NFL season begins this week. Here's how the Vikings could become champions
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Max Brosmer (12) throws during the second half of a preseason NFL football game against the New England Patriots Aug. 16 in Minneapolis.
Abbie Parr | AP
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Audio transcript
NINA MOINI: In just two days, NFL season begins with the Dallas Cowboys in Philadelphia. They'll play the Eagles, who are, in case you forgot, and I did, the defending Super Bowl champions. The Minnesota Vikings will be late to the party. Their first game is next Monday. It's the last game of the opening week.
Joining me now with what to expect and the latest with the Loons, the Lynx, and more Minnesota sports teams are Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Thanks for being here on a Tuesday, guys.
ERIC NELSON: How's it going?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Glad to be here, Nina.
NINA MOINI: It's going OK. So the Vikings season opener next week, Wally, what are you seeing? What are you expecting?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, the Vikings are going to be a little shorthanded without Jordan Addison. He is serving out a three-game suspension beginning next week when they play the Bears. So they went out and they picked up Adam Thielen last week. As everybody knows, the former Minnesota Viking, the native Minnesotan from Detroit Lakes. So he is back in purple. And they're also missing Jalen Nailor, who has also played that wide receiver position. He's been banged up a little bit. So it's questionable as to whether he will play as well. So it'll be good to have Thielen back.
Besides that, the bookies, Las Vegas so to speak, says that the Vikings are a 1 and 1/2 point favorite to win the football game. The game is in Chicago, which is, I guess that's the good news for the Vikings. Don't have to weather cold weather later on in the season, and they'll get the Bears back here in Minneapolis in an enclosed environment. That's the way they like it.
The other interesting note, and opinions vary on this obviously, but Sports Illustrated has picked the Vikings to win the NFC North and to win a first round game in the playoffs this season. So we'll see how it all shakes out. I think the big question mark hangs over the quarterback. You know, JJ McCarthy is a rookie. He is getting his first NFL start. He played like one series in the preseason. We shall see how this all unfolds. There are a lot of question marks, but I think that there is some optimism as well.
NINA MOINI: And I know you love open air stadiums. So that was your subtle shade. For any of our listeners who don't know, Wally loves open air stadiums most of all. So Minnesota United had a draw on Saturday in their game against the Portland Timbers, but it was a win for the Loons because it's going to send them to the playoffs. So how does all that work, and what's next for them, Eric?
ERIC NELSON: Yes, indeed. And by the way, Major League Soccer is not played in domes. That's why I like soccer.
NINA MOINI: Exactly. They're hardcore.
ERIC NELSON: Exactly. I mean, if Minnesota United has a successful playoff run, you might see soccer on the pitch in St. Paul in November or December. So get ready. But yeah. It was a draw, 1-1. And as you said, the Loons go into the MLS playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.
Now, Major League Soccer, which has really grown exponentially in the last 10 years, they've added a lot of teams. There's 14 clubs out of the 29 to never win the MLS Cup. Minnesota United is one of those. But they've come pretty close in the last two, three, four years. So maybe this will be the year they make a magical run.
Minnesota United and San Diego FC, which is an expansion club, are the only Western Conference teams to clinch a spot in the postseason. Of note, on Friday, and I know you probably heard this, Nina. The Loons sold top scoring striker, Tani Oluwaseyi to La Liga's Villarreal for a reported $8.5 million.
NINA MOINI: I hadn't heard, but thank you for filling me in.
ERIC NELSON: Min U gets a bit of a break. Next match, Saturday, September 13th, when they go to San Diego FC, they'll play out at Snapdragon Stadium, I love that name, in SoCal. San Diego, again, on top of the West, 5-point lead over the Loons. And the next home match is Wednesday, September 17th. Minnesota United will host Austin FC in what is called a US Open Cup semifinal, and that will be in St. Paul.
NINA MOINI: OK, that'll be fun. So let's talk about the WNBA playoffs, which are just two weeks away, and the Lynx ranked number one. Last night, they beat the Dallas Wings, including Minnesotan Paige Bueckers who's on the team. What happened during that game, Wally? I missed it.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, the Lynx right now, they are playing out the string, so to speak, because they have clinched the number one spot in the postseason. So they'll move on regardless of what happens in these final four games. They now have 31 wins.
So if the season ended today, here's an interesting twist. They would play Seattle in the first round. Although Indiana and Caitlin Clark are just percentage points ahead of Seattle, and they remain as a strong possibility as a first round opponent. So I think that interest-wise, I think it would be very interesting to see the Lynx go up against Caitlin Clark in the first round of the playoffs and see how that goes.
But by the way, the playoffs, you mentioned two weeks. They do officially start on Sunday, September 14th, and the Lynx's next game is on Thursday. And that will be in Las Vegas against the Aces. So things are looking good. To use a sports jargon, the road to the NBA title does go through Minnesota this year because they will have home court advantage throughout the postseason.
NINA MOINI: Yeah. So the Lynx are in a good spot. We're going to talk about the Twins now, which can be a tough topic, I think, with you guys sometimes. So they lost their Labor Day game against the White Sox. Eric, what are you going to be watching for when they play again tonight? Are you going?
