Through the first five weeks of the season the Minnesota Vikings own a 5-0 record. It hasn’t always been pretty, but things came together in a big way against the New Orleans Saints on Sunday. It was the best the offense has looked all year, and the defense continues to be unrelenting.
Off the bye week they’ll have an opportunity to get healthy and then come out strong against an Indianapolis Colts team at home. They are nearly touchdown favorites to win that game, and a 6-0 start would put them in an impressive position early. Then things get difficult.
Week 8 brings the first meeting with Detroit and the trip to Lambeau Field in Week 10 has further divisional ramifications as well. It’s good that Minnesota gets Buffalo at home on Monday Night Football, but it creates a short week before the rivalry game. The Week 11 game against San Francisco matches Minnesota with another currently undefeated squad.
This four-game stretch is arguably the toughest period for Kevin O’Connell’s team all season. The trade deadline falls the day after that second game against the Buffalo Bills, and reinforcements could be added by that point. If the Vikings can manage even a 2-2 record in these contests, they’ll have to feel good about how their season could end up.
Of course Detroit’s defense is a sieve and they hardly look like the power that was expected at the beginning of the season. There are real questions about Green Bay, but they should have star defender Micah Parsons back by that point. If there’s a saving grace about playing San Francisco on the road, it’s that the game is in Mexico City. There is no long flight to the west coast, and the neutral site contest keeps the Vikings in the central time zone.
So far things have gone beyond according to plan for the Vikings. There aren’t style points for how you win, or how many you win, as long as you make the postseason. All indications point to Minnesota being there, but they could make their path immensely less difficult by excelling during this stretch.
Do you think the Vikings can go at least 2-2 in the upcoming stretch, Vikings fans? Share your prediction in the comments!
0 Comments