The Minnesota Vikings finally showed signs of weakness this weekend with a loss to the Detroit Lions in the most anticipated NFC North showdown of the season. That division is absolutely stacked, but Detroit-Minnesota feels like the primary matchup for first place and possibly even a spot in the Super Bowl.

It’s only week 7, so we may need to cool our jets, but it’s hard not to get excited seeing a few juggernauts fight to the death. The Lions cruised to a 31-29 victory in the final minutes, ending a back-and-forth affair between two of the NFL’s most potent offenses.

Jared Goff made his MVP case, but the honor still belongs to Sam Darnold, who exceeded expectations with a miraculous breakout campaign for the Vikings. Before the season, we were all wondering when JJ McCarthy would take over. Now the question is whether or not Minnesota can afford to keep Darnold around to hinder McCarthy’s development.

It wasn’t a perfect performance on Sunday afternoon, but Darnold completed 22 of 27 passes and added another touchdown to his growing tally. Kevin O’Connell runs a tight ship and the Vikings offense is packed with playmaking firepower, making life easier for Darnold.

That said, Minnesota can absolutely justify further investment in this offense. Gone are the days of wondering if this is a postseason team. We now wonder if Minnesota has enough to win the Super Bowl. That means all the chips are on the table. If the right upgrade becomes available, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and the front office should not hesitate.

Why not start with a reunion?

The Vikings should call the Carolina Panthers, who committed the cardinal sin of making Marcus Mariota look competent on Sunday. Adam Thielen is well past his prime at 34 and is coming back from a hamstring injury, which could be difficult. That said, Minnesota knows as well as anyone how reliable Thielen can be, and the Panthers should get their act together before the trade deadline.

Thielen’s game has never been more dependent on athleticism. You need a base level of mobility and explosiveness to catch passes in the NFL, but Thielen’s sharp route-running and soft hands do a lot of the work. He understands angles and his quarterback’s intuition on a basic level. Before arriving in Carolina, he was a favorite of Kirk Cousins ​​in Minnesota – a mid-range target who perfectly balanced the offense opposite Justin Jefferson.

There’s no reason to think this setup wouldn’t bode well for Darnold as well. The Vikings have other high-ranking playmakers like Jordan Addison and the soon-to-return TJ Hockenson, but what’s the harm in having one more? Thielen is a perfect low-stakes safety valve for Darnold, giving the Vikings’ sharpshooter a reliable set of hands closer to the line of scrimmage.

Coming off the third 1,000-yard campaign of his career in 2023, Thielen still has plenty left in the tank. He reached that benchmark when Bryce Young threw the football, folks. There aren’t many wide receivers who can produce consistently at age 34, but Thielen has already proven he can break the mold.

In return, the Panthers replenish their draft stocks and allow rookie Xavier Legette to continue dominating the targets.