Author: Darren Hails
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The Vikings are getting healthy, now comes the awkward bit – The Skol Scroll
Darren Hails looks beyond Minnesota’s bye week trade frenzy to the decisions created by four returning offensive players, Harrison Smith’s deliberately limited role, two defensive bargains who won’t stay cheap and a Colts special teams problem worth watching on Sunday.
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What nearly got lost beneath 5–0 – The Skol Scroll
Darren Hails looks beyond Minnesota’s win in New Orleans to the Jauan Jennings trade question, a busy receiver workout, the rookie punchout that changed Sunday, Harrison Smith’s hidden homework and the smaller roster stories following the Vikings into their bye.
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More offense, less room to run – From Beyond the Grade
Darren Hails digs into the Saints win and the first five games of PFF data, looking at the tight ends who stepped in, the protection that held up and the pressure behind a quiet sack total.
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The Vikings are 4–0; the offense finally found one answer – The Skol Scroll
Darren Hails rounds up the Vikings week from Thursday, 1 October to Wednesday, 7 October 2026. Minnesota is still unbeaten after beating Miami 15–10, T. J. Hockenson finally became Kyler Murray’s dependable answer, Will Reichard scored every point and the left side of the offensive line took another fairly horrible hit.
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From Beyond the Grade: What changed against Miami?
Darren Hails looks beneath the grades from the Dolphins win, then checks which changes hold up against Minnesota’s first four games.
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From Beyond the Grade
Darren Hails digs into the Tampa Bay win and the opening three weeks of PFF data: where the pressure really paid off, why two sacks flatter one performance, and the passing plays that keep completing without moving the chains.
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The Vikings are 3–0, McCarthy is gone, now what? – The Skol Scroll
Darren Hails rounds up the Vikings week from Thursday, 24 September to Wednesday, 30 September 2026. Another win, a punt return worth waiting nearly 10 years for, and the end of a quarterback plan we once thought would last rather longer.
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The Vikings are 2–0; Kyler Murray has barely played – The Skol Scroll
Darren Hails returns with a bumper edition covering the Minnesota Vikings news from Thursday, 10 September to Wednesday, 23 September 2026. Two divisional wins, one ridiculous comeback, one properly ugly afternoon in Chicago and a starting quarterback who has only played 11 snaps. It’s been a quiet fortnight, really. Right, first the excuse. Last week’s…
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Harrison Smith is back, now for the bit that counts – The Skol Scroll
Darren Hails looks back at the Minnesota Vikings news from Thursday, 3 September to Wednesday, 9 September 2026. Harrison Smith returned for a 15th season, Kyler Murray was voted a captain, the quarterback depth chart finally became clear and Green Bay moved from a date on the schedule to an actual opponent.
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The Skol Scroll: The Vikings’ final 53 lasted about a day
Darren Hails looks back at the Minnesota Vikings news from Thursday, 27 August to Wednesday, 2 September 2026. The preseason ended badly, Nolan Teasley’s first roster came and went, J. J. McCarthy stayed, and two obvious holes were patched before anybody had time to learn all 53 names.