The Vikings' Identity Is That They Don’t Have An Identity

All wins count the same in the standings, but the way a team wins reveals a lot about them. And what’s perhaps most telling about the 12-2 Minnesota Vikings is that they have almost as many ways of winning as they have victories.

The offseason was largely defined by the seismic at quarterback, but they also filled holes on the defensive line, and the expectation was that they wouldn’t ask too much of Sam Darnold. With rookie J.J. McCarthy sitting on the bench, Darnold would take advantage of an offense featuring Justin Jefferson, Jordan Addison, and Aaron Jones. The defense should always keep games within reach.

That all looks good on paper when coaches can draw up the perfect play to counter the opposition’s attack. But the football season is full of ebbs and flows. Quarterbacks, offenses, defenses, and, dare I say, kickers can all derail a win. Combine enough of these factors, and a potential playoff berth can become a 7-10 record.

But that hasn’t been the case for the Vikings this year. There isn’t a magic point total that the team has needed to reach to win. They have won games with as many as 42 points against the Atlanta Falcons and as few as 12 against the Jacksonville Jaguars. The defense has allowed 27 or more points four times this season. Minnesota went 2-2 in those games, with one loss coming on a last-minute field goal to the Detroit Lions.

Darnold has had the best season of his career in 2024, but he hasn’t been immune to poor performances. He had six turnovers in two weeks against the Indianapolis Colts and Jacksonville Jaguars, which usually leads to disaster.

However, Minnesota’s defense had two of its best games of the season. They allowed 227 yards against the Colts and 143 yards to the Jaguars, the lowest outputs the Vikings have given up this season. These victories helped Minnesota get back on track after a two-game losing streak following five consecutive wins to begin the season.

It hasn’t only been the defense carrying Darnold, though. From Weeks 12 to 14, the Vikings defense allowed an average of 433.3 yards. Still, Minnesota would emerge victorious in every game led by Darnold's arm. He threw for 330 yards and two touchdowns in a 30-27 overtime victory over the Chicago Bears; 90 of those yards came on the game-winning drive in overtime.

One week later, Darnold helped erase a 19-6 deficit to the Arizona Cardinals by throwing two touchdowns in the second half in a 23-22 win. And when the Vikings allowed a season-high 496 yards to the Atlanta Falcons, Darnold responded with a career-high five touchdown passes to lead Minnesota to a 42-21 victory.

Naturally, Darnold’s play regressed on Monday against the Bears; he only threw for 231 yards on 40 pass attempts. He missed open receivers and had an uneven night, throwing one touchdown and then an interception on a failed fourth-down attempt.

But unlike the first matchup against the Bears, Minnesota’s defense put together a complete game. They allowed only 3.9 yards per carry and 284 yards of total offense to Chicago. The stat sheet shows that the Vikings only forced one turnover. However, edge defender Jonathan Greenard strip-sacked Caleb Williams, leading to a recovery by linebacker Blake Cashman. Minnesota’s defense also stuffed the Bears on two fourth-down attempts in the first half.

Darnold isn’t the only player who has stepped up. The Vikings lost star left tackle Christian Darrisaw to a knee injury in their loss to the Los Angeles Rams. They called Jacksonville and traded for Cam Robinson to fill his spot, who started immediately. Robinson has allowed 20 pressures in seven games and was flagged four times against the Bears, but he has filled in admirably. Pro Football Focus (PFF) has given him a 75.6 grade in his seven games with the Vikings.

Cashman and fellow linebacker Ivan Pace, Jr. have missed eight games combined. Veteran backup Kamu Grugier-Hill has filled in admirably for each player, recording interceptions in victories over the Houston Texans and Green Bay Packers.

One play in Week 2 highlights Grugier-Hill’s contributions. The San Fransisco 49ers had just cut Minnesota’s lead to 20-14 with 10:16 remaining in the game. Jefferson had left the game with a quad injury suffered on the Vikings’ previous drive. Addison was out for the game with an ankle injury. Tight end T.J. Hockenson was still on the Physically Unable to Perform (PUP) list as he recovered from his ACL injury.

The Vikings faced third-and-eight at their own 46-yard line with 7:41 remaining. Trent Sherfield Jr. lined up at receiver to the left, Jalen Nailor in the slot to the right, and Brandon Powell to Nailor’s right. Backup tight end Johnny Mundt stood to the left of Darrisaw.

Instead of calling a conservative play to protect Darnold and the receiving corps, Kevin O’Connell dialed up the same play he would if the offense was at full strength. Sherfield sprinted across the formation, getting behind Nailor as the ball was snapped. He released upfield, forcing the secondary’s responsibilities to change. Powell ran an underneath route.

That left Nailor sprinting up the seam and past the first-down marker. Darnold dropped a pass behind the trailing cornerback’s head, allowing Nailor to catch it unscathed for a 26-yard completion. The Vikings ran eight more plays, kicking a field goal to take a 23-14 lead with 3:32 left. The 49ers could only muster a field goal before a failed onside kick attempt gave Minnesota a 23-17 victory.

Many teams are defined by their high-flying offense, hard-nosed defense, or superstar quarterback. It’s hard to say that any aspect of the 2024 Vikings stands out because no player on the team has been perfect for 14 games or even in their 12 wins.

Perhaps what defines the 2024 Vikings is that they are a team. Everyone is ready to perform their job and trusts their teammates to do the same. So when things don’t go right for one player or unit, their teammates keep their end of the bargain and help elevate others.

With three weeks to go in the regular season, the Vikings continue to show they can win in a variety ways. That’s important heading into the postseason, where everyone is good and the best teams do what they must to win.