return-as-improved-player-and- person/494561671/ Rams and Vikings offer a contrast in QB spending, strategy By Michael Rand http://www.startribune.com/rams-and-vikings-offer-a-contrast-in-qb-spending-strategy/494505361/ Vikings know how tough it is to win out west -- especially at night By Ben Goessling http://www.startribune.com/vikings-know-how-tough-it-is-to-win-out-west-especially-at-night/494493841/ Vikings have yet to show they can stop anybody this season By Jim Souhan http://www.startribune.com/vikings-have-yet-to-show-they-can-stop-anybody-this-season/494580411/ Xavier Rhodes losing his cool cost the Vikings more than 15 yards By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/xavier-rhodes-losing-his-cool-cost-the-vikings-more-than-15-yards/494579971/ Rams passing game especially picks on Vikings' Anthony Barr By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/rams-passing-game-especially-picks-on-vikings-anthony-barr/494581111/ Clock management, picked up flag among key questions after Vikings' loss By Mark Craig http://www.startribune.com/clock-management-picked-up-flag-among-key-questions-after-vikings-loss/494579291/ Tracking Kirk Cousins: A look back at Thursday's game By Andrew Krammer http://www.startribune.com/tracking-kirk-cousins-a-look-back-at-thursday-s-game/494579891/ Pioneer Press New Viking Aldrick Robinson proves a great catch with two touchdowns By Dan Arritt https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/27/new-viking-aldrick-robinson-proves-a-great-catch-with-two- touchdown/ Vikings-Rams: Jared Goff throws five TD passes to lead L.A. to 38-31 win By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/27/jared-goff-throws-five-td-passes-to-lead-rams-past-vikings-38-31/ Vikings DE Everson Griffen vows in Instagram post to return as ‘much-improved person and player’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/27/vikings-de-everson-griffen-vows-in-instagram-post-to-return-as- much-improved-person-and-player/ Vikings RB Dalvin Cook said he felt ‘good’ in return from hamstring injury By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/27/vikings-rb-dalvin-cook-said-he-felt-good-in-return-from-hamstring- injury/ Vikings receiver Adam Thielen unhappy when ushered to sideline for concussion protocol By Dan Arritt https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/28/vikings-receiver-adam-thielen-unhappy-when-ushered-to-sideline- for-concussion-protocol/ Vikings’ once-dominant defense has fallen apart in Mike Zimmer’s fifth year By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/28/vikings-once-dominant-defense-has-fallen-apart-in-mike-zimmers-fifth-year/ Kirk Cousins not too down about 1-2-1 Vikings start, ready to ‘turn it into wins’ By Chris Tomasson https://www.twincities.com/2018/09/28/kirk-cousins-not-too-down-about-1-2-1-vikings-start-ready-to-turn-it-into-wins/ Vikings.com Action Reaction: Vikings Encouraged by Bounce Back But Say More to Do Better By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/action-reaction-vikings-encouraged-by-bounce-back-but-say-more-to-do-better Vikings Offense Frustrated Despite Eye-Popping Performance By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-offense-frustrated-despite-eye-popping-performance Zimmer after Falling to Rams: ‘We Have Not Played Well Defensively’ By Lindsey Young https://www.vikings.com/news/zimmer-after-falling-to-rams-we-have-not-played-well-defensively Rams Outlast Vikings in 38-31 Barnburner By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/rams-outlast-vikings-in-38-31-barnburner Statement from Vikings Defensive End Everson Griffen By Vikings.com https://www.vikings.com/news/statement-from-vikings-defensive-end-everson-griffen Vikings List of Inactives Against the Rams on Thursday Night By Vikings.com https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-list-of-inactives-against-the-rams-on-thursday-night Final Thoughts: YAC Attack Could Key Vikings Offense By Mike Wobschall https://www.vikings.com/news/final-thoughts-yac-attack-could-key-vikings-offense Lunchbreak: A look Inside the Diggs-Thielen Friendship By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/lunchbreak-a-look-inside-the-diggs-thielen-friendship Expert Picks: Vikings Underdogs at Rams in Tonight’s Game By Chris Corso https://www.vikings.com/news/expert-picks-vikings-underdogs-at-rams-in-tonight-s-game Vikings & FOX 9 Debut ‘Vikings Live’ Show Tonight By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/vikings-fox-9-debut-vikings-live-show-tonight The Skinny Post: Vikings Facing High-Octane Rams By Eric Smith