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Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of the Eagles' first loss of the season Monday to Washington, which was important to the Vikings for two reasons. First, of course, it pulls the Vikings and Eagles even at 8-1, creating a path to the No. 1 seed that's a little more clear. Second, Philadelphia committed four turnovers in the game after having just three all season coming in. If you're looking for a way the Vikings' season could come undone, start with turnover margin. 6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins for a film review looking at Justin Jefferson's excellence on contested catches Sunday and some offensive line improvement. Plus some more award-winning Vikings poetry. 31:00: The Gophers men's basketball team looked its age on Monday.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse as they try to figure out all that happened during Sunday's 33-30 overtime Vikings victory over Buffalo. The twists, the turns, the Justin Jefferson catch. The QB sneak that wasn't. The improbable fumble. The ending. The elements. The quality of the opponent. All of it, Reusse says, adds up to the greatest regular-season victory in the franchise's 62 years of existence, and it's hard to argue with that. Plus Rand and Reusse get into Gophers football, D'Angelo Russell, Gophers women's basketball and St. Thomas sports.

Introduction: In a football-heavy show, host Michael Rand begins with three interesting things he gleaned from the Vikings this week: The moment Kirk Cousins knew Justin Jefferson was special, how Kevin O'Connell views his running backs and the difference T.J. Hockenson sees already in playing for the Vikings instead of the Lions. 7:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins the show to set up Sunday's intrigue-filled game against the Bills. One of the biggest story lines is a revisiting of the Stefon Diggs trade and all that went into a tumultuous time in Minnesota. 30:00: Does Rand actually say something nice about Aaron Rodgers?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand likens the Timberwolves to a bunch of children who are having a hard time learning the lesson of not repeating mistakes. If we continue the analogy and assign coach Chris Finch the role of parent, he's not doing his job, either. Add it up and you have a 5-7 team that just lost another lopsided home game. 7:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Phil Miller joins Rand for a preview of the offseason. With free agency starting Thursday, the Twins have a lot of big questions as they reckon with a 2022 season that started well but fell off the rails in a flurry of injuries and inconsistency. Will the Twins make a hard run at keeping Carlos Correa? Should they? If they don't, who else will they spend money on? And do the Phillies give them hope? 29:00: Standing in contrast to the Wolves are the Wild, who got out of their rut with a 4-1 win Wednesday.

Host Michael Rand takes note of the Wild's second consecutive shutout loss and notices that frustration seems to be mounting for both the Wild and Timberwolves this season. Plus Gophers football writer Randy Johnson joins Rand for a look at the team's QB situation.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has had it with the Timberwolves. After wasting more time watching their dismal performance in 120-107 loss to the Knicks, he wonders if it's not just the team but its individual components that are overrated. One thing is for sure: The effort right now isn't there, and they aren't worth watching until that changes. 6:00: Rand is joined by Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer for a film review of Sunday's 20-17 win over Washington. New tight end T.J. Hockenson made nine catches in his debut, while rookie corner Akayleb Evans made huge contributions filling in for the injured Cam Dantzler. Plus some more award-winning Vikings poetry. 32:00: The expected moment is here, as the Twins said goodbye to Miguel Sano.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at an uncommonly successful weekend in Minnesota sports. The Vikings and Gophers both overcame double-digit deficits to win, with the former improving to 7-1 and the latter repositioning itself in the Big Ten West mix. Gophers hockey and volleyball swept the weekend as well, and the Wolves won Saturday. Plus Reusse agrees with a listener: These Vikings have a certain quality that is reminiscent of the Bud Grant era.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into his conversation with Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling. A surprising 6-1 start led to a move this week to acquire tight end T.J. Hockenson at the trade deadline, a move that will have a ripple effect into 2023 as well. The Vikings' good start will have even more impact on their future, and it will be interesting to see how they navigate things. 24:00: Rand has a bunch of rapid-fire thoughts on the Wild's home loss, how the Warriors' struggles could be a sign for the Wolves, Cheryl Reeve's contract extension and job title change and the World Series.

