Minnesota Is Becoming Everything They Need To Be
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images
Minnesota Vikings fans knew what was about to happen. They’d seen this exact story play out time and again. When Aaron Jones broke free towards the goal line only to fumble before breaking the plane, you could almost feel the entire state of Minnesota let out a collective and familiar groan. “Classic Vikings.” They seemed proven right when the San Francisco 49ers marched 99 yards down the field to score a touchdown of their own.
Within what felt like an instant, the team went from being up 27-7 to barely holding on at 20-14. The ending seemed obvious.
Until it wasn’t.
Instead, Kevin O’Connell’s offense rallied and led a gritty drive down the field to kick a game-sealing field goal. And all of a sudden, the predicted cellar-dwellers were 2-0 in their young season, with one of the NFL’s best teams in the rearview mirror.
Weeks 1 and 2 are not only a shockingly positive start to the season, they are a reaffirmation of the team’s process. Minnesota’s “competitive rebuild” is a more realized concept than ever, giving fans both an efficient, balanced play to watch in 2024, while also presenting hope for the future. Their coaching staff is crushing it in terms of both game-planning and player development. They are both putting the throttle down and showing resilience. Simply put, in this moment, the Vikings are everything they need to be.
How did we get here?
Sam Darnold
The former bust and current journeyman is taking every advantage of his great opportunity. Despite a questionable decision here and there, Donald is earning the trust of his teammates and the fan base with his play. He has been able to run O’Connell’s offense and make the smart, correct throws, all while also showing off arm talent that very few believe he was capable of realizing.
To the naked eye, his 97-yard touchdown to Justin Jefferson was an awesome show of separation and run-after-catch ability from his star receiver. But if you take a second to really analyze the situation, you realize Darnold also made an absolutely phenomenal throw.
JUSTIN JEFFERSON 97 YARD TUDDY!!!!!!!!! pic.twitter.com/0PJs9mheCK
— NFL (@NFL) September 15, 2024
With the pressure of sitting in his own end zone with bodies all around him, Darnold stepped up in the pocket and delivered a 55-yard strike that hit Jefferson perfectly in stride. If the throw was half a yard short, Jefferson gets caught by the defenders, and half a yard further would mean Jefferson has to dive to make the catch. If you watch the route again, Jefferson didn’t adjust his speed for a moment. Truly incredible.
This article is not meant to throw shade on Kirk Cousins, as he certainly has tools Darnold doesn’t. But it’s been a long, long time since this team has seen somebody throw deep balls in stride like that.
And speaking of ghosts of football past, with the money on the line, Sam Darnold didn’t even think of throwing short to the sticks. His absolute dart to Jalen Nailor 3rd-and-13 was the play of the game. The confidence and ability to make that throw should have Viking fans smiling from ear to ear.
Clutch third down throw from Sam Darnold pic.twitter.com/e7RPP0oOTw
— Will Ragatz (@WillRagatz) September 15, 2024
The Defense
Whatever we thought was going to be possible with Brian Flores in his second year, it seems he can do even more. I don’t think anybody had “Smother one of the best offenses in the league” on their 2024 Vikings Bingo card. One week after making the entire city of New York regret Daniel Jones’ contract even more, Flores beat up on an elite offensive play-caller in Kyle Shanahan.
A year after resorting to one of the highest blitz rates in NFL history, Flores is showing what he’s capable of when he can actually generate pressure from his talent upfront. His steadfast belief in Andrew Van Ginkel (who he told Kwesi Adofo-Mensah he wanted the moment he arrived in Minnesota) has already paid monumental dividends. His expert use of all his new pieces is giving Viking fans hope that their stout, turnover-creating defense isn’t just a mirage. No, not quite hope. Flores is instilling a belief that Minneosta’s defense is for real, and that it’s gonna be a problem for opponents all year.
The Run Game
While Cousins thrived under center, Darnold is showing the upside of conducting the run game from the shotgun. With that ability, and Aaron Jones fitting in perfectly with the Vikings’ new-look scheme, O’Connell finally has a run game!
As the media lauded Jordan Love’s late-season run in 2023, they all conveniently overlooked the fact that Jones’ return to the lineup perfectly coincided with the quarterback’s breakout and the team’s success. In his last three regular-season games, the veteran put up 558 rushing yards, then destroyed the Cowboys to the tune of 118 yards on 21 carries and three touchdowns in their playoff victory.
He has brought that vibe to Minnesota and through two this year he has 126 yards on the ground, along with seven receptions for another 53 yards. Jones has set the balance for an offense that desperately needed it. Add in Ty Chandler‘s long-awaited emergence, and the Vikings actually have a running game that teams need to prepare for.
The Attitude
During the 2022 season, Minnesota went 13-4 but promptly laid an egg against the Giants in the playoffs. Through KOC’s entire run, the Vikings have seemed to lack a certain moxie — the ability to respond and present in a way that created confidence. Yes, knocking off the Buffalo Bills and that insane comeback against the Indianapolis Colts were amazing feats, but so many of those close moments were more related to luck than their resilience or swagger.
Through two games, the team already has touchdown drives of 99 and 97 yards. The offense executed the above-mentioned seam route to Naylor with the money on the line. This team has an attitude that makes you feel like if it’s 3rd-and-8, they’re not playing it safe with a checkdown anymore.
The season is still young and there’s no reason to overreact to just two games. But any Vikings fan who is honest with themselves has to agree that so far, this team is everything you could’ve hoped it would be, and maybe a little more.
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