NFL Week 17 Winners and Losers: Harbaugh, Chargers, Browns, Lions, Watt and more
By Andrew Garda
Winners: Minnesota Vikings
Sure, the Vikings failed to make the playoffs for the second year in a row and had to deal with the distraction of Adrian Peterson’s legal issues, but there were a ton of positives, not the least of which was the win over the Chicago Bears Sunday.
The biggest positive was the play of rookie quarterback Teddy Bridgewater. While it’s well known I am a Bridgewater honk, I challenge anyone to watch the games he played this year and be anything but impressed with how he improved each week.
It’s not just about Bridgewater, though it has to be nice to enter into the offseason without worrying about who the guy under center will be.
The defense pulled itself together well, the backfield was productive despite the absence of Peterson and they discovered they have a very talented group of wide receivers.
It’s not easy to claw your way up through the NFC North, and by no means is this team poised to blow the Green Bay Packers or Detroit Lions off the field anytime soon.
But they are looking like a team well on its way to competing very soon.
Next: Losers: Arizona Cardinals