Vikings' Commitment to the Run Powering Undefeated Stretch Under O'Connell

Minnesota has run the ball on 53.8% of snaps since early December and has not lost since, a shift that coincides with the team's 2-0 start behind backup quarterback Carson Wentz.

The Minnesota Vikings opened the season with two narrow wins over NFC North rivals, beating the Green Bay Packers and the Chicago Bears with Carson Wentz filling in at quarterback. After the latest victory, head coach Kevin O'Connell pointed to the team's persistence through a rash of injuries, saying the group did "whatever it took" to win.

An analysis posted on X by Alec Lewis shows the foundation of that success: beginning December 1 of last season, after a Week 13 defeat against the Seattle Seahawks, Minnesota has called running plays on 53.8% of its snaps. That rate ranks second in the NFL behind only the Baltimore Ravens, and the Vikings have not lost a game over that span.

Lewis also noted that Minnesota has run the ball 51.2% of the time even when trailing, the top figure in the league. That willingness to stick with the ground game reflects a notable change in how O'Connell runs the offense.

Quarterback help may be near. Kevin Seifert reported on X that O'Connell said Kyler Murray is expected to exit the league's concussion protocol early this week, positioning him to reclaim the starting job as Minnesota heads into Week 3.