The Minnesota Vikings have lost three of the five games since J.J. McCarthy went down with a high ankle injury. Carson Wentz did his best and kept the team afloat for a few weeks. McCarthy took a little longer than many expected to return from the injury. The last two weeks of Wentz were two weeks too many. The season is still young and the team is still in a decent position to make a run. However, the NFC North division leaves the Vikings little room for error. The division is likely out of reach already, but the Wild Card is there.
This season was always going to be about J.J. McCarthy’s development. It’s off to a poor start with him missing five games, no question. However, it’s not going to take some herculean effort for this team to get into playoff contention. The Vikings sit in 12th in the NFC, but are only a game and a half behind the final Wild Card spot. The defense has returned to nearly fully healthy. C.J. Ham, Josh Oliver, and Jeff Okudah are likely the only players to miss this upcoming Sunday and none of those three are “key” players. They contribute, but every team has some injuries.
The excuses for this team are slim, going forward. It’s not time to sit around and blame anyone for the last few weeks. Missing half the season stings for a No. 10 pick, but at 22, he’s got time. It will be Kevin O’Connell and McCarthy’s time to shine. The schedule is not easy with two games against the Lions, two games against the Packers, the Ravens with Lamar, and 3/4 of the NFC East. The Bears are the easiest game on the schedule and, upon last check, they’re ahead in the standings too. It’s not an easy path, it’s not a likely path, but there is a path to the playoffs. They’ll likely need to sneak a win or two that no one expects, and that could start this weekend in Detroit. To be the best, they’ll have to beat the best, likely at least seven times in the next nine games.
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