MINNEAPOLIS — Kevin O'Connell is 1-0 as the Vikings' head coach. For the Vikings fans who stayed until the final whistle, gleefully waving farewell to the Packers fans who exited early, it could scarcely have felt better.
The Vikings' 23-7 win over Green Bay at U.S. Bank Stadium on Sunday was one regular-season victory, against a team that has won the NFC North each of the past three years, and it came with the Packers missing both of their starting tackles (David Bakhtiari and Elgton Jenkins) as well as their presumptive No. 1 receiver (Allen Lazard).
But oh, what a day this had to be for a franchise that staked its 2022 season on the premise it could return to contention with a change in coaches, schemes and culture — but not by overhauling its roster.
