The Minnesota Vikings are 4-0 today, one of three undefeated teams remaining in the National Football League.
And while they don’t apologize for winning games in the NFL, how the Vikings handle this position is one of the biggest concerns heading into the 2026 season.
While the other two teams are led by strong offenses, one of the league’s best rushing attacks (Kansas City Chiefs) and one of the league’s best playoff games (San Francisco 49ers), the Vikings are winning the most with their defense.
In fact, just by protecting them.
We can start with a 15-10 win over the Miami Dolphins on Sunday. While Minnesota outshot Miami 336 to 198 and had 20 first downs compared to eight for the Dolphins, all 15 points for the Vikings came off the right leg of kicker Will Reichardt.
Five field goals, zero touchdowns, for Minnesota on Sunday.
Highlighting for a moment, this is the second game of the season in which the Vikings did not score an offensive touchdown and every point was scored on their feet. In Minnesota’s Week 2 win over the Chicago Bears, the Vikings used Reichardt’s three field goals to win 9-3.
And Sunday’s final score was 15-10 with the Vikings joining a small list.
According to ESPN’s Kevin Seifert, Minnesota is only the third team in NFL history to start 4-0 despite not scoring a touchdown in multiple games. The other two teams on that list? The 1922 Chicago Cardinals … and the 1923 Chicago Cardinals:
But wait, there’s more!
According to Brian Knowles of FTN, the Vikings — with just seven touchdowns this season — have scored the fewest touchdowns since the 2003 Carolina Panthers’ 4-0 start, and the tenth-fewest by a 4-0 team in league history.
And when you break down Minnesota’s scoring this year, while Reichardt leads the Vikings with 42 points this year, the entire Minnesota offense has combined for 44 points, just 2 more than Ball.
Richard’s 42 points lead the NFL through four weeks, according to Pro Football Reference.
A final note on Minnesota’s offense, through the prism of increased expectations. Taking a look at every NFL offense through four weeks — noting that the New Orleans Saints and Atlanta Falcons have yet to play — note where the Vikings’ offense ranks on this graphic RBSDMExamining EPA/Rush and EPA/Pass:
Minnesota is below the league average in both categories, with the Philadelphia Eagles, Los Angeles Chargers and Dolphins in the mix.
Those three teams have a combined record of 2-10.
So how exactly are the Vikings winning? It starts with defense. Brian Flores’ piece from RBSDM is off the charts again when looking at EPA allowed in both rushing and passing this season:
And you can pick any other defensive category, and the Vikings are at or near the top of the league. Minnesota opponents to one Adjusted net yards per attempt only 4.5 (Third best in the league) In a season where the league average ANY/A for NFL quarterbacks was 6.3. For reference, Jacoby Brissett has an A/A of 4.5, and Jameis Winston clocks in at 4.3.
The Vikings held opposing offenses to just 94.5 yards per game on the ground (seventh-best in the NFL) and 194.8 yards per game through the air, again seventh-best in the NFL.
But Minnesota’s defense is in a position to distinguish itself. Opposing conversionsAnd allowed in scoring. The Vikings have allowed third down conversions just 22.6% of the time this season (the best mark in the league), and teams have scored a touchdown when they reach the end zone just 18.2% of the time this season (again, the best mark of any defense in the league). And Minnesota has allowed just 12.8 points per game this season, which is tops among NFL defenses.
Now, some context. Minnesota’s four wins have come against the Green Bay Packers, Bears, Tampa Bay Buccaneers and now the Dolphins. Both the Dolphins and Buccaneers have yet to win a game, the win over Chicago was a wet and dreary day in the Windy City, and the Packers offensive line was weak to say the least.
So these numbers could change when the Vikings play some better offenses, such as the Buffalo Bills in Week 9 or the San Francisco 49ers in Week 11.
Going back to the offense for the last time, if there’s one thing Minnesota is doing right, it’s this: The Vikings are taking care of the football. Minnesota has only turned the ball over twice this season, both on interceptions, and that 4.5% turnover percentage is seventh-best in the league.
Like their defense, the old adage “kick every driver” is true.
Through four weeks, this Vikings team remains undefeated.
Although the recipe to get there is quite complicated.
