NFL Analysis
9/29/24
5 min read
Minnesota Vikings Are 2024 NFL season's Unexpected Juggernaut
The Minnesota Vikings might be the NFC's most dangerous team.
Despite a spirited comeback for the Green Bay Packers, the Vikings came away with a 31-29 win to stay undefeated.
Along with a 28-0 lead to start Sunday's game, the Vikings have come away with statement wins against the San Francisco 49ers and Houston Texans to start the season.
With a 4-0 record, the Vikings now have firm control of the NFC North, and coach Kevin O'Connell has his team looking like the NFL's biggest surprise.
Unstoppable Force
Minnesota's undefeated record through four weeks starts with O'Connell's high-powered offense.
In a year of second acts for veteran quarterbacks, Sam Darnold stands out among the rest. It wasn't a certainty that he would be the starter in his first season for the Vikings, but a torn meniscus to first-round rookie J.J. McCarthy led to Darnold being named the starter ahead of Week 1.
Since then, Darnold has looked like the best quarterback in football. Through four games, he's thrown for 932 yards, 11 touchdowns, and three interceptions. His 11 passing touchdowns led the NFL after the early slate of games in Week 4.
It's not just the touchdowns but also the efficiency that is helping Darnold have a career year. He's throwing for a career-high 8.79 yards per attempt and is just eight touchdowns away from tying his career-best mark from 2019 with the New York Jets.
Even with the Packers' comeback, helped by an interception and a fumble from Darnold, the Vikings quarterback posted strong numbers again on Sunday. According to RBSDM, he posted 11.2 expected points added, 0.3 EPA per play, and 10.9 completion percentage over expected while having an average depth of target of 10.1 yards.
A lot of Darnold's success comes from O'Connell's scheme and a strong group of wide receivers, including a superstar in Justin Jefferson. With Jaire Alexander and Carrington Valentine out for the Packers, Jefferson had another strong game.
Jefferson finished the game by catching six of his eight targets for 85 yards and a touchdown. He's scored in every game he's played this season, but one of his best plays of the year came on a crucial third down for the Vikings in the fourth quarter to let his team continue to bleed the clock.
3rd and 12. Justin Jefferson. pic.twitter.com/1zkwrcDvdN
— Sam Monson (@SamMonsonNFL) September 29, 2024
Thanks to Aaron Jones' arrival, the Vikings also have a much more balanced offensive attack this year. The former Packers running back continues to rush at an efficient clip, averaging 5.0 yards per carry for 321 yards and a touchdown while adding another 16 catches for 143 yards and a score through the air.
Immoveable Object
It's not just the offense but the complimentary football the Vikings play that makes them one of the best teams in the league. Through four games, they've outscored opponents 116-59, which is one of the best point differentials in the league, tied with the New Orleans Saints.
Minnesota is also maximizing its turnovers. With 11 takeaways, it's now second in the NFL behind the Packers and near the top of the league with a +3 turnover differential.
Defensive coordinator Brian Flores deserves a ton of credit for how the Vikings' defense is playing. Prior to Sunday, the Vikings had the No. 1 defense by DVOA, according to FTN Fantasy. His ability to mix up and disguise coverages and blitzes keeps quarterbacks and offensive coordinators constantly guessing, resulting in big plays in high-pressure situations.
Flores even got a shoutout from 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy for his scheme following their upset win.
New faces on the defense have the Vikings looking unstoppable. The front seven was completely overhauled with free agent signings in Andrew Van Ginkel, Jonathan Bullard, Jerry Tillery, Blake Cashman, and Jonathan Greenard. At least early on, Greenard has looked like a Pro Bowl-caliber player with four sacks in four games.
This bull rush from Greenard against the Texans shows the kind of impact he has as a pass rusher.
The MIN D is absolutely unhinged.
— Josh Cohen (@JCohen_NFL) September 23, 2024
The scheme is batshit crazy, and they're also getting awesome individual efforts.
Last week Blake Cashman looked like the best player on the field. This week, Jonathan Greenard went off.
Flores has these guys rolling. pic.twitter.com/uCM2iLBrsa
With Flores running the defense and O'Connell handling the offense, the Vikings are operating at peak efficiency, and it has them looking like a legitimate Super Bowl contender.
Easy Road Ahead
With big wins against the 49ers, Texans, and Packers, things get a bit easier for the Vikings going forward.
The Vikings face an old foe in Aaron Rodgers next week as they host the New York Jets. Although the Jets lost to the Denver Broncos this week, Rodgers is 17-11-1 against the Vikings in his career and could be looking to dominate his old rival.
Another tough NFC North matchup comes the week after against the Detroit Lions, but then things get easier for the Vikings. They'll play the Rams, Colts, Jaguars, and Titans in a four-game stretch before another winnable game against the Chicago Bears.
After the early afternoon slate, the Vikings have the eighth-easiest remaining schedule.
No game is a guaranteed win in the NFL, but the remaining schedule bodes well for Minnesota. They're one of the only remaining undefeated teams in the league, and a handful of wins in the next few weeks could already secure their spot in the postseason by the tail end of November.
