Eat multiple crows

If you would have asked me back in August how I thought my Minnesota Vikings would fare this season, I was in the camp of at least 7 wins (not exactly a high bar given they won 7 games in 2023 while starting four different quarterbacks), with a ceiling of 10 victories. 

While I felt good that the offense was stacked (and thus even a pedestrian QB like Sam Darnold could succeed), I wasn't sure how the defense would fare. But with Brian Flores still the D-coordinator, the team would at least be competitive while they transition to their franchise QB JJ McCarthy starting in 2025. As such, their Super Bowl window should be open in 2026. 

While I was fine if the Vikes had a relatively down year in '24, I found myself rooting like heck for them to reach that 7-win threshold when this blowhard hit his social media community with this take last May: 

A couple of months later, his trolling of my Vikings continued: 

Self-anointed expert guy apparently forgot the Vikings have on their roster a generationally talented WR in Justin Jefferson, a solid #2 in Jordan Addison (who was terrific as the top target in 2023 when Jefferson missed several games due to injury) and a top 5 TE in TJ Hockenson. Add to that free agent RB Aaron Jones and I would argue the Vikes have at least the third best complement of weapons in the NFC North, maybe even second behind the Detroit Lions. When called out on his ignorance, "TroyNFL" hit back with how McCarthy isn't ready to lead such a dynamic offense. It was then I knew he was talking out of his a** since McCarthy (even before his injury) was not slated to begin the season as a starter. 

I know what you're probably thinking. Why do I care what some random bozo on the internet believes? And while I'm one to merely roll my eyes at smack talkers, I get irritated by guys who talk sh*t while also exhibiting unearned arrogance. So when "Troy" was asking in that first video "Where the hell are these seven wins gonna come from?," I was positively giddy (and perhaps a little smug) this past Sunday that I could reply to that video with "FOUND THE 7 WINS!!!!!"

And perhaps the most gratifying? One of those wins were over his personal favorite club - the San Francisco 49ers!

I still maintain that Vikings' ceiling this season is 10 wins and maybe a single playoff victory, but I can definitely say the season will not be a lost cause for me personally. 

---------------------------------------------------------