MINNESOTA VIKINGS
2020 Record - 7-9-0
Head Coach - Mike Zimmer
Key Additions - Patrick Peterson (CB), Mackensie Alexander (CB), Mason Cole (OL), Dalvin Tomlinson (DL), Nick Vigil (LB), Xavier Woods (DB), Stephen Weatherly (DL)
OFFENSE - The Vikings will have Kirk Cousins (4,265 passing yards with 35 touchdowns and 13 interceptions) at quarterback again this season while Jake Browning, Nate Stanley and rookie Kellen Mond (Texas A & M) look to be the backups.
Dalvin Cook leads the running game and he went for 1,557 rushing yards last season (5.0 ypc average) and scored 16 touchdowns and also had 44 receptions with one touchdown. Alexander Mattison (434, 4.2 ypc, two TD) is a very reliable backup. The wideouts include Adam Thielen (74 receptions for 925 yards and 14 touchdowns), Justin Jefferson (88, 1,400, eight TD) and Chad Beebe (20, 201, two TD). The tight ends are Irv Smith, Jr. (30, 365, five TD) and Tyler Conklin.
The Vikings ranked fourth overall on offense a year ago, averaging 393 yards per game (143 rushing and 250 passing) while scoring 26.9 points per game, which was eleventh in the NFL.
DEFENSE - Danielle Hunter and Stephen Weatherly will play defensive end while Michael Pierce and Dalvin Tomlinson will be the tackles on the front line. Eric Kendricks is the middle linebacker and Nick Vigil and Anthony Barr are the outside linebackers. In the secondary is cornerback Patrick Peterson, who had three interceptions with Arizona a year ago and Cameron Dantzler (corner) along with safeties Xavier Woods and Harrison Smith, who had five picks last season.
Adding depth to the Minnesota defense are defensive linemen Armon Watts, James Lynch, DJ Wonnum and rookie Patrick Jones (Pittsburgh). Rookie Chazz Surratt (North Carolina), Blake Lynch, Ryan Connelly will be ready to go at linebacker while Mackensie Alexander, Jeff Gladney, Josh Metellus and rookie Camryn Bynum (California) provide depth in the defensive backfield.
2021 SEASON OUTLOOK - The Vikings slipped to a sub .500 record a year ago and Head Coach Mike Zimmer has been known for his strong defenses, so that was a priority in the off-season as the team fell to 27th overall (393 YPG allowed) and 29th in the league in scoring defense, giving up 29.7 points per game. The Vikings allowed 134 YPG rushing (27th) and 259 yards a game against the pass, which was 25th in the league. More pressure on opposing quarterbacks is also a must after just 23 sacks in 2020.
So it's no surprise that Minnesota drafted five players on defense and also brought in five potential defensive starters via free agency for the 2021 season. The offense was decent and averaged just a shade under 27 points per game, which in normal years is enough to win enough games to make the playoffs. As long as QB Kirk Cousins stays healthy and his receivers continue in their consistent ways, the air attack will flourish and the ground game is in solid hands with Dalvin Cook as the primary runner.
The defensive improvement will be the key this year for the Vikings if they want to compete with Green Bay for the NFC North crown. The Vikings split their two divisional games with the Packers and the Chicago Bears, both playoff teams a year ago. If things go right, look for the Vikings to rack up a 9-8 record this season, which could be enough to get back into the post-season as a wild card team.
2021 SCHEDULE
Week 1 - at Cincinnati
Week 2 - at Arizona
Week 3 - vs. Seattle
Week 4 - vs. Cleveland
Week 5 - vs. Detroit
Week 6 - at Carolina
Week 7 - BYE
Week 8 - vs. Dallas
Week 9 - at Baltimore
Week 10 - at L.A. Chargers
Week 11 - vs. Green Bay
Week 12 - at San Francisco
Week 13 - at Detroit
Week 14 - vs. Pittsburgh
Week 15 - at Chicago
Week 16 - vs. L.A. Rams
Week 17 - at Green Bay
Week 18 - vs. Chicago
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