Expect the Vikings to remain a run-first offense in 2018

Despite adding an expensive quarterback this offseason, the Minnesota Vikings will still likely rely heavily on their rushing attack in 2018.

After signing free-agent quarterback Kirk Cousins to a monster contract last March, the passing attack for the Minnesota Vikings got an immediate upgrade. The Vikings have really not had a quarterback with a track record like Cousins since Brett Favre was with the team in 2010.

Minnesota’s new signal caller is coming off an impressive stretch as a starter for the Washington Redskins. In each of the last three years with the Redskins, Cousins threw for at least 4,000 yards and 25 touchdowns.

In the history of their franchise, only three quarterbacks have put up similar single-season numbers for the Vikings. So it’s really not too complicated to understand why Minnesota went out and signed Cousins this year.

Despite the Vikings upgrading their passing attack this offseason, it should be expected that Minnesota’s offense is still going to center around their run game in 2018.

In two of the last three years, the Vikings have finished among the NFL’s top five in rushing attempts. Last season, Minnesota’s running backs carried the ball more than any other team around the league not named the Jacksonville Jaguars.

Minnesota Vikings

The Vikings actually ran more pass plays than run plays overall last season. However, there were eight games in 2017 in which Minnesota carried the ball more than they threw it.

New Vikings offensive coordinator John DeFilippo is also coming from a Philadelphia Eagles offense that ranked among the NFL’s top 10 in rushing attempts in each of the last two seasons. So DeFilippo knows how vital a solid rushing attack can be for an offense.

Minnesota head coach Mike Zimmer is also a guy that likes to let his defense dictate the pace of the game. Zimmer’s ideal scenario for each matchup would likely be to control the clock with a productive running game and force the opposition to beat a well-rested Vikings defense.

Even with the addition of Cousins this year, Minnesota’s head coach will probably take a similar approach with future games.

Next: 5 Vikings who could make their first Pro Bowl in 2018

The Vikings new quarterback allows the team to have a more balanced attack on offense in 2018. But with Zimmer still calling the shots, expect a big emphasis to still be placed on running the ball during the upcoming season.