Analyst Predicts a Modest Improvement for Vikings Offense
K. Joudry
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From what I can gather, Vikings fans are mostly feeling optimistic about where this team is heading. In fact, I’d guess that most Vikings fans believe the offense is going to show significant improvement in 2022. As a result, a recent article that predicts how each NFL offense will perform caught my eye.
Sheil Kapadia offers an analysis of all 32 offenses heading into the season on The Ringer. He thinks that the Vikings will have the year’s 11th-best offense:
In four seasons with quarterback Kirk Cousins, the Vikings have finished eighth, 10th, 16th and 18th in DVOA. Even with a new play caller in Kevin O’Connell, this is most likely going to be a high-floor, low-ceiling group. As is seemingly the case every year, the offensive line is a question mark. If that group can be competent, Cousins will have plenty of help in Justin Jefferson, Adam Thielen and Dalvin Cook.
Last season, the Vikings offense finished 14th in the NFL in points per game. On average, Minnesota scored 25 points. A large part of the issue was that their defense allowed, on average, 25.1 points. The near identical numbers led to a pedestrian 8-9 record.
Jumping up to 11th would be an improvement but it’s not the one many are looking for in 2022.
Kevin O’Connell’s offense is supposed to help the skill players that Kapadia mentions. Getting top-level play from Jefferson, Thielen, and Cook would indeed be encouraging.
What would be even more encouraging, though, is if the offensive line takes the positive step we’re all hoping to see. Sometimes, the best way to help an offensive line is to ensure the play call allows the QB to get the ball out of his hand with efficiency. Finding ways to get the aforementioned skill players into open areas of the field will thus be a priority for O’Connell and his staff.
Furthermore, we ought not forget the more overlooked players in the Vikings offense. K.J. Osborn can be a strong WR3, and the most recent preseason game demonstrated the team’s depth at RB. Ty Chandler and Kene Nwangwu both looked great against the Raiders. Tight end is uncertain, though a healthy Irv Smith Jr. would add another element to the offense.
Kapadia predicts that the Packers will finish 8th, the Lions 24th, and the Bears 30th. If things go well in Minnesota, it won’t be surprising to see their offense finish as a top 10 group, as Kapadia suggests: “If O’Connell proves to be a good offensive coach, it’d be no surprise to see them overachieve a little and crack the top 10.”
The potential is there, folks, for the Vikings to have a high-end offense. Hopefully, we’ll see more positive growth in the upcoming 49ers game.
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