The 4-0 Vikings have won two of their games despite not scoring touchdowns, with kicker Will Reichard booting three field goals in a 9-3 victory over the Bears and five three-pointers in a 15-10 triumph against the Dolphins on Sunday at U.S. Bank Stadium.
Reichard leads all NFL kickers with 12 field goals this season. He’s tied with four other players for the most points in the league with 42, per ESPN.com
Reichard is starting his third NFL season, all with the Vikings. His 31 consecutive field goals is the longest active streak in the NFL. He is tied with Fuad Reveiz (31) for the third-longest streak in Vikings history. Reichard’s 22-career field goals of 50-plus yards are the second most by a player in his first three seasons in NFL history, trailing only the Cowboys’ Brandon Aubrey (35).
The Hoover, Alabama native has been kicking a football every year since second grade. He told Sports Headliners soccer was his “first love” but his dad wanted him to experience football to make him tougher.
Reichard said he could kick the ball 35 yards off the tee in second grade. He was a hero on his youth teams because league rules awarded two points for kicking the ball through the uprights after a touchdown. He also recalled a winning field goal in second or third grade from around 30 yards out.
As he has progressed through a football career that included playing for the Alabama Crimson Tide, Reichard has pretty much avoided the physical wear and tear experienced by others because of his role, with kickers usually not subject to contact.
“Yeah, No doubt,” Reichard said. “It’s a great gig. The Lord has blessed me with talent…to go out there and be as good as I can at it.”
Andrew DePaola, the Vikings 39-year-old long snapper and a team captain, took Reichard aside in 2024 and helped the rookie learn about the NFL. Reichard, 25, said the veteran gave him confidence and is a “great leader” for the team.
DePaola has played on four NFL teams including the Vikings. He told Sports Headliners that Reichard doesn’t remind him of anyone else he has played with.
“Honestly, no. He’s in a category of his own. He’s one of one. I played with some good kickers in my time and he’s at the top.”
What makes the 6-foot-1, 190 pound Reichard so effective? “His preparation, his approach to the game, his practice habits,” DePaola said. “He’s competitive as all get out. He doesn’t stop. He knows there’s another level that he can achieve. I am just grateful that I can be with him and help him get there.”
Worth Noting
DePaola turns 40 next July. How much longer does he want to play?
“I think that’s up to God,” he answered. “That’s up to Jesus. We’ll see how long my body will hold up. But I’d like to think I have a few more (years) left in me. But we’ll see.”
Sunday the Vikings offense generated 336 in total net yards and for the first time this season exceeded 250 in a game. Eight penalties and other mistakes continue to make the offense falter.
Minnesota is the second team in the last 90 years (1994 Steelers) to win three straight games in a season while scoring one or fewer scrimmage touchdowns, per Opta Stats. The other team was the 1994 Steelers.
It’s been over 100 years since an NFL team started a season 4-0 despite not scoring a touchdown in two of their first four games. The Vikings join the 1922 and 1923 Chicago Cardinals as the only teams to do this in league history, per NFL Research.
Wide receiver Jordan Addison, who had four receptions for 52 yards on Sunday, offered this view to Sports Headliners on what ails the offense: “I would just say discipline. It’s nothing that the defense is doing that’s stopping us. We stopping ourselves. So being disciplined and being intentional at practice.”
The defense ranks with the elite in the league in points and yards allowed, sacks and efficiency. “They gonna be a problem for the league,” Addison said. “We just gotta do a better job on offense helping them out. Keeping them off the field a little bit but you know they’re playing their tails off. “
Since the beginning of the 2024 season, the Vikings have at least 2.0 sacks in 32 games, the most in the NFL over that span.
The Vikings have won nine straight games dating back to Week 14 of the 2025 season and that’s the longest active win streak in the league. The only better streaks in franchise history are 1974-75, 13 games; 1969, 12; 1999-2000, 10.
Tight-end T.J. Hockenson found his rhythm on Sunday with freedom running routes. “Got the ops (opportunities).,” he told Sports Headliners. “That’s all you need is the ops.”
Hockenson had a career-high-tying 13 receptions for 119 yards on 13 targets.
Safety Harrison Smith played in his 211th career game, passing Fred Cox (210) for the third-most games played in Vikings history. Jim Marshall and Mick Tingelhoff played in 270 and 240 respectively.
Purdue, which ended a streak of 19 consecutive conference losses by defeating Illinois last Saturday, is a 2.5 underdog against Minnesota at home Saturday night, per BetMGM. The Illinois win brought Purdue coach Barry Odom to the verge of tears after the game seen on the Big Ten Network.
Purdue is 2-3 overall, 1-1 in the Big Ten, while Minnesota is 4-1 and 2-0. The Big Ten Network has the game which starts at about 7 p.m. Minneapolis time.
Elite local football authority Daniel House (follow him on X and his websites) told Sports Headliners UCLA offensive coordinator Dean Kennedy is a name to watch in the college coaching profession. The undefeated Bruins are among the most surprising stories of the fall under new coach Bob Chesney.
MLB legend, Hall of Famer, St. Paul native and ex-Gopher baseball and basketball star Dave Winfield turned 75 on Saturday. He and Noel Jenke and Paul Giel are among those on a short list of the greatest Gopher multi-sport athletes ever.
The Big Ten announced its 10-member All-Big Ten Preseason men’s team yesterday as chosen by a media panel and no Gophers were selected. Former Gopher Pharrell Payne, from Park High School of Cottage Grove and now playing for Maryland, along with Wisconsin’s Nolan Winter from Lakeville North, were chosen. Payne, BTW, might be among the more highly compensated players in the league.
I am absolutely elated that you included Noel Jenke in your column! He is STILL a legend in his hometown of Owatonna. I taught in Owatonna from 1998-2021 and he would always make it to a few of our football games every year until he died in 2020. Thank you so much!