VikingsTerritory Breakdown - A Minnesota Vikings Radio Show

VikingsTerritory Breakdown - A Minnesota Vikings Radio Show

Welcome to the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast, where co-hosts Joe Oberle and Mark Craig offer their unique insider’s opinion and analysis on the latest Purple news and happenings emanating from TCO Performance Center, U.S. Bank Stadium and beyond. The Minnesota Vikings are a constant source of exciting, enervating and, oftentimes, confounding news, and Craig and Oberle illuminate and explain it all from a perspective of experience and hard-earned insight.

Episodes

June 20, 2025 59 mins
And so we shall, first with a recap of what we learned at minicamp. Who shined, who rusted and, most importantly, how did starting quarterback JJ McCarthy do? Once again, there are some undrafted rookies to talk about (particularly this year, as the Vikings only had five draft picks), so those names are worth a look as the camp nears and ultimately, the roster begins to be trimmed.
Mark as Played
It all begins in earnest. The Vikings mandatory minicamp commenced at TCO Performance Center this week, and the news is already spilling out regarding who is there and who is there but not practicing. Thus far, the Vikings have good numbers in attendance, including left tackle Christian Darrisaw (who injured his knee last season) taking part in individual drills. Certainly, TE Josh Oliver is there, as he inked a contract extension ...
Mark as Played
NFL organized team activities (yes, that’s what OTA stands for—not offseason training actions—which they are—or over-technical assessments—which may happen--or overtly tubular algorithms—which won’t, since we don’t think they are a thing) began this week. The Vikings players assembled at TCO Performance to reacquaint with each other and get to know the new faces while trying to orient to the Purple way of life.
Mark as Played
Minnesota was the epicenter of the NFL this week! Why? Did the Vikings win the Super Bowl or secure the first overall pick of the next NFL Draft? No, neither of those things happened. Rather, Minneapolis hosted the NFL Meetings this week in which the owners voted on a few issues.
Mark as Played
The state of Minnesota experienced temperatures north of 90 degrees this past week, so that must mean it is the dead days of August and training camp begins, right? Well, not exactly. It is May and has been unseasonably warm and the Vikings have assembled—but it’s just the rookies and their minicamp at TCO Performance Center. Still, the new football year has begun. We haven’t had too many headlines yet as the Rookie Minicamp is jus...
Mark as Played
The NFL sent an email explaining that the schedule release is “almost here!” Not that it was released, but that it is almost released. (It’s almost like the email saying the Draft was almost here.) You can register and “be the first to know when the 2025-26 schedule drops.” Well, this NFL observer is all atwitter.
Mark as Played
With an eye toward protecting their sophomore quarterback J.J. McCarthy, the Vikings put a major emphasis on the offensive line during free agency (Matt Fries and Ryab Kelly) and continued that with the Jackson pick. There will likely be a competition at left guard, but the versatile and intelligent Jackson could step in and start and solidify a formerly middling line.
Mark as Played
But the NFL Draft is a crapshoot. A first overall pick can get the call from the Hall (Peyton Manning, 1998) or flame out in epic fashion (JaMarcus Russell, 2007). Then again, Tom Brady can go in the sixth round and become the best QB ever to play, or Brock Purdy, Mr. Irrelevant in 2022, can take a team to the Super Bowl and have folk rethinking that moniker for the last person taken in the draft.
Mark as Played
Will the Vikings, who have only four picks (plus a compensatory pick) in the draft stay put at 24 and select a player who can impact the 2025 season, or will they trade down, as been general manager Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah’s MO in the past, and acquire more picks to fill out the draft class.
Mark as Played
One of the most persistent Purple queries this offseason is who will start at QB and who will be his backup.
Mark as Played
The Vikings have other needs that they could address in free agency (or in the NFL Draft), but what are those needs and who is left to grab? The fellas at 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—are on hand to dissect and discuss all that. In addition, they will take on some of the new rul...
Mark as Played
The Free Agency ride continues for Vikings GM Kwesi Adolfo-Mensah and the Purple. After a huge opening salvo in FA, the Vikings were on the move again last weekend. Kwesi had a busy first week of FA, when he made some big signings to the offensive and defensive lines, and finished up the week by making two big trades to help the Purple.
Mark as Played
The Vikings (along with the 31 other NFL teams) launched headlong into the legal tampering portion of free agency and boy did they tamper. When it looked like the Vikings were going to sit out Day 1 on the sidelines, suddenly things started cracking the morning of Day 2. Their biggest Day 1 headlines were the loss of quarterback Sam Darnold to Seattle and the resigning of running back Aaron Jones—but Day 2 in the morning resulted i...
Mark as Played
Thus begins in earnest the Vikings’ QB questions, regarding what to do with Sam, do you bring back Daniel Jones and is JJ McCarthy physically ready to become the new starting signal caller.
Mark as Played
Do the Vikings tag Darnold (which would cost them approximately $40 million dollars in that tagged season? Do they begin negotiations on a multiyear Darnold contract (which would likely start around $40 million mark)?
Mark as Played
February 13, 2025 66 mins
The 2024-25 NFL season came to a crashing climax (at least for the fans of the Kansas City Chiefs who were hoping for a three-peat), as the Philadelphia Eagles (whose fans may have made things come crashing down after the game) walloped KC in a good old-fashioned blowout of a Super Bowl. The final score was 40-22 and it did not fully represent just how one-sided this game was (until the stalwart Philly defense that made cream chees...
Mark as Played
We have a Bowl MVP in Purple! Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy, Jr., had two interceptions in the Pro Bowl (including one of them for a pick six), which helped the NFC hold off the AFC in the annual Pro Bowl competition. So, does Murphy have a Pro Bowl MVP clause in his contract? Does he need one? Regardless, if nothing else happened on Sunday, perhaps a few more general managers around the league know a little bit more about him wh...
Mark as Played
It has begun. Like moving pieces on a chess board, the personnel around the NFL is headlong into the second week of transition while the final two teams are prepping for the big game. The reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs will return to the Super Bowl and will try to defeat the NFC champ Philadelphia Eagles to earn the first three-peat in NFL history during the Super Bowl era.
Mark as Played
Head coach Kevin O’Connell said last week that he will be focusing on the interior offense line during the offseason—in an attempt to better protect whoever becomes the team’s signal caller next year and give the running backs more room to roam between the tackles. The offensive line may be the first place the Vikings look to begin building back for the 2026 season (although they did re-sign defensive lineman Jalen Redmond earlier ...
Mark as Played
After most professional sporting event, participants need and are granted a cooling off period before the media is allowed to enter the locker room and interview them. It’s because emotions are raw and the players need some time to collect themselves before talking to the media/public. Well, following the Vikings lost to the Los Angele Rams in the Wild Card playoff game 27-9 last Monday night, Purple Nation needed a cooling off per...
Mark as Played

