Access Vikings

DETROIT -- Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Jim Souhan recap the Vikings' 31-9 loss to the Lions at Ford Field, where their hopes of clinching a division title, a first-round bye, and establishing their dominance in the NFC were left in tatters. What do we make of Sam Darnold's no-show? The lack of consistent protection? What about the approach on offense? Or how they have to take a 14-win team on the road back to the Rams?

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer, and Emily Leiker open the mailbag and answer your Vikings questions about health in the playoffs, takeaways, the future of defensive coordinator Brian Flores, big game emotions, and more.

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer, and Emily Leiker preview Sunday's game between the Vikings (14-2) and Lions (14-2) at Ford Field, where the NFC's No. 1 seed and NFC North champion will be decided. They discuss how they're proceeding with quarterback Sam Darnold, who has just one regular season game left under contract, and how well this Vikings defense is playing before facing the NFL's No. 1 offense in Detroit. They also make their final predictions of the regular season.

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Emily Leiker discuss the Vikings' 27-25 win over the Packers from U.S. Bank Stadium, where they talked to players and coaches afterward about what exactly happened between the 20-3 lead to another fourth-quarter rally by Packers quarterback Jordan Love. But it fell short again. And the Vikings were victorious... again. They're 14-2 with a chance to take the "little hats" back from the Lions, although they'd get their own NFC North hats with a win next week.

Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer open the mailbag and answer your Vikings questions about the playoffs, linebacker Ivan Pace Jr., running back Aaron Jones and 2025, the No. 1 seed in the NFC, and youth vs. experience in the postseason.

Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer preview the latest chapter between the Vikings and Packers on Sunday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium, where this may be the most significant matchup in recent memory. They've played for division titles before, but the Vikings' pursuit of the No. 1 overall seed (and division title) can hinge on this game, and the Packers (11-4) are rolling off back-to-back decisive wins. Green Bay also needs this win for playoff positioning -- or risk falling to the No. 7 seed and a first-round trip to potential No. 2 seed Philadelphia.

Ben Goessling, JIm Souhan, and Emily Leiker join Andrew Krammer from Seattle, where they emerged from the visitor's locker room to share what they saw and heard during and after Sunday's 27-24 win over the Seahawks. They're now set up to win out for the No. 1 seed. Are there any NFC quarterbacks playing better than Sam Darnold right now? How good is this Vikings defense after yet another closing takeaway? How tough of a test was a road game against this Seahawks team?

Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer open the mailbag for a shortened episode on a short week to answer your Vikings-adjacent questions. What should be considered a successful season? Is a pass-heavy approach concerning at all come playoff time? And which players need to stay healthy as all NFL teams try to win the attrition battle?

Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer preview Sunday's game in Seattle, where the Vikings haven't won in a long time. But this isn't the same Seahawks team nor is it the same Vikings team as past losers on the west coast. What does Sam Darnold's development arc say about where this season is headed? What do they think happens in the final three games?

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Jim Souhan emerge from the locker room at U.S. Bank Stadium to discuss what they saw and heard during and after the Vikings' 30-12 win over the Bears on Monday night. What does this win say about the state of the Bears? How are the Vikings set up for the stretch run? How's Brian O'Neill's right knee? What about the outlook for the division crown?

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand open the mailbag and answer your Vikings-adjacent questions about the future at quarterback, contract extensions for leadership, what this defensive depth chart has shown so far and who could be rejoining by season's end.

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand discuss quarterback Sam Darnold's MVP candidacy, playoff scenarios, Monday night's rematch against the Chicago Bears, and more.

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Jim Souhan recap the Vikings' 42-21 win over the Atlanta Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins on Sunday. There was no question who the better quarterback was at U.S. Bank Stadium, where Sam Darnold threw for a career-high 347 yards and a career-high five touchdown passes. What does this win say about Kevin O'Connell's system? About Sam Darnold? Or about their chances in chasing the NFC North title?

Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand open the mailbag and answer your Vikings-adjacent questions about the age of the roster, how many Pro Bowlers they'll have, chasing the No. 1 seed in the NFC, quarterbacks, and more.

Andrew Krammer, Michael Rand, and new Star Tribune writer Emily Leiker preview Sunday's game against the Falcons and quarterback Kirk Cousins, who returns to Minnesota after six eventful seasons for the Vikings from 2018-2023. What will the reception be like at U.S. Bank Stadium? How will he fare against a better Brian Flores defense than the one he practiced against last season? And how does quarterback Sam Darnold look in comparison after the Vikings "settled" for him in free agency last March?

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Chip Scoggins discuss the Vikings' 23-22 win over the Cardinals on Sunday from U.S. Bank Stadium, where quarterback Sam Darnold gave people more reasons to believe in his ability to win. For the second straight game, Darnold led a game-winning drive. But for the first time, the defense had to weather the loss of Stephon Gilmore. For how much longer? Cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. got his 'skimask' revenge, and safety Harrison Smith says he's not injured after sitting out part of the game.

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand open the mailbag and answer your Vikings-adjacent questions about the recent addition of ex-Giants QB Daniel Jones, the various events on special teams, what GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah has learned from, and more.

Ben Goessling, Andrew Krammer and Michael Rand discuss the Vikings' signing of former Giants first-round quarterback Daniel Jones, who chose Minnesota over other suitors in his first stop to rehabilitate his NFL career. What does the move mean for the Vikings this season? And more pertinently with Jones, what does it mean for 2025 when only J.J. McCarthy is under contract for the Vikings? They also preview Sunday's game against the Cardinals.

The Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer sat down with Vikings safety Josh Metellus for a wide-ranging interview about the fifth-year safety emerging as a leading voice for a veteran defense, playing with Harrison Smith and under Brian Flores, and hosting Tell Us With Metellus. You'll hear from Metellus, Smith and Maleah Pearson, a producer for Vikings.com.

Ben Goessling and Andrew Krammer emerge from the visiting locker room at Soldier Field to discuss the Vikings' 30-27 win in overtime over the Bears and being 9-2 in a tight NFC North. First, they discuss a huge game from quarterback Sam Darnold, who gutted through a foot injury to lead them to victory in overtime. But Bears quarterback Caleb Williams also gave the Vikings reasons to be concerned about having to see him twice a year. What did Justin Jefferson have to say after his quiet game? And what about the eventful afternoons for Vikings special teams and NFL officials.