Vikings' improbable run takes them to the top

Unless you’re a football nerd, the 2026 Minnesota Vikings aren’t fun to watch, but despite their lack of ¨wow¨ factor, the Vikings sit alone atop the standings at 6-0, remaining unbeaten in a season that very few expected to play out like this.

Minnesota came into the season with an over under of just 8.5 wins, according to Vegas Insider. But after just seven weeks, they now have a 90% chance of making the playoffs.

While the fact that they are the best team in the league right now is a surprise to many, there is no mystery about why they are in the position they are in.

The Minnesota Vikings have a once-in-a-generation defense that is good enough to lead them all the way to the Super Bowl.

Minnesota’s defense is impenetrable

Minnesota’s defense has been good for years thanks to the scheme defensive coordinator Brian Flores installed with the Vikings.

But as good as the defense has been in past seasons, the unit has become a different kind of monster in 2026.

The Vikings were fourth in the league in points allowed per drive in 2024 (1.78) and fourth again in 2025 (1.79). This season, they are allowing an anemic 1.10 points per possession, according to Next Level Stats.

The only team that has come close to that mark since 2015 is the 2019 New England Patriots, who allowed 1.11 points per drive.

That bodes well for their Super Bowl chances because the last three winners were all top-3 in that category.

The Vikings are forcing three-and-outs on 25.8% of their defensive possessions (5th) and have allowed a red zone touchdown on just 23.1% of possessions inside the 20, which is league best. They’ve only allowed 7 total touchdowns through Week 7.

Those advanced statistics are reflected in their other rankings. The Vikings are allowing just 12.3 points per game (1st), 252.8 yards per game (2nd), and 155 passing yards per game (2nd).

If there is a hole in the Vikings’ defense it’s a small one in the running game where they are allowing 97.8 yards per game, good enough for tenth-best in the NFL.

The Vikings offense is as bad as the defense is good

Thankfully for the rest of the league, the Vikings offense is just as inept as the defense is brilliant. The Vikings are second to last in offensive success rate at 36.1%. Their -0.096 EPA is fourth-worst. Their passing EPA of -0.073 is 8th worst. The Vikings are only scoring 1.97 points per drive (24th).

Minnesota’s choice to trade JJ McCarthy in favor of Kyler Murray looks like a blessing in disguise for the former first rounder, because his young career probably couldn’t survive the slow start the Vikings’ offense is experiencing under Kyler Murray.

And it’s weird because the Vikings have a ton of talent on that side of the ball. Justin Jefferson is still one of the best wide receivers in the league. There are few WR2s better than Jordan Addison and any team would love have a possession receiver like Jauan Jennings as their third option.

Now that they have their two-headed backfield back intact with the return of Jordan Mason and the consistency of Aaron Jones, it seems like the Vikings are set at their skill positions. But for whatever reason, Kyler Murray just hasn’t been able to put the offensive puzzle together.

Vikings head coach Kevin O’Connell, who was hired as an offensive guru and quarterback whisperer, says that his side of the ball is close to putting it all together.

¨I like the guys’ energy,¨O’Connell said in his remarks after Sunday’s 16-10 win over the Colts. ¨Nine explosives on offense, but we left a lot out there and I think our guys are very confident that we’re not very far off.¨

Later in that press conference he was asked what he thought the ¨last step¨was for the Vikings to figure it out on offense. ¨Whether it’s pass game or run game, when we stack positive plays, we move the football. We got ourselves into some third-and-longers,¨O’Connell said.