The Vikings are back from their early bye, still unbeaten and still talking like a team that knows the danger of getting comfortable.
Minnesota hosts the Indianapolis Colts on Sunday at noon at U.S. Bank Stadium, and Justin Jefferson made it clear that a 5-0 start only matters if the group keeps pressing.
“It honestly feels great to come in here 5-0,” Jefferson said. “But it’s definitely not a time to get complacent and not a time to really let our hair down.”
That message fits the mood around a team that has flashed plenty of offensive juice already, especially in a win over New Orleans before the break. In that game, Jefferson said, the growing rhythm with quarterback Kyler Murray stood out as a preview of what this offense can look like when everything clicks.
“We played a full game together,” Jefferson said. “We kind of said that at the beginning of the season, what it would most likely look like with the scramble drills, him using his feet to extend plays and get us those first downs.”
Murray’s ability to move has changed the picture for defenses, Jefferson said, because it forces extra attention on both the passing game and the ground game. Even with the undefeated record, Jefferson doesn’t believe Minnesota has hit its best version yet.
“We definitely haven’t got that full potential yet,” he said. “We haven’t had everybody out there at the same time.”
The run game has been a big reason the Vikings have stayed balanced, and Jefferson said that part of the offense feeds everything else.
“The run game helps the pass game. The pass game helps the run game,” Jefferson said. “We’re going to run the ball for sure, but we’re also going to throw the ball and have those big shots downfield as well.”
That rushing attack could get another lift with Jordan Mason set to return after missing the start of the season. Mason said sitting out while the Vikings kept winning was not easy.
“Very anxious,” Mason said. “I love what the boys have already been doing. I really want to be able to bring my little two cents in and help out.”
He said he tried to stay useful even while he was away from the field.
“I took a step back and actually said, ‘How can I be important to this team right now?'” Mason said. “I was a little hype man for a little bit.”
Mason also sounded eager to get back alongside Aaron Jones, who has handled most of the workload through the first five games.
“He’s already been carrying the load,” Mason said. “I’m just there to help out.”
Sunday’s matchup also brings a different kind of test. The Colts come in with Jonathan Taylor and a physical offensive line anchored by All-Pro guard Quenton Nelson, and Blake Cashman said Minnesota’s defense knows exactly what kind of challenge that creates.
“When you got a really talented back behind a guy like that, it can give a defense problems,” Cashman said. “We have to be very detailed in our run assignments come Sunday.”
Cashman also credited defensive coordinator Ryan Nielsen for the Vikings’ strong work against the run so far this season.
“He’s so intentional and detailed,” Cashman said. “He paints a really good picture for us as a defense at each level on what we should expect to see and how we need to play.”
Minnesota has also gotten help from younger players, including linebacker Jake Golday, whose special teams work has helped speed up his development and get him ready for a larger defensive role, according to Cashman.
For Jefferson, the bye week didn’t change the mindset. The challenge now is keeping the edge that got the Vikings to 5-0 in the first place.
“We all understand what’s out there in front of us,” Jefferson said. “I like us.”
In Other News...
Vikings Have A Big Chance To Fix One Playoff Concern
The Vikings are getting healthier at just the right time, and their trip to face the Colts comes with a chance to address one of the bigger lingering issues in their offense. Jordan Mason, Christian Darrisaw and T.J. Hockenson all returned to practice after dealing with injuries, giving Minnesota a better shot at bringing more stability to a running game that has been uneven for much of the season.
Indianapolis presents a favorable test, too, since its run defense has struggled to hold up against opposing ground attacks. For a team trying to sharpen its balance before the playoffs, this is the kind of matchup that can help restore confidence and take some pressure off the passing game if Minnesota can turn health into production. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Still Need More From Jauan Jennings Than Theyre Getting
Jauan Jennings arrived in Minnesota with a reputation that suggested he could be more than just depth, and the Vikings have had plenty to like about his toughness and run-blocking in the early going. With injuries and uneven offensive production already testing the group, his versatility has made him a useful piece for Kevin OConnells offense even as the passing game has searched for more reliable answers.
Still, the receiving production has not matched the role the Vikings believe he can fill. Jennings has only chipped in a limited amount in four games, which leaves Minnesota weighing what it already gets from him against what it still needs, and OConnells confidence hints the team expects the passing opportunities to grow as the season goes on. For a receiver with a strong track record before arriving in Minnesota, the next stretch could determine whether he becomes a bigger part of the offense or remains more of a supporting piece. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings' 5-0 Start Is About To Face Its Biggest Test Yet
The Vikings have sprinted out to a 5-0 start, and it has been enough to put them in the early conversation as one of the leagues most complete teams. They have already banked wins against a handful of opponents, but the real challenge now arrives in the back half of the schedule, where the margin for error figures to shrink quickly.
Minnesotas final 12 games are loaded with divisional tests and matchups against some of the leagues stronger clubs, a stretch that will say plenty about whether this fast start can turn into something lasting. The road ahead includes both meetings with Detroit, a return trip to Green Bay and a season-ending game against Chicago, so the Vikings are about to find out just how sturdy this start really is. [Read more 🡒]