Fansided

5 reasons the Minnesota Vikings will be NFC Champions

By Parker Hurley

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 /
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September 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner exits the team tunnel before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi
September 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner exits the team tunnel before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi /

4. Norv Turner

Some Viking fans may completely disagree, but Zimmer handing the keys to the offense to a professional and established coordinator like Norv Turner has the Vikings in a prime spot to be Super Bowl contenders. Turner has had his ups and downs as an NFL head coach, but one thing is for sure: he’s a smart offensive mind.

Unlike too many coordinators in the NFL, Turner adjusts his scheme to fit his players. There is no “Turner system” that he forces his team to adopt, even without the right players to execute it. Turner’s system is to find the strengths of the talent available and maximize their potential.

Last season, the Vikings were a relatively predictable, run-first team, but they were good enough to make the playoffs anyway. Turner understood that his offense had limited pass-catching options, and that his biggest weapon, Adrian Peterson, was an average pass blocker and not a dynamic pass catcher. Turner knew running the football was his best bet, and it paid off.

This season, especially since Peterson’s injury, the Vikings have moved to the shotgun more, and have looked for short passes to find success. It fits the style of Matt Asiata, a strong pass blocker, Jerick McKinnon, a back who can catch, and Sam Bradford, a quarterback with accuracy in the short passing game.

It’s a huge benefit in a playoff game to have an offensive coordinator that can be trusted to run a game plan to counter the defense’s strengths and weaknesses. Zimmer brings that with his defensive mentality, and Turner compliments him perfectly as a now-underrated offensive coordinator.

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