The Vikings have lost back-to-back games after starting 5-0. Now they will turn to Cam Robinson, 29, to help protect quarterback Sam Darnold’s blindside after losing standout LT Christian Darrisaw to a torn ACL and MCL. Can they get a win this week against a Colts team that has benched Anthony Richardson in favor of Joe Flacco?

Week 9 vs. Indianapolis Colts, Sunday at 7:20 p.m. CT (NBC)

Catch up on what you need to know from this week on the Vikings:

• Vikings trade for Jaguars LT Cam Robinson
The Vikings addressed their massive void at left tackle by trading for Jaguars offensive lineman Cam Robinson.

• Vikings not sweating rookie’s quiet start
“I think Dallas (Turner) is going to be just fine. I think everybody wants everything right now, and he does, too. We’ll get him out there.”

• Meet the former Vikings visionary known as the grandfather of NFL analytics
Retired analyst Mike Eayrs was “so far ahead of the curve” that he is credited with popularizing data science in the NFL in the 1980s.

• What Christian Darrisaw’s injury means
Losing their talented left tackle will make it harder for an inconsistent Vikings offense that has already had trouble sustaining drives.

• 📈Power Rankings: Vikings at No. 8
The No. 17 pick in this year’s draft has one sack and three quarterback pressures through seven games.

Coach O’Connell speaks about new LT Cam Robinson pic.twitter.com/hVymPdY6vo

— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) October 30, 2024

Scouting the Colts

• Joe Flacco will be Colts starting QB ‘going forward’
The decision to bench Anthony Richardson and start Joe Flacco at quarterback is not a temporary one, coach Shane Steichen said.

• Anthony Richardson has hard lesson to learn from the bench
Richardson’s time in Indianapolis may not be over, but his path back to being the Colts starting QB will be a big challenge.

• NFL execs debate Colts benching Richardson
“He hasn’t had many live reps in his football career. This season should have been presented as that development and growth across the board.”

• Richardson’s benching goes far beyond his play
“What a fascinating management dilemma to be in,” a former executive from one of the Colts’ division rivals said.

• Colts GM Chris Ballard has failed to live up to bold promises
Technically, Ballard still has personnel control in Indy, but the chances of him fulfilling the promise proclaimed by his owner are dwindling by the day.

How good are the Vikings?

Check out Austin Mock’s 2024 NFL projections, where you will find each team’s probability of conquering its division, advancing through the playoffs and winning the Super Bowl. The projections are based on 100,000 simulations of the remainder of the season, which factors in each team’s projected strength, current health as well as its remaining schedule.

(Photo of Justin Jefferson: Harry How / Getty Images)

FALCON HEIGHTS, Minn. —  A 19-year-old Minneapolis man has been charged in the shooting of three teens near the Minnesota State Fairgrounds on Labor Day.

The man is charged with three counts of attempted second-degree murder and two counts of drive-by shooting toward a person, according to the criminal complaint filed in Ramsey County on Oct. 23.

At 10:20 p.m. on Sept. 2, officers were called to Dugsi Academy at 1085 Snelling Avenue North in St. Paul on reports of a shooting.

Upon arrival, officers found a teen boy suffering from a gunshot wound to his leg. He told police he had been walking to a friend’s car in the parking lot when he heard gunshots. He said he ran toward the train tracks to escape the gunfire and thought he had blown out his knee, but he quickly learned a bullet had struck him.

The boy told police he did not see who was shooting and had been at the nearby Minnesota State Fair shortly before.

Officers later learned two more teens had been shot and were transported to different area hospitals. The criminal complaint says both victims told police they did not have any issues with anyone and were unsure who would have shot them.

A total of 53 spent casings were found beneath the Snelling Avenue bridge to the east of Dugsi Academy, charges say. An analysis found the casings came from three different guns.

Surveillance video allegedly shows several people exiting a blue sedan before firing their guns from the street and gravel area by nearby train tracks. The suspects then get back into the sedan before leaving the area.

A few hours later, deputies were called to a gas station in Little Canada for a drive-by shooting. Charges say surveillance video showed a blue sedan go out of view shortly before shots rang out. Five more casings from two different guns were recovered from the gas station. Further analysis revealed the casings matched that of those recovered from the shooting near the fairgrounds.

Investigators learned the blue sedan had been involved in a weapons incident on Aug. 27 where three men pulled a gun on security in Minneapolis. The sedan is owned by the man facing charges in the shooting.

Using license plate readers and phone location data, police were able to place the suspect in the area of both shootings around the time they occurred.

Minnesota (5-3, 3-2 Big Ten) at No. 24 Illinois (6-2, 3-2), Saturday, noon ET (FS1)

BetMGM College Football Odds: Minnesota by 3.

Series record: Minnesota leads 40-33-2.

WHAT’S AT STAKE?

After losing 38-9 last week to No. 1 Oregon, the Illini risk dropping out of the AP Top 25 with a home loss to Minnesota. The Gophers had a perfect October, beating then-No. 11 Southern California, UCLA and Maryland, and will become bowl eligible with a win over Illinois. Minnesota hasn’t beaten two Top 25 teams during the regular season since 2000.

KEY MATCHUP

Illinois QB Luke Altmyer vs. the Minnesota secondary. Altmyer is seventh in the Big Ten in passing yardage (1,667), seventh in passing efficiency (143.9), fourth in TD passes (15) and tied for first for fewest interceptions (3). He’ll be tested by the Gophers, who have allowed just five passing TDs this season. CBs Justin Walley and Ethan Robinson shut down Maryland’s dangerous passing attack last week.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Illinois: DB Xavier Scott. Named this week one of 15 semifinalists for the Jim Thorpe Award that honors the nation’s best defensive back, Scott is tied for third in the Big Ten with three interceptions and has 29 tackles, two tackles for losses, a sack, two pass breakups and a forced fumble.

Minnesota: WR Elijah Spencer. In his second season with the Gophers after transferring from Charlotte, Spencer finally had a breakout game against Maryland last week with six catches for 99 yards and two touchdowns. He gives the Gophers another downfield threat in addition to Daniel Jackson, who had nine catches for 117 yards and TDs vs. Maryland after a career-high 10 catches two weeks earlier against UCLA.

FACTS & FIGURES

Illinois has been ranked for seven consecutive weeks, the most since the 2001 Big Ten championship team was ranked for 10 straight weeks … The Illini are the only Big Ten team with three wins over ranked teams this season. Their only losses are to No. 1 Oregon and No. 3 Penn State. … The Gophers beat Maryland 48-23 last week. It was the most points they’d scored in a conference game since 2019, when they beat Maryland 52-10. The 25-point margin of victory was their largest in a Big Ten game since a 31-3 win over Northwestern in 2022. … Minnesota safety Koi Perich leads the Big Ten and is No. 2 in the nation with five interceptions. The freshman also leads the conference with an average of 14.2 yards per punt return. … The Gophers last had a four-game Big Ten winning streak in 2021 — a streak ended by the Illini with a 14-6 win at Minnesota.

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