By Jim Souhan

The Vikings defeated the Packers on Sunday because of two people the NFL disregarded.

Brian Flores should be a head coach. The NFL won’t forgive him for calling out a bad owner who fired him despite two consecutive winning seasons, then suing the NFL.

Because NFL owens will hire any third cousin of Sean McVay instead of Flores, Flores remains the Vikings’ defensive coordinator. Flores’ defense overwhelmed the Packers in the second half on Sunday, producing a wild and wildly entertaining 39-22 comeback victory.

Because Carson Wentz had become a stereotypical, beat-up, uninspiring journeyman quarterback, he was available in August of 2025 when the Vikings realized that Sam Howell was not qualified to be their backup quarterback. Wentz was hardly brilliant last year but displayed enough toughness and savvy to earn another contract.

Against the Packers, Wentz avoided making big mistakes when the Packers were dominating, then produced the kinds of big plays on offer in the Vikings’ scheme.

I thought it was in the best interests of the franchise to have J.J McCarthy serve as the backup. Wentz proved me wrong Sunday.

Here’s the difference between the reserve quarterbadks: Wentz refused to take himself out of the Chargers’ game last year despite writhing in pain on the sideline. McCarthy took himself out of the last regular-season game last season because of a minor injury, and refused to play in the final preseason game this season because of a minor injury.

McCarthy forfeited his right to be viewed as a leader, or, unless he gets to play and plays well enough to change perceptions, the future of the franchise.

Saturday, Mississippi State manhandled the Gophers. Before we overreact, remember September of 2024. Iowa manhandled the Gophers, 31-14, in Minneapolis, as Kaleb Johnson rushed 21 times for 206 yards and three touchdowns. The Gophers lost at Michigan the next week to fall to 2-3.

Then they won four straight, two over ranked teams.

What struck me on Saturday was how many NFL-caliber throws Drake Lindsey made under duress.

Because college football doesn’t seem to have rules, why can’t the Vikings trade McCarthy for Lindsay?

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