(KWMN)-The Minnesota Vikings will enter their bye week as one of two teams in the NFL that remain undefeated.
The 5-0 start is their best start since 2016, when Sam Bradford was the QB, and Mike Zimmer the Head Coach. The time before that, was 2003, when Dante Culpepper was still donning the Purple and Gold.
Both previous times the Vikings have started 5-0, they have somehow, someway, managed to miss the playoffs. This year–the hope–is that they don’t repeat history.
The optimistic lens shows that the Vikings have already played the hardest part of their schedule. With wins over the Jets, Niners, Texans and Packers, the bulk of their “losses” that most predicted in the preseason have already come and gone, and this team is 5-0. They’ll still have the Packers again, and the Lions and Bears twice while mixing in some interesting matchups in the Rams, Falcons, Cardinals and Seahawks. Yet, already at five wins, it seems improbable this team could miss the playoffs. That is, if everyone can stay healthy, and everything doesn’t explode in their face.
For a team that’s led by their defense, it’s worth being confident. This defense ranks top five in rush yds per game, points per game, and turnovers. Head coach Kevin O’Connell believes that it can only get better from there. Now, we wait and see if Sam Darnold can hold up his end of the bargain.
Matthew Coller of Purple Insider stopped into Upon Further Review to discuss the surprise start, how they rewrite their history, and what’s next for the Vikings ahead of their Bye Week.
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