How do the Vikings bounce back from their playoff disappointment?

“Minnesota Vikings suffer playoff disappointment” is a cliché in football, but there is no disguising the fact that this year, once again, Vikings fans were left contemplating what might have been after a heartbreaking loss in the playoffs. At least they weren’t made to wait until the final minute – the 38-7 loss to the Philadelphia Eagles was not a close contest, and the fact that the Eagles went on to win the Super Bowl is a consolation of sorts.

Since the Vikings last reached the Super Bowl in 1977, they have fallen 21 times in the playoffs, with some of the more famous defeats, such as the overtime losses to New Orleans in 2010 and Atlanta in 1999, going down in football folklore. Their loss to the Eagles was their sixth in the NFC Championship game during that 42-season period.

It could be argued that the Vikings had used up their playoff good fortune against the Saints in the Divisional Round with that dramatic 61-yard pass thrown by Case Keenum to Stefon Diggs to pull off a miracle win. Perhaps the drama of that game led to a hangover when the Vikings took on the Eagles. Whatever the cause, it was still a shock when the NFL’s number-one defense was taken apart by Nick Foles for 352 yards.

However, despite that crushing disappointment, there wasn’t a lot wrong with the Vikings’ season. Losing Sam Bradford early on could have been a disaster, but Keenum stepped up well and led the side to a 13-3 record, while the defense remained formidable. When weighing up the Vikings’ Super Bowl chances next season, football fans and bookmakers will see past the Eagles game and rate Minnesota among the favorites in the NFL betting odds on Stakers.com.   

For the 2018 season, it will be a case of building on what they already have rather than carrying out a major overhaul. Here are five possible improvements that could help to take the Vikings to the next level and end their long wait for an appearance at the Super Bowl.

Quarterback

The Vikings have a problem to solve at quarterback. Keenum, Bradford, and Teddy Bridgewater are due to be free agents when the season gets underway, but all three have weaknesses. Bridgewater has been out of the game for two seasons, Bradford has a poor injury record, and Keenum is not guaranteed to reproduce his heroics of 2017. The answer could be to bring in a player such as Kirk Cousins or to look for a rookie in the draft. Whichever direction they take, identifying a quality first-choice quarterback is a priority this offseason.

Offensive line

The offensive line features four solid professionals and is hardly a weakness, but the Vikings may want to add more depth to the roster. Tackles Riley Reiff and Mike Remmers are under contract, but bringing in another tackle and having Remmers step across to right guard could be an upgrade, and it would be no surprise to see the Vikings bring in a new face.

Running backs

The Vikings are pretty strong in the backfield, with Dalvin Cook and Latavius Murray both at their peak, but if they could identify a number three back who can contribute to the passing game, they could become even more formidable. J.D. McKissic, Kerwynn Williams, Benny Cunningham, and Corey Grant are all interesting potential recruits.

Wide receivers

Adam Thielen’s 91 receptions in 2017 rank in the top-ten seasonal performances in the franchise’s history, while Diggs finished the season with the highest pass completion percentage in the NFL. The Vikings will be keen to extend Diggs’ contract, and they may go to the lengths of renegotiating Thielen’s deal to keep him happy. Adding in a high-quality number three could further strengthen the wide receiver position, giving whoever takes on the quarterback role the best range of passing options in the NFL.

Tight ends

A perennial source of debate among Vikings fans is the need for a quicker, athletic tight end to add a new edge to the team’s offence. Kyle Rudolph and David Morgan are two pretty good options, but bringing in a solid number three could give the offense a new dimension.

By locking in a quality quarterback and adding depth in some key offensive positions, the Vikings will be able to build on the solid foundation that they laid in 2017 and give their fans something to cheer about in the next post-season.

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