I love Kevin O’Connell. I love his playbook and his positivity. He is a gem, a top coach of the year candidate. I can’t imagine many people thought he would win eight of his first nine games as a head coach, and this latest triumph was more than just another spot in the win column. We expected Minnesota to deliver a real win. On Sunday in Western New York, O’Connell’s team erased a 17-point second-half deficit and knocked off Buffalo, my preseason Super Bowl pick. That’s enough. Minnesota survived — and ultimately thrived — the funniest and best game of this season so far. Justin Jefferson delivered another masterpiece, catching 10 balls for 193 yards and a touchdown. His highlight reel from that game alone includes several impressive accomplishments, but none bigger than his 32-yard grab on fourth-and-18, where the 23-year-old used one hand to pick up Kirk Cousins and throw the ball away . by Bills DB Cam Lewis before somehow maintaining possession on his descent to the turf. Just amazing — but also nothing new for No. 18. Jefferson has played 42 games in this league and already has 20 100-yard attempts. That’s the most century sacks by any NFL player in his first three seasons, and the guy still has eight more games to add to the record! Credit also goes to Cousins, who bounced back from two horrendous interceptions to deliver outstanding performances in the fourth quarter and overtime, where he posted his fifth game win of the season — already a career high! I know the Vikings have won seven straight games by one score. I know if Josh Allen hadn’t left, we’d be having a different conversation. I know that Sean McDermott was fouled without kicking a field goal in the fourth quarter, which would have re-extended Buffalo’s lead to 13 points. But the Vikings ran the ball with authority, as Dalvin Cook piled up 119 yards and a touchdown on just 14 carries (8.5 yards per pop). They made clutch plays on defense, scoring four picks, including two game-tying picks by Patrick Peterson. Jefferson did Jefferson things and Cousins made the stretch a huge point. Those Vikings, who already have a five-game lead over the rest of the NFC North in the loss column, are legit. Deal with it.
