8 bold predictions for the Minnesota Vikings 2021 season

Minnesota will miss the playoffs

In a perfect world, the Vikings will return to becoming a top 10 defense, the offense will continue to produce explosive plays, and the team will return to the playoffs. In reality, Minnesota has a lot of flaws they’ll need to correct if they want to be a playoff team.

It’s a safe bet to think that Mike Zimmer will help the defense return to form, but their biggest concern may be the offense. If Kirk Cousins gets off to a slow start or misses time, backups Kellen Mond or Sean Mannion won’t be enough to keep this team afloat.

Dalvin Cook’s usage is a major concern in the backfield and the lack of a true third receiving option could have this team feeling a lot like they did in 2018. That team rebounded for a 5-3-1 record heading into the bye week, but they slumped down the stretch and finished 8-7-1 to miss the playoffs.

If the Vikings want to avoid that fate, they’ll have to get off to a fast start. That might be hard to do with Seattle and Cleveland coming to U.S. Bank Stadium early in the year. The schedule gets tougher after the bye with a Sunday night meeting with the Dallas Cowboys and trips to Baltimore, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, and Green Bay.

The end could be what the Vikings have experienced throughout the current regime. They’re good enough to compete, but not good enough to be a Super Bowl contender. In the fourth year of the Cousins experiment, it should be what drives a change in Minnesota.