The wins are fun, but don’t let what could happen cloud what is already happening
Yes, this is extremely late for a links post for a Monday — but hear me out.
It’s deliberate.
You’ve no doubt been bombarded with stories, podcasts and TV clips gushing about how the Minnesota Vikings are one of the 2-3 best teams in the NFL right now.
And while I want to believe that, I also think previous seasons serve as a good cautionary tale. While I, too, want to see a Brian Flores defense flummox Jordan Love — or better yet, Malik Willis — I also want to just enjoy this moment while the Vikings are 3-0 and riding high.
My primary sports mantra is “enjoy the ride because the destination will most likely suck.” We all remember the 1998 season, and I think sometimes we get too far out over our skis with what it’d be like for the team to win a playoff game, win the NFC Championship and finally bring home that Lombardi Trophy.
And don’t get me wrong; I’m totally down with that line of thinking. But in my 30ish years of watching sports, I also have tried to learn that the ride is pretty cool, too. For baseball, it’s summer nights under the start watching the local nine — which is great whether you win 67 games or 97 games.
It gets you through the summer.
For the NFL — especially as a Minnesotan — it gets us through the winter. It gets us to the promise of spring and then summer…and then the next NFL season.
Frank Thomas was known as the “Big Hurt” and you might not know it, but he wasn’t just a Hall of Fame first baseman for the Chicago White Sox and others.
He was also a tight end on the Auburn football team, and caught three passes for 45 yards on the 1986 squad which finished the season sixth in the AP poll.
In baseball, Thomas oftentimes would scrawl “DBTH” on a sign above his locker, or on his glove, or even on the knob of his bat.
Don’t Believe The Hype
I think that’s a good mantra for the 2024 Vikings.
The hype is just starting. If they’re still ranked 13th in the power rankings in the morning, Vikings fans might burn something down.
We saw the power they held in forcing numerous pre-snap penalties for the Texans offense on Sunday.
But I just hope the hype doesn’t overshadow the inevitable lull — nearly all good teams have a tough stretch — now that national types seem to be giving the Vikings their flowers.
Maybe I’m a “pick me” kind of fan, but I don’t care. Even if I won’t pay it much attention, I like to see what the national media thinks of the Vikings from 30,000 feet, so to speak.
NFL Week 3: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game
By the looks of things, national types are (unsurprisingly) seeming to come around on the idea that the Vikings are a threat not only in the NFC North, but the NFC at large. This breakdown looks at how the Vikings flustered wunderkind Texans quarterback C.J. Stroud, who was blitzed on nearly half his dropbacks and got reacquainted with former teammate Jonathan Greenard in the backfield multiple times on Sunday.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
If this reference seems a little inside, it’s that Darnold referred all summer to being the “point guard” in Kevin O’Connell’s offense.
Against the Texans, Sam Darnold was more than a ‘point guard’
But he was more than that on Sunday. But point guards come in all different ilks, so I think you could make the case that instead of being a Ricky Rubio — facilitator/game manager type — he was more along the lines of a dynamic playmaking PG like Damian Lillard, for instance.
As usual, Coller nails it with his analysis here.
Over on Judd Zulgad’s Substack, he raises a point I guess I’ve thought of but not paid much attention to: how much does each win drive up the price on Kevin O’Connell’s seemingly imminent extension?
Zulgad’s Roundup: The price on Kevin O’Connell’s next contract is rising with each win
Granted, I tend not to worry about it too much since these things usually fall in line within the parameters of other coaches of that caliber, and it’s not as though it affects the salary cap of the team anyway. Get that paper, KOC.
Over at the mothership, Craig Peters has a nice mailbag/breakdown of Sunday’s action. If you watched KOC’s postgame speech in the locker room — highly recommended viewing each week — you’ll note that the Vikings were none too short on former Texans, including the guys you’re thinking of like Greenard and Blake Cashman, but also Shaq Griffin and even reserve tackle David Quessenberry, who played a big role — albeit sparingly — in the win.
