Minnesota Vikings Week 14 Superlatives

The Minnesota Vikings squeaked by the Las Vegas Raiders by the robust score of 3-0. It’s a win. After consecutive losses, the Vikings desperately needed a win. Here are some of the players that made the big win possible.

Offensive Player of the Game

Nick Mullens, QB

Nick Mullens started the season as the Vikings QB2. He was acquired at the end of the 2022 preseason to back up Kirk Cousins. It’s felt like a perfect positional situation. Cousins and Mullens. Then again, what did it matter? Cousins never gets hurt. That changed on Lambeau’s spongy turf in Week 8. Cousins was lost for the season with a torn Achilles. The perfect positional situation wasn’t so perfect as Mullens was rehabbing an injured back. The Vikings were left with only fifth-round rookie Jaren Hall. That lead to the deadline deal for Josh Dobbs. Hall started in Week 9 and finished his second possession of the game with a concussion. Dobbs played on a handful of days of preparation and was a fun revelation. Consecutive wins and a legend was building. For two games and much of a third, Dobbs made necessary and occasionally spectacular plays. Then he and the Vikings offense crashed. Last week and against the Raiders, both were terrible. At least against the Raiders, Dobbs didn’t turn the ball over. That was huge in the 3-0 win. With just under 10 minutes to play, head coach Kevin O’Connell made the quarterback switch to Mullens. The quarterback that was acquired to back up Cousins finally took the field. 

That’s a quick rundown of the Vikings 2023 quarterback situation. 

The Vikings offense felt different with the first snap. Mullens hit tight end T.J. Hockenson for 26 yards with his first throw. His second possession ended with the game-winning points. Mullens was decisive with his throws. He was accurate. For about 10 minutes, the Vikings offense finally looked somewhat crisp. 

Mullens’ short day:

9 completions

13 attempts

83 yards

While I’d like to see Jaren Hall play, I’m guessing that Nick Mullens is the Vikings quarterback moving forward. They are firmly in a playoff chase. Going with the quarterback that was acquired to be QB2 is the right decision when QB1 is down. 

Defensive Player of the Game

Ivan Pace, Jr., LB

The undrafted rookie has been terrific all season. Ivan Pace Jr.’s role in the Vikings rapidly improving defense became even more significant when Jordan Hicks went down with an injury. That put the green dot on his helmet. Viking Nation has known about Pace since training camp. The greater NFL world might’ve learned about him with his game against the Raiders. He was hard to miss. 

Pace’s day:

13 tackles

1 sack

1 tackle for loss

1 interception

If he keeps doing what he’s doing, Pace is on the road to stardom. 

Special Teams Player of the Game

Ryan Wright, P

In a 3-0 game, field position was critical. Ryan Wright did all that he could to keep field position in the Vikings favor. 

Wright’s day:

8 punts

47.9 average

4 punts put the Raiders inside the 20 yard line. 

Wright’s second season as the Vikings punter hasn’t measured up to his excellent rookie season. While his average has been fine, he hasn’t put his punts inside the 20 like he did last year. His worst punt of the year might’ve been his last punt against the Chicago Bears in Week 12. He had the bye week to think about that punt. Against the Raiders, Wright finally looked like the punter that everyone loved last year.