Stanzel’s Sports Takeout — BREAKING NEWS: 11.13.23
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If I’d have told you three weeks ago the Vikings looked good for a playoff spot and the Gophers would have to beat the Badgers in two weeks to just qualify for a bowl game…
Vikings Win Fifth Straight
Only two teams have more wins than the Minnesota Vikings. Left for dead after three straight losses to start the season and a 1-4 beginning, they won their fifth straight yesterday, racing out to a 24-point lead and holding on for a 27-19 win over the hated Saints at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Josh Dobbs ran for a touchdown and threw for 220 of his 268 yards before halftime, and it sure looked like a laugher. Dobbs and T.J. Hockenson really have something cooking - the pair connected for 11 passes and 134 yards. Hockenson outgained the Saints by himself in the first half.
But up 24-3 at the half and 27-3 early in the third, Jameis Winston relieved an injured Derek Carr and sparked a comeback. But the ninth-year (how did that happen?) QB threw a pair of game-ending interceptions late in the fourth quarter. Neither were anywhere near their target.
The Vikings are hurting. At one point fourth-string RB Kene Nwangwu - a kick returner - ran the ball twice. With Cam Akers out for the season, Alex Mattison got a concussion. Ty Chandler got the bulk of the action - 15 runs for 45 yards.
The Vikings defense blitzed less than they had in most games this season, but it didn’t matter save for the third quarter. They hit Saints quarterbacks seven times, including three sacks.
You have to be happy for Dobbs, who is clearly this team’s QB as long as he keeps playing like this. It’s amazing what happens when a guy with decent skills gets a good team around him. Could Justin Jefferson play next week? He first stepped foot in U.S. Bank Stadium Sunday morning! K.J. Osborn didn’t play due to his concussion from last week. Dobbs is just the fourth player since the merger in 1970 with three straight games with both a rushing and passing TD.
The Vikings remained 1.5 games back of Detroit in the NFC North. They’re at Denver Sunday night, before a home game with Chicago heading into the bye. The Vikings’ next three games are VERY winnable, to say the least.
Wolves Take Sixth in a Row, Beat Golden State
This team is for real. The Wolves went to Golden State late last night and rode a strong third quarter to a 116-110 win over a pretty darn good Warriors team. Golden State gets a rematch Tuesday in a game that’s part of the in-season tournament.
He forced some shots in the fourth quarter, but other than that Anthony Edwards was spectacular, tallying 33 points, seven assists and six rebounds. KAT had 21 and 14. Steph Curry led Golden State with 38 points, but Jaden McDaniels actually did a pretty good job on him.
Just two Western Conference teams have more wins than the 7-2 Wolves, who have won six straight since a 1-2 start.
Wild Stink Before Stockholm
The Wild heads to Stockholm this week for games this weekend against Ottawa and Toronto, but what remains to be seen is will Dean Evason be on the plane? I kid, because it’s clear that Evason isn’t going anywhere, despite this team being in a funk so bad I can’t even remember. But as the saying goes, you can’t trade 23 players…
The Wild gave up SEVEN special teams goals in last night’s 8-3 drowning at the hands of the Dallas Stars. All the Stars ever do is score PPG’s against the Wild - you’ll remember the 2023 playoff series.
It was another lousy start - 2-0 against Marc-Andre Fleury - before you blinked. The Wild was still within 4-2 and feeling now awful about themselves, before yet another march to the penalty box. Just lazy penalties - hookings, etc.
The Wild sits at 5-8-2 with three straight losses, and nine in 11 games. A lengthy closed door meeting followed the game.
Evason refused to call out anyone post-game, but did say his best players need to be better. But they all have to be better. This team is thin on the blueline. They got Zack Bogosian for nothing, but he’s not the type of guy you bring in to allow five PPG’s.
It’ll be hard to wake up to watch this team at 7 a.m. this Sunday.
Gophers Blown Out by Purdue; Bowl Game in Jeopardy
After beating Michigan State just two weeks ago, the Gophers were part of a first-place logjam in the subpar Big 10 West. Now, they’re going to have to beat Wisconsin at Huntingdon Bank Stadium in two weeks just to make a bowl game, after getting rolled 49-30 on the road at Purdue on Saturday. They first face the unenviable task of playing at Ohio State Saturday.
Speaking of coaches on the hot seat…P.J. is not, but this year is definitely a black mark on his record. He keeps saying the team isn’t experienced enough for this or that…well, it’s big time college football.
The Boilermakers won just their third game of the season, but did it in style. They outscored Minnesota 21-10 in the second half to pull away. Purdue rushed for 353 yards (!!!), and got more than 600 yards total.
Athan Kaliakmanis completed just 18 of his 42 throws - seven for 119 yards to Daniel Jackson.
Gophers Hockey
The Gopher men beat No. 8 Michigan 4-3 on Friday, then settled for a 2-2 tie in Ann Arbor on Saturday. The Wolverines did win the shootout for the extra conference point. The Gophers, who trail Wisconsin by eight points for first place in the Big 10, host Notre Dame this weekend.
The Gopher women didn’t play; they travel to UMD this weekend.
Gopher Basketball
The Gopher men are 2-0 after beating UTSA 102-76 on Friday. Things get tougher when they host Missouri on Thursday.
The women are also 2-0, having blitzed Chicago State 100-42 Sunday. They host North Dakota State on Wednesday. Can’t wait for Sunday’s nationally televised game against Paige Bueckers and Connecticut. That game is here.
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