7 biggest takeaways from the Vikings win over the Saints in Week 4

Differences from Zimmer era aren’t major, but enough

When looking at Minnesota’s current roster compared to last season’s, there aren’t a ton of glaring differences. The Vikings added some new players this year, mostly on the defensive side of the ball, but the majority of the core members of their offense from the last few seasons are still with the team.

Despite the roster not being much different than the 2021 version, Kevin O’Connell has Minnesota winning games that they probably would have lost during the final two seasons of the Zimmer era.

O’Connell has been taking a much more positive approach than the person he replaced, and it’s clearly being appreciated by the guys in his locker room.

If Zimmer was still the team’s head coach, does Kirk Cousins maintain his composure at the end of the last two weeks to help lead the Vikings to game-winning drives? Does Greg Joseph have the confidence to convert a go-ahead field goal in the fourth quarter on Sunday after missing an extra-point attempt?

Maybe, but the results from the 2020 and 2021 seasons would lean towards neither being likely. With O’Connell leading the way now, however, he’s got Minnesota’s locker room believing that almost anything is possible.