The Minnesota Vikings own a 3-0 record heading into “Packer Week,” an sudden growth for the purple workforce.
The Vikings are straight cruising by means of three video games, surprising the NFL plenty and even the workforce’s followers.
And right here’s why that’s occurring. The explanations are ranked in ascending order (No. 1=most vital).
Minnesota has solidly defeated three opponents, particularly final week with a win over the Tremendous Bowl-contending Houston Texans. In contrast to the 2022 season, the Vikings’ wins aren’t fluky or suspense-filled.
Sometimes, lopsided wins — sheer dominance — are the mark of an elite soccer workforce. Kevin O’Connell’s workforce has virtually led cowl to cowl in three video games this season.
Just like No. 8, Minnesota has a +55 level differential, rating third within the NFL behind the Buffalo Payments and New Orleans Saints. For years — 5, in truth — the workforce’s followers have waited for it to step on an opponent’s neck, and the Vikings are lastly doing it. The truth is, earlier than the win over New York in Week 1, Minnesota hadn’t overwhelmed an opponent by 17+ factors in 5 years.
The following milestone? Scoring 40 factors in a sport: the Vikings haven’t completed that since 2019 (a sport towards the Miami Dolphins).
Minnesota ranks seventh in redzone landing proportion on offense and tenth on protection per the identical metric. On each side of the ball, the group is flexing in crunchtime down contained in the 20s.
Throughout the Zimmer period, offensive redzone effectivity was a staple, nevertheless it tailed off final 12 months. Now, it’s again.
On third Downs, the Vikings’ offense passes the attention check, and the numbers verify. It ranks third leaguewide on third Down, serving as one of many chief causes blowouts are attainable. In contrast to 2022 or 2023, the workforce isn’t encountering 3-and-Outs as incessantly.
On protection, Minnesota ranks tenth per third Down proportion. Not dangerous. There may be stability.
This stat right here arguably sunk the 2023 Vikings. They ranked second-to-last per turnover differential final season, that means when Nick Mullens was delivering interceptions to opponents and different gamers had been firing up opening-drive fumbles, the protection wasn’t forcing sufficient turnovers to compensate.
That’s totally different in 2024: Minnesota ranks sixth in turnover differential. Kevin O’Connell has a 20-0 file when Minnesota wins the turnover battle or breaks even.
Minnesota leads the pack on protection, outpacing 31 groups per DVOA. All sides of the protection are cooking; there aren’t any deficiencies.
In fact, Flores’ protection ranked tops within the NFL between Weeks 4 and 14 final season earlier than cooling off in December and January. Of us will now hope a critical regression doesn’t set in.
Throughout O’Connell’s first two seasons, he known as performs like a former quarterback, dropping again to cross properly over 60% of the time. That’s nice — whereas enjoying Madden.
Heading into Week 4, the Vikings rank nineteenth in cross playcall proportion and 14th through dashing performs. Lastly, after a number of requests by the workforce’s onlookers, Minnesota is operating the ball and doing it successfully. No extra are the pass-happy video games the place Kirk Cousins or Sam Darnold throw 45+ occasions.
It’s paid off. Aaron Jones and Ty Chandler’s efforts enabled the Vikings to have one of many sport’s most fluid offenses.
T.J. Hockenon is out? No large deal. Jordan Addison misses a few video games? No large deal. Oh, hey — the place’s Dallas Turner? It doesn’t matter. How about Ivan Tempo Jr.? The place’s he? He’s damage, however they’ve Kamu Grugier-Hill.
Basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah fastidiously manufactured the roster for 3 offseasons, and his “aggressive rebuild” is paying off in actual time. The depth chart is deep. Actually deep.
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his every day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple workforce, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL.
All statistics offered by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.
The 8 Causes Why You Ought to Take the Undefeated Vikings Critically
8. Nothing Is Unintentional or Fluky
7. The Beatdowns
6. Redzone Effectivity
5. third Down Effectivity (Offense + Protection)
4. The Turnover Differential
3. The League’s Prime Protection
2. Stability of Offense
1. Roster Depth
