5 reasons Sam Bradford can lead Vikings to the Super Bowl

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Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Adrian Peterson (28) is injured during the third quarter against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings defeated the Packers 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports /

2. Are we overstating Bridgewater/Peterson injuries?

For most teams, losing their starting quarterback and starting running back would ruin their football season, but not the 2016 Vikings. That is because Bridgewater and Peterson were not the primary reasons that Minnesota could contend for a Super Bowl anyway.

There are three reasons that the Vikings are still Super Bowl-caliber sans Bridgewater and Peterson. Minnesota has a top five general manager, a top five head coach and a top five defense. Being top five in those three areas ensure that a team can play championship-caliber football.

Minnesota has won its last five regular season games and is 6-2 in its last eight games. The Vikings would be 7-1 if kicker Blair Walsh made that chip shot in Minneapolis during the NFC Wild Card game against Seattle. Bridgewater was essentially game-managing with his sub-par arm in a frigid Minnesota winter last season. Peterson was not a 100+ yard rusher as a 30-year-old last season.

In short, they were complimentary pieces to a larger, more complicated puzzle in the Twin Cities this fall. If the Vikings are going to win the Super Bowl this season, it will be because of the front office and defensive personnel.

There’s a chance that Bradford might be the better NFL quarterback over Bridgewater. Bradford playing well in 2016 only adds to the Vikings chances to reach Super Bowl LI.

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