The Minnesota Vikings didn’t have wide receiver Jordan Addison for the first quarter of their Week 5 game against the Cleveland Browns, and it was because of his own doing.
Head coach Kevin O’Connell held Addison out for the opening period on Sunday because the wideout skipped a walkthrough earlier in the week.
“We’re always gonna keep a lot of those details in house, but I do think I wanna share with you guys [that] he missed a walkthrough this week,” O’Connell said during the postgame press conference. “And those types of things aren’t in alignment with our standards, and wanted to make sure he was held accountable for that.”
Justin Jefferson, Addison’s superstar teammate and offensive captain, told reporters following the game that he “had words” with the third-year receiver over the incident.
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“It’s just all about growing up and just being a part of the team and knowing the stakes,” Jefferson said. “I’ve just got to do better keeping him under my wing, and making sure he has his head on straight.”
Addison missed the first three games of the year due to a suspension from the NFL for violating its substance abuse policy.
For his part, Addison was contrite and addressed the team ahead of Sunday’s game in London.
“I thought he handled it professionally,” O’Connell continued. “He spoke with the team to let them know that whenever I gave him the opportunity to go in the game, they could count on him. And he makes the game-winning catch.”
Addison finished the day with five receptions for 41 yards and a touchdown, which he scored with 25 seconds remaining in the game and served as the winning play in Minnesota’s 21-17 victory.
The first three quarters weren’t pretty for Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy in his first NFL start on Monday night, but all that matters is what happens in the fourth quarter.
McCarthy led the Vikings on a thrilling comeback, scoring 21 points in the fourth quarter to defeat the Chicago Bears, 27-24, on the road to begin the 2025 NFL season.
Last season, McCarthy was on the sideline with a season-ending meniscus injury suffered during preseason. He watched as Sam Darnold led the Vikings to a 14-3 record, but McCarthy knew heading into this campaign it was his turn to get the job done at quarterback in head coach Kevin O’Connell’s dynamic offense.
Minnesota Vikings quarterback J.J. McCarthy (9) rushes the ball against the Chicago Bears during the first half at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 2025.(Matt Marton/Imagn Images)
McCarthy was having some trouble doing so to start this game, as the Bears’ defense, led by new coordinator Dennis Allen, was drawing up the right pressures to fluster the young signal caller. He was only able to get Will Reichard into field goal range twice in the first half, while Caleb Williams and the Bears’ offense got off to a hot start under new head coach Ben Johnson.
But crunch time in the fourth quarter, with the Vikings down 17-6, McCarthy answered the call.
It all started with a six-play drive, where McCarthy fired a bullet to the front of the end zone to find his star receiver, Justin Jefferson, for his first score of the new campaign. Then, the Vikings’ defense kept up the pressure on Williams to give McCarthy another chance at the lead with a three-and-out forced on the ensuing possession.
McCarthy, after getting a generous defensive pass interference call, launched a perfectly placed deep ball to running back Aaron Jones for the lead, 20-17, after a successful two-point conversion.
The dagger in this come-from-behind win was a nine-play drive that ended with a 14-yard touchdown run by none other than McCarthy, who kept the ball on a third-and-1 read option from the Chicago 14-yard line. He barreled his way into the end zone, and let out a roar with his Vikings teammates all huddling around him as the score went to 27-17 with 2:53 left in the game.
Williams got off to such a hot start, running in a touchdown on the Bears’ opening drive of the game. But the Bears’ offense, expected to be upgraded with Johnson’s play-calling in place given his success with the Detroit Lions, sputtered after that. They only mustered a field goal in the second quarter, while kicker Cairo Santos missed another in the fourth.
Justin Jefferson of the Minnesota Vikings runs with the ball during the game against the Chicago Bears at Soldier Field on Sept. 8, 2025 in Chicago, Illinois.(Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
The other touchdown scored for the Bears was a pick-six thrown by McCarthy in the third quarter which, at the time, seemed to be a total killer because of how poorly he was playing.
But it was Williams needing to run hurry-up offense late to get back into the game, and he was finally able to find the end zone again. The Bears’ drought ended with Rome Odunze wide open for the one-yard score to get the deficit down to three for Chicago with two minutes left to play.
