Vikings Land at 8th in NFC Ranking
Getting the perspective from executives (and coaches) can be a good reminder of the different opinions that can exist between fans and those inside the NFL. A recent one on The Athletic asks 5 anonymous execs to put together a hierarchy in the NFC. Somewhat predictably, the Vikings find themselves at 8th in the ranking.
At the very top is the LA Rams. They’re the defending Super Bowl champs, so no argument from me. The top five, in order, then proceeds with Green Bay, Tampa Bay, San Francisco, and Philadelphia. This is where there can be a lot more debate.
I’ve been reasonably outspoken about my belief that the Packers will have an excellent defense. Partnering that defense with Aaron Rodgers will likely lead to a division title. Nevertheless, I’m among those who’d put the Bucs ahead of the Packers. Tom Brady, as you may have heard, is good at football (and winning).
Moreover, the decision to put SF and Philly in the top 5 isn’t a surefire prediction about the future. It’s possible both teams fail to make the playoffs in 2022.
True, each team has talent, but it won’t be shocking if Trey Lance struggles in his first full season as a starter. Plenty of young QBs have a difficult time adjusting to the NFL. The Eagles have added some strong players, but they’re coming off a season when they finished 9-8, a touch better than Minnesota’s 8-9. Climbing into the NFC’s top 5 isn’t a guarantee.
The voters put Dallas and then Arizona at 6 and 7, placements that push the Vikings to 8th.
In the piece, one executive wonders about whether Cousins can be an MVP candidate. Another articulates some concern about the defense: “‘They haven’t been able to get a corner, so you worry a little bit about the coverage,’ another exec said. ‘And then you are going to a new scheme and philosophy on defense, and I’m not sure they have the personnel to do it. That is their limitation.'”
I’m not sure if I agree with the concerns about the defensive personnel, but the defense is undergoing a pretty large transition. Perhaps that contributes to some struggles.
Many Minnesota fans feel optimistic about how the season will go. The new coaching staff has brought a fresh batch of hope. Several of the additions – Za’Darius Smith, Harrison Phillips, Lewis Cine, Ed Ingram, Jalen Reagor – are similarly causing some Vikings fans to believe the 2022 season could be different.
Until they prove they’ve risen above the recent mediocrity, the Vikings will continue facing doubt in various ranking pieces. The past couple years have featured humdrum records that fail to inspire much confidence. The only way to overcome these concerns is put together a great 2022 season.
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