The Vikings travelled to Las Vegas this past weekend, not to bet on themselves to win the Super Bowl (they can’t do that, the betting part, I mean), but to face the Raiders in their first preseason game of the 2022season. There was good, there and was bad and there was not so pretty, but the Vikings although losers on the scoreboard, were winners in that the team finished the tilt fairly healthy (let that be the first healthy mention of the show).

They also gave us plenty to talk about on the Vikings Territory Breakdown podcast with VT senior writer Joe Oberle and Star Tribune Vikings and NFL writer Mark Craig. Some of our early perceptions were realized(Lewis Cine is fast, active and a hard hitter) and some of them demand more consideration(Kellen Mond played well enough at times to make us think that maybe, just maybe, the new regime can salvage him from Zimmer’s scrap heap).

There is now a new running back battle going as Kene Nwangwu and rookie Ty Chandler both splashed, flashed and dashed against the(admittedly) second or third string Raiders defense. Nonetheless, their proficiency had Twitter all atwitter about putting Alexander Mattison on the trading block for a center or back up QB, perhaps (good luck), because the RB room is pretty deep. We will dive into this topic.

The illegal contract penalty reared its ugly head as it has become a point of emphasis for referees this season, and the Vikings had three in the first half. Notably, rookie corner back Andrew Booth, Jr., had one on his way to a slightly disappointing performance after all the attention he has received early in camp. Booth will turn it around, as he gets used to the league and the position, but many of us were probably hoping for more.

We did get more out of linebacker Brian Asamoah and less out of backup QB Sean Mannion, both of which will be discussed on the podcast. Tune into the VT Breakdown podcast and check out our assessment as the Vikings first preseason of the season and get ready for number two this week.