data-mm-id=”_y3v9bxg25″>The Minnesota Vikings are the NFL's most surprising team three weeks into the 2024 NFL season. They sit atop the NFC North with a 3-0 record and have scored the second-most points in the league behind a revitalized Sam Darnold, who has thrown an NFL-best eight touchdown passes.Execution on the field is only part of the blueprint for football success. Teams need a lot of luck along the way as well, especially when it comes to injuries.RELATED: Antonio Pierce shares harsh critique of players after Raiders' upset lossOn Monday, the Vikings were fortunate to discover that Darnold's knee injury in Sunday's 34-7 victory against the Houston Texans isn't serious. An MRI revealed that the quarterback only has a knee bruise and is expected to not miss any time.#Vikings QB Sam Darnold’s MRI revealed a knee bruise and no structural damage, per source. pic.twitter.com/CdWuEuNlwR— Tom Pelissero (@TomPelissero) September 23, 2024Minnesota and Darnold were popular topics for sports talk shows on Monday. "The Pat McAfee Show" gave them their flowers during its weekly visit with Bill Belichick, who's been ubiquitous this season in his new role of NFL analyst.Belichick provided insight about the Vikings' new identity as a team to beat and new challenge as the NFC North leader."I don't think anybody's looking past Minnesota, not that they were before, but I don't think anybody's looking past them now," Belichick said. "And probably their opponents coming up in the future are saying, 'Hey, this is how we measure our program, how do we (measure) right now against one of the top two or three teams in the league."That's when the New England Patriots coaching legend couldn't resist taking a shot at one of his former AFC East rivals — the New York Jets, who drafted Darnold third overall in 2018 but traded him to the Carolina Panthers just three years later."Everybody has liked Darnold, except the Jets," Belichick said. "The people at Carolina that I talked to, they really liked him. He was at the Rams, not for very long, and they liked him, and I think they wanted to re-sign him (but) he was looking for more of an opportunity than play behind (Matthew) Stafford. I know that Kevin (O'Connell) and some of the coaches at Minnesota, they really like this guy too."So it seemed like the only people who didn't like Darnold were at the Jets.""Right now the Vikings are one of the top two or three teams in the league..Everybody has liked Sam Darnold except for the Jets" ~ Bill Belichick #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/Q6OadTmjwl— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) September 23, 2024Belichick sought another NFL head coaching position after parting ways with the Patriots in January. He interviewed with the Atlanta Falcons before they hired Raheem Morris. Surely, a football franchise could still gain from the six-time Super Bowl champion's wealth of wisdom.Until he gets that next coaching gig, NFL fans will continue to benefit from Belichick thriving in media and speaking his mind.MORE TOP STORIES FROM THE BIG LEADNFL: Should the “two-high” safety formation be banned?WNBA x MLB: Phillies invite Caitlin Clark to broadcast boothGOLF: There’s now a Ryder Cup path for LIV playersSPORTS MEDIA: Candidates to replace Woj as ESPN’s NBA Insider
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Serge Gnabry emitted immense confidence ahead of the World Cup after completing what he believes was a transformation from so-so player to the brilliant attacker he is today.
Gnabry was not in Germany s squad for the last World Cup, despite breaking into the side two years earlier.
At the time of Russia 2018, the talented attacking midfielder had just completed a spell on loan at Hoffenheim from Bayern Munich, but he would soon become a key player for both Die Roten and the national team.
Germany became the third successive defending champions to be eliminated at the World Cup group stage four years ago, ushering in a period of transition that undoubtedly benefited Gnabry.
But Gnabry did not always look to be on a path to such stardom. He failed to live u…
Napoli head coach Gennaro Gattuso said you can t just go to the supermarket and ask for €10 of determination as the club continue to stutter following a shock loss at Hellas Verona.
Gattuso s Napoli lost for the second time in five days after being overhauled 3-1 by Verona in Serie A action on Sunday.
Napoli were beaten 2-0 by rivals Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana on Wednesday, and they tasted defeat again, despite Hirving Lozano s memorable opener.
Lozano broke the deadlock after just 8.95 seconds – the third fastest goal in Serie A history, behind Rafael Leao (2020) and Paolo Poggi (2001).
Excluding penalty goals, only Cristiano Ronaldo (11) and Luis Muriel (10) have scored more than Lozano (nine) this season in Serie A.
But that was as…
Jurgen Klopp will take charge of his 300th Liverpool game when the Premier League champions head to Leicester City on Saturday.
The German has brought the glory days back to Anfield since replacing Brendan Rodgers in 2015, winning the Champions League in 2018-19 before ending a 30-year wait for a top-flight title last season.
However, injury problems have contributed to a dip in form this term and they trail Manchester City by 10 points, leaving Klopp in a less celebratory mood than he might have been ahead of his landmark.
