The Minnesota Vikings’ dismantling of the New York Giants in Week 1 may not have been the biggest surprise of the league’s debut slate in 2024, but it did seem to be a ringing endorsement of head coach, Kevin O’Connell, in getting the most out of journeyman quarterback, Sam Darnold, and a Minnesota team which do not have sky high expectations coming into this season.
True, the Vikings were facing none other than the Giants, who may prove to be the worst team in football this year, save for the somehow perhaps-even-worse-than-last-year Carolina Panthers, but one still have to give O’Connell his flowers for getting an impressive performance out of a good but perhaps not elite offense. Darnold, a former cast-off from the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers, went 19/24 for 208 yards passing, 2 touchdowns and a pick, good for a 113.2 quarterback rating.
Minnesota Vikings Face Difficult Test Against One Of The NFL’s Very Best
However, a far stauncher test lies in wait for the current NFC North leaders: reigning NFC North champions, the San Francisco 49ers.
The 49ers are coming off an impressive 13 point win against potential Super Bowl contenders, the Aaron Rodgers -led New York Jets, despite missing star running back, Christian McCaffrey, who could potentially return for Week 2.
And with news breaking on Friday, it seems like the Vikings’ job might get a little harder still, per Adam Schefter.
Vikings ruled out WR Jordan Addison for Sunday’s game against the 49ers due to his ankle injury.
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) September 13, 2024
Jordan Addison Won’t Play In Week 2 Due To Ankle Injury
Addison suffered an ankle injury against the Giants in Week 1, and was unable to return to the game thereafter.
Although Jordan Addison has had minor off-the-field incidents, he did have an excellent rookie season in 2023, attaining 911 yards, filling in very capably over the first half of the season for the injured Justin Jefferson.
Now the onus will be back on Jefferson, who signed a rip-roaring 4 year, $140 million deal, averaging a league-best $35 million/year, to deliver the goods against quite possibly the best defense in the NFL.
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