Introduction: All the key figures in the T.J. Hockenson trade spoke with the media on Wednesday, and you'll hear from all of them on this episode. First up: Vikings GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah on what went into the deal; Hockenson and Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell on helping get Hockenson integrated into the offense; and QB Kirk Cousins on how he wants to help Hockenson be at his best. 10:00: Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins joins host Michael Rand for a discussion of college football, where Chip's Tennessee Volunteers are having the kind of season Gophers fans dream about. Plus some expanded thoughts on D'Angelo Russell. 32:00: A World Series no-hitter.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand breaks down the Vikings' acquisition of tight end T.J. Hockenson on Tuesday. The move signaled GM Kwesi Adofo-Mensah will get aggressive in filling a need, which was evident for a 6-1 team after Irv Smith Jr. went on injured reserve. It's a net upgrade and should give Kirk Cousins one more viable target in an evolving passing game. 10:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show. The Gophers are more than a two-touchdown favorite at Nebraska, which feels like both an opportunity and a curse. Plus a look ahead to next year's more daunting Big Ten schedule. 22:00: The Timberwolves' starting lineup was again a net negative in a 116-107 loss to Phoenix, and head coach Chris Finch doesn't seem to have many answers right now. Their performance stood in stark contrast to the suddenly streaking Wild.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes stock of the first seven games of the Timberwolves' season and sees reasons for patience as well as the potential to need a different plan. If this doesn't look more cohesive after 20 games, the recommendation is this: move D'Angelo Russell to the bench and lean into the players you are committed to long-term. 7:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of the Vikings' most recent victory. They've been great in the red zone lately, and it's come in a variety of ways. Plus thoughts on the Vikings and if they should make any moves at the trade deadline. 28:00: The Wild returns home a much different team.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look at the weekend in sports. The Vikings won in familiar fashion, defeating Arizona 34-26 by again making the big plays in the biggest moments. They're now 6-1, and with every other team in the NFC North sitting at 3-5 or worse they are in magnificent early position. The Timberwolves are 4-3, a record suggestive of a decent start, but their play has been clunky at best. They lost again to the Spurs on Sunday, and Reusse has concerns about how this looks -- plus how it will look once the Wolves start playing better teams. Thoughts, too, on the Gophers, Wild and St. Thomas.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes note of a couple of small sample sizes -- the 0-3 Wild start vs. the 3-0-1 stretch produced since then, as well as the Lakers' 0-4 start heading into Target Center on Friday night -- and notes the danger of putting too much emphasis on such things. 6:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand for a look at the 5-1 Vikings coming out of the bye week. Will the Vikings look to be more aggressive on defense -- with Patrick Peterson leading the way? How much more relaxed does Kirk Cousins seem this year? And how much of a threat will the Cardinals pose on Sunday? 31:00: The Twins hired a new athletic trainer Thursday, a piece of their offseason puzzle.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand looks at the Wolves' 134-122 victory over the Spurs on Wednesday and finds plenty of things to like. The ball movement was crisp, and their shooting percentage (65%) was reflective of a lot of open looks. And they limited the Spurs to six fast-break points. Still, there are things to clean up if this team wants to be great. 6:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show, and with help from Gophers defensive end Thomas Rush we try to get to the heart of this question: How can this team still have success after a 4-0 start has turned into a three-game losing streak. 27:00: Aaron Rodgers is griping about his teammates again.

Introduction: After a discouraging start to the season, the Wild seem to be back on track. They have five points in their last three games, the latest coming in a 3-1 win at Montreal on Tuesday. The Wild played the ideal road game in that contest and gained confidence that they can win a tight-checking game. 6:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves beat writer Chris Hine joins Michael Rand for a look at the uneven 2-2 start for the Wolves. How much of the early struggles -- chemistry, transition defense, defensive rebounding -- is easily fixable and how much is concerning in the long-term? Plus Rand gets into Karl-Anthony Towns' comments about Anthony Edwards needing to take care of his body better. 28:00: Mystery solved with Hugh McCutcheon.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand checks in on the Timberwolves after an embarrassing effort Monday in which they were booed off the Target Center court in a loss to San Antonio. The season is still early and the Wolves are 2-2, but they look lethargic and out of sorts in the early stages of the Rudy Gobert era. 7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand for an examination of that team's 1-3-1 start. After allowing 20 goals in their first three games, the Wild has settled down somewhat. But defensive zone coverage and goaltending remain questions, while reshuffled forward lines suggest a work in progress. Is the secret to better defense a better offense? 20:00: The Vikings didn't play, but we can still celebrate the weekend with some Packers-based poetry.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Gophers football team lost for the third consecutive week, a stunning turn of events after a 4-0 start that stirred national title talk. Even though the Vikings didn't play Sunday, they still gained ground on the bumbling Packers -- another team that lost its third consecutive game. Combined with the Yankees getting bounced from the ALCS, it was an unofficial holiday for Minnesota sports fans. Plus thoughts on the Timberwolves and Gophers hockey.

