Minnesota Vikings Pre - Bye Week Superlatives

The Undefeated Minnesota Vikings are sitting out the NFL’s Week 6 games as they are on bye. A break after five games is early but the Vikings do have several players that could use the time to get healthy. With that in mind perhaps a Week 6 bye isn’t such a bad thing. Five games in and the Vikings are 5-0. Record-wise, they couldn’t be better. Here are some of the players that were crucial to the terrific start to the season.

Minnesota Vikings Pre - Bye Week Superlatives

Offensive Player of the First Five Games

Aaron Jones Sr., RB

It’d be nice if quarterback Kyler Murray was an easy choice here. That would mean that the Vikings offense was off to a nice start and contributed significantly to the 5-0 start. Unfortunately, Murray didn’t start the season well and the offense has mostly been carried by the defense and special teams. Fortunately, Murray’s play and the offense, in general, was trending upwards the last two games. A significant reason for the Vikings early-season offensive issues was Kyler Murray being knocked out by a couple Green Bay Packers headhunters early in Week 1. He essentially missed two games with a concussion. That had to stall his growth in a new offense. Receiver Justin Jefferson also missed two games with an ankle injury. Murray and Jefferson didn’t play a full game together until Week 5. Is it any surprise that the offense finally found some rhythm in Week 5? 

All of that is to say that the Vikings offense has mostly struggled while the team started the season 5-0. Through those offensive struggles, Aaron Jones Sr. has been a warrior. The Vikings run game was supposed to be a combo deal with Jones and Jordan Mason. Unfortunately, Mason came out of the Week 1 game against the Packers with a thumb injury that required surgery. It landed him on injured reserve. Fortunately, he’s expected back when the Vikings return from their bye week. Mason’s injury resulted in the offense leaning on Jones for four games. For most of those four games, Jones carried the offense. 

Week 1 - Packers:

12 carries 

40 yards 

1 TD

Week 2 - Bears

23 carries

105 yards

Week 3 - Buccaneers

17 carries

58 yards

5 catches 

34 yards

Week 4 - Dolphins

20 carries

94 yards

4 catches 

34 yards

Week 5 - Saints

25 carries

113 yards

1 TD

3 catches

4 yards

Totals:

97 carries

410 yards

2 TDs

12 catches

70 yards

I don’t think the plan was for Jones to ever have 20 carries in a game. Through the first five games, he’s had three games with at least 20 carries. Jones has been the Vikings most consistent offensive threat through the first five games of the season. But he needs his backfield partner over the next 15 games.

Defensive Players of the First Five Games

All of Them. 

Other than the first half of the Week 1 game against the Green Bay Packers, the Minnesota Vikings defense has been brilliant. I still don’t understand what was going on in that first half against the Packers. It was as if the defense collectively missed their wake-up call and didn’t show up until the second half. The thing about the Vikings defense is that it’s very much a team defense. Dallas Turner, Jalen Redmond, Blake Cashman, Eric Wilson, Andrew Van Ginkel, or Byron Murphy Jr., etc. Players have simply taken turns wrecking opposing offense. Take your pick. The Vikings have a collection of impact players. Every starter and most of the backups have made impact plays in the five wins. The scary thing for the rest of the league is that the Vikings defense is just getting started. 

Special Teams Players of the First Five Games

Will Reichard, K

Myles Price, Returner

Like the defense, the Vikings special teams have been outstanding through the first five games. Over those five games, three Vikings players have been named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week.

Isaiah Rodgers

Myles Price 

Will Reichard

Isaiah Rodgers’ field goal block against the Chicago Bears in Week 2 was the play of that game. That was a season-defining play but the Vikings great special teams performance has been highlighted by Will Reichard and Myles Price. 

Myles Price showed kick and punt return potential as an undrafted rookie last season. This season, he’s shown far more than just potential. He’s been explosive. He’s been dangerous. In Week 3, he returned a punt for a touchdown against the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. His 68-yard kick return against the Green Bay Packers triggered the great comeback in that game. He’s averaging 29.8 yards/kick return with a long of 68 yards. He’s averaging a ridiculous 21.6 yards/punt return with that 86-yard touchdown. He’s returning kicks and punts with such confidence. The Vikings have a recent history of impact returners. Percy Harvin, Cordarrelle Patterson, Marcus Sherels, and Kene Nwangwu. Price looks like he’s on a path to join them.

Will Reichard is a beast. He might be as good at his job as any player on the roster. And the Vikings have Justin Jefferson on the roster. He’s gone nearly a year without missing a kick. He’s never missed an extra point. Not only does he not miss, nearly all of his kicks are through the middle of the uprights.