Well, well, well the Minnesota Vikings possess an 8-1 record, much to everyone’s surprise. Their combination of a new head coach and general manager has paid off for them this season. This year’s expectations were murky after they fired both Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman. Kevin O’Connell has elevated the already dynamic duo of Justin Jefferson and Kirk Cousins to another level. However, especially with Cousins’ track record, the question everyone is asking is: are the Vikings legit?

The Vikings have won some pretty close games this year. Additionally, the stat sheets from this week require context to fully understand the numbers. The NFL is never as simple as statistics, which is where the nuance of aggression versus prevention decisions paralyze coaching staffs around the league. The tweet below is certainly on the funnier side of graphics, but as the old saying goes, “it’s funny ’cause it’s true”. Well, its validity is certainly up for debate, but there is a grain of fact to be had along with the laugh beneath us.

Let’s break down the criticism from the tweet. They started the year on the right side of the victory column after toppling Aaron Rodgers and the Packers. Well, as we are witnessing (outside of their recent win against Dallas) the Packers are flustered, to say the least. This is certainly not the standard we’re used to in the NFC North. Secondly, they lost to the still-undefeated Philadelphia Eagles in primetime. Cousins is notorious for underperforming under the spotlight. Thirdly, the Lions are making history for their atrociously bad defensive unit. Then, they struggled against an underwhelming Saints after Andy Dalton took over quarterback duties.

Then, the Bears gave an admirable performance but still fell short. But then again, they currently have a 3-6 record and are a questionable team at best. Next, the Dolphins were down to their third-string QB when they played the Vikings. This, of course, went favorably for Minnesota, as they handily dealt with a “Tua-less” Dolphins. Following this, the Commanders gave them a run for their money. To be fair, the Vikings proved they can close out tightly contested matchups. Albeit, against a controversy-ridden Washington club. The Cardinals fell victim to the Vikings, but the Cardinals have been battling themselves before they even fought Justin Jefferson and company. Recently, the Vikings dramatically toppled the Bills in what was probably the game of the year. Seriously, it was electric.

Should the Vikings be Taken Seriously?

O’Connell’s team has surpassed its expectations, to say the least. Additionally, the Vikings have certainly given out their quota of heart attacks this year. As the joke suggested above, while there may not be concrete evidence, the sentiment is still there. On one hand, the Vikings continue to win. They win the games they should win and have toppled a contender like the Buffalo Bills. While there is certainly context that goes into each win, the Vikings have won nonetheless. And most importantly, they continue to win. My only concern is Cousins in primetime games. Yes, the stats do not lie, and his record is not assuring. But the supporting cast he has around him is. On that note, let’s see what Minnesota is made of.