Vikings Territory Breakdown

The NFL draft nears like some ominous apparition quietly flapping its ratty black wings through a rising mist toward a stalled Vikings ship in still and murky waters. Too much? Maybe not. It should be an exciting time, but for Vikings fans, dread always attends the draft until that first trade of their top pick for a later-round selection or it’s retained and a player such as Troy Williamson is selected. And then the handwringing and self-recriminations (for believing, once more) begin.

But not this year! The Vikings have let go of the architect of their past four drafts (Kwesi Adofo-Mensah) in favor of executive vice president of football operations and longtime Vikings cap-guru Rob Brzezinski. What could go wrong?!

Well, plenty, if you know the history of Vikings drafts, where they have done things like miss the appointed time to make a pick and then selected it a few spots later. But not this year. Heck, no, not this year when the master of making the Vikings roster work, money-wise, is at the helm. 

Brzezinski as acting GM will be interesting. He comes to the position with 27 years of experience with the Purple, but not on the scouting, evaluating, drafting side of things. He is well-respected and has a great opportunity to remove “acting” from his title, if, in fact, this draft is his trial run for the job—and if he wants it—as the Vikings announced they won’t conduct a search for a GM until after the draft.

All of that remains to be seen—but that won’t stop the fellas at the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast—Joe Oberle, senior writer at vikingsterritory.com and purplePTSD.com, and Mark Craig, NFL and Vikings writer for the Star Tribune and startribune.com—from talking about it. We will speculate on what to expect from the Vikings draft this year, plus look back at their checkered draft history—good and bad. Tune in and check it all out. Skol!

Listen to Vikings Territory Breakdown here or on you favorite podcast network.

Joe Oberle is a veteran sportswriter/editor/reporter and has covered the Vikings since 2008. The author of three books, he … More about Joe Oberle

Lexie Hull led the Indiana Fever to the brink of the WNBA Finals last season. 

She did it without Caitlin Clark on the floor after the superstar was injured.

Now, with Clark returning in 2026, Hull believes and expects they can win a championship and promote the game for the next generation of fans and aspiring players.

Indiana Fever guard Lexie Hull (10), guard Caitlin Clark (22) and guard Sophie Cunningham (8) laugh near the team bench June 3, 2025, during a game against the Washington Mystics at Gainbridge Fieldhouse in Indianapolis. (IMAGN)

“Seeing girls, seeing boys show up every day and being able to give them aspirations and show them what they can do and show them the possibilities,” Hull told Fox News Digital of the rewards of playing in the WNBA.

“Growing up, I didn’t necessarily watch the WNBA as much, didn’t have dreams of playing in the league at a young age. And now girls have the ability to watch us, see us, dream about being professional athletes. And that’s what’s been the most rewarding part about it.

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“I love the game, and I love when [the fans] show up. And that’s part of the reason why I love doing what I do, is to see fans in the stands, see little girls and being able to be a role model for them on and off the court. I think that’s really what drives me and fuels me.”

Hull, who was drafted by the Fever in 2022, played her first two WNBA seasons without the massive spotlight that Clark brought in 2024.

They got the Fever to the playoffs together for the first time since 2016 that year before Hull led the team on a playoff run while Clark and teammate Sophie Cunningham were on the bench with injuries in 2026.

In a career-best year in 2025, Hull averaged career highs in points (7.2), rebounds (4.3) and assists (1.8) while shooting 36.7% from 3-point range and appearing in all 44 games.

FEVER’S LEXIE HULL SPEAKS OUT AGAINST ATTACKS ON PLAYERS AS TEAM’S POPULARITY GROWS DURING CAITLIN CLARK ERA

Lexie Hull of the Indiana Fever during a game against the Washington Mystics at CFG Bank in Baltimore Sept. 7, 2025. (Mitchell Layton/Getty Images)

In the playoffs, she averaged 10.3 points, five rebounds and two assists in eight games. It all came to an end in a 107-98 overtime loss to the Las Vegas Aces in Game 5 of the WNBA semifinals.

But Hull says she believes the 2026 team, in year three of the Clark era, will be a different show and one that is gunning for the title.

