Minnesota Vikings Make It 5 Straight Victories, But Schedule Gets Much Tougher

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.