Oct 24, 2024; Inglewood, California, USA; Minnesota Vikings wide receiver Trent Sherfield Sr. (11) scores on a 10-yard touchdown pass against the Los Angeles Rams in the first half at SoFi Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-Imagn Images
The Minnesota Vikings lost to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. That took place for the second time this season. Earlier, following a loss to the Detroit Lions, Kevin O’Connell’s team doubled down with a defeat at the hands of the Los Angeles Rams.
That same scenario could play out this week, but it absolutely doesn’t have to.
When Kevin O’Connell first got to work in game-planning against his former employer, he did so on a short week without complete information. The situation is substantially different this time around. Not only do the Vikings have an additional day to prep for their opponent, but no surprises are coming for the Rams lineup.
Throughout this season, the Vikings have prided themselves on being a team that can turn the page and work to go 1-0 each week. That hasn’t necessarily meant that they have built on previous performances, but it has often kept them from compounding problems. Nothing about Sunday’s game against the Lions was good, but they can turn the page.
Sean McVay will have both talented wide receivers, Puka Nacua and Cooper Kupp. There is no level of ambiguity around that. Nacua surprised Minnesota last time, and his presence was felt all over the field. You can bet he will factor in heavily for Matthew Stafford, but Brian Flores can plan to prepare for his presence.
If the Vikings emerge victorious, it will be because Kevin O’Connell has his group substantially more prepared than they were for a Thursday night game last time around. The Vikings are a better team, and with Los Angeles carrying a negative point differential, Minnesota should be ready and willing to show them that.
Ultimately, this Vikings team deserved a better fate than traveling for a Wild Card Weekend road game. Since that’s the draw they now have, it’s about executing upon the circumstances and making the most of them. There’s no reason for a second loss to come at the hands of the Rams this season, and everyone in the building knows that.
This stretch of games is something that the Vikings have literally seen before this year. It needs to be a set of results that pave a new path forward.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.