Vikings picked as a Super Bowl sleeper for 2021 by ESPN analyst

ESPN analyst Marcus Spears recently included the Minnesota Vikings on his list of teams who could be Super Bowl sleepers during the upcoming 2021 season.

Whenever the Minnesota Vikings have succeeded the most in the recent past, it’s tended to be when not much was expected of them before the start of the season.

Absolutely no one predicted the Vikings would win 15 games in 1998, and just as few people thought Minnesota would be able to make it all the way to the NFC Championship in 2017 after missing the playoffs in 2016.

This year feels somewhat similar in that not many are picking the Vikings to make much noise in the NFL during the upcoming season. Although, there are a few who have noticed all the roster improvements Minnesota has made during the last few months.

Are the Minnesota Vikings a Super Bowl sleeper for the 2021 season?

During a recent edition of the ESPN television program “NFL Live”, analyst Marcus Spears revealed five teams he believes could be Super Bowl sleepers during the upcoming 2021 season.

Spears’ list included the Arizona Cardinals, Tennessee Titans, Indianapolis Colts, New England Patriots, and yes, the Vikings.

Spears called Minnesota a “really intriguing,” team to watch in 2021 due to the return of Danielle Hunter, the signing of Sheldon Richardson, the other new additions to their defense, and all of the playmakers on offense who will be back out on the field.

We should be able to find out pretty quickly if the Vikings are going to be a legitimate contender in the NFC this year.

Taking on an up-and-coming Cincinnati Bengals team in Week 1 isn’t going to be a cakewalk for Minnesota, and then their next three games (Cardinals, Seattle Seahawks, Cleveland Browns) will come against opponents who all won at least eight games in 2020.

If the Vikings end up coming out of the first quarter of the season with three or four wins, watch out because there won’t be many people left sleeping on the purple and gold.