4 scapegoats if things go wrong for the Vikings in 2022 playoffs

Kevin O’Connell – HC

This season was expected to be one of transition for the Minnesota Vikings. Mike Zimmer and Rick Spielman were let go after long stints with the organization, so a small adjustment period became the general consensus once Kevin O’Connell and Kwesi Adofo-Mensah came into the fold.

All things considered, the Vikings’ new era under O’Connell has been a breath of fresh air. To say it’s been nervy and dramatic would be understating things slightly, but 13 wins from a rookie head coach deserve plaudits, whichever way one looks at it.

Sure, the Vikings have had a hammering or two along the way. But this is all part of O’Connell’s growth as an NFL head coach after playing a leading role in the Los Angeles Rams’ memorable playoff run en route to a Super Bowl last season.

O’Connell is playing with house money to a certain extent. Nobody anticipated the Vikings winning the NFC North or getting the No. 3 seed, but that does not detract from how important beating the New York Giants is in front of their passionate home support.

While the pressure on O’Connell will be minimal even if the Vikings fall short, the head coach carries the can more often than not. Therefore, he can expect some criticism if expectations aren’t met.

With that being said, the future is incredibly bright for Minnesota with O’Connell at the helm. Galvanizing this group in such a short space of time is an impressive feat, which could indicate more is on the way with another offseason of strong recruits joining the ranks.