Vikings HC Kevin O'Connell can get an annoying monkey off his back against Raiders in preseason Week 1

The Minnesota Vikings are set to take on the Las Vegas Raiders on Saturday afternoon at U.S. Bank Stadium. It will be the debut of rookie quarterback J.J. McCarthy along with veteran quarterback Sam Darnold .

The game will be focused on their debuts and the numerous positional battles on the Vikings' roster. From wide receiver three to sorting out the cornerback depth, there are multiple storylines to pay attention to.

There is one other element worth paying attention to during the game: head coach Kevin O'Connell. Going into year three, O'Connell is 0-6 and has yet to come out of a preseason game with a win.

2022:

Las Vegas 26, Minnesota 20
San Francisco 17, Minnesota 7
Denver 23, Minnesota 13

2023:

Seattle 24, Minnesota 13
Tennessee 24, Minnesota 16
Arizona 18, Minnesota 17

The game against the Cardinals last season was the most deflating, as the Vikings held a 17-3 lead at halftime. They allowed the Cardinals to score the final 15 points and the winless streak continued.

Winning preseason games doesn't translate to success in the regular season, but you still want to get a win whenever you take the field. It's a small monkey that O'Connell can get off his back with a win Saturday afternoon.

Related: Answering burning Minnesota Vikings questions: From Sam Darnold to T.J. Hockenson and Christian Darrisaw