After years of torment, contending for the playoffs only to fall short of winning the final game of the season, is this the year the Vikings can finally win the Super Bowl?
ESPN made the case for each NFL team to win the championship game. Here’s part of the outlet’s case for the Vikings:
“Vikings fans might argue that the rebuilt defense of 2020 could be an upgrade on the last run of Mike Zimmer’s former core in 2019. Minnesota let longtime contributors Xavier Rhodes, Everson Griffen and Trae Waynes all leave this offseason, but Rhodes and Waynes didn’t play well, and Griffen is now ably replaced in the lineup by trade acquisition Yannick Ngakoue. If rookie first-rounder Jeff Gladney can step onto the field and play like an NFL-caliber corner in September, the Vikings could actually be better on defense.”
ESPN went on to say that a healthy Dalvin Cook is a best-case scenario for the team. Minnesota still has to compete with a divisional power in Green Bay, but ESPN provided some optimism in that regard:
“If the Packers decline, Minnesota is the best-positioned team to win the NFC North.”