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Vikings News Tracker: Kendricks and Barr Sound Off, Packers TE Responds, and More Updates

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At Vikings Territory, every effort is made to ensure our readers stay informed on what’s taking place within the world of Vikings news.

Earlier in the week, there has been a pile of updates. VT has offered up pieces covering Brian Flores being a “psycho,” a player who has some “screws loose,” and the mixed bag on the injury front. Other items — a young player getting leapfrogged, a dissection of the Chicago Bears, Week 2 NFL picks — got offered, as well. Look to the Vikings news items to have been missed.

Vikings News Tracker | Friday, September 18th, 2026

Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks Aren’t Impressed by PFF

NFL: International Series-Minnesota Vikings at Cleveland Browns
Oct 29, 2017; London, United Kingdom; Minnesota Vikings players free safety Anthony Harris (41) middle linebacker Eric Kendricks (54), outside linebacker Anthony Barr (55), linebacker Emmanuel Lamur (59) and defensive back Tramaine Brock (24) stand during the playing of the United States national anthem during an NFL International Series game against the Cleveland Browns at Twickenham Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Browns 33-16. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

The former Vikings linebackers have a great podcast going called Bent Outta Shape. Consider some of their thoughts on PFF, the analytics website that people love to hate:

Both of Anthony Barr and Eric Kendricks are accomplished ex-professionals who think the game at a high level. My knowledge of football comes nowhere close to them.

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What I will say, though, is that PFF isn’t without merit. Much of what’s helpful is that it offers an easy-to-digest grading system that exists on a scale from 0-100. Nevertheless, there’s great danger in seeing a singular assessment and then concluding that the football debate stops there.

As with any way of knowing about ball, PFF is a singular data point that should be put into conversation with other ways of knowing to arrive at the best possible way of understanding the sport. So, I largely agree with Kendricks and Barr, but would push back just a hair.

A Packers TE Didn’t Love the All-Out Aggression

NFL: Minnesota Vikings at Green Bay Packers
Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Green Bay Packers tight end Tucker Kraft (85) fights through Minnesota Vikings linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) and cornerback Stephon Gilmore (2) as he dives to score a touchdown on Sunday, September 29, 2024, at Lambeau Field in Green Bay, Wis. Mandatory Credit: Tork Mason/USA TODAY Network via Imagn Images

ESPN’s Rob Demovsky sent the update about what Tucker Kraft had to say on Green Bay finding more success in the red zone.

The player’s thoughts: “Well, we need to not to get punt-rushed in the red zone. That would be extremely helpful.”

Any defensive coordinator who sees this quote would be wise to ensure the blitzes are ready to roll. Cook up no shortage of six- and seven-man pressures. Essentially, get the defense ready to punt rush the Packers in the red zone. Do that until the Packers prove capable of handling the pressure.

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The NFC North is Up for Grabs on Sunday

Lions players including D.J. Reader getting ready for a game in 2025
From left, Detroit Lions wide receiver Kalif Raymond (11), right tackle Penei Sewell (58), quarterback Jared Goff (16) and defensive tackle DJ Reader (98) get ready to take the field for first half against the Baltimore Ravens at M&T Bank Stadium in Baltimore, Md. on Monday, Sept. 22, 2025. © Junfu Han / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images

The Detroit Lions lost to the Buffalo Bills on Thursday Night Football. As a result, there are only two perfect teams left standing in the division: the 1-0 Vikings and 1-0 Bears. Coincidentally, these teams will battle on Sunday. Whoever wins will climb to 2-0 and be unmatched by any foes.

Vikings Scouts Ready to Do Some Scouting in their Own Backyard

NCAA Football: Eastern Illinois at Minnesota
Sep 3, 2026; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Golden Gophers head coach P.J. Fleck looks on prior to the game against the Eastern Illinois Panthers at Huntington Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Matt Krohn-Imagn Images – Credit: IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect

Darren Wolfson (KSTP) has the news that Minnesota will have representation at the upcoming Gophers game. Buzz keeps building for an impressive offensive lineman.

