The Minnesota Vikings have been one of the surprises of the 2024 NFL season. Many analysts believed they would finish at the bottom of the NFC North. However, they are currently pushing the Detroit Lions to become the division lead. Sam Darnold has looked confident in this Kevin O’Connell offense. Defensive coordinator Brain Flores is making opposing offenses uncomfortable. Everyone continues to wait for a drop-off, but it simply hasn’t come yet. Here are three numbers to know for the Vikings at the midseason mark.
30.2: Pressure percentage by the Minnesota Vikings
This season has been all about the defense. Yes, Sam Darnold has been a major storyline but it’s been the defense that has made big plays to win games. The Minnesota Vikings generate a 30.2% pressure rate. They lead the league right ahead of the Los Angeles Rams (29.1), New York Jets (28.1), and Dallas Cowboys (28.1). This isn’t necessarily surprising if you have been following this team since Flores took over. He loves to bring pressure, and it has led to lots of sacks. The team has 27 total in the season, which is tied for sixth in the league. However, there is a caveat to this number.
Much of this pressure is coming from blitzes. Teams blitz more when they have issues in coverage or are getting pressure from their front four. Minnesota has an aging group of veterans in the secondary. While they have been solid, they have also been susceptible if the pressure does not get there. The Vikings need to keep this league-leading pressure rate going for the rest of the season, or they could find themselves giving up more points.
17: Passing touchdowns by Sam Darnold
Sam Darnold was supposed to be a placeholder for JJ McCarthy. In the preseason, people were having conversations about what week Darnold would be benched for McCarthy. Obviously, the season-ending injury to the former Michigan quarterback squashed the possibility of that happening, but even if he was healthy, I’m not sure he would be playing. Darnold has been good for the Minnesota Vikings. His 17 passing touchdowns are tied for fourth in the league with Kirk Cousins and Josh Allen. Only Baker Mayfield (23), Lamar Jackson (24), and Joe Burrow (24) have more.
The interceptions are starting to creep up a little. He has seven, which is on the higher side among starting quarterbacks. A few of them have been bone-headed mistakes. Last Sunday versus the Colts, Darnold gave away the ball in the red zone on a bad read. However, football is a team sport, so the defense can often pick up the slack. Right now, the good outweighs the bad. Darnold is becoming the poster child for the right player in the wrong franchise.
6,784: Record for most receiving yards through 5 seasons
NFL legend Torry Holt holds this record. He has held this record since 2003, when he took the league by storm, catching balls for “The Greatest Show On Turf.” Justin Jefferson should absolutely shatter this record. The All-Pro receiver currently sits at 6,682 yards, only 102 yards from overtaking Holt. Before the season, there were concerns that Darnold would not be able to mesh with Jefferson the same way Kirk Cousins did. That has not been the case. Since week 1, Jefferson has had at least 80 receiving yards and has broken the 100-yard barrier three times.
Jefferson won’t simply beat this. He is going to reset the bar for wide receivers in the first five seasons. What has been more impressive is how many games it has taken Jefferson to reach these numbers. Holt’s 6,784 yards were done in 80 games. Jefferson has only needed 68 games to get to where he is now. He could break the record with 10+ games to spare. He is an unbelievable talent to watch, and if he continues this pace, he could go down as the greatest statistical wide receiver in NFL history.
Final Thoughts
At some point, we have to stop waiting for the Minnesota Vikings drop-off and accept this team is a legitimate playoff contender. They held their own versus the Lions in a 31-29 loss earlier this season. Their remaining schedule is full of winnable games. The last two might be the ones that determine the season. They have Green Bay and Detroit at the end of the year, which could have massive implications on who wins the NFC North. Will the Minnesota Vikings continue their Cinderella season, or will the clock strike midnight in the second half of the year?