The Bears’ defense was able to force a three-and-out on the Vikings, but there was not enough play clock left for a miracle as the Vikings celebrated their hard-fought victory on the road.
McCarthy’s first career start ended with a line of 13-for-20 for 143 yards with two touchdowns and one interception. It was also notable to see Jordan Mason getting the lion’s share of touches in the run game, totaling 15 for 68 yards, with the veteran Aaron Jones Sr. getting eight carries for 23 yards. Jones, though, was tied with Jefferson for 44 yards in the receiving game.
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams scrambles during the first half of an NFL football game against the Minnesota Vikings Monday, Sept. 8, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Nam Y. Huh)
For the Bears, Williams was 21-of-35 for 211 yards with his touchdown pass and rushing score. He led the Bears with 58 rushing yards on just six carries, while D’Andre Swift had 53 yards on 17 touches in the backfield. D.J. Moore also had 70 yards on just three receptions.
The Minnesota Vikings are making final preparations for their Week 1 season opener against the Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Leading up to the game, there has been some question about superstar wide receiver Justin Jefferson.
Jefferson has been dealing with a hamstring injury throughout training camp and preseason action. He has been focused on getting back to full health for Week 1, but there has still been some concern about his status.
Heading into the 2025 NFL season, the Vikings will have a new starting quarterback. J.J. McCarthy will take over the job after Sam Darnold left in free agency. In order for the second-year signal caller to find success, he will need Jefferson to be on the field.
Now, the wideout himself has spoken out with an update about his injury status.
Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Justin Jefferson #18 of the Minnesota Vikings during the second half of the NFL Preseason 2025 game against the Tennessee Titans at Nissan Stadium on August 22, 2025 in Nashville, Tennessee. Photo by Johnnie Izquierdo/Getty Images
During an interview with D.J. Siddiqi of The Escapist, Jefferson revealed that he’s feeling great and ready to go against the Bears.
“Hamstring is feeling great,” Jefferson said. “We definitely had a great plan throughout training camp of getting it stronger, getting the mobility back right and to make sure that with my cut moves, and the way I move, the way I explode — it’s just so much on the body, and I had to get stronger, had to get more physical and upper-body stronger. I feel like the whole process went well, and I’m definitely ready for Week 1. I’m ready to rock and roll.”
That is the best news Minnesota could have received. Jefferson being fully healthy to begin the season will give the team a good shot at starting fast.
Looking at the rest of the NFC and even the NFC North division, there are a lot of potential contenders. If the Vikings want to have a shot to replicate their success as one of the best teams in the conference like they were last season, they’ll need Jefferson to have a big hand in making that happen.
Speaking of last season, Jefferson played in all 17 regular season games. He caught 103 passes for 1,533 yards and 10 touchdowns. Once again, he was dominant all year long.
Hopefully, Jefferson is able to stay completely healthy this season. Minnesota will need him to put together another elite season to support its young quarterback.
For more on the Minnesota Vikings and general NFL news, head over to Newsweek Sports.
When you get things done ahead of 31 other teams in the league, there’s always a reward.
For Howie Roseman and the Eagles, it’s a sigh of relief knowing your star players under contract for the next 2-6 years. And they’ve managed to save MILLIONS while doing so. Back in April, the Eagles extended multiple players. Now that the ink has dried on those contracts. It was about time the rest of the league got around to paying some of the other superstars.
Eagles Remain Ahead
In April, the Eagles signed their star receivers to two massive extensions.
April 15th, DeVonta Smith, 3-year, $75M + 5th year option
April 25th, A.J. Brown, 3-year, $96M
These contracts don’t come without merit, below has been the duos stat line the last two seasons.
DeVonta Smith – 33GP, 2,262Rec Yards, 14TD
A.J. Brown – 34GP, 2,952Rec Yards, 18TD
While these may have been the first few receivers to be paid this off-season, they certainly weren’t the biggest paydays handed out in recent signings.
This Weeks Extensions
In the last few days. Multiple receivers have gotten contract extensions with their current team, including:
Let’s see how these recent contracts compare with base stats of the following two seasons in comparison to the Eagles duo
Nico Collins – 24GP, 1,778Rec Yards, 10TD
Jaylen Waddle – 31GP, 2,370Rec Yards, 12TD
When comparing to the Collins deal things might look great. Keep in mind that’s only 1 season with C.J. Stroud as the Texans Quarterback. Things might change in the upcoming season as well, with the addition of Stefon Diggs as well as the hopeful return for Tank Dell’s sophomore season.
