The Minnesota Vikings are already 2-0 to start the season, pulling off an ugly 9-3 win over the Chicago Bears on a rain-soaked, sloppy Soldier Field. What makes that even wilder? Both wins are against division rivals, and they’re doing it with a backup quarterback at the helm.
Defense Rules Everything Around Them
Brian Flores’ defense is absolutely dialed in, man. Holding the Bears to just 3 points, fresh off crushing the Packers last week with his unique blitzing scheme, has everyone in the league raising an eyebrow. Is this for real? Dallas Turner? Yeah, he’s officially made the leap, no question. He put up ten quarterback pressures against the Bears, capping it all off with a sack that sealed the victory. Jalen Redmond was right there with him, causing chaos with two QB pressures, a batted pass, a huge forced fumble on the one yard line, and four tackles, every single one a stop. That kind of disruptive play changes games, period. And shout out to Isaiah Rodgers, who allowed just one catch for seven yards in coverage, almost iced the game with a PBU that nearly became an interception, and even blocked a field goal that could have tied it late. On a day where one misstep on that sloppy field could have cost them everything, the entire defensive secondary left absolutely nothing for Caleb Williams to hit downfield. Stifling doesn’t even begin to cover it.
Grinding Out W’s
Look, it wasn’t pretty, Kevin O’Connell admits it, but his team was prepared. Winning a tough road game in those sloppy conditions, with limited execution thanks to Carson Wentz and the weather, shows serious coaching acumen. No turnovers? Few penalties? Just enough playmaking on both sides of the ball to get the W? That’s how you win ugly. Will Reichard was clutch too, hitting all three field goal attempts in those brutal conditions. That’s not easy, but the dude has been automatic for a while now, and he showed up when they needed him. And Aaron Jones? Dude was a certified bell cow, grinding out over 100 yards rushing on 23 carries for 4.6 yards per attempt, absorbing big hits including a helmet-to-helmet shot, and holding onto the ball when it mattered most. That’s pure grit. Even Caleb Banks, who had a rough game overall, showed progress with four tackles, three defensive stops, and a QB pressure. It’s a long road for him to consistency, but that’s a solid step forward in game two.
Seriously, 2-0 with both wins coming against division opponents and a backup QB in charge, this team is just plain impressive. They’re built for these kinds of grind-it-out slugfests. The defense is clearly the engine right now, and if they keep this level of intensity, the rest of the league needs to seriously take notice.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Daily Norseman.
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