Related: Minnesota Vikings Playoff Odds for Christmas

But NFC North common knowledge isn’t as common out on the east coast among Carolina Panthers fans and media members. That was until Christmas Eve, when this late-game (obvious) incompletion from Jordan Love to Romeo Doubs was reviewed and called a catch by NFL officials.

On a critical 3rd down late in a 30-30 game, officials ruled this play a completed pass to Romeo Doubs.

Upon review, the call was upheld as a catch. pic.twitter.com/GV9uLF1aHn

— John Ellis (@1PantherPlace) December 24, 2023

In most scenarios, this being called a catch would be absolutely shocking. The type of call that makes you question everything about what is real and what is not, in the world of professional sports. But not if it’s an NFL game and when one of the teams on the field has a Giant G on their yellow and green helmets.

Adam Thielen educates Panthers reporters on life vs the Packers

That’s why, after the game, long time Viking and even longer time Minnesota sports fan, Adam Thielen, found himself in the Panthers locker room explaining to Carolina reporters how calls like the one on Sunday are to be expected when playing against Green Bay. Even if you’re the home team.

The full response from Adam Thielen on that controversial Romeo Doubs catch that was ultimately upheld after official review. The play was made right in front of Thielen and a few others on the sideline.

“Kind of what you get when you play the Packers.” pic.twitter.com/rrPPdYM6uX

— Alex Zietlow (@alexzietlow05) December 24, 2023

Thielen: “At full speed that’s no catch. So… that’s kind of what you get when you play the Packers.”

Reporter: “What do you mean by that?”

Thielen: “Usually they get the benefit of the doubt on some calls.”

Related: Justin Jefferson Talks About How Much Vikings Miss Kirk Cousins

Thielen realizes, after the transcribed exchange above, that he may have just put up a headline quote for everyone back in Green Bay, so he quickly turns to praising the Packers about how his discourse regarding that one call did not discount the Packers win, that they came in and earned it.

But we all know what AT was really thinking.

The first turnover of week 4, like is often the case in both love and football, hurt the most.

99-YARDS!

No stopping Sam 😤 pic.twitter.com/3SzM0NRIvj

— Carolina Panthers (@Panthers) October 1, 2023

Same turnover prone Minnesota Vikings offense in 1st half…

Even on the Vikings first touchdown drive of the day, Kirk Cousins fumbled a snap and turned an easy QB sneak first down into a 3rd and short. And honestly, I wasn’t even mad. Just happy they didn’t lose the fumble. The next play, Kirk threw the first of two touchdowns on the day to Justin Jefferson.

Whether it was penalties (Vikings committed SEVEN) or turnovers (Kirk threw another INT in the 2nd quarter), the Minnesota offense couldn’t get out of its own way. And unlike in previous weeks, Cousins & Co weren’t marching up and down the field before committing their devastating mistakes.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Threatens to Bench Vikings Players Who Can’t Hold onto the Football

Kirk finished the first half with just 100 yards passing, to go with his 2 interceptions and 1 touchdown. But then, with 4:09 remaining in the 3rd quarter, the Panthers driving and the Vikings down 13-6, a defensive miracle happened.

Defense saves Minnesota Vikings season

Bryce Young dropped back and Harrison Smith ripped around the right tackle on a blitz. Young thought he could shake the veteran safety 1v1 but he was wrong. Harry swiped down on the ball with his left arm, causing it to tumble on the turf toward the Vikings end zone before DJ Wonnum scooped it up and did the rest.

Chaos. Absolute chaos.@HarriSmith22 @DWonnum

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/0UWZB1Afxj

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 1, 2023

Just like that, the score was tied. After a made extra point, the Minnesota Vikings were suddenly up by a point. They certainly didn’t pull away after this defensive score but Kirk and JJ did connect for one more touchdown and the defense held up a handful of times, including one where Carolina drove all the way to the Vikings 10 yard line. But, they never gave in.

I know it’s hard to believe, but the Minnesota Vikings defense won them the game in Charlotte today. It wasn’t just the momentum changing fumble return for a touchdown. The Vikings’ defense, especially as the game went on, was a major problem that Bryce Young and the Panthers could not solve. They were relentless with pressure vs the pass and held up admirably against the run.