“I think it’s because we made it where we made it last year without some of our key pieces, and with a lot of injuries, and a lot of, like, this adversity. … Our bench was longer than every other bench. We had more people in the training room getting treatment than any other team, and we still almost made it to the Finals,” Hull said.

“Tasting that and being so close and feeling like we have so much more to give, I think that just changes our mindset a little bit. And it’s not necessarily overconfident, but confident in the fact that we really do have a chance. And we should be playing like every game matters, and we’re preparing for that last one.

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The Indiana Fevers’ Lexie Hull, Caitlin Clark and Sophie Cunningham watch as the Golden State Valkyries celebrate their 88-77 win in a WNBA game at Chase Center in San Francisco June 19, 2025. (Scott Strazzante/San Francisco Chronicle via Getty Images)

“I think it’s very achievable with what we’re going to be able to do with free agency.”

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After a season of turmoil, at last some light at the end of the tunnel for West Ham.

Friday’s thumping 4-0 win over Wolves – their biggest of the season so far – lifted West Ham out of the Premier League relegation zone, and plunged London rivals Tottenham into it.

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Just three points now separate four teams in the battle to avoid the third relegation spot, with Wolves and Burnley both cut further adrift.

West Ham manager Nuno Espirito Santo insisted there was still “a lot of work to do” – but enjoyed a “big step” towards safety after Taty Castellanos and Konstantinos Mavropanos both scored twice at London Stadium.

“We are happy, extremely happy,” he told Sky Sports. “All of us deserve this kind of evening, especially our fans.

“The London Stadium today was amazing, bouncing with energy and helping us in the hard parts.”

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But while West Ham fans were bouncing, Tottenham supporters watching at home were likely slumping further into their armchairs as each goal went in.

Spurs, who face Sunderland on Sunday in new boss Roberto de Zerbi’s first game in charge, are now in completely uncharted territory.

So what next?

A place Spurs have never been before

While Spurs have flirted with the bottom three for the past two seasons – even during their spectacular run to Europa League glory only 11 months ago – this is the first time they have actually occupied the relegation zone since 2015.

On that occasion, the league season was only one game old and Tottenham – then managed by Mauricio Pochettino – had lost their opener against Manchester United, but recovered to finish the campaign in third place.

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To find the last time Spurs were in the relegation zone past the midway point of a campaign, you have to go back to February 1998 – when they sat 18th after 24 games.

But after 31 matches? That has never happened in the Premier League era. This is another new low.

What will worry Spurs fans even more is that across 31 Premier League seasons, a team occupying 18th place after 31 matches has been relegated on 21 occasions.

“When I look at the Tottenham team… where’s your match-winner? Who’s going to win you the game?” said ex-Spurs midfielder Jamie Redknapp on Sky Sports.

“When I look at Jarrod Bowen and Crysencio Summerville, they have moments – that’s the important thing.

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“And that’s now put almighty pressure on Tottenham Hotspur, who have to go and beat Sunderland in their next game. That’s not an easy fixture.

“Anything can happen. There will still be twists and turns. West Ham have only got to lose their next game at Crystal Palace next week and they’re right back in it.

“It’s very difficult to predict. But you need calm heads and what West Ham did today – look a threat from set-pieces, a real threat from your best players – you give yourself a real chance.”

After their trip to the Stadium of Light, four of Tottenham’s six remaining games are against teams in the top half of the table. They still have to go to Aston Villa and Chelsea, both chasing Champions League football.

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But while the stats suggest 18th position is not the place to be after 31 games, not all the data is doom and gloom for Spurs.

Of the 17 times a team has been on 30 points after 31 games (Tottenham’s current tally), only six were relegated. It is something to cling on to.

Which other teams are battling for survival?

There are sure to be plenty more twists and turns in the final weeks of the season.

But, after their hard-fought and well-deserved win against Wolves, West Ham’s players can at least breathe a sigh of relief as attention turns to their relegation rivals – Leeds United, Nottingham Forest and Spurs – for the rest of the weekend.

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Up first are Forest, who host Champions League-chasing Aston Villa at 14:00 BST on Sunday, after a gruelling Europa League quarter-final first leg against Porto on Thursday.

