Oddsmakers Remain Skeptical of Minnesota Vikings

Adjustments following the Week 1 victory included just a single additional win. Oddsmakers bumped Minnesota to 7.5, and keeping them in last for the division. The Vikings started by grabbing a quick tally in the win column. It came against an opponent they were expected to beat. Things get much more difficult next week as the San Francisco 49ers come to town.

The only NFC North team to lose in Week 1 was the Green Bay Packers. They played the Philadelphia Eagles in Brazil, but the story surrounds their quarterback Jordan Love. He suffered a knee injury in the final moments of the game, and will be expected to miss some time. Early indications are that the Packers quarterback doesn’t have a season-ending injury, but he will spend at least a couple of weeks on the sidelines.

How well recently acquired backup Malik Willis steps in should determine where Green Bay finds themselves when Love is ready to return. If the Vikings can keep up their winning ways, it could be the Packers at the bottom of the division as they deal with quarterback issues.

Minnesota’s Week 1 victory was a strong start, but they will need to substantiate the performance against better opponents. If Kevin O’Connell can beat Kyle Shanahan for a second straight season, it would be surprising if oddsmakers don’t get more on board. Darnold performed well against a lackluster defense, but beating his previous employer would be a strong statement victory.

The Minnesota Vikings could wind up being the 2024 version of the Houston Texans. If Darnold’s performance carries over on a weekly basis, it wouldn’t be shocking to see the entire team take a step forward from where they finished a year ago.