Fansided

Five reasons the Minnesota Vikings will win Super Bowl 50

By Patrick Morgan

Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) walks from the field following the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Minnesota won 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) walks from the field following the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Minnesota won 20-13. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer calls a play in the fourth quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 3, 2016; Green Bay, WI, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer calls a play in the fourth quarter during the game against the Green Bay Packers at Lambeau Field. Mandatory Credit: Benny Sieu-USA TODAY Sports /

3. Head coach Mike Zimmer

When Mike Zimmer was hired by the Vikings two years ago, he was chosen largely because of his credentials as a defensive guru. Zimmer was responsible for transforming the Bengals into one of the most consistently sound defenses in the league, and as a result was one of the hottest coaching candidates in the league following the 2013 season. The Cincinnati defensive coordinator officially accepted the head coaching job for Minnesota in January of 2014.

Since then, he has overseen a dramatic turnaround in just two seasons on the job.

After finishing 5-10-1 the previous year, the Vikings went 7-9 in Zimmer’s first season. Considering it was also Bridgewater’s rookie season, this marked a promising improvement, and the Vikings entered 2015 as a dark horse sleeper pick for the postseason. Sure enough, under Zimmer’s watchful eye Minnesota improved once again, finishing with an 11-5 record and their first NFC North title in six years.

These accomplishments are even more noteworthy considering the Vikings played one of the hardest schedules in the NFL this season, particularly in the second half.

Next: 2. Stifling young defense

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