Sep 29, 2024; Green Bay, Wisconsin, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell looks on during the second quarter against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the NFL’s most shocking teams through the first five weeks of the season.
Minnesota has rolled to a 5-0 start heading into their bye week, leaving themselves and the Kansas City Chiefs as the only unbeaten teams left in the NFL. Here is a look at the five most shocking developments during this stunning start to the season.
It may be shocking to some Vikings fans considering how seamless the group has looked through five weeks, but Minnesota likely is going to add a top-five tight end in the NFL when they return to the field in Week 7 against the Detroit Lions as T.J. Hockenson inches closer to his season debut.
It really hasn’t seemed to matter through the first five weeks though as Minnesota has scored the sixth-most points in the NFL, averaging nearly 28 points per game.
Not only have the Vikings maintained this level of proficiency without Hockenson, but it cannot be forgotten that Jordan Addison wasn’t on the field for two of those games. Even when the second-year receiver has played, he has not been nearly as productive as he was a season ago. Hockenson’s return should only open things further for Addison.
Back in March, many scoffed as the Vikings decided to bring in Sam Darnold to be their starting QB in 2024. Nobody is laughing five weeks into the season, though. Darnold has been a complete revelation in Minnesota’s offense, ranking second in passing touchdowns and fifth in yards per attempt.
This comes despite having a bit of a down game against a tough Jets defense in Week 5. completing less than 50% of his passes and being held without a touchdown pass for the first time all year. This was a player that had been written off as a starting QB in the NFL after stints in New York and Carolina. Now, he is all of a sudden on the short list of MVP candidates through the first five weeks.
Obviously, the Minnesota Vikings lost QB J.J. McCarthy to a knee injury prior to the season’s start, meaning the Vikings were guaranteed to be without one of their two first-round picks this year.
However, the Vikings haven’t been particularly keen on throwing their other first-round pick, Dallas Turner, to the wolves yet, either. Injuries have played a part in that, of course, as Turner missed Week 3 against the Houston Texans.
Turner still has seen relatively low usage in the four games that he has been available for, though. He has played just 78 defensive snaps to this point and has played fewer than 15 defensive snaps in each of the past two weeks.
The rookie’s playing time certainly is something to monitor when the season continues.
It is understandable that Turner hasn’t gotten a ton of reps on defense when taking into account the fact that Patrick Jones seems destined to make himself a ton of money next spring.
In 2023, Jones was a massive disappointment for the Vikings’ defense, totaling just five tackles for loss and one sack. Through five games, in a contract year, the edge rusher has already surpassed those totals with six tackles for loss and five sacks.
If Jones continues to be a menace in the pass rush, it very well could help the Vikings continue their hot start into the remainder of the season.
Not only have the Vikings easily been the most dominant teams in the NFL this season, they have been one of the most dominant groups in NFL history.
Since the merger in 1970, only four teams have spent less time trailing in their first five games of a season. The Vikings trailed the New York Giants for 3 minutes and 26 seconds in Week 1, and they haven’t trailed since.
Minnesota’s point differential of +63 easily is the best in the NFL, and they have won the first quarter by a score of 38-3 through the first five games. The Vikings have done a fantastic job of rattling opponents early and forcing them to play catchup throughout games.
This comes after years of nail-biting, stressful football games in Minnesota, and it is a very much welcomed, shocking change.
Editor’s Note: Statistics for this article were found via Pro Football Reference.