The 3 Most Surprising Moments of Vikings’ Season So Far
The Minnesota Vikings host the Arizona Cardinals this weekend, a home game after a three-game road trip.
Minnesota is 9-2 after 12 weeks and has a 98.6% chance of reaching the postseason, according to ESPN.
The 3 Most Surprising Moments of Vikings’ Season So Far
And with six games still on the docket, the franchise needs a couple more big moments, plays, or games to turn this season into a memorable playoff run.
To date, these are the three most surprising Vikings moments of the 2024 season, ranked in ascending order (No. 1 = most surprising).
3. Sam Darnold Delivers at CHI after Wacky Onside Kick
Sam Darnold hit this pass, among others, in overtime last weekend to set up the Vikings’ win:
And that was after Minnesota utterly bungled a 24-10 lead in the 4th Quarter, and Chicago mind-bogglingly recovered an onside kick. Not long ago, the Vikings’ fan base was unusually low on Darnold because of three horrid interceptions at the Jacksonville Jaguars.
Last weekend, however, he proved that he has at least some semblance of a clutch gene, which will be needed in the postseason.
Most onlookers believed the Vikings were left for dead at the start of overtime in Chicago, but Darnold thought differently.
2. The 97-Yard Justin Jefferson TD vs. 49ers
Back in Week 2 — when Vikings fans were hoping to learn if Sam Darnold was any good — the veteran quarterback delivered this pass to Justin Jefferson.
The transaction occurred against the Super Bowl runner-up, too, a club that seemed rather indestructible at the time. The 49ers later sputtered and may not reach the postseason, but at the time, the Darnold-Jefferson play felt quite special.
It also proved that Darnold has the necessary arm strength to propel Minnesota with big plays.
1. Christian Darrisaw Tears ACL
Before Week 8, Minnesota was already without the services of J.J. McCarthy and Mekhi Blackmon, two possible starters lost in the summer to season-ending injuries. Rookie quarterback Khyree Jackson also passed away in a car accident.
No strangers to bad news, the Vikings also lost Christian Darrisaw to a torn ACL at SoFi Stadium. He won’t return this season.
General manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah later traded for Cam Robinson of the Jacksonville Jaguars, a move to negate Darrisaw’s absence.
Even though it was a horrid turn of events, Darrisaw’s ACL tear is the most shocking Vikings moment to date. Let’s hope the adverse news is over. Minnesota has had enough.
Vikings Dealt Brutal News
Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs every Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sal Spice. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band).
All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.
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