The Most Notable Takeaways of the Vikings Week 1 Win
Josh Frey
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The Minnesota Vikings got the Kevin O’Connell coaching era off to a fantastic start on Sunday, defeating the Green Bay Packers, 23-7. Overall, the coaching staff came out of the locker room with a clear, concise gameplan and executed perfectly. Here are a few takeaways from a huge Vikings Week 1 win.
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A Clean Game
One of the most frustrating things we saw from the Vikings right from the beginning of the 2021 season was the fact that they constantly moved backwards with holding and false start penalties. Such was not the case on Sunday against Green Bay as the Vikings only had three penalties accepted against them.
Particularly in the season opener last year against the Cincinatti Bengals, the Vikings continuously shot themselves in the foot by moving backwards due to flags. If the offensive line can keep these penalties to a minimum in 2022, the Vikings should be much more competitive.
Seven Vikings with Receptions
One of the keys to creating a successful football team in the NFL is being able to spread the ball around on offense. The Minnesota Vikings have an embarrassment of riches at the wide receiver position, and despite Irv Smith Jr. playing limited snaps, there were seven different Vikings to catch the ball. In fact, five players on the offense had three or more receptions, including Johnny Mundt.
For the Vikings to continue to find success, they certainly have to continue to get Justin Jefferson involved, but they have to keep defenses honest by getting other guys involved as well. The Vikings were able to do that on Sunday against the Packers.
Justin Jefferson Was Everywhere
When you’re going up against one of the best, nay, the best wide receiver in the NFL, it’s important to slow him down as much as possible. That said, it’s hard to keep track of Justin Jefferson in the Vikings offense when he’s taking snaps all over the field.
Kevin O’Connell constantly utilized both Jefferson and Adam Thielen in pre-snap motion throughout the game. For example, this motion resulted in a Jefferson five-yard touchdown on the opening drive.
Not only was he constantly in motion, but Jefferson lined up all over the field. Per Kevin Seifert and ESPN, Jefferson took 42 snaps on the outside, 12 in the slot, 2 in the backfield, and most comically, even took a snap at tight end. If this is a sign of things to come in Minnesota, it will be very hard for defenses to keep track of the star receiver this season.
No Points Allowed in the Last Two Minutes
One of the biggest problems with the Minnesota Vikings in 2021 was the fact that they completely floundered defensively in the final two minutes of halves. They set a record by allowing a ridiculous 128 points during this period of games–essentially handing opponents a free 7.5 points every game.
On Sunday, the defense overall looked far superior to 2021’s unit, and part of that had to do with their execution in key parts of the game. They made a goal-line stand, had key third down sacks, and most importantly, they did not give up any points during the final two minutes of this Vikings win.
A collective sigh of relief could be heard across Vikings fandom when Harrison Smith intercepted Aaron Rodgers at the end of the first half. Perhaps whatever voodoo that cursed the Vikings last season has passed.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho. He graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Writing as well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh‘s hobbies include training for a marathon, playing video games, and rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For more of his takes, NFL and otherwise, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken