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Kirk Cousins gets benched + Breaking down a Vikings win and setting up a critical three games Dec 18, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the big NFL news from Tuesday that former Vikings QB Kirk Cousins has been benched by the Falcons in favor of rookie Michael Penix Jr. What does it mean for Cousins' future and how much more can we laud the Vikings' for their offseason decision to move on from Cousins?

8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for three hot takeaways from Monday's win over the Bears as well as a review of the film. The Vikings looked better in a lot of phases, but they will also need to be even better going forward. And are the Vikings closing fast on a vulnerable Lions team?

29:00: Vikings poetry invites you to enjoy the season.

45:00: Big ones coming up for the Wild and Wolves.

A Vikings breakdown, an excellent Gophers gymnastics story and the KAT trade revisited Dec 17, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Vikings' 30-12 win over the Bears on Monday Night Football, which was a grinding affair but ultimately proved satisfying. Minnesota is now 12-2 with a chance to win both the NFC North and gain the No. 1 seed if it wins its final three games. But the Vikings will probably have to play more efficiently than they did Monday to earn those things.

12:00: The Star Tribune's Jeff Day joins Rand to talk through his excellent long profile of Gophers gymnast Mya Hooten.

46:00: Day sticks around for a second segment on the Timberwolves and the KAT trade with the Knicks coming to town Thursday.

Patrick Reusse on the Vikings' opportunity, Twins potential sale and Wolves' emerging identity Dec 16, 2024

Show notes

On Monday's Daily Delivery podcast, host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Vikings don't play until Monday night, but two key games Sunday went their way. First the Lions lost to the Bills, giving the Vikings a path to home-field advantage in the playoffs. And the Seahawks lost, officially clinching a playoff berth for Minnesota.

From there, they got into the Wolves' sixth win in seven games, the Wild's loss to Vegas on Sunday, Bethel's tough loss in the Division III football playoffs and news about a potential buyer for the Twins.

Ben Goessling on Vikings preferred playoff scenarios and QB question + A bad time to watch the Wild Dec 13, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand's declaration the other day that it was time to start watching the Wild more closely could not have come at a worse time. Minnesota was drilled 7-1 on Thursday by Edmonton, a game that saw them lose another key player (Jake Middleton) to an injury. Plus Rand looks at Chris Hine's excellent story on the Wolves' group text and what it means to players.

8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look at the biggest questions, both present and future, facing the team. If we can agree their biggest areas of immediate concern are the health of Stephon Gilmore, the run defense and the interior line, which potential playoff opponents pose the biggest threat? And are we thinking about the Sam Darnold question the right way?

38:00: Thursday Night Football was a dud.

A Vikings quarterback what-if + La Velle E. Neal III on the Bears, Gophers hockey and Twins Dec 12, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with three converging hypotheticals. What would have happened if Sam Darnold was on the Vikings last season? What might have happened if the Falcons had signed Darnold instead of Kirk Cousins this season? And how might all of this be different if Bill Belichick had become Falcons head coach instead of now taking the North Carolina job?

8:00: La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for their weekly debate segment, focusing on the Vikings vs. Bears approach to roster building, the Gophers men's hockey team and what the Twins are supposed to do during this era of baseball.

28:00: A critique of Anthony Edwards' decision-making.

Musician and NBA writer Claire de Lune on the Lakers, Wolves and Lizzo; Gophers football in focus Dec 11, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand chats with Star Tribune Gophers writer Randy Johnson about both the football and men's hockey teams. It was a good week for both, with P.J. Fleck's squad getting an invite to the Duke's Mayo Bowl and Bob Motzko's team shutting out Michigan twice.

14:00: Musician and NBA writer Claire de Lune joins Rand for a sprawling conversation about the Lakers, LeBron James, the Timberwolves and Lizzo, among other things.

44:00: A pre-New Year's resolution for Rand about the Wild and a TV announcement by the Wolves.

Episode 1,000! Sam Darnold praise, Vikings playoff picture and a hard truth about Gophers basketball Dec 10, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts off the 1,000th episode of Daily Delivery with a hard truth about the Gophers men's basketball team, which lost 82-67 to Indiana on Monday. Coach Ben Johnson wants more effort. But this team is clearly lacking in talent after major roster turnover, and effort can only make up for so much of that.

7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for their weekly Vikings film review. Rand fires in first with three hot takeaways, including a thought about Sam Darnold for MVP chatter.

29:00: Vikings poetry, with four of them to commemorate a beautiful game.

44:00: Juan Soto and the Twins.

Patrick Reusse on Sam dominating Kirk, a record-breaking MLB contract and the Timberwolves Dec 09, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse break down the weekend in sports, which of course begins with the Vikings' 42-21 win over Kirk Cousins and the Falcons. By the end, Sam Darnold had five touchdown passes while Cousins had two interceptions. It couldn't have gone much better for anyone wearing purple.

17:00: Juan Soto is the $765 million man. What does his new contract mean for baseball, which could be headed for a reckoning when the CBA is up in 2026.

28:00: The Wolves had a slip-up Sunday that turned a great road trip into a merely good one. The concern now: Can Anthony Edwards start coming through with late-game offense again?

41:00: Just like regular mayo, Reusse is told.

Special Delivery! Sam Darnold crushes Kirk Cousins in battle of present and past Vikings QBs Dec 08, 2024

Show notes

Michael Rand has the postgame breakdown after the Vikings' stirring 42-21 win over the Falcons.

Ben Goessling on the return of Kirk Cousins; Chris Hine on the resurgence of the Timberwolves Dec 06, 2024

Show notes

Introduction: Host Michael Rand starts with the Lions vs. Packers game on two fronts. First, it was a pure test of head vs. heart for Vikings fans. A Green Bay win would have been great for the Vikings' NFC North chances, but some people just can't root for Minnesota's biggest rival under any circumstances. Second, Detroit's 34-31 win gave us numerous examples of how stressful it is to play against the Lions.

12:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand from Atlanta, where he is reporting a story on the return of Kirk Cousins on Sunday.

28:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand from California, where the Wolves are fresh off another impressive win over the Clippers but staring down two important games against Golden State.

45:00: The Gophers volleyball team made a narrow escape in the NCAA tournament.

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