The word: “The #Vikings and #Steelers are expected to have scouts Saturday at Huntington Bank Stadium for the #Gophers vs. Akron game. Gophers left guard Greg Johnson (Prior Lake HS) continues to impress.”

— Check Back Throughout the Day for More Quick Vikings News Updates —


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Asiad 2026: Quimcy misses bronze, India suffer double Teqball heartbreak | Asian Games 2026

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India’s Quimcy Dsouza’s spirited campaign endured a heartbreaking double setback on Sunday, narrowly missing out on a women’s singles bronze before returning minutes later to lose the mixed doubles bronze-medal clash alongside Mohamed Anas Beg at the Asian Games here on Sunday.

The Mumbai girl pushed Japanese world No. 7 Yuina Sakamoto all the way in the singles bronze-medal match, going down 0-2 (11-12 11-12), before the physical toll of an intense battle caught up with her in the mixed doubles contest, where the Indian pair lost to Vietnam’s Hoang Minh Tan Nguyen and Gia Ngih Trinh 0-2 (9-12 6-12).

Playing in front of a partisan home crowd, Sakamoto may have won in straight sets but the scoreline did little justice to the fight Quimcy produced. Check Asian Games 2026 September 20 India schedule, medal events, live streaming here  

 

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The match is played in a best-of-three sets format, with the first player to win two sets taking the contest.

Quimcy had a set point in the opening game and then raced to a 10-8 lead in the second as she looked to force a decider.

She even saved a match point and served a winner, only to commit a foul that handed Sakamoto the match.

There was barely any time to recover as moments after her singles loss, Quimcy was back on court alongside Anas for their mixed doubles bronze-medal clash against the Vietnamese pair.

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Trailing 5-9 in the second game, the physical toll of playing two intense matches in little over an hour began to show.

Quimcy grimaced in pain as her lower back was massaged before she took a 10-minute medical timeout.

She returned with a strapped waist but could not sustain the momentum, with the Indian duo eventually going down 0-2 (9-12 6-12).

Despite the heartbreaking finishes in both events, India’s deep run in the tournament underlined the country’s rapid progress in a sport that is still relatively new back home.

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As per the rules, the first player to reach 12 points wins a set. In the first two sets, a player can win by a single point, while if the match goes to a deciding third set, the winner must secure a two-point margin to seal the issue.

Teqball is a non-contact sport that combines a bit of football and table tennis, played by hitting a standard football back and forth over a specially curved TT-like table.

Players use any part of their body except their hands and arms, with a maximum of three touches allowed per side to return the ball.

The sport made its debut at the 20th edition of the continental showpiece.

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Lane Kiffin’s big-game struggles: LSU coach has history of failure when leading top-10 team vs. ranked foe

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Lane Kiffin’s big-game struggles: LSU coach has history of failure when leading top-10 team vs. ranked foe originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

There is no doubt Lane Kiffin can energize a locker room, and there is no doubt he can coach up an offense.

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For LSU, that isn’t going to be enough. A national championship is the expectation in Baton Rouge, whether that’s in year one, year two, or some point in the years that follow.

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If Kiffin’s track record as a top-10 team is any indication, winning the big games shouldn’t be taken as a given. LSU’s faceplant against Kiffin’s former team on Saturday goes down as another big-game loss for the highly-paid coach, and this loss might be the most painful yet given the circumstances.

Here’s a look at Kiffin’s struggles against ranked teams when leading a top-10 squad.

