The Minnesota Vikings are 5-0 and the only undefeated team in the NFC. Despite being the favorites to win the NFC North now and a top four favorite to win the Super Bowl through five weeks, not everyone is still on board with the Vikings performance thus far.
ESPN NFL insider says it’s an “overreaction” for the Vikings to win the NFC Conference
Although more and more people are buying into the Minnesota Vikings now, Dan Graziano (ESPN) is not one of them. In his most recent “overreation vs. not an overreation” piece following week five, he still believes it’s an “overreaction” for the Minnesota Vikings to win the NFC Conference.
The Vikings packed their defense for their trip to London. They intercepted Jets quarterback Aaron Rodgers three times; edge rusher Andrew Van Ginkel returned one for a touchdown, and cornerback Stephon Gilmore had another that sealed the game in the final minute. As they did a week earlier in Green Bay, the Vikings built a big lead and almost frittered it away — but held on. And heading into their bye week, they are 5-0 — the lone NFC undefeated team.
Perhaps the surprise story of the season so far, Minnesota has rebuilt quarterback Sam Darnold’s game and is frustrating opposing offenses with Brian Flores’ disguised pressures. Darnold might be the early MVP front-runner, and Kevin O’Connell is building a strong case for Coach of the Year. An NFC North that looked in the preseason like a two-team race between the Lions and Packers has a surprise leader through five weeks, and the Vikings have looked like the best team in the NFL on both sides of the ball.
The good news about the Vikings’ 5-0 start is that 71 of the 85 teams that have started 5-0 in the Super Bowl era have gone on to make the playoffs. The bad news is that the last team that didn’t was … the 2016 Vikings, who crashed to an 8-8 record after a 5-0 start. So, Vikings fans know all too well not to party just yet. We’ll know more in two weeks after Minnesota has played the Lions, but this team already banked a huge division road win against the Packers. The Vikings absolutely, positively can win the NFC.
Their out-of-division schedule isn’t overly terrifying, and if they get playoff home games, they’re going to be very tough in their very loud building with that defense. It’s just still too soon, and the NFC North is still too tough, to say something like this with certainty, especially with Darnold having looked a bit more turnover-prone the past couple of games. Let’s let this one cook a while longer while everyone’s enjoying.
Dan Graziano ( ESPN )
Graziano isn’t a full on believer yet of the Vikings, but that doesn’t mean he isn’t impressed with their 5-0 start. Especially, with the Sports Books having set the Minnesota Vikings at over / under 6.5 wins and projected to finish last in the NFC North .
Two main problems that are holding back the Vikings winning the NFC Conference
Graziano seems to believe two main things that are holding him back from potentially buying into the Minnesota Vikings winning the NFC Conference. The first is the NFC North being “too tough” and the second being Sam Darnold becoming a “bit more turnover-prone”.
There is some truth to this though. The NFC North is the only division in the entire NFL that has all their teams above .500. Plus, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers were projected Super Bowl contenders heading into the season.
Sam Darnold has also been turning the ball over more too the last two games. Darnold had two turnovers in the first three games, but now has four turnovers in the last two.
Related: Vikings Guard Ed Ingram was Hard to Watch vs Jets
Overall, Graziano is complimentary of the Vikings 5-0 start but is hesitant for the future. Some warranted, some not. In the end, the Minnesota Vikings are in control of their destiny. One game at a time, but the future seems bright given how this team is currently playing.
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