/cdn.vox-cdn.com/uploads/chorus_image/image/73607206/2173755736.0.jpg?w=1200&resize=1200,800&ssl=1 "Vikings Links: Will The Vikings Keep Stacking Wins?")
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The Vikings are playing pretty dang good right? Everyone is happy and congratulating each other. It’s like kissing your Cousins around here. I see no reason why it should stop either. I had been asking the past few weeks if the team was underrated and/or disrespected and if people were on the wagon. Well, it looks like the first part is going away and that the wagon if very full. Gotta love the energy and positivity here now. It is interesting that when the team was not successful the past few years, the mood was more sour. That is normal actually. Nothing wrong with being down and negative when your team is not as successful (i.e., they stink) as you hoped and they should have been.
I am hoping the positivity remains even when there is a set back (i.e., loss). I would love for the team to go undefeated but there is at least one week where nothing goes right and the team is just not in the mood.
The Vikings have opened up as very slight road dogs against the stinking Packers. Nothing wrong with that when you consider the home team usually gets 3 points. If you believe that then the Vikings are actually favored. Circular logic?
The team faces the Packers, Jets (in London), Lions, Rams, Colts, and Jaguars the next six weeks. It is hard to see a loss besides maybe to the Lions.
The Packers have rushed for the most yards per game (204) and the Vikings have allowed the second fewest rushing yards per game (71.3).
The Vikings have allowed the 26th worst passing yards per game at 239 and the Packers have the 22nd most passing yards per game (187.7).
Is there anything to these numbers without context? Not really. When you are leading teams, they have to pass more. When your starting QB is out and the backup is not a very accomplished passer (Malik Willis) then you will run more.
If Jordan Love plays then they will throw it more. His knee could be better but will it be good enough to avoid the pressure that is sure to come?
I see another win for the Vikings but, as always, turnovers will be key.
Minnesota Vikings News and Links
Vikings begin Packers week as underdogs going to Lambeau Field
Minnesota has launched itself into the contender conversation with three dominant showings. They blew out the Giants at MetLife Stadium to begin the season and then suffocated the 49ers and Texans in back-to-back weeks.
Green Bay, meanwhile, has won two straight games with Malik Willis at quarterback after Jordan Love suffered a sprained MCL in the Packers’ season-opening loss to the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil. Love was a game-time decision Sunday and the Packers chose to hold him out, setting the stage for his potential return this week against Minnesota.
The Packers lost to the Eagles in a nail biter in the opener and then took care of business at home against the Indianapolis Colts and Tennessee Titans. Neither the Colts or Titans are expected to compete for a spot in the playoffs, so while the Vikings have two wins over Super Bowl contenders, the Packers have yet to beat a high-end opponent.
Oddsmakers Still Not Sold on Minnesota Vikings vs Green Bay Packers
Despite their impressive win against the Houston Texans on Sunday, after suffocating the Niners one week before, Vegas refuses to get fully on board the 2024 Vikings ship. The odds for week 4 are in. And the Minnesota Vikings find themselves as +2.5 point underdogs (as of Monday at 8:15 AM CDT) against the (2-1) Green Bay Packers.
It’s key to remember that this week’s contest is at Lambeau Field, which is why the Packers are favored. But fine, let’s give Green Bay their 3 points, for being at home (that’s generally the accepted points boost for any NFL home team), and you still only get the Vikings as 0.5 point favorites, if the game were played on a neutral field.
Apparently these Vegas bookies dropped ‘Sunday Ticket’, when it switched providers, and haven’t been able to watch Minnesota Vikings games? Because, if you’ve been following the NFL over the first three weeks, it’s impossible to deny that the Vikings have been the better team.
Vegas doesn’t seem to share that sentiment. Oddsmakers refuse to believe. So, those who have already been profiting on the Vikings’ good fortune, have another great opportunity to do the same thing. This will be the third-straight week Minnesota has opened as the underdog, despite covering their first three matchups by a total of 59 points.
