The Minnesota Vikings just lost a very winnable game due to several key miscues, dropping them to 3-3 on the season and last place in the NFC North division standings. It was the fourth game this season the Vikings have been -2 or worse in the turnover battle, a situation that carries just a 15% win rate in the NFL. The Vikings also failed to score a touchdown on five of six trips to the redzone, due to numerous miscues including a holding penalty that negated a touchdown, a snap over the quarterback’s head, a missed open receiver and bone-headed intentional grounding penalty by Carson Wentz, and a dropped TD pass that could and should have been a more accurate throw. The Vikings defense did a good job bottling up the Eagles’ ground game, but Isaiah Rodgers getting beat twice over the top compromised what had otherwise been a solid defensive performance.
Self-inflicted miscues have plagued the Vikings in five of their first six games this season, whether turnovers, penalties, or missed assignments. It’s an ongoing problem Kevin O’Connell has identified several games ago but so far his team has failed to correct. There are positives as well in different aspects of the Vikings’ game, and they are getting healthier on both sides of the ball, but have only one solid game in six attempts.
So what now for the Vikings as they navigate the season?
Despite Squandered Opportunities, Season is Not Lost
The Vikings are 3-3 with eleven games to play. Eleven. It’s a long season and everything is still within reach. As disappointing as the first injury-riddled third of the season has been, the Vikings have plenty of opportunities to get right. In many ways, since the Vikings got hit hard with injuries- including to starting quarterback J.J. McCarthy- just getting through the early part of the season within striking distance is an acceptable if disappointing outcome. But it does put the onus on a healthier Vikings team to eliminate the miscues against a tougher slate of opponents to maintain a path to the postseason.
One More Game with Carson Wentz at Quarterback
The Vikings are on a short week with a Thursday night game upcoming at the Los Angeles Chargers, so that likely means one more game with Carson Wentz at quarterback until a healthy J.J. McCarthy has a full week of practice to prepare for his first start since mid-September. The Vikings face a Chargers team that has been reeling with injuries having dropped three of their last four games. Their one victory being over the hapless Dolphins. The Chargers are a very beatable team at this point despite the Vikings having to travel on a short week. Managing a victory here sets the Vikings up for the return of McCarthy and a nearly fully healthy team if Andrew Van Ginkel is able to return as well.
Healthy Vikings Team vs. Tough Slate of Opponents
Getting J.J. McCarthy back with a healthy and solid offensive line and Jordan Addison and Aaron Jones is a recipe for an improved offense to go along with a solid defense that may be fully healthy if Andrew Van Ginkel is back.
Their first game at this point may be the toughest on the schedule at Detroit. Not a must-win game but a victory would bring a ton of momentum. Home games against a Ravens team that will still be missing some key pieces and a Bears team a Vikings team missing several pieces beat on the road are both tough but winnable games. Road games against the Packers and Seahawks will be key in determining potential playoff seeding. J.J. McCarthy will need to be hitting his stride over this stretch of games for the Vikings to have a chance at the postseason.
The Vikings will then have tests against three NFC East teams- Commanders followed by road games at Dallas and New York- to keep pace leading to their final two games- both at home- against the Lions and Packers that will also likely have a big impact on postseason seeding.
It’s a Long Season
One week can bring big swings in performance and outlook for any NFL team. What seems impossible or inevitable one week can change with a couple upsets and/or injuries. The Ravens were Super Bowl favorites at the beginning of the season. The Colts and Patriots looked like also-rans. The Chiefs looked doomed but now look as strong as ever.
In the NFC, it’s pretty wide open with no real dominant teams- and no real cupcakes either. 9-8 may be good enough for a playoff spot the way the season is playing out. But for the Vikings, their focus has to be on the Minnesota Vikings- who have been their toughest opponent so far this season. When the Vikings commit fewer mistakes than their opponents, they win. They have the roster to compete and beat any team in the league, but not when losing the turnover battle or batting under .250 on third down or in the red zone. While not perfect, the Vikings defense is good enough to keep them in the game against any team, but the offense needs competent quarterback play to take advantage of their host of offensive weapons and now healthy offensive line.
They’ll have another opportunity in four days and need to start getting it right as McCarthy comes back and ramps up over the rest of the season. Everything is still in reach for the Vikings, but they have to stop beating themselves before they can become a contender.
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