Hiring former Los Angeles Rams offensive coordinator Kevin O’Connell has done wonders for the Minnesota Vikings. They are finding ways to win with their offense humming and their defense remaining consistent, and have been on the fringe of playoff contention over the past few seasons.
However, their fortune may change in 2023 as they are looking like contenders to enter the playoffs as a wild card berth. They may be a team to back if you can find good value NFL betting odds this year.
Kirk Cousins remains the Vikings’ starting quarterback after signing a one-year, $35 million extension, and will enjoy the benefit of having a talented backfield with Dalvin Cook and Alexander Mattison. The Vikings also have one of the top wide receivers in Justin Jefferson and have a solid support group with K.J. Osborn, Adam Thielen, and Irv Smith Jr.
Meanwhile, Christian Darrisaw and Brian O’Neill have been solid assets on their offensive line. The Vikings have leaders in defense like Dalvin Tomlinson, Harrison Phillips, and Za’Darius Smith, who they’ve signed from the Green Bay Packers. Their secondary also features Patrick Peterson, Cameron Dantzler Sr., Camryn Bynum, and Harrison Smith.
In special teams, Greg Joseph also converted five field goal attempts to help the Vikings win over the New Orleans Saints in London, England.
The Vikings started their 2022-23 season strong by winning three of their first four games. That’s not a surprise, considering how close they’ve been to entering the postseason in 2020 and 2021.
The Vikings finished with an 8-9 record last year and 7-9 the season before. They’ve had two playoff wins since 2017 and made the NFC Championship once. Unfortunately, they lost that game to the eventual Super Bowl champions Philadelphia Eagles.
The Minnesota Vikings franchise was established in 1960 as an NFL expansion team. The team played their first season the following year and at the time called Metropolitan Stadium home. The Vikings won the 1969 NFL Championship but have never won a Super Bowl in four tries. Aside from four conference championships, the Vikings also have 20 division titles and 30 playoff appearances.
Today the Vikings play their home games at U.S. Bank Stadium. It was opened in 2016 and can accommodate up to 66,860 spectators. The old Metrodome was torn down to give way for its current location. It has a fixed roof like Detroit’s Ford Field, meaning the wind isn’t a factor during throws and kicks.
Vikings fans are some of the most devoted in the league and can be vocal in their support during games. The stadium's translucent roof and walls help sound to bounce inside the arena so the noise generated by the crowd is amplified further, making it more challenging for visiting teams to execute their plays. Fans have also adopted the Viking clap, which sends chills down the spines of opposing squads.
The Minnesota Vikings have rivalries with their fellow NFC North squads. They lead their overall series with the Chicago Bears, 63-57-2, and have won their last two meetings. The Vikings also led their rivalry against the Detroit Lions, 80-40-2, and won their matchup in Week 3 of the 2022 season. Finally, the Packers have a 64-57-3 lead, but the Vikings won their season-opening matchup this year.
