Dec 24, 2023; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Minnesota Vikings fans react during the game against the Detroit Lions at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports.
Down the line, across multiple forums, folks representing ESPN simply don’t believe in the Minnesota Vikings.
Three times in the last week, ESPN employees have bemoaned the Vikings’ 2-0 start, claiming the quarterback is a virus, the team’s success an overreaction, and the latest — Kevin O’Connell’s squad is a “pretender.”
Benjamin Solak was the latest. “I wish they were contenders. It would be so cool if they were contenders. But Sam Darnold falls below the bar of QB play necessary to be a true contender,” he wrote Tuesday, two days after Minnesota stayed undefeated to start the season.
“The only way I’d be willing to buy the Vikings is if I were certain that coach Kevin O’Connell is so good an offensive schemer that he can do what Sean McVay did for Jared Goff in 2018 and what Kyle Shanahan did for Jimmy Garoppolo in 2019. And it’s harder to do it now than it was then,” Solak added.
Minnesota is the NFL’s fourth-best team, per DVOA, but some believe it’s too soon to claim sustainable success.
One day before Solak dismissed the Vikings, ESPN’s Dan Graziano seemingly agreed. He called the notion of quarterback Sam Darnold leading the Vikings to the postseason an “overreaction” 24 hours after Minnesota’s 23-17 triumph over San Francisco, Darnold’s former team.
“The Vikings’ upcoming schedule is an absolute gauntlet — vs. Texans, at Packers, vs. Jets (in London) and vs. Lions. They finish the season with games against the Seahawks, Packers and Lions,” Graziano opined.
“The receiving corps, thin to begin with, is already suffering injuries, with Jordan Addison (right ankle) missing Sunday’s game and Justin Jefferson leaving it early because of a quad injury. Tight end T.J. Hockenson is still likely a few weeks away from returning from last year’s season-ending injury,” he wrote.
Graziano also delivered his formal overreaction nugget: “I do think Darnold and the Vikings will continue to play well; the coaching will make sure of that. But there’s just too much working against them for me to predict them as a playoff team, even after the 2-0 start.”
And last week, Stephen A. Smith, also an ESPN employee, compared Darnold to a virus. “If you’re around some people with a cold enough, you’re going to get one. If you’re around some people with a virus, you’re going to get it. Contamination. You ever heard of that word? It happens,” Smith said last Thursday about Darnold’s presence on the Vikings’ roster.
“When you’re around certain situations, ultimately, you become a byproduct of that. That’s what I am saying of Sam Darnold. I’m telling you, you’re very hopeful and I can appreciate that. But you’re sitting up there, talking to us like we’re supposed to expect the high level of production from this brother. I’m not doing that. I got to see it to believe it. That’s all I’m saying,” Smith declared.
Conversely, CBS Sports‘ Pete Prisco ranked the Vikings as the NFL’s fifth-best team in his latest power rankings — quite the change of pace from ESPN’s onslaught.
Minnesota hosts the Houston Texans on Sunday and has never lost to Houston. Five consecutive wins since 2004.
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.