Related: Two Key Wins in 2023 Would Make Kirk Cousins the 5th QB in NFL History to Defeat All 32 Teams

Marcus Davenport well worth the wait…

The biggest change? Marcus Davenport, who didn’t play in weeks 1-3, is a beast and showed why the Vikings were so excited to get him early in the offseason. He totaled just one sack but both half sacks should have been his alone. Seriously, how does Danielle Hunter get credit for half of this sack?

Defense is TURNED UP!!

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/gYAfUnjShU

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 1, 2023

All afternoon, Davenport was making plays. He noticeably made the defense better vs both the run and the pass. We had to wait for it but sometimes the wait is well worth it. Eventually it was the clock paired with Minnesota’s defense that finally ran this game out to victory.

Harrison Smith winds back the clock

The other star of Sunday’s game? Harrison Smith, who was the only defensive player more disruptive in the pass rush than Marcus Davenport, grabbing 3 sacks to go along with his 14 tackles and the forced fumble you witnessed above, that ended in a season-turning defensive touchdown. #22 was vintage Harrison Smith today.

Harrison Smith’s second sack of the game! This #Vikings defense is cooking pic.twitter.com/eJrzGxtBel

— MSN (@mnspnews) October 1, 2023

“Just how much he’s running the show out there…we’re the best possible version of the Minnesota Vikings defensively when Harrison Smith is an impact player.” pic.twitter.com/hBPWW22LlY

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 1, 2023

After Harry’s strip sack-turned-touchdown, the Vikings offense scored one more TD and then got out of the defense’s way. Kirk Cousins threw his second interception deep into the 1st half and the Vikings never turn it over again after that.

Vikings finally find rushing attack, Cam Akers looks good in debut

It wasn’t an easy victory and it didn’t happen in shootout fashion like many of us thought it would. Dalton Risner didn’t get the start but the offensive line played well enough. Sunday’s biggest bright spot for an offense that struggled to move the ball as well as they did through three games, was a definitive improvement in the run game.

Alexander Mattison looked like a much better version of himself, rushing 17 carries for 95 yards (5.6 YPC), but it was the vision and burst to Cam Akers’ game (5 carries, 40 yards, 8.0 YPC) that took the Vikings rushing attack to the next level vs the Panthers.

No doubt, the Vikings coaches will go into week 5 feeling much better about their run game than they did any other week of the season, so far. Most of that optimism can be credited to Akers.

Cam Akers looks 100x the running back Alexander Mattison has been. #Vikings

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 1, 2023

As improved as Alex Mattison was on Sunday, Cam showed a different level of talent when he had the ball in his hands. Not only does Akers have speed and quickness Mattison doesn’t, he sees the field and gaps in the offensive line better too.

If Cam Akers stays healthy and everything is kosher behind the scenes, I can’t see a world where Mattison keeps his carry total up, as Akers gets more and more comfortable with the Vikings offense and his duties in both the run and pass/pass blocking games.

Related: Dalton Risner Gets Reps w/Vikings 1st-Team Offense; Cam Akers Will Be Active vs Panthers

But, the Minnesota Vikings leave Bank of America Stadium as 21-13 victors and move their record to 1-3 on the 2023-24 season. Suddenly, there’s hope… We’ll worry about our next opponent, the red-hot Kansas City Chiefs, tomorrow. Tonight, we soak in a victory. As fans, we deserve it.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Dalton Risner works w/1’s; Cam Akers active

Head coach, Kevin O’Connell, told reporters on Wednesday that Risner will get reps with the Vikings 1st-team offense throughout the week and that Akers is expected to be active and on the field Sunday, vs the Panthers.

Kevin O’Connell said the Vikings will get OL Dalton Risner some first-team snaps today in practice. Didn’t say whether it would be at LG or RG. Will decide “best 5” OL for Sunday, but didn’t rule out a rotation.

— Kevin Seifert (@SeifertESPN) September 27, 2023

“Yeah the plan is to get [Cam Akers] up and active and give him some opportunities in the game [vs Carolina] Kevin O’Connell

The Vikings’ offensive line has been much improved recently, according to advanced metrics like PFF and SIS, but the pass blocking could get even better, should Risner be the same type of player he has been for most of his 4-year career to this point.

