It’s not uncommon for athletes and teams to exceed expectations. Whether it’s through an individual performance or piecing it together over the course of a season, the result can look entirely different than the prediction.
The 2024 Vikings are one of those instances. Going into the season, the over/under win projection total for Minnesota was 6.5 wins, and many predicted a fourth-place finish in the NFC North division standings.
Minnesota not only reached that win total 18 days before Thanksgiving, but it has since exceeded it by 6.5 just in time for Christmas. According to Pro Football Reference, that is tied for the second-best differential among 1,711 teams through 15 games since 1989, joining the 2004 Steelers (7.5 preseason win total; 14-1 record through 15 games) and Chargers (4.5 preseason win total; 11-4 record) and the 1999 Colts (6.5 preseason win total; 13-2 record). Only the 1999 Rams (5.5 preseason win total; 13-2 record) had a higher differential at 7.5.
For reference, the 1998 Vikings – who finished with a 15-1 regular-season record – exceeded their preseason win total of 8.5 by 5.5 through 15 games. This season is just the second time in franchise history Minnesota has started 13-2 or better, joining that ’98 club.
Minnesota’s latest win – a 27-24 comeback over Seattle on Sunday – was the team’s eighth in a row, it’s longest streak since 2017. It is now the longest active streak in the NFL after Philadelphia’s 10-game win streak was snapped earlier in the day in a 36-33 loss to Washington in the final seconds.