Minnesota Vikings News And Links, 9/19

It's Thursday, ladies and gentlemen, and that means there's football this evening on the NFL Network as the Kansas City Chiefs head into the City of Brotherly Love to take on the Philadelphia Eagles. It's Andy Reid's first trip back to Philly as Chiefs' coach, and a match-up between a couple of pretty interesting teams. That should help to tide us over a bit until we get to Sunday.

Since the last time we brought you an Open Thread. . .

-Our friends from Dawgs by Nature let us know that third-string quarterback Brian Hoyer would be getting the start this Sunday at the Metrodome for the Cleveland Browns.

-Speaking of things that will affect this weekend's game, running back Trent Richardson is now an ex-Brown.

-We look at what might be one of the main issues with the Minnesota Vikings' offense and the development of quarterback Christian Ponder.

From some other outposts around the internet. . .

-ESPN takes a look back at the 2012 draft-day trade between the Vikings and the Browns. (Spoiler: The Vikings came out way, way ahead.)

-From the obvious files, the St. Paul Pioneer Press has labeled this weekend's home opener "pretty much a must-win."

-Along with receiver Cordarrelle Patterson, apparently linebacker Desmond Bishop will see more time this week as well.

-An NFL executive is saying that a full-time team in London "clearly" isn't happening any time soon.

The rules of the Open Thread are the same as always, folks. . .no politics, no religion, no feeding of the trolls, and keep the bad language to a minimum/use the spoiler tags if you feel that you absolutely must curse.

We continue to get the Led out with our music for the week.

With that, the beer light is on and the bar is open for this Thursday, ladies and gentlemen! Eric's weekly prediction article will be along in about an hour, so keep your eyes open for that, and we should have more for you throughout the course of the day.