Fansided

5 signs the Minnesota Vikings are for real

By Nathaniel Reeves

Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) reacts after making a sack in the fourth quarter. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 22-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports
Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) reacts after making a sack in the fourth quarter. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 22-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports /
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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 /

The Minnesota Vikings look like the team to beat in the NFC following an impressive 3-0 start to the season.

Following the team’s first NFC North title since 2009 and subsequent narrow loss to the Seattle Seahawks in the NFC Wild Card Game, the Minnesota Vikings entered 2016 with high expectations.

All of the pieces were there for the Vikings to retain the division title over the Green Bay Packers and make a much deeper run in the postseason, as the roster had very few weaknesses on paper. Those hopes appeared to be shattered when staring quarterback Teddy Bridgewater suffered a devastating season-ending knee injury less than two weeks before the start of the regular season.

Initially, that left the Vikings with veteran journeyman Shaun Hill under center. Minnesota then traded a first and fourth round pick to the Philadelphia Eagles for Sam Bradford, a move widely panned by national analysts.

However, the Vikings have defied all expectations with a 3-0 start against a tough schedule. A road win against the Tennessee Titans didn’t come as a huge shock even with Hill under center, but few expected Bradford to play well in back-to-back victories against the Packers and Carolina Panthers.

With a defense playing at an elite level, and excellent head coach, and enough pieces on offense to win, the Vikings should be considered the team to beat in the NFC.

5. They have already beaten two major NFC contenders 

There’s a ton of parity in the NFC early in the season, making Minnesota’s perfect start all the more impressive. The only 3-0 teams in the conference are the Vikings and Eagles, which nobody could have predicted earlier in the season.

Only a few teams in the NFC have a realistic shot at winning the Super Bowl, and Minnesota has already beaten two of them. The Vikings showed they can stop Aaron Rodgers in a 17-14 win over the Packers in Week 2 to open their new stadium.

Last Sunday was even more impressive, as the Vikings went on the road and completely shut down the reigning NFC champion Panthers in a 22-10 victory. If Minnesota can beat those two teams while dealing with injuries all over the place, there’s no reason it can’t emerge as the conference champion further down the line.

The only other Super Bowl contenders in the NFC are the Seattle Seahawks, who have to be worried about the health of Russell Wilson, and the Arizona Cardinals, who haven’t looked right in a 1-2 start. Back-to-back wins against such tough competition has put the Vikings in early control of the NFC race.

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