3 Issues We Bought Unsuitable in regards to the 2024 Vikings

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The Minnesota Vikings stay within the league’s High 6 Tremendous Bowl odds, an odd — however in a great way —ordeal after sportsbooks picked the purple crew to win six or seven video games in early September.

3 Issues We Bought Unsuitable in regards to the 2024 Vikings

That’s the perk of a 12-2 begin. Minnesota has received seven straight after a two-game, post-bye shedding skid and is completely rolling.

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Again within the offseason, this web site was crammed with daring takes and predictions — together with just a few that had been terrible. So, these had been the three foremost issues we obtained improper in regards to the 2024 Vikings.

1. Ty Chandler’s Emergence

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.

The one knock on RB1 Aaron Jones coming into the 2024 common season was damage historical past. For essentially the most half, Jones has remained wholesome and is on tempo for 1,500 yards from scrimmage.

Put plainly, we thought he’d miss 4-6 video games, handing the RB1 baton to Chandler.

As an alternative, Vikings basic supervisor Kwesi Adofo-Mensah traded for Cam Akers and demoted Chandler to RB3.

Chandler nonetheless has one season left on his rookie contract (2025), however we obtained this one improper. Jones didn’t get harm, Akers rejoined the membership as RB2, and Chandler’s position diminished.

2. Sam Darnold Throwing about 25 TDs — Whole

Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Photos.

We purchased right into a “Baker Mayfield reclamation season” for Darnold — however to not the tune of a Professional Bowler. Darnold is posting Professional Bowl numbers, and that isn’t debatable.

Minnesota’s offensive infrastructure at all times appeared like a match for Darnold — and all people, actually. It’s simply that he has twisted within the MVP dialog for a lot of the season, and his crew is 12-2.

Our expectation for Darnold was extra mediocre and poor video games than he’s showcased. The person has balled out.

3. The Vikings Would End 7-10

Minnesota security Camryn Bynum (24) catches an interception to successfully finish the sport through the fourth quarter of an NFL soccer matchup Sunday, Nov. 10, 2024 at Everbank Stadium in Jacksonville, Fla. The Vikings defeated the Jaguars 12-7. © Corey Perrine/Florida Occasions-Union / USA TODAY NETWORK by way of Imagn Photos.

Sportsbooks believed Minnesota would end 2024 with a 6-11 or 7-10 file. We didn’t disagree.

We thought the Vikings would have a 6-6 file or so round Thanksgiving after which run out of gasoline, primarily as a result of the Darnold query was so entrance and middle.

However that was improper — by a mile.

The Vikings will go to the postseason and will even snag a 1st-Spherical bye in the event that they play their playing cards proper within the subsequent three weeks.

It’s why Kevin O’Connell is the league’s frontrunner to win Coach of the 12 months.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his day by day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The present options company, evaluation, and opinion on all issues associated to the purple crew, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doorways (the band). He follows the NBA as carefully because the NFL. 

All statistics offered by Professional Soccer Reference / Stathead; all contractual info offered by OverTheCap.com.