Whether it's been through their play on the field (and last week's pitch) or via a celebration that went viral on social media, the Minnesota Vikings 5-0 start in 2024 has been quite the conversation starter.
Fresh off a 23-17 victory over the New York Jets on Sunday at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, the Vikings are one of only two undefeated teams left in the NFL, joining the back-to-back champion Kansas City Chiefs (5-0). Both teams have their byes this week.
Minnesota's 5-0 start this season is its 10th in franchise history and the first since 2016. Prior to the 2016 season, the Vikings reached the 5-0 mark each year from 1973 to 1976 (Minnesota was 5-0-1 through Week 6 in 1976) as well as in 1998, 2000 (the team had a Week 4 bye), 2003 and 2009.
There are several contributing factors behind the Vikings hot start. As the team gets a well-earned rest this week, here's some stats, per Pro Football Focus, to think about during the break:
– QB Sam Darnold leads the NFL or is tied for first in completions (11), completion percentage (52.4 percent) and touchdowns (three) and ranks second in yards (370) on deep passes (20-plus yards). Darnold is also just one of two quarterbacks this season with at least five touchdowns and zero interceptions on short passes (0-9 yards), with Tampa Bay's Baker Mayfield being the other.
– When given a clean pocket, Darnold is second (with a minimum of 95 attempts) in the NFL in average time to throw (2.68 seconds) and in passer rating (113.0), trailing San Francisco's Brock Purdy (2.80 seconds) and Mayfield (117.7). When blitzed, Darnold is tied for first with Detroit's Jared Goff in passing yards per attempt (10.5 yards; min. 30 attempts) and second behind Cincinnati's Joe Burrow in passer rating (132.1 for Darnold; 143.3 for Burrow; min. 30 attempts).
– Minnesota is the only team to have three wide receivers record at least 100 yards, 15 yards per reception and score a touchdown through five games (min. 11 targets). Justin Jefferson leads the way with 449 receiving yards (avg. 17.3/rec.) and four touchdowns, followed Jalen Nailor (137 yards; avg. 17.1/rec.; three scores) and Jordan Addison (143 yards; avg. 15.9/rec.; one touchdown).
– Minnesota's season total of 20 sacks is the most through five games in franchise history since 2000. The Vikings have also recorded at least one interception in five consecutive games to start a season for the first time since 2016.
– The Vikings are just the third team since 1991 with at least 20 sacks and 10 interceptions in the first five games of a season. The other two were the 2019 Patriots (newcomer Stephon Gilmore won Defensive Player of the Year honors that season) and the 2017 Jaguars.
– Jonathan Greenard is one of only two NFL players to have at least five pressures in every game this season, joining Detroit's Aidan Hutchinson.
– LB Andrew Van Ginkel is just the 10th Viking in franchise history to return two interceptions for touchdowns in a season and the first since teammate Harrison Smith in 2012. Dallas CB Daron Bland set the NFL single-season record for most pick sixes with five in 2023.
– Smith became just the seventh DB in NFL history to reach at least 30 career interceptions and 20 career sacks. The Vikings safety joins Rodney Harrison (34 interceptions and 30.5 sacks) and Hall of Famers Charles Woodson (65 and 20), Larry Wilson (52 and 21), Ronde Barber (47 and 28), LeRoy Butler (38 and 20.5) and Brian Dawkins (37 and 26).
– Tackles Brian O'Neill and Christian Darrisaw rank inside the top 20 in the NFL in pass blocking efficiency (min. 173 pass blocking snaps). O'Neill sits in sixth at 98.1 percent while Darrisaw is tied for 19th at 96.5 percent. The duo has combined to allow just 15 pressures and two sacks this season.
– Ivan Pace, Jr., is third in the NFL in run stop percentage (23.8 percent). He also leads all linebackers in the category, with teammate Kamu Grugier-Hill right behind him (20 percent).
