Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings cornerback Byron Murphy Jr. (7) warms up before the game against the New York Giants at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images
There are always many reasons why a team will be undefeated over a stretch of games. That is the case for the Minnesota Vikings over the first four games of the 2024 season. The Vikings keep winning the battles in the key areas, and as long as that continues, the victories will keep coming.
Obviously, nothing is more important than points. The Vikings have scored 116 points across the first four games—only the Buffalo Bills, New Orleans Saints, and Washington Commanders have scored more. On the other hand, the Vikings have only conceded 59 points—only the Chargers, Broncos, and Steelers have allowed less. That gives the Vikings a point differential of +57, which ties with the Saints as the best in the league.
The Vikings aren’t just scoring lots of points. They are scoring them early. Over the last three games against three good teams in the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans, and Green Bay Packers, Minnesota has never trailed the game at any stage. Along with the New York Giants, the four teams that have played the Vikings this season have an 8-4 record with a +54 points differential in their other games. The last time the Vikings trailed in a game was 11 minutes and 10 seconds into the first quarter in Week 1 against the Giants – Aaron Jones ran in a 3-yard touchdown to give the Vikings the lead.
Minnesota has scored 69 points in the first half of games this season, compared to allowing just 17 points to the opposition. The Vikings are blowing teams away early and then staying on top. This week’s scare in Green Bay was the first time a team had threatened to make a comeback, but even then, the Packers never once possessed the football with the chance to take the lead in the entire game.
The Vikings have won the battle on the ground in every game so far this season. Even in what has become a pass-obsessed league, you are probably doing well if you are doing that. Aaron Jones was signed to make a difference in the rushing attack, and he certainly done that with 321 rushing yards and a touchdown in the first four games. In the one game he was quiet on the ground against the 49ers, Ty Chandler stepped up and rushed for 82 yards.
The Vikings have been able to run the ball at the beginning of games to help put points on the board. They have also done a much better job running the ball in the second half of games this season to help see a game out. It’s not just about Jones, though; O’Connell and his team have the offense better balanced, and the offensive line is doing a much better job of creating running lanes than last year. It’s not just the run game where the Vikings win in the trenches. Minnesota leads the league with 17 sacks, while Sam Darnold has been sacked 10 times.
The improvement hasn’t been kept to the offense; it has been on the defensive side of the ball. In recent seasons, the Vikings have been too soft up front and easy to run on. With the caveat of playing with leads having forced teams to pass more, the Vikings’ defense has allowed the second-fewest rushing yards across the league through four weeks. Impressively, they have not allowed any explosive rushing plays in the first four games. They have only allowed five rushing plays of 10+ yards, all of which were under 15 yards, and one of them was a QB scramble from Brock Purdy. 1-All together, it brings the Vikings the holy grail of complementary football.
The stat is that if the Kevin O’Connell Vikings at least tie the turnover battle, they will win the game. In such games, the Vikings have a 21-0 record under O’Connell. Meanwhile, in games where they lose the turnover battle, they have a 3-14 record. The modus operandi is simple: look after the football—or at least to it as well, if not better than the opposition. The Vikings have done that this season, which is why they have a 4-0 record.
Minnesota can largely thank the defense, which has 10 takeaways (8 interceptions and 2 fumble recoveries), which only trails Green Bay. On offense, there have been 7 giveaways (3 interceptions and 4 fumbles lost), which is too many and needs to be tidied up. Overall, the Vikings have a +3 differential that is fourth best in the league. As long as that continues, Minnesota should continue to win games.
Scoring the early points, winning at the line of scrimmage with the run and the pass, and winning the turnover battle. All key battles that the Vikings are currently winning.