Akers seems like the bigger question mark. The Rams thought so little of him that they essentially gave him up for free. But Alexander Mattison hasn’t been anything near what the Minnesota Vikings had hoped, entering the season.

Related: Kevin O’Connell Threatens to Bench Vikings Players Who Can’t Hold onto the Football

Can Akers be the 1-punch to Mattison’s 2-punch or vice versa? At the end of the day, he can’t hurt because the Vikings have one of the worst rushing attacks in the NFL through three weeks and that, along with major ball security issues, are the only thing holding back this offense.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

Has anyone called the #Vikings on Kirk Cousins… ????????#SKOL pic.twitter.com/JE7F8TLHDK

— SKOR North (@SKORNorth) February 22, 2022

“From what I’ve heard, [the Vikings] have gotten a call. Now, from what I’ve heard, it went nowhere, so far. But it is interesting that the phone did ring at TCO in Eagan and on the other end of the line, the Carolina Panthers. Quarterback desperate, panicked, I’m sure. I think if Matt Rhule and the Panthers don’t have a successful 2022, he’s probably going to be fired.”

“Now the Vikings supposedly have said, ‘Hey, let’s put a pin in that conversation. We don’t plan to move him now.’ But it makes sense that you would then try to drive things a bit and I think that was before we found out about the [unwillingness to re-negotiate his] contract.”

Judd Zulgad – SKOR North

How much is Kirk worth, though?

Still, as Judd mentions, the Vikings continue to pledge their loyalty to Kirk Cousins. One has to wonder, then, what it will take for inquiring teams like the Panthers, or others who may be interested, to get the ear of the new regime residing at TCO Performance Center.

What if the offer includes a top-6 pick in the upcoming NFL draft? That’s where the Carolina Panthers a slotted, come April. How would Kwesi Adofo-Mensah hang up the phone if that’s the starting point? He wouldn’t. But would the Panthers really put that #6 overall pick on the table?

Pro Football Focus believes they’d need to offer that pick and more to get a deal done. In an article titled: 15 Trades to Watch Out For in the 2022 Offseason, the Panthers deal their 1st round this year (#6 overall) and their 2nd round pick for 2023 to the Vikings and agree to eat all $35 million of Kirk Cousins’ remaining contract (after Minnesota eats the obligatory $10 million in dead cap).

If the Panthers offer the #6 overall pick and take on all of Kirk Cousins' $35M… idk how the #Vikings say no. (via @PFF) pic.twitter.com/0fXuXbToKl

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) February 22, 2022

Other Variables

I didn’t start this blog by naming Aaron Rodgers and Russell Wilson for no reason. Those are the two quarterbacks who could be available for the taking this offseason. Either QB would set the trade market for going forward.

But if those two superstars aren’t dealt or if a quarterback desperate team (like the Broncos, Panthers or Steelers) can’t land either one… then their best option immediately becomes Kirk Cousins. And that is a bidding war that the Minnesota Vikings would ultimately win.

Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell might love Kirk Cousins as much as they claim. But, love fades. If desperate front offices start hurling 1st round picks their way in negotiations, I’d imagine the new leaders could quickly be talked into their being “other fish in the sea”.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

The entire scene was action packed. Punches and kicks were thrown, jerseys and cargo shorts were everywhere. It was intense. Then at about 1:20, tensions boil over and erupt into utter chaos. There’s a Vikings fan in a purple t-shirt who seems to drive most of the violence and take most of the beating… but he may have had good reason.

Watch for yourself and then read below for some details on the melee, that have come out since.

Panthers vs Vikings Brawl ???????? pic.twitter.com/11MewaOYtf

— Eli Jones (@EliJones20) October 17, 2021

What happened?

The main Vikings fan in the video (purple t-shirt guy), who gets knocked out while on his knees at the 1:40 mark, had a reason to be so upset, according to Outkick.com. Before the camera started rolling, his mom was apparently “sucker punched”. That according to an off-duty police officer who saw it happen and tackled the alleged assailant (watch in the background at the 0:09 mark).