Green Bay Packers vs Minnesota Vikings Prediction 9-29-24 NFL Picks
On the season the Vikings are averaging 28.3 points while their defense is giving up 10 points per game. The offense is ranked 3rd in the league while the defense is ranked 2nd. The Vikings need to be the team to get out to the fast start here. The defense led by Brian Flores has confused opposing offenses, and they need to make life tough on the Packers.
Why the Vikings WIll Beat the Packers
The Vikings have won each of their last two games as underdogs.
The Packers have lost five of their last seven games as home favorites against opponents on a winning streak.
The Vikings have covered the spread in seven of their last eight games following a win.
The Packers have lost the first quarter in three of their last four September games as favorites against NFC opponents.
The Packers have lost the first half in three of their last four September home games against NFC opponents.
Is Jordan Love Going to Play vs Minnesota Vikings?
Minnesota Vikings should prepare for Jordan Love this week
The Minnesota Vikings have beaten Daniel Jones, Brock Purdy, and C.J. Stroud this season. That collection of quarterbacks comes in all across the board. It remains to be seen where Jordan Love sits this season, but Green Bay certainly believes they have a star . Brian Flores will need to prepare his defense to face Love this weekend.
NFL Personnel People: Vikings Must Keep Darnold If He Continues Like This
No one envisioned this when Darnold signed a modest one-year contract in the offseason. He leads the NFL with eight TD passes. He’s third in passer rating. And the Vikings are undefeated.
“I’ve been very excited about the start that Sam’s gotten off to,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday. “I’m having an absolute blast coaching him.”
This is great for the Vikings.
“They would be crazy to let him walk next offseason,” one current NFL general manager said, with the understanding his name would be withheld. “I’m not saying Sam’s going to be the guy we’re seeing right now for 17 games and into the playoffs. My guess is there will be some regression to what he’s been in the past.
“But if he is what we’re seeing, I hope the Vikings do nothing. Screw the Vikings and their lucky quarterback signing.”
Not one personnel man OutKick was able to reach said they would allow Darnold to leave their organization without pushing to re-sign him first.
All of them said a known quantity in the building is more valuable than whatever potential and expectation the team might have for McCarthy. So to allow Darnold to walk is unwise.
Plus, multiple front office people said the Vikings could always trade McCarthy if Darnold re-signs and continues to play well.
The next problem is what is the right deal to get Darnold to stay? Let’s agree that a quarterback that has a career year at 27 years old is very valuable in free agency.
So if Darnold throws, for example, 28 TD passes and 12 interceptions this year, his agents will be vying for a deal whose average per year is at least $50 million.
“That’s ridiculous, but some agents will try that,” the NFL GM said. “I would not do that.”
One former club vice president said Darnold would be worth 25-30 percent less than market. And he’d like to do a two-year deal, or a deal the team can exit after two years, even if it’s a longer deal.
He was among the consensus that said he’d pay Darnold if he was the Vikings.
Getting 25 percent off on a $50 million per year deal would pay Darnold around $38.5 million per year.
Matthew Coller: Everything that went right and wrong against Houston
Blitzing CJ Stroud’s brains out
The Vikings’ defense is rightfully getting a lot of attention after another dominant performance. This one was done differently in terms of pressure than the previous two weeks. Brian Flores went back to his signature pressure packages, sending at least one extra rusher on 57.9% of CJ Stroud’s drop-backs, per PFF, and the results were Stroud going 11-for-19 with 106 yards and he was forced to throw the ball in just 2.35 seconds when blitzed.
Left side of the O-line on lockdown
The Texans were able to get after Darnold at times as he was sacked four times. That pressure did not come from the left side of the line as Christian Darrisaw had another outstanding day, giving up three total pressures while facing off with two of the top edge rushers in the league. Brandel had another strong game as well, giving up just one pressure. They both graded well by PFF’s standards with Brandel getting a 77.9 pass blocking grade and Darrisaw 74.6.
