Vikings hold on to win thriller vs. Steelers
The AFC vs. NFC primetime showdown lived up to the billing in a crazy finish.
The cardiac kids are well and truly alive in the NFC. Despite trying everything they could to throw yet another game away, Minnesota hung on to defeat the Pittsburgh Steelers in dramatic fashion.
After a horrific outing for the majority of Thursday night, Pittsburgh somehow had an opportunity to tie the game in the final seconds — permitting a successful two-point conversion.
Steelers quarterback Ben Roethlisberger’s throw to tight end Pat Freiermuth hit him in the hands, but Vikings defenders Anthony Barr and Harrison Smith smashed into the rookie at the perfect, dislodging the ball to give the Vikings a crucial victory.
Despite another W in the win column, Minnesota almost gave up the insurmountable, after leading 29-0 late in the third. All bar one of Minnesota’s games have been decided by eight points or less. This includes four losses by less than three points.
“Never say ‘over’ with this team,” said Vikings’ head coach Mike Zimmer. Meanwhile, the Steelers cost themselves dearly. Their spirited comeback means very little in the context of their season, which hangs on a knife edge at 6-6-1, currently third in the AFC North.
“We’re running out of time,” Roethlisberger said. “I don’t look at moral victories.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin was apathetic about his team’s comeback, eviscerating their second poor performance in as many games. “We were JV again tonight, and I’m talking up front on both sides,” Tomlin said.
Pittsburgh’s next chance to redeem themselves arrives on Dec. 19 at home to Tennessee, while Minnesota will look to extend their winning run at Chicago on Monday Night Football, Dec 20.
Dalvin Cook set to miss two games through injury
The Vikings’ playoff hopes have taken a huge hit after an injury to their franchise star.
Minnesota’s topsy-turvy season continued last Sunday, ending Week 12 below .500 after a crushing 34-26 loss in Santa Clara.
The Vikings didn’t just lose a game, but an incredibly valuable piece in the process. Pro Bowl running back Dalvin Cook suffered what now has become known to be a dislocated shoulder. Cook was carted off the field at Levi’s Stadium late in the third quarter. A brutal hit from San Francisco’s Kevin Givens caused carnage to both Cook, and Minnesota’s playoff hopes.
In a sign of wonderful sportsmanship, players from both teams took to their knees in prayer and personally consoling the Florida State product. Cook has been in fine form once again this season, rushing for 975 yards and four touchdowns across nine games this season.
On Monday, Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer said Cook was “day-to-day,” though if Adam Schefter is to be believed, the situation is far worse. The ESPN insider reported on Nov. 30 that Cook is likely to miss games against the Lions and Steelers but the hope is he returns for Monday Night Football vs. Chicago on Dec. 20.
Zimmer would not comment on whether Cook dislocated his shoulder but firmly denied the 26-year-old had tore his labrum.
NFL announces Preseason TV schedule
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel…this includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The NFL announced this week there will be a record number of preseason games will be shown on NFL Network.
Let’s hope we’ll see more of this!
Importantly, all preseason games will be shown on NFL GamePass, which is fantastic news for international and American fans alike.
An enormous 23 games will be shown on the league’s broadcast channel will show eight games through Weeks 1-2 before a final seven during the third and final week of preseason.
This includes to quadruple-headers in Weeks 1 and 2 before two doses of triple-headers in Week 3.
The Football Team kick off NFL Network’s coverage on August 12 at New England, where we should get our first official look at Mac Jones in a Patriots uniform.
Trevor Lawrence is likely to hit your screens on August 14 as Urban Meyer and the Jags host AFC rivals, Cleveland.
Media and fans alike will be hoping to get a glimpse of Jordan Love too, which may come as early as Week 2 (August 21) at home to Zac Wilson and Gang Green.
Below is a full list of the games to air on NFL Network across the preseason:
Week 1
Thursday, August 12
7:30 PM ET – Washington Football Team vs. New England Patriots
Friday, August 13
7:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Detroit Lions
10:00 PM ET – Dallas Cowboys vs. Arizona Cardinals
Saturday, August 14
1:00 PM ET – Miami Dolphins vs. Chicago Bears
4:00 PM ET – Denver Broncos vs. Minnesota Vikings
7:00 PM ET – Cleveland Browns vs. Jacksonville Jaguars
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 15
1:00 PM ET – Carolina Panthers vs. Indianapolis Colts
Week 2
Thursday, August 19
7:30 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. Philadelphia Eagles
Friday, August 20
8:00 PM ET – Cincinnati Bengals vs. Washington Football Team
Saturday, August 21
1:00 PM ET – Buffalo Bills vs. Chicago Bears
4:25 PM ET – New York Jets vs. Green Bay Packers
7:30 PM ET – Detroit Lions vs. Pittsburgh Steelers
10:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. Los Angeles Rams
Sunday, August 22
1:00 PM ET – New York Giants vs. Cleveland Browns
7:30 PM ET – San Francisco 49ers vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Week 3
Friday, August 27
8:00 PM ET – Minnesota Vikings vs. Kansas City Chiefs
Saturday, August 28
1:00 PM ET – Green Bay Packers vs. Buffalo Bills
7:00 PM ET – Chicago Bears vs. Tennessee Titans
10:00 PM ET – Los Angeles Chargers vs. Seattle Seahawks
Sunday, August 29
1:00 PM ET – Jacksonville Jaguars vs. Dallas Cowboys
4:00 PM ET – Las Vegas Raiders vs. San Francisco 49ers
6:00 PM ET – New England Patriots vs. New York Giants
For American fans — NFL Network will blackout live games shown concurrently in local markets.
