Since their blowout loss to the Titans, the hype train around the Vikings died down really quickly. The funny thing about that is they are still killing it this year. And if you really think about it…they may be the best team in the NFC. My pick to win the NFC is the 49ers and I have not changed that prediction just yet. I talked to the Head Coach of the Vikings and he told me that he feels that his team has the recipe to beat the 49ers. And if you have not been paying attention, the Vikings beat the 49ers in Week 2. And now sitting at 5-1, tied for first place, it’s odd that they have not gotten much attention.
Why could that be? I’m sorry that I have to keep going back to the 49ers, but I feel the Vikings are in the same boat that the 49ers were in a couple of seasons ago. The whole “weak schedule” might be thrown at the Vikings at the end of the season. Of their 5 wins, only one of those games has been against a team over .500. It’s so weird how the narrative can switch. If the Vikings did not beat those teams over .500, we would be saying that they are an embarrassment. But because they beat those teams, we shrug and say so what. But I’m not going to do that today. I feel that the Vikings are the second-best team in the NFC and will make it to the NFC Championship game.
Last season, the Vikings had one of the best offenses in the league. So when they got Jonathan Taylor, it was expected that their offense would be Beast Mode. However, the Vikings don’t really use Taylor. But Jonathan Taylor said that he is happy that he does not have to put up 150 yards to win football games. And when you have Jalen Milroe continuing to dominate in his second season. When you have another rookie wide receiver in Tory Merritt dominating like McMillian did his rookie year with the Vikings. When you have Justin Jefferson. When you are easily winning games. Can you really knock the Vikings? When the run game is needed, the Vikings have Taylor. But other than that, they can pass the ball all day and be very good at it.
Their weakness has always been defense. But this season they have improved that as well. I’m not going to lie, I’m so excited for this season. It’s just so many good teams. But in the midst of those good teams, the Vikings stand out. Last season in the playoffs was a fluke in my eyes. Just a young team not ready for the playoffs. But this season I believe that the Vikings will make some noise.
©Any Given Sunday News