It wasn’t pretty but the Vikings scored a 21-17 win against Cleveland Sunday in London before going into their bye weekend.. The team is 3-2 and with all of the injuries they have sustained I guess that fanbase can’t be too upset with that. Yes, this team could be undefeated with a few more breaks but in the same breath in two of the three wins they got some breaks to go their way.
Sunday they were -2 in the turnover margin against the Browns and are leading the league in penalties through the first five weeks of the season. In some ways it is remarkable that Minnesota is above .500 at this point. Christian Darrisaw is playing limited snaps, center Ryan Kelly might be considering retirement with concussion issues, Donavan Jackson and Brian O’Neil are both missing time with injuries and the backup center Michael Jurgens is banged up forcing Blake Brandell to snap the ball, something he has never done is his career. To say this offensive line is beat up would be an understatement.
On the defensive side of the ball the one concerning thing is how teams are running at will on the Vikings. I am not sure if the loss of Andrew Van Ginkle and Blake Cashman is that big of a deal when it comes to rush defense or not, but Atlanta, Pittsburgh and Cleveland all were able to get a lot of yardage on the ground in their contests. I thought Minnesota might have a championship defense to get them to the promised land this year. That hasn’t been the case so far in 2025.
The next question for Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell will be who to start at quarterback after the bye when the Vikings host the Super Bowl Champion Philadelphia Eagles at US Bank Stadium Sunday, Oct. 19th. If I was in his shoes I’d let Carson Wentz face his old team and let him keep starting until he loses. If O’Connell decides to go with J.J. McCarthy I wouldn’t hate the idea, but with this beat up offensive line I would think about going with the veteran; especially against that Philly defense. McCarthy will have plenty of time to get back in the starting line-up down the road, even as early as this season. Things will work themself out.
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