And give credit to Risner and Robinson, the two Vikings' offensive linemen who joined the starting lineup midseason, for playing quite well. Risner had an elite 88.0 pass-blocking grade, while Robinson battled through a foot injury to play what Kevin O'Connell described as his best game with Minnesota.

Dec 1, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Arizona Cardinals tight end Trey McBride (85) fights off the tackle of Minnesota Vikings safety Harrison Smith (22) and linebacker Blake Cashman (51) during the second quarter at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeffrey Becker-Imagn Images

With the Vikings' penchant for narrow victories, it's easy to draw connections to the team of two years ago. But this group is better.