Introduction: A massive exhale from St. Paul as the Wild rallied for their first win of the season, 4-3 over Vancouver on Thursday. Still, head coach Dean Evason saw plenty of things to clean up -- with hopes that getting that first victory could be the key to unlocking better play. 6:00: Wolves vs. Jazz on Friday has plenty of intrigue. 9:00: Star Tribune men's basketball writer Marcus Fuller joins the show to help explain how the Gophers and head coach Ben Johnson landed the No. 13-ranked recruit in the country, a 7-1 shot blocker from California named Dennis Evans. 28:00: The blockbuster traded Thursday of Christian McCaffrey to the 49ers is more evidence that teams see the NFC as wide open for the taking. Will the Vikings make a deadline move, too?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand has some expanded thoughts on the first of 82 Timberwolves games, including the notion that he can see this becoming Rudy Gobert's team. Everyone in the starting lineup reached double figures in shots and points, but it will be interesting to see how the pecking order is sorted out as the year goes on. 13:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins the show for a look ahead to the Penn State game and some intrigue over who will be Minnesota's starting quarterback. Plus a preview of Gophers vs. North Dakota in men's hockey. 23:00: What is sustainable and what isn't for the 5-1 Vikings? 30:00: Can Jordan Greenway and an elevated Marco Rossi save the Wild?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand dives right into Timberwolves talk with Star Tribune beat writer Chris Hine. With a season of great expectations set to begin on Wednesday, they try to discern just how good this team can be. The biggest question, of course, is how Karl-Anthony Towns and Rudy Gobert will mesh. Plus you'll hear from third-year Wolves forward Jaden McDaniels. 21:00: Chicken Fingers 69, a longtime friend of the show and co-host of the Sportive podcast, joins Rand for another edition of "never been more angry." They cover a lot of ground on the 0-3 Wild, much of which Chicken Fingers foreshadowed last week. The king has no pants, as they say. 31:00: Some juicy drama with NFL owners.

Introduction: The theme of the first part of the show was a mess of their own making. Host Michael Rand picked apart the 0-3 Wild, who have given up 20 goals in their first three games. From benching Marco Rossi to having a shaky plan in net, it already seems like offseason plans are going awry. Is it just puck luck, as coach Dean Evason hopes, or is it something worse? Plus Minnesota United lost in a shootout in its playoff opener, ending a season that went off the rails late. With a stronger finish, a competent playoff effort like the one delivered Monday would have been rewarded with a win. 8:00: The Vikings put an emphasis on creating turnovers, but the Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer makes a good point about the timing of those takeaways not being sustainable. Then again, we keep saying things about the 5-1 start aren't sustainable as they continue to happen. Plus more award-winning Vikings poetry. 34:00: The Gophers men's basketball team got its best recruit in almost 20 years.

On Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse's 77th birthday, he joins host Michael Rand for a look at some of the biggest stories in Minnesota sports. The Vikings are 5-1 after another "horseshoe" game Sunday in which they were badly outgained but still defeated the Dolphins 24-16. It made Reusse think back to the Bud Grant days. The Gophers football team had no such luck in losing its second straight game, while the Gophers volleyball team will have to learn to live without head coach Hugh McCutcheon after this season. The Wild gave up a touchdown in each of their first two games, but at least you can still be optimistic about Minnesota United and the Timberwolves.

