The wins just keep coming for the 2024 Minnesota Vikings. The team started the season 5-0 and were the talk of the NFL. Then, after two straight losses, the conversation turned quickly on them. Now, after reeling off four straight wins — albeit in…not the most impressive fashion — the Vikings are back amongst the best teams in the NFL.
This week, like the previous two wins, wasn’t always pretty. The team got off to a slow and painful start, with running back Aaron Jones fumbling on the Bears’ 2-yard line, stopping a drive from putting points on the board.
Soon after the fumble, the Vikings lost key players on both sides of the ball. Linebacker Ivan Pace suffered a hamstring injury, followed by left tackle Cam Robinson suffering a foot injury.
Luckily for the Vikings, things calmed down, and they were able to put some drives together, get points on the board, and put themselves in the drivers’ seat for the game. But it wouldn’t have been a Vikings game lately if they didn’t make it interesting.
The team gave up 17 points in the fourth quarter, allowing the Bears to send the game to overtime. Ultimately, the Vikings prevailed, and we will get to see another victory on Monday. Here are your Studs and Duds from the Vikings’ fourth straight win.
Stud: Vikings’ special teams unit
Mandatory Credit: Mike Dinovo-Imagn Images
It feels weird to start off a Studs and Duds piece talking about the special teams unit as the first highlight of the game. That might lead you to believe that the Vikings’ offense struggled on the day, and that’s not the case — as we’ll get to in a minute. But the fact of the matter is that the Vikings’ special teams unit is the reason Minnesota won this game — making several plays that were pivotal in the victory.
It started with the Vikings blocking a field goal attempt by Cairo Santos and the Bears in the first quarter, making it two straight kicks the Bears’ kicker had blocked. Later, in the third quarter, the Vikings’ punt coverage team came away with possession after the Bears’ return man allowed a punt to careen off his leg.
It was capped off with a new kicker, John Parker Romo, making a kick in overtime to give the team the win after a truly epic collapse, forcing overtime in the first place. Without the third phase firing on all cylinders today, the Vikings probably don’t escape with the win.
Dud: Vikings’ fourth quarter…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at Vikings Wire…