Vikings Preseason Finale Reaction: Denver 34, Minnesota 6 — McCarthy Sits, Cutdown Questions

Dave goes live during Minnesota’s 34–6 preseason loss at Denver. He flags sloppy tackling, thin depth after years of poor drafting, and ugly goal-line play-calling (10 passes, zero runs). J.J. McCarthy sits with a lower-ankle/deltoid sprain after telling the team he did not feel comfortable playing. Dave and Darren debate keep vs. trade: injury history, uncertain trade return (fourth-round floor), and why a Sunday release is unlikely. Injury note: UDFA S Jacob Thomas leaves in Q1 with an ankle sprain; MRI Saturday. They grade Max Brosmer’s checkdown night, a dead first-half run game, O-line pressure, and who helped themselves — Gavin Bartholomew, Marshall Lang, Dontae Fleming, Jahvaree Ritzie, Kahlef Hailassie. Also: special-teams penalties, Hekker vs. Thorson, KOC fire-watch talk, and the Sunday 53 before the Packers opener. Timestamps: 00:00 Live show kickoff — 34–6, stream delay 00:57 Tackling and depth issues 02:05 McCarthy’s ankle and goal-line calls 03:47 Whiskey break and QB trade talk 05:33 Injury updates and roster shopping 10:38 Two-minute warning reset 11:37 Darren joins — preseason perspective 12:54 McCarthy controversy 17:45 Brosmer evaluation 19:17 Standouts and missed tackles 21:59 O’Connell on the broadcast 27:40 Rookie development and tackling 33:16 Why the Lions game was won 33:58 McCarthy trade value 35:51 QB depth and attitude 42:50 Penalty and discipline debate 46:20 Punter battle breakdown 48:04 O’Connell fire watch 53:32 Jacob Thomas injury update 56:27 Bubble players who stood out 59:31 Running back development 01:03:02 Rookie D-line progress 01:07:11 Cuts and final sign-off Fan with us!!! Tyler Forness @TheRealForno of Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and A to Z Sports @AtoZSportsNFL, Darren @KickassblogVike, and Dave Stefano @Luft_Krigare. Bringing fans everything they crave at Vikings 1st & SKOL @Vikings1stSKOL and at the Bleav Network @BleavNetwork. ______________________________ ️ Subscribe to us here! - https://www.youtube.com/@vikings1stskol92 ️ Our Twitter can be found at @Vikings1stSKOL ️ Tyler Forness can be read at A to Z Sports - https://atozsports.com/nfl/minnesota-vikings-news/ ️ Submit questions: forms.gle/7LJkCAern9kdUkuD8 ️ Watch here: https://youtu.be/nQ4K8pD33G4 Our music… Track: “Addict”, NEFFEX (All rights go to The National Football League, the Minnesota Vikings, and all their broadcasters. I do not own any of the music and the footage used in this video. No copyright infringement intended. We do not gain any profit from our videos, and they are for entertainment and educational purposes only) "Copyright Disclaimer Under Section 107 of the Copyright Act 1976, allowance is made for "fair use" for purposes such as criticism, comment, news reporting, teaching, scholarship, and research. Fair use is a use permitted by copyright statute that might otherwise be infringing. Non-profit, educational or personal use tips the balance in favor of fair use." Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.