ESPN First Take - Today Philadelphia Eagles vs. Minnesota Vikings
Oct 9, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo (34) intercepts a pass by the Houston Texans in the third quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 31-13. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
One of the best surprises this year has been the play of Minnesota Vikings safety Andrew Sendejo on defense. The athletic defensive back has made a strong case to be the full-time starter next to Harrison Smith, but he may end up missing some time this season after an injury.
During the week 7 game against the Eagles, Sendejo was carted out after hurting hisankle and did not return to the game. Now, it is being reported that the severity of the injury will need to be diagnosed with an MRI.
The news about the MRI was announced by Chris Tomasson of the Pioneer Press. If Sendejo is to miss significant time, it would be a big blow to a defense hoping to give their young safeties time to grow a develop.
While Sendejo was out, the Minnesota Vikings turned to Jayron Kearse, who didnt exactly get a rave review from head coach Mike Zimmer:
(Kearse) missed a couple tackles, said Vikings coach Mike Zimmer. He was a little slow in a couple of areas to get to some places. I see the mistakes, but I cant tell you he did this good or he did that good.
But Sendejo isnt going to let the injury get him down. Hes going to keep his hopes high and keep working hard.
Im staying positive and well just see how it goes, Sendejo said.
Hopefully, Andrew Sendejo will be available and healthy for the week 8 matchup against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. This will be a big game for the Minnesota Vikings to prove they can bounce back, and a primetime spot is a great place to do it.
Are The Minnesota Vikings For Real? | Rage of The Day
With all of Sundays results from Week 5 of NFL action in the books, the Minnesota Vikings stand alone as the last undefeated team in the league. There are a few different numbers that have a lot to do with the teams current standing, and were going to take a look at some of them here.
Obviously, the biggest story of the Vikings season to this point has been the play of the defense. After yesterdays games, the Vikings are leading the National Football League in points allowed per game, giving up just 12.6 points/contest on average. Theyre tied for the NFL lead in takeaways with 12, and are also tied for the NFL lead in sacks with 19 through their first five games.
Their 31-13 victory over the Houston Texans on Sunday marked the ninth consecutive game (including the playoffs) where the Vikings have held an opponent to 17 points or less. Thats tied for the second-longest streak in team history.
(I erroneously said on the Twitters that it was tied for the longest streak in team history.)
The Vikings have had two other such nine-game streaks, one in 1971 and the other that spanned the 1974 and 1975 seasons. They have a ways to go to match the longest such streak in team history, though. The 1969 Vikings defense, probably the most dominant defense in team history, had a streak of 13 games where they allowed 17 points or less. In nine of those 13 games, the Vikings allowed 10 points or less. Here are the Vikings next five opponents and where they rank in the NFL in scoring offense.
Philadelphia Eagles, 28.8 points/game (3rd in NFL)
Chicago Bears, 17 points/game (30th)
Detroit Lions, 23.8 points/game (T-13th)
Washington Redskins, 23 points/game (16th)
Arizona Cardinals, 25 points/game (11th)
It will be interesting to see if this defense can keep their impressive streak going coming out of their bye week.
Lets not leave the offense completely out of this one, as theyve had a significant part in the Vikings start as well. To be more specific, the play of the quarterback position has put up a pretty impressive stat in the teams 5-0 streak. In Sam Bradfords four starts, hes completed over seventy percent of his passes and has thrown six touchdowns to no interceptions. Between Bradford and Shaun Hill, the Minnesota quarterbacks have not thrown an interception this season, having thrown 158 passes over their first five contests without having one intercepted.
According to the NFLs Stats department, this makes them just the second team since 1933 to start a season 5-0 without throwing an interception. The only other such team was the 1969 Los Angeles Rams. Rams quarterback Roman Gabriel threw an interception in his teams sixth game of the season, ending that streak. The Rams actually got off to an 11-0 start that season before losing their first game. . .to the Minnesota Vikings. The Rams finished that season with an 11-3 mark, and then lost their first game of the playoffs. . .to the Minnesota Vikings.
The fact that the Vikings have managed to do this with the cascade of injuries theyve dealt with makes it that much more remarkable. Already theyve replaced their starting quarterback (Teddy Bridgewater), their starting running back (Adrian Peterson), their starting left tackle (Matt Kalil), and their starting right tackle (Andre Smith). They also played Sundays game without their top wide receiver (Stefon Diggs), and lost their starting right guard (Brandon Fusco) midway through the first quarter. A key piece of their defensive line, tackle Sharrif Floyd, hasnt suited up since the season opener, and they played the first two games of the season without cornerback Xavier Rhodes, who is quickly gaining a reputation as one of the NFLs best at the position.
Im not sure if a team can embody the next man up philosophy more than this Vikings team has through the first five weeks of the season, but you have to give credit to coaches Mike Zimmer, Norv Turner, and George Edwards, as well as General Manager Rick Spielman. No matter what setbacks this team faces, they just keep rolling players out there and getting results.
Theres still a whole lot of football left to be played in the 2016 season, to be certain. But if the Vikings can continue playing stifling defense and playing smart football on offense. . .and if Sam Bradford can continue to make Rick Spielman look like a genius after all the flak he took in the days following the big trade. . .fans of this team should have every reason to believe that this team will be playing deep into January.
