Is Minnesota Actually a Super Bowl Contender?
K. Joudry
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Many of you will instinctively scoff at that headline. If you do, I won’t blame you. This team hasn’t been close since 2017. Even then, Minnesota was never really in that NFC Championship Game. Why talk about the ultimate prize when it’s so far away? Well, because all the moves from this offseason suggest that the Minnesota Vikings leadership is gearing up for a run at the Super Bowl.
Let’s consider, for a moment, some of the things that a team generally needs to win a Super Bowl:
- A QB who, at the very least, is very good
- A strong offensive line, one that allows the offense to stay true to its identity
- Offensive playmakers who scare the opposition’s defense
- At least two difference makers to rush the QB
- A matchup corner who can take on the opposition’s WR1
- A special teams unit that doesn’t beat its own team
- A brilliant strategist at HC
This list, I’ll admit, is woefully inadequate. Perhaps I’ll sit down to put together a more detailed, persuasive list of items. Until then, let’s work off the abbreviated version.
The last five Super Bowl-winning QBs have been Matthew Stafford, Tom Brady, Patrick Mahomes, Tom Brady, and Nick Foles. Two of those QBs are great: Brady and Mahomes. Stafford is very good, and Foles was sensational during that postseason.
The recent defenses have featured pass rushers like Von Miller, Aaron Donald, Jason Pierre-Paul, Shaq Barrett, Frank Clark, Chris Jones, and Fletcher Cox (among others). The head coaches have been Sean McVay, Bill Belichick, Bruce Arians, Andy Reid, and Doug Pederson.
What I’m trying to suggest, folks, is that teams don’t just waltz into the big game. Nay, there is a list of things that teams usually have when finding success. At times, being elite in one area – like on defense – can overcome a shortcoming, such as a QB who is merely average.
To my mind, things don’t look particularly rosy when it comes to the Minnesota Vikings and their Super Bowl aspirations. Simply put, Kirk Cousins needs to be much better to make this work. The Vikings have the offensive skill players to strike fear into opposing DCs, and the Za’Darius/Danielle pairing offers the capacity for a fearsome pass rush.
If we’re realistic, we’ll admit that the team has uncertainty at head coach, on special teams, at QB, the offensive line, and at corner. Overcoming these issues aren’t impossible, but they will be difficult. Perhaps Cameron Dantzler really shines, and maybe Cousins does finally take that next step. Kevin O’Connell could be a sensational head coach, someone who breathes life into this roster. If these things occur, then the team will have a chance.
At this stage, though, it’s tough to look at the entire team and feel confident. There’s a path forward for them to be a good NFL team. Being great enough for a Super Bowl will require the Minnesota Vikings to improve in several critical areas.
[brid autoplay=”true” video=”986495″ player=”26281″ title=”WATCH%204%20ideal%20Chicago%20Bears%20wide%20receiver%20options%20in%202022%20NFL%20draft” duration=”119″ description=”There is no doubt the Chicago Bears and quarterback Justin Fields could use some help in the passing game in 2022. Second-year wide receiver Darnell Mooney did an admirable job in being the team’s top receiver and racking up over 1,000 yards last season, but he does not project to be a legit WR1 in the NFL for years to come.Outside of Mooney there was a major production dropoff for the Bears receivers. Tight end Cole Kernet tallied the second most yards with 612 in 2021, and exiting free agent WR Allen Robinson was third on the team despite playing in only 12 games. After Mooney, the next four players on the team’s receiving stats list barely had over 1,600 yards combined.It is a serious enough problem that Bears General Manager Ryan Poles recently admitted they have a glaring weakness at the position. However, despite not having a first round pick in this month’s draft, he won’t waste a top pick on a WR reach.” uploaddate=”2022-04-05″ thumbnailurl=”undefined” contentUrl=”https://cdn.brid.tv/live/partners/17660/streaming/986456/986456.m3u8″ width=”16″ height=”9″]