https://www.vikings.com/news/the-skinny-post-vikings-facing-high-octane-rams Throwin’ it Back to ’98: Special Teams Delivers Spark at Soldier Field By Craig Peters https://www.vikings.com/news/throwin-it-back-to-98-special-teams-delivers-spark-at-soldier-field VIKING Update Zimmer, Vikings defense at loss for answers after 38-31 loss By John Holler https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Zimmer-Vikings-defense-at-loss-for-answers-after-38-31-loss-122586964/ Rams schemed and exploited one mismatch after another By Tim Yotter https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Rams-schemed-and-exploited-one-mismatch-after-another-122588019/ Notebook: Vikings struggling to make a run, stay balanced By John Holler https://247sports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings/Article/Vikings-struggling-to-make-a-run-stay-balanced-on-offense-122587807/ 1500 ESPN Zulgad: Vikings’ once dominant defense is left searching for answers By Judd Zulgad http://www.1500espn.com/news/2018/09/zulgad-vikings-dominant-defense-left-searching-answers/ Cousins: Vikings will have ‘tremendous sense of urgency’ heading to Philly By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/cousins-vikings-will-tremendous-sense-urgency-heading-philly/ Zimmer on defense’s struggles: ‘I’ve been concerned all year long’ By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/zimmer-defenses-struggles-ive-concerned-year-long/ Vikings waste brilliant bounce-back performance by Cousins By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/vikings-waste-brilliant-bounce-back-performance-cousins/ Position-by-position: How the Vikings match up with the Rams By Matthew Coller http://www.1500espn.com/vikings-2/2018/09/position-position-vikings-match-rams/ The Athletic Unstoppable Rams turn a simple fluke into a ghastly trend for Vikings’ defense By Chad Graff https://theathletic.com/554180/2018/09/28/vikings-lose-los-angeles-rams-defense-jared-goff-mike-zimmer-xavier-rhodes/ NATIONAL NEWS: Friday, September 28, 2018 ESPN After being shredded by the Rams, Vikings' once-vaunted defense faces identity crisis By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/27232/after-being-shredded-by-the-rams-vikings-once-vaunted-defense- facing-identity-crisis Everson Griffen 'focused on resolving personal issues,' sorry for absence By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/24816733/vikings-everson-griffen-focused-resolving-personal-issues-sorry-absence Inside the friendship behind one of the NFL's top receiver duos By Courtney Cronin http://www.espn.com/blog/minnesota-vikings/post/_/id/27224/inside-the-friendship-behind-one-of-the-nfls-top-receiver-duos Resetting NFC North: Impact of Khalil Mack, who's the favorite, more By ESPN http://www.espn.com/blog/nfcnorth/post/_/id/82101/resetting-nfc-north-impact-of-khalil-mack-whos-the-favorite-more USA Today Vikings' Everson Griffen admits on Instagram that he's working through 'personal issues' By Michael Singer https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/nfl/vikings/2018/09/27/everson-griffen-vikings-pro-bowler-addresses-issues-instagram- post/1449893002/ NFL.com Everson Griffen 'focused on resolving personal issues' By Austin Knoblauch http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap3000000967167/article/everson-griffen-focused-on-resolving-personal-issues PUBLICATION: Star Tribune DATE: 9/28/18 Vikings can't catch up to big-play Rams in 38-31 loss By Ben Goessling LOS ANGELES – Even with as much as the Vikings had working against them Thursday night, what happened to them against the Los Angeles Rams defied convention, for a defense that’s been fashioned into one of the NFL’s best under Mike Zimmer’s watchful gaze. A year ago, the Vikings had shut down the Rams’ high-flying offense, delivering one of its signature performances in a 24-7 victory that gave the Vikings the inside track on a first-round bye. On Thursday night in the L.A. Memorial Coliseum, it was the Rams who landed the haymakers in a 38-31 victory. Since 2006, teams traveling two or more time zones west were 13-30 in night games in the Pacific Time zone, posting a 0-6 record on Thursday nights. The Vikings traveled to Los Angeles to face the NFC’s only undefeated team without defensive end Everson Griffen. Nothing about their task was enviable. Still, the way the Rams carved up the Vikings’ defense — the league’s top-ranked unit from a year ago — was startling to watch. Jared Goff had thrown five touchdown passes by the end of the third quarter, becoming the first quarterback to post that many against the Vikings since Drew Brees did it on Dec.