ESPN Gives Vikings Another Middling Spot in Latest Power Ranking
Every summer, NFL fanbases are filled with hope for the upcoming season. It’s a chance at a clean slate where every team begins at the same place: 0-0.
Ahead of the new year, ESPN has put out another NFL power ranking. In this list, the Minnesota Vikings receive another middling spot at No. 15. In addition to ranking all 32 teams, the media giant put out players/coaches on the “hot seat” for the upcoming campaign.
For the Vikings, it is QB Kirk Cousins who is on said hot seat as he enters the final year of his contract. It is the first time in his Vikings career that he is set to hit free agency following the season. Here is what Vikings beat writer Kevin Seifert had to say of the Vikings QB:
Cousins is in a contract year for the fourth time in his career but the first since he signed with the Vikings in 2018. The Vikings decided against extending his current deal in March. There is no obvious heir on the roster, but at the very least, 35-year-old Cousins will have to ward off any hints of a physical decline to secure a new deal. On the other hand, a huge season could propel him to a bigger payday in free agency next offseason.
Over his career in Minnesota, Cousins has often been under scrutiny for his play. While the QB consistently puts up strong numbers year after year (eight straight seasons of 3500+ passing yards and 25+ passing TDs) it has not always come with team success.
Last year, it seemed like he was able to dodge much of the criticism after leading the team to a 13-4 record despite playing alongside one of the worst defensive units in the league. That is, until the Wild Card game arrived, and on an infamous 4th-and-8 pass to T.J. Hockenson, all the critiques came roaring back to the forefront.
Despite completing 31-of-39 passes for 273 yards and a pair of touchdowns, Cousins again was unable to come up when it mattered most. Complaints of the protection, particularly on that 4th-and-8 play, and the defense are valid, but still, that throw was another indicator of the quarterback’s most-scrutinized trait: he can play things too safely.
Regardless, the Vikings are hoping to compete for another division title this year. They’ve added a flashy young receiver in Jordan Addison who will replace Adam Thielen, and while Dalvin Cook is no longer in Minnesota, a young RB duo of Alexander Mattison and Ty Chandler looks to lead the way in the backfield.
The defense could end up being below-average again, but at the very least, it looks like a much more aggressive and engaged unit than last year’s group was under Ed Donatell. Gone are the days of quarters defense and playing everything in zone coverage. Under Brian Flores, the Vikings linebackers and safeties will be all over the field, utilizing unique disguised blitzes to put pressure on opposing QBs.
Ultimately, the Vikings have many of the same concerns in terms of personnel that existed last year, but it should be a very entertaining season in the NFC North. The darling Detroit Lions (ranked 10th in this power ranking) are the odds-on favorite to win the division while the Chicago Bears (24th) and Green Bay Packers (20th) look like feisty competition as well. The Vikings may not run away with the division again this season, but they should be expected to be in contention once again.
Josh Frey is a Class of 2020 graduate of The College of Idaho and managing editor of PurplePTSD.com. When he’s not writing about the NFL, Josh enjoys running, gaming, or rooting for the Milwaukee Brewers and Bucks. Check out his Twitter account: @Freyed_Chicken.