Darnold was under pressure too often
Not all pressure is created equal and all three Darnold touchdowns were tracked as being under pressure by PFF so he had a good day navigating it in the red zone but overall 46.9% of drop-backs from Darnold were pressure and he held the ball for an average of 3.83 seconds on pressures, which is too long even with good pass protection.
Right guard and center in pass pro
The majority of Darnold’s pressure came from the right guard and center positions. Garrett Bradbury and Ed Ingram allowed eight pressures between them and graded 28.8 and 39.1, respectively, by PFF.
Byron Murphy Jr. in coverage
It’s nitpicky to give anyone a hard time about coverage when Stroud had so many issues but facts are facts: Per PFF, Murphy Jr. was targeted eight times for five receptions, 79 yards and a touchdown and missed two tackles. Opposing QBs have a 117.4 rating on throws into his coverage so far. He’ll need to get back into form as the Vikings continue to face quality receiving groups.
NFL Winners and Losers: Vikings are 3-0, and Brian Flores’ defense might be biggest reason
It’s hard to say the Minnesota Vikings have the best coaching staff in the NFL. Andy Reid still hasn’t retired, after all.
But they’re not far off.
The Vikings moved to 3-0 this season and what they’re doing is remarkable. They were expected to finish last in the NFC North, and they used the 10th overall draft pick on quarterback J.J. McCarthy, who won’t play a snap this season. Without any contribution from their top-10 selection, the Vikings have won three in a row with a couple of high-quality wins. They beat the San Francisco 49ers in Week 2 and then got a 34-7 win over the Houston Texans on Sunday. Both teams are likely to be division champions and Super Bowl contenders by the end of the season.
We’ll see where the Vikings’ path leads them this season, and it also will be interesting to see what becomes of Minnesota defensive coordinator Brian Flores.
Flores’ defense is a huge factor in the Vikings’ start. The 49ers had seven points through three quarters at Minnesota last week. The Texans were shut out in the first half. Houston finally got on the board with 3:56 left in the third quarter, after Minnesota had run out to a 21-0 lead. The Vikings probably don’t have top-five talent on defense but are playing like a top-five unit. That’s coaching.
If Flores was any other defensive coordinator, producing results like this, he’d be one of the top early candidates for a head-coaching job next offseason. But we know it’s a little more complicated than that.
The Texans had trouble generating any running game or explosive plays in the passing game. The latter is usually not a problem for C.J. Stroud, who had one of his worst games as a pro. Minnesota plays fast and physical, with consistent pressure and disciplined coverage. The Vikings confused Stroud and made him look tentative, which has been tough to do.
Flores’ defense is doing its job and head coach Kevin O’Connell is getting the most out of his offense. Sam Darnold is playing better than he ever has on a consistent basis in the NFL. It helps to have Justin Jefferson to throw to. But he doesn’t have Jordan Addison or T.J. Hockenson, who have been out with injuries, and it hasn’t mattered. Darnold went out briefly on Sunday after hurting his knee, and when he reentered the game shortly after he got a standing ovation. He has earned that after his play over the first three games
The Vikings lead the NFC North at a very early stage in the season and have shown two straight weeks that they can beat really good teams. Coaching matters in the NFL.
NFL picks, predictions for Week 4: Packers, Ravens slow down Vikings, Bills
The Vikings have a chance to take command of the NFC North race. Darnold and Justin Jefferson, who averages 19.5 yards per catch with three TDs, have been effective. The matchup between Jefferson and Jaire Alexander will be fun as usual. Aaron Jones, who averages 5.2 yards per attempt, will be the key against his former team. Love should return for this game, and the Packers need to generate a running game against a Vikings’ defense that allows 71.3 yards per game. These teams have split their series each of the past four years. Whose turn is it?
Pick: Packers 28, Vikings 26
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