Bears vs. Vikings and Falcons vs. Raiders on ‘Monday Night Football’ live updates: scores, predictions and odds

EAGAN, Minn. — A year ago at this time, Minnesota Vikings brass held countless meetings on the third floor of the TCO Performance Center, hammering out the path they wanted to take at quarterback.

Finally, they settled on a strategy: Break free from the annual “What shall we do?” question, allow veteran Kirk Cousins ​​to sign elsewhere and draft a young man. In other words, they decided to do the best they could within the salary cap structure to build a Super Bowl caliber team.

The front office executed that plan. Cousins ​​left for a $180 million contract with the Atlanta Falcons. And the Vikings drafted JJ McCarthy with the 10th pick, embracing the opportunities that could come with McCarthy and free-agent signing/presumptive bridge quarterback Sam Darnold.

Instead of scrubbing, the Vikings have overachieved. So much so, especially at quarterback, that they may soon find themselves back in the cycle they were trying to get out of. Pick any passing stat or watch any segment of tape, and Darnold’s unusual play of late is unmistakable.

Read more below about the Vikings’ crossroads with Darnold, and see our Week 15 NFL Roundtable’s take on the situation here.