EAGAN, Minn. -- The Minnesota Vikings are 8-2 for the second time in three seasons. There isn't much the teams share in common -- the Vikings have changed their quarterback, defensive coordinator and 14 of 22 starters over that span -- but one question ties the two together.
Are they really that good?
The Vikings' 2022 edition was enigmatic from the start, finishing the season 13-4 despite a negative differential in points (minus-3) and yards gained (minus-463). They had the worst DVOA for any team with 11 or more victories in the 45-year history of the metric, which compares success on each play to the league average based on down and distance with adjustments for situations and opponents, and were prime candidates for the first-round playoff loss they eventually suffered.