Sam Thiel

NFL Expert Picks: Vikings Open Home Schedule as Underdogs Against 49ers

The Vikings have a chance to take command of the NFC North race. [Sam] Darnold and Justin Jefferson, who averages 19.5 yards per catch with three TDs, have been effective. The matchup between Jefferson and [Packers cornerback] Jaire Alexander will be fun as usual. Aaron Jones, who averages 5.2 yards per attempt, will be the key against his former team. [Packers quarterback Jordan] Love should return for this game, and the Packers need to generate a running game against a Vikings defense that allows 71.3 yards per game. These teams have split their series each of the past four years. Whose turn is it?

It wasn't quite the Georgia-Alabama thriller on Saturday night, but the Vikings had to sweat out a win at Lambeau Field that they completely dominated for the first 29 minutes. The muffed punt late in the second quarter opened the floodgates, and the defense took some lumps in the fourth quarter, but Brian Flores'unit responded with two late turnovers to help stop the bleeding a bit. The Vikings couldn't have put this one away without [Head Coach] Kevin O'Connell trusting his quarterback and going back on the attack late, trusting Sam Darnold to take them home. Even with a few hiccups, he did just that on an important field-goal drive that ultimately provided the winning margin. Past Vikings outfits might have coughed this one up, but this team showed toughness and reinforced the idea that it's going to be a handful all season the way things are going.

"Meanwhile, vibes couldn't be worse for the Jets coming off a devastating loss where seemingly everything went wrong," Michelino added. "The entire offense looked out of whack, and Rodgers took a beating. There's also already brewing tensions between he and HC Robert Saleh — not great. While Rodgers has had a ton of success against Minnesota dating back to his days in Green Bay, these aren't your father's Vikings. Nope. They're Sam Darnold's Vikings, and I believe they're destined to cover again."

NFL Power Rankings: Vikings Maintain High Ground After Bye Week

NFL Power Rankings: Vikings Fall Back After First Loss of the Season

Let's get this out of the way: The missed facemask penalty was a bad look, but saying it cost the Vikings the game is a major stretch. They'd have needed to go on an 80-yard TD drive and convert a 2-point conversion just to force overtime. The seeds of the loss to the Rams came earlier, with a defense that previously looked like one of the NFL's best struggling for a second time in a five-day span. The Lions and Rams were tough assignments, no doubt, but the Vikings must be better defensively if they hope to have this season end in the postseason. Since 1990, teams starting 5-0 are 56-for-62 when it comes to making the playoffs, but the chances drop more than 15 percent for 5-2 teams (155-for-207, 74.9 percent). Was the lack of a pass rush a one-week blip? The result of a short turnaround? The Vikings take an extended tour through the AFC South before the meat of the schedule hits, with four of the final seven games against NFC North foes. Even with the Bears last-second loss on Sunday, this division remains a monster, and the Vikings can't afford to slip too far.

Sunday night's win over the Colts marked a return to form for the Vikings defense to the level we'd seen prior to their Week 6 bye. Brian Flores'unit hounded Joe Flacco and Jonathan Taylor, picking off Flacco for the team's 13th interception of the season, which is a terrific total through eight games. They allowed the Colts a mere six offensive points, all on field goals, with Indianapolis' only touchdown coming on a (controversial) scoop and score. Sam Darnold coughed that one up, and he had a seriously up-and-down game. Ultimately, his three-TD second half proved to be enough; until then, the defense buoyed the team while the offense stalled. There likely was some adjustment around the arrival of Cam Robinson, who took over at left tackle with less than a week's worth of practice, but Darnold's play has flatlined recently. They'll need him to pick things back up as the Vikings hit the road for the duration of November.

The Vikings and Jaguars have met only seven times in their history, with Minnesota holding a 6-1 record in the all-time series. Minnesota scored 50 points in its inaugural meeting (50-10 victory in 1998) with Jacksonville and has claimed the past five matchups, including the most recent in 2020 (27-24 win in OT). The Vikings won both of their road games in Jacksonville (30-12 in 2008 and 25-16 in 2016), while the Jaguars lone win in the series came in 2001, a 33-3 victory in Minnesota.

Making his NFL debut, Romo – who signed with the team last Wednesday after rookie Will Reichard was placed on Injured Reserve – connected on all four of his field goal attempts (45, 33, 34 and 29 yards). Romo became the first player in NFL history to make four or more field goals and score all of the team's points in a debut. He is also the first Vikings kicker since Blair Walsh in 2012 with four made field goals in a debut.