Countdown Questions — #1: Do the Vikings Actually Have What it Takes to Win the Super Bowl?
With the full Vikings roster soon to arrive at training camp, PurplePTSD is counting down the top 10 pressing, perplexing, and puzzling questions as the fateful day – July 25th – inches closer. Today’s focus rests on the #1 question:
In reality, do the Vikings actually have what it takes to win the Super Bowl?
The short answer is no, but let’s aim for both more optimism and more nuance. Indeed, the team’s main leaders — Kwesi Adofo-Mensah and Kevin O’Connell — aren’t throwing in the towel for 2023. Each is planning on making the final tournament and then pushing for a Super Bowl once there, but their approach puts the team in a bit of an odd spot.
The competitive rebuild involves intentionally living in a middle ground. The goal is to contend in 2023 and beyond. Don’t miss the first portion, folks. Adofo-Mensah’s goal is to be competitive right now. He isn’t looking to miss the playoffs or to reside in purple purgatory. His goal is to be among the best teams in the NFC and to give the Vikings franchise its first ever Super Bowl.
Is that goal realistic?
Can the Vikings Actually Push for a Super Bowl?
Every question we’ve explored in this series is subservient to the main issue staring directly at the Vikings: is this team a genuine Super Bowl contender?
At times, there has been some confusion about the GM’s competitive rebuild. For the most part, though, I think the issue is simply that people are unpersuaded. Indeed, the problem isn’t comprehension but persuasion.
As a former stock trader, Kwesi Adofo-Mensah’s approach makes sense. The wise investor ensures he isn’t putting too much of his money into one specific area since there’s too much vulnerability and risk. The investing theory, as I understand it, is simply that if the specific sector experiences a major downturn, then all of the investor’s wealth will be lost in the downfall.
Instead, diversify the investments by spreading capital across various companies, sectors, and maybe even investment forms. If a specific area hits a snag, there’s no reason to panic; just ride things out since so much has been invested in other areas that aren’t struggling as much.
So far, Adofo-Mensah hasn’t been willing to sink all his effort into investing in either the immediate or the long term. He has instead sought to balance the objectives, investing in both the immediate as well as the long term. Again, there is wisdom in that approach, but there’s potentially a limit to the upside.
An honest assessment of the talent on Minnesota’s roster leaves one with the distinct impression that a Super Bowl won’t be arriving after the season. A tough opinion but one that has the benefit of objectivity. Almost certainly, the Vikings will fall short in the upcoming season; the roster flaws are too prominent and plentiful.
Of course, a ton can change between now and February in 2024, so maybe the Vikings will prove your humble author wrong (I’d love to be wrong on this one). A rapid ascension from some of the young fellas (especially at corner), some Brian Flores brilliance, an unexpectedly sensational Kirk Cousins, and an astounding Justin Jefferson could coalesce at the right time, forming a team that not only gets into the final tournament but knocks off tremendous teams while there.
Stranger things have happened, folks.
Nevertheless, we’d be foolish to take leave of our senses by beginning to plan the Super Bowl parade in downtown Minneapolis. Currently, the team appears to be in transition mode (albeit one’s that’s more modest than usual team transitions), hedging their bets by diversifying their investment strategy as Kwesi seeks to build a perennial contender.
The upside in the current season thus appears to be a bit limited.
The Send Off
A final thought.
No team can win the Super Bowl in training camp, but plenty of teams lose the Super Bowl in training camp. Beginning the year by implementing excellent schemes, developing talent, instilling a winning culture, and cultivating resilience are simply some of the things that can allow a team to emerge from the offseason with a chance at climbing Mount Lombardi. Not a guarantee, no, but at least a fighting shot.
As of today, the entire Vikings roster will be present in Eagan. The Vikings must start doing the right things from Day 1 and let’s see how the year unfolds.
Editor’s Note: The “Countdown Questions” series is a 10-day look at some of the most important questions facing the Minnesota Vikings as training camp nears. Be sure to keep swinging by to check out the latest installment and to read what has already been covered: #10, #9, #8, #7, #6, #5, #4, #3, & #2.
The Hall of Fame Series: Cris Carter