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5 reasons the Minnesota Vikings will be NFC Champions

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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The Minnesota Vikings are destined to become NFC champions in 2016-17.

The Minnesota Vikings closed out Week 5 as the only undefeated team left in the NFL. Coming into the season almost nobody would have predicted this. Even fewer people would have predicted this after Teddy Bridgewater, the team’s third-year starting quarterback, went down with a devastating knee injury. The team has lost both its starting tackles and superstar running back Adrian Peterson for the rest of the season as well.

All of this has most football fans wondering when this magical run is going to end. However, those waiting for the Vikings to fail could be disappointed. This team is proven. They have beaten quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers, Cam Newton, Eli Manning, Brock Osweiler and Marcus Mariota, and have won by an average margin of 10.8 points per game. The Vikings now are the favorites to win the NFC this year, and that tag is warranted. They should remain in the conference driver seat moving forward. Here are five reasons why.

Sep 18, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer moves between players he greets before the game against the Green Bay Packers at U.S. Bank Stadium. The Vikings win 17-14. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-USA TODAY Sports

5. Mike Zimmer

The minute the Vikings hired Mike Zimmer, the rebuild was on. Zimmer is now in his third year with the Vikings, and their number of wins has risen each year. Many wondered whether Zimmer could improve on his 11-5 second season. So far, he has. 

Zimmer, who was the defensive coordinator of the Cincinnati Bengals before making the move to Minnesota, has changed this team’s identity. He has preached a hard-nosed, defensive mentality. He coaches conservatively, but he coaches smart; he knows that defense wins games in the NFL. 

When Zimmer took the reigns, the Vikings ranked 27th in the NFL in DVOA. After one season, the unit improved to 23rd. Last season, the Vikings jumped up to 14th. So far, through five games this season, the unit now ranks fifth in the league in DVOA. 

The Bengals defense led by Zimmer ranked in the top 10 in points allowed in four of his six seasons. This season, the Vikings defense ranks third in points allowed; they ranked fifth and 11th, respectively, in Zimmer’s first two years. 

Zimmer has proven his qualities as a head coach. His career winning percentage is over 60. He has established a new identity in Minnesota and the team has completely bought in. That is a scary combination to have when it comes to the big games in January and February.

September 14, 2015; Santa Clara, CA, USA; Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Norv Turner exits the team tunnel before the game against the San Francisco 49ers at Levi

4. Norv Turner

Some Viking fans may completely disagree, but Zimmer handing the keys to the offense to a professional and established coordinator like Norv Turner has the Vikings in a prime spot to be Super Bowl contenders. Turner has had his ups and downs as an NFL head coach, but one thing is for sure: he’s a smart offensive mind.

Unlike too many coordinators in the NFL, Turner adjusts his scheme to fit his players. There is no “Turner system” that he forces his team to adopt, even without the right players to execute it. Turner’s system is to find the strengths of the talent available and maximize their potential.

Last season, the Vikings were a relatively predictable, run-first team, but they were good enough to make the playoffs anyway. Turner understood that his offense had limited pass-catching options, and that his biggest weapon, Adrian Peterson, was an average pass blocker and not a dynamic pass catcher. Turner knew running the football was his best bet, and it paid off.

This season, especially since Peterson’s injury, the Vikings have moved to the shotgun more, and have looked for short passes to find success. It fits the style of Matt Asiata, a strong pass blocker, Jerick McKinnon, a back who can catch, and Sam Bradford, a quarterback with accuracy in the short passing game.

It’s a huge benefit in a playoff game to have an offensive coordinator that can be trusted to run a game plan to counter the defense’s strengths and weaknesses. Zimmer brings that with his defensive mentality, and Turner compliments him perfectly as a now-underrated offensive coordinator.