Maybe even into the first Sunday in February, too.
ESPN First Take - Today Minnesota Vikings Acquire QB Sam Bradford
Former Ducks QB Marcus Mariota and the Tennessee Titanslost to theMinnesota Vikings in Week 1, 25-16. Here"s everything you need to know to follow the score or how to watch live on TV or online.
What: Tennessee Titans vs. Minnesota Vikings
When: Sunday, Sept. 11, 10 a.m. PT/1 p.m. ET
Where: Nissan Stadium, Nashville, TN
TV: KMTR-16 (NBC, Eugene), DirecTV Sunday Ticket
Watch online: You can watch the live stream on DirecTV"s nfl app.
Local players to watch: Tennessee - QB Marcus Mariota (Oregon).
Mariota and the Titans expect to have more than the three wins than they had in 2015. The addition of running backs DeMarco Murray, Derrick Henry and wide receivers Rishard Matthews and Andre Johnson are expected to take some of the pressure off Mariota.
Follow along as we bring you live updates and analysis from the game from kickoff through the final whistlein the comments section below.Have thoughts on how Mariota and the Titans are performing? Don"t hesitate to jump in on the live updates and chat with us as the game rolls along.
MINNEAPOLIS -- While a former teammate who caught passes from Colin Kaepernick defended the San Francisco 49ers quarterback"s decision not to stand for the national anthem, a former teammate who blocked for Kaepernick didn"t see it that way.
Minnesota Vikings guard Alex Boone, who played five seasons with Kaepernick in San Francisco before leaving in free agency last spring, called it "shameful" that Kaepernick did not stand for the national anthem on Aug. 26 against the Green Bay Packers, adding "we probably would have had a problem on the sideline" had the quarterback done it while Boone had still been his teammate.
Former 49ers receiver Anquan Boldin said Sunday that "you still have to respect" Kaepernick"s opinion "even if you don"t agree with what someone does." The quarterback told NFL Media on Friday that his decision was meant as a form of protest over the treatment of "black people and people of color" in the U.S.
Falcons" Ben Garland on Colin Kaepernick sitting during national anthem: "I don"t agree with it completely, but we fought for that freedom as well."
While Boone acknowledged that Kaepernick "can do whatever he wants," he added, "there"s a time and a place. Show some respect."
"You should have some f---ing respect for people who served, especially people that lost their life to protect our freedom," said Boone, whose brother J.J. served with the Marines in Iraq. "We"re out here playing a game, making millions of dollars. People are losing their life, and you don"t have the common courtesy to do that. That just drove me nuts.
"Anquan said it this morning [that Kaepernick had the right to do it], and I was kind of mad that he said it, because I was like, "G*d, if Anquan says it, I"ve got to go with it," because Anquan was such a leader, and he"s a smart guy. He gets it. But at the same time, I was upset with his choice to do that and kind of disrespect the flag."
Vikings guard Alex Boone, who played five seasons with Colin Kaepernick in San Francisco, said the two "probably would have had a problem on the sideline" had the quarterback sat the national anthem while Boone was a member of the 49ers.Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Niners coach Chip Kelly said Kaepernick also didn"t stand for the anthem on Aug. 20 against the Denver Broncos, telling reporters, "We recognize his right to do that. So, it"s not my right to tell him not to do something. That"s his right as a citizen.
"We recognize his right as an individual to choose to participate or not participate in the national anthem."
Boone, though, said the gesture was disrespectful to the American flag and those who serve in the military.
"You see all these pictures of these veterans that have no legs, and they"re standing up in a wheelchair," Boone said. "I had a brother that served, and he lost friends. I know how much it means to him. It"s shameful."
"We"re out here playing a game, making millions of dollars. People are losing their life, and you don"t have the common courtesy to do that. That just drove me nuts."
Vikings guard Alex Boone on former 49ers teammate Colin Kaepernick sitting during national anthem
New York Giants wide receiver Victor Cruz said after his team"s exhibition victory against the New York Jets on Saturday night that the American flag deserves respect -- no matter the circumstances in the U.S. or beyond.
"The flag is the flag," Cruz said. "Regardless of how you feel about things that are going on in America today, and the things that are going on across the world with gun violence and things of that nature, you"ve got to respect the flag, and you"ve got to stand up with your teammates. It"s bigger than just you, in my opinion. I think you go up there, you"re with a team, and you go and you know you pledge your allegiance to the flag and sing the national anthem with your team, and then you go about your business, whatever your beliefs are.
"Colin is his own man. He decided to sit down and that is his prerogative, but on a personal standpoint, I think you have to stand up there with your team and understand and it"s this game and what"s going on around this country is bigger than just you."
Buffalo Bills coach Rex Ryan said Sunday he believes players and coaches should stand for the anthem to show respect and give thanks to members of the armed forces.
"You"ve got to look at the gifts that we have, the opportunity that we have to play a great game is through the men and women that serve our country," Ryan said before practice on Sunday. "And I think that"s an opportunity right there just to show respect."
Information from The Associated Press was used in this report.