The same goes for looking at Waddle’s deal. Similar to DeVonta Smith who’s in a WR2 role behind Brown/Tyreek Hill. DeVonta Smith has put up similar numbers (108 less yards) and will be getting paid nearly $10M less across the 3 years of his deal. With these new contracts for star studded teams, which receiver would you rather in this scenario?
Past Deals
Of course these weren’t the only Receivers to break the bank this off-season, in fact multiple have already seen their new deals come through, including:
March 11th, Michael Pittman Jr, 3-year, $70M
April 24th, Amon-Ra St. Brown, 4-year, $120.01M
March 13th, Calvin Ridley, 4-year, $92M
Of course with their payday, comes the stats. How does this other batch of receivers hold up to the last 4?
Michael Pittman Jr. – 32GP, 2,077Rec Yards, 8TD
Amon-Ra St. Brown – 32GP, 2,676Rec Yards, 16TD
Calvin Ridley – 17GP, 1,016Rec Yards, 8TD
Even if Calvin Ridley had played the 2022 season. His numbers would still be somewhere between Pittman and DeVonta Smith. Depending on what team he had gone to, Ridley could have surpassed the 1,200 mark with ease.
With all these receivers being under contract for the next 3-5 Years. You’d think that means the rest of the big names due in the upcoming year have seen new deals? For some, that’s not the case.
No Contract In Sight?
Also from the 2021 Draft class with Smith and Waddle, is Cincinnati’s Ja’Marr Chase. Entering his 4th season, Chase has put up the following his last two years as a Bengal:
Ja’Marr Chase – 28GP, 2,262Rec Yards, 16TD
Without a contract, the Bengals have exercised their $21.8M 5th year option for the following season. It will be hard to deny Chase of an extension. Even without Joe Burrow for lengthy periods, Chase has still been able to have success.
But in the NFC, there’s two more names struggling for a payday.
CeeDee Lamb – 34GP, 3,108Rec Yards, 21TD
Justin Jefferson – 27GP, 2,883Rec Yards, 13TD
Seeing every other team continue to lock up receivers might be good for the players, but certainly not the teams. A.J and Amon-Ra’s deals are going to be the closest comparison for this duo to get paid. And if they’re trying to takeover the #1 and #2 spot for highest paid receivers, teams will be looking to pay north of $30M to keep these players under contract.
After all the deals and carousel doors of acquiring younger receivers, what contracts would you offer these players who might be left still bargaining for a deal come next off-season?
After speculation that the Eagles would be paying their WR2 next after agreeing to a 3-year $66M extension with Jordan Mailata just two weeks ago. News finally broke on Monday that not only would DeVonta Smith’s 5th year be picked up, but it also came with a nifty 3-year extension.
The Eagles will now have the following players on the offense under contract through 2026:
QB Jalen Hurts
QB Kenny Pickett
WR A.J. Brown
WR DeVonta Smith
RB Saquon Barkley
LT Jordan Mailata
LG Landon Dickerson
OL Tyler Steen
RT Lane Johnson
Not a bad thing to have 8 offensive starters under contract for the next 3 seasons!
But how did the Eagles get all these top tier players under contract without being well over the cap? (like the Saints have been for years)
Ahead Of The League
This is now back to back off-seasons where Howie Roseman and co. have been able to extend franchise cornerstone players before the other 31 teams in the league came to terms with their counterparts.
QB Frenzy
Starting with Jalen Hurts on April 17th 2023. A 5 year, $255M contract was signed ahead of the following quarterbacks
Joe Burrow – 5 years, $275M signed on September 7th 2023
Justin Herbert – 5 years, $262.5M signed on July 25th 2023
Lamar Jackson – 5 years, $260M signed on April 27th 2023
Offensive Line Mania
Not only did the Eagles get away with drafting Jordan Mailata in the 7th round of the 2018 draft. They’ve now extended him. Twice! While doing so, the Eagles have gotten ahead by signing Mailata to a 3 year, $66M deal. Now under contract until 2029.
There weren’t many Offensive Tackles looking to be signed this off-season, but getting an extra 3 years from Mailata at $22M was perfect value giving some previously signed OT’s including:
Laremy Tunsil – 3 year, $75M signed on March 19th 2023
Andrew Thomas – 5 year, $117.5M signed on July 26th 2023
However, this was the perfect market to get the Left Tackle signed for those extra years. Because the following will be due for a 5th year option and probable extensions in the next year.
Penei Sewell – drafted 7th overall 2021
Rashawn Slater – drafted 11th overall 2021
Ronnie Stanley – 5 year, $98.75M signed in 2020
Setting The WR Market
And that’s exactly how the Eagles have set the WR market with DeVonta Smith’s new deal.
Had the Eagles not worked as quickly as possible on this deal. They would’ve been at risk of the following Receivers potentially getting record breaking deals done first.
Since we don’t have contract money for these other receivers, let’s keep it simple and compare Yards/TDs.
DeVonta Smith – 50GP, 3,178 Rec Yards, 19 TD. signed a 3 year, $75M deal.
Justin Jefferson – 60GP, 5,899 Rec Yards, 30 TD. On a 5th year option for $19.74M
Ja’Marr Chase – 45GP, 3,717 Rec Yards, 29 TD.
Tee Higgins – 53GP, 3,684 Rec Yards, 24TD. On a $21.8M Franchise Tag
CeeDee Lamb – 61GP, 5,145 Rec Yards, 32TD. On a 5th year option for $17.99M
With DeVonta Smith’s extension checked off the offseason to-do list. The next big milestone will be the draft. Just one week away.
Several of their outlooks were reported on Tuesday:
JUSTIN JEFFERSON, VIKINGS
The superstar wide receiver is expected to be placed on injured reserve with a hamstring strain, making him ineligible to play in Minnesota’s next four games, according to ESPN.
Jefferson, 24, camp up gimpy after running a route during the fourth quarter of the Vikings’ loss to the Chiefs and did not return.
“We’re going to have to medically make a good decision and help almost protect him from himself a little bit in a way where we’ve got to take care of him and get him back to 100%,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.
Jefferson, the reigning NFL Offensive Player of the Year, has 36 receptions for 571 yards and three touchdowns this season.
The Vikings are now 1-4 and missing their best player for at least a month. Last month, some analysts linked Vikings quarterback Kirk Cousins, an impending free agent, to the Jets as a trade target following Aaron Rodgers’ season-ending Achilles tear.
In Jefferson’s absence, rookie wide receiver Jordan Addison, fellow wideout KJ Osborn and tight end TJ Hockenson figure to receive more targets.
De’VON ACHANE, DOLPHINS
The rookie running back has been a revelation for Miami, using his elite speed to rush for 460 yards and score seven total touchdowns over the last three games.
Achane’s knee injury in Sunday’s win over the Giants flew under the radar, but ESPN reported Tuesday that the 21-year-old sensation is expected to miss multiple weeks and could end up on IR as well.
The high-powered Dolphins have enviable depth at running back, with Raheem Mostert off to a strong start and Jeff Wilson (rib, finger) now eligible to return from injured reserve.
But the loss of Achane is still disappointing for 4-1 Miami, considering he’s averaging 12.1 yards per carry and was receiving an increased workload.
JAMES CONNER, CARDINALS
The veteran running back finds himself in a similar situation as Achane, with a knee injury expected to cost Conner multiple weeks, according to ESPN and NFL Media. Conner, too, is a candidate for IR.
The 28-year-old has been a workhorse for Arizona, rushing for 364 yards and two touchdowns this season before getting injured in Sunday’s loss to the Bengals.
Emari Demercado, an undrafted rookie out of TCU, ran for 45 yards and a touchdown on 10 carries Sunday and should receive an increased role with Conner out. The Cardinals (1-4) also claimed veteran running back Tony Jones Jr. off waivers.
Kelce, 33, briefly left Sunday’s win over the Vikings but returned and caught a touchdown. The tight end missed Week 1 with a knee injury and was considered a non-participant on Monday’s estimated walkthrough practice report due to his latest ailment.
Tuesday brought better news for fans of the Chiefs and of Taylor Swift, who is rumored to be dating Kelce and has attended two of his games this season.
“He’s done well,” Reid said Tuesday. “He’s gotten quite a little bit of treatment on it and he’s a little bit feeling better.”
The Chiefs (4-1) host the Broncos (1-4) on Thursday night.
This Saturday kicks off the biggest holiday weekend since New Years: the NFL Playoffs. With the Wild Card round beginning January 14 and streaming acrossing all ESPN platforms, America is about to run on football playoffs.
All 32 teams play 17 regular season games for a chance to get to the Playoffs and win it all. And we’ll be updating you with all of the 2023 NFL Playoff news you’ll need each week. Starting off with this weekend’s Wild Card Round:
The Wild Card Round
Joe Burrow
Jeff Dean/AP/Shutterstock
The NFL splits their 32 teams into two conferences: the American Football Conference and the National Football Conference. During the Wild Card round this weekend, there will be six games: three AFC games and three NFC games.
Since the #1 team from each conference has a bye week, they won’t play until the weekend of the 20th during the Divisional Round. Both the Kansas City Chiefs and Philadelphia Eagles will benefit with the rest from the bye, and will face the lowest seed from the winners of the Wild Card Round.
According to the ESPN website, the games will go as follows:
After the Wild Card round, teams will be re-seeded by the NFL. This ultimately becomes more fun if there are upsets. For example, if the New York Giants beat the Minnesota Vikings and Justin Jefferson, the Giants may have a chance to play the Philadelphia Eagles in the Divisional Round. Since both the Giants and the Eagles are in the same division during the regular season, this would be their third time playing each other this year.
The Divisional Round
Kansas City Chiefs vs. Las Vegas Raiders
Jeff Lewis/AP/Shutterstock
Typically throughout the playoffs, the highest seeded teams get home field advantage until the Super Bowl. The Divisional Round games will be played in Kansas City and Philadelphia, as will the AFC and NFC Championships if both teams advance.
Conference Championships
Seattle Seahawks vs. Los Angeles Chargers
Abbie Parr/AP/Shutterstock
On January 29, the final two games before the Super Bowl will commence. The remaining highest-seeded teams will have home field advantage. However, if the Chiefs end up playing the Buffalo Bills, the game will be held at a neutral site in Atlanta.
The neutral location decision was determined after the tragic Damar Hamlin injury during the Bengals-Bills game. Since the game was ruled a “no contest,” the Chiefs automatically became the #1 seed.
Super Bowl LVII
Josh Allen
Joshua Bessex/AP/Shutterstock
The respective winners from the AFC and NFC Championship games will meet in Glendale, Arizona on February 12 for Super Bowl LVII. Get ready for commercials, the Rihanna halftime show, and some of the best football you’ll see all year.
What Makes The Playoffs Fun?
Jalen Hurts
Chris Szagola/AP/Shutterstock
This year, everyone has something to prove in the playoffs. We are potentially seeing Tom Brady’s final year at QB after a 27-year reign in the NFL. Fan favorite Joe Burrow of the Cincinnati Bengals is looking for a return to the Super Bowl after losing to the Los Angeles Rams last year – and that’s not all.
The New York Giants are seeing playoff contention for the first time in years, and the San Francisco 49er’s will be led by third-string QB, last pick in the NFL Draft, Brock Purdy. Purdy has 1,374 yards and a pass completion of 67.1%, showing he maybe isn’t Mr. Irrelevant after all.
Young teams like the Los Angeles Chargers and Jacksonville Jaguars will have chances to prove themselves. Lamar Jackson will make his return to the Baltimore Ravens after battling an injury towards the end of the season, while the Buffalo Bills led by a Josh Allen-Stefon Diggs duo will be hard to beat.
The Pittsburgh Steelers had a slow start to the season, but have had a Cinderella story throughout. We have more exciting teams like the Seattle Seahawks, led by potential Comeback Player of the Year, Geno Smith, and the Philadelphia Eagles and KC Chiefs are looking to prove why they’re the #1 seed.
The stakes are high. Playing at the highest level of the game means anything can happen. While you may think the script is written and the best teams on paper will win, I have a feeling the playoffs are going to consist of some major upsets.
Justin Jefferson was one of many heroes for the Vikings in their win over the Buffalo Bills. (Photo … [+] by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images)
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The winning streak for the Vikings is seven and counting, but this was no run of the mill victory. Instead, the Vikings walked into the home of the bullies, took abuse for three quarters and then relied on skill, speed, grit and toughness to pull out an amazing 33-30 win over the Buffalo Bills.
It is already being referred to as the Game of the Year, and when it comes to drama, shock value and flat-out skill, it may very well turn out to be the best game played in the 2022 regular season.
The Bills and their fans were enjoying this matchup quite a bit as the fourth quarter approached. Late in the third, Buffalo had a 27-10 lead after a Tyler Bass field goal. It looked like the game would be a rout in the home team’s favor.
But on the play after the kickoff, Dalvin Cook ran 81 yards for a touchdown, outracing the Bills to the end zone on the longest run of his career. A 10-point deficit heading into the fourth quarter was a lot better than 17.
C.J. Ham powered into the endzone from 3 yards out with 4:34 remaining to give the Vikings real hope. They should have been within three points, but Greg Joseph doinked the extra point attempt off the right upright, leaving the deficit at 27-23.
Once the Vikings defense forced a three-and-out, the game began in earnest. Minnesota began a drive on their own 24, and the Vikings faced a 4th-and-18 from their own 27 at the 2-minute warning. That’s when Justin Jefferson (10-193-1) made the catch of a lifetime, rising up while being blanketed, and coming through with a one-handed catch of a Kirk Cousins pass while falling to the ground, and never letting the ball touch terra firma. The play gained 32 yards for the Vikings.
As the drive continued, the Vikings, another Cousins-to-Jefferson pass gave the Vikings a 1st-and-goal at the 3. The Bills refused to let the Vikings into the endzone, and when Cousins was stopped on a 4th-down play about six inches from the goal line with 41 seconds remaining, it appeared the Bills would hold on.
Eric Kendricks recovered the fumble in the endzone that gave the Vikings an improbable lead. (Photo … [+] by Adam Bettcher/Getty Images)
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The Vikings had no timeouts, but the Bills would not be taking a knee since Josh Allen would be receiving the snap in his own end zone. Instead of taking the snap and wedging out a yard or two, Allen dropped the snap and linebacker Eric Kendricks recovered it in the endzone for the go-ahead score.
While this miraculous occurrence looked like the game-winning touchdown, it was not. The Bills drove for a game-tying field goal on the last play of regulation. Buffalo benefitted from an official’s mistake on the drive, as the Bills were credited with a key Gabe Davis reception when the ball hit the ground. Replay was not engaged, but the NFL admitted it should have been.
Kevin O’Connell’s captains made a call of tails on the coin toss, and it gave the Vikings the ball at the start of overtime. (Note to self – always call tails.) Once again, the Vikings drove the field and it appeared they would win with a touchdown when they had a 1st-and-goal from the 2-yard line. However, Buffalo’s defense rose once more, and O’Connell had to settle for Joseph’s field goal.
On the ensuing possession, he Bills appeared to be on their way to either matching the field goal or winning the game with a touchdown, but Allen threw the ball into traffic and Patrick Peterson made his second interception of the game to give the Vikings another W.
It was jubilation for a team that is now 8-1 but was still getting downgraded prior to the win in Western New York. Veteran observers questioned why the Vikings couldn’t win any game besides their season opener by more than one score, and they also questioned whom they had beaten.
After a 17-point comeback against one of the best teams in the league on the road, the Vikings answered at least one of those questions.
Nobody was happier than Peterson, who is enjoying a rebirth in Minnesota, and was happy to respond to critics. “We’re not trying to prove them wrong. We just want to continue to prove ourselves right each and every time we step on the field,” said Peterson. “If we’re not a good football team, how could you come back from that deficit? Look at us now.”
The Vikings are a good team, and right now, they look like a great one. But there’s a new test every week in the NFL, and by the time the Vikings kickoff in Week 11 against the Cowboys, the glory of their triumph over the Bills will be a memory. They will have to prove it again at U.S. Bank Stadium, and in the weeks that follow.
The goal is to be the best team in early February. It’s just blind optimism to say that’s exactly what will happen, but more than halfway through the season, it appears that the Vikings have more than a puncher’s chance of reaching that goal.
Kevin O’Connell has the Vikings securely at the top of the NFC North. (Photo by Adam Bettcher/Getty … [+] Images)
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It looked like this would be an easy game for the Vikings, as they were hosting an Arizona Cardinals team that was 3-4 and had one of the softest defenses in the league.
Arizona had given up 176 points, and it seemed as if running back Dalvin Cook and wideout Justin Jefferson would be able to run free and easy into the second level.
Yes, the presence of a big-money quarterback Kyler Murray and his $12.6 million cap hit and even bigger-money wide receiver DeAndre Hopkins and his $15.7 million cap number meant that the defense would be tested. However, there was no reason to think that the Vikings couldn’t outscore this opponent with relative ease.
One other factor had caught the eye of the Vikings and their fans. The Cardinals had not beaten the Vikings in Minnesota since 1977, when Jimmy Carter was President. The Cardinals still called St. Louis home and that game was played outdoors at old Metropolitan Stadium. Bud Grant was still the head coach of the Purple, while the quarterback matchup in this 27-7 Cardinals victory was Fran Tarkenton vs. Jim Hart.
That was a long time ago, and the 2022 version of the Cardinals gave the Vikings everything they wanted over 60 minutes. However, the Vikings took advantage of two Murray interceptions and a muffed punt that turned into a Minnesota recovery and came away with a 34-26 victory.
The Vikings returned from their bye week to do what they have done regularly throughout Kevin O’Connell’s first year as an NFL head coach. They don’t play dominating football but do just enough to come away with the victory. This 6-1 team is firmly in first place in the NFC North and they have won five games in a row following their Week 2 loss to the undefeated Philadelphia Eagles.
O’Connell has preached that his team do the little things that lead to victory by controlling the final minutes of the first half, executing well in the kicking game and staying away from costly penalties. The Vikings failed in all of those areas against Arizona but still managed to come away with the win.
The Vikings were the better team early, but Murray threw a 6-yard TD pass to Hopkins with 47 seconds remaining in the first half. Placekicker Greg Joseph had a long field goal attempt blocked on the final play of the half, and more importantly, missed an extra point in the fourth quarter that would have given the Vikings a two-score lead. They were also called for 10 penalties that resulted in 86 yards in losses.
However, Minnesota’s success in the red zone allowed them to overcome those shortcomings. They scored in all five red zone opportunities against Arizona, including a 17-yard Kirk Cousins TD run to start the scoring.
The schedule gets much tougher starting with their Week 9 game at Washington, and their weaknesses on defense will certainly be tested – if not exposed.
After facing the Commanders, the Vikings travel to Buffalo, host the Cowboys and follow that with home games against the Patriots and Jets.
That stretch of the schedule will be a gauntlet, at least compared to what they have faced to this point in the season. It will require the Vikings to control the clock at the end of the first half and start of the second, show improvement in the kicking game and avoid the penalties that caused so many problems against Arizona.
The winning formula for O’Connell has been established, and his team has bought in completely. They were not able to follow that prescribed route against the Cardinals and still won.
It’s a matter of getting back on script for the next five weeks and taking advantage of every break they get in order to remain a first-place team – and one with great postseason aspirations.
In the 28-25 win over the New Orleans Saints at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Jefferson caught 10 passes for 147 yards. He also ran for a touchdown. It was the first time since 2016 that a player had 120 yards receiving and a rushing score and Jefferson’s 16th career 100-yard receiving game. According to ESPN Stats and Information, only Randy Moss and Odell Beckham Jr. have had more 100-yard games (19) in their first three seasons.
For much of the game, Jefferson was matched up against Saints Pro Bowl cornerback Marshon Lattimore. Let’s just say Jefferson won the matchup. One of Jefferson’s biggest catches was a 39-yard reception that set up Minnesota kicker Greg Joseph’s 47-yard, game-winning field goal.
“Lattimore pretty much followed me the whole game, pretty much was a one-on-one battle the majority of the game,” Jefferson said after the game. “I was telling [Minnesota coach Kevin O’Connell] the whole game we should throw it up, give me a chance to go up and make a big play.”
Monday night, Jefferson channeled Allen Iverson’s famous step over Tyron Lue in the NBA Finals to get another shot at Lattimore.