“He kept getting up attacking. For some reason the video portrayed as if he stayed on the ground. He actually was taken down multiple times. Idk why be he was mad at an elderly woman.”

Off-Duty Officer Goins (via Outkick)

Much like the Minnesota Vikings on the field, purple t-shirt guy refused to give up! That brutal shot purple he took to the face was similar to the Sam Darnold touchdown that sent the actual game to overtime. But just when the fight felt over for the Vikings, purple t-shirt guy wakes from the dead and chases down the “sucker punch” artist who started all of this.

Yes, the same “sucker punch” artist who was tackled at the 0:09 mark by the off-duty police officer finally resurfaces at 02:00 of the video and purple t-shirt guy takes off after him. You’ll see him catch and land a haymaker of his own six seconds later that finally puts some justice into this video. Finally, purple t-shirt guy was able to honorably defend his mom, his wife (who got knocked to the ground in this video too) and the honor of all Vikings fans.

Encore

The last of the melee happened up where “sucker punch” artist was laid out to end the last video. These Carolina fans really like to take out their anger on middle-aged women. This time, it’s a young and very fit female Carolina fan who commits the crime on the innocent Vikings fan. Has Carolina become the new Philadelphia?

Panthers vs Vikings Brawl ???????? pic.twitter.com/11MewaOYtf

— Eli Jones (@EliJones20) October 17, 2021

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan

In week 5, Cousins played Batman while Greg Joseph played Robin. After Mr. Conservative, Mike Zimmer, allowed the Lions to take the lead in a game they had no business winning, Kirk Cousins used 37 seconds and two timeouts to drive over nearly 50 yards to put Greg Joseph JUST BARELY in range to hit the game-winner.

But on Sunday of week 6, the Batman/Robin hero effort with less than a minute remaining wasn’t enough. I mean, Kirk did his job, using less than a minute to drive the Vikings’ offense down the field to within easy field goal range of Greg Joseph. But, week 5’s Robin failed him in week 6.

Cold blooded Kirk Cousins drives the #Vikings into easy Greg Joseph field goal range for the… miss. pic.twitter.com/aCzwLRlptJ

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 18, 2021

Overtime

Luckily, since the game was already tied, Minnesota got another chance and won the OT coin toss. And with the new rules that make an opening drive touchdown so important in OT, Mike Zimmer couldn’t afford to hold his offense back. So, Kirk Cousins and Klint Kubiak got the green light to be aggressive and go for the touchdown.

With Dalvin Cook playing the role of Robin this weekend, Kirk Batman Cousins methodically led the Vikings down the field. Throw after throw, dime after dime the QB who wears number 8 for the purple and gold was not going to be stopped.

Finally, with the Panthers defense wobbling like a street fighter character on the verge of defeat, Kirk Cousins finished them with a touchdown strike to KJ Osborne for the victory. That means the Vikings somehow head into the bye week somehow a 3-3 football team, despite their head coach’s best efforts to keep that from happening.

Vikings just went….TITANIC #skol pic.twitter.com/HRHgbPEmd6

— 10,000 Takes (@10kTakes_) October 17, 2021

Mike Zimmer is the problem

How many close games does Mike Zimmer have to play in before he realizes that trying your best NOT TO LOSE no longer works in the NFL. You have to stomp and beat the shit out of other teams while you have them down and asking for mercy.

If you let anyone, even bad teams like Carolina and Detroit, hang around in this league, you will often live to regret it. It cost the Vikings games early on and it’s almost lead to two back-to-back heart-stomping defeats that had to be saved by Batman Kirk Cousins.

This week, Zimmer opted for a field goal on a VERY short 4th down and inches at the Panther 6-yard line, something that made no sense at the time. Then, after taking a 7-point lead late in the 3rd quarter, Zimmer and the Vikings had a chance to take a two-possession (9-point) lead with a two-point conversion. Of course, Mike opted for the extra-point and 8-point lead.

I immediately called for the Vikings to try for the two points after Thielen scored this ridiculous touchdown. Luckily for Zim, his stupid decision to kick the extra point didn’t come back to bite him this time.