Introduction: If you were hoping to see the Wild bring a tighter brand of hockey into the 2022-23 season, Thursday's opener was a disappointment. In losing 7-3 to the Rangers at Xcel Energy Center, Minnesota was outclassed in an up-and-down game. The lack of defensive acumen was a concern -- but perhaps more so was the play of veteran goalie Marc-Andre Fleury. Advanced numbers suggest the Wild could have won that game with adequate goaltending instead of suffering a blowout loss. 6:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins host Michael Rand to dissect a few aspects of the Vikings heading into Sunday's game at Miami. Among them: Why have the Vikings had such good health this season, are there ways they can improve their depth, and how sustainable is the improved play of Garrett Bradbury? 30:00: Carlos Correa tells a newspaper in Puerto Rico that he is opting out of his Twins contract -- not a surprise, but making the decision closer to official.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes you back to October 15, 2017. That was the date the 3-2 Vikings faced the 4-1 Packers and came away with a victory after an Anthony Barr hit knocked Aaron Rodgers out for most of the rest of the year. That play led to the Vikings' 13-3 season and a rule change protecting quarterbacks -- both of which perhaps led the Vikings to sign and eventually keep quarterback Kirk Cousins. 7:00: Star Tribune Wild beat writer Sarah McLellan joins Rand to preview the season, which starts Thursday against the Rangers. After their best regular season in history, followed by a disappointing first-round playoff exit, what will the Wild do this season to take a step forward? 26:00: A listener wants to know if the Timberwolves are NBA title material this year.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand welcomes Star Tribune columnist Chip Scoggins for a three-pronged discussion. First, they get into the Gophers football team and a must-win game Saturday at Illinois. Then Scoggins shares some insights on his Football Across Minnesota feature before the two wrap up with skepticism about the Twins. 18:00: The end of the Jake Cave Era, why Minneapolis is a good host city, good news for Wolves fans and at least the Yankees aren't beating the Twins. 26:00: Punt Brett Favre to the moon.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand can see some of the logic in the Twins' approach to this offseason -- largely stand pat while hoping for improved health with a new head trainer -- but he can more easily see the flaws. Even with decent health in 2023, Rand sees a team that doesn't look to be much better than .500, and he sees a plan that is by default more than anything else. If Derek Falvey and co. aren't correct about their assessment, there almost certainly will be bigger moves ahead. 8:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a film review of Kirk Cousins' play during the Vikings' 29-22 win over the Bears. Cousins has been clutch so far this season, leading three fourth-quarter comebacks and three game-winning drives in their 4-1 start. And some of his success has come from gaining more freedom to make decisions. 22:00: The takeaway from Vikings poetry -- enjoy the winning while it's happening. 35:00: Another NFL game, another questionable roughing the passer penalty.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at the weekend in sports. The Vikings started fast and then needed more fourth-quarter magic to hold off the Bears. The end result, though, is a 4-1 start and a spot in control of the NFC North. Reusse then expands on his list of 62 Twins seasons, all of which he graded. The 2022 team was not spared in his assessment, even if it was far from the very worst. Plus thoughts on Minnesota United saving its season and earning a playoff spot with a win Sunday and the excitement building for Gophers men's hockey.

