The Vikings Don’t Know How to Be Underdogs
The Minnesota Vikings weren’t expected to be a good team this season. Then the games started, and they showed they were capable of getting the job done at the highest level. Sam Darnold developed into the perfect bridge quarterback, and Kevin O’Connell established himself as an unparalleled head coach. Looking ahead, it’s hard to see a significant amount of adversity.
The Vikings Don’t Know How to Be Underdogs
When the Minnesota Vikings host the Arizona Cardinals on Sunday, they will do so with a 9-2 record and a relatively secure place in the playoffs. There’s a real path for them to have a win total in the teens, which would double their preseason projection. Regardless of what anyone has thought of Minnesota this season, they have risen to the occasion.
The Arizona Cardinals come to U.S. Bank Stadium as underdogs on Sunday. That comes on the heels of Minnesota ripping off three straight road victories and returning home for the first time in roughly a month. They should be expected to handle a team that struggled to stay close to the Seattle Seahawks, and that will turn their sights forward.
Atlanta could be the best team Minnesota will face in the early stretch of the second half, but O’Connell will be squaring off against his former quarterback. There is no way the Vikings head coach wants to lose against Kirk Cousins, and the Falcons have left plenty to be desired all year. Getting the Falcons as a home game will certainly ensure a raucous crowd in Minnesota, and the Vikings will have every opportunity to prevail.
From there, home games against NFC North rivals like Chicago and Green Bay should skew in Minnesota’s favor. The good guys have already beaten both and will have friendly confines advantages down the stretch. Going to Seattle is never easy, but Darnold has played at a Geno Smith level, even on his worst days. There really isn’t a disadvantage in sight until the Vikings travel to Detroit for a week 18 finale.
There’s a real possibility that Minnesota could win out. It won’t be easy, and the head coach will get his team to lock in every week. There have been plenty of ugly results for the Vikings this year, but they have remained on the winning side of most of them. If they want to continue that, staying sharp into the postseason is necessary.
Ultimately, the Vikings have proven who they are. Doubt will not be cast against them the rest of the way, but they can’t invoke it either.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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