How did Thielen catch this?! #SKOL

????: #MINvsCAR on FOX
????: NFL app pic.twitter.com/uQIa8mOHBj

— NFL (@NFL) October 17, 2021

GO FOR TWO

— Minnesota Sports Fan (@realmnsportsfan) October 17, 2021

Firework finish was avoidable

Had the Vikings gone for two and converted, Carolina wouldn’t have been able to tie with their last score, a 2-point conversion of their own. If the Vikings had failed to convert in that hypothetical scenario, then they’re still leading by 7 points and the Panthers likely kick an extra point to go to overtime, instead of needing their own two points.

Thanks to the QB he looked down upon for so long, Zimmer got away with bad coaching at the end of this game. Maybe that’s why he smiled this time, when Kirk embraced him after the win…

YOU LIKE THAT?!?! pic.twitter.com/xlx3hC2ZKP

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 17, 2021

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan

A win will carry good vibes for the team and more job security for the head coach. But most importantly, a win will get the Vikings back to .500 as they enter what looks like the most difficult stretch of their schedule.

Difficult remaining schedule

Sunday’s matchup in Carolina is, on paper, the easiest game on the Vikings will play in, through Thanksgiving. After the Panthers, their next four opponents hold a 16-4 overall record. Those teams, the Cowboys, Ravens, Chargers and Packers, are all 4-1 entering week 6.

That’s a gauntlet. Tankathon.com agrees, ranking the Viking remaining schedule as the toughest in the NFL.

Per current win-loss totals and @tankathon, the Vikings have the most difficult schedule remaining in the NFL. pic.twitter.com/M0C9lEBeAV

— Dustin Baker (@DustBaker) October 12, 2021

Using wins and losses to judge schedule difficulty is a bit faulty, especially after just five weeks. But these opponents are no joke. Out of the 12 remaining games, the Vikings would be current favorites in less than a handful. They’d look pretty good at home vs the Bears and Steelers and probably be favored in Detroit vs the Lions too.

The NFC is as competitive as its been in some time and the Packers are threatening to pull away in the North. The Vikings cannot afford to fall to 2-4 if they want to make a playoff push. Another Green Bay win paired with a Minnesota loss would be absolutely devastating to the purple’s playoff odds.

Beating Carolina is extremely important

Calling a week 6 game “must win” feels wrong. But if Sunday vs the Panthers isn’t “must win” it’s about as close as it can get. From everything we can calculate right now, the Minnesota Vikings cannot afford to lose this weekend. The hole would be too deep to climb out of, given the difficulty of their upcoming schedule.

The Carolina Panthers were (-1.5) favorites to start the week but bets have come in heavy on the Vikings, swinging the odds the other way. As of Thursday afternoon, BetOnline.ag has Minnesota giving the (-1.5) points.

Carolina are losers of two straight games, including a rough one at home against the Eagles last weekend. The Panthers started 3-0 behind the arm of Sam Darnold but have looked much more vulnerable of late.

Matchup

Both teams are built fairly similarly on offense. Kirk Cousins is unquestionably the better quarterback but the weapons are solid for both. The headliners are running backs, Christian McCaffrey and Dalvin Cook, who are considered two of the best in the game. But both guys have missed the last couple weeks and have been limited in practice leading up to Sunday. Dalvin Cook was able to practice on Thursday, however.

Some good news for the Vikings at practice today: Dalvin Cook, Anthony Barr, and Alexander Mattison are participating though they may be limited.
On the other hand, Michael Pierce isn’t practicing and is probably out Sunday. And Thielen and Jefferson stretched then walked off.

— Chad Graff (@ChadGraff) October 14, 2021

On defense, the Panthers have allowed over 21 points just once this season. It was against the Dallas Cowboys, who are running one of the best offenses in the league. The Minnesota Vikings have the same type of talent as the Cowboys but the purple offense hasn’t been able to operate efficiently in the second-half of games.

The Minnesota defense, on the other hand, has been pretty good of late, something that’s gone under the radar. In each of the last three games, the Vikings have held opponents under 17 points. Given how well Carolina’s defense has played, they might have to make it four.