Monday Morning Mailbag: Restoring Home-Field Advantage; Fans React to Vikings Win vs. Texans
There’s a pretty cool gallery of photos to accompany the story, in addition to the jersey swap between Justin Jefferson and Stefon Diggs — seriously, how cool is that? — and also a look at some of the negatives that come out of the game as well.
How easily those can be swept under the rug when a team wins, and wins big.
Finally, Chris Schad has a fun piece at Zone Coverage about how the Vikings have fully leaned into a DGAF attitude — and it seems to be working.
The Vikings Have Run Out Of Fricks (and It’s Led Them to the Top Of the NFL)
This shows the fun bit of contrast between the Kirk Cousins-led Vikings to the whoever-led Vikings (you’d think Sam Darnold, but who knows), with the word “frick” thrown in there for good measure.
This one is a fun read.
In the news
- From shockingly missing Week 1 to now possibly missing the bulk of the season? That’s possibly the case for Christian McCaffrey, who has now missed all three weeks and has traveled to Germany of all places for treatment on his problematic Achilles.
- Jalen Reagor signed with the Chargers practice squad. Just thought you should know.
- Adam Thielen is dealing with a hamstring issue and is “expected to miss some time” per Jordan Schultz.
- Former Viking Yannick Ngakoue has signed a one-year deal with the Ravens.
- Below you’ll find how some former Vikings fared in Week 3 (please comment any I miss so I can add them, and note the new format for easier reading).
- Jets (24-3 win over NE): Tyler Conklin caught 5 of 6 targets for 93 yards; Chazz Surratt had two total tackles; Jalyn Holmes had a quarterback hit
- Texans (34-7 loss to you know who): Cam Akers rushed nine times for 21 yards and added a reception for eight yards; Stefon Diggs caught 10 of 12 targets for 94 yards; Danielle Hunter had two total tackles, one tackle for loss and two quarterback hits
- Giants (21-15 win over CLE): Greg Joseph was 0-for-1 in field goals but made all three extra-point attempts
- Browns (21-15 loss to NYG): Jordan Hicks had eight total tackles, a tackle for loss and a quarterback hit; Za’Darius Smith had four total tackles, one sack and one quarterback hit; Dalvin Tomlinson had two quarterback hits
- Chargers (20-10 loss to PIT): Troy Dye had one total tackle
- Steelers (20-10 win over LAC): Cordarrelle Patterson rushed four times for 33 yards and caught 3 of 5 targets for 14 yards; Dean Lowry had one total tackle
- Panthers (36-22 win over LV): Adam Thielen caught 3 of 5 targets for 40 yards
- Raiders (36-22 loss to CAR): Alexander Mattison rushed three times for seven yards and a touchdown and caught 3 of 3 targets for 37 yards; Ameer Abdullah caught 2 of 2 targets for 13 yards and returned one kick for 27 yards; Daniel Carlson was 0-for-1 in field goals but made both extra-point attempts
- Lions (20-13 win over ARI): Marcus Davenport had one total tackle
- Cardinals (20-13 loss to DET): Khyiris Tonga had four total tackles
- Falcons (22-17 loss to KC): Kirk Cousins completed 20-of-29 passes for 230 yards with a touchdown and an interception and rushed once for minus-1 yard and added two fumbles (zero lost); Mike Hughes had six total tackles and one pass defensed
- In our rookie quarterback watch-along, we finally have touchdown passes! Jayden Daniels balled out on Monday night, completing 21-of-23 passes for 254 yards and two touchdowns — a passer rating of 141.7. Caleb Williams also found the end zone twice, but was also picked twice and took four sacks (80.8 rating). Bo Nix was pretty meh with 216 yards, no touchdowns and no picks (85.0 rating) and Drake Maye worked in relief of Jacoby Brissett, completing 4-of-8 passes for 22 yards while taking two sacks.
Every victory Monday or Tuesday, assuming I’m writing the links, we will celebrate as such:
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