Introduction: Yes, host Michael Rand is fully aware of the contradiction in that dual-purpose headline. He spends the first several minutes of the show talking about how a lot of games -- and by extension, a lot of NFL teams -- have been bad this year, including Thursday Night's 12-9 snooze-fest between the Colts and Broncos. How do we explain all the poor play? Rand has some ideas. 7:00: Nonetheless, we can't look away. Rand welcomes Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling to the show to set up Sunday's game against the Bears. The Vikings are one of just eight teams over .500 this season, and they have a chance to improve to 4-1. The Bears are in rebuild mode and offer an interesting "what-if" for the Vikings. 30:00: The Wild, the Wolves, and the race to 82-0.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand takes a moment to appreciate Luis Arraez, 2022 AL batting champion, and what it means to hit for a high average during an era that values power over all else. There is still value in hitters like Arraez, who make pitchers work hardest during high-leverage at-bats -- and get results like Arraez does in the clutch. 6:00: Star Tribune columnist La Velle E. Neal III joins Rand for a big-picture look at the Twins. He offers a few solutions for how to fix things going forward, including an overhaul of the approach to the medical staff. 22:00: Minnesota United beat writer Jerry Zgoda checks in with a report on a team that is collapsing as much as the Twins. The difference: The Loons still have a chance Sunday to make the playoffs.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand could hardly believe his eyes when he saw the lineup the Twins put on the field at one point Tuesday. Mercifully, their season will be over on Wednesday, and fans have clearly already turned their attention to other things. Wolves fans? They might have been a little too giddy about preseason basketball Tuesday, but it'll be OK as long as they save some energy for the real thing. 7:00: Randy Johnson joins Rand for a two-fold mission: Dissecting what went wrong for the suddenly vulnerable Gophers football team in Saturday's loss to Purdue and setting up the Gophers men's hockey team's big series this weekend against Minnesota State-Mankato. 18:00: Gophers women's golfer Mariana Mesones broke the school record by carding a 64 in the second tournament she ever played. Then a week later, on Sunday, she broke her own record with a 62. She joins Rand to talk about her big rounds and her journey from Peru to Minnesota. 26:00: The Vikings need to crush the bad Bears on Sunday for Rand to feel good about this season.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes all the whining from Yankees fans about Twins infielder Luis Arraez sitting out with a hamstring injury while he leads Aaron Judge in the batting race. Judge will need a very strong finish to catch Arraez, who is the only person standing between Judge and a Triple Crown. But you know what? Arraez is 9 for his last 22 since Sept. 24; Judge is 5 for 24 in the same span. Yankees fans should quiet down, but they never will. 6:00: Andrew Krammer joins for the weekly film review, this time on Justin Jefferson's big day and Kevin O'Connell's conservative approach in the red zone. Plus some Vikings poetry to soothe the soul. 34:00: A rough start to training camp for Karl-Anthony Towns.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host host Michael Rand for a dissection of the weekend in Minnesota sports. The Vikings escaped London with a 28-25 win over the Saints with the help of several penalty flags, an upright and a crossbar. Rand makes the point that not much has changed with the Vikings except their record; Reusse notes that while that might be true, it's the nature of the NFL. Plus they dig into the Gophers' disappointing loss to Purdue, the shakeup in Wisconsin, what exactly Carlos Correa meant and whether the Loons can hang on and make the playoffs.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand isn't afraid to ask the tough questions, like this one: What did Vikings players think about the "buttpunt" that resulted in a safety on Sunday? Along the way, you might laugh. You might also gain a greater appreciation for special teams. 9:00: Vikings writer Ben Goessling joins Rand from London, where he is attempting to adjust his body clock in order to give you the best possible coverage of Vikings vs. Saints on Sunday. Maybe if defensive coordinator Ed Donatell is crankier, he'll call some blitzes? 29:00: Skiing legend Lindsey Vonn joins the show to remember her mother, Lindy Krohn Lund, who died last month after a battle with ALS.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand is not impressed by Aaron Judge's pursuit of the American League home run record, but he is VERY impressed by a possible triple crown. The main person standing in Judge's way? Twins infielder Luis Arraez, who is tied for the AL batting lead with Judge at .313. It's about the only drama left in the Twins' season, but it is intriguing. 7:00: Star Tribune Timberwolves writer Chris Hine joins Rand for a thoughtful discussion of Anthony Edwards' homophobic remarks, his apology and the work that still needs to be done. They also get into the main story lines for the Wolves in a season of big expectations. 27:00: The Vikings are in London, but will another NFL game be in Minneapolis on Sunday? Plus a contract extension for Emanuel Reynoso, just as the Loons push to hold onto an MLS playoff spot.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand wrote about how few innings Twins starters have thrown in 2022, making him wistful for 2019. And then Bailey Ober threw a gem Tuesday, making Rand wonder if 2023 could at least have a hint of optimism from a depth standpoint. 7:00: Gophers WR Mike Brown-Stephens joins Rand for a wide-ranging conversation. He's the nephew of music mega-star John Legend, and Brown-Stephens tells some great stories about his relationship with his uncle (and how he accidentally broke one of Legend's Grammy Award trophies). 23:00: Gophers writer Randy Johnson joins the show to set up Saturday's game against Purdue, which would push the No. 21-ranked Gophers to a 5-0 record. Can they slow down Purdue's passing attack? 34:00: A defensive schism to watch with the Vikings?

Introduction: Media day for the Timberwolves was Monday, and it served two purposes -- the first public, in-person comments from Anthony Edwards since his homophobic video surfaced and a big-picture outlook for what should be a team on a continued ascent. How Edwards and the Wolves grow this season will be stories to watch. 6:00: Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins host Michael Rand for a film study on how the Vikings have -- and haven't -- been able to get other receivers aside from Justin Jefferson the ball. And how can Jefferson adjust after being shut down two games in a row? 22:00: Award-winning poetry -- Vi-kus, if you will -- are back. 37:00: New Twins scoreboard, new Twins uniforms.

