6 Takeaways from Vikings vs. Colts
After two straight losses, it felt like a must-win game for the Minnesota Vikings when the Indianapolis Colts traveled to the Twin Cities. Indeed, the Vikings climbed out of their hole, resulting in a 6-2 record. It surely was not the most flawless game from the purple team, but the final result was positive.
6 Takeaways from Vikings vs. Colts
We’ve learned some things from the victory.
1. Justin Jefferson Is Awesome
Nothing new here, but Justin Jefferson is one of the best football players in the NFL and, quite frankly, one of the best to ever play the game. He has now tied Adam Thielen for fourth in franchise receiving yards after having another humongous contest, producing seven catches for 137 yards. He also secured the onside kick late in the fourth quarter to clinch the game.
The wideout is leading the league in receiving yards, 66 yards ahead of Ja’Marr Chase. Garrett Wilson ranks third, 120 yards away. Both of those guys haven’t had their bye week, so Jefferson’s lead is not close at all.
After signing his huge contract, he’s been as good as always. Jefferson is an elite player, and watching him play is a weekly pleasure.
2. Dallas Turner Is Getting Some Run
The Minnesota Vikings selected Dallas Turner with the 17th overall pick after a costly trade-up, but the rookie hadn’t done much in his first NFL season. A handful of snaps per game is underwhelming for a player of his caliber.
That changed on Sunday. The 21-year-old got a ton of reps, and he played well despite not registering any statistics. Turner’s versatility and athleticism are what intrigued the Vikings, and he showed both against the Colts, flying off the edge a couple of times but also dropping into coverage.
The snap numbers will rise in the second half of the season. He’s simply too talented.
3. Kicking Woes Make a Return
A franchise plagued by kicking woes, the Vikings hoped those days were behind them, but here we are. Will Reichard, a sixth-round rookie, hit all 14 field goals and all 20 extra points entering Week 9 but missed a couple of field goals on Sunday.
Reichard couldn’t connect on a 53-yarder and then missed from 31 yards. He was seen limping after various kicks and was treated on the sidelines after suffering a quad injury.
Those types of injuries need to heal properly, so expect the club to test some kickers during the week and perhaps start a different kicker versus the Jaguars to give Reichard some time off.
4. The Defense Is Back
Brian Flores’s crew allowed the Lions to score 31, and the Rams dropped 30 just a few days later. Indianapolis scored only 13 points, but seven of those can be attributed to a Darnold fumble, three came after an interception in field goal range, and three occurred when the game was practically out of reach and the Vikings took away any deep option for quarterback Joe Flacco.
The front regularly pressured Flacco. Jonathan Taylor was held to only 48 rushing yards on 3.7 yards per carry, and Michael Pittman had only one catch for 14 yards. It turns out the Flores defense can work against a veteran quarterback.
5. Sloppy Play Is Unacceptable
The Vikings’ mistakes were the only reason it was still a game late into the fourth quarter. Darnold threw a couple of horrendous interceptions and took some bad sacks in what could’ve been field goal range. The offensive line was overwhelmed by Indianapolis’s interior line, resulting in some negative plays in the run and pass. Of course, the missed field goals belong in this group, but the injury might have played a role.
At the end of the day, the Vikings had 415 yards and the Colts 227. Had the Vikings finished drives with points rather than turnovers and missed kicks, the game would’ve been a blowout, and playoff-caliber opponents would likely have taken advantage of that.
6. Cam Akers is RB2
Ty Chandler entered the season as the top runner behind RB1 Aaron Jones. Jones is still the workhorse running back, but Cam Akers seems to be the number two now. Chandler didn’t get a single touch on offense, while Akers rushed six times for 46 yards. He was quite effective and didn’t look like a player coming off a torn Achilles.
Chandler struggled earlier in the season to keep the offense going when the Vikings needed him, but Akers seems to be the perfect player to give Jones an occasional breather.
Vikings Place Defender on IR
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt