The Minnesota Vikings are heading into Week 3 against the Houston Texans with growing expectations. Locally, people are excited over Sam Darnold's resurgence and the defense's play. Nationally, however,

Why is this notable? Well, there are two reasons: First, this is double the four-man pass rush snaps the Vikings utilized last season. Second, deploying a four-man pass rush allows you to play with seven defenders in coverage. This is ideal, if you can get away with it. Last year’s Vikings could not.

All is right with the Minnesota Vikings after two games. They are a perfect 2-0, having defeated the New York Giants in the season opener and the defending NFC Champion San Francisco 49ers in Week 2.

Rookie kicker Will Reichard, a sixth-round pick, was excellent in the preseason, but he'll need to prove he can stay steady when the regular season lights come one if he hopes to break the Vikings' longtime kicking curse.

So it would have been reasonable for outside observers to cringe at Sam Darnold's wild flip of the ball toward running back Aaron Jones Sunday against the San Francisco 49ers, not only because it threatened to turn a busted play into a massive turnover,

The expectation for the Minnesota Vikings was that JJ McCarthy was supposed to start and get his feet wet. Unfortunately, the rookie signal caller got injured which left Kevin O’Connell with no choice but to field Sam Darnold.