Vikings Slide into NFL’s Top Spot, Says One Outfit
A “where were you when” moment by 2024 Minnesota Vikings standards, The Athletic named the purple team the best in the NFL on Tuesday, one day after the Week 4 docket of games capped.
Vikings Slide into NFL’s Top Spot, Says One Outfit
According to Josh Kendall, the Vikings took the top spot from the dynastic Kansas City Chiefs after Minnesota survived and advanced over the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, its latest impressive victory in an undefeated season through four weeks.
“The Vikings are having the NFL’s most surprising season without much help from their rookie class. First-round quarterback J.J. McCarthy was lost to a knee injury in the preseason, opening the way for Sam Darnold, who leads the league with 11 touchdown passes and has thrown only three interceptions,” Kendall wrote. “First-round edge rusher Dallas Turner has only five tackles and one sack through four games.”
How did the Vikings get here?
Minnesota’s defense ranks first in the NFL per DVOA and first in EPA/Play. It has surrendered a gaudy amount of passing yards, but that’s because the Vikings have led on the scoreboard for all but three minutes of the 2024 regular season. In fact, opposing teams are forced to throw the football 71% of the time against the purple team.
And on offense, while still committing too many turnovers — the Vikings rank fifth-worst in giveaways on offense and special teams — the enterprise is generally efficient, thanks to a reclamation season from Sam Darnold, Justin Jefferson’s typical otherworldly play, and running back Aaron Jones’ 5.8 yards per touch. The offense should also improve when tight end T.J. Hockenson returns from a torn ACL in a few weeks.
Most other power-ranking outfits plopped Minnesota at No. 2 — not No. 1 like The Athletic.
USA Today‘s Nate Davis assigned the Vikings his No. 2 ranking (behind the Chiefs) and explained: “This feels precarious for different reasons given the Vikes’ unexpected ascent. But their 4-0 mark is no fluke, nor are the MVP credentials – seriously – of QB Sam Darnold, now the first player in the league’s broad history to win his first four games with a team while throwing multiple touchdown passes in each. Next, they’ll play in their first nationally televised window – Sunday morning on London’s international stage.”
ESPN also punched Minnesota’s ticket at No. 2 — behind Kansas City.
The Vikings are favored to defeat the New York Jets by two or three points this Sunday when the franchises square off in London.
Minnesota has lost its last six NFC Championship games and its last four Super Bowl appearances.
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 Vikings 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.
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