If you stop and think for a moment what the Vikings have been through already this season, you just shake your head. Offensive Line Coach Tony Sparano died just before training camp. Legendary trainer Fred Zamberletti died, Hall-of-Famer Alan Page lost his wife Diane, veteran defensive back Keith Nord also died, and now popular running back Bill Brown passed at age 80 on Saturday. His daughter is married to ex-Vikings quarterback Rich Gannon.
After winning an important Division game Sunday 24-9 at U.S. Bank Stadium over the Detroit Lions, the Vikings are 5-3-1 after nine weeks. They are still chasing the 5-3 Chicago Bears in the NFC North and will travel to Chicago on November 18 for the first of two with the Bears.
Since 1961 when the Vikings were born in the NFL, Detroit has been good for the Vikings. Sunday’s win was the 40th time the Vikings have beaten the Lions in Minnesota (40-16-1).
All-time, the Vikings are 73-39-2 vs Motown’s Lions. Sunday the Vikings set a franchise all-time record with 10 sacks of quarterback Matthew Stafford.
Defensive star Danielle Hunter led on Sunday — he had three and half sacks, recovered a fumble, and raced 32 yards for a touchdown. Hunter leads the NFL with 11 and a half sacks.
The bye this week for the Vikings, winners of four of their last five games, could be good. They get to reflect on the first nine games and assess what they’ve been through to this point —the could-have-beens — and measure where they are.
The 8-1 Los Angeles Rams and 7-1 New Orleans Saints are positioned with the best records right now, with the top seeds in the NFC for the all-important byes if they continue and qualify for the playoffs. The Vikings had a shot at both the Rams in LA, which they lost 38-31, and the Saints, another loss, 30-20.
With seven games left, the first prize is the NFC North Division title again, and with four Division games it’s going to be there for the Vikings to take. So far, wide receiver Adam Thielen has been sensational.
The Pro Bowl receiver is on an historic pace, leading the NFL with 78 catches for 978 yards and seven touchdowns. He has already achieved an all-time NFL record this season for starting the season with eight consecutive 100-yard games.
Quarterback Kirk Cousins has been very good. He’s led the Vikings throwing for 2,685 yards, second-highest total in the NFL, with 17 touchdown passes, just five interceptions, and he’s completing 71 percent of his passes.
The Vikings signed him to a record $84 million three-year contract. His biggest question mark is win percentage; his career mark was 26-30-1.With the Vikings he’s 5-3-1, so it’s improved to 31-33-2. He is on pace for a fourth straight 4,000-yard season and 20-plus touchdowns.
Injuries have been an issue for the Vikings, mentally and physically. Everson Griffen is back and had one and a half sacks Sunday. However, Anthony Barr, Andrew Sendejo, Stefon Diggs, and several offensive linemen did not play.
If they get totally healthy over the next seven weeks and improve their special teams, the Vikings can play with anyone.
Larry Fitzgerald can be heard weekday mornings on KMOJ Radio 89.9 FM at 8:25 am, on WDGY-AM 740 Monday and Friday at 9:10 am, and at www.Gamedaygold.com. He also commentates on sports 7-8 pm on Almanac (TPT channel 2). Follow him on Twitter at FitzBeatSr. Larry welcomes reader responses to info@larry-fitzgerald.com, or visit www.Larry-Fitzgerald.com.