The Vikings’ victory over the Niners could have long-term effects on the team.

Kevin O’Connell and offensive coordinator Wes Phillips brought up the Los Angeles Rams’ three-game losing streak following their 2021 Super Bowl victory, following the Minnesota Vikings a ‘ 0-3 start. Prior to being hired by the Vikings , O’Connell served as Sean McVay’s offensive coordinator, and Phillips was a member of his staff.\

In 2021, the Rams had a 7-1 start but dropped their next three games against the Tennessee Titans, San Francisco 49ers, and Green Bay Packers. But they bounced back, winning five straight games, including a Week 16 victory (30–23) that virtually eliminated the Vikings before taking home the championship. McVay toyed with the idea of retiring, and Rams general manager Les Snead declared he didn’t need picks. O’Connell, who hired Phillips, was picked up by Minnesota, who won 13 games in their inaugural campaign.

However, the Vikings were not among the 155 teams who failed to make the playoffs this season. The Denver Broncos, who had a 0-3 start but ended up at.500 after stopping Minnesota’s five-game winning streak with a groundball to Joshua Dobbs, accomplished the same. Nevertheless, the San Francisco 49ers of this season are yet another instance of a club that dropped three straight games before rallying. Before going on their bye, the Niners suffered losses to the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns, and Vikings. However, they advanced to the Super Bowl, made the playoffs, and won six straight games.

Even still, it’s somewhat amazing that Minnesota defeated the Niners in Week 7. The Vikings were seven-point underdogs going into their Monday night game. However, a week after the offense in Chicago appeared to be lost without Justin Jefferson, Cousins passed for 378 yards. The Minnesota Vikings fell to 1-4 after their Week 5 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs due to Jefferson’s hamstring injury. If the Niners had defeated them, Minnesota might have been forced to attempt and bottom out in order to acquire a franchise quarterback, despite Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s distaste for tanking.

Let us take a moment to stop there. After one of Cousins’ greatest games of the year, the Vikings were on their way to Lambeau Field to play the Green Bay Packers, who were 4–2. If Minnesota could defeat their fiercest foe and defeat the Packers, they would have an opportunity to start winning games. After their game in Green Bay, the Vikings had six games they could have won:

In order to establish their postseason seeding, the Vikings would have to play the Detroit Lions twice and the Packers at home if they win those six games. After Week 7, Green Bay appeared to be in a transitional season. The Packers were the newest team in the league, and Jordan Love was in his debut season as a starter. The Baltimore Ravens had defeated the 5-2 Lions 38–6, which was Detroit’s biggest loss of the year.

That moment gave the Vikings hope for another magical season. However, we are aware of the outcome. At Lambeau, cousins had a non-contact injury. Dobbs defeated the Saints after pulling off an incredible victory in Atlanta. However, he was benched by the Broncos in Denver, and Minnesota finished 7-10 after losing six of their final seven games.

Despite finishing in no man’s land, the Vikings had the Dobbs game. They might not have enough picks to upgrade the defense or a high enough pick to select their quarterback of the future. Not bound by a contract, cousin is recovering from an Achilles tendon tear. Jefferson hasn’t been extended by Minnesota. Adofo-Mensah and O’Connell are about to embark on a crucial offseason that will have a long-term impact on the Vikings.

It was surprising that Cousins, who is among the league’s most resilient players, would sustain an injury during Minnesota’s lone double-digit victory of the year. Nor could anyone have predicted that in Week 9, Dobbs would defeat the Falcons. However, it seems equally improbable that the Vikings would defeat the Niners in Week 7.

If they lost, we might be discussing which franchise-changing quarterback to select in the draft. Rather, we have to question how they’ll go up against the Packers, Lions, and Chicago, who all made it further in the playoffs this year, depending on what they decide to do with the first-overall choice. It appeared as though Minnesota’s victory over the Niners would alter their season. We had no idea that it might have changed the course of their franchise.