Oct 3, 2016; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Bradford (8) throws during the first quarter against the New York Giants at U.S. Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brace Hemmelgarn-USA TODAY Sports

3. Sam Bradford

Speaking of the offense, how good has Sam Bradford been? Many have questioned whether this run of success will last for Bradford — after all, he’s had almost no success since being named the Rookie of the Year in 2010. At the same time, he’s had little opportunity to play since 2010. His best receivers in St. Louis were Chris Givens and Danny Amendola. When Amendola was healthy, Bradford had success. Now, Bradford enters what could easily be the best offensive situation he has been in, and we are seeing the success that was expected of him all of these years.

Sam Bradford has never played with a tight end like Kyle Rudolph. While Stefon Diggs was out in Week 5, Diggs is probably the best receiver Bradford has played with.

He’s in a system with Norv Turner that plays to his strengths. He’s relying on quick hitters to Adam Thielen, Jarius Wright and Cordarrelle Patterson, and he’s excelling. These players are good with the ball in their hands and overall it’s setting up a perfect offensive storm.

Diggs will be back, and the team may soon get some help from rookie first-round pick Laquon Treadwell. If Bradford can stay healthy, the offense could get even better. 

Sep 25, 2016; Charlotte, NC, USA; Minnesota Vikings defensive end Everson Griffen (97) reacts after making a sack in the fourth quarter. The Vikings defeated the Panthers 22-10 at Bank of America Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Bob Donnan-USA TODAY Sports

2. Defense wins championships

Say what you want about the success of Bradford. The fact of the matter is, the Broncos won a Super Bowl just last season with a quarterback who was playing worse than Bradford has ever played. They did so with one of the better defenses in recent history. This Vikings team may have an equally good defense and with a better quarterback, the league should be worried.

Let’s praise some of the individual members of this defense right now. It feels like all too often the talk is how good the unit is, but you never hear the big names that are making this unit so great. In terms of pass rushers, does it get better than Brian Robison, Everson Griffen and Danielle Hunter, who have nine sacks this season?

How about Linval Joseph? This now looks to be the second straight year in which he has been a run stuffing menace and one of the best defensive tackles in the game. Anthony Barr has Khalil Mack size, and a Luke Kuechly-like ability to roam. It is truly scary. Chad Greenway is the veteran who holds the defense together, and has supplied inspiration by announcing this year his last.

Xavier Rhodes has been the emerging shutdown cornerback this year, and Harrison Smith is quite possibly the best safety in the game. Terrance Newman, Andrew Sendejo, the list goes on. This defense is stacked top to bottom, back to front. There no noticeable hole, and it would not be a shock in any way to see the success continue. 

Dec 20, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Minnesota Vikings running back Jerick McKinnon (31) and running back Matt Asiata (44) run onto the field before the game against the Chicago Bears at TCF Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Rempel-USA TODAY Sports

1. Depth

Almost every winter we make our predictions and set our expectations for teams. Then everybody gets hurt, we look stupid, rinse, repeat. The smart thing to say every year would be that the healthiest team come January will most likely win the Super Bowl. However, this Vikings team may be different.

Minnesota is as deep a team as you will see, and it may be able to survive almost any injury. In acquiring Sam Bradford, they  more than made up for the Teddy Bridgewater injury. Jerick McKinnon and Matt Asiata are not Adrian Peterson, but they make up for his absence with different talents.

On the defensive line, a former first-round pick, Sharrif Floyd, has hardly played this season and no one has noticed thanks to Tom Johnson. Trae Waynes and Mackensie Alexander have both filled in at cornerback this year, and the team has rotated players at tackle seemingly all season without issue.

What player has to go down to make the Vikings vulnerable? This is a team that has the coaching and the identity, not only at the top but all the way down through the coordinators. Their personnel is loaded in terms of high upside potential, depth and experience. They have the defense to win the Super Bowl and a quarterback who will not lose games. Through five weeks the Vikings are the lone undefeated team. This is no fluke. As the season goes on, the odds of the Vikings winning the NFC should only go down.  

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