The Minnesota Vikings didn’t need style points on Sunday. They needed a result, and they got one, grinding out a 16-10 win over the Indianapolis Colts to move to 6-0 on the season.
That matters most in the standings, but the game also left behind a few clear early takeaways. Minnesota took the punch on Indianapolis’ opening drive, gave up a rushing touchdown, and then steadied itself from there, outscoring the Colts 16-6 the rest of the way.
One of the biggest questions coming out of U.S. Bank Stadium is what the backfield should look like next.
Jordan Mason returned for his first appearance since Week 1 and, by the look of it, he was the more effective runner between himself and Aaron Jones. Jones had been solid during Mason’s four-game absence, but Sunday was a rougher outing.
He picked up just 9 yards on his first 7 carries, then broke off a 17-yard run in the fourth quarter before leaving with a knee injury.
Mason, meanwhile, gave Minnesota a steadier presence. He finished with 68 rushing yards on 15 carries, good for 4.5 yards per attempt. If Jones has to miss time depending on the severity of that knee issue, Mason handling the bulk of the work next week - and maybe beyond - would be a perfectly reasonable answer based on what the Vikings saw Sunday.
The other thing that jumped off the field was the pass rush. After a Week 6 bye, Minnesota came back looking every bit like the league’s most dangerous pressure team.
Colts quarterback Daniel Jones spent the afternoon under siege, pressured on more than 85 percent of his dropbacks. The Vikings sacked him four times, including two from linebacker Blake Cashman.
That kind of heat changed the game. Jones never got comfortable, finishing with just 108 passing yards and throwing the interception that ended it.
And then there’s T.J. Hockenson, who once again gave Kyler Murray a reliable outlet when Minnesota needed one.
Murray’s season has been uneven, but when things have clicked, Hockenson has usually been involved. Against Indianapolis, that connection showed up again: four catches for 35 yards, plus a five-yard touchdown in the fourth quarter that put the Vikings in front for the first time.
Of course, the ideal version of this offense still includes feeding Justin Jefferson as much as possible. But when Murray has been at his best this season, Hockenson has been a major part of the answer.
In Other News...
Vikings Cannot Afford Extra Pressure Before Their Schedule Turns Brutal
The bye week gives Minnesota a chance to reset before it gets back on the field against an Indianapolis team still adjusting after the Colts fired general manager Chris Ballard. The Vikings are favored in the matchup, and on paper this is the kind of game a team in their spot is expected to handle if it wants to keep its footing as the season tightens.
The pressure only grows from there. Minnesotas schedule is about to turn far less forgiving, and there is little margin for a stumble before it reaches a stretch that will tell a lot more about this team, including meetings with Buffalo, San Francisco and Green Bay. ESPNs Football Power Index still gives the Vikings a healthy edge Sunday, but the bigger test is whether they can use this one to stay ahead of the storm instead of getting caught in it. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Could Get Dragged Into A Costly RB Bidding War
The market for veteran help could get busy well before the trade deadline, and Jonathan Taylor is the name drawing the most attention. Indianapolis is said to be considering dealing off some established players as it navigates the next 16 days, with Taylor emerging as the most notable possible chip. Minnesota is among the teams reportedly monitoring the situation, along with Green Bay, Seattle and Denver, which sets the stage for a race that could turn expensive fast.
For the Vikings, the intrigue goes beyond simply adding a running back. A player of Taylors profile would almost certainly bring serious interest from multiple contenders, and Indianapolis is not limiting its discussions to one name either. The Colts are also believed to be weighing other veteran options such as DeForest Buckner, Quenton Nelson and Grover Stewart, which leaves plenty of room for movement but no certainty that any deal actually gets done. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings-Colts Suddenly Has A Trade Watch Storyline Fans Will Notice
The Colts front office shake-up added an unexpected layer to a Week 9 matchup that already had plenty of intrigue for Minnesota. Indianapolis recently relieved general manager Chris Ballard of his duties and turned the job over to Ed Dodds on an interim basis, and now the focus shifts to a Sunday meeting with the undefeated Vikings that could be watched just as closely for what happens off the field as on it.
For Minnesota, the timing matters because the trade deadline is inching closer on Nov. 10, and the receiver market is one area worth monitoring. Josh Downs has emerged as a name to keep in mind if the Vikings decide they want to explore help at wideout, giving Sundays game a little extra weight for a team that could be looking beyond the scoreboard while it plays out in Indianapolis. [Read more 🡒]