First and foremost it doesn t feel like [I m approaching my 300th game] in this moment, I can tell you, he said ahead of his meeting with Rodgers side this weekend.
It s not really important. It s something that when I m not here any…
Crawley secured back-to-back away league wins for the first time since January 2022 with a hard-fought 2-0 League Two victory at Gillingham.
Will Wright, who spent last season with the Kent side, fired home Town’s opener with a free-kick from the edge of the box after 24 minutes.
Tim Dieng and former Crawley striker Tom Nichols both shot wide for the hosts in the opening half.
Danilo Orsi almost doubled the visitors’ advantage five minutes after the break but blazed his effort from 20 yards just inches wide of the post.
Conor Masterson tamely shot at Town goalkeeper Corey Addai following a surging run through the Crawley half and Ashley Nadesan poked a loose ball over the crossbar as Gillingham sought an equaliser.
But Addai was always on hand…
Argentina´s golden boy on the silver screen? Senna and Diego Maradona director wants to document Mes
Leading documentary director Asif Kapadia wants to bring a Lionel Messi movie to life.
Messi won the World Cup with Argentina on Sunday, with La Albiceleste triumphing 4-2 over France on penalties following a thrilling 3-3 draw at Lusail Stadium in Qatar.
The World Cup was the final trophy missing from Messi s vast collection, and now the 35-year-old has surely ended the debate as to who is the greatest player of his generation.
Messi scored seven goals and contributed three assists across his sensational campaign in Qatar, and there are sure to be no shortage of offers for his story to be taken to the silver screen.
But Kapadia perhaps has the edge, given his critically acclaimed previous documentaries Senna, about the life and death of the Formula One d…
Bayern Munich goalkeeper Manuel Neuer said he was saddened to see German rival and Barcelona counterpart Marc-Andre ter Stegen concede eight goals in Friday s Champions League quarter-final humiliation.
Bayern embarrassed LaLiga giants Barca 8-2 in Lisbon, where Neuer s team-mates became the first team in Champions League history to score eight goals in a knockout match.
Thomas Muller and Philippe Coutinho braces, and goals from Robert Lewandowski, Ivan Perisic, Serge Gnabry and Joshua Kimmich saw Barca concede eight goals in a game for the first time since 1946.
Neuer – Germany s number one keeper – spared a thought for countryman Ter Stegen post-match.
I m a little sorry for Marc-Andre Ter Stegen that he conceded so many goals, said Neuer.
England go into the season’s first international break with cause to worry once more about the lack of homegrown players in the Premier League.
Less than 30 per cent of playing time in the early stages of the campaign has gone to players eligible for England, continuing a running concern for national team boss Gareth Southgate.
Here, the PA news agency looks at what the data can tell us.
Struggle for playing time
Of 86,710 minutes played by Premier League players this season, 25,399 have gone to players eligible for England.
That equates to 29.3 per cent of the available playing time, a slight decline on recent seasons as a peak to nearly 40 per cent in the 2020-21 season was not sustained.
Southgate said during March’s international window: …
Gianluca Vialli has been urged to stay strong and keep fighting in his cancer battle after it emerged the Serie A great is being treated in hospital.
The 58-year-old former Italy striker has been visited at a London clinic by his mother and a brother, the Italian news agency ANSA reported.
Concern in Italy about Vialli s health is shared in England, where former Chelsea defender John Terry sent a message of support.
Terry was given his Blues debut by player-manager Vialli in 1998 and went on to be a long-standing club captain.
He wrote on Twitter: Stay strong and keep fighting Luca. We are all thinking of you. We are sending our love, strength and prayers.
Vialli began his career at Cremonese, his hometown club, before going on to star in Serie A…
The Seattle Seahawks will put the NFC s last undefeated record on the line when they take on divisional rivals the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday.
Inspired by an MVP-calibre start from quarterback Russell Wilson, the Seahawks have reaped the rewards of shifting their emphasis to a passing attack in the early weeks of the 2020 NFL season.
After some strong moves in the offseason, the Cardinals have impressively moved to 4-2 with second-year QB Kyler Murray producing some must-see plays.
Ahead of what looks likely to be a high-scoring NFC West battle, we have compared the two QBs and their supporting casts.
A new prophecy
— Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals)
Can Murray emulate Wilson?
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Dave Challinor has signed a new three-year contract as Stockport manager.
The 47-year-old, who took charge in November 2021, guided the Hatters to promotion back to the English Football League after an 11-year absence in his first season in charge.
He followed up by taking them to the Sky Bet League Two play-off final, in which they were beaten on penalties by Carlisle, last term.
His initial contract was due to expire in summer 2024 but the new deal means he is committed to the club until 2026.
Challinor, who has won 56 of his 97 games as manager, told the club’s official website: “I don’t think it’s any secret that since I came to the football club, I’ve been really happy.
“We’ve had some success. There’s still the overriding dis…