By two months of the 2022 NFL year, the Minnesota Vikings have 1 outstanding win…and 1 actually big stinker. Unfortunately, the most current memory we have of this staff is the stinker, and for the reason that of that, there is a great deal of unfavorable air surrounding the group this week. So, let’s rip off the band-aid correct away: as of September 21st, 2022, the Minnesota Vikings are not Tremendous Bowl contenders.
Let us Tranquil Down
It is alright that the Vikings aren’t Super Bowl contenders in September due to the fact the Super Bowl is not performed until finally February. It is also a little bit silly to presume that this group would encounter nothing at all but sunshine and roses on Monday Night time Football contemplating the adhering to issues:
- The Vikings performed in hostile territory and in one of the rowdiest stadiums in the NFL.
- Their head coach had one match less than his belt as a participate in caller.
- They utilized their new offensive scheme for a 50 % of football, perhaps 3 quarters.
- There are a selection of new starters at critical defensive positions.
- The Eagles are actually dang fantastic.
Seeking at the Vikings schedule to start the year, with a season-opener versus the Inexperienced Bay Packers and a road match in Philadelphia, 1-1 is a completely high-quality history, and really frankly, need to be the expectation. At 2-, we’d be talking about a prospective Super Bowl, and at -2, we’d be incredibly anxious. At 1-1, let us chill out prior to building also several overreactions.
The Vikings Defense Fought Again
Search, the protection was horrid in the to start with 50 % of the sport from the Eagles. That explained, probably I’m just shed in the sauce, but the fact that the Vikings came out of halftime and shut out Philly in the next half gave me hope.
Potentially the Eagles definitely did arrive out of halftime and engage in conservative soccer, but I have a tricky time believing that Nick Sirianni’s message was “we’re good” when Dalvin Prepare dinner, Kirk Cousins, Justin Jefferson, and Adam Thielen are actively playing on the other crew.
Mistakes have been manufactured in the course of the activity, but the defense adjusted enough for the offense to have a likelihood to get Minnesota back again into it. The offense just flat-out failed, and I never hope that to be the case much too normally.
Finding Punched in the Mouth Is Ordinary
If you glance at the groups that have gained the Super Bowl in new yrs, you’ll be tough-pressed to obtain a person that hasn’t experienced games like the a person the Vikings had on Monday evening.
The 2019 Kansas Town Chiefs went through a stretch exactly where they dropped 4 of 6 video games. The 2020 Tampa Bay Buccaneers received blow out two times by the New Orleans Saints, such as a 38-3 decline at home on Sunday Night time Soccer. Then previous yr, the 2021 Los Angeles Rams did not gain a solitary activity in the month of November.
Likely by means of tough patches is element of the approach of turning into a Tremendous Bowl contender. The Minnesota Vikings might not be Tremendous Bowl contenders proper now, but neither have been any of the aforementioned teams for chunks of their typical seasons.
The explanation these other groups went on to earn Tremendous Bowls is simply because they responded to the rough patches and came again much better than they were. Certain, the Vikings obtained shellacked, but if they react by shellacking their next few opponents, there is not substantially to stress about right now.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The School of Idaho with a bachelor’s degree in Creative Composing as very well as minors in History, Human Biology, and Journalism. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh can generally be found schooling for a marathon, enjoying movie game titles, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. For additional of his normally takes, NFL and if not, check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Rooster