Despite Minnesota's win, the team didn't move at all in this week's Power Rankings. Here's a look at where the Vikings rank going into Week 6:
No. 1 (no change): Eric Edholm, NFL.com
The bye week would have felt a lot different had the Vikings somehow coughed up Sunday's game in London after jumping out to a 17-0 lead. But as shaky as things got, all three phases contributed in a notable way to the 23-17 victory over the Jets, pushing the dream start of this campaign to 5-0. Sam Darnold struggled worse than he had all season, badly overthrowing an interception into traffic that opened the door for Aaron Rodgers and the Jets. The offense struggled with the loss of RB Aaron Jones to a hip injury, but Darnold made enough big throws late. Andrew Van Ginkel's pick six opened the early floodgates, and Gilmore's pick closed the door. But don't forget rookie Will Reichard's three big field goals in crummy weather, two of them from beyond 50 yards. It's OK to win ugly sometimes.
No. 2 (no change): NFL Staff, Bleacher Report
For much of their undefeated start, the Minnesota Vikings have been propelled by some of the best play of Sam Darnold's career. Sunday in London, the seventh-year veteran had easily his worst game of the season — just 14 completions in 31 attempts for 179 yards with an interception.
It didn't matter. Because as good teams often do, when one facet of the game falters, another steps in to take up the slack.
For the Vikings in Week 5, it was the defense that saved the day. The Vikings picked off Aaron Rodgers three times Sunday — including the first time Rodgers has ever been intercepted twice in the first quarter. One of those interceptions was returned 63 yards for a touchdown by edge-rusher Andrew Van Ginkel — his second pick six of the season.
On a day when the Vikings lost lead running back Aaron Jones to a hip injury, Minnesota gained just 82 yards on 30 carries and Darnold struggled, Minnesota put the clamps on Rodgers and the Jets. New York had just 254 yards of offense, turned the ball over three times and was held to five third-down conversions in 17 attempts.
Now the Vikings will head into their off week in a position that no one expected — as the lone undefeated team in the NFC, and a team near the top of the Bleacher Report NFL Power Rankings.
"After five weeks, it's OK for everyone to start believing in the Vikings," [Bleacher Report NFL analyst Brent] Sobleski said. "More importantly, Sam Darnold played his worst game of the year, and the team still won. When the quarterback doesn't perform well yet his squad still finds a path toward victory, it's officially a good all-around team. Darnold will bounce back. The Jets feature a good defense, and this particular contest had the extenuating circumstances of being played in London. A bye week comes at the perfect time, as the Vikings now have two weeks to prepared for the rival Detroit Lions."
View postgame celebration photos from the Vikings 23-17 win over the Jets in Week 5 of the 2024 season.
No. 2 (no change): Pete Prisco, CBS Sports
The offense showed some flaws against the Jets, but the defense came up big again. Brian Flores is doing one heck of a job with that unit.
No. 2 (no change): Nate Davis, USA Today
They wobbled out of London with a close-shave victory in which QB Sam Darnold looked like … Sam Darnold. RB Aaron Jones' hip injury further hindered the offense. Good thing there's more to this team – like a ferocious defense featuring OLB Andrew Van Ginkel, the first player in league history to record at least three sacks and multiple pick sixes in the first five weeks of a season.
No. 3 (no change): Conor Orr, Sports Illustrated
While the paint job seems to be thinning a bit on the Vikings supernova, this team has given itself an incredible runway and gets a massive showdown with the Lions after its bye week. An early self-scout and a rest period for veterans like Aaron Jones are coming at the right time. Brian Flores can evolve on a scheme that no one can seem to figure out. We'll have to wait another week for the latest Andrew Van Ginkel pick six.
View the Vikings in Big Head Mode following their win over the New York Jets at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
No. 2 (no change): Vinnie Iyer, Sporting News
The Vikings have done everything to prove their worth as the best team in the NFC, thanks mostly to Andrew Van Ginkel and the rest of Brian Flores' defense. They're not "perfect" as an undefeated team with some offensive kinks, but their résumé is strong with the Jets being the latest victim.
No. 2 (no change): Frank Schwab, Yahoo! Sports
We'll see how well the Jets win ages, but we can put it in the quality win bucket for now. That's four impressive wins in a row for the Vikings. The offense wasn't great, but that was against a tough defense. No team has looked more complete this season.
