5 quarterbacks who could start in their first Super Bowl this year

The Minnesota Vikings can go in a lot of different directions this year. They made the NFC playoffs last year, pulling off a shocking upset vs. the New Orleans Saints in the Wild Card round Even if they were drubbed by the San Francisco 49ers in the divisional round, at least their starting quarterback Kirk Cousins got the playoff victory monkey off his back. The pressure is off for now.

From a roster standpoint, the Vikings have what it takes to not only win the NFC North but go on a deep postseason run should they qualify for it. What it really comes down to is how well Cousins can play for them in his third year with the team. He’s coming off arguably his best season as a professional and his stock as a franchise quarterback has never been higher. Can he do it, though?

Minnesota has not been to a Super Bowl since Fran Tarkenton was still running around behind the line of scrimmage for the Vikings in his Pro Football Hall of Fame career. Cousins is nowhere near as mobile as Tarkenton but is one of the most accurate passers of his generation. With commendable postseason experience, maybe Cousins can lead the Vikings to the promised land?

Though he doesn’t have to play at an MVP level to get the Vikings to the Super Bowl, he’ll have to be a top-10 quarterback in the league again. Minnesota’s defense is still ferocious and the offense is still better than most, although offensive coordinator Kevin Stefanski now leads the Cleveland Browns. If Minnesota gets home-field advantage, the Vikings can absolutely make it to Tampa.