The Minnesota Vikings started off the year hot with a blazing 5-0 record. The team left London with an early bye and looking great. However, since that bye it has been a different story. It was a tough loss against the Lions that wasn’t world ending, but definitely put the Lions in charge of the division (for now). They’re the reigning champs and now the leaders in the standings as well. The Thursday loss against the Rams, while doesn’t look great, wouldn’t have been the end of the world either. However, with Christian Darrisaw going out for the year and the manner in which the game was lost, it has some Vikings faithful thinking about the failures of years’ past.
Prior to the 2016 season Teddy Bridgewater knee imploded during a practice and he nearly lost his leg. The team desperately traded for Sam Bradford not wanting to open up the new stadium with a dud at QB (Thanks to Heinicke for hurting himself while drunk). New QB to the Team, lights it up and starts 5-0 and has a bye for Week 6. Most of us don’t even have to look up the stats to know what happened. The 5th game against an AFC opponent (Texans in 2016). That win against the Texans was the day before my 30th birthday.
That’s the most recent example. The Vikings went 6-0 in 2003 and still missed the playoffs. So, even as a millennial, I have seen two very nice starts implode on this team. You don’t have to be 80 and remember back in my day to have “trauma” with the Vikings. I put that in quotes because we all know life can throw something much nastier than a loss in a football game at you.
So, it’s easy to see why us fans might be in full on panic mode right now. However, Hockenson is coming back. Dalton Risner might be able to slide in and help fill out a starting 5 on the OL. The trade deadline is Election Day. My prediction before the year was a fast start and pain to end the season. I hate to think I am going to be right and this team finishes 9-8. Before you think, “Look at the easy schedule!”, take a look at the previous two collapses as well.
The Vikings in 2016 were 5-0 and lost the next 4 games:
- 3-2 Eagles
- 1-6 Bears
- 4-4 Lions
- 4-3-1 Washington
The Vikings in 2003 were 6-0 and lost the next 4 games:
- 3-3 Giants
- 3-4 Packers
- 1-6 Chargers
- 2-7 Raiders
Also, something weird happened when I posted the player of the match. Feel free to go vote for your Thursday Thor.
https://www.dailynorseman.com/2024/10/28/24279413/vikes-views-thursday-thor-vikings-at-rams
