3-0 Is A Great Start!
It is interesting to see the remaining skepticism from folks about the Vikings. There are more than a few that do not want to fully get on board. It’s as if they are waiting for a loss to be able to say I told you so. I like it though. I hope the team feels the disrespect and continues to stack wins. That is all that matters really.
NFL Expert Picks: Opinions Divided for Vikings at Packers
I do not think Jordan Love will play but if he does, he is going to be in for a tough time. The Vikings will only be without Ivan Pace and Hockenson. They should be fine. I think the Vikings are getting better and better each week. The more snaps they play together the more than can get that chemistry. It is OK to pick against the Vikings but it seems kind of foolish this week.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings-Packers Week 4 score predictions from the Vikings On SI staff
Will Ragatz: Vikings 30, Packers 24
I’m going to keep picking the Vikings until I see something in their performance that suggests I shouldn’t. This has been an incredible start to the season, with Kevin O’Connell’s team firing on all cylinders on both sides of the ball. Jordan Addison is back to add another weapon to an offense that has already been thriving, and I think the Vikings get big games from Justin Jefferson and Aaron Jones and have little trouble putting up points on Sunday. Defensively, they’ll allow a season-high in points to Love and the Packers, but will still make enough plays to secure the win.
Jonathan Harrison: Vikings 28, Packers 7
Everybody is impressed with the Packers’ 2-1 start despite having to play Malik Willis for two games. Well, they narrowly beat the Colts by 6 and did what everybody should and stomped the Titans. That’s really not all that impressive. Meanwhile, the Vikings never trailed against the 49ers and Texans. This one isn’t close, as Aaron Jones and Justin Jefferson both go off in a blowout win.
Joe Nelson: Vikings 24, Packers 13
Nolan O’Hara: Vikings 24, Packers 17
Tony Liebert: Packers 27, Vikings 20
Jordan Love reportedly a ‘game-time decision’ to start against Vikings
Green Bay Packers quarterback Jordan Love may be a “game-time decision” for Sunday’s matchup with the Minnesota Vikings.
That’s according to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, who reports that Love is “getting closer to a return” from the MCL sprain he suffered at the end of the Week 1 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles, but there remains a question mark over his status for Sunday.
“Green Bay will likely make him a game-time decision. If he goes, he’s expected to wear a brace to stabilize the sprained MCL in his left knee,” Fowler writes.
Tom Brady jumps on the Vikings bandwagon, praises KOC, Brian Flores
Legendary former QB and seven-time Super Bowl champion Tom Brady, now the lead analyst for FOX Sports, has the Vikings at No. 3 in his power rankings heading into Week 4. They’re the top team in the NFC, trailing only the Chiefs and Bills in Brady’s rankings. The Seahawks and Texans round out TB12’s top five.
“Yeah, just how you scripted it,” Brady said. “You lose your quarterback in free agency, so you draft one in the first round, he gets injured, so you bring in Sam Darnold, 3-0 start. It’s been his fourth team in five seasons, I can’t say enough good things about what I’ve seen from him this year.
“And my old teammate KOC, Kevin O’Connell, he could be the frontrunner — I know this is early — for coach of the year. He’s got them off to a 3-0 start. And what about this Vikings defense, 16 sacks to lead the league so far this year, unbelievable job by Brian Flores. They’ve got a big game coming up against the Packers this Sunday. NFC North, it’s gonna be a lot of fun to watch this year.”
Inside Vikings’ 3-0 start: The ‘crazy’ defensive scheme of Brian Flores
“The scheme, man, it’s crazy.”
Those were the words of 49ers quarterback Brock Purdy to Vikings defensive coordinator Brian Flores during on-field handshakes moments after Minnesota’s 23-17 win over San Francisco in Week 2.
Perplexing one of the league’s most synergistic coach-quarterback duos was an accomplishment in its own right for Flores and the Vikings. But this wasn’t an anomaly. In Week 3, the Vikings defense rocked C.J. Stroud and the Texans stellar receiver trio of Nico Collins, Stefon Diggs and Tank Dell en route to a 34-7 Minnesota victory.
The Flores defense is thriving, allowing 10 point per game … what if the unit allows just 16 points per game the rest of the season? SportsLine Data Scientist Stephen Oh breaks it down.
I’ll start here — perfectly on-brand, Flores has called the most blitzes (50) on drop backs of any defense through three weeks, and the Vikings’ 39.5% blitz rate, ranks third in the NFL. As a whole, Minnesota is 11th in pressure-creation rate at 37.5%.
One Year Around Bud Grant Shaped Vikings HC Kevin O’Connell
Hall of Fame coach Bud Grant is beyond a legend in Minnesota. The Vikings wore his name as a jersey patch last season following his death in March. His legacy will continue to live on throughout the franchise. For current head coach Kevin O’Connell, his impact continues to shape him today. Talking on the Rich Eisen Show, O’Connell noted his feelings for Grant after Eisen asked about the cap he was wearing.
“This was a hat that got made last year for Bud and it’s one of my favorites. I’ve got a picture of him up in my office. Nobody impacted me more in this role than the year I got to spend with him in 2022. I still go back to things he taught me and talked about. As sharp as he was, but most importantly willing to spend some time with a slappy like me. It’s never going to be lost on me. I think he was as impactful as anybody I’ve been around in this league.”
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