The Vikings’ recent win over the Cardinals sparks thoughts of the 2022 playoff team

MINNEAPOLIS – The normally optimistic and committed Minnesota Vikings team appeared emotionless. Coaches stared at tablets with confused faces. The players isolated themselves on different parts of the bench. The crowd at US Bank Stadium reflected the energy. This bad first half will do that.

“It was ugly,” left guard Blake Brandel said.

Then everything changed. The offense woke up and started moving the ball. Quarterback Sam Darnold high-fived receivers. Quarterbacks coach Josh McCown patted head coach Kevin O’Connell on the shoulder. The noise increased by a few decibels.

Somehow, someway – and as is usual in this 10-2 season – Minnesota secured the victory, defeating the Arizona Cardinals 23-22.

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“All right,” Darnold said after the game, “another resilient win.”

Even he laughed. At some point you get to a point where you feel like you need the “He can’t always get away with it!” GIF describing this season for the Vikings. The same reaction occurred in the 2022 season, which is probably why it has become fashionable to compare the two teams.

In some ways the link is understandable. Both teams had longer offensive breaks. Both defensive lines allowed explosive plays. Every grouping on the interior offensive line struggled. Both teams have been phenomenal in one-score games (11-0 in 2022 versus 7-1 this season). And perhaps most strikingly, neither the 2022 nor 2024 Vikings had a superstar quarterback.

However, there are significant differences between the two teams. The 2022 Vikings had a plus-10 point lead through their first 12 games, ranking 11th in the NFL. This season’s Vikings are plus-78, making them the fourth-best team in the league. The 2024 defense is seemingly more efficient in every way and the offense is more explosive. Defensive coordinator Brian Flores is much more capable of making in-game adjustments than Ed Donatell, and O’Connell is more experienced.

We don’t care what the narratives are.

We only want 60 minutes.

Once a week, no matter how long they let us play. pic.twitter.com/VgJD7bFcyA

– Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 1, 2024

Of course, none of this is a guarantee that the Vikings will improve on their 2022 result and advance past the NFC Wild Card round. But the numbers suggest that possibility, even if it remains difficult to figure out which team it is.

Perhaps the mystery lies in how much their offense and defense each rely on explosive passes and splash plays. The Vikings have more completions of more than 20 yards (48) than any other NFL team. They rank second in turnovers forced (24) and fourth in sacks generated (39). This is essentially the NFL team’s version of a prizefighter who thrives on knockouts: If the right hand doesn’t land, it can be a rough ride.

That’s how Sunday felt from the start, and turnovers were one of the main reasons for that. On Minnesota’s first possession, running back Aaron Jones fumbled, but offensive tackle Brian O’Neill recovered.

On the Vikings’ next possession, Cardinals linebacker Baron Browning knocked the ball out of Jones’ hands after a checkdown pass from Darnold (with Justin Jefferson crossing the field and opening). This time, Arizona recovered, leaving Jones desperate on the sideline. The Vikings have prioritized ball security from day one when players arrived this spring. “Pay attention to the ball” is written on the whiteboards in the team meeting rooms.

Prioritization aside, the Vikings’ 53 turnovers are the most in the NFL since the start of the 2023 season. O’Connell confirmed that he had used Jones for a few possessions, and when he did, the offense’s downward spiral continued.

“(The Cardinals are) a tough team to play because (safety) Budda (Baker) is in the game,” O’Connell said. “That can force some things on defense and in the run game.”

The Vikings’ offense hasn’t been perfect in 2024, but the problems are usually limited to one-on-one matchups or physicality in the running game, rather than an inability to handle opposing pressure. However, the Cardinals’ creative push thwarted the Vikings’ demands on Sunday when they sacked Darnold three times on third down in the first half alone.

Forgiveness, @MackWilSr comes through 😳 pic.twitter.com/PE7yB3Ex8B

– Arizona Cardinals (@AZCardinals) December 1, 2024

Brandel attributed the problem to smart strategy by the Cardinals. Arizona often lined up four defenders on one side of the offensive line.

“You watch tapes all week,” Brandel said, “and sometimes they might do something different that you haven’t really seen.”

Minnesota’s lack of success left key contributors frustrated. Even Jefferson, whose fear is barely visible, slowly left the field and sat quietly on the sidelines.

“These are difficult times,” the recipient said afterwards, “the times when you want to say something or react emotionally.” But you can’t. You know it’s a long game.”

This mindset sums up so many of these narrow victories. The Vikings clearly beat the Bears, but almost lost the game. They dominated the Jaguars but needed four field goals from John Parker Romo to secure the victory. The win over the Packers in September seems like ages ago, but even then, the Vikings stormed Green Bay at Lambeau Field only to hang on in the end.

In the second half on Sunday, the Vikings kept the ball and improved their protection issues, allowing Darnold, who completed 21 of 31 passes for 235 yards and two touchdowns, to distribute the ball to the intermediate areas of the field. He eventually found Jefferson, who managed 99 yards on seven catches. His touchdown pass to Jones in the flat brought things full circle just as the tide had turned.

BACK AT THE TOP!

📺: @NFLonFOX pic.twitter.com/ULrtwvSvoZ

– Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) December 1, 2024

These games, including Sunday’s, differ from 2022 in that they rarely require heroics. These Vikings didn’t need a goal-line fumble in Buffalo or a 61-yard field goal from an upside-down kicker. The The Vikings team faced playoff opponents like the Eagles and Cowboys and were exposed. The The Vikings team could have beaten the Super Bowl favorite Detroit Lions.

“We got our 10th win by Dec. 1,” O’Connell said, “which I think is an accomplishment.”

Given their preseason expectations, that’s undeniable. But the funny thing about sports is how quickly the goalposts move. You go into a season without expectations. You exceed your expectations and the expectations rise. Navigating this in real time is an area the Vikings and their fans know well and are once again occupying.

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(Photo by Sam Darnold: Stephen Maturen / Getty Images)