The Vikings Are Going to Make the Playoffs: Seven Reasons Why
The Vikings are going to make the playoffs. That’s the bold take, folks.
Every year, teams that got into the final tournament last season fail to do so again. Somewhere around two-to-three spots are going to be open and Minnesota is going to snag one of them. The reasons for optimism are multiple, so let’s run through them to see why Minnesota is going to do some damage in the NFC.
The Vikings are Going to Make the Playoffs
Reason #1 — The NFL’s Best Non-QB
Sources close to PurplePTSD have confirmed that Justin Jefferson still knows how to play football.
Now that Aaron Donald is retired, Mr. Jefferson takes over the “Best Non-QB” crown. There are 10,000 lakes in Minnesota and this fact has been repeated roughly the same amount of times, but here goes: even after missing seven full games (and part of two others), Jefferson still cleared 1,000 receiving yards in 2023. He did so from within the QB chaos that was undermining the season.
Every week, the Vikings’ WR1 gives the team an edge.
Reason #2 — Brian Flores is a Brilliant Tactician
With a pretty average collection of defensive talent, Brian Flores pushed the Vikings to 13th in the NFL for points allowed. Not bad.
The offseason has featured a defensive overhaul aimed at building a defense in Flores’ image. Some of that has involved getting former players but the broader goal has been to get attacking, versatile talents who can push this group even higher. Don’t be surprised if the DC puts together a top-10 group in 2024.
Jonathan Greenard, Andrew Van Ginkel, and Dallas Turner on the field at the same time — alongside one of Jerry Tillery or Jihad Ward — is going to be must-see TV.
Reason #3 — Aaron Jones is Running the Football
Quite possibly, Mr. Jones is the most talented runner Coach O’Connell has worked with since arriving in the Twin Cities.
The consistent runner averages 5.0 yards per carry in his career, a tremendous number that would be a welcome boost if he’s able to replicate the average in Minnesota. Even better will be if he proves to be a touchdown scorer down the in the red zone as well as someone who can take a short pass for positive yards. Yes, he’s 29, but the runner still has ample ability.
He is playing on a single-season deal worth $7 million. Motivated.
Reason #4 — Will Reichard Looks Like the Real Deal
The curse is real. Can it claim Reichard, too?
So far, the rookie has been insanely impressive. Distance isn’t an issue and neither has consistency been a problem. Pressure moments haven’t been abundant but he drilled a game winner in the preseason. The kid could be the long-term K1, which would be an absolute slam dunk of a pick from Kwesi Adofo-Mensah (a GM who needs some of his picks to turn into slam dunks).
Reason #5 — The Tackle Tandem is Among the NFL’s Best
Christian Darrisaw makes it look effortless. Meanwhile, Brian O’Neill is just so rugged and consistent. The pair is impressive.
The NFL boasts some sensational pass-rush tandems. Being able to neutralize those tandems by trotting out those tackles is a great spot to be for the Vikings. Realistically, the Darrisaw and O’Neill pair could ascend into becoming the best tackle pair in the NFL in 2024. Cornerstone players.
Reason #6 — Sam Darnold Should be as Motivated — and Supported — as Ever
With a career completion rate sitting below 60% and turnovers aplenty on his résumé, Sam Darnold appears to be an odd fit in Minnesota.
The thinking is simply that all of that past experience — Jets, Panthers, 49ers — is going to coalesce into the perfect storm with the Vikings. Similar to the Jefferson fact, this one has been repeated like crazy: Darnold has never had the kind of support that he’ll have in Minnesota. Can the journeyman surpass 4,000 yards while completing somewhere around 65% of his passes? Can the TD-to-INT ratio be somewhere around 25/10?
If so, Minnesota will have a tricky situation of a surprisingly successful Darnold to deal with in 2025.
Reason #7 — The One Off, One On Pattern Says that 2024 is a Strong Season
Easily the least sophisticated reason, the Vikings are going to be a playoff team simply because they often oscillate between strong seasons and poor seasons.
The early moments of Kevin O’Connell’s time as the Vikings’ head coach have re-affirmed the pattern. The initial season involved a 13-4 record and a division title. The second season involved a 7-10 record and a missed spot in the playoffs. Mike Zimmer commonly went back and forth; does O’Connell do something similar?
Again, every year there are teams that get into the playoffs after missing the year earlier. The Vikings find themselves among the crew that gets in after missing in 2023.
Editor’s Note: Information from Pro Football Reference and Over the Cap helped with this piece.
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K. Joudry is the Senior Editor for Vikings Territory and PurplePTSD. He has been covering the Vikings full time since the summer of 2021. He can be found on Twitter and as a co-host for Notes from the North, a humble Vikings podcast.