NFL
By: Trevor Gibbs
As a lifelong Vikings fan, even at age 26, no one saw this coming. After a 9-8 season last year, most had our win total around 8-9 wins again. Now we sit at 5-0 heading into the bye, one of only three teams in the undefeated league. The talking heads call this a mirage and a fake, well to us that watch every snap are seeing something real, even if it is not always pretty.
How Are They Undefeated?
It starts with the mad man who runs the defense, Brian Flores. This is the best defense in football right now, leading the NFL in scoring defense, allowing 12.8 points per game. It is second in total yards allowed and is third against the pass. Only ONE opponent has cracked 20 points, and that was the Packers in week 1. The five wins have come by margins of 6,7,5,10 and 7, with the defense having a major hand in every single one.
Then there’s the other side of the ball. The offense has only put up 109 points, the fewest by a 5-0 team since 2010. The advanced numbers have it near the bottom of the league, and injuries at receiver, tight end, and along the offensive line haven’t helped. Wins like these make stat nerds and fans very nervous.
All that and I still will say this. A team that wins this way is doing the hard things right: protect the football, tackle, and finish games. That is how you stay undefeated while your offense finds itself.
The Players Making it Happen.
Will Reichard has been MONEY. He’s a perfect 15-for-15 this season and has made 34 straight field goals going back to last year. In New Orleans, he was good from 40,54, and 55. Right now he has more points than the entire offense. Sheesh.
Myles Price has been a nightmare on coverage units, leading the league in return yardage, and he turns every punt and kickoff into a scoring threat. Shoutout to rookie Jake Golday, who forced a fumble against the Saints, which swung the momentum. Byrin Murphy Jr. picked off two passes in Week 5, and Andrew Van Ginkel’s sack helped put the game away. The best part of Flores’ unit is that every Sunday it is a different star.
For the offense, Kyler Murray looks like he is turning the corner. He was 23-for-30 for 299 yards versus the Saints, added 51 yards with his legs no interceptions. Justin Jefferson came back from injury and grabbed a touchdown through triple coverage that I will be replaying for years. Aaron Jones went over 100 yards on the ground; those 3 clicking makes this a super dangerous offense. You’ve been warned, NFL DCs.
What’s Next?
The road gets tough after the bye
- Week 7 Colts at home
- Week 8 at Detroit
- Week 9 Bills on Monday Night Football
- Week 10 at Green Bay
- Week 11 at San Francisco
Four of those games are against playoff teams from a year ago or division rivals, with the Packers game on a short week. After that come Atlanta, Carolina, a Thursday night in New England, and the Lions at home. An unbeaten record may not make it through November. That’s fine. The tough stretch will tell us a lot.
How Do They Keep This Going?
First, use the bye. Get guys healthy at the spots I mentioned. That is the best thing that could happen right now; don’t limp into next month. Second, the offense needs to catch up to the defense. Kevin O’Connell’s group can’t count on Reichard to rescue them every drive; a team will score 27 points on Flores, and Minnesota will need to answer. Turning red zone trips into touchdowns and cutting the fumbles will matter more than anything else.
Third, keep the formula. Win the turnover battle, win special teams, and play physical defense, and let Murray and Jefferson make the big plays.
If I am honest, the numbers say this team has some luck. But I’ve watched enough years of heartbreak to know you don’t apologize for a 5-0 start. You enjoy it, you stay clear-eyed, and you get ready for the grind ahead. Let’s see what these guys have got.
SKOL
