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Fixing the broken Vikings passing game; Can Gophers rebound against Iowa? Nov 09, 2021

Show notes

On the Tuesday Morning Nickelback edition of Daily Delivery, Michael Rand welcomes in a trio of guests:

*Vikings writer Andrew Krammer breaks down the Vikings' broken passing game -- in particular their inability to get the ball to Justin Jefferson and Adam Thielen -- in his latest film review. The big problem is that it's not just one problem affecting the passing game.

*My Least Favorite Team is My Favorite Team finds Rand and Keith Richotte talking about an all-too-familiar narrative. The Vikings looked good early against Baltimore, then couldn't get any offense going again until desperation time. Meanwhile, their defense was worn down.

*Gophers football writer Randy Johnson tries to explain how Minnesota could lose to Illinois -- and whether the Gophers can rebound against Iowa.

Patrick Reusse on a Vikings breakdown, a bad Gophers loss and the Wild saving the day Nov 08, 2021

Show notes

Patrick Reusse joins Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. Among the key topics discussed:

*The Vikings were in position to beat Baltimore despite a huge disparity in several key categories. The Ravens held the ball for twice as long as the Vikings and had almost three times as many first downs (36 to 13) in an overtime win. Still, if the Vikings could have done more with a two-touchdown lead or an overtime turnover, they would have won. Instead, questions about their season are fresh again with their record at 3-5.

*The Gophers football team might have been caught looking ahead to Iowa. A 14-6 home loss to Illinois put them at 4-2 in the Big Ten, tied with three other teams in the West. Reusse wondered, and it's a good question: Why does a two-touchdown deficit against a bad team feel insurmountable?

*What happened to the Wolves and Karl-Anthony Towns? They went 0-4 on a recent homestand and were outscored by 97 points when KAT was on the floor. Reusse's answer: That's the Wolves.

*The Wild and Loons saved the weekend with clutch performances. The Wild rallied for a in improbable win at Pittsburgh then used a four-goal surge to beat the Islanders. The Loons hung on for a tie against the L.A. Galaxy to make the playoffs.

Vikings lose another starter; NFL picks; KAT says he was hacked; Big MLS weekend Nov 05, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Vikings fans have wondered in recent weeks whether the team might shake up the offensive line given the inconsistent play -- particularly on the interior of the line where Kirk Cousins often feels pressure. Out of necessity on Sunday, they will. Center Garrett Bradbury landed on the COVID list, meaning offseason acquisition Mason Cole will get a shot. Whether that's an upgrade or downgrade remains to be seen.

5:00: Vikings/NFL writer Mark Craig tries to atone for last week's 5-10 record on picks with another shot at this week's slate. The reeling Vikings are nearly a touchdown underdog at Baltimore, and same goes for the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers at Green Bay.

18:00: Jerry Zgoda joins for a look at a big Sunday in Major League Soccer. For Minnesota United, the simplest route to the playoffs is this: Earn at least a tie against the L.A. Galaxy in their finale, and they are in. Lose and they will need some help.

25:00: Karl-Anthony Towns says he was hacked. The NFL is trying to determine if Aaron Rodgers violated COVID protocols. And I'm sitting here in a hot dog costume trying to figure out the guy who did this.

Aaron Rodgers' big vaccine lie; P.J. Fleck's big extension; Marcus Fuller on Gophers men's hoops Nov 04, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Aaron Rodgers will miss Sunday's game against Kansas City after reportedly testing positive for COVID-19 -- news that revealed that Rodgers is also apparently not vaccinated despite him saying in late August that he was "immunized" when asked about his status. Rodgers' attempt at misdirection is worse than a flat-out lie or being a vaccine denier because he is trying to have it both ways.

7:00: Marcus Fuller joins the show to help preview the Gophers men's basketball season, which starts Tuesday against Kansas City. Ben Johnson has a tall task ahead of him both in terms of the short-term and the long-term, but he is willing to meet it head on.

21:00: P.J. Fleck's new contract was well-earned, and Gophers fans should hope that he means it when he says he is here for the long haul.

25:00: The Wolves scored plenty of points against the Clippers on Wednesday, but their defense was bad in a 126-115 loss. Now they are 3-4 and in serious danger of squandering a good start and early opportunity against a soft schedule.

Kaprizov scores!; Why can't the Wolves score?; Does Atlanta give the Twins hope? Nov 03, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: The Wild at least temporarily halted one of those stretches for Minnesota sports teams with a 5-4 overtime win over Ottawa. Perhaps just as important in that game: Kirill Kaprizov scored for the first time this season on his 32nd shot of the year. Minnesota is 6-3 on the season with just two goals combined from Kaprizov and Kevin Fiala, which should mean better times area ahead when they get hot.

5:00: Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins the show for an examination of the team's 3-3 start. The optimism that permeated the team after a win at Milwaukee has dissipated after home losses to Denver and Orlando. Minnesota's offense seems stuck in the mud, and the Wolves might not have D'Angelo Russell when they play the Clippers on Wednesday. That might actually improve the offense, though, based on how things have gone so far this year.

