Tuesday afternoon marks the NFL trade deadline.
Minnesota currently stands at 6-2, with one of the best defenses in recent memory. And yet the Vikings cannot be considered a Super Bowl contender at the moment by anyone with a straight face.
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Because the offense is anemic. Which should never be the case for a unit featuring Justin Jefferson, regardless of how underwhelming he himself has been this season.
But there’s no production to be found within Kevin O’Connell’s unit at the moment. Kyler Murray has struggled mightily in his time under center for Minnesota. Carson Wentz was far worse.
The journeyman, who’s previously found moderate levels of success for the Vikings, woke up the echoes of Josh Freeman in Minnesota Monday night infamy against Buffalo’s previously inept defense.
Wentz went 8 for 25 for 81 yards while throwing two interceptions and losing a fumble in Monday’s 23-6 defeat before finally being relieved by Max Brosmer late in the fourth quarter. Minnesota did not convert on a single third down in the loss, going 0 for 8.
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You cannot contend for a Super Bowl with this version of Wentz. The evidence suggests the same is true of Murray. Heck, maybe you cannot with Kevin O’Connell calling the plays.
But Nolan Teasley has to find out whether the latter is true. The only way to do so is to go out and deal for another signal caller ahead of the deadline. The general manager owes as much to Minnesota’s defense, and its fan base.
This is a championship-tier defense. The odds are it only stays in that realm so long as Brian Flores is calling the plays on that side of the field. There’s every chance Flores is poached by another team who wants to make the defensive mastermind its head coach.
At which point, the Vikings’ title chances would be shot. The team would head into a massive season of uncertainty next fall. This much is known right now — it’s nearly impossible to score on this defense.
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All-world quarterback Josh Allen tallied just 13 points through three quarters on Monday in Minneapolis.
The defense and special teams units gifted Minnesota’s offense five consecutive first-half possessions starting at the:
-Minnesota 47 yard line
-Minnesota 45
-Minnesota 45
-Minnesota 42
-Buffalo 34
The offense turned those possessions into three total points.
What should’ve been a big first half advantage for Minnesota instead was a stalemate in what was a similar script to last week’s loss to the Lions. And even the best defenses can only keep offenses like Buffalo’s and Detroit’s down for so long.
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Would a new quarterback fix everything that ails Minnesota offensively? Maybe not. Murray’s arrival certainly didn’t serve as a magic elixir. But Teasley has to take the shot.
Flores’ tenure, whatever remains of it, is Minnesota’s championship window.
The first call should be to San Francisco to see what would be required to deal for Mac Jones. If the 49ers don’t bite, call Las Vegas and see if a Kirk Cousins reunion is in play.
The Vikings currently own their own first-, second- and third-round picks in each of the next two drafts, along with a second third in 2027. They have ammunition to fire. There’s no better time to take a swing in an attempt to answer the key questions currently facing the franchise:
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Can this defense win a Super Bowl?
Can this offense function with competent quarterback play?
Can Kevin O’Connell lead this team where it ultimately aims to go?
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: Sports.yahoo.com
