Vikings learn a valuable lesson early: ‘You gotta be greedy’

There were moments of Sunday night’s Vikings game that felt so similar to Week 1 they were almost eerie.

Like running back Jordan Mason making a noticeable entrance on the Vikings’ third drive, or quarterback J.J. McCarthy connecting deep with receiver Justin Jefferson — last week it was with Jalen Nailor — to set up a last-second field goal before halftime.

But there was one key difference: No comeback.

“Nothing in this league is given,” safety Josh Metellus said postgame. “Everything you want, you gotta earn. You gotta take. I tell the guys that all the time. You gotta be greedy.”

With Sunday night’s loss to the Falcons, the luxuries that come with an undefeated record have evaporated.

Mistakes and miscues largely overlooked by outsiders last week and repeated in this one will go under a more intense microscope. The next game becomes a matter of correcting course, not just continuing it.

Could that be a good thing?

Last year, the Vikings — led by quarterback Sam Darnold, an eventual finalist for the NFL’s Comeback Player of the Year — went an unexpected six weeks without a loss.

They dropped back-to-back games to the Lions and the Rams at midseason and then rattled off another nine straight wins, only to be stumped by those same two teams in the regular-season finale and wild-card round of the playoffs in devastating fashion.

This year’s team, reforged from the best parts of last year’s, supplemented with acquired talent meant to fill specific gaps and with a chosen QB at the helm in McCarthy, entered last week’s season opener with a higher bar to prove success.

Though the Vikings pulled off a thrilling victory in Chicago last week, players around the locker room Sunday night had similar takeaways from a loss that pulled the rug out from what was supposed to be a celebratory night at U.S. Bank Stadium.

Now, they have the added challenge of McCarthy being sidelined for at least a week, likely longer, with an ankle injury and Carson Wentz, who only arrived in the building in late August, taking over at quarterback.

In the moments through two games when this team has executed, it’s clear why the organization feels so strongly about the group it put together for this season.

The 50-yard connection between McCarthy and Jefferson just before halftime was a reminder of just how good the 25-year-old receiver can be. It showed a flash of the chemistry the pair spent all offseason building and could carry the Vikings to dominant wins if shown more consistently.

“Thought that was a great example of all 11 guys doing their job and what it could look like,” coach Kevin O’Connell said Monday.

Sacks from Dallas Turner and Jalen Redmond against an opposing quarterback lauded all week for how quick he gets the ball out of the pocket were returns on investment in young players at key positions.

“Everybody somewhat got a little piece, I was just the cleanup guy,” Turner said of his sack. “[Javon Hargrave] got there for the pressure, and I just made the play.”

McCarthy was sacked six times. The offense’s only red zone drive ended with a field goal instead of a touchdown after a delay of game penalty and two of those sacks. The Vikings defense gave up 143 yards rushing to Bijan Robinson.

The Vikings entered this season with the mantra “More is required,” coined by outside linebacker Jonathan Greenard, after coming up shy in the playoffs last year following their 14-win regular season.

How they move forward from this early loss — and now an early, temporary QB change — will be a strong test of that mantra in practice.

After the win against the Bears, players and coaches spoke about how positive the team remained even while trailing by 11 points.

Linebacker Eric Wilson said it was the same Sunday, even when it became clear no fourth-quarter comeback was coming. That the team always feels it’s one play away, and if it’s greedy in stacking good play upon good play, it can come out on top.