Commanding Win: The Minnesota Vikings Beat the Washington Commanders 31-0 at Home

The Minnesota Vikings win a shutout at home against the Washington Commanders.

After the way the Minnesota Vikings played the previous week, few expected the Purple to win in Week 14, let alone dish out a wood-shedding 31-0 blowout in the cozy confines of US Bank Stadium--but they did. Minnesota dominated the Washington Commanders to improve to 5-8 on the season.

Right from the first drive we knew that this was not the offensive game plan that we had seen so often this season. During the week both head coach Kevin O'Connell and his quarterback JJ McCarthy had expressed a change in mindset and approach to the offense. That manifested as a simplified, and highly effective offense that ended in a touchdown on the very first drive. His mechanics might not have been perfect, but JJ McCarthy was not in his head, not overthinking every throw. It might not have been "fun, fast, and free" football, but it was damn close.

Where was this simplified offensive approach earlier in the season? Why did it take O'Connell until McCarthy's 7th start to make it easier for him to play effectively?

He didn't put up lulu numbers, but Minnesota Vikings quarterback JJ McCarthy had four good quarters of football today and a decisive win.

Not counting some of the kneeldowns, there were 31 rushing attempts in this simplified gameplan. Instead of always looking for the deep throw, O'Connell dialed up plenty of plays that focused on simply moving the chains and putting his young quarterback in good positions. McCarthy was able to be more decisive and confident, ending the day 16/23 for 163 yards, three touchdowns, and, crucially, no interceptions. Instead of getting into 3rd-and-long situations, the Vikings' offense had two long, sustained drives in the first half that both ended in touchdowns--the second drive went 98 yards on 19 plays and drained an impressive 12 minutes off the clock.

This put the Commanders in the unenviable position of trying to play catch up for most of the game. Brian Flores defense seemed destined for a long and exhausting day when Washington's first drive lasted more than 8 minutes, but the defense made a gutsy goal-line stand and, when they failed to convert on 4th-2 the Vikings took over on downs.

After that drive the Commanders never really threatened to score. Playing from behind forced the Commanders to focus on passing and Flores had quarterback Jayden Daniels exactly where he wanted him--throwing off balance and running for his life. The Vikings' defense got back to creating turnovers with Andrew Van Ginkel picking off Daniels, and then Harrison Smith picking off Marcus Mariota when Daniels left the game after aggravating his left arm on the Van Ginkel interception. Javon Hargrave also got in on the turnover action, scooping up a fumble in the 4th quarter.

This is the kind of play that the Vikings can replicate over the next four weeks as they look to get game experience for McCarthy and learn how to win as a team. Sure, the haters and the losers have been quick to say, "But it's just the Commanders, they've got a terrible defense and they lost Daniels in the second half." Okay, but they could have lost. McCarthy could have shown no improvement. The whole team could have just quit. And they didn't.

Team leader Justin Jefferson praises the Minnesota Vikings' commanding 31-0 win over the Washington Commanders.

Winning when there's no hope of the playoffs might seem pointless, but, looking at the reaction of the players, the coaches, and the owners, they don't think it is pointless. So maybe we shouldn't either. Maybe this late-season win in a lost season is the start of something that will carry on to the next season?

Next up the 5-8 Vikings take this simplified approach on the road to face the Dallas Cowboys.