After 12 weeks, the Minnesota Vikings have been one of the more debated teams among the national media. The power rankings have them scattered throughout the top 10 and have been incredibly varied throughout their rise to 9-2.
One of the themes that has come up throughout the course of the first three months has been the Vikings’ schedule. There has been a narrative that the Vikings haven’t played a lot of really good teams and when they beat them, it was either luck (Bills) or they started their third-string quarterback (Dolphins).
Despite the narratives that have been passed around, the Vikings have played a top-10 strength of schedule per PFF and have a significantly harder schedule than some of the teams that are viewed as better than them.
Per @PFF, the Vikings have played the 9th hardest schedule so far. The Vikings record is 9-2.
Teams that have had an easier schedule so far:
– 49ers (32nd)
– Eagles (29th)
– Cowboys (22nd)
– Dolphins (20th)
– Chiefs (15th)But the Vikings seem to be the only fraudulent team🤔
— Adam Awes (@AdamAwes10K) December 2, 2022
The term fraudulent team is definitely one that is thrown around too much and the Vikings, while they have played in too many one-score games (8-0 in such games), can’t be viewed as fraudulent after beating multiple teams with winning records (4-2 in such games).
The Vikings have not played the easiest schedule, but they only play two teams with a winning record to finish the season in the New York Jets and the New York Giants.
You can sleep on the Vikings if you want, but this feels more and more like head coach Kevin O’Connell is leading a team of destiny.
