Vikings have ample talent, but enough to make title run?
The Purple Gang were one of the league’s biggest disappointments in 2020. Will the Minnesota Vikings out all the pieces together this year?
Best-case scenario
In 2019, the Vikings finished 10-6 and captured a wild card berth. The defense was 14th in the league in total yards per game allowed. But Mike Zimmer’s club allowed only 303 points thanks in part to 31 takeaways by the team.
But things went from good to dreadful in a blink of an eye. Only five teams allowed more total yards and rushing yards a year ago. Minnesota gave up a stunning 475 points – 172 more than the previous season. But with a bolstered defensive line aided by the return of pass-rushing demon Danielle Hunter, the Vikings could just as quickly return to its stingy ways on defense in 2021.
Worst-case scenario
Despite plenty of impressive numbers in terms of completion percentage, passing yards and scores through the air, quarterback Kirk Cousins still has a problem when it comes to ball security. A season ago, only three teams in the league gained more total yards per game. Minnesota boasted the fifth-ranked running game in the league.
But in a year where the defense was a no-show, Mike Zimmer’s team turned over the ball a disappointing 23 times. Incredibly, 18 were courtesy of Cousins via 13 interceptions while losing five of his nine fumbles. It would be highly disappointing if Minnesota was to fix its defense and the sloppiness on the other side of the ball continued.
X-factor
Tight end Irv Smith Jr. has only been in the league two short years. But with veteran Kyle Rudolph now a member of the New York Giants, it’s his time to shine. The reviews from training camp this year have been extremely positive and he has showed a few flashes during the preseason. But via Chad Graff of The Athletic, he will miss the start of 2021 with a meniscus injury. He could still become a major factor once he returns.
Meanwhile, keep an eye on defensive end Danielle Hunter. His absence a year ago made a big difference when it came to Minnesota’s defense and most notably the pass rush. The team finished with just 23 sacks this past season, down significantly from the previous year (48) when he led the club with 14.5 QB traps.
Biggest game
It’s a team that has baffled Mike Zimmer’s club in recent years and even before his arrival in 2014. Or perhaps it’s resourceful quarterback Russell Wilson that has been the issue for the Vikings in general.
Dating back to 2012 and including an improbable 10-9 wild card loss at home in 2015, the Purple Gang has lost seven straight games to the team from the Pacific Northwest.
It’s also a crucial stretch for Zimmer’s club as they open the season with road games at Cincinnati and at Arizona. The clash with the Seahawks is start of a three-game home stand and includes clashes with the Browns and Lions.
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Bold prediction
Under Mike Zimmer, the Vikings have yet to make the playoffs two years in a row. But that also means this team has not posted consecutive losing seasons. And that will be the case again as the club bounces all the way back and captures the NFC North for the first time since 2017.
The Vikings were one of only three teams to beat the Packers a year ago. The Colts managed the feat and the Buccaneers did it twice. While Minnesota managed only a 7-9 record a year ago, four of those victories came within the division. The team’s last NFC North title came in 2017.