In an unexpected turn of events, the Minnesota Vikings’ special teams unit looks just as dominant as their other two groups this year. Special teams is typically the forgotten phase of the game (or the phase you try to forget, in the Green Bay Packers’ case). But could it be that ST wins championships?
Coming off a spectacular display in Week 1, the Vikings look to continue that success on Monday night against the Philadelphia Eagles.
The offense and defense garnered most of the attention last week, but the Vikings’ special teams unit was firing on all cylinders. One can only imagine how coordinator and wordsmith Matt Daniels might describe the afternoon of domination. The Vikings will need a repeat performance to win on the road against a strong Eagles team.
The Vikings were mere inches from blocking multiple punts on Sunday. Green Bay’s first and third punts of the day were so close to getting sent back in Pat O’Donnell‘s stupid, handsome face. While you could say the Packers lacked execution in punt-blocking (like they did in every other aspect of the game on Sunday), Minnesota also deserves credit.
Although rare, it wouldn’t surprise me to see the Vikings “Meet At the Punter” at some point this season. (I’m registering this trademark as we speak.) What better moment than in primetime against the Eagles? Easier said than done, though. Philadelphia also has a strong unit, evidenced by the NFC Special Teams Player of the Week honor given to cornerback Zech McPhearson. He made a heads-up play to recover a surprise onside kick from the Detroit Lions. It will definitely be a battle to watch, and the Vikings will have to be at the top of their game to outmaneuver Philly.
Monday night will also be the Jalen Reagor Revenge Game. The Vikings acquired Reagor in a trade after several disappointing seasons in Philadelphia. However, Reagor showed his capabilities as a return man on Sunday by going Beast Mode, flinging a defender to the ground on a punt return. He’s let us quickly forget about losing Ihmir Smith-Marsette, and he’ll have all the motivation in the world to break one loose against his former team.
Arryn Siposs, Philadelphia’s punter whose value may be more as a holder than in his leg, has had his fair share of struggles and could slip up just enough to give the Vikings a big play. Reagor’s ability to house any given punt is an added dimension the team has lacked since losing Marcus Sherels in 2019. Some might question his likelihood of having an impact on offense this year, but his threat as a returner alone should justify the trade for him.
Continuing his camp and preseason success, Greg Joseph went 3/3 on Sunday and made a career-long 56-yard field goal. Finally, seeing a Viking kicker with confidence warms my cold, dead heart. It’s a new feeling for most fans.
We all know about Minnesota’s kicker saga. It’s rumored that even whispering the words “27 yards” in Minneapolis can draw a steep fine. However, Joseph will still need to prove his worth in a tough environment, where often, a single missed field goal is the difference between winning and losing. Philadelphia’s fanbase is famous for its welcoming (hostile) and kind (blood-thirsty) attitude toward opposing kickers, so Joseph will be on his toes. But with any luck, he will stabilize the position for weeks and years to come.
The Vikings’ special teams haven’t been a point of pride for a while now. However, they showed up against the Packers. They’ll need a similar, if not superior, performance on Monday to win. The Eagles won’t make it easy, but it’s comforting knowing that the unit is vastly improved from previous seasons and at least won’t lose games…hopefully.