22:00: Atlanta won the World Series after being below .500 at the All-Star break. Should that give hope to the Twins that a turnaround is possible?

26:00: The Gophers are No. 20 in the initial College Football Playoff Rankings. While it will be tough for them to crack the Top 4 this year -- or any year -- thinking about a 12-team possible future playoff is a lot more manageable.

Who is to blame for Vikings' offensive woes? + Can the Gophers have a special season? Nov 02, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: It's Tuesday Morning Nickelback time, with a deep dive into the Vikings and the Gophers football team.

2:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer tries to help answer the big question of the week during our film review segment. What went wrong with the Vikings' offense against Dallas on Sunday night, and who is to blame? Within the context of that question is another important one: Is there anything that can be done to fix it?

11:00: My Least Favorite Team is My Favorite Team does not miss its mark this week. The Vikings let Dallas hang around and the defense had an opportunity to be the hero of the game. But like so many other times this season, that side of the ball couldn't get it done when it mattered most.

23:00: Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins the show for a happier subject. Minnesota has won four games in a row and controls its destiny in the Big Ten West. Showdowns with Iowa and Wisconsin loom later this month.

Patrick Reusse on an unoforgivable Vikings loss that could get Mike Zimmer fired Nov 01, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand to rehash the fresh pain of the latest Vikings debacle, a 20-16 Sunday Night Football loss to Dallas and backup quarterback Cooper Rush. Minnesota had all the advantages in this game but still couldn't deliver a victory that it very much needed. Afterward, wide receiver Adam Thielen revealed frustration -- echoed by countless fans -- at how the Vikings seem to just let teams hang around in games.

15:00: In happier Minnesota sports news, the Gophers football team clobbered Northwestern 41-14 on Saturday, setting up a final four games in which they control their own destiny. They are 4-1, alone atop the Big Ten West standings, with big games against Iowa and Wisconsin (both 3-2) in their last four.

22:00: Houston extended the World Series with an improbable rally in Atlanta. The Timberwolves can stop teams but suddenly can't score. And a big win for Minnesota United.

Will Dak Prescott play vs. Vikings? Comparing Ant to Kirby; Wild stumbles in Seattle Oct 29, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: The Wild's first visit to Seattle for an NHL game didn't quite go as planned. With multiple players sidelined by COVID and injuries, the short-handed Wild lost 4-1. Though two of the goals were empty-net tallies, Minnesota was outplayed badly in the middle part of the game and now has a negative goal differential on the season even with a 5-2 record.

4:00: Vikings/NFL writer Mark Craig joins the show for his weekly NFL picks segment and to break down the big Sunday night showdown between the Vikings and the Cowboys. It started out as his upset special when the Vikings were 2.5-point underdogs. Now Minnesota is suddenly a 2.5-point favorite -- adding fuel to the idea that Dak Prescott will give his injured calf one more week to heal.

20:00: Green Bay escaped with another victory on Thursday in Arizona, another reminder of the thin margins in the NFL.

22:00: Reader queries on Anthony Edwards and the NHL scandal.

28:00: A new hitting coach for the Twins is a high-risk, high-reward hire.

A huge Timberwolves win at Milwaukee; Glen Perkins on Eddie Rosario; Loons in danger Oct 28, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dissects the Timberwolves' big 113-108 victory on Wednesday night in Milwaukee. You'll hear postgame comments from Anthony Edwards and head coach Chris Finch postgame as well as a "voicemail" from Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine with all the key points of the game. The Wolves' Big Three came up big at various moments, and their defensive rebounding was much better with Jarred Vanderbilt in the starting lineup.

11:00: Former Twins pitcher Glen Perkins joins the show to talk about his old teammate Eddie Rosario and all the success he is having in the playoffs. It's a great perspective not only about what makes Rosario great but also about why the Twins weren't necessarily wrong to let him go.

23:00: Minnesota United lost precious ground in the MLS playoff race when it lost 2-1 in Vancouver on Wednesday, after which head coach Adrian Heath had pointed comments about the team's defense. With just two games left in the season, the Loons are on the outside looking in.

25 best Wolves players of all-time; Chip Scoggins on Gophers, Wild and Wolves Oct 27, 2021

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a spin through his list of the 25 best Timberwolves players of all-time. Was it a difficult task? Yes. Were there some snubs? Maybe. Was there a surprise with the No. 1 player? Um, no.

9:00: Columnist Chip Scoggins joins the show to provide insight into his latest Football Across Minnesota column and to share some opinions about the Gophers football team, the Wolves and the Wild. Scoggins and Rand talked about the Gophers' overpowering performance on both sides of the line of scrimmage on Saturday, Anthony Edwards' continuing evolution as a leader for the Wolves and the Wild's promising start thanks to much better team speed.

27:00: Rand takes note of two more Eddie Rosario hits in Game 1 of the World Series -- another win for Atlanta and another game that took four-plus hours. And a Gophers women's basketball recruiting nugget that should give you hope for the future.

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