EAGAN, Minn. — Play style shows up on the first snap.

It's the lean on a defensive line by the offensive line that carves a running lane; the push from the defensive front that collapses the pocket or puts o-linemen on skates; and the tackle or block that extends through the whistle.

Play style shows up on the final snap, as well.

It was seen in Sam Darnold standing tall and completing six passes in a row after taking a sack on the initial snap of Minnesota's overtime possession at Chicago, and evident in every revolution of players' worn-out legs with momentum overwhelmingly against them after an 11-point lead went with the wind.

Minnesota's brow-furling 30-27 win over the Bears in Week 12 demanded a play style of the best kind.

The type that Vikings outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard demonstrated Sunday on the second snap in the window labeled "free football." Head Coach Kevin O'Connell called it the "perfect clip of play style."

It definitely was the strangest, too.

Greenard burst off the ball and plotted a path to Bears quarterback Caleb Williams and was promptly met by tight end Cole Kmet and running back D'Andre Swift. Greenard churned his feet, left, right, left, right, left, and battled the double team block for the slowest-motion four seconds. He didn't dare stop.

Suddenly, and simultaneously, both players abandoned their blocks and pivoted toward the No. 1 draft pick in an attempt to be receiving outlets for him. But Williams had no chance to set his feet, because Greenard kept churning, and seized his opportunity to collect a second sack and fourth tackle for a loss.

"He just kept straining, kept playing. You know, every moment, every blade of grass, everything mattered, and then to get [Williams] on the ground," O'Connell expressed. "I mean, you guys saw how hard, even when we had some guys that had some free runs at him, he's still a very difficult player to get on the ground, and not allow him to eventually create something by attacking outside the pocket. I thought it was a massive, massive play. [Greenard] had a phenomenal game yesterday. He really did."

Greenard and so many other players in Purple, of course.

Here are four other takeaways from O'Connell's Monday press conference:

1. Selfless superstar

Justin Jefferson is an atypical superstar.

He plays harder instead of pouting when his production slips. He puts teammates on pedestals when they make plays that he can't because defenses are so absorbed with the idea of covering the lid on him.

Frankly, his character is as impressive as his skill set.

Sunday's divisional win signaled the first game in Jefferson's career with fewer than 10 receiving yards (7) through regulation. His final line got a boost with a timely 20-yard catch that got the gears turning in OT.

"He's one of the most competitive people I've ever been around," O'Connell said matter-of-factly. "Like the outcome of him not having a major impact on the game is really not a possibility in his mind."

Jefferson's role was without his usual shock and awe, but it was significant.

First, he generated 45 yards of defensive penalties. Second, he indirectly assisted teammates by drawing so much attention – O'Connell noted that Chicago hadn't matched receivers often in coach Matt Eberflus' tenure, but Jefferson warranted unusual coverage plans. Lastly, he was plugged into the action.

Not every superstar follows through on the latter when a little frustration is fair game.

When O'Connell rewatched Jalen Nailor's touchdown catch, he spotted No. 18 getting involved.

"You turn on the tape and who's the most excited about it? Justin," O'Connell said.

"I love the way Justin handles himself. I love the way he prides himself on his leadership and being a captain," he added. "It's about going 1-0 yesterday in Chicago, but I do feel a responsibility to always let him feel that he's impacting the game, and it's easy for me to say, 'You drew some penalties and you made a couple big catches,' but the actual reality of making plays and the energy and the igniter that he is for our whole team is still a very important thing."

2. Systematic road success

Minnesota owns a .652 winning percentage (15-8) in road games under O'Connell. He also won a "home" game across the pond earlier this season.

The success stems from an offense that's designed by O'Connell to overcome many of the challenges linked to road environments. Even in pressure circumstances, when crowd noise peaks and pre-snap execution can be murkier, there's a recipe to be successful as a unit because of practiced core principles.

"We've tried to build a system that can travel and can play, whether it's a completion-based pass game with explosives that we're hunting via the marriage of the run and the pass, or running the football," O'Connell remarked, noting the value of tempo. "Whether it's a team that's got a real strong pass rush or strong coverages or a match program to Justin, sometimes that added element of tempo allows us to alleviate some of that while still having a good chunk of our offense at our disposal. And then, I think it's just a constant layer of getting drives going, getting some significant gains without going backwards."

Across the league in 2024, passing offenses are averaging lower completion percentages on the road (64.7%) than at home (66%), as well as a worse passer rating (73.5 vs. 75.4). That's not the Vikings case.

Sam Darnold (and Nick Mullens, who went 1-for-1 in relief of Darnold at Chicago) has connected on 68.1% of throws on the road and 67.6% at home and has a road passer rating (103.1) about two points better.

3. Playmaking depth

We were introduced to a version of Minnesota's offense that spells danger for opponents who are determined to throw extra coverage at Jefferson. Defenses, say hello to T.J. Hockenson and Jordan Addison.

The Pro Bowl tight end and 2023 breakout star re-introduced themselves in Week 12 at Soldier Field.

Hockenson returned to pre-ACL injury form, hauling in seven receptions for 114 yards. Addison set career highs in catches (8), yards (162) and long reception (69), and he was the recipient of a red-zone TD. Addison's yardage is the sixth-greatest single-game number this year; only four players have yielded more.

Their games marked the first occasion since 2014 of two Vikings players having 100-plus receiving yards in a game without Jefferson or Stefon Diggs as one of them. The last instance, by the way, occurred when Charles Johnson and Jarius Wright had 103 and 123 yards in Week 14 of the 2014 slate against the Jets.

O'Connell sensed that Addison in particular was due.

"I would just say that I thought he could have a similar type of day if he was able to play four quarters in Tennessee, and probably would have gotten a couple significant looks in that second half," said O'Connell, referencing that Addison left in the third frame in Week 11 due to cramps. "Kind of fast forwarding to this week, just the way he went about preparing, both mentally and then physically, getting ready to roll.

"I just felt like he had that kind of look in his eye all week long," O'Connell shared.

4. Excited to be back at the Bank

Home will have never felt so sweet when the Vikings host Arizona this week.

Minnesota surpassed 4,000 miles of round trip air travel in its three-week stretch of games away from one of the best home-field advantages in the league. Now, Vikings coaches and players can enjoy the warmness of home, even as the weather turns frigid, and embark on an equally long home stint as the holidays approach.

The messaging from O'Connell is consistent.

"I just want to continue to improve. I want to continue to improve," O'Connell reiterated.

"What does our attention to detail look like? Can we overcome whatever things come our way, from a standpoint of injury, adversity, or whatever it may be that all teams go through down the stretch of every NFL season?" he added. "I want our organization, I want our football team, I want everybody to be pushing forward, trying to continue to chase improvement and progression all the way through the end of our season.

"And that just looks like another good week of preparation, a lot of boring stuff, [having] good game plans and having players that when they hit the field, they're gonna be jacked to be back in front of our fans at U.S. Bank [Stadium]. We know it'll be an unbelievable atmosphere, and we've got to give them something to be excited about with our execution and our detail of how we go about the week."