The Minnesota Vikings’ 9-3 win over the Chicago Bears in Week 2 wasn’t a masterpiece, but it did exactly what it needed to do. It pushed Minnesota to 2-0, kept the team unbeaten in the NFC North, and gave Vikings fans a clear reason to feel better about where this season is headed.
That showed up in this week’s SB Nation Reacts survey. After the ugly-but-effective victory, fan confidence took a noticeable jump.
When asked how they feel about the direction of the team, 75% of respondents said the Vikings are heading the right way. That’s a major rise from 46% after the Week 1 win over Green Bay, and it also tops the 60% mark heading into the opener.
The early-season roller coaster has already had its dips and spikes, but the latest result sent the mood sharply upward.
The other poll question looked ahead to the bye week in Week 6 and asked fans to project Minnesota’s record after the next three games. The schedule between now and then runs through Tampa Bay this week, then a home game against the Miami Dolphins, and finally a Week 5 matchup with the New Orleans Saints.
Most fans expect at least one slip before the break. A slim majority, 51%, picked a 4-1 record going into the bye.
Another 33% think the Vikings can run the table and arrive at 5-0. Thirteen percent predicted two losses in the next three games, while 4% somehow see a three-game skid that would leave Minnesota at 2-3.
I’m not saying that last one can’t happen. . .I’m just saying I don’t think the chances of it happening are very high.
In Other News...
Vikings Take A Late Defensive Hit Before Huge Bucs Matchup
The Vikings head into their Week 3 trip to Tampa Bay with the offensive side in decent shape, as quarterback Kyler Murray and running back Aaron Jones are both available for the matchup with the Buccaneers. Minnesota also made a change at punter, with Brett Thorson still sidelined by a hamstring injury and Johnny Hekker set to handle the job for at least one week.
On the other side of the injury report, though, the defense took a late hit. Linebacker Ivan Pace Jr. was downgraded to questionable because of a non-injury related personal matter, and he did not travel with the team, leaving the Vikings to sort through another important absence before a big early-season test. [Read more 🡒]
J.J. McCarthy Just Put The Vikings In A Real Trade Debate
The injury to Jaxson Dart has put the quarterback market in motion again, and it has also created an interesting conversation around J.J. McCarthy in Minnesota. With the Giants suddenly needing answers, speculation has turned to whether they could call about the Vikings young quarterback, a development that only adds more attention to a situation Minnesota has been managing carefully.
Any trade talk would have to run through Kevin OConnells view of McCarthys future, and that is where the real debate starts. OConnell has shown interest in developing him, which makes an in-season deal feel complicated even before you get to the value question, but recent quarterback trades suggest McCarthy would not command a massive haul, perhaps landing somewhere in the range of a fourth- or sixth-round pick. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Give Dillon Bell A Chance Their Passing Game Desperately Needs
The Vikings brought Dillon Bell up to the 53-man roster last week, giving him a shot after Jauan Jennings absence created another opening on the depth chart. Bells limited role so far has been confined to special teams, but the move still hinted at a team looking for any way to spark a passing game that has been sputtering.
Bell flashed in the preseason, and Minnesota has not been shy about searching for answers as the offense tries to find more consistency through the air. He has yet to turn that into a real regular-season impact, but the door appears open for more opportunities if the Vikings decide they need another receiver to help lighten the load. [Read more 🡒]