The Vikings have even worse odds to win the NFC North than the Lions

Jeff Risdon
·2 min read

Detroit fans have been understandably preoccupied with the Lions’ poor start. Blowing a huge lead to the Chicago Bears in Week 1 and getting the doors blown off in Green Bay a week later has been a very rough way to spend two weeks of Lions football.

Believe it or not, the Minnesota Vikings have been even worse. Minnesota is also 0-2 but hasn’t been nearly as close to victory as Detroit through two weeks. The Vikings have trailed by a combined 37-13 score at halftime of their blowout losses to the Packers and Indianapolis Colts. Only a massive garbage-time output in Week 1 — they trailed Green Bay 29-10 in the fourth quarter — has saved the Vikings offense from abject futility.

The Vikings offense has run just 96 total plays, 19 fewer than any other team. They’re dead last in yard gained (343) too. Quarterback Kirk Cousins has thrown a league-high four INTs (tied with Carson Wentz) on his way to a league-worst 61.9 QB Rating. It was a comedically low 15.6 in the Week 2 drubbing by the Colts.

Take away Cousins’ outstanding, stat-padding fourth quarter in Week 1 and he’s left with these numbers in the seven quarters of football that have mattered:

18-for-37, 208 yards, 0 TDs, 4 INTs

But it’s not just Cousins struggling in Minnesota’s first two games. The Vikings defense, one of the toughest for the last several years, has fallen apart.

Minnesota’s defense has allowed more yards per game and passing yardage than the Lions’ embattled defense. The two NFC North rivals have the same amount of sacks, just two.

Football Outsiders updates the playoff odds for every team after each week, and they have the Vikings with even worse chances to turn it around and qualify for the postseason than the Lions.

This week doesn’t figure to help the Vikings’ chances either. They’re facing the 2-0 Tennessee Titans, who bring a balanced offense and a playmaking defense to Minnesota in Week 3.

It’s no consolation for the Lions and their own 0-2 start, but perhaps a little schadenfreude will do Detroit fans a little good too.