One dark horse NFL team for every division

NFC North: Minnesota Vikings

The Chicago Bears look like they are going backwards, the Detroit Lions and Green Bay Packers seem like their usual viable selves, so that leaves the Minnesota Vikings to hold down the dark horse mantle.

It’s really not all that far-fetched though.

This is a team which managed to get the seven wins despite a rookie quarterback, the absence of their best players (and one of the top running backs in the NFL) and a brand new and unproven head coach.

Mike Zimmer was able to get a young defense to play themselves into the top 15 defenses in the NFL, Teddy Bridgewater put together a season Pro Football Focus rated as No 14 in the league (subscription required), and running backs Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata did a very good job filling in for Adrian Peterson.

He also got a surprise performer in then-rookie receiver Charles Johnson, which helped overcome a lack of big play receivers.

This year the team has added Mike Wallace, formerly of the Miami Dolphins, in the hopes to give Bridgewater another big target, and pull some coverage off of Johnson. They also have a healthy Kyle Rudolph at tight end, which if he can stay that way will help Bridgewater as well.

Of course the biggest addition is Peterson, who has had a year off to heal, rest and recharge. Like him or hate him off the field, there is little denying he is one of the best running backs in the NFL. This time he has a quarterback who can keep defenses from stacking the box, making his initial work easier. In return he will make defenses lay off Bridgewater a little bit, as teams cannot simply go after the quarterback and risk Peterson running wild.

The biggest issue offensively—aside from the concern that Bridgewater could take a step back rather than forward—is the line. Matt Kalil has struggled since his rookie season, though he has had knee surgeries in both knees, which have been the source of trouble for him. At the right tackle is fourth round rookie T.J. Clemmings, who stepped in when Phil Loadholt went down for the season. After dropping to the middle of the fourth round due to injury concerns, but could end up being the steal of the 2015 NFL Draft. He’s got a lot to prove though and it’s tough to love putting even a talented fourth round rookie at right tackle.

If the line can hold together though, the offense should perform well and we know the defense will keep getting better.

It’s a rough road in the NFC, and realistically the Vikings are a year or so away from being a true threat, but if it all comes together, they have the talent to make some noise.

Next: NFC South: Tampa Bay Buccaneers