Nov 24, 2024; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Jordan Addison (3) reacts after a touchdown catch against the Chicago Bears during the second quarter at Soldier Field. Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-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 on the road Sunday afternoon over the Chicago Bears 30-27 and are owners of a 9-2 through 12 weeks.
1 — Every Vikings game at Soldier Field must have some element of slop, weirdness, or meltdown — and Sunday was not an outlier. After a series of unthinkable late-game events, Minnesota still held on. As soon as the FOX announcers started talking about no team recovering an onside kick this season, it should’ve been a forgone conclusion that Chicago would recover that one. Thankfully, it ultimately didn’t matter.
2 — Parker Romo has been nothing but money as a Viking, and it’s a little sad that he has just one game left with the team. Two kickers on the same team are not a thing, but if they were, Minnesota would have two. And that’s after years of struggling to find one.
3 — Since Sam Darnold played horribly in Week 10 at Jacksonville, the guy has totally bounced back to form. He was cold-blooded in overtime, which is a fantastic sign for the postseason.
4 — Speaking of the postseason, to miss out on the tournament, Minnesota would have to finish 0-6 or 1-5. This team is going to the playoffs.
5 — Caleb Williams will probably be good in the long run — it will help if Chicago gets the head coaching hire right next offseason — but he made just enough mistakes to allow a Vikings victory.
6 — Jordan Addison fired up the best game of his career, slicing and dicing the Bears’ secondary when it sold out to stop Justin Jefferson. Addison is such a fantastic playmaker. When Vikings quarterbacks throw in his direction, good things always happen.
7— Minnesota had a phenomenal 3rd Quarter — one so good that it preemptively negated the sins of the 4th Quarter. It felt like the Vikings’ best 3rd Quarter in years.
8 — Sam Darnold hasn’t produced a turnover that was truly his fault since the Jaguars game. Minnesota is close to unbeatable when he plays cleanly, and Brian Flores’ defense is humming.
9 — Kevin O’Connell dialed up a few sweet play calls involving pivotal throws to T.J. Hockenson, which turned into the difference in the game. Darnold connecting with Hockenson in those two big spots propelled the club to victory.
10 — Jalen Nailor is a WR4, not a WR3. His touchdown was helpful, but his drop in the 4th Quarter was his second in as many weeks. Minnesota must scour free agency or the draft for a WR3 in the offseason. Nailor is the perfect WR4.
11 — Andrew Van Ginkel was accountable for another busy game, including 7 tackles, 2 quarterback hits, a sack, and a tackle for loss. At $10 million per season, he might be the team’s best value player (not on a rookie contract).
12—The Vikings play three possible playoff opponents in the next four weeks: Arizona Cardinals, Atlanta Falcons, and Seattle Seahawks. Playing these teams with losing records is close to over.
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.