Official: Minnesota Vikings are the Real Deal

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NFL: Houston Texans at Minnesota Vikings
Credit: Brad Rempel-Imagn Images

The NFL world will be forced to address the elephant in the power rankings room on Monday morning. And it’ll be a bitter pill to swallow. The Minnesota Vikings are for real. Everyone locally and nationally went to sleep on the purple.

From oddsmakers, to beat writers, to analytical projection models… there isn’t a a pundit or robot covering the league who was willing to put their neck out for the 2024 Vikings. But now, they’ll have to eat crow. Because on Sunday, Minnesota won their third-straight game, to start the season. And they did it against another undefeated Super Bowl contender.

The Minnesota Vikings offense might be impossible to stop.

Short of sudden injuries derailing the Minnesota Vikings offense, is there any defense in the league that can figure out how to stop Kevin O’Connell from scheming Justin Jefferson wide open?

Because through three weeks, neither DeMeco Ryans on Sunday nor the vaunted Niners defense last week, has had much success. Yet again today, there were multiple occasions where Sam Darnold was able to find an open Jefferson streaking across the field or in unexpected open space somewhere. Like the endzone.

Last season, KOC was held back. Kirk Cousins went out early, with a season-ending achilles injury, and O’Connell was forced to make lemonade out of immature lemons and no sugar. Not only was Cousins on the shelf, but JJ was out for a large chunk, too. And we all realized, very quickly, that Alexander Mattison was not RB1 material.

Related: Is Sam Darnold for Real? One Minnesota Vikings Insider Says Yes

Insert Sam Darnold and Aaron Jones in 2024. Suddenly, it’s easy to see why Kevin O’Connell has executives around the league wondering why he doesn’t have an extension yet. That, even though he has nearly two full seasons still remaining on his current deal.

When the final seconds ticked off the game clock, the USC legend finished 17 of 28 for 181 yards, 4 TD and 0 INT. Justin Jefferson added another 81 yards on 6 receptions, including a TD. Aaron Jones ran for 102 yards and a TD on 19 carries. The 30-year-old running back added five receptions (second-most on the team), for another 46 yards and a second score.

Minnesota Vikings defense might be the best in the NFL

But you know the craziest part about this dynamic, explosive Minnesota Vikings offense? Their defense is even better. That’s right, Brian Flores has his unit playing like their careers depend on every single snap.

It’s as if their momma’s health depended on whether or not the opposing running back gets one more yard, or that pass going over the middle gets completed. Every single play seems personal.

Related: Brian Flores Deserves Another Head Coaching Chance, But Life Isn’t Fair

One week after blowing the mind of 49ers QB Brock Purdy and outscheming one of the offensive GOATs in this league, Kyle Shanahan, the Minnesota Vikings defense stunned MVP favorite, CJ Stroud and the high-powered Houston Texans offense.

They had Stroud dazed and confused all day. Believe it or not, the 2nd year QB’s box score looks better than he did on my TV. And his numbers aren’t very impressive. CJ Stroud finished 20 of 31 for 215 yards, 1 TD and 2 INT. Another interception was called back on a penalty.

Even the team stats do not tell a very good story. About 1/3 of Houston’s total offensive output came on their final drive of the game, when they marched 75 yards on the Minnesota Vikings backups.

The Vikings are the real deal

Not only is Kevin O’Connell’s bunch now 3-0, but they physically and mentally outplayed the Houston Texans. And they did it just one week after dominating the 2023 NFC champion San Francisco 49ers. And just like last week, they did it on both sides of the football.

Related: JJ McCarthy Trolls Sam Darnold After Michigan Comeback vs USC

Throw all the week one power rankings and preseason futures odds out the window. There’s nobody in the league with half of a working brain who will doubt the Minnesota Vikings this week.

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