The Minnesota Vikings are 2-0, and that alone has changed the mood around this team fast. Their 9-6 win over the Chicago Bears on a windy, rain-soaked Sunday at Soldier Field gave them a second straight division victory, and that matters just as much as the record itself. They’ve opened the year with wins over the Packers and Bears, both NFC North opponents, and that has put them in a clean position to push for control of the division.
There’s also a big reason for Vikings fans to keep watching the quarterback situation closely. The expectation is that Kyler Murray will clear concussion protocol early this week and be available in purple for the second time in his career when Minnesota heads to Tampa Bay to face the Buccaneers, who are still searching for their first win of the season.
Minnesota’s fast start has already shown up in the betting market, too. A few weeks ago, before Week 1, the Vikings were sitting around +150 to make the postseason and +500 to win the NFC North.
That meant a $100 bet on the playoffs would return $150 if it hit, while the same wager on a division title would pay out $500. Now the numbers look very different.
That same $100 playoff bet would win just about $57, and a division title bet would return roughly $190 instead of $500.
The current sportsbook board reflects the jump in confidence around Minnesota. DraftKings has the Vikings at -174 to make the playoffs, +194 to win the division, +1200 to win the NFC, and +3000 to win the Super Bowl.
FanDuel lists them at -158 to make the playoffs and +2500 to win the Super Bowl. MGM has them at -160 to make the playoffs, +190 to win the division, +1300 to win the NFC, and +3000 to win it all.
For a more straightforward look at the postseason picture, projection systems are also buying in. ESPN gives Minnesota a 69% chance to make the playoffs, along with a 39% shot at the division, a 30% chance at a wild card berth, and a 7% chance to finish as the NFC’s No. 1 seed.
PlayoffStatus.com is even higher on them, putting the Vikings at 72% to reach the postseason, 46% to win the division, 24% for a wild card spot, 18% for the NFC’s top seed, and 9.0% to win the Super Bowl. The Athletic also has Minnesota at 72% to make the playoffs, with 36% to win the division, 25% for a wild card spot, and 11% for the No. 1 seed.
Still, the caution flag comes with the territory for Vikings fans. There’s plenty of time left, and getting too far ahead can be a trap.
But the schedule gives Minnesota a real opening over the next month. Their next four opponents - the Buccaneers, Dolphins, Saints and Colts - have combined for a 1-7 record so far this season.
That’s the kind of stretch that can keep this early surge rolling if the Vikings take advantage.
In Other News...
Aaron Jones Gave Vikings Fans One More Reason To Hate That No-Call
The Vikings got what they wanted from a gritty, weather-heavy win over the Bears, with the defense setting the tone and Aaron Jones doing enough on the ground to keep Minnesota moving. Jones carried 23 times for 106 rushing yards, giving the offense a steady source of production in a game where clean footing and clean execution were at a premium.
Jones also delivered one of the more memorable moments late, taking a hard shot that had plenty of people in purple wondering why no flag came out. He brushed off the impact afterward, but his reaction to the no-call only added to the frustration for Vikings fans who had already spent the afternoon navigating a bruising divisional battle. [Read more 🡒]
Vikings Week 3 Outlook Just Got A Lot More Interesting
Kyler Murrays recovery from the concussion he suffered has put the Vikings right back into a familiar kind of week-three conversation: what does the offense look like with the starter back under center? Coach Kevin OConnell said Murray is on track to be cleared from concussion protocol, and Minnesota is already lined up for a matchup with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in which the Vikings are favored.
Carson Wentz has done his part to keep the ship moving, starting the first two games and helping Minnesota get off to a 2-0 start. But Murrays expected return adds a different layer to a game that already carried some weight, giving the Vikings a chance to see whether their early momentum can hold with the lineup moving back closer to normal. [Read more 🡒]
Packers Fans Got Caught In Foxs Most Infuriating Broadcast Mess
FOX Sports turned Week 2 into a strange viewing exercise before the network got its act together for the nightcap, as audio feeds did not match the games being shown during multiple early NFL telecasts. The mix-up meant viewers were hearing commentary for the wrong game while trying to keep up with the action on the screen, and the confusion only deepened when the scorebug briefly disappeared during overtime of the Packers-Jets matchup.
By the time the primetime window arrived, FOX had resolved the audio problems and moved on to its Cowboys-Commanders broadcast with Kevin Burkhardt and Tom Brady. For fans tracking the early slate, especially anyone trying to follow the Packers, it was an unwelcome reminder that even in the middle of an NFL Sunday, the network can still be the most distracting thing on the field. [Read more 🡒]