The Minnesota Vikings were the last National Football Conference team to fall from the unbeaten ranks after opening their 2024 campaign with five straight wins.
They haven’t won since.
In his fourth stop with an NFL team, it appeared that quarterback Sam Darnold found his oasis … now, maybe not.
When a team strings together a number of wins the first place critics look is the competition. Did they roll to wins over such free spaces on the NFL schedule as the Carolina Panthers and New England Patriots?
Well, yes and no.
Among the Vikings season opening triumphs were conquests over the two New York teams, the Giants and Jets. But they also beat the San Francisco 49ers, Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers … all teams that could easily be playing this season late into January.
So, are the Vikings that good?
Well, that is yet to be seen. Losses the past two weeks have come against the Detroit Lions, which they lost in a close battle by two points, 31-29, and Los Angeles Rams, who they had to play on a short week following their loss to the Lions.
Both losses against the Lions and Rams found the Vikings in tough spots to win. A victory over the Lions would have extended their NFC North Division lead over the team many consider the best in football. On the road the following Thursday in Los Angeles was just the wrong time to meet a desperate Rams team that was getting a long list of injured players back into action.
Tonight, the Vikings have the advantage of eleven days to prepare for an Indianapolis Colts team that has decided to once again make a quarterback change.
Last week, the NFL network discussed the possibility that Joe Flacco would be elected to the Hall of Fame after his playing days. To my ears that seemed preposterous, but as they continued their conversation the viability of Flacco earning a Hall of Fame bust seemed plausible.
He did lead the Baltimore Ravens to a Super Bowl win over the San Francisco 49ers to complete the 2012 season, although many will contest that championship was much more attributable to the Ravens defense. Yet, last season, in Cleveland, he took the Browns down a stretch drive that landed them in the playoffs.
He had three horrible seasons with the Denver Broncos, New York Jets and Philadelphia Eagles, where he compiled a 4 and 14 mark in 18 starts. Then he went on that late season run with the Browns and seems to have found new life this year with the Colts. This season, Indianapolis has the best point spread record in football with seven wins in eight decisions and ride a six-game point spread winning run into tonight’s game in Minnesota.
Now, I can’t think of a Hall of Fame quarterback that has had as many problems at winning and holding a starting job as Flacco. And I still don’t think Canton is a destination for him after he retires. But tonight, as he replaces the QB with the worst stats in the entire league, Anthony Richardson, I like his chances of giving Darnold and company all they can handle.
This is a game to separate the real threat to advance to the playoffs and the team that simply got off to a better start than their final record will show. I know this, I like the Vikings chances of winning on their home field, and I wouldn’t bet against the Colts extending their point spread winning mark.