Look at power rankings from last offseason and you’ll find plenty of people who thought Minnesota would at least have a winning record.
But then, the 2020 season happened. The Vikings ended up missing out on the postseason and finishing with a 7-9 record. So now, expect for the power rankings this offseason to not be as optimistic.
The Athletic’s Sheil Kapadia recently released some NFL rankings that had Minnesota at No. 19. Here’s what he wrote about the Vikings:
“It feels like they are stuck in the NFL’s middle class. The Vikings have missed out on the playoffs in two out of three seasons with Kirk Cousins as their starter. That’s not to say the offense has always been the problem. Minnesota ranked eighth in offensive efficiency last season but now will move forward without play-caller Gary Kubiak, who retired. The defense experienced significant turnover and finished 18th in DVOA. The Vikings face key decisions on whether to keep left tackle Riley Reiff and linebacker Anthony Barr. It’s reasonable to expect the Vikings’ young players to improve, but given how the last few years have played out, it seems unlikely that this team will have a Super Bowl ceiling.”
Minnesota’s roster is constructed to win now, so finishing 19th among the league next season would be a bit of a disaster. That said, the Vikings’ offense was potent last year and the defense could theoretically improve. It’s too early to lock the Vikings into missing out on the playoffs just yet.
