At best, the 2024 Minnesota Vikings were expected to be a middle-of-the-pack team. Many analysts anticipated the team would be closer to the first overall pick than playoff contention, especially after quarterback J.J. McCarthy got hurt. But the Vikings didn’t blink, handed the steering wheel to Sam Darnold, and have been a contending team throughout the first 11 games of the season.
Ghosts of the Past: Similarities Between the 2024 Vikings and a Notable Team
Fans and analysts alike thought the team would regress after moving on from reliable starter Kirk Cousins to the unpredictable Darnold, who had not shown any consistency in his previous stints with three different organizations.
Surprisingly, the Vikes have tabulated nine wins in 11 games, including some convincing victories over excellent teams. The two losses were a close one against a tough Detroit Lions team and, on a short week, on the road in Los Angeles against the Rams.
In those 11 games, the Vikings scored 274 points while allowing 197. The fascinating aspect is the similarities to the 2017 Vikings, the last time the purple team competed in the NFC Championship Game. Mike Zimmer’s crew also had a 9-2 record through 11 games while generating 271 points on offense and allowing 195 points on defense.
Both sides of the ball are within three points of that dominant 2017 club, and the record is the same.
The 2017 Vikings had, just like the 2024 Vikings, an elite defense with some excellent players rallying behind a great defensive mind. Both Zimmer and Brian Flores had outstanding units against the run while generating pressure in the passing game and confusing quarterbacks.
On offense, seven years ago, the Purple and Gold had a journeyman passer, Case Keenum, who played well for them. This time, Darnold has unexpectedly shined under center with his top wideout duo, Justin Jefferson and Jordan Addison. Of course, Keenum had Stefon Diggs and Adam Thielen handling the WR duties.
At the end of the day, Minnesota lost a brutal game in Philadelphia, just one win short of the Super Bowl. This year, the Vikings are on their way to clinch a playoff bid, barring a catastrophic breakdown in the final six games of the season.
The one main difference between 2017 and 2024 is the strength of the NFC North. Seven years ago, the Vikings ran away with the division crown, winning 13 of the 16 games, while the Aaron Rodgers-less Packers finished 7-9, the Lions 9-7, and the Bears 5-11. The division was clinched with numerous games remaining.
This time, however, the Lions and the Packers belong among the best teams in the league, which is why the Vikings are in second place in the NFC North. It will be extremely hard to keep pace with the strong Lions.
Regardless, the sky is the limit for this year’s group. Through 11 contests, they are as good as Minnesota’s best team of the last decade, and it is important not to take the season for granted.
Janik Eckardt is a football fan who likes numbers and stats. The Vikings became his favorite team despite their quarterback at the time, Christian Ponder. He is a walking soccer encyclopedia, loves watching sitcoms, and prefers Classic rock over other genres. Follow him on Twitter if you like the Vikings: @JanikEckardt