12 Snap Reactions after Falcons at Vikings

Advertisement

5—Had Minnesota lost this game, it truly wouldn’t have been the end of the world. There’s no shame in a 10-3 record. However, defeating Kirk Cousins’ team was vital because it proved the organization made the wise decision to move on nine months ago. The symbolism was heavy.

Advertisement

” data-medium-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=788,height=444,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24943833.jpg” data-large-file=”https://vikingsterritory.com/cdn-cgi/image/width=1180,height=787,fit=crop,quality=80,format=auto,onerror=redirect,metadata=none/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24943833.jpg” src=”https://vikingsterritory.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/12/USATSI_24943833-788×444.jpg” alt>

6 — Have we ever seen a defensive back like Byron Murphy intercept a pass with one hand — and not even bother cradling it with the other hand? What a baller move. Wide receivers do it, but it’s typically not a cornerback characteristic.

7— Minnesota procured a 4-for-4 (touchdowns) stat line in the redzone on offense. Man, oh man — does that make all the difference in the world. The squad ranked in the NFL’s bottom third before Sunday’s game per the metric. It flipped the script against Atlanta.

8 — The Vikings also did not create any giveaways. They’re typically good for at least one interception or fumble. Kevin O’Connell’s men can beat any team in the business with 100% redzone efficiency and zero turnovers. Write that down.

9 — The magic number is 1. If Minnesota wins next week or the Los Angeles Rams lose, it’s in the playoff dance. It will happen.

Advertisement

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the University of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his daily YouTube Channel, VikesNow. The show features guests, analysis, and opinion on all things related to the purple team, with 4-7 episodes per week. His MIN obsession dates back to 1996. Listed guilty pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ Basset Hounds, and The Doors (the band). He follows the NBA as closely as the NFL. 

All statistics provided by Pro Football Reference / Stathead; all contractual information provided by OverTheCap.com.