Minnesota Vikings: This season’s success has a good chance to continue in 2018
By Adam Patrick
Will the Minnesota Vikings’ success during the 2017 season become something of the norm or will the team struggle to repeat their recent achievements in the near future?
Outside of the players and coaches inside their locker room, it’s hard to imagine anyone thought the Minnesota Vikings would make it all the way to the NFC Championship this season. Especially after losing quarterback Sam Bradford and running back Dalvin Cook just four games into the year.
But the Vikings proved many doubters wrong in 2017 and finished with the second-most regular season wins in the franchise’s history (13), won the NFC North for the second time since 2015, and captured the second seed in the NFC playoff bracket.
So is Minnesota capable sustaining their success from this season and producing in a similar fashion in 2018? It’s definitely possible, but as Stefon Diggs showed two weeks ago at U.S. Bank Stadium, predictions in the NFL are never a guarantee.
Unlike some other one-season wonders before them, the Vikings’ 13 victories this year were not due to forcing an enormous amount of turnovers or coming out on the right side in a bunch of close games. Actually, Minnesota pretty much did the opposite.
Despite the Vikings’ defense giving up the fewest points and yards per week in 2017, the unit only generated 19 takeaways all year long (23rd in the league). Meaning, Minnesota never had to rely on turnovers to stop their opponents because they actually had just a really good defense.
Of the unit’s 11 starters last season, 10 are expected back for 2018. There is no reason to think that the Vikings’ defense won’t be among the NFL’s best once again next season.
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On the other side of the ball, Minnesota’s offense features a handful of young talent that should allow the team to continue having success in 2018. Dalvin Cook will be returning to the lineup and the whoever plays quarterback for the Vikings next season will have the luxury of throwing to Adam Thielen and Stefon Diggs.
Even without Cook on the field, Minnesota’s offense was still able finish 2017 with the seventh-best rushing attack in the league. A ranking that will likely see even more of an improvement if Cook is able to stay healthy for all of 2018.
The Vikings’ formula for success since Mike Zimmer was hired as the team’s head coach in 2014 is pretty simple. Play great defense, have a solid run game, and don’t make it easier for opponents to score with stupid turnovers.
Next: Who will be the Vikings' starting QB in 2018?
Minnesota may have a tougher schedule on paper for 2018, but if they follow their winning formula from 2017, the Vikings could find themselves getting another shot at the NFC Championship next season.