Vikings Accomplish Something That Has Eluded Them Since 2019
K. Joudry
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Folks, that was a refreshing victory. Coming off back-to-back years where many of the victories were nail biters, the Vikings’ Week 1 win was a welcome reprieve.
From start to finish, Minnesota was in control of the game. They built a two-score lead in the second quarter and never looked back. At no point did the Packers shrink things to a one-score game. Credit to Kevin O’Connell and the rest of the coaching staff for an excellent game plan. Credit to the players for playing with great physicality and compete.
The team is now 1-0, a record that has eluded them for the past couples years.
In 2020, the team was coming off a promising season where they finished 10-6 before snagging a dramatic OT win over the Saints. Unfortunately, Minnesota couldn’t live up to expectations. Their opening week loss to the Packers foreshadowed more struggle. That team headed into the Week 7 bye at 1-5.
In 2021, the Vikings similarly struggled to put together a strong Week 1 performance. The Bengals certainly had talent, but few expected them to eventually represent the AFC in the Super Bowl. It was close game, but Minnesota eventually lost in overtime. They went into their Week 7 bye at 3-3.
In both years, the Vikings failed to make the playoffs.
Fast forward to our present moment. The Vikings are coming off a great Week 1 victory over the division-rival Packers. Pretty much everything went right for Minnesota yesterday. The offense was dynamic, led by Justin Jefferson’s sensational 9 catches, 184 yards, and 2 TDs. The defense, though, ought not be overlooked. Any time the defense holds Green Bay to 7 points, it has been a good day.
Greg Joseph, moreover, had a wonderful day kicking the football.
In the end, folks, it’s merely one game. It’s possible the team struggles to replicate that effort throughout the remainder of the year. However, pretty much all of the chatter surrounding this team has been positive. Defeating the three-time division champs to begin the year is an excellent way for O’Connell to begin his career as a head coach.
The fight for the NFC North has a long way to go. The Packers are better than what they showed in yesterday’s Week 1 Vikings game. That being said, we may also say that the Vikings are better than what many expected. The fight for the top spot in the division got a lot more interesting.
Once again, Minnesota’s bye week is in Week 7. Perhaps a stronger start will help push this team toward a playoff spot (and hopefully much more).
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