Jeffrey Becker-USA TODAY Sports
In 2024, it’s no secret that the Minnesota Vikings are likely staring down the barrel of what some would call a “transition” year.
QB Sam Darnold is the embodiment of that belief system, as fans are excited about his potential, but the likelihood is that he’s the bridge connecting the Cousins Era to the McCarthy Era, even though head coach Kevin O’Connell doesn’t see it that way or just won’t admit it. There’s a chance he may “explode” and have a career revival like his fellow 2017 NFL Draft first-round selection Baker Mayfield, who was selected first overall that year and was only taken two spots ahead of Darnold, with Saquon Barkley separating the two.
Jan 7, 2024; Santa Clara, California, USA; San Francisco 49ers quarterback Sam Darnold (14) celebrates after a play during the second quarter against the Los Angeles Rams at Levi’s Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Sergio Estrada-USA TODAY Sports
That, of course, would be absolutely awesome and create a very good problem between having hopefully two quality quarterbacks. Heck, the Vikings went 13-3 with a journeyman signal caller just seven years ago during their magic carpet ride with Case Keenum, coming up one (painful) game short of a home Super Bowl at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Vikings fans have plenty of reasons to be excited about the team this year and, more specifically, the future in general. However, the sentiment isn’t really the same around the rest of the league, as well as sportsbooks.
Minnesota is a consensus average team in the eyes of most NFL fanbases and analysts, and understandably so. For the most part, they finish no better than second in the NFC North in many predictions regarding standings and are, at best, a wild-card bubble team in the NFC.
Dec 10, 2023; Paradise, Nevada, USA; Minnesota Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell (left) and general manager Kwesi Adofo-Mensah react during the game against the Minnesota Vikings at Allegiant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports
Most seem to have them in the 6-to-9 win range, and when zooming out and looking at the future, many outside of Minneapolis are highly doubtful about J.J. McCarthy and his potential to be a quality starter at the professional level.
When looking at their betting odds, as of July 27th, 2024, the Vikings have the 8th-worst odds to win the Super Bowl at +8000 via FanDuel Sportsbook, tied with the Arizona Cardinals. Their +3500 odds to win the NFC is the 6th-worst in the conference, again tied with Arizona and also the Tampa Bay Buccaneers.
Looking at the division, they have the worst odds to win the NFC North at +1000, miles back from the nearest odds of +300 held by the Chicago Bears. Their win total O/U line only sits at 8.5, and they aren’t trusted to make the playoffs, evidenced by their +250 odds of doing so.
Vikings fans perform the Skol chant before kickoff against Philadelphia in the first quarter of an NFL football game at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis on Sunday, Oct. 13, 2019. (John Autey / Pioneer Press)
All of this makes one thing perfectly clear: the Vikings are underdogs, which is nothing new. Another piece of clarity is that Minnesota is embracing that role, according to new running back Aaron Jones. He spoke about how he has always felt underestimated and has never gotten the respect he deserves for his play at his position, and tied it into how the entire team views the narratives surrounding them:
But that’s kind of how we want it. We want to be right there, and when it’s time to play, it’s the players who really do the narrating, and we’ll shock a lot of people. The analysts can say what they want, but the players have to do the playing.
Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones
Jones also spoke to the confidence he has in Minnesota’s quarterbacks and weapons:
I’m confident in whoever’s back there. We’ve got weapons all around, so you can’t just pick one guy to X-out. Because if you pick him, the next person is gonna go off, or the next person.
Minnesota Vikings RB Aaron Jones
Aaron Jones signs a ball for a fan at the third annual A&A All the Way Softball Charity Game at the Southwest University Park in El Paso, TX, on Thursday, June 27, 2024.
It’s still justifiable for all of the media outlets and fandoms of other NFL clubs to doubt the Vikings and what they’ll do in 2024, but Minnesota fans can rest assured that the team is perfectly fine with the narrative that surrounds them. They want to be doubted, and it’s up to them to turn the naysayers into believers.
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Publish date : 2024-07-28 16:30:00
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