Sep 15, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22)warms up before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images.
Each week, we offer a “snap reactions” piece detailing thoughts and analysis after the latest Minnesota Vikings game.
This will be off-the-cuff, a wee bit random, and hopefully insightful.
The Vikings won at home on Sunday afternoon over the San Francisco 49ers 23-17, continuing the hot start after an offseason full of change.
1 — All offseason, Vikings fans hoped the team could be .500 or close to it by the time the schedule lightened up in November. Now, it’s time to prepare for a world where Minnesota might be just plain good. The ceiling three weeks ago felt like “10-7 if everything goes right.” Fast forward to the start of Week 3, and that revisionist ceiling can be 12-5 or 13-4. If a team can beat the 49ers somewhat handily, it can defeat any team not named the Kansas City Chiefs. Anyone is beatable if the 49ers are fair game.
2 — Brian Flores’ defense has already improved in 2024, and it wasn’t all that bad in 2023. Sam Darnold and Justin Jefferson will get most of the love for the 2-0 start, but the defense is half to thank, perhaps more.
3 — Will Reichard is automatic so far, carrying over his summer hot streak to the regular season. Wait for it: he’ll soon drill a kick or two beyond 50 yards, and fans will utterly fall in love.
4 — Under Kevin O’Connell, Minnesota is now 19-0 when winning the turnover battle or breaking even. The blueprint is simple for the O’Connell Vikings — protect the football, and if you cannot, force turnovers of your own.
5 — Andrew Van Ginkel is absolutely fantastic. He’s in the mix on every defensive play. The guy is just always in the middle of things. What a free-agent signing.
6 — The Vikings should’ve actually beaten the 49ers by about 20-24 points if they had played a clean game. Turnovers spoiled that, of course, but somehow, some way — the purple team could have totally stomped the Super Bowl runner-ups. Almost doesn’t seem real.
7 — Patrick Jones II had a sensational game, banking 2 sacks and 2 tackles for loss. Some — this website included — thought he could be a summer roster cut. Wrong.
8 — Sam Darnold’s next few games will be all about sustainability. He should be just fine because he doesn’t lack arm talent one iota. Joshua Dobbs did, for example. His throw to Jalen Nailor on 3rd Down in the 4th Quarter was so magnificent.
9 — The 97-yard connection from Darnold to Justin Jefferson was one of the most beautiful plays you will ever see in Vikings history. And that is not an exaggeration.
10 — A quiet game ball should go to Ty Chandler, who rushed for 82 yards on 10 carries. He served as the team’s best running back on Sunday and helped step on the 49ers’ necks in the 4th Quarter. Chandler was the real deal.
11 — Blake Cashman logged 13 tackles and was an agent of chaos against San Francisco. What a homecoming for the Eden Prairie native. Had to feel great as a lifelong Vikings fan turned player.
12 — If the Vikings can find a way to topple the very competent Houston Texans next weekend, get ready for the city of Minneapolis to erupt in excitement with “team of destiny” chatter.
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 MIN 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.