VIKINGS UPDATE: From 100-1 outsiders to unbeaten – how Vikings became NFL’s feel-good story

Linebacker Jonathan Greenard might joke about the Minnesota Vikings’ impressive start to the NFL season, but significant effort and strategy have gone into their success. The Vikings have defied expectations, remaining one of only two unbeaten teams after five games, alongside last season’s Super Bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs. Pre-season odds indicated that 22 teams had a better chance of reaching the Super Bowl than the 100-1 odds given to Minnesota.

After securing a 23-17 victory over the New York Jets in London on Sunday, many are left questioning how the Vikings have emerged as one of the season’s most uplifting stories.

Having fun and ‘taking nothing for granted’

The Vikings organization faced significant challenges this off-season, including the tragic death of rookie Khyree Jackson and the loss of rookie quarterback JJ McCarthy to a season-ending knee injury. However, head coach Kevin O’Connell and his team have turned that adversity into motivation.

In a conversation with BBC Sport before Sunday’s win, O’Connell emphasized that Jackson’s loss has provided a “reality check,” reminding the team that nothing is guaranteed. He highlighted their sense of gratitude for the opportunity to play.

Since taking over as head coach in February 2022, O’Connell has worked to create an environment where players are excited to come to work every day. After the victory, linebacker Andrew van Ginkel and safety Camryn Bynum expressed their enjoyment of the game, describing it as “a kid’s game” that they play for fun.

For the third consecutive week, Bynum had a celebration planned. After intercepting Aaron Rodgers in the first quarter, he and Josh Metellus recreated the handshake from *The Parent Trap*, which is set in London. Later, when safety Harrison Smith sacked Rodgers in the second quarter, he mimicked Rodgers’ championship belt celebration.

Bynum reflected on their experience, stating, “We have a special job and never take that for granted. It’s crazy. We’re just a bunch of kids that made it to the NFL, and we still feel like kids, so we’ve got to capture this moment.”

‘Controlled chaos’ on defence

After five games, only five teams are scoring more points than the Minnesota Vikings, with star receiver Justin Jefferson ranking third in the league with 450 receiving yards.

However, head coach Kevin O’Connell noted that their offense had to rely on the defense during Sunday’s game, as the Vikings were unable to score a touchdown in the second half. The defense limited the Jets to just 36 rushing yards, hit quarterback Aaron Rodgers 11 times, and intercepted him three times—only the sixth time in his career that he’s been picked off three times in a game, with interceptions coming from Van Ginkel, Bynum, and Stephon Gilmore.

Minnesota’s defense currently ranks second in the NFL for both turnovers (13) and average rushing yards allowed (67.2). Van Ginkel highlighted defensive coordinator Brian Flores’s emphasis on joy, stating, “We’re ultimately playing a kid’s game, and if you’re not enjoying this, then you’re not in the right job.”

Flores, often referred to as ‘Flo’, has fostered a selfless defensive unit that Greenard describes as “controlled chaos.” He added, “Four or five players made game-changing plays, and everyone was just as excited as if they made the play. That’s what [Flores] has instilled in all of us: ‘Hey, your time is coming. Don’t panic, don’t be selfish, don’t play hero-ball.’ We never know who can make the play.”

A ‘hungry’ roster with ‘something to prove’

With McCarthy’s injury, Sam Darnold is set to start the season as the primary quarterback for the first time in three years. The Jets drafted Darnold third overall in 2018, but he was traded in 2020 and later let go by Carolina, before serving as San Francisco’s backup last season.

“There are a lot of guys who are still hungry and have faced adversity,” said Greenard. “They’re in that mindset of proving themselves. This whole team embodies that attitude.”

During pre-season training, Greenard noted the Vikings’ strong work ethic, realizing, “Oh, y’all are serious about this. You’re not just trying to win the division or prove something; you’re aiming to dominate. I can get behind that.”

He added, “We have so much more to achieve; we still haven’t played our best football. We’re building something good, but our foot’s barely in the water.”

On his own resurgence, Darnold shared, “The biggest thing is to lean on the people you trust. When you have those relationships, you know who you are as a person, and I’m very confident in myself. I feel like we have a lot of guys with that same mindset.”

Vikings ‘won’t start listening’ to Super Bowl speculation

O’Connell shared with BBC Sport that he has “learned to focus on one game at a time” following a tumultuous 2023 season. Despite facing four starting quarterbacks and losing Jefferson to injury twice, the Vikings stayed in playoff contention until late in the year.

His players are united in their approach, and even with a 5-0 record heading into their bye week, they are not swayed by discussions of a potential Super Bowl run. “We weren’t paying attention to what people were saying before the season, so why start now?” Darnold remarked.

The 27-year-old, currently enjoying the best winning streak of his career, added, “I feel good, we’re gaining momentum, but there’s still plenty of room for improvement. The key elements for us are consistency and resiliency. That’s our identity. We focus on staying consistent and having the resilience to take it one play at a time, and that’s our mindset as an offense and as a team.”