ERIC NELSON: I'm on the bubble. I went twice over the weekend. San Diego Padres were in town. And I will say this, Nina, if you do want to go tonight, cheapest ticket on the secondary market is $7.
NINA MOINI: Oh, wow.
ERIC NELSON: There's a good chance if you go, you'll get a foul ball. They had only 15,892 yesterday on a gorgeous Labor Day. So now school's back in session. It's cooling off already. I'm wondering if they'll get double digit attendance tonight at Target Field. Because the White Sox are horrible. The Twins aren't much better.
And what I'm detecting is there's a lot of anger, if you remember, after the Twins had that huge liquidation sale when they pedaled away 10 players in late July. I think it's now turning into apathy. I mean, the Twin Cities is not Philadelphia. Our fans are not-- They don't go to bed angry and wake up angrier like the East Coast fan bases.
But Minnesota, 23rd out of 30 MLB teams in attendance, averaging 22,661 fans per game. And I saw Sunday, and this is a jersey I really think you need to get, Nina. There was a fan sitting about eight rows in front of me in the press, but he was just outside of the press box. And the words, fire sale, were on the back of his Twins jersey. That was for the Padres Twins game on Sunday. So that might catch on. You might see more fans wearing a jersey that says fire sale.
NINA MOINI: Well, if you see that at the game, pick me one up. I'll pay you back. I'll pay you back.
ERIC NELSON: The Twins will not sell it. This is going to have to be on the dark market, if you know what I mean.
NINA MOINI: The dark web. All right. So Eric, just before we go though, I want to go back to football for a moment. Because last week, we talked before the Gophers played their season opener against the Buffalo Bills, and they won. What's next for them?
ERIC NELSON: Yeah. Another potential body bag game for the Gophers this week. They host Northwestern State of Louisiana, 11:00 AM at Huntington Bank Stadium in Dinkytown. The Gophers playing Northwestern State $500,000 to show up, and they are hoping, get crushed and go back to Louisiana in a body bag game.
In fact, ESPN is saying they have a thing called match-up predictor. The Demons, that's their name, have a 1% chance of winning this game.
NINA MOINI: Oh, wow.
ERIC NELSON: The Gophers are favored by 27.5 points. And really, the Gophers are in a can't win situation. You're expected to blow out a team like Northwestern Louisiana State. If it's close or you lose, it's doomsday. I will say this. Minnesota had a good effort in week one from quarterback Drake Lindsey. Two touchdown passes, and Darius Taylor ran for 141--
NINA MOINI: We gotta wrap it up, Eric and Wally. Thanks so much, and thank you all for listening.
Joining me now with what to expect and the latest with the Loons, the Lynx, and more Minnesota sports teams are Wally Langfellow and Eric Nelson. Thanks for being here on a Tuesday, guys.
ERIC NELSON: How's it going?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Glad to be here, Nina.
NINA MOINI: It's going OK. So the Vikings season opener next week, Wally, what are you seeing? What are you expecting?
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, the Vikings are going to be a little shorthanded without Jordan Addison. He is serving out a three-game suspension beginning next week when they play the Bears. So they went out and they picked up Adam Thielen last week. As everybody knows, the former Minnesota Viking, the native Minnesotan from Detroit Lakes. So he is back in purple. And they're also missing Jalen Nailor, who has also played that wide receiver position. He's been banged up a little bit. So it's questionable as to whether he will play as well. So it'll be good to have Thielen back.
Besides that, the bookies, Las Vegas so to speak, says that the Vikings are a 1 and 1/2 point favorite to win the football game. The game is in Chicago, which is, I guess that's the good news for the Vikings. Don't have to weather cold weather later on in the season, and they'll get the Bears back here in Minneapolis in an enclosed environment. That's the way they like it.
The other interesting note, and opinions vary on this obviously, but Sports Illustrated has picked the Vikings to win the NFC North and to win a first round game in the playoffs this season. So we'll see how it all shakes out. I think the big question mark hangs over the quarterback. You know, JJ McCarthy is a rookie. He is getting his first NFL start. He played like one series in the preseason. We shall see how this all unfolds. There are a lot of question marks, but I think that there is some optimism as well.
NINA MOINI: And I know you love open air stadiums. So that was your subtle shade. For any of our listeners who don't know, Wally loves open air stadiums most of all. So Minnesota United had a draw on Saturday in their game against the Portland Timbers, but it was a win for the Loons because it's going to send them to the playoffs. So how does all that work, and what's next for them, Eric?
ERIC NELSON: Yes, indeed. And by the way, Major League Soccer is not played in domes. That's why I like soccer.
NINA MOINI: Exactly. They're hardcore.
ERIC NELSON: Exactly. I mean, if Minnesota United has a successful playoff run, you might see soccer on the pitch in St. Paul in November or December. So get ready. But yeah. It was a draw, 1-1. And as you said, the Loons go into the MLS playoffs for the sixth time in seven seasons.