Popular Podcasts

    Joyce Sapp, 76; Bryan Herrera, 16; and Laurance Webb, 32—three Miami residents whose lives were stolen in brutal, unsolved homicides.  Cold Case Files: Miami follows award‑winning radio host and City of Miami Police reserve officer  Enrique Santos as he partners with the department’s Cold Case Homicide Unit, determined family members, and the advocates who spend their lives fighting for justice for the victims who can no longer fight for themselves.

    24/7 News: The Latest

    The latest news in 4 minutes updated every hour, every day.

    Crime Junkie

    Does hearing about a true crime case always leave you scouring the internet for the truth behind the story? Dive into your next mystery with Crime Junkie. Every Monday, join your host Ashley Flowers as she unravels all the details of infamous and underreported true crime cases with her best friend Brit Prawat. From cold cases to missing persons and heroes in our community who seek justice, Crime Junkie is your destination for theories and stories you won’t hear anywhere else. Whether you're a seasoned true crime enthusiast or new to the genre, you'll find yourself on the edge of your seat awaiting a new episode every Monday. If you can never get enough true crime... Congratulations, you’ve found your people. Follow to join a community of Crime Junkies! Crime Junkie is presented by audiochuck Media Company.

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show

    The Clay Travis and Buck Sexton Show. Clay Travis and Buck Sexton tackle the biggest stories in news, politics and current events with intelligence and humor. From the border crisis, to the madness of cancel culture and far-left missteps, Clay and Buck guide listeners through the latest headlines and hot topics with fun and entertaining conversations and opinions.

    The Breakfast Club

    The World's Most Dangerous Morning Show, The Breakfast Club, With DJ Envy And Charlamagne Tha God!

Advertise With Us
Music, radio and podcasts, all free. Listen online or download the iHeart App.

Connect

© 2025 iHeartMedia, Inc.