The Minnesota Vikings are somehow sitting at a perfect 4-0 record as Week 5 kicks off, but let’s be real, nobody in the league is actually buying into it. They just squeaked past the Miami Dolphins with a tight 15-10 win at U.S. Bank Stadium, and the overall vibe is less “undefeated juggernaut” and more “wait, how are they winning?” NFL.com went as far as to say, “I think the Vikings are one of the most fraudulent 4-0 teams you’ll ever see.” That’s a pretty wild take for an undefeated squad, and it tells you everything you need to know about the early season.
Kyler Murray’s Offense Is a Hot Mess
So, why the shade on a perfect record? Simple: the offense is flat-out struggling. ESPN.com pointed out that the offense has scored only *one touchdown* since Week 1. Think about that for a second. The Athletic/New York Times called the offense “disjointed even with Kyler Murray healthy again,” and they aren’t wrong. Kevin O’Connell is supposed to be this offensive whiz, but apparently, his complementary chops aren’t showing up. Pro Football Talk even dropped the blunt truth: “Kyler Murray is no longer the Road Runner,” which is pretty damning for a QB known for his agility. NFL.com summed it up perfectly, calling the offense “downright putrid” and making for “a difficult viewing experience each week.” It’s tough to watch an undefeated team when half the game feels like pulling teeth.
Defense and a Kicker Are Carrying the Team
If the offense is a disaster, how in the world are they 4-0? Two words: defense and Will Reichard. Brian Flores is absolutely flexing his defensive chops, and it’s paying off big time. The defense is definitely carrying this team right now, according to CBS Sports’ Pete Prisco, who, by the way, still has them ranked third overall despite the offensive woes. Even 35-year-old Van Noy is still out there making plays, limiting snaps to keep his veteran legs fresh while always defending the run well from the edge.
But let’s talk about the real MVP carrying the load: All-Pro kicker Will Reichard. USA Today highlighted his league-high 42 points scored, which is nearly half of the Vikings’ total of 86 points this season! Get this: Reichard has provided *all of the scoring* in two of Minnesota’s four wins. He’s literally kicking them to victory while the offense fumbles around. That’s a kicker earning his paycheck.
A Bellwether Game in the Big Easy
The power rankings are all over the place, reflecting this weird 4-0 reality. While Pete Prisco has them high at 3rd, NFL.com bumped them down to 11th, and Sports Illustrated dropped them two spots to 13th. Everyone else is kind of in the middle, around 7th, 8th, or 9th. This wide range tells you nobody truly knows what to make of this squad.
Up next, the Vikings are heading to the Big Easy to face the Saints. Sports Illustrated is calling this a “bellwether game” for Kyler Murray, and they’re right. The Saints’ Brandon Staley-led defense was just “put into a blender” by Michael Penix Jr. and Tommy Rees on Monday Night Football, so this is Murray’s chance. He’s got three starts under his belt against Carson Wentz at this point, giving him a decent sample size. Can he finally quiet all the noise surrounding this “fraudulent” offense? This Week 5 matchup will tell us a lot about whether the Vikings are truly contenders or just lucky.
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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