Now, Major League Soccer, which has really grown exponentially in the last 10 years, they've added a lot of teams. There's 14 clubs out of the 29 to never win the MLS Cup. Minnesota United is one of those. But they've come pretty close in the last two, three, four years. So maybe this will be the year they make a magical run.
Minnesota United and San Diego FC, which is an expansion club, are the only Western Conference teams to clinch a spot in the postseason. Of note, on Friday, and I know you probably heard this, Nina. The Loons sold top scoring striker, Tani Oluwaseyi to La Liga's Villarreal for a reported $8.5 million.
NINA MOINI: I hadn't heard, but thank you for filling me in.
ERIC NELSON: Min U gets a bit of a break. Next match, Saturday, September 13th, when they go to San Diego FC, they'll play out at Snapdragon Stadium, I love that name, in SoCal. San Diego, again, on top of the West, 5-point lead over the Loons. And the next home match is Wednesday, September 17th. Minnesota United will host Austin FC in what is called a US Open Cup semifinal, and that will be in St. Paul.
NINA MOINI: OK, that'll be fun. So let's talk about the WNBA playoffs, which are just two weeks away, and the Lynx ranked number one. Last night, they beat the Dallas Wings, including Minnesotan Paige Bueckers who's on the team. What happened during that game, Wally? I missed it.
WALLY LANGFELLOW: Well, the Lynx right now, they are playing out the string, so to speak, because they have clinched the number one spot in the postseason. So they'll move on regardless of what happens in these final four games. They now have 31 wins.
So if the season ended today, here's an interesting twist. They would play Seattle in the first round. Although Indiana and Caitlin Clark are just percentage points ahead of Seattle, and they remain as a strong possibility as a first round opponent. So I think that interest-wise, I think it would be very interesting to see the Lynx go up against Caitlin Clark in the first round of the playoffs and see how that goes.
But by the way, the playoffs, you mentioned two weeks. They do officially start on Sunday, September 14th, and the Lynx's next game is on Thursday. And that will be in Las Vegas against the Aces. So things are looking good. To use a sports jargon, the road to the NBA title does go through Minnesota this year because they will have home court advantage throughout the postseason.
NINA MOINI: Yeah. So the Lynx are in a good spot. We're going to talk about the Twins now, which can be a tough topic, I think, with you guys sometimes. So they lost their Labor Day game against the White Sox. Eric, what are you going to be watching for when they play again tonight? Are you going?
ERIC NELSON: I'm on the bubble. I went twice over the weekend. San Diego Padres were in town. And I will say this, Nina, if you do want to go tonight, cheapest ticket on the secondary market is $7.
NINA MOINI: Oh, wow.
ERIC NELSON: There's a good chance if you go, you'll get a foul ball. They had only 15,892 yesterday on a gorgeous Labor Day. So now school's back in session. It's cooling off already. I'm wondering if they'll get double digit attendance tonight at Target Field. Because the White Sox are horrible. The Twins aren't much better.
And what I'm detecting is there's a lot of anger, if you remember, after the Twins had that huge liquidation sale when they pedaled away 10 players in late July. I think it's now turning into apathy. I mean, the Twin Cities is not Philadelphia. Our fans are not-- They don't go to bed angry and wake up angrier like the East Coast fan bases.
But Minnesota, 23rd out of 30 MLB teams in attendance, averaging 22,661 fans per game. And I saw Sunday, and this is a jersey I really think you need to get, Nina. There was a fan sitting about eight rows in front of me in the press, but he was just outside of the press box. And the words, fire sale, were on the back of his Twins jersey. That was for the Padres Twins game on Sunday. So that might catch on. You might see more fans wearing a jersey that says fire sale.
NINA MOINI: Well, if you see that at the game, pick me one up. I'll pay you back. I'll pay you back.
ERIC NELSON: The Twins will not sell it. This is going to have to be on the dark market, if you know what I mean.
NINA MOINI: The dark web. All right. So Eric, just before we go though, I want to go back to football for a moment. Because last week, we talked before the Gophers played their season opener against the Buffalo Bills, and they won. What's next for them?
ERIC NELSON: Yeah. Another potential body bag game for the Gophers this week. They host Northwestern State of Louisiana, 11:00 AM at Huntington Bank Stadium in Dinkytown. The Gophers playing Northwestern State $500,000 to show up, and they are hoping, get crushed and go back to Louisiana in a body bag game.
In fact, ESPN is saying they have a thing called match-up predictor. The Demons, that's their name, have a 1% chance of winning this game.
NINA MOINI: Oh, wow.
ERIC NELSON: The Gophers are favored by 27.5 points. And really, the Gophers are in a can't win situation. You're expected to blow out a team like Northwestern Louisiana State. If it's close or you lose, it's doomsday. I will say this. Minnesota had a good effort in week one from quarterback Drake Lindsey. Two touchdown passes, and Darius Taylor ran for 141--
NINA MOINI: We gotta wrap it up, Eric and Wally. Thanks so much, and thank you all for listening.
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