Are Minnesota Vikings being overlooked as sleeper?
The Minnesota Vikings have enough talent to make a nice playoff run, but nobody is talking about them as a sleeper in the NFC.
Maybe it’s Kirk Cousins. Maybe it’s the team history. Regardless, the Minnesota Vikings aren’t getting the chatter they deserve.
Cousins, 32, is entering his fourth year with the Vikings. He’s only once gotten his team to the playoffs, doing so as a Pro Bowler in 2019. All told, he’s thrown 91 touchdowns against 25 interceptions in his time with Minnesota. Now, he is surrounded by the best offensive talent he’s seen.
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The Vikings have a dynamic set of receivers in second-year man Justin Jefferson and veteran Adam Thielen. As well as that, running Dalvin Cook looks to eat up yardage from the backfield. Up front, Minnesota added tackle Christian Darrisaw to the mix as a first-round pick, helping to provide Cousins with some cover.
Defensively, general manager Rick Spielman has done plenty to fortify a leaky unit from last season.
The Vikings went out and acquired both cornerback Patrick Peterson and nose tackle Dalvin Tomlinson. One will play opposite of star youngster Cam Dantzler and the other will create run-stuffing prowess alongside veteran Michael Pierce. Pierce comes back after opting out in 2020 due to COVID-19.
Looking at the roster, Minnesota doesn’t have many holes. The defense is awash with stars from the aforementioned men to others such as safety Harrison Smith, linebacker Eric Kendricks and edge rusher Danielle Hunter. If Cousins plays even average football — something he’s done most of his career — Minnesota can not only challenge the Green Bay Packers in the NFC North but perhaps overtake them depending on the Aaron Rodgers situation and how healthy each squad is.
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As Cousins enters the final year of his contract, a run into the playoffs and perhaps earning a win or two once there would give him a great chance of returning, while putting the Vikings back in the national conversation.
Ultimately, Green Bay remains the deserved favorite until proven otherwise. However unlike the Chicago Bears and Detroit Lions, Minnesota has the goods to be a problem in the NFC North.
