Can the Vikings Remain Consistent Against Better Competition?

Heading into Sunday’s game against the Cincinnati Bengals, it had been 9,772 days since the Minnesota Vikings last scored 50 points.

This week, Minnesota created a perfect storm to eclipse the ever-elusive 50-point mark by forcing five turnovers. Isaiah Rodgers, who had one of the greatest individual defensive performances in NFL history, created three of them. Rodgers finished the game with two touchdowns, two forced fumbles, one interception, one pass breakup in the end zone, one catch allowed, two total yards allowed, and the first-ever perfect PFF grade (99.9).

Third-string quarterback Max Brosmer entered the game with the Vikings leading 48-10 with 11:07 remaining in the fourth quarter. They were just a field goal away from breaking their 50-point drought that has remained since December 20, 1998. A swing pass from Brosmer to Zavier Scott got Minnesota’s offense to the 18-yard line, well within field goal range, with 24 seconds left in the fourth quarter. Kevin O’Connell chose to show mercy to his fellow Sean McVay protege and let the clock run out. There would be no 50-burger for the Vikings.

Aside from that, it was a great day for Vikings fans. In addition to watching Minnesota blow out Cincinnati, they got to enjoy watching the Green Bay Packers lose in hilarious fashion to the Cleveland Browns. Minnesota is now tied with Green Bay for first place in the division, and it could soon be a three-way tie if the Detroit Lions beat the Baltimore Ravens on Monday Night Football. As great as things appear to be right now, Minnesota took advantage of an inferior opponent.

Can the Vikings remain consistent against equal competition? That’s the real question.

In Week 1, everyone was riding the high of J.J. McCarthy’s fourth-quarter comeback over the downtrodden Chicago Bears on Monday Night Football. Despite three ugly quarters of football, it felt like the Vikings found their franchise quarterback. Then the Vikings only scored six points against the Atlanta Falcons, and all of a sudden, J.J. McCarthy was a bust who would never see the field again after suffering a high-ankle sprain.

The first two weeks of Vikings football have been a perfect example of this fanbase going from the highest of highs to the lowest of lows.

The Vikings looked like a shell of their former selves against Atlanta in Week 2, and injuries played a significant role. Having a mostly healthy roster for the Dublin game could go a long way towards a better all-around performance. Right now, it’s starting to feel like the Vikings are getting back to full strength.

Andrew Van Ginkel and Jeff Okudah returned to action after missing Week 2, while Christian Darrisaw and Harrison Smith made their regular-season debuts in Week 3. Ryan Kelly was a limited participant in practice on Friday and is on track to be cleared from concussion protocol in time for Week 4. Plus, Jordan Addison is set to make his regular-season debut against the Pittsburgh Steelers.

Carson Wentz filled in for J.J. McCarthy against the Cincinnati Bengals, and he was serviceable. Minnesota’s offense rode the momentum that its defense gave them and didn’t turn the ball over. Similar to the Bears game, the Vikings took advantage of an inferior opponent again. Cincinnati’s defense was already devoid of talent outside of Trey Hendrickson, and two key defensive starters were injured, including 17th-overall pick Shemar Stewart at defensive end and starting cornerback Cam Taylor-Britt. Jake Browning played in place of Joe Burrow. Their offensive line ranks 24th in pass blocking. Their run game is even worse, which ranks dead last in the NFL.

Watching Minnesota play the Bengals was like watching a schoolyard bully grab the scrawny nerd by the collar of his T-shirt and start tossing him around until he got the kid’s lunch money. It won’t be that easy for the Vikings next week in Dublin, and Pittsburgh presents a much bigger challenge. Even at 41 years old, Aaron Rodgers has already thrown seven passing touchdowns, ranking in the top five in the NFL. The Steelers also boast the fourth-highest-ranked pass-rushing unit in the NFL.

However, Minnesota’s blueprint to beat the Steelers remains the same as it was last week against Cincinnati. Take advantage of Pittsburgh’s below-average pass-blocking offensive line, which ranks 22nd in the NFL, and shut down their 30th-ranked rushing attack on early downs. Brian Flores must force Rodgers to beat them on third-and-long. The only difference is that the margin for error is smaller because the Steelers are a better team than the Bengals without Joe Burrow.

“Now the question is consistency,” Kevin O’Connell said in his post-game victory speech. “Can we go back to work and make it look the same? Can we handle whatever’s out in front of us from an adversity standpoint?”

The Vikings have passed the first test. They have proven themselves capable of beating inferior opponents. Can the Vikings play with the same level of focus, energy, and execution against playoff-caliber teams? They failed to do so the first time around against a talented Falcons team that is better than their record suggests. Now is their chance to right those wrongs from the home opener by traveling to Dublin and beating the Aaron Rodgers-led Steelers.