ESPN's Dan Orlovsky accidentally reveals that the national media doesn't pay much attention to the Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings might be 8-2 but it sure feels like the national media doesn't know much about them. They certainly don't believe in them like other teams with similar records, despite the fact that they have the league's best defense and an offense that has consistently generated explosive plays this season. But because their quarterback is […]
The Minnesota Vikings might be 8-2 but it sure feels like the national media doesn't know much about them.
They certainly don't believe in them like other teams with similar records, despite the fact that they have the league's best defense and an offense that has consistently generated explosive plays this season. But because their quarterback is Sam Darnold, they aren't given the proper respect.
That lack of understanding and respect continued on Thursday.
Dan Orvolsky completely ignores Minnesota Vikings
The lastest example of the national media ignoring the Vikings came on ESPN's Get Up on Thursday morning. Mike Greenberg asked who the biggest threat to the Lions is and low and behold, Dan Orlovsky completely ignored the Vikings.
Greenberg asked Dan Orlovsky if the Eagles are the biggest threat to the Detroit Lions and his answer will rile up Vikings fans.
"I believe they are. The Eagles are, but I don't think they're by themselves. I think Philadelphia matches up well, because the way that their talent is on the perimeter and their athletic offensive line. But I also think two other teams that I would say are capable of doing it that I feel confident in, that is one Green Bay and two, the Los Angeles Rams. I think if we're being honest, there's been one team that has gone toe to toe with Detroit this year and played them really well. Now the Bucs beat them, but Jared (Goff) played atrocious in that game, in the red zone and turnovers: the Rams week one (went toe-to-toe), and I know that are they going to get in? Because all the injuries there are a team along with the Packers and the Eagles, I think those three are capable of doing it that had the most confidence in."
Okay, let's break this down because there is a lot to tackle here.
First off, saying that the Rams, Packers and Eagles could potentially take down the Lions is fine in a vacuum. All three are talented, well-coached football teams. We are ignoring that the Packers didn't play well at all against the Lions but we'll set that aside for now.
The biggest issue with the comments from Orlovsky is the claim that only the Rams went toe-to-toe with the Lions. Did he not watch the Vikings take them to the wire and hold a lead with 19 seconds left in the game before Jake Bates hit the game winning field goal? Did he forget that if a Darnold pass on third and four goes a few inches shorter they drain the clock and get the win?
It shouldn't be much of a surprise that the Vikings aren't getting the respect they should. Darnold has been written off by many because he struggled with the New York Jets and Carolina Panthers without taking enough consideration with his play this season.
This is something that Vikings fans have been used to over the last few years. They got massively overlooked in 2022 and even in 2023 despite O'Connell having one of the best coaching jobs in the last few years navigating four quarterbacks.
ESPN might not want to believe in the Vikings, but we know they are plenty good enough to compete with the Lions.
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