3 Key Successes That Launched the Vikings’ Season

Dustin Baker |

Sep 15, 2024

The New York Giants were no match for the Minnesota Vikings in Week 1, losing to the purple team 28-6 and appearing quite decrepit for three hours.

3 Key Successes That Launched the Vikings’ Season

Minnesota climbed to 1-0, sharing a first-place standing, albeit probably temporary, with the Detroit Lions and Chicago Bears. The Green Bay Packers fell to 0-1 in Brazil.

Several Vikings-themed items stood off the page in Week 1, and these are the three main things that went right for the Vikings to start the season. They’re ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most important)

3. Turnover Battle: Even

Here’s the updated Kevin O’Connell statistic:

Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Breaking Even or Winning Turnover Battle:

18-0

Vikings’ Record under Kevin O’Connell,
Losing Turnover Battle:

3-14

It’s really simple: when the Vikings protect the football under O’Connell — at least an even clip — they are undefeated. They can’t be beat. On the other hand, when the turnover differential is underwater, the purple team is awful.

At the Giants in Week, Minnesota split the turnover battle evenly, and O’Connell’s gang won by 22 points.

2. Sam Darnold + Aaron Jones Efficiency

Darnold leads the NFL in quarterback efficiency per EPA+CPOE and fetched the highest Pro Football Focus grade among quarterbacks in Week 1. The guy played wondrously.

Minnesota’s offense wasn’t beset by too many ruts, which were commonplace in 2023. Three-and-out drives didn’t sink the gameplan, and Darnold habitually found receivers downfield, threading the needle along the way.

Many Vikings fans predicted a “reclamation” season for Darnold in 2024, reminiscent of Baker Mayfield in Tampa Bay last year. For a week, those people were correct. Darnold was magnificently efficient.

And this all happened while Kirk Cousins played dreadfully down in Atlanta.

Another newcomer, Aaron Jones, sliced and diced the Giants’ defense for over six yards per rushing attempt (6.7, in fact). The Vikings will need similar production, or at least close to 5.0, without Jordan Addison in the lineup. They need the multidimensional offense effect this weekend.

1. Defense Surrendered Just 3.5 Yards per Play

Minnesota Defensive Coordinator Brian Flores addressed the media from the TCO Performance Center on July 25th, 2024. Flores was hired in February 2023 to take over for Ed Donatell after Minnesota finished 30th in points allowed.

Although defensive coordinators no longer fear Daniel Jones, he was quite effective once upon a time against the Vikings. Yet, in Week 1, his offense managed just 3.5 yards per play, an average that will usually sink any NFL team.

Brian Flores’ defense swarmed and didn’t really relent until the whistle blew. His group also did most of its damage without having to blitz as frequently as it did in 2023.

Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones grabbed major headlines in the win over the Giants because they play offense, but the Vikings’ defense was just as effective.

Also Read:
Vikings Clear Even More Cap Space

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.