But no matter how they do it, Zim and Co have to find a way to come out of Charlotte with a victory.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan

For those of you still riding the “trade Kirk Cousins bandwagon”, I have a proposal for you. What if the Carolina Panthers and Minnesota Vikings came together for a blockbuster that landed “The Chosen One” (Teddy Bridgewater) back in purple, along with the #8 overall pick in April’s draft?

This idea sprouted from a reported trade offer made by the Panthers to the Detroit Lions for QB Matthew Stafford, before he was ultimately traded to the LA Rams. Stafford is arguably a worse QB than Cousins.

During trade talks to try to acquire Matthew Stafford, the Carolina Panthers made a serious offer to the Lions of their eighth overall pick, a fifth-round pick and quarterback Teddy Bridgewater, per league sources. Detroit opted to take the Rams offer. Carolina still looking.

— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) February 7, 2021

Trade idea:

•Kirk Cousins to Carolina
•Teddy Bridgewater, the 8th pick, and a 5th round pick to Minnesota

Then when draft time rolls around… haha https://t.co/rv8aH7Jn66 pic.twitter.com/gvYHAwmMjb

— Cooper (sports fan) (@CoopCarlson) February 8, 2021

Why this trade makes sense

First, this would make Mike Zimmer the happiest man alive. Not only would he get his favorite QB back in purple, but the Vikings would add future cap space flexibility and he could draft an elite defender with the additional pick.

Second, Klint Kubiak was promoted to offensive coordinator today, which basically confirms the Vikings will have a similar offensive system, one that relies heavily on the run, ranking in the top 6 for rushing percentage the past two seasons.

Why pay a quarterback $30+ million if you’re going to run the ball all the time? Instead, it might make more sense to trade for Bridgewater who makes roughly $10 million less to the cap this year and $20 million less in 2022.

Here is the cap situation for both of their contracts. Realistically, the trade would have to be completed by March 17th so Cousins 2022 salary doesn’t lock in with the Vikings.

Third, everyone loves draft picks! With this trade, Zimmer gets his quarterback and more defensive flexibility. Spielman gets, not only a first round pick, but a fifth rounder too. Maybe Rick can even flip that fifth for a couple of seventh rounders!

In all seriousness, these two picks would be great for Minnesota. They could address two big needs in the first round, whether it’s offensive/defensive line or in the secondary.

This trade could be a win for both sides. Carolina gets a quarterback on the same level as what they were seeking in Stafford. Minnesota would get additional puzzle pieces to fill in their many offseason holes.

Cooper Carlson | Minnesota Sports Fan

The Minnesota Vikings offense played really well for three drives during Sunday afternoon’s game vs the Carolina Panthers. Outside of that, the Panthers held Dalvin Cook and the Vikings offense down. But, when the dust settled on a game, that had more twists and turns than your favorite quarantine soap opera, that’s all the Vikings needed.

Justin Jefferson caught two touchdowns, the Vikings avoided a serious Dalvin Cook leg injury and overcame two pick-up-for-six fumbles to start the second half. But, none of that matters. What mattered are the last three minutes of this game.

It started with a muffed punt by Chad Beebe, that looked to end the afternoon for the Vikings. Somehow, between a great goal line stop and Mike Zimmer’s time out usage, the Vikings got the ball back with 1:51 left, which would prove to be too much time for Kirk “If I die, I die” Cousins.

Kirk “If I Die, I Die” Cousins

Kirk went 6 of 7 on the drive and delivered strike after strike to receivers that weren’t always that open. It finished with this dime to Chad Beebe in the back of the endzone.

Kirk Cousins is on FIRE ? pic.twitter.com/jLYdqnHXSH

— Minnesota Vikings UK (@UKVikings) November 29, 2020

But life is never that easy for Minnesota sports fans. Teddy Bridgewater and the Carolina Panthers offense still have over 40 seconds on the clock and only needed a field goal to earn a victory.

Sure enough, it came down to a 54-yard field goal and I don’t think I’ve ever seen a kicker miss a game-winner vs the Vikings. Why would this one be any different?

I don’t know… but I’m glad it was.

@Panthers kick no good! pic.twitter.com/WYm8cOgs5P

— beenewsdaily (@BeeNewsDaily) November 29, 2020

The Vikings are now 5-6 and their playoff hopes are still alive.

Eric Strack | Minnesota Sports Fan