Host Michael Rand and Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse marvel at the two big Minnesota football outcomes from the weekend. The Vikings were outplayed against Detroit and didn't have a lead until the final minute, but they stole an important 28-24 victory with some clutch late plays. The Gophers, meanwhile, looked completely dominant against Michigan State and are now ranked in the Top 25. Regrettably, we had to talk about the Twins as well.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand notes that the Gophers are a three-point favorite on the road against Michigan State this weekend -- a sign of respect for the program but an edge that might make longtime fans nervous about a letdown. We'll know more about just how good Minnesota is after Saturday's game. 6:00: Star Tribune Vikings beat writer Ben Goessling joins Rand ahead of Sunday's rather intriguing game against the Lions. Everything looked easy for the Vikings in a Week 1 victory over the Packers, but that changed in a hurry in a Monday loss to the Eagles. Now, on a short week they come back home to face a Lions team in a game that will test both their defensive scheme and their culture under head coach Kevin O'Connell. 28:00: Stop making Cooper Rush a thing.

Introduction: If Patrick Reusse is buying into the Gophers and P.J. Fleck, perhaps more of us should as well. On today's show, host Michael Rand helps you get to know one of the key members of the defense: linebacker Mariano Sori-Marin. He was an Ivy League recruit before signing with the Gophers, and his intelligence plays a big role in his success. Sori-Marin has a fascinating family history tracing back to his family's Cuban roots, and he also has used his love of food to take team bonding to a new level. 16:00: Jason Gurwin from The Streamable joins Rand for the latest on how we watch sports. The rights to NFL Sunday Ticket are up after this season, and where that lands will be interesting. Plus Bally Sports Plus -- the standalone $20 a month app -- is set to launch Monday. Will fans, including supporters of the Wolves and Wild, go for it? And how does the shaky financial situation of Diamond Sports -- which operates all the Bally regional sports networks and is owned by parent company Sinclair -- factor into the future of how we will access our favorite teams? 30:00: The Twins are officially an afterthought, but the Wild are taking their place.

Introduction; Before he dives into football talk, host Michael Rand notes that the Twins have been playing at a 91-loss pace since May 24, a span of nearly four months. That's a much larger sample size than their 27-16 start and should prompt a long look at organizational philosophy this offseason. 6:00: Andrew Krammer joins Rand for a Vikings film review. The big question after the Eagles went up and down the field on Minnesota during Monday night's game: Did it reveal a flaw in how the Vikings are trying to defend, with very little man-to-man coverage and a lot of soft zones? Or was the bigger problem in how Vikings defenders executed the game plan? 24:00: Vikings poetry remains undefeated. 37:00: Anthony Edwards fined $40,000.

Introduction: If you thought the Vikings had a chance to make a statement on Monday night against the Eagles, well ... they did in a sense. In letting the Eagles jump to a 24-7 halftime lead and then self-destructing with three Kirk Cousins interceptions in the second half, Minnesota showed it still has a long way to go if it is going to change its identity into a consistent winner under new head coach Kevin O'Connell. Host Michael Rand also has exclusive audio of what was going on inside Kirk Cousins' head Monday. 16:00: Gophers football beat writer Randy Johnson joins Rand to discuss the impact of Chris Autman-Bell's injury and the opportunity ahead for Minnesota as it enters Big Ten play. 28:00: Five players who you never would have thought would be playing in a meaningful September game were part of a sequence that sealed the Twins' fate Monday. That is all you need to know about this season.

Host Michael Rand is joined by Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse give a eulogy of sorts for a Twins season that isn't officially over but might as well be after they lost the first three games of a critical series against Cleveland. The opening game of the series was another dominant but short start -- this time by Bailey Ober -- wasted by a poor finish. The sum total of a 73-73 season-to-date has Reusse thinking the Twins need to re-evaluate and make some changes after the year is done. Plus Rand and Reusse talk about the dominant Gophers football team and set up the Vikings' Monday Night Football game, noting that both teams have a great opportunity against weak competition this season. And what has happened to Minnesota United?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand was ready for a clean break from the 2022 Twins after they were swept last weekend by Cleveland, but three wins in a row and the Guardians' loss Thursday breathed a little bit of new life into them. They are now four games back heading into a five-game series in Cleveland. Simple math tells us there's still a path to the playoffs over the last 20 games for a team whose best quality is resilience. 9:00: Ben Goessling joins Rand for an extended discussion about the Vikings. Monday Night Football in Philadelphia will be a significant test, but if Minnesota can go on the road and get another win, there will be a buzz around this team that hasn't been felt for years. 33:00: Scott Frost getting fired is a reminder of the relative calm in Minnesota.

