By defeating the New York Jets in London, England, on Sunday, the Minnesota Vikings improved their record this season to 5-0. For the Vikings, it's the sixth time since 1990 that they have begun their schedule with five straight wins, with the last happening in 2016.
On Monday, the Minnesota Star Tribune's Andrew Krammer brought this information to light on his X account, and he also mentioned how the Vikings have either missed the playoffs completely or made it all the way to the NFC Championship during the five previous seasons that the team got off to a 5-0 start.
This is the Vikings’ sixth 5-0 start since 1990, the most by any NFL franchise in that 35-year span per@pfref
— Andrew Krammer (@Andrew_Krammer) October 7, 2024
But six teams started 5-0 and missed the playoffs, and the Vikings are the only organization to do that twice: '03, '16. Lost NFC title game in '98, '00, '09
Do the Minnesota Vikings have a better chance to miss the 2024 playoffs or make the NFC Championship?
If one were to make a guess about whether or not this season's Vikings team has a better chance of missing out on the postseason or earning a spot in the NFC Championship, the odds currently seem to be in favor of the latter.
Currently, Minnesota has the best record in the NFC, they have the highest point differential in the NFL, and they are also ranked No. 1 in the league in total team DVOA.
According to ESPN's Football Power Index, the strength of the opponents the Vikings have already played this season ranks as the seventh-toughest in the league, which is tougher than the slate any of the other three teams in the NFC North have faced so far.
Looking ahead, ESPN's Football Power Index ranks Minnesota's remaining strength of schedule as 12th in the NFL, which is easier than the three other members of its division.
Four of the Vikings' final six games on their schedule will be played inside U.S. Bank Stadium, and that has already proven to be a big advantage this season (Minnesota has outscored its opponents 80-41 at home this year).
In addition, of the Vikings six remaining road matchups, three of them will be played against teams that have a losing record heading into Week 6.
Unlike the seasons in which they missed the playoffs after starting 5-0, Minnesota currently has a starting quarterback who has been with the team longer than two months (see Sam Bradford), their offensive play-caller is highly unlikely to to resign after Week 8 (see Norv Turner), and their roster hasn't been ravaged by injuries as a result of being overworked in practices (see 2016 and 2003).
This is the second time in three years that Vikings head coach Kevin O'Connell has led the team to at least four wins in their first five games of the season. O'Connell has proven he knows what it takes to lead Minnesota to victories more often than not, and this year, he and the team are hoping their start will have a similar outcome to the purple and gold squads from 2009, 2000, and 1998, if not better.