The 2024-25 NFL season is in full swing, and most teams have played 7-9 matches. Due to this, we now have a better idea of how teams are performing, and how the conferences are shaping up. One team that is making the headlines is the Minnesota Vikings.
The Vikings ultimately failed to make the playoffs last season and finished 3rd in the NFC North Division with a below .500 record. With changes during the offseason and a few new acquisitions, the Vikings were looking to make more of an impact and push for a playoff spot this season.
So far, as you can see in this study iGamingNuts published, the Vikings have started the 2024-25 season in better fashion. But is this sustainable, what are the problems they still face, and what can they do to further shore-up their roster and performances?
Vikings Current 2024-25 Season Summary
Things are currently looking decent for Minnesota, and they have started the 2024-25 season off with strong form. We’ve summarised their current performance and stats below:
- NFC North Standing: 2nd
- Match Record to Date: Won 6, Lost 2
- Win Percentage: 0.750
- Home Record to Date: 4-1
- Away Record to Date: 2-1
They are one of only 4 teams with a record of .750 or more in the Eastern Conference and are currently ranked 2nd in their NFC North division behind the Detroit Lions who have a 1-game advantage.
Upcoming Game Schedule
The upcoming game schedule includes:
- The Jaguars
- The Titans
- The Bears
- The Cardinals
- The Falcons
Out of those 5 games, the Vikings should realistically win at least 3, but there is no reason why they can’t extend their season record to 10-3 if they also manage to beat the Falcons or Cardinals who are also performing well.
Problems the Vikings Face
The #Vikings have placed LS Andrew DePaola and K Will Reichard on IR.
— Minnesota Vikings (@Vikings) November 5, 2024
Despite a relatively strong start to the season, the Vikings are not without problems, and there is still room for improvement in the squad and structure of the organization.
In the immediate future, injuries to Andrew DePaola and Will Reichard mean that they are essentially without a reliable field goal kicking combo. DePaola requires minor surgery on his hand and is expected to be out for at least four games, while Reichard has a minor quadriceps injury, and his availability is questionable.
This is a major blow as until this point, they were both performing exceptionally and contributed to the Viking’s fantastic field goal conversion rate and percentage. Backups will need to be utilized until both are fit to play and this could cause some disruption.
Other issues that have plagued the Vikings and caused inconsistencies include the lack of efficiency for their running game, the need for an improvement at the lead back and running back spots, and perhaps their playing style for their offensive lines and zone-based scheme.
How Can These Problems Be Tackled
The kicking problem isn’t really solvable – the Vikings just need to get DePaola and Reichard fit and back to a football playing standard.
Concentrate on Ty Chandler as the Lead Back
With the release of Alexander Mattison earlier in the year, it was clear that the Vikings knew they needed to change their lead back. This has cleared the path for Ty Chandler to flourish and become the main lead back and this is something the need to concentrate on. He showed promise at the end of last season and has had an excellent start this year.
Look for Another Running Back
The running back position has also historically been something the Vikings have struggled with and it’s definitely an area where they could explore more options. There have been plenty of options available in free agency.
Aside from Ty Chandler, they have Aaron Jones and Cam Akers as running backs. Jones is a tried-and-tested veteran at 29 and has plenty of experience, but there are still better options available, and he has already had a decent career, so some question how much he has left in the tank.
Consider a Change of Offensive Philosophy
Lastly, perhaps a change of philosophy and a shakeup of the Minnesota offence and schemes could also make a difference. Adding new talent at the running back and lead back positions will definitely help, but there have been issues with things like their rushing concepts and offensive line rankings. Perhaps looking at their schemes, plays and rotations is just as important as a roster shake-up.
Vikings Improving But More Work Needed
We hope you have found this article on the Vikings 2024-25 season progression interesting. With an above-average schedule in the upcoming weeks, and a strong 6-2 start to the year, the Vikings certainly look to be improving on their disappointing 2023-24 outing.
However, injuries to their kickers could cause an issue, and it’s clear that they still need to iron out some creases in their squad. This includes improvements to their running game efficiency, lead back and running back spots, and maybe a look at their overall offensive schemes and philosophy.
It will be interesting to see if they can continue their great form and pull off dominating wins against the lower-ranked Jaguars, Titans, and Bears. It will also be interesting to see how the Vikings shape up against the more serious contenders of the Cardinals and Falcons – these matches will be the real test.