Vikings Snapped the Evil Streak
The mark of a good football team — one of them — is the wherewithal to crush an inferior opponent. Elite teams do so and tend to tunnel deep into the postseason.
Vikings Snapped the Evil Streak
Until Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings had crushed zero opponents from late 2019 to early 2024, an evil streak resulting in stacks and stacks of close football games. In fact, Vikings football, since the start of 2020, was known for nail-biter contests, and it isn’t debatable. Call it the signature.
In fact, from 2020 to 2023, Minnesota played 49 games decided by one score or less — also known as 74%. Three-fourths of all Vikings games, in some capacity, went down the wire. And the last time the purple team defeated an opponent by 17 or more points? A December 2019 showdown at the Los Angeles Chargers when Minnesota flogged Philip Rivers’ team.
Thankfully, the streak is over. Dead. Not coming back. Kevin O’Connell and Co. downed the New York Giants in Week 1 by a score of 28-6, a commanding victory that shoved the Vikings off to a hot start in 2024 and ended the bizarre blowout drought.
Sam Darnold led the way, delivering brilliant and unforeseen passing efficiency with 208 passing yards, 2 touchdowns, and 1 interception. Statistical metrics like EPA/Play and Pro Football Focus claimed Darnold was the NFL’s best quarterback in Week 1, and the eye test didn’t disagree.
New running back Aaron Jones also enchanted fans, banking 109 yards from scrimmage and a touchdown while resurrecting a run game that wholly died in 2023. He helped the Vikings’ offense move the sticks and avoid one-dimensional dealings that plagued O’Connell’s resume through 34 career games.
Then, the defense arrived — or resumed its 2023 progression. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores’ men flustered quarterback Daniel Jones and his playmakers — so much so that defensive players like Jonathan Greenard, a member of the Vikings, said he “felt bad” for the Giants as fans booed the enterprise.
Special teams did their part and mostly avoided major gaffes, aside from one trashy punt by Ryan Wright.
From head to toe, the Vikings authored a complete performance. Fans could put their feet up around 2:00 pm CST and watch the ship glide home. There was no late-game anxiety. It took five years for Minnesota to find its next blowout.
Of course, this Sunday’s matchup against the San Francisco 49ers won’t follow suit — they’re probably the best team in the NFL — but 1,729 days later, the blowout drought ended.
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Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His Vikings obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL.
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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