The Minnesota Vikings have become one of the biggest surprises in the NFL by winning their first three games, even though many expected them to finish last in the NFC North.
They have a chance to make a strong statement this Sunday by winning against the Green Bay Packers in an important divisional game.
“My challenge to the team is, once again, last Sunday means absolutely nothing,” Vikings coach Kevin O’Connell said. “The first three games of the season mean absolutely nothing if we don’t start continuing to maintain our play style. Hopefully soon enough, we can start talking about it being the standard of how we play every week.”
So far, the Vikings (3-0) have trailed for less than 3½ minutes during their victories over the New York Giants, the defending NFC champion San Francisco 49ers, and the Houston Texans.
Now, they begin their NFC North schedule against the Packers (2-1), who have won two games in a row without quarterback Jordan Love, who is recovering from a knee injury. Love has been practicing on a limited basis for the second week as he tries to return for the game against the Vikings.
Whether Love plays or Malik Willis takes over for a third week, the Packers know they will face a tough challenge from a Minnesota defense that leads the NFL with 16 sacks.
“They’re coached up very well, and they all have a great idea of where they need to be,” Love said. “I think at the end of the day, it just comes down to being able to decipher what they’re doing and then at the snap of the ball, trying to figure out, ‘Are they bluffing? Are they coming?’ Things like that.
They do so much stuff that it is hard to have an idea what they’re doing pre-snap, so a lot of that stuff, you’ve just got to feel it out.”
