Fansided

5 reasons the Minnesota Vikings will be NFC Champions

By Parker Hurley

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer moves between players he greets before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer moves between players he greets before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Minnesota Vikings are destined to become NFC champions in 2016-17.

The Minnesota Vikings closed out Week 5 as the only undefeated team left in the NFL. Coming into the season almost nobody would have predicted this. Even fewer people would have predicted this after Teddy Bridgewater, the team’s third-year starting quarterback, went down with a devastating knee injury. The team has lost both its starting tackles and superstar running back Adrian Peterson for the rest of the season as well.

All of this has most football fans wondering when this magical run is going to end. However, those waiting for the Vikings to fail could be disappointed. This team is proven. They have beaten quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Brock Osweiler and Marcus Mariota, and have won by an average margin of 10.8 points per game. The Vikings now are the favorites to win the NFC this year, and that tag is warranted. They should remain in the conference driver seat moving forward. Here are five reasons why.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer moves between players he greets before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer moves between players he greets before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports /

5. Mike Zimmer

The minute the Vikings hired Mike Zimmer, the rebuild was on. Zimmer is now in his third year with the Vikings, and their number of wins has risen each year. Many wondered whether Zimmer could improve on his 11-5 second season. So far, he has. 

Zimmer, who was the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals before making the move to Minnesota, has changed this team’s identity. He has preached a hard-nosed, defensive mentality. He coaches conservatively, but he coaches smart; he knows that defense wins games in the NFL. 

When Zimmer took the reigns, the Vikings ranked 27th in the NFL in DVOA. After one season, the unit improved to 23rd. Last season, the Vikings jumped up to 14th. So far, through five games this season, the unit now ranks fifth in the league in DVOA. 

The Bengals defense led by Zimmer ranked in the top 10 in points allowed in four of his six seasons. This season, the Vikings defense ranks third in points allowed; they ranked fifth and 11th, respectively, in Zimmer’s first two years. 

Zimmer has proven his qualities as a head coach. His career winning percentage is over 60. He has established a new identity in Minnesota and the team has completely bought in. That is a scary combination to have when it comes to the big games in January and February.

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