Vikings Vow to Keep away from Bigheadedness

The Minnesota Vikings are unexpectedly 5-1 to start out 2022, however the group’s leaders are nicely conscious such a document may slip away in a heartbeat.

The Arizona Cardinals journey to Minneapolis for a date with the Vikings after Minnesota’s bye week, and numerous outstanding purple gamers are vowing to keep away from bigheadedness.

Six years in the past, the franchise began the common season with a 5-0 document, had a bye week (like proper now for the 2022 Vikings), and wound up with an 8-8 document three months later, plus a session with the couch for the postseason.

Harrison Smith

Keenly conscious of complacency, despite the fact that neither was aside of the 2016 group, head coach Kevin O’Connell and working again Dalvin Prepare dinner talked this week about sustaining the stellar begin.

“To me, 5-1 is a great start but means absolutely nothing each and every Sunday that we get opportunities to go play from here on out,” O’Connell instructed the Pioneer Press.

The Vikings have gained 4 straight video games after a lackadaisical efficiency on the Philadelphia Eagles in Week 2. And earlier than the season, Minnesota was preliminarily pegged as a 9-8 group or so by most pundits and sportsbooks.

Dalvin Prepare dinner echoed O’Connell’s sentiments to the Pioneer Press, too.

“As a young player, I might have looked ahead,” Prepare dinner mentioned to the Pioneer Press’ Dane Mizutani. “Now, I know it’s a young season.”

Oct 16, 2022; Miami Gardens, Florida, USA; Miami Dolphins linebacker Andrew Van Ginkel (43) tackles Minnesota Vikings working again Dalvin Prepare dinner. Obligatory Credit score: Wealthy Storry-USA TODAY Sports activities.

In 2021, the Baltimore Ravens began 5-1 and missed the playoffs, because of a 3-8 end. And 7 years in the past, in 2015, the Atlanta Falcons collapsed following a 5-1 begin, ending that marketing campaign with a .500 document.

Furthermore, that’s possible why Vikings followers are cautiously optimistic via seven weeks. Some onlookers of the group merely aren’t satisfied Minnesota has the oomph to be taken critically. Why? Nicely, the Vikings haven’t demolished any opponents sans a 24-7 Week 1 conquer the Packers. All of Minnesota’s wins since Week 1 have been inside a margin of eight factors.

On the entire, although, there’s no discernible cause why the 2022 Vikings would emulate the 2016 squad. The teaching workers is completely totally different, a brand new normal supervisor took over in January, and the roster solely has a couple of 2016 holdovers, together with Harrison Smith, Adam Thielen, Danielle Hunter, and Eric Kendricks.

With or with out O’Connell’s and Prepare dinner’s dedication to non-complacency, the Vikings have 6.5 to 1 odds of reaching Tremendous Bowl LVII.

Six of the Vikings remaining 11 video games will happen at U.S. Financial institution Stadium.

Dustin Baker is a political scientist who graduated from the College of Minnesota in 2007. Subscribe to his each day YouTube Channel, VikesNow. He hosts a podcast with Bryant McKinnie, which airs each Wednesday with Raun Sawh and Sally from Minneapolis. His Viking fandom dates again to 1996. Listed responsible pleasures: Peanut Butter Ice Cream, ‘The Sopranos,’ and The Doorways (the band).

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