The Vikings on Sunday proved again that they could beat a mediocre team with a bad or backup quarterback, that luck is the residue of play design, that you can win a certain division these days by mastering the fourth quarter.
Eight games into Kevin O'Connell's head coaching career, the Vikings have the second-best record in the NFL and a 4½-game lead in the NFC North over the Green Bay Packers and Chicago Bears, who are one game out of last place.
Against Washington, the Vikings didn't play particularly well but won 20-17 because they had the better coach and quarterback.