NFC North power rankings: Are the Packers still the team to beat?

SANTA CLARA, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 19: Aaron Jones #33 of the Green Bay Packers rushes with the ball against the San Francisco 49ers during the NFC Championship game at Levi's Stadium on January 19, 2020 in Santa Clara, California. (Photo by Sean M. Haffey/Getty Images) /

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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – JANUARY 05: Drew Brees #9 of the New Orleans Saints is pursued by Danielle Hunter #99 of the Minnesota Vikings in the NFC Wild Card Playoff game at Mercedes Benz Superdome on January 05, 2020 in New Orleans, Louisiana. (Photo by Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

2. Minnesota Vikings

It has been an up and down six year for the Purple Gang under head coach Mike Zimmer. After a 7-9 showing in 2014, the Minnesota Vikings won the NFC North one year later. That was followed by a 5-0 start the following season that went for naught as the club finished 8-8. In ’17, Zimmer’s team was the No. 2 seed in the conference playoffs and reached the NFC title game.

In 2018, the team looked to take another step forward by signing quarterback Kirk Cousins. But an 8-7-1 mark wasn’t good enough to reach the playoffs. This past season, the team came away with 10 wins and a wild card invitation.

But all was not well with this team by year’s end and if the club is to make consecutive playoff appearances for the first time since 2008 and ’09, a once-formidable defense needed a facelift. All told, the Vikings used nine of their record 15 picks (a record for a 7-round draft) on this side of the ball (see Craig Peters of Vikings.com).

Veteran defenders such as Linval Joseph and Xavier Rhodes were cut loose while cornerbacks Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander left via free agency. But can this club avoid being swept by the Packers for a second straight year?