Later in the day, Spurs, as mentioned, will have to inflict just a fourth home defeat of the season on an impressive Sunderland side if they are to move out of the relegation zone at the first time of asking.

Leeds – one point and two places above West Ham – round off the weekend’s fixtures on Monday when they travel to Manchester United.

But it will not be easy against one of their fiercest rivals – Daniel Farke’s men have not won at Old Trafford in the league since 1981.

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A favourable weekend of fixtures for the Hammers then?

It is little wonder West Ham captain Jarrod Bowen admitted he would be keeping a close eye on the television over the weekend.

“I’ve got three kids to entertain but I will keep an eye on the games,” added Bowen. “We have a bit of time before the game against Palace then go again.

“The spirit, the togetherness is so important in this situation. You can always have quality, but you need grit and desire and a will to win through the whole squad.

“The only thing we know as a club is to keep fighting and doing what we’re doing and take it into the next six games.”

Edwards sticking to ‘same message’ – but was this it for Wolves?

While those above them continue to battle it out for Premier League survival, it looks almost certain that Wolves’ race is run.

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Fifteen points from safety with just 18 points left to play for, their relegation could be confirmed as early as next Saturday if results go against them.

They have been made to pay for a dreadful first half of the season, failing to win any of their opening 19 games and picking up just three points in the process.

Defender Ladislav Krejci apologised to the fans after their defeat at London Stadium – “not just for this game but the situation in the table”.

But manager Rob Edwards would not be drawn on whether it was a result that killed any remaining hope.

“For us it is the same message,” he told Sky Sports. We have to try to finish strong, respect every game and go for it.

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“We are all under the microscope and we have to make sure we perform.”

Galatasaray look to take a step closer to a fourth consecutive league title when they host a weaker Kocaelispor at the Rams Park Stadyumu on Sunday in the 29th round of the 2025-26 Super Lig campaign. The Lions have remained atop the league table for almost the entirety of the league season and now need a couple more wins to finish the job.

Galatasaray suffered a disappointing loss to third-placed Trabzonspor last weekend, but returned to winning ways on Wednesday with a comfortable 3-1 win over Goztepe, retaining their four-point cushion above Fenerbahce and Karadeniz Fırtınası.

Okan Buruk’s side have clearly missed the presence of star striker Victor Osimhen, who is out injured with a broken arm, but will hope to continue their charge to match their own record for consecutive league titles (4).

Kocaelispor, on the other hand, would have begun the season with the aim of securing survival in their first campaign back in the Turkish top flight since 2008-09, but have exceeded expectations, currently sitting in eighth place as they chase a top-half finish.

The visitors have only one win from their last six games following a goalless draw with Istanbul Basaksehir on Monday and will need to make major improvements when they visit a much better side.

Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Head-to-Head and Key Numbers

• The sides have met on 44 previous occasions going into the weekend. Galatasaray have won 27 of those games, and nine have ended in draws while Kocaelispor have won the remaining eight.
• November’s meeting between the two teams marked the first edition of this fixture since the 2008-09 season and ended in a shock 1-0 win to Kocaelispor.
• The hosts boast the best offensive and defensive records in the league this season, having scored 66 goals and conceded only 21 across 28 games played.
• Kocaelispor hold the second-worst offensive record in the Turkish top flight this season, with only 23 goals scored after 28 games played.
• The injured Victor Osimhen has contributed directly to 16 of Galatasaray’s 66 league goals this season in just 19 games.

Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Prediction

With the odds strongly in favor of the Lions, Okan Buruk will be keen to see his side get revenge on the visitors after losing the reverse fixture and, hopefully, gain more ground in their title charge.

Körfez, meanwhile, can only hope to avoid a heavy defeat against a side with just two home league losses in the last four seasons.

Prediction: Galatasaray 3-1 Kocaelispor

Galatasaray vs Kocaelispor Betting Tips

Tip 1 – Result: Galatasaray to win

Tip 2 – Goals- Over/under 2.5 – Over 2.5 goals (Four of the hosts’ last five games have produced more than 2.5 goals)

Tip 3 – Both teams to score: Yes