*Originally published October 3rd, 2026 for RTÉ Sport https://www.rte.ie/sport/us-sport/2026/1002/1593762-nfl-preview-quarterback-shuffle-not-holding-back-vikings/
On Monday, the Minnesota Vikings traded JJ McCarthy, their former first-round pick. Just two years ago, he was seen as the franchise’s quarterback of the future. Now, he has been moved for a fifth-round pick.
Cutting bait on a first-rounder, especially a quarterback, is rarely a good sign for a head coach. It usually means the wheels have fallen off, their job is under threat and star players may start looking for the exit.
To this point, though, Minnesota are 3-0, sitting atop what many consider the toughest division in the NFL. Head coach Kevin O’Connell seems safer than ever, and star player Justin Jefferson looks more than happy to be in the land of 10,000 lakes.
While Vikings are known for raiding rather than their rear guard, it has been Minnesota’s staunch defence and their ability to combat adversity on offence that have driven their strong start.
The Vikings currently lead the league in defensive efficiency and rank in the top three against both the pass and the run. They also allow fewer than two touchdowns per game, boast the league’s best red-zone defence and rank third in turnovers forced.
And they are doing it by playing a style unlike any other team in the NFL.
They pile on the pressure to the opposition quarterbacks, blitzing them 68% of the time, 23% more than the Patriots in second place.
That gap between first and second is the same as second to 25th.
The thinking is simple: the more defenders rushing the quarterback, the less time he has to find an open receiver, often forcing him to settle for quick, short passes.
This Vikings defence might be the best innovation to come from a Viking since the longboat.
It hasn’t come out of nowhere; they have played this way for the past two years since Brian Flores was named the defensive coordinator. They are the only NFL team to rank within the top three in defensive efficiency every season since his appointment and, to no one’s surprise, lead the league in blitz rate in that time too.
Even more impressively, a defensive drop-off seemed likely. The Vikings have lost defensive talent in each of the past three off-seasons, and this summer’s departures included two thirds of their defensive line and their leading pass rusher, Jonathan Greenard.
They have relied heavily on players already in the building, including Dallas Turner and Levi Drake Rodriguez, alongside rookies such as Caleb Banks and Domonique Orange. The odds have been stacked against them, yet Flores has consistently kept the defence among the league’s best.
That’s not to take credit away from Kevin O’Connell, who is without a doubt the offensive engine behind this team.
The Vikings have started a different quarterback in each of their last six games and won all six. If all goes to plan, Sunday’s game against the Dolphins will mark the first time since 15 December last year that a Vikings quarterback has started consecutive games.
The offence hasn’t impressed so far, ranking mid-table in points per game and last in yards per game. But context matters.
In Week 1, Kyler Murray was ruled out before half-time with a concussion. Week 2 brought a rainstorm rendering the air attack useless, while last week saw Murray return but star receiver Justin Jefferson miss the game through injury.
Each game came with a significant offensive complication, yet the Vikings still came away with a win every time.
McCarthy’s failure to develop under O’Connell is a black mark against the coach’s reputation as a “QB whisperer”. But O’Connell was the man who brought a beleaguered Sam Darnold back to prominence, and Sunday’s performance offered signs he may be able to get a similar tune out of Kyler Murray.
The last time Minnesota found themselves in this position was 2024, when they finished the regular season 14-3, only one win less than the league-leading Detroit Lions. However, seven of those wins came by a single score, raising questions about whether they could sustain that form in the playoffs.
When they matched up against the Rams in the playoffs, they were beaten at their own game, as Sam Darnold was constantly blitzed and sacked a playoff record nine times while their defence was picked apart by Matthew Stafford and O’Connell’s mentor Sean McVay.
That defeat exposed the limits of a team whose impressive regular-season record had been built, in part, on winning close games. The question now is whether this year’s Vikings can avoid the same fate.
McCarthy’s departure may be an admission that one part of the rebuild hasn’t worked out, but at 3-0, it hasn’t derailed the season. With Flores’ defence dictating games and O’Connell still finding ways to win despite the uncertainty at quarterback, Minnesota have given themselves a platform to compete.
They may have given up on their quarterback of the future, but all will be forgiven if the present keeps delivering wins.
Games to watch this weekend
Houston Texans vs Dallas Cowboys
An in-state matchup in which a loss for either side could seriously derail its season.
Las Vegas Raiders vs Kansas City Chiefs
A surprising matchup between two 3-0 teams. Are the Raiders legit, or will they be exposed by the battle-hardened Chiefs?
49ers vs Broncos
A heavyweight clash in the Bay Area, with the winner making a statement as an early-season contender.