Introduction: The Twins have received back-to-back starts of seven innings and no runs from their two most consistent rotation members, Joe Ryan and Sonny Gray. It's enough to make host Michael Rand look ahead to 2023 and think optimistically about what the rotation might look like with reasonable health and continued minor league development -- even if it is probably too late in 2022. 8:00: Rand welcomes new Timberwolves TV play-by-play voice Michael Grady to the show. They caught up at the State Fair a couple weeks ago, with Grady sharing his passion for basketball and his enthusiasm for his new job. 27:00: Brett Favre is in trouble; Patrick Peterson's PFF grade matched his play on Sunday.

Introduction: If you missed it Tuesday, Twins rookie Joe Ryan had a no-hitter going through seven innings and 106 pitches before being removed by manager Rocco Baldelli. These sorts of things happen frequently enough that they aren't huge debate points any more, but that doesn't change the "what-if" quality and disappointment. 6:00: A well-earned draw for Minnesota United, but some drama along the way. 10:00: How Gophers football players prepare for games and watch games, with perspectives from defensive lineman Thomas Rush and quarterback Tanner Morgan. Then beat writer Randy Johnson joins host Michael Rand to talk about the Gophers being No. 1 in total offense and total defense in FBS. 31:00: Revisiting the Monday Night Football finish.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand wants listeners to hit rewind on the Twins season before it gets too late and we all move on to other things. Sure, this past weekend against Cleveland was disappointing. But the AL Central race was shaped in June, with five excruciating bullpen meltdowns against the Guardians that kept the Twins from taking control of the division. 7:00: Star Tribune Vikings writer Andrew Krammer joins the show for the first Vikings film review segment of the season, helping Rand break down Justin Jefferson's big day. Plus, what better way to express feelings about the 23-7 victory over Green Bay than with poetry. 33:00: A curious ending to Monday Night Football and an apology from Anthony Edwards and the Timberwolves.

Star Tribune columnist Patrick Reusse joins host Michael Rand for a look back at an extremely busy weekend in sports. Like ships passing each other in the night, the Twins drifted toward irrelevance while the Vikings bolted into the spotlight with a 23-7 win over the Packers in Kevin O'Connell's coaching debut. The Twins getting swept by Cleveland provided a microcosm of all that has been hurting them lately -- injuries, ineffective pitching and a punch-less offense -- while the Vikings got about everything they could have hoped for and more. Plus thoughts on the Gophers being in prime position in the Big Ten West and the Loons suddenly stumbling.

Introduction: Host Michael Rand lays out why he is far more pessimistic about the Vikings' season than his colleagues. He predicts the Vikings will go 7-10 this season, while six other Star Tribune Vikings writers and columnists all think they will go at least 9-8. The bottom line: This team has perilously thin depth and too many unknowns to get the benefit of the doubt. 10:00: Star Tribune Twins beat writer Megan Ryan joins the show for a look at the home stretch. With 26 games left, the Twins are tied with Chicago and 1.5 games behind Cleveland in the AL Central Race. Do they have one good stretch left in them?

Introduction: Host Michael Rand runs through the latest frustrating night for the Twins, a doubleheader sweep at the hands of the Yankees. They are now 1-15 against the Yankees, Astros and Dodgers this season, often playing a joyless brand of baseball in those games and others. We know what to expect from these Twins at this point, and even though they are still very much alive in the AL Central race it doesn't seem nearly as fun as it should. 11:00: Star Tribune columnists Chip Scoggins and Patrick Reusse join Rand for a discussion of their book collaboration on Reusse's life and career, "Tales From the Minnesota Sports Beat." Anytime Reusse starts telling stories, you want to listen. 30:00: An interesting moment from a recent Russell Wilson story; is Kirk Cousins really a top-10 quarterback?

Introduction: While host Michael Rand is feeling increasingly pessimistic about the upcoming Vikings season because of the team's lack of depth, he does acknowledge that those who are more optimistic are likely placing their faith in an improved relationship between quarterback Kirk Cousins and the head coach (now Kevin O'Connell, previously Mike Zimmer). Two stories this week underscored just what a difference it will be. 7:00: Gophers women's basketball coach and legend Lindsay Whalen joined the show to talk about the upcoming season and her impending induction Saturday into the Basketball Hall of Fame. You'll hear just how nervous Whalen was to ask her favorite player -- Charles Barkley -- to be one of her presenters. 31:00: A low-tech Spygate controversy in soccer.