MORE:Lane Kiffin jeered by Ole Miss fans after arrival in Oxford

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Lane Kiffin record when leading top 10 vs. ranked opponents

Kiffin is now just 1-7 when facing a ranked opponent as a top-10 team in his head coaching career. Here’s a look at every game:

Season

School

Ranking

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Opponent

Result

2012

USC

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No. 2

No. 21 Stanford

L, 21-14

2021

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Ole Miss

No. 10

No. 18 Auburn

L, 31-20

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2021

Ole Miss

No. 8

No. 6 Baylor

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L, 21-7

2023

Ole Miss

No. 10

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No. 1 Georgia

L, 52-17

2024

Ole Miss

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No. 9

No. 13 LSU

L, 29-26

2025

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Ole Miss

No. 5

No. 9 Georgia

L, 43-35

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2025

Ole Miss

No. 8

No. 13 Oklahoma

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W, 34-26

2026

LSU

No. 7

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No. 8 Ole Miss

L, 32-24

Kiffin only had one such game — a loss — while at USC, facing No. 21 Stanford as the No. 2 team in the country early in a memorably disappointing 2012 season. At Ole Miss, Kiffin started 0-5 in such games, including two losses to Georgia, before finally beating a ranked opponent as a top-10 team with a win over Oklahoma last season.

Now at LSU, Kiffin had a chance to make it two in a row but lost as the slight favorite on the road in Oxford, dropping to 1-7 in such games.

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Lane Kiffin overall record vs. ranked opponents

Kiffin is 13-26 in his career against ranked opponents. Here’s the full breakdown:

Team

Record vs. ranked opponents

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Tennessee

1-3

USC

2-7

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FAU

0-5

Ole Miss

10-10

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LSU

0-1

Overall

13-26

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Kiffin started his head coaching career 3-15 against ranked opponents, going just 2-7 in such games at USC and finishing 0-5 in such games at FAU, which is no surprise given the Owls are not a power-conference program.

At Ole Miss, Kiffin proved that a 3-15 record wasn’t totally representative of his ability. He went 10-10 against ranked opponents with the Rebels, holding his own against some of the SEC’s powerhouses at a school that historically hasn’t been one of them.

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Now at LSU, Kiffin is hoping for much greater achievements than ranked wins, so an 0-1 start in that department isn’t what he envisioned.

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LSU remaining schedule

Date

Matchup

Time (ET)

Sept. 26

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vs. Texas A&M

7:30 p.m.

Oct. 3

vs. McNeese

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7:45 p.m.

Oct. 10

at Kentucky

TBD

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Oct. 17

vs. Mississippi State

TBD

Oct. 24

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at Auburn

12 p.m.

Nov. 7

vs. Alabama

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TBD

Nov. 14

vs. Texas

TBD

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Nov. 21

at Tennessee

TBD

Nov. 28

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at Arkansas

TBD

LSU will head back home to Baton Rouge to host a reeling Texas A&M team next Saturday, after the Aggies suffered a home upset at the hands of Kentucky.

The Tigers don’t have it as bad as some other SEC teams, but they still have to face Alabama and Texas at home before going on the road at Tennessee during their toughest stretch of the season in November.

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On Games debut, shuttler Isharani Baruah ‘ready’ to challenge Asian powerhouses | Asian Games 2026 News

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On Games debut, shuttler Isharani Baruah ‘ready’ to challenge Asian powerhouses
Isharani Baruah made it to the quarterfinals of Syed Modi International (BAI)

