Reactions as Vikings Return to Winning Ways over WAS
It has been a chastening four weeks as four straight losses have put the Minnesota Vikings’ season on the brink of extinction.
VikingsTerritory looks at the reaction to the Vikings returning to winning ways with a victory over the Commanders in Week 14.
A week 14 win over the Washington Commanders kept the season alive — at least in theory — but more importantly, Minnesota found a recipe for offensive success, while the defense was at its best during the 31-0 win.
Vikings End 4-Game Losing Skid
The Vikings became the first team to win by a shutout after getting shut out in their previous game since 1992. Washington isn’t nearly as good as Seattle right now, but such a swing in results is still remarkable and rare.
Minnesota’s head coach, Kevin O’Connell, was pleased to see his team play to his expected standard in front of the home fans.
Former MIN linebacker Ben Leber was pleased to see the Vikings running the simplified offense many have been asking for.
There can be no argument that it worked perfectly this week, and Brian Flores’ defense at its best took the ball away again. Minnesota strolled to a comfortable victory for the first time since Week 3 against the Cincinnati Bengals.
JJ McCarthy Enjoys Best Day of His Short Career
After missing a week due to a concussion, the Vikings fanbase realised that things can always get worse. JJ McCarthy returned and had the best game of his career to date. Legendary WR Cris Carter, who has been critical of the young QB, was quick to point out his fast start on Sunday.
McCarthy threw three touchdowns for the first time in his career, becoming the first Vikings QB aged 22 or younger since Tommy Kramer in 1977 (Week 12 vs. San Francisco) to do so. Kramer has been one of McCarthy’s loudest supporters, calling for patience during his development. He was quick to praise McCarthy’s achievement.
What was equally important and impressive was no turnovers (interceptions or fumbles) for the first time in the games McCarthy has played. He threw for only 163 yards, but with a strong rushing attack and a strong defense, it was more than enough to win this game.
The only slight blemish in performance was, once again, failing to get Justin Jefferson involved. With just two catches from four targets for 11 yards, but Jefferson shrugged off his stat line and declared he only cares about winning.
Further Vikings Reaction
It might be too late to make anything of this season, but it was an important win to show this team isn’t falling apart. I felt going into this one that it was the most winnable game left on the Vikings’ schedule, and the team delivered.
Arguably, the most enjoyable moment was Harrison Smith snagging his 38th career interception. It has looked like a season too far at times this year for the veteran safety, but at least there is now a bright moment to remember it by. He also spoke about how Coach O’Connell inspired the team going into this game.
There was serious praise from Anthony Barr for his former teammate Eric Wilson.
Wilson has proved a very shrewd free agency signing, and he’s certainly in the conversation for Minnesota’s best player this season.
The Vikings finish off their tour of the NFC East over the next two weeks with road games against the Dallas Cowboys and New York Giants, before finishing the season with divisional home games against the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers.
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