NFL announces joint practices - Who your team is playing and why
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
Joint practices aren’t a new phenomenon in the NFL. They essentially act as an opportunity for teams and players to go through scrimmages against different personnel.
After practicing against your own same players throughout OTAs and training camp, it is a great opportunity to move through different plays, schemes against foreign opponents.
Not all 32 teams are participating in joint practices though. Only 21 teams are will involve themselves with another organization.
New Orleans and Jacksonville were set to meet in Louisiana on August 20, but since the release of the schedule both teams have confirmed otherwise.
Teams NOT involved in joint practices this offseason:
Arizona Cardinals
Buffalo Bills
Cincinnati Bengals
Detroit Lions
Houston Texans
Jacksonville Jaguars
Kansas City Chiefs
New Orleans Saints
Pittsburgh Steelers
Seattle Seahawks
Washington Football Team
Some teams will engage in two bouts of joint practices; the Los Angeles Rams, New England Patriots, Miami Dolphins, Carolina Panthers, Philadelphia Eagles, and both the New York clubs (Jets and Giants).
Arguably, the most famous joint practice moment of recent memory involved then-Houston’s DeAndre Hopkins and Washington’s DeAngelo Hall getting into it. Things got interesting, real quick…
Thankfully for DB’s everywhere their ankles won’t be tested by D-Hop until preseason at the earliest.
Full list of this year’s joint practices:
Courtesy of NFL Communications
“I’m ready to play ball” - Adrian Peterson wants year 15 in NFL
Despite accomplishing so much throughout his decorated NFL career, Adrian Peterson isn’t done wrecking opposition defenses yet — well, according to him anyway.
Peterson may not be the force he once was but All Day believes teams will be interested in him soon enough.
"The training is going well and I'm going to control the things that I can control right now, and, when that time comes, somebody will give me a call," Peterson said, via Aaron Wilson of SportsTalk 790.
“That’s all I’m asking for. My body feels good. I came out healthy from last season. My body feels strong. I still feel young. I still feel good. I’m ready to play ball.”
AP knows what he’s got plenty left in the tank and has his sights set on getting at least another 450 yards to break Barry Sanders’ rushing total. The feat would move Peterson up one spot to third on the NFL’s all-time rushing yards list.
"Yeah, I've been chasing it for a long time. It would be nice to finally get one."
Peterson has still managed to cause havoc in later years, rushing 156 times for 604 yards and seven touchdowns with Detroit last season.
How Larry Fitzgerald & Patrick peterson Bore a leader in Cardinals’ D.J. Humphries
When Cardinals’ tackle D.J. Humpries arrived at practice this offseason and something was different. Not different in a good way either. There was a big hole in Arizona and it wasn’t another canyon.
Two of Arizona’s most loyal servants; Patrick Peterson and Larry Fitzgerald were gone, perhaps never to return. Peterson signed with the Minnesota Vikings during free agency, while Larry Fitz weighs up whether he wants to put his body through another year of pro football.
Something, or someone had to fill the void, so Humphries put his 6’5”, 307lb frame to use.
“I haven’t been to a practice in my NFL career before minicamp where I didn’t see Patrick or Larry,” Humphries said in a recent interview with SiriusXM NFL Radio.
“So that was something for me that kind of took me back a little bit when I went out there, because I’m used to those guys. I always felt like I was practicing to prove something to those guys and make those guys proud of me because those are my OGs, those are guys that have been here since I’ve been here.”
In his seventh season, Humphries knew he needed to give more of himself to push the Cardinals further.
“I had to shift my mindset to be an example instead of trying to impress my OGs in the way that I move and the way that I practice, how I handle myself. It was more so I had to set an example now for the younger cats that’s coming up and watching me. Because when that happened, I didn’t realize how many people were watching me leading up to that, before those guys left. And now that they’re gone, it’s even more magnified.
“So it’s like I have to step into a certain light where I can’t have any downs or slips, I’ve got to do everything right every day, every second. Everything has to be done [right] — every rep’s gotta be game reps because guys are watching and I know that.”
The additions of experienced Pro-Bowlers J.J. Watt and Malcolm Butler will help steady the defense, while the offense can caught on Humphries to help Kyler Murray and company flourish in the desert.