Sep 8, 2024; East Rutherford, New Jersey, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Justin Jefferson (18) attempts to catch a pass as New York Giants safety Jason Pinnock (27) defends during the second half at MetLife Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Vincent Carchietta-Imagn Images.
The Minnesota Vikings extended their early-season win streak to five games on Sunday, defeating the New York Jets in London. Minnesota is now seventh in line to win the Super Bowl, according to oddsmakers, notably outpacing the Philadelphia Eagles.
The team is currently enjoying a bye week and will take on the Detroit Lions in 10 days, which will be one of the most anticipated and electric regular season games of the decade.
And with the 5-0 start dominating all things purple headlines, two important caveats are present for context. These are those.
The Vikings aren’t ripping off wins against poor or mediocre teams. Nor are they winning via fluke or last-minute field goal. Many decried the 2022 Vikings’ 13-4 record because of those elements.
But this isn’t like that — not one bit.
For perspective, these are the Vikings’ wins so far:
Before and after each game — and still as of now — Minnesota’s last four wins have occurred against teams with Top 12 Super Bowl odds. It would be challenging to script a more difficult schedule for the Vikings.
According to ESPN’s Football Power Index (FPI), the Vikings have played the league’s sixth-toughest schedule through five weeks. Minnesota also leads the NFL in victory margin, defeating teams by an average of 12.6 points per game. And, yes, that includes the aforementioned four Super Bowl contenders.
Per Sharp Football Analysis, Minnesota undertook the NFL’s third-hardest schedule in 2024, a raw deal for a team that finished in third place inside the NFC North a season ago. Thankfully for the team’s sake, a brutally tricky schedule simply hasn’t mattered.
The “easy” part of the schedule is about 2-3 weeks away. Minnesota is conducting its flawless against a murderer’s row of Super Bowl contenders.
T.J. Hockenson will return to the lineup in Week 7 or Week 8. Folks will rejoice.
The Hockenson return will be fantastic for Minnesota, especially because the offense hasn’t tremendously struggled without the 27-year-old. Through five games, plus an undefeated record, the Vikings’ offense ranks 14th in the NFL per EPA/Play. Quarterback Sam Darnold has fully reclaimed his career, rankings second in the NFL in touchdown passes (11) and placing ninth leaguewide per EPA+CPOE, an efficiency metric measuring expected wins added.
Hockenson will serve as gravy or insurance — or both — because he’ll either help the offense soar to new heights or provide a mandatory outlet valve when a player like Aaron Jones encounters injury, which occurred last Sunday in London.
Minnesota’s offensive operations became one-dimensional after Jones’ injury, and with Hockenson back soon, it need not succumb to temporary lifelessness.
Put plainly, the purple team will welcome one of its best players in the next two weeks, and without him, it’s just become an undefeated operation any damn way.
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.