NEW DELHI: When Isharani Baruah looks at India’s badminton squad for the Asian Games, she doesn’t see a team overawed by Asia’s traditional powerhouses.The 22-year-old from Assam will make her Asian Games debut in Aichi-Nagoya, stepping into a squad that brings together the experience of two-time Olympic medallist PV Sindhu and the emergence of youngsters such as Tanvi Sharma, Unnati Hooda and the doubles pair of Treesa Jolly and Gayatri Gopichand.For Isharani, the journey to this stage began almost by accident. Growing up in Dibrugarh, she was a regular fixture among the boys playing different kinds of sport in her neighbourhood. A neighbour noticed her enthusiasm and suggested badminton to her mother. There was no sporting pedigree at home, no elaborate plan for a career in badminton — just a young girl, a racquet and an opportunity that changed the course of her life.India’s medal ambitions in Aichi-Nagoya come against a backdrop of steady progress on the Asian circuit. The gap with China, Japan and other established powers may still exist, but Indian players are increasingly finding themselves on the latter stages of tournaments rather than merely entering them.For Isharani, the evidence is there week after week.“If you see the Super 100 and Super 300 tournaments, there are always three or four Indians reaching the quarterfinals or semifinals. Even in the 500s, we’re competing well. Badminton has definitely grown in India, and we’re going to reach the level of countries like China and Japan quite soon. We’re ready to challenge these powerhouses at the Asian Games,” she said.Her own rise has followed that same route. Consistent performances on the lower-tier circuit have helped her climb the rankings and, more importantly, exposed her to opponents from the badminton-heavy nations of Asia.“To reach the Super 750 and 1000 events, you first have to perform in the 100s and 300s because that’s how you earn ranking points. Playing against Chinese and Japanese opponents there and beating them gives us confidence before the bigger tournaments,” Isharani said.But perhaps the biggest change in her game has not been technical. It has been between the ears. Once prone to tightening up after mistakes, Isharani has learned to treat composure as part of her game plan. The smile that often appears on court is not simply an expression of enjoyment; it has become a way of resetting herself.“For me, the most important thing is to enjoy playing. Even if I’m making mistakes, I don’t want to become tense because then I lose focus on the next point. I keep smiling, I talk to my coaches more, and I trust the process,” she said.

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Ciryl Gane crowned UFC heavyweight champion and defends title vs controversial Josh Hokit

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Ciryl Gane has been elevated to undisputed UFC heavyweight champion and will defend the title against Josh Hokit in November.

In the main event of UFC 334, Gane makes his first defence of the belt as he fights a controversial opponent in Hokit, who is known for playing a WWE-style character.

The news comes after UFC president Dana White “misspoke” on Friday, per the promotion’s ringside commentary team on Saturday, with White having said that Gane would not be upgraded.

Ciryl Gane won the interim title at the White House in June
Ciryl Gane won the interim title at the White House in June (Getty)

Last October, Gane failed to take the undisputed belt from Tom Aspinall in their fight, with the Frenchman’s multiple eye pokes forcing a no-contest in round one. Those fouls also led Aspinall to undergo numerous surgeries, and he is still not fully healthy; as such, he vacated the undisputed title this week.

With Gane having won the interim belt in June – by stopping Alex Pereira at the White House – he has now been elevated to undisputed champion after Aspinall’s decision.

Gane, 36, therefore becomes the UFC’s first-ever undisputed champion, having twice reigned as an interim-title holder.

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Gane vs Hokit will take place at Madison Square Garden, with the co-main event being a reorganised title fight between champion Kayla Harrison and Amanda Nunes. All-time great Nunes will come out of retirement to challenger her former teammate for the women’s bantamweight belt.

Even Gane’s interim-title win in June was controversial, with many fans believing he landed numerous illegal blows to the back of Pereira’s head.

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5 Mistakes WWE has already made with Money in the Bank 2026

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Money in the Bank is the next big WWE PLE on the calendar. Worlds Collide takes place next weekend, but it’s not as important to everyday operations as Money in the Bank.

The ladder matches provide a star with the opportunity to become a World Champion. Bron Breakker, Je’Von Evans, and Trick Williams have qualified for the men’s match.

Solo Sikoa, Dominik Mysterio, and Dragon Lee will battle for a spot on RAW. CM Punk, Gunther, and Finn Balor do the same on next week’s SmackDown.

Sol Ruca, Lola Vice, and Jacy Jayne made it to the women’s ladder match. Roxanne Perez faces IYO SKY and AAA’s La Catalina in another qualifier on the upcoming episode of RAW.

Charlotte Flair, Lash Legend, and Giulia have a chance to qualify on SmackDown. Roman Reigns defending the World Heavyweight Championship against LA Knight is currently the only other match booked for the show.

Some booking decisions have been headscratchers. WWE has already made the next five mistakes with Money in the Bank.


#5. Using stars from other brands in qualifying matches

WWE has done this mostly with qualifiers for the Women’s Money in the Bank Ladder Match. Sol Ruca beat Lyra Valkyria and Maxxine Dupri to advance. RAW’s other two triple threats have utilized stars from other brands.

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Lola Vice debuted in a qualifier by beating NXT Women’s Champion Kelani Jordan and Women’s Intercontinental Champion Raquel Rodriguez. AAA’s La Catalina will face Roxanne Perez and IYO SKY on RAW.

The final triple threat is weaving in a match for next weekend’s Worlds Collide show. Becky Lynch, Ivy Nile, or Natalya could have been used instead. Lynch could have still lost and pivoted to facing Liv Morgan or Stephanie Vaquer. Using a few names from other brands usually means those stars won’t advance.


#4. Too many newcomers qualified

The best field of Money in the Bank competitors is a blend of one or two younger stars mixed with several veterans. The veterans could be stars like LA Knight who’ve never captured a major WWE Title, or others like Finn Balor and Kevin Owens who haven’t held major gold in years.

Naomi gained steam by turning heel last year. Picking her to win made sense since she hadn’t won a major title in years. The stars who’ve already qualified are either under 30 or relatively new to the main roster.

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Only Bron Breakker has been around for more than a few years. Je’Von Evans and Trick Williams joined RAW and SmackDown in early 2026. Sol Ruca and Jacy Jayne debuted after WrestleMania 42. Lola Vice debuted in her qualifying match and won.

Other than Breakker, those names shouldn’t win the case. It is a way to represent the future, but those spots could have gone to other names that are closer to being World Champions.


#3. Trick Williams advances over Randy Orton

SmackDown’s first qualifier pitted Randy Orton against United States Champion Trick Williams and AAA Cruiserweight Champion Rey Fenix. Fenix was in the match to eat the pin.

Since Williams currently holds the United States Title and is feuding with Baron Corbin, it would have made much more sense for Corbin to cost Trick the match. Interference is legal under triple threat rules.

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Orton has mentioned winning a 15th title numerous times over the last three years. Putting him in Money in the Bank would have at least given the illusion that he could win it via the case.

Trick should be focusing on rebuilding the US Title after a mediocre run with the title. The belt feels more like a prop and a joke. It’s lost a lot of prestige in a year due to match quality and ending the US Open Challenges.


#2. WWE doesn’t put Bayley in a qualifier

Bayley returned to RAW during Lyra Valkyria’s Money in the Bank triple threat. She missed the previous six weeks to sell Lyra’s attack following their match at Saturday Night’s Main Event in July.

The former Hugger paid Lyra back by costing her a chance to qualify for this year’s Money in the Bank. WWE has felt the need to use stars from other brands, but why isn’t Bayley in a qualifier?

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She’s one of the best workers and biggest stars in the division. Lyra could have cost her in her triple threat. If she’s back on RAW, use her.


#1. Putting current champions in the qualifiers

WWE has done this with Money in the Bank qualifiers and King of the Ring tournament matches. Champions should focus on their titles. It’s the easiest thing to book.

If a champion advances, it takes an opportunity away from a different star that could use it. Where’s Carmelo Hayes? He could have been in Trick’s triple threat instead. WWE could have used Damian Priest, Shinsuke Nakamura, or Corbin.

Jordan, Rodriguez, La Catalina, Jayne, Williams, and Breakker all hold titles. Breakker is a tag champion, and WWE doesn’t focus much on those belts. Putting so many champions into triple threats often means one will lose or be pinned. This